15 Best Bars in Carlsbad

“Dinner with my husband and son didn’t disappoint! Super friendly service—people you want to hang with. Brussels sprouts were amazing! Pear Gorgonzola flatbread was perfect mix of comfort food with really cool flavors. Husband had eggplant and said it was absolutely delicate and tasty. Pesto penne was creamy and unique. We’re both #vegetarian so lots of options. Son had a chicken dish that he said was decadent. Will def go back!“

“Everything on the Menu is delicious. All of their Margarita's are amazing.The General Manager Gilbert Gastelum was very personable and even took a selfie with us. Our waiter Jos exceeded in Customer's Service and was very attentive. **Update** Friday, 04/27/2024. We came with a friend for Happy Hour and we had a great time. Eloy and Shannon, both waiters, were super friendly and made us feel very welcomed. They made our time here very pleasant. Thank you. We will be back soon.“

“First timers there. Greeted for lunch by a friendly hostess who offered us all the seating options (all of which were nice). Our waitress was extremely helpful explaining the menu and offering suggestions. We each decided on chowder & a taco. Wife had the New England which gets a 5 out of 10 rating. (plenty of clam & texture but lacking in flavors). I had the Manhattan, which turned out to be the he better choice, earning a 8 of 10. Grilled fish tacos unfortunately were also bland (good quality & presented nicely but again no flavors). In their defense we both agreed we would come back again and try something a bit more adventurous.“

“Polo Steakhouse continues to impress with its attention to detail and culinary excellence. The addition of New York steak to the menu further enhances the dining experience, offering another delectable option for steak enthusiasts. Cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor, the New York steak is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to quality.Before diving into the main course, indulge in their bread appetizer, a delightful assortment of freshly baked bread paired with artisanal spreads. It's the perfect way to whet your appetite and set the stage for the feast to come.As for the cocktails, they are nothing short of extraordinary. Expertly crafted with premium spirits and innovative flavor combinations, each sip is a journey for the senses. Whether you prefer a classic martini or a unique concoction, the cocktail menu at Polo Steakhouse offers something for everyone.From start to finish, Polo Steakhouse delivers an unparalleled dining experience. With exceptional service, a luxurious atmosphere, and a menu that showcases the finest ingredients, it's a culinary destination that never fails to impress.“

“Delicious food! We just had the Cobb salad with shrimp, 4 wonderful grilled prawns. The Cobb salad was the best my husband had ever had. 8 had a house salad, Delicious! Creme brulee was excellent. Wonderful location by the sea. Great service. We are coming back for lunch tomorrow!“

“Without a doubt. Burgeon Brewery production of the best beers anywhere. The large list of Burgeon IPAs is second to none. Then there's the Pales ales. Incredible. Pilsner popularity are on the rise and leading the pack again is Burgeon. To be fair there is a plethora of amazing brewery's in SD . Particularly north county coast. But the comparison of any to Burgeon isn't even close. If your thinking of visiting a few breweries while in SDs north county coast I would highly recommend you try them 1st. If you start at Burgeon the others won't be as impressive. 2 other very important aspects of this brewery are the people who work here. Very knowledgeable and strive to take care of anyone who walks in the door. See it every time we go. And the food trucks. If Burgeon has them , expect some of the best in town serving you.“

“Excellent upscale but casual restaurant. Great selection of beers and other drinks. Open and airy space. The food tastes great and is a good value for the large portions and on point tastes. It is located in an easy to reach mall with lots of open parking.“

“Just arrived in Carlsbad, and wanted late tea at 9.00pm. The Compass was recommended for serving good grub and drinks for grown ups, which it duly delivered really well. Welcome & service was attentive, food was prompt and hit the spot, good value too. Atmosphere on a Tuesday night was quiet, but it is Tuesday! Nice that even with background music, we could hear ourselves & chat comfortably. Thank you, and would definitely recommend.“

“This is the second time staying at this hotel when we come in town. Overall the hotel experience is average, no complaints or issues. However, today for breakfast my family and I had an excellent server/waitor name Roberto. He went above and beyond even with the place packed and busy on a Saturday morning. He checked on us multiple times, clear our table and refilled our drinks without us having to wait or try to flag him down. There was one other server there but she wasn't very welcoming and didn't have good customer service like Roberto did. He was very professional and kept a smile on his face as he ran back and forth in the restaurant, he did not slow down once. I genuinely don't leave yelp post unless it's an awful experience but I felt the need to give Roberto a shout out. Nowadays in my personal experience, good customer services is hard to find, especially when you are supposedly required to leave a minimum of 18% or 20% tip even with terrible service. Thank you Roberto for making our dining experience amazing with your excellent customer service, we greatly appreciate it.“

“The food was good. There Brussels sprouts were the best thing we had all evening. The bread basket was a big disappointment. Praeger Bros has great bread, but what they served us was only ok. The dipping sauce was terrible...they should stick to a good balsamic and olive oil. Try a variety of breads since I am paying for it. My Wahaini salad was decent. The wedge salad was a bore!!! Order Brussels sprouts !“

“Stopping here was not planned but pleasantly surprising. We were playing billiards across the way and the crowd drew me in. Tuesday night seemed to be hopping and I wanted to know why. Not only is it a stunning establishment- I love the luxurious yet minimalist & clean Tex-mex decor. They have an awesome 80s cover band, a decent crowd and most of all, good vibes. Looking forward to returning.“

“Great little pub in the heart of Carlsbad village. Amberly was the bartender when I was in, very friendly and personable. Seemed she had a decent crowd of regulars at the end of the bar so that was nice to see. FYI... it's the cleanest mirror behind the bar I've ever seen. I thought the bar was twice as big from what I remember. LOL I'll be back for sure.... Peace FrankieG“

“Stopped by for lunch with friends when we were in Carlsbad. It is located a block away from the beach. It's a casual Mexican Spot with good food and drinks. My husband and I shared the Carlsbad Carne Asada Burrito, Wet, but couldn't decide between green or red salsa so the waiter recommended doing half and half. It was delicious! Everything I love all in a burrito! We also ordered Ernie's Caesar Salad and I expected an ordinary Caesar salad but this one was really good! The dressing was delicious and I think they had different cheese that made it flavorful! What a nice surprise. The staff is very friendly and attentive and we enjoyed this place!“

“This was a surprisingly chill bar right on the edge of the village, right across the street from the Coyote Bar and Grill. We couldn't get in over at Coyote so we took our large group over to Boar Cross'n. We were able to get drinks at the bar without too long of a wait and got seats at the bar and at a couple of the small tables near the bar. It was definitely a younger crowd then the usual Carlsbad 40s and 50s. This place attracts more of a 20s-30s crowd probably due to the couple of pool tables and more of a dive bar feel. It's nicer than the Kraken though, so not that divey. ?“

“The best street tacos ever. The homemade tortillas are so delicious. The rice is seriously unreal. We eat here often. They also have done some events for us too! So so delicious, so friendly and very affordable! WE LOVE THEM!!! Authenticity at its finest.“