10 Best Cocktail Bars in La Jolla

“I’m proud to call myself a regular here for happy hour from 4–5 pm. I’m vegetarian and skip the cheese, and I find the dishes incredibly tasty, inventive, and unadulterated. Everyone is so kind, and the whole bar has a great vibe. I recommend The Whaling Bar to everyone I end up talking food and drinks with. If you come after happy hour, the kale salad will not disappoint.“

“Very fun and lively atmosphere! The design is very well done. The food was great, I personally loved the oysters as they were served differently than I have experienced. The jalapeño Caesar salad was also amazing! Had a kick! Main dishes I enjoyed were the burger, and the chicken, very good and flavorful. Very fun and different cocktails to choose from along with fun zero proof options which is great if you do not drink alcohol. Service was spectacular, very kind, professional and knowledgeable about the menu. We will be coming back!“

“We loved our stay at the charming Cormorant Hotel! We enjoyed sitting on our deck which overlooked La Jolla Cove, shops and downtown LaJolla. The staff was really helpful and friendly; Megan went above and beyond to make sure our Anniversary stay was memorable with a welcome round of drinks to celebrate! Their Rooftop Restaurant, the Birdnest, was excellent as well, with great food and drinks and a view hard to beat! Note to travelers: as a smaller boutique hotel, there isn’t an elevator, but they do have a lift available, if needed.“

“Delicious, fresh food, made from scratch pasta, wood fired meat and pizzas....and outstanding service!“

“Great meal. Dessert was a wow.“

“Great food, wonderful service!“

“Food was delicious, but very portion limited. Perfect for me because I'm a small plate eater. Someone eats full meals may be either frustrated or leave hungry.

Wasn't at all busy. The server mostly left me alone (and went back to watching slot cars on TV). I saw him when he took my order, brought my food, and almost an hour when I had to ask him to get my check. Had I wanted anything else I'd have had to go find him. Perfectly fine vibe for me but not the best for a group.

The bathroom is a hard pass. Clean-ish but the handicap stall door didn't lock or even fully close. As someone with mobility issues this was a red flag.“

“This restaurant never disappoints us! Always amazing food and service! Love love coming here.“

“They put us in a windowless back room for Valentine's Day. Every couple in there looked super disappointed when they realized we were in a closed room (converted storage closet) next to the bathrooms. Also, I needed a steak knife to eat my chicken. The other items we ordered were drowning in chunks of raw garlic or syrupy sauce. Overall it was poor dining experience.“

“My bride and I just spent 4 nights at the hotel. It was very nice. The restaurant, to us, is the crown jewel. We had a superb dinner. The seafood was fabulous, our server (Steven) was a delight and of course the sunset! We had breakfast on our last morning and it was very good! We came here years ago when it was Elarios and we were not disappointed this time either! We will return!“