43 Best Dive Bars in San Diego

“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.“

“Thank you so much Susie for the excellent service and being so helpful. You are an asset to the Red Fix Inn It was our first time but won’t be our last. From happy snd satisfied customers 😊“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Great beer selection awesome vibes and great service“

“Great staff, great atmosphere, great karaoke!“

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

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

“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.“

“The Catalina Lounge has been our "football hang-out" for the last few weeks and we've had a BLAST. Speaking of Blast-From-The-Past" we found two of our favorite bartenders here Brie and Brandon working the football crowd. It was refreshing to see that they remember all of us as soon as we walked in (by name!!!!) and what was also awesome they remembered what we drank, talk about those two making us feeling special. The ambiance on Sunday's is football, football, fun, and good times. During half time my husband and his friend like to play pool and additionally they put out some good eats (for FREEEEEEEEEEE) - yesterday it was nachos, 7 layer dip, juicy full size hot dogs (not the cheapies) and some yummy cookies and cakes. I don't know any other bar that goes that far. If you enjoy your SunFunDays watching games with friends (or by yourself, people are extra friendly there) having a ice cold beverage of choice and a GREAT time head on over.....Thanks AGAIN Brie and Brandon- you gave 10 PLUS service yesterday, see you NEXT Sunday!“

“I enjoyed this bar which is steps away from a beautiful path along the beach. You can't see the beach from the car but it's just steps away. I actually am a rubber duck collector which is why I wanted to stop by to get a drink with a rubber duck on it! (Note, they technically come with certain cocktail slushies but my server hooked me up with a ducky in my mocktail since I can't have alcohol right now).
We wanted to visit mostly for the duck fun but were pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. Everything was so tasty! My favorite was the ahi poke tacos but we also enjoyed the Aloha burger with upgrade to duck fat fries and the fish tacos. Every item was great. Would come back again!

Currently it's decked out for the holidays. Love the decor and atmosphere. Some places just put up a tree or wreath here or there but this place is extremely festive and I appreciate it. You can tell they really put a lot of love and care into making it as festive as possible. There's even tinsel on the legs of the tables and lots of Santa hats, ornaments, and presents everywhere. It was already so festive but I saw staff putting hats on some seats too. Even the bathroom mirror was decorated. Looks like they host trivia and other events too.

We came for a late lunch with our 7-month-old baby and it was very chill and our server was great. No high chairs but there's a changing table in the bathroom (yay). The place is clean and friendly. Looking forward to coming back and I recommend to anyone visiting Pacific Beach.“

“Best dive bar in San Diego“

“We only had a bag of chips, but the service was the best. Had a mom and pop feel. The bartender was the best we've had in a looooong time. He comes equiped with the best jokes. We came into town for the weekend and so glad we stopped by this lil bar. The other patrons were extremely friendly. If you're in town make a point to stop by.“

“I know I shouldn't write anything because I love to keep this place a secret. It's been great for years. But it got a lot better when they put the little mini arcade in awhile back. The whiskey collection will either blow your mind or your wallet. I've never seen anything in San Diego like it. The pop-up food vendors come and go, but they're typically really good if they're they're working. ...check the chef's hours. The bar staff has always been top notch. Personally, I'm older now and I prefer to go before 9:30 p.m. After that it's just a bunch of hipster younger adults or college kids, which then becomes a messy packed room of drunks. Unless you're into that. I used to be. Park in the lot next door only after the company that owns it closes. Leave your LA or SF vibes at the door.“

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

“Great local hangout!!! Great food!!!“

“A Fantastic down home little local sports bar with GREAT burgers, a friendly staff, large outdoor partially covered smoking area. It's Dog friendly, has a pool table, a jukebox and Lots of satelite feed TV's inside and out. At the stick you can watch almost any sporting event and enjoy!“

“My absolute favorite place“

“The Casbah is one of San Diego’s coolest, most iconic spots for live music. Since opening in 1989, it’s hosted tons of great bands in an intimate, dive bar setting. The small stage makes every performance feel personal, and the smoking patio at the venue entrance is a great spot to hang between sets. The bartenders are awesome, and they’ve got a solid beer selection. Plus, there’s a pool table if you want to kick back and relax before the show.

Don't miss a show here, Get $20 off your next show with code WITHTHEBAND on SEATGEEK.COM“

“Dive bar vibes, but good and very affordable non-blended cocktails. The bartender ladies are always AWESOME! Major props to them. They all work so hard. I’ve probably ordered from at least four of them and they’re all wonderful and attentive.“

“I wasn't aware they had food but the drinks were well made. The staff was super sweet and the music/ambience was fun. Everyone seemed to be in a great mood. No drama. Just relaxed vibe and good people. We will definitely be back to visit again soon.“

“This place is like Cheers. So many fun games to play as well“

“Halloween night at this place was nothing short of amazing. My friend and I decided we wanted to go out, aiming to stay close to home and within walking distance. Surprisingly, despite living just a few blocks away for years, it was our first time visiting. Early in the night, we both wondered how we hadn’t discovered this spot sooner. The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, while still fitting the vibe of a great dive bar, setting the perfect tone for the evening.

One of the highlights was Carol, our bartender for the night. She was fantastic—an absolute gem. Her attentiveness and dedication to making sure we had a great experience truly went above and beyond. Carol took the time to check on us frequently, making sure our drinks were perfect and that we had everything we needed. It was clear she genuinely cared about her patrons’ experiences, and her warm and friendly approach added so much to our night.

We couldn’t have asked for a better Halloween outing. The overall vibe, combined with Carol’s exceptional service, made it a memorable evening. We left wondering how this hidden gem had been right under our noses all these years and feeling excited to return. All in all, a great night was had, and we’re already planning our next visit.“

“Great staff, great food.... one if San Diegos hidden gems!!“

“GitrdunNfun dive bar. Cool bartenders and atmosphere. Sports, sports, televised sports and laughs. You'll catch viewing preferences in the opposite...at various times. Food is tasty but if you don't like it, Jack in the Crack is 20 footsteps next door.“

“Its a fun little place to go to before Padre games .. Dorothy ( I think thats her name ) is an AWESOME bartender.. The guy on the grill was funny too .. he can grill a burger 🍔 thats for sure !!“

“I love Nicole the bartender“

“Basic bar serving basically a few Mexican beers. For sure a dive bar with low prices and friendly service. Found it a good place to practice my Spanish with the folks there, if you are in the area and like to explore then put this one on your list.“

“Love love love this place. It’s the perfect mix of great drinks and mellow vibes always with shows next door. Instantly a perfect vibe for the weekend or last minute after work drink. Padded bar makes it a comfy spot, and Hannah is always pours well.“

“Great little tavern in South Park. Nice area, amazing old school vibe. Friendly staff, reasonable drink prices. Good music!“

“The best late night bar with food orders taken up to 12:30pm in the neighborhood!!!!
Great food and great people..........just saying!

Vegetarian options: Plenty of options available for late night bar food in Hillcrest.“

“Its in OB, what else is there to say? While all other beach hoods have terrible parking, you can always get close to lucys. But if you have to walk half a block, its like being in a Norman Rockwell hood if he was a chill beach hippie that liked tattoos and beer. Three pool tables. Avid and amenable local bar shooters. Solid tenders. Free pool on Tuesdays.“

“Honestly was not expecting to find this kind of vibe in Hillcrest. Free pool tables, great patio, not overcrowded, good selection of divey but not biker gang music at just the right volume to have light conversation, chill patrons, great drink specials, friendly service. Went on a Sunday night and Nico is a great bartender with helpful drink recommendations. I will definitely come back when I'm the area!“

“Unbeatable price for beer and the vibe is like the Midwest dive bars. The people here are really nice and friendly. And you get to play pool with a bunch of people. This is a nice place for us to go grab a drink and play pool within walking distance.“

“Great local fun hangout, bartenders are nice, food truck was great, all you need for a good local dive bar !!“

“best ol school bar in town!!“

“Always a great place to spend time!! Friendly staff. Always busy and the crowd is ever changing. I describe it as an ocean wave. The crowd washes in and washes out, then a new wave washes in and washes out. So there's always a new vibe.“

“Great neighborhood bar. I've gone there off and on for 30 years. One pool table. Touch Tunes jukebox, smoking area. Close to restaurants. Only packaged snacks are available. Affordable prices. An intimate and friendly atmosphere. This is a gay bar and welcoming to respectful non-gay clientele as well.“

“I’ve been literally obsessed with this place for the longest time. However, it’s EMBARRASSING that their playlist is repeating itself every hour-ish! Seriously!? Their busiest day!? The music was so much better when there was a DJ. He was really good. Bottomline is: if you’re going to save money, at least make a proper playing to avoid embarrassment. 😘“

“Better than ever! Grew up in the neighborhood and spent many nights there in the 80's and early 90's.I moved away in 92'. Back for a family reunion of sorts, and had to have a visit. Rosie's was still a great neighborhood hang out. Enjoy!“

“Love Jaime and the chill environment“