50 Best Bars in San Diego

“Great food, service, atmosphere, and view.“

“Normally I like to keep gems like this to myself, but walking through literal back alleys in San Diego to be introduced to this incredible Hi-Fi listening speakeasy was just too awesome and I hope everyone I love gets a chance to get on the reservation list, stat. I'm a speakeasy veteran with a coast to coast cocktail sipping resume that spans from SF to Boston and New Orleans to Chicago, and this spot has definitely landed in my top ten. The atmosphere, the staff, the tunes, and the drinks are all so special and perfectly curated for maximum delight. Every aspect of CMB is comfortable and balanced, and so very easy to enjoy. They found a great groove and kept it going.“

“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.“

“We had a business dinner here and I'm still thinking about the whole experience a week later. The food is a culinary explosion in your mouth. Highly recommend getting several things and sharing with the table. The risotto and seafood pasta were incredible. I cannot even describe the flavors. The cocktails were also indescribably brilliant. Our server was perfect. She was friendly but professional. She had the perfect balance of being on top of everything, but not being on top of us. All around perfect experience.“

“We had an absolutely wonderful experience here. Our server (I believe his name was Carter) was exceptional and very accommodating. All the dishes we ordered were delicious and flavorful. They also have a wide array of tasty cocktails to choose from. The only critique I have is the portion size. I don't mind paying a premium and I acknowledge the quality but the value should be commensurate with the cost. Otherwise, we had an excellent experience. Highly recommend.“

“Kaon Kraft is an absolute gem! This Japanese-themed speakeasy has a beautiful atmosphere and an amazing vibe that instantly sets the mood. The drinks were outstanding—highly recommend the Nina, which was perfectly crafted, and my partner loved the old fashioned. We also tried the buffalo cauliflower, and it was exceptional. This place is a must-visit for anyone looking for a unique and memorable cocktail experience!

Vegetarian options: There are vegetarian options available.

Parking: Hard to find street parking.

Kid-friendliness: This establishment is not kid friendly.

Wheelchair accessibility: This establishment was wheelchair accessible.“

“Fabulous oysters! Definitely worth the wait!“

“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.“

“Very delicious food, and good service.

Food: We had the duck curry noodles and charred pork fried rice. The duck curry was by far the best as it had much more interesting flavors. The second dish was okay, though flavor profile wise it wasn’t as exciting—if I’d recommend one over the other I’d say go for the duck! But both are good. We also had fried wings as appetizers, that was also amazing and the sauce was great.

Service: A bit slow. They were really accommodating about us changing our reservation time to move it up earlier in the night. This we appreciated. But it looked like there was only 1 server and two bussers(?) servicing the whole place. Even though it was a weeknight, it still felt understaffed. Even though the service provided by our server was amazing when we had him, unfortunately he was busy half the time. And food took 30-40 minutes to come out, so I suspect the kitchen had the same issue. If this is a common occurrence then I believe the business owner should have more people on staff if they want to improve the service. I don’t blame our waiter, moreso whoever’s managing the schedules.“

“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.“

“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.“

“The cocktails were delicious, once I was finally inside, the small bar atmosphere was great. But the San Diego Speakeasy thing was already wearing on me after this had to have been the 8th "speakeasy" I had been to in as many days, so I know my heart wasn't in it for that part.“

“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.“

“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.“

“One of my favorite spots in SD!
Great coffee in the morning and some nice breakfast options. Delicious drinks and friendly bartenders in the afternoon/evening. I made new friends here, since the place has a lot of regulars. Highly recommend!
PS: try the meatballs!“

“Phenomenal food! Great atmosphere, kid friendly!“

“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!“

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

“It was an absolute delight. The service was quick and courteous. I had the Taco Platter sampler - the suggestions were spot on. I then got the Cali burrito and Quesadilla to go. Everything was fresh and tasty. Would definitely go there again the next time I have the opportunity.

Vegetarian options: Excellent vegan (plant-based) food.

Dietary restrictions: Non-dairy, vegan, plant-based.“

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

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

“Had a date night here because of a TikTok we had seen. The concept was original. A three course meal inspired drink menu. The TikTok I had seen was 3 custom drinks according to your liking and style. However, the first and third course are now “picked” for you. I was able to make some adjustments to my third however my boyfriend and i still decided to switch, as it was too strong for my liking. Id also like to add that our bartender had left for a break. I feel like this is important because he had got to know us for the first two courses that I feel like my third course would've been tailored a lot better with someone that was more so my style, which is the whole concept. My second course, that's completely tailored to you, was perfect. I asked for tropical, creamy, sweet but not overly sweet, and tart. I got exactly what I asked for! If I came again and my bartender took a break I would simply just ask if I could wait for mine to come back because of them simply getting to know you and your palate for drinks. But overall, the experience was amazing and I'm thinking of coming back with a group for my birthday.... Also, they do not have any food just “snacks”given for a palate cleanser.“

“🙂👍 Manny's an awesome bartender!“

“Everything about Fernside is great!“

“🙂👍 Rachel does a great job!“

“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 👏🏻“

“Depending on the day you will see some seedy characters. People of the streets often frequent this bar. But it is a neighborhood bar and the drinks are inexpensive and have a decent amount of alcohol in them. It is worth it to stop by and have a drink or two after a hard day.“

“I love Tahona Bar! Their food and cocktails are so unique and they use such high-quality ingredients. I'm obsessed with their corn croquettes. They also do group events--- I had my wedding welcome party/post-rehearsal dinner here and it was amazing! They were willing to customize our menu to our preferences, and it was super easy to plan. We rented out the restaurant for about 50 people, and we just had to meet a food and drink minimum, so we had an open bar and buffet-style full dinner service. The manager Zach and the staff were so friendly and attentive! All of our guests loved the space and the food and drink! It was also the perfect size for our group. Highly recommend doing events here, or just coming for drinks or dinner!“

“Cocktails were good. Service was great! Ordered Brisket tots-chos and it's advertised as $19 on their online menu but we got charged $20, not a big deal but it makes me dislike how we're just asked to sign an amount when you don't know how much you're really paying.“

“Had a great breakfast before a day of adventuring. The dining room is comfy and inviting, the staff lovely and my oats a perfect balance for the day. We also had the frittata which was massive. Overall a great experience and fine way to start the day“

“Our first time to visit Nicolosi's and we loved it! Went to the Gaslamp location - a short walk from our home. We got there in time to try the Happy Hour appetizers offered so we opted for a pepperoni pizza to start. Four pieces - just the right amount to share with our friends. It was delicious! The crust was perfect - thin but still some chew to it and really good. We will definitely keep this place in mind when seeking out pizza again! I had the trio pasta dish - spaghetti, lasagna & raviolis - I must say the best raviolis I've ever had. One was meat-filled and the other cheese and I'd go back for the meat-filled anytime! My husband had the spaghetti & meatballs and he really enjoyed it. Our friends - one had the chicken, peppers & linguine and the other the chicken marsala - both loved their choices. I would say you can't go wrong with whatever you select! The place wasn't busy at all though for a Friday night - too bad! I hope they make it in the Gaslamp!“

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

“I just celebrated my bday at Trailer Park After Dark and reserved the small trailer for my party. Blake and the bar staff went above and beyond to make this night special for us and accommodated all of my requests...I was worried I was being high maintenance but they came through and hung up a pinata I brought, set up this birthday backdrop I dropped off to take photos in front of and they even had a photo booth they set up for us. Everything came together so perfectly! I couldnt have asked for a more perfect night! We all had a blast! You should def consider this place for any event or just a night out with friends. Thanks again TPAD!!“

“This is my favorite hole in the wall bar in Logan. Best michelada, great music, someones always putting money in the jukebox and corridos always playing. Plus they have a small pool table in there. CASH ONLY THO! Plus they have regular beer only no craft stuff like all the other bars do...“

“Great beer selection awesome vibes and great service“

“Old dive bar! Been goin here for awhile… 25 plus years! Xoxox.. glad they cleaned it up but kept the dive feel“

“Spectacular.💯 Amazing views of Petco. Great staff.“

“Great staff, great atmosphere, great karaoke!“

“disclaimer, this is a bathroom review, line was short, bathroom was clean, plenty of soap, toilet covers and paper towels, toilet paper. Very colorful graffiti, lots of character in this bathroom. Overall fun and safe vibes, and the bathroom itself is pretty quiet if you even just need a little moment of peace✨️
would definitely come back to hang out with a drink. really lively, everyone seems like they're having a good time, people playing pool and being outgoing.“

“Cool Spot! Always an interesting spot to hang out, have a few pops and people watch...“

“First time back in 19 years to what used to be our Tuesday date night spot. Still a great bar.“

“Great service great food will be back soon.“

“Im remise to review this place honestly. For others might taint that which makes Cherry Bomb.
What it is not:
It is not a place for cheap drinks.
It is not a place for popular music.
It is not a place for topical conversation.
And I love it for all that it is not.
If you don't get it. Don't bring it. Leave it be. As for me. It's my new secret spot.“

“Best dive bar in San Diego“

“This is a awesome place to grave a beer with friends. They also have bowling lanes. I like the big open feel. Waiting on my food but great service and variety of food and drinks. Highly recommend making this a pit stop or a regular hang out.“

“I have been to Fisher’s three times and I am very impressed with the food, service and ambiance. I highly recommend this restaurant.“

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