Shelter Bar is Back and Better Than Ever! Huge shoutout to Don Angelo for completely turning this place around, his leadership brought the soul back to Shelter. The entire staff is hands-down the best crew you could ask for. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely fun to be around. The energy here is unmatched. Good people, great music, and an immaculate vibe from the moment you walk in. Whether it’s a chill night or a full send, Shelter is the go to bar in Encinitas.
jake smith
Worst bar in Encinitas
Parker
Disgusting trashy atmosphere
Bethany Zielinski
Worst bouncer experience I’ve ever had.
Emerson Lowe
Horrible manners and service. Kicked friend out for having a “fake id” even after showing a passport and credit card.
James Lowe
Management and staff Completely unprofessional the food is horrible.
Susanna Lowe
Traveled to San Diego for the first to visit my friends from across the country and was in the bar for 2+ hours not doing anything (completely sober) and was standing on the back patio next to my friend and a manager walked up to me to check my ID and said it was fake and took it to the GM who checked it and said it was fake when it is my government ID and only way to get back onto a plane. I proceeded to show my setting personal info with my birthday and name along with my birth certificate, credit card matching, and a photo of my passport. They then tried to take my ID and kick me out and I finally got it back and they kicked me out into the back alley as a 21 year old girl completely alone behind the bar until my friends found me. They were so rude and need to do better about checking IDs because multiple people there were underage with fake IDs and clearly they can’t check an ID. Worst experience ever 0/10 and a miserable night for me being my first time in the city in general. Do better
Wes Hunter
The drink tasted watery and there was a cockroach in the bathroom
Dylan Kriegman
I was dancing hanging out with my friend and some random agressive dude who had nothing to do with anything at all (maybe it was a bouncer it was unclear at the time given lack of uniforms) and his affiliates grabbed him (by the neck) and myself and attacked us pushing us outside. I am very confused as to why. Maybe I was mistakenly affilated with another situation. Perhaps because i’m about 5’ 8” and my friend is 5’ 6”, we looked easy to pick on. Although we paid 20+ dollars for drinks and tipped, the bouncers (who we didn’t realize were the instigators at the time) and the police in Encinitas were no help at all . Dom, one of SHELTER Encinitas’ bouncers blamed my friend (I think inappropriately) for the situation claiming he was “Drunk” and therefore it was his fault for being assaulted?Dom works at a bar which sells alcohol to increases people’s BAC leading to drunkeness and my friend didn’t even exhibit any innapropriate behaviors so I don’t this characterization was fair and maybe was just a means to “shelter” him from responsibility. Dom was confused when I asked him as to why I was grabbed and pushed out of the bar. I would recommend avoiding SHELTER Encinitas at all costs. This occured Friday April 19, 2025, 1 - 2 am PST. I’ve never had an experience like this in my life. It’s an unbelievable scenario from my perspective as I expect better from humanity. I am writing this after the fact and we are extremely disappointed/frustrated with the situation. I am hoping for at the minimum, an apology from SHELTER Encinitas as would be expected from a business whose customers are being physically assaulted without reason.
Jourdyn Aiken
The bouncers attacked innocent patrons who were not a part of a fight and then allowed random other guy jump them. Meanwhile they didn't even stop the correct guys who started the whole thing. Shortly after they jumped on another patron who they apparently thought was causing trouble. Unfortunately, after looking at other reviews it does not seem like this is an isolated incident for the bouncers that work there.Clearly these men need education on the correct way to deescalate situations instead of adding to the violence.
I normally do not write reviews but I just moved here and had a friend visiting for a few days! We decided to go out and started with shelter, which quickly turned into a nightmare, the bouncers took both mine AND my friends ID, refused to give them back and proceeded to interrogate my roommate over her ID as well. We had to call the cops to get them back, the worst experience I have ever had at any business. If you read prior reviews it sounds like this bar is notorious for being awful and taking people’s things, honestly it’s just so frustrating that I had to waste the cops time because these bouncers do not know what they are doing and all claim that they are the manager!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Jonathan Klos
Dom is a manager there hes the man, takes care of us. Top notch service, music is great they keep the energy positive and fun.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ben Mack
I’ve been getting tables her for a few years now. The music is great bc the DJs are there to put on a show (especially fun when they have the lasers)!
I’ve worked closely with Don, Ali, Ashley, Matt and others. They have always gone the extra mile to ensure my table has a great experience and gets the table we want with the bottles we want. Planning ahead or last minute fun, they’ve accommodated me and the people I’ve brought right away! And no waiting in the long line to get in ? Have fun there!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nick Poser
If giving 0 stars was an option, I would give 0
Nicholas Poser
This place sucks, not Encinitas vibes…or maybe it is but don’t spend money here. Absolutely terrible service
Shelter Bar is Back and Better Than Ever! Huge shoutout to Don Angelo for completely turning this place around, his leadership brought the soul back to Shelter. The entire staff is hands-down the best crew you could ask for. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely fun to be around. The energy here is unmatched. Good people, great music, and an immaculate vibe from the moment you walk in. Whether it’s a chill night or a full send, Shelter is the go to bar in Encinitas.
Worst bar in Encinitas
Disgusting trashy atmosphere
Worst bouncer experience I’ve ever had.
Horrible manners and service. Kicked friend out for having a “fake id” even after showing a passport and credit card.
Management and staff Completely unprofessional the food is horrible.
Traveled to San Diego for the first to visit my friends from across the country and was in the bar for 2+ hours not doing anything (completely sober) and was standing on the back patio next to my friend and a manager walked up to me to check my ID and said it was fake and took it to the GM who checked it and said it was fake when it is my government ID and only way to get back onto a plane. I proceeded to show my setting personal info with my birthday and name along with my birth certificate, credit card matching, and a photo of my passport. They then tried to take my ID and kick me out and I finally got it back and they kicked me out into the back alley as a 21 year old girl completely alone behind the bar until my friends found me. They were so rude and need to do better about checking IDs because multiple people there were underage with fake IDs and clearly they can’t check an ID. Worst experience ever 0/10 and a miserable night for me being my first time in the city in general. Do better
The drink tasted watery and there was a cockroach in the bathroom
I was dancing hanging out with my friend and some random agressive dude who had nothing to do with anything at all (maybe it was a bouncer it was unclear at the time given lack of uniforms) and his affiliates grabbed him (by the neck) and myself and attacked us pushing us outside. I am very confused as to why. Maybe I was mistakenly affilated with another situation. Perhaps because i’m about 5’ 8” and my friend is 5’ 6”, we looked easy to pick on. Although we paid 20+ dollars for drinks and tipped, the bouncers (who we didn’t realize were the instigators at the time) and the police in Encinitas were no help at all
. Dom, one of SHELTER Encinitas’ bouncers blamed my friend (I think inappropriately) for the situation claiming he was “Drunk” and therefore it was his fault for being assaulted?Dom works at a bar which sells alcohol to increases people’s BAC leading to drunkeness and my friend didn’t even exhibit any innapropriate behaviors so I don’t this characterization was fair and maybe was just a means to “shelter” him from responsibility. Dom was confused when I asked him as to why I was grabbed and pushed out of the bar. I would recommend avoiding SHELTER Encinitas at all costs. This occured Friday April 19, 2025, 1 - 2 am PST. I’ve never had an experience like this in my life. It’s an unbelievable scenario from my perspective as I expect better from humanity. I am writing this after the fact and we are extremely disappointed/frustrated with the situation. I am hoping for at the minimum, an apology from SHELTER Encinitas as would be expected from a business whose customers are being physically assaulted without reason.
The bouncers attacked innocent patrons who were not a part of a fight and then allowed random other guy jump them. Meanwhile they didn't even stop the correct guys who started the whole thing. Shortly after they jumped on another patron who they apparently thought was causing trouble. Unfortunately, after looking at other reviews it does not seem like this is an isolated incident for the bouncers that work there.Clearly these men need education on the correct way to deescalate situations instead of adding to the violence.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
I normally do not write reviews but I just moved here and had a friend visiting for a few days! We decided to go out and started with shelter, which quickly turned into a nightmare, the bouncers took both mine AND my friends ID, refused to give them back and proceeded to interrogate my roommate over her ID as well. We had to call the cops to get them back, the worst experience I have ever had at any business. If you read prior reviews it sounds like this bar is notorious for being awful and taking people’s things, honestly it’s just so frustrating that I had to waste the cops time because these bouncers do not know what they are doing and all claim that they are the manager!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Dom is a manager there hes the man, takes care of us. Top notch service, music is great they keep the energy positive and fun.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’ve been getting tables her for a few years now. The music is great bc the DJs are there to put on a show (especially fun when they have the lasers)!
I’ve worked closely with Don, Ali, Ashley, Matt and others. They have always gone the extra mile to ensure my table has a great experience and gets the table we want with the bottles we want. Planning ahead or last minute fun, they’ve accommodated me and the people I’ve brought right away! And no waiting in the long line to get in ? Have fun there!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If giving 0 stars was an option, I would give 0
This place sucks, not Encinitas vibes…or maybe it is but don’t spend money here. Absolutely terrible service
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
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