50 Best Bars in San Diego

“This was our second time at Bar Kamon and it is becoming one of our favorite cocktail bars in San Diego. The hospitality of the host and bartenders is superior to most bars in San Diego, the bartenders are very cool, polite, knowledgeable and eager to explain the drinks. Kamon is definitely doing the Japanese cocktail bar hospitality thing right. From diligently and promptly refilling our water glasses in between our drinks, to offering suggestions and asking for feedback on our cocktails, it's a very pleasant drinking experience.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“Fun atmosphere, fun drinks and great staff!“

“Loved our lunch at Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar at the Fashion Valley Mall! Such relaxing vibes, it feels like you’re on vacation. We had to get the frozen pina colada and Mai tai to match the vibe. We decided to do just appetizers and were very pleased with our choices of ahi tuna tacos, coconut shrimp, steak flatbread, and chicken tacos. Very friendly and accommodating service. Dog friendly. Recommend!“

“I visited the Good News Bar for the first time last week and returned again today. The customer service is phenomenal. Feli helped me both times and was incredibly patient while I decided on my order. She even remembered my drink from my last visit! Everyone here is welcoming and friendly, and the atmosphere is super chill—perfect for hanging out or studying.“

“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.“

“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!!!“

“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.“

“Great all around dining experience.“

“A Hidden Gem in an Office Park: A Night at The WineSeller & Brasserie You wouldn’t expect to find a culinary treasure tucked away in an office park, but The WineSeller defies all expectations. Downstairs, it’s a literal wine cellar where patrons can store their own bottles. Upstairs, you step into a dining room that feels like a delightful throwback to the ‘90s—nostalgic in the best possible way. What made our experience truly exceptional was the personalized seven-course tasting menu. Our friend had a collection of his own wines stored there and gave them to Lisa, the warm and welcoming owner. She and Chef Oscar then crafted a menu specifically to pair with those wines. The result was simply unforgettable. Every course was amazing, but a couple stood out as pure genius. One highlight was a half lobster served two ways: one side topped with beef tartare, the other with lobster tartare. As someone who loves tasting menus, I was blown away by the creativity. Another standout was the clams with chorizo in a broth that was just out of this world. And who knew chicken could be so extraordinary? The chicken roulade was unbelievably tender and flavorful. Finally, the venison with mole sauce was cooked to absolute perfection and left us all speechless. Chef Oscar’s talent and humility shone through each dish, and Lisa’s hospitality made the night even more special. While we didn’t try the regular menu, I have no doubt it’s just as delightful. If you’re looking for a unique dining experience with a personal touch, The WineSeller is a must-visit.“

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

“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!“

“Finally a bar that knows how to treat paying customers!!! Your stuff (Al and Sky)are on point with serving water and coming back to the table for fill ups. Food is solid! Other bars could take advice from you're management. Thank you and see you soon!“

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

“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.“

“All good dudes hang out at Clem’s.“

“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.“

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

“Everything about Fernside is great!“

“Literally one of the best cheeseburgers I’ve ever had. They delivered 25 min after my order was placed. Fries were still crispy!!! Very delicious.“

“Phenomenal food! Great atmosphere, kid friendly!“

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

“🙂👍 Rachel does a great job!“

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

“Very odd little place that has the best name. 🤣 We got a mix of cocktails and some snacks. Service was good, decor was definitely on the quirky side (Ronald McDonald says hi). I also had the No-loko which was a great caffeine boost for midday.“

“I’ve traveled all over the country and Bar Ella is far and above my favorite place to relax. The food, the atmosphere, the staff… all top notch and made the evening quite memorable. Congrats on your Grand Opening!! 🥂“

“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.“

“Omg the food is so good. I got the taco platter with tacos made of seitan and jack fruit. I’m not vegan. Everything was SO delicious. And even though two of the tacos had seitan, it was prepared differently and tasted different from each other. Even the black beans were so flavorful. Definitely a new favorite, for meat eaters and vegans/vegetarians alike!“

“We came here for the first time 2 years ago, and now we’re hooked! The locals are super friendly, and the food is inexpensive and good!“

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

“Favorite college neighborhood bar. Their natural wine selection is always on point as well as their beer selection. Food is delicious. I love that they always have seasonal menu items depending on what’s in season. Pool is free, AC kicks butt, and they have a great outdoor space if you ever did have a larger group. Dogs are also allowed which is nice if we ever wanna bring our pup.“

“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 👏🏻“

“They have the best Kombucha & usually incredible IPAs & Stout. Best brewery in SD. I host Kombucha or Beer & paint parties at this location. Join us, Search original art cafe nova on Eventbrite or Allevents for workshop times & location!“

“Really cool unique vibe & entry process! It's a pretty small venue so reservations are definitely required, and the drink menu is limited but definitely doesn't dissapoint. The process of getting allowed access into the establishment is wiiilddd LOL“

“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!“

“Music 4-5 nights a week!“

“Super fun place to celebrate anything!“

“The food and service is magnificent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“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 🤙🏼“

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

“I didn't try the food, but the cocktails were excellent. The beer list wasn't interesting, but they're a distillery not a brewery.

My wife's drink, something with Violet in the name, was pretty and delicious. I got a grapefruit drink that started out a touch too bitter, but became just right after a couple of sips. (See photos).

I also got a flight, because the Coastal Gin sounded good. I'm not a fan of the overly junipery English dry style; I like a more citrusy gin, and it hit the spot. My wife loved the rye whiskey too. We bought a bottle of the seasonal Torrey Pines gin.“

“Neighborhood dive bar that's always busy when we've gone there. Seat yourself and best to order at the bar. You can wait for a wait staff to come to your table but they are usually very busy and you might end up waiting for awhile.

It can be hard to find a table available at game time, especially if you have more than 4 people.

The price for drinks and food are still reasonable here so I think that's why it's a popular spot. Plus food aren't bad bar food either. I do like their wings and fries.“

“I love this place. Good drink prices, plenty of locals , live music, fun bartenders!“

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

“Fantastic Ramen. It's a must!!“

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