50 Best Beer Bars near National City

“In traveling around the US and Mexico, there are a few restaurants which stand out as memorable and indelibly so for the delicious food that they create plus in a manner and care that makes the flavors and texture just that much better.

We decided to try here for something different for breakfast add were we definitely pleased!

We started with the guava and cheese gelatte, a pastry that pleasure senses like a soft plushy sledgehammer. WOW!

The Smiley Christo, a tasty breakfast sandwich that I did not want to stop as well as the Mc Muff… that was even better!

All washed down with a Buko Pandan Latte, iced, and a B.S. Palo Santo Latte, hot.

What a great way to start our travels!

I recommend this place and even we make the same route shading someday. We’ll BE BACK!!“

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

“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.“

“Good job n thank you so much“

“My family and I had a wonderful experience. The food, drinks, atmosphere, staff and price were on point. We definitely will be back to this restaurant.“

“Freshly caught options. Minimal seating- but something opens up by the time your meal is done. Highly recommend.“

“Pretty standard craft brewery vibes with the awkward staff as a pairing. Nice quiet neighborhood, above average beer, certainly on the pricier side for a pint these days. Small coffee shop inside is a nice touch. Will stick with the occasional Harland can purchase at the store to bring home.“

“Happily went to the wrong location! Awesome beer!“

“First time at Board and Brew. Friends have raved. It is a winner. Fresh and tasty.“

“My roommate and I have been coming here for a while, it's easily one of our favorite regular spots. The atmosphere is stylish and gives off great vibes and always feels welcoming. The food is always fresh coming from local California farms. The drink menu is solid with all of the staples and some with added twists. The owners Chris and Jenn are amazing, they and their staff are always kind and provide incredible service. Other points to consider are the burger of the month, a rotating culinary delight often themed and always delicious, and the establishment holds many different events from art shows, drink and paint, trivia and so many others. Honestly, it's always a great place with friendly people. Chris and Jenn are leaders in the community and work to not only provide delicious food, and a great experience but also work hard to make the community better. Would recommend, and do recommend to everyone and anyone. 5/5 stars.“

“Great burgers, quick service. Good value for money.“

“Phenomenal food, fun atmosphere, excellent staff & owners. Highly recommend!“

“Outstanding service and food. The Juevos Rancheros with rice and beans were well portioned and delicious. The young lady serving us was helpful and attentive. New favorite!“

“great food and BBQ sauce 🙂“

“Great space and good beers. Always good for that sunset on the patio.“

“Comida riquísima!!! Authentically delicious! 🔥🇲🇽“

“Great food, great service. Can't go wrong here.“

“I had dinner here last night with my wife and 2 kids. The service was amazing. The guy was passionate about beer and made sure we got drinks that we liked. The tacos were very very good, the pesto pasta was good. Selecting beer by the oz was cool. It allowed us to sample things we might not usually try.
After we ate we moved out to the patio and the guy running the place turned on the fire pit for us while we enjoyed a few more drinks. 10/10“

“Place is fire. So many beers to choose from you don't even know where to start. I'd say ask the bartenders to pick your drinks for you. It's funner that way.“

“My sister and I were craving Japanese food, so she suggested Kumi Sushi Grill. I ordered a bento box with chicken teriyaki, yellowtail sashimi, and mixed tempura. My sister also got the chicken teriyaki bento box with mixed tempura, and fried gyoza. The Bento boxes come with miso soup and we also ordered Green Tea.
All I can say is everything was excellent. They give you 3 big pieces of yellowtail sashimi that melted like butter and their tempura was awesome.The portion sizes are huge. We should split a box. You can swe hiw much food my sister had in her to-go box. Mine was just as much food but not as pretty. I highly recommend this place.“

“This place serves 85 years of proven deliciousness. It is simple. It is hearty. These days, it is even out of the ordinary. Just go. You will be glad that you did. If you are like me, you’ll remember how Mom would heat the oven to 450 degrees and place the block of ice Hungry Man pot pie in the oven for one hour till it transformed into a cauldron of molten lava. My mother would even crack open the hood of the pie and load it with an extra cup of frozen peas and carrots that would cook to perfection in the heavenly inferno of scrumptious delight, which made me the muscular hunk of love that I am today. The San Diego Chicken Pie Shop serves up a pie that is an even better recipe than the one in my memories of my dear Mom. If your are nearby, give it a try.“

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

“One of my favorite bars in the city! Great cigars, deals on drinks, and a vibe that’s always chill but never boring. Staff makes you feel at home every time. I even love bringing in my board games here it’s the perfect spot to relax, hang with friends, and just enjoy the night. Easily one of my favorite bars in the city.“

“Really delicious and reasonably priced food. Love the fusion style. The Tokyo fries are one of my absolute fav things on the menu. As well as the fried kale and Banh mi 🤤 Decent beer, wine, teas, and specialty drinks.“

“We had an amazing experience, and a big part of that was thanks to Sergio! From the moment we sat down, he was attentive, friendly, and genuinely cared about making sure everything was perfect. His recommendations were spot on, and he checked in just the right amount without ever being intrusive. It’s rare to come across service like that—professional, warm, and efficient all at once.

Thank you, Sergio, for going above and beyond and making our visit so enjoyable. We’ll definitely be coming back!“

“Retro arcade conveniently located in La Mesa. Don't drink so can't speak to the beer selection but they have a wife variety of taps. If theres a beeryou wanted to try this is a phenomenal opportunity. Played for about 45 min, 2 ppl cost $27 incl good tip. Sundays are free play all day. I'll be back“

“Excellent service! The bartender at the rooftop bar was extremely friendly and kind and went above and beyond to make sure our group was attended to. The fire pit areas are so beautiful if you’re looking for a chill/lounge vibe with beautiful views in East Village.
We held an event there last year for the holidays, and the service and food were spot on. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a venue to host a large party or a small group of friends. Everyone can order what they want at the bar and they bring the food to you.“

“Hi I recommend this entirely“

“Very tasty beverages. Nice big ice cubes, made from tasty water. Friendly staff, and a back room shrouded in mystery...“

“Fresh fish and chips, a smash burger, an homemade ice cream sandwich and a view of the marina, only in San Diego. Ellie was so sweet and helpful and made some great recommendations. The smash burger was my favorite, super soft bun, a tangy sauce, grilled onions and pickles - everything I want in a smash burger. The fish and chips were super fresh, they use tallow for the French fries too, which I love! They have a great selections of beers on tap and you have to finish with the ice cream sandwich.
There is a view from every table on the patio as well. This would be a perfect stop for lunch after seaworld!“

“Awesome indoor + outdoor space with yummy food trucks, live music and friendly atmosphere.
Lots of drink options between the brewery & sour spot. Dogs allowed 🙏🏼 We had the best fried chicken sandwhich and with a dope band the other week. Want to go every weekend now…highly recommend!“

“Had a quick lunch here today. Yummy salad ( a bit heavy on the blue cheese, but fixable) fun ambiance and very helpful friendly staff. Would definitely recommend this place! Also, kind on my wallet which makes going here a no brainer!“

“Cheddar shrimp and grits were so good!“

“Love this bar! Outdoor seating is amazing I brought my dog and he had a great time too. Our server/bartender, Joe, was great! Super friendly, and knew the beer menu really well. I gave up drinking a few years back but was delighted to see 10 n/a beers on the menu. Great vibe, highly recommend!“

“My favorite Nashville hot chicken sandwich and tenders!!!!!!“

“A unique concept where not only is it a beer/liquor store but if you wish to buy the beer in the fridge and drink it on premise you pay a small corkage fee. This allowing you to try a variety of beer with a much lower price than the average bar while being able to take home said beer in a 4 or 6 pack. They also have a variety of cheese in the back and a sit down area tk relax and enjoy north park for what it truly is and feels like.“

“I picked up some ribs and a sandwich for dinner last night and the food was awesome as always. Portions were big enough that I had leftovers. Corbin O'Reilly and Vince always make me feel special!“

“What a surprise for just picking something off the map! Beautiful view, but the food was SO SO good, and a great price. We had the Baja shrimp taco- generously sized and perfectly dressed. The pastrami burger- oh my…the bun was perfect, the beef and pastrami delicious, and the ONIONS WERE OUT OF THIS WORLD(wish I could do mine this way. Even the grilled cheese was top notch, done with crispy cheese inside and great quality bread. Lastly, we had the potato pirogies which were crisp and toasty on the outside and creamy inside and the hopping sauce we could DRINK. The employees were very nice and service was swift. Probably the best, quick meal we have had traveling in 2700 miles. Much appreciated!“

“Great food, great atmosphere, and the staff is the best.“

“Love the food and amazing service ♥️one a my best place!!!!!!!“

“Great restaurant! Food, service were on point!“

“Good food. Great service !“

“A great chill place and outside they allow dogs. Usually decent bands on the weekends and no cover charge. It’s a great find and I recommend 🤙🏼“

“Laidback, good wine and friendly“

“Delicioso 😋 love it. Ambiente para familia, pareja incluso solos!!“

“Stopped into Mason Ale Works in Barrio Logan and was pleasantly surprised to see they had hard ciders on tap. I ordered a cider flight and was immediately in my happy place — great variety and a fun way to try a few different flavors.

The bartender was super friendly, and the whole vibe was casual and fun, the kind of place you end up staying longer than planned.

Even better, you can grab tacos from Tacos El Villasana out back and enjoy them on the patio with your drinks.

Great little spot to hang out for a bit. 🍻“

“Love this place!! And great 🍕 pizza“

“Love all the art 🙂👍“

“Great beer and good food! They also promote several social mixers. Definitely going back“

“I attended an event at Meraki last night and absolutely loved the space! It’s beautifully clean, open, and so versatile—you can really make it your own. The food was delicious A++ (my favorite was the Fettuccine Alfredo) and the service was truly top notch. Such a great experience from start to finish. Highly recommend!“