50 Best Bars near Imperial Beach

“Great karoake on the weekends!! Bingo and trivia throughout the week.Make sure you get some fries. Also have food specials daily. The owners are in the building frequently and make everyone feel welcome regardless of race, sex or creed. There's room for everyone at this bar!!“

“Food & Folks are always Fabulous“

“The staff at the Plank is great.
I really appreciate the way they make you feel & the kindness they show you...
Eric,has been a family friend for years & I truly appreciate him...
All the best to the Plank ,keep up the great work...

God bless,
Thank you...
Charlie M. From Boston...

Eric is the Best....“

“Had a lot of fun. Highly recommended“

“we have done our morning drinking and noon drinking the the vibe is super chill, perfect enough to get the day, music is always good and service is good. The usual locals are friendly and we have little conversations without it becoming a drag.“

“Wow - what a great night! My husband and I were there for the first time last night - Amadeus took special care of us - what a guy! So friendly, knowledgeable and just all around a perfect host. He was patient and explained all the whisky in detail and had great suggestions. My husband chose a whisky flight and I had something close to an old fashioned. Wonderful and the food - we started with the oysters then he suggested the chicken sliders and the arincini balls - perfect! We were definitely full but the suggestions were spot on! I finished with a cocktail that Amadeus makes himself - it was like a cinnamon toast crunch desert - divine!!! We will definitely be back and thank you Amadeus - we will definitely ask for you!“

“Absolutely amazing atmosphere, 10/10 service, and bomb drinks. What more could you want. Easily one of the best tiki bars period.“

“Good restaurant, delicious food. I recommend everyone to try it“

“This venue is beautiful 😍“

“What a fantastic place! Food was excellent and great proportions, likely the best flatbread I’ve ever had. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend and will return if in the area again.“

“I attended Juniper & Ivy for a small post-wedding reception. The space was nice and sectioned off from the rest of the restaurant, although it was loud at times because it’s separated by a curtain. It did still feel private, which was great. Although I was the photographer at this wedding, the staff was still super nice and was able to get me a vegetarian meal. They also let the couple bring in their own cakes, which was great! I’d recommend this spot for a smaller reception for sure.“

“The Last Meal of the San Diego Stay at My Favorite Dinner Spot. Its Downtown Little Italy. Great 10/10 Service. Bar Staff Outstanding. Overall Service. DESTINATION SPOT.“

“The skirt steak will make you cry. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“My husband was in a business dinner and they walked some of gaslamp afterwards. After they parted ways, he needed to use the bathroom so he ran in the closest restaurant. They said he couldn't use it unless he was a customer. I totally get that but they were packed out so it made no sense.... Either way, he bought a chicken quesadilla to go. He brought it back to the room for me and our sons to have. It tasted good...until my youngest son spit out a piece of plastic he found inside the quesadilla. My Husband called about it the next day bc they were then closed. Their response was "oops sorry" like wth?! They then said "bring it back along with the plastic." No mention of a refund or investigation of how it happened. And by that point, room service had come and took the box of the rest of the food plus no one wanted to fight downtown traffic and pay to park to have them possibly offer us another quesadilla . 🙄 Again the food we did eat, minus the plastic, was good but the service wasn't.“

“First time since switching to the menu, and it remains an outstanding experience. The menu items give freedom to do some more planning (particularly enjoyed the shaved cucumber ice in my drink, for example) and you can still talk through what you want for the second course. The customers are fun, and Francesca and Austin were on point behind the bar“

“Love this spot. Great drinks, great atmosphere, and somehow the windows are always unbelievably clean. I may be a little biased because we clean them, but every time I stop by I’m reminded why glass is supposed to be invisible. 😆

The bourbon selection is awesome, the cocktails are on point, and the staff always make you feel welcome. Whether you’re hanging out inside or enjoying the outdoor seating, it’s just one of those places that’s easy to spend a few hours at.

Come for the drinks, stay for the crystal-clear view through the cleanest windows in town. 🍻🪟😂

Highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.“

“Very friendly and professional staff . Five star ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️“

“Awesome food, great service, perfect location“

“Super fun place to celebrate anything!“

“I went on a Wednesday around 7pm and found the atmosphere very welcoming and the late night snack menu with the prosciutto was delicious. Merrari was a fantastic bartender and offered a few great additional suggestions for bars and speakeasies to visit while I was in Sand Diego.“

“The Whiskey house isn’t just for whiskey! We enjoyed a great brunch outdoors. The cinnamon pancakes are to die for! Great service from Jackie!“

“Everything about Fernside is great!“

“You can't call it a dive bar when they have $300 bourbons on the shelf! Erin is great. We went there twice and will probably go back again later. And there are pinball machines and a pool table and other arcade games. Fun place.“

“One of the best speakeasy’s I’ve ever been to. Been to several in LA, SF, Vegas, Miami, and NYC and this one compares. So glad that it’s in my city! Speakeasy’s are the way to go! Bravo 👏🏻“

“Great place highly recommended, amazing drinks awesome, come check them out and have a fantastic time“

“Excelente cantina en Chuka Vista, 100% Mexicana. Gran atención de Omar.“

“There’s no losing in Dice - you can only win: win with free drink or win by buying drinks for your friends. Best to get the “read ahead” on rules from Naval Aviator before “winning” and buying entire round a shout(round).“

“We had our pregame, Puerto Rican Heritage Padre, celebration there yesterday and the staff and food were AMAZING!!!!!! 🇵🇷🇵🇷🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🇵🇷🇵🇷“

“🙂👍 Gonzalo and the entire staff are awesome!“

“Great Brunch and John is an amazing bartender.“

“Bartenders were great and friendly! Fun place to watch games! Love my girl Jordan!“

“Excellent steaks, great service and wonderful atmosphere!!!“

“Booze. All the booze. Drink it. Live while you still can.“

“Craft beer places are a dime a dozen in SD, but I knew after one visit that Machete is easily going to become a favorite water hole to visit when I am in the mood for a good variety of craft beer. They have a bunch of different styles, and a selection of beers from breweries that I either haven't heard of or never tasted before. Love that. It gets boring seeing the same 3-4 breweries at every place that offers craft beer in SD.Vibe is super chill, casual and divey.Staff here is really nice. I didn't get his name, but he let me try a few different beers and gave great recommendations based on the styles I like.No food here, but the Papi’s Teppanyaki food truck is here from time to time. Check their IG for their schedule. Not sure if there are ever other options since I only recently found out about this place.Cheers!Edit: I came back a second time and the super cool bartender's name is Jett. If you come in on a day he's manning the bar, you're in great hands. :)

Kid-friendliness: There was a young family here with a stroller, but it wouldn't be my first choice for places to visit with kids.“

“Great place for food, drinks and games. Have a wonderful time.“

“Everyone was cool. Beer and margarita were good. It made me wish I lived nearby so I could make this my place.“

“Everything about it is fantastic! The beers are delicious and the owners are so welcoming! Thank you for hosting my 29th birthday!!!💕“

“This was a great way to wrap up Comic Con. Theyb satv yes right away on Sunday evening. The food was delicious. The bbq sauce is a little spicy, but delicious. The chilli fries were delicious.

I think they may have been a little overwhelmed or short staffed. The service was a little slow. Like our drinks can't out about 3 minutes before our food.

It was really cool to sit next to the piano from Top Gun though. I would recommend this as a stop if you're in San Diego.“

“Im gonna start with great service, delicious drinks and the food was on point. I enjoyed the lamb it was amazing. Oh please if you are over 21 please order the cold brew martini!!! The best dessert for me!“

“el mejor lugar para bailar un exelente ambiente y muy buenas bebidas el mejor club“

“This place is delightful. Stopped in here on a whim while out on a bike ride with my best buddy Bowen. Best Michelada I've ever had. The owner is super cool & nice dude. Music was also excellent.

Highly recommend this gem!!!“

“Shay is the most amazing bartender taking time to learn people’s names and introduce herself. I had the Red Hot Chicken Sandwich, and every bite was a happy dance (literally, I did a happy dance with every single bite) and the Garlic Parm Fries absolutely amazing, I’ve come to this bar a couple of times but this time I was absolutely blown away with Shay and the sandwich (first time ordering these particular items). Normally bartenders are just like your standard typical bartender small chat and remembering drink orders but Shay’s approach to learn names and ask “Hey Jen, do you another?” instead of just the normal BS. SHAY IS A GEM“

“Went there to see my good friend DJ Yodah spin, and enjoyed the views and rooftop views for photo opps/selfies…“

“Amazing food! The Rockfish was the most amazing dish I have had since moving to SD.“

“Definitely not a place that gets going all night like a club would but a very cool and quaint spot to grab a drink with a group friends. Pool tables and a variety of drinks on tap. Bartenders are receptive as well. Juke Box is a plus to play music of one’s choice.It’s honestly kind of it’s own place in the middle of everything, but wouldn’t mind staying here for a night and drink the night away. The Elwood is nearby too.“

“I enjoyed myself ??? The co-owner was awesome as she moved around the crowd and spoke to ppl and seen her help clear tables ? The dj on Friday night was dope, had me dancing ?? The bartender (white dude with long hair ??) he has stellar customer service ?? met friendly people and staff! I like how they have a smoking area where you could still hear the music dead on , but they could have dimmer lights in the smoking section coz it bothered my eyes ???? I didn't get to try the food but I look forward to doing so soon!! Security was on it, great communication skills amongst each other and they paid attention all around; I felt safe.. I don't think anyone would mess with ??. Bathroom was very clean and the long mirror A+ ???. I ordered patron and redbull, I suggest they keep their redbulls chilled since a customer like myself orders the entire can ? price was decent!! I went earlier so parking was great for me but probably not for the late heads ?“

“Jaz at BARESSITO is hands down one of the best bartenders I’ve experienced. From the moment we sat down, her energy was welcoming, confident, and fun — she truly knows how to set the vibe.

She absolutely nailed the Spicy Mamacitta and the El Manjoclaw. Both drinks were perfectly balanced, bold, and flavorful — you can tell she knows her craft and takes pride in every cocktail she makes. The spice level on the Mamacitta was just right, and the El Manjoclaw was smooth with the perfect kick.

Beyond the drinks, her service was top tier. Attentive without hovering, friendly without being over the top — just a genuinely great experience all around. If you’re at BARESSITO, ask for Jaz. She’ll take care of you and then some. 🍸🔥“

“The Super breakfast burro was as big as my forearm !!! The best way to start your day!��“

“Walking back into SRO after years away felt like slipping into a memory you did not realize you missed — a soft, familiar glow, the buzz of conversation, and the kind of warmth that settles into your shoulders the second you walk in. This isn’t just a neighborhood bar; it’s one of those rare community anchors where the energy feels lived-in, loved, and completely unfiltered.

SRO has long been a haven for San Diego’s transgender and LGBTQ+ community. It’s the definition of a classic dive: no pretense, no attitude — just real people, real stories, and that easy, comfortable vibe you cannot manufacture. The pool league keeps things lively, the bartenders keep things relaxed, and the regulars create a sense of belonging that feels almost immediate.

After working in another gay bar in this neighborhood for over two decades, returning to SRO was surreal in the best way — I recognized faces I hadn’t seen in years. That kind of continuity is rare. It tells you everything about the heart of this place: people come back, and they stay connected.

If you’re looking for velvet ropes or curated aesthetics, this isn’t that bar. But if you want authenticity, comfort, laughter, and a place with a heartbeat — SRO is the kind of spot that becomes home without you even trying.

Highly recommended, especially if you appreciate a bar with real soul.“