50 Best Bars near National City

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

“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 ?“

“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.“

“Used to go there after work at. USN. back in 1982-3. They had excellent chili and a great cheeseburger. I think it only cost a buck at the time😀“

“The dj knew exactly how to keep the crowd going. The drinks were amazing. A place that stays open much later the the normal 2am close time like others. People were friendly and willing to mingle. Even had a few games for people that were just there to enjoy the atmosphere“

“Great hidden gem in the heart of National City’s Market on 8th food hall!Excellent craft beer tap list goes along perfectly with the vast food options available in this open air food hall.Bar staff was very knowledgeable about craft beer and made some great recommendations.Came on a nearly 100 degree San Diego day and couldn’t even tell it was hot out with all the windows open & the cool ocean breeze blowing through.Highly recommend grabbing a beer here whenever you can“

“Food was delicious, service was great, place is clean. I will be back for more😋😋😋“

“Craft Bar Kamon is a speakeasy inside a Japanese bakery. It's on the smaller side with bar seating and maybe 15 tables. Three of us sat on the corner of the bar so we could talk. I'm very glad we sat at the bar as the bartender (Amadeus) was amazing. I would highly recommend sitting at the bar since the bartenders are incredibly knowledgable and fun to talk to. You won't get the same experience at a table. We had 6 different drinks among us so we could experience more of their craft cocktails. The clear winners were the Midnight Train to Shinjuku (a Japanese take on a spicy margarita) and the Lucky Goat (a goat cheese infused gin drink that had only a hint of goat cheese). For food, we had the Honey Koji Buffalo Cauliflower, Mediterranean Harumaki, Ceviche and the A5 Wagyu Surf and Turf Roll. The ceviche was the clear winner. It was excellent but definitely spicy. The harumaki was very good if you like lamb. The cauliflower was good but could have been crispier with more buffalo flavoring. The A5 surf and turf roll was good but it was a tad boring from a flavor perspective. Overall, we really enjoyed Bar Kamon and will definitely go back. It's a fun vibe with amazing bartenders and drinks.“

“Fun atmosphere, fun drinks and great staff!“

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

“One of my favorite bars in San Diego! They’ve got pretty much any whiskey you can think of, and the staff makes you feel right at home. Special shoutout to Lee — hands down one of the best bartenders in town.

There’s a fun arcade room, pool tables, and a laid-back outdoor patio with a local food truck. And I almost forgot — they have free popcorn! Solid vibes all around.“

“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.“

“Loved the store with super cute clothes for your female loved ones and bright colors for men but no big and tall. Loved the live music! The manager Ridicchio was hospitable and informative. We didn't have any food so I can't comment. And FYI make sure to check-in up front at mall entrance to start your tab.“

“I had an early dinner with my partner. We had a reserved table on the patio and the weather was perfect. We were warmly greeted by all the staff and made to feel welcome. 0ur waitress/server was so nice and made our evening so special. Several of the staff checked in on as as well and had pleasant conversations. The food/drinks were delicious and very prompt. It was so good we ordered a second serving! The prices were modest and we felt really good about our evening out. I recommend Happy Medium and will be a repeat customer.“

“this is an excellent spot for good conversation and relaxation. The bartendar Anna is great. She does a great job of explaining HOW to drink the special drinks they make, takes her time to help us make the right decisions and is very friendly. i highly recommend this place for a relaxing night.“

“Hated that my friend who was over fifty was refused to be served bec she forgot her ID. Really guys. I get the need to card ppl but at some point it is more flattering then necessary.“

“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.“

“Excellent food and very good service. Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. It was expensive for breakfast, but great for a special occasion.“

“Love the food joint that’s been added to this bar. Amazing food and people!“

“Great music! Fun space! Friendly staff. I would love to hang out here again.“

“Best burger ever. Juicy and perfect, don’t mess with it. Thick slice of tomato and onion lettuce mayo and sesame bun. It’s awesome!!!“

“Great all around dining experience.“

“Phenomenal food! Great atmosphere, kid friendly!“

“Cigar Bar

I have a cigar bar now! Very comfortable place. Reminded me of a California version of the Hudson Club on Manhattan’s LWS. Very large & beautiful humidor. Probably the best conditioned cigar I’ve smoked. Service was phenomenal and the people there were great. I will definitely be back.

Vibe - ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
Food & Drink - ☘️☘️☘️
Value - ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
Service - ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

Overall - ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️“

“All good dudes hang out at Clem’s.“

“It was my first time visiting Coin Haus, and I had an amazing time. The atmosphere was fun and full of good vibes. Jose, one of the staff members, was fantastic—he took the time to explain how everything worked and was super friendly throughout our visit, which made the experience even better. I will definitely be coming back, and I highly recommend this place if you’re looking for a great time with a welcoming atmosphere!“

“I dig the vibe here. Nice Long Bar, comfy chairs, big tvs, great service and the beer offerings are on point. My wife was also happy with the wine selections. The real Duece Bigelow here is the food, they have some kind of a magic man hiding behind two double doors in the kitchen whippin out delicious burgers and damn near whatever his heart desires. the menu is small but it'll cash your checks all day, everyday!

Go get in your car and drive to this place. NOW! Wager up to the bar and if you don't find yourself lacking, pick a nice comfy chair, a good beer and eat amazing food.“

“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.“

“Great aloha vibe, cocktail selection and live music. Perfect spot to chill with friends.“

“Definitely some good Negronis and cured meats. I only came in here for the drinks, but loved the vibe of the place and the Negronis were well made and well priced. Some great deals (including their meal deal that has a slider!) and their 3 espresso martini deal for $25.

I’d come back! Would love to try some of their full sandwich options next time.“

“What a great place!! We stumbled across this place when we were out to dinner. The staff is friendly and kind. The owner Deano does all the work with the awesome bands they host on the weekends. From Country to hard rock. We haven’t heard one band we haven’t loved. If your looking for a great bar with great music this is the place. Everyone is welcome in this bar. Great atmosphere and you can even order food and eat while while you listen to fantastic music or play pool and watch sports. This is a true fabulous neighborhood bar. Come And enjoy. Char and Mark Handy“

“Cocktails are great and the kale salad cannot be missed. I've just found on the last few visits the pizzas and patas are very tired though and haven't been changed in so long. Menu needs a little liven up. Wine by the ounce is so good though!“

“I have to compliment the Bar manager and GM who were working hard for us on a random monday night. Both were attentive and so pleasant :) Ive been to Tahona twice now and their birra taco is still my favorite. Also loved their speakeasy experience - excellent and unique cocktails!“

“They usually have good bands and a dear friend of mine does kareoke there and you meet a lot of nice people there and friends that you know and street tacos are great. The bartenders are all great. Service sometimes is slow but they pack house on werkends so get there early to get a seat i have recommened to get one more bartender on busy nights.“

“Every time I come in here, I wonder why I don't come more often. (Possibly the atmosphere, it's clean but not the coziest. No music or TV, not much to look at.) But the food, wow! I always get three different tacos, they're all loaded with such amazing flavors and textures. The fresh salsas are also spectacular. I need to start making this a weekly visit.“

“Everything about Fernside is great!“

“Best Sports bar in North Park! Food is fabulous, great drink selection, and they show soccer women’s soccer (with sound!!!)“

“🙂👍 Manny's an awesome bartender!“

“Excellent drinks.. beautiful view…come on down!!“

“I over the drinks, ambiance and location/space. I’ll return again soon.“

“the best brewery in the south bay!!! live bands and DJ are epic, you can chill or dance the night away! great options for beers and ciders!

Vegetarian options: ciders available for those who don't drink beer! like me, im vegetarian ✨️“

“This small brewery has become one of San Diego’s craft brewery icon in little over a decade of operation. A must try if you are in San Diego. Good beer selection from IPA to seltzers. They are known for their stouts, peanut chocolate stouts. It sounds crazy at first but when I first tried it little over a decade ago, it was nothing like anything I’ve tried. I’ve been a fan ever since.

Mostly friendly happy attentive staff. Dog friendly is a definite plus around here. Open concept of roll up doors brings the outside inside. Got a game room with pool table and taco stand outside, although it’s a little pricy.
4.4/5 ⭐️“

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

“Loved the space, the sound, and the people's energy. I look forward to djing and performing there again.“

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

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

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

“We ate breakfast here and had a beer. The breakfast was tasty for an airport establishment. It didn't look appealing, but actually tasted good. The best part was the Mexican Lager that an employee said was there favorite. It was delicious! Maybe the best beer I've ever had!“

“Super fun place to celebrate anything!“

“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 👏🏻“