Part Time Lover
3829 30th St, San Diego
(619) 932-4434
Recent Reviews
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This place has great vibes and music, they were spinning vinyl which is a lost art these days. The bar tender Nick was quick, entertaining, poured a great drink and is a total babe! The art deco style and warm lighting made for a great atmosphere. The record store in the back was awesome to enjoy a cocktail while flipping through records. If you haven’t been…go!
Love this spot! I can browse thru vinyls and get a drink at the same time. They have great vinyl selection. Found rare Brazilian records at the store.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
As a San Diego local and longtime supporter of CH Projects venues, I’ve always enjoyed bringing out-of-town friends to showcase the creative drinks, atmosphere, and design your locations are known for. Unfortunately, my most recent visit to Part Time Lover on Tuesday night (around 11 PM) was extremely disappointing and far below the level of professionalism I’ve come to expect from CH Projects establishments.
Upon arriving, the crowd was typical, a little something going on but not overwhelming. I patiently waited for my turn at the bar when I heard Gabe, the manager, say something to us. I must have misunderstood, as when I asked a quick question, he abruptly cut me off, raising his voice slightly with, “I’LL BE RIGHT WITH YOU.” His tone was unnecessarily sharp, leaving me, and my guests, stunned by the lack of basic courtesy.
When a female bartender approached, she was friendly at first and answered my initial question. However, once we began describing a specialty drink we couldn’t recall by name (one we’ve ordered many times before as regulars), her demeanor shifted to irritation. She looked to Gabe for clarification, to which he dismissively responded, “Babe, I’m the manager, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but we don’t have it, so I don’t know what to tell you, babe.” Shrugging his shoulders and expressions very carelessly
Calling paying guests “babe” is unprofessional and inappropriate, especially when paired with such a dismissive attitude. At a minimum, a manager should be able to:
1. Speak to guests respectfully and professionally.
2. Offer recommendations or substitutions if an item is unavailable—especially in a cocktail-forward establishment like yours.
As a bartender myself, I was shocked by his response. Providing suggestions and being knowledgeable about the menu is a basic standard in this industry, particularly for a manager representing a CH Projects venue.
When we mentioned we’ve ordered this drink multiple times before, we still apologized unnecessarily, simply trying to de-escalate the uncomfortable tension. The bartender then stated, “I’m new, so I don’t know,” which, while understandable, could have been handled with more professionalism. When I asked for the manager’s name, she shouted several names across the bar in a condescending manner, then whispered Gabe’s name as though reluctant to confirm it. This happened twice as I asked her to repeat specifically his name only, and she shouted both times trying to intimidate and embarrass the group.
For the remainder of the night, the staff’s behavior continued to feel unwelcoming. My friends and I noticed both bartenders exchanging looks, whispering as they passed by, and deliberately avoiding our table. Despite this treatment, I still tipped appropriately out of respect for the industry. However, it did not go unnoticed that our table was the only one not being cleared of empty glasses, even as bartenders bussed every other table around us. Gabe passed by multiple times, making visible annoyed expressions.
The entire experience felt unprofessional, unwelcoming, and contrary to the level of hospitality CH Projects is known for. I understand that busy nights can be stressful, but guest service should never feel hostile or uncomfortable. My out-of-town friends were shocked, and as a loyal local guest who has always recommended your venues, this was genuinely disappointing.
I sincerely hope this feedback is taken seriously. Your locations have a great reputation for creative drinks and atmosphere, but service like this undermines everything else. Basic hospitality and professional guest interaction should be standard, especially from management.
Service: 1
★★★★★ (5/5 stars)
Awesome speakeasy-style cocktail bar with a cool, hip vibe. The drinks were unique and expertly crafted — we had the Grave Robber, Tunnel Vision, and Espresso Martini, and all were fantastic. Prices were totally fair for the quality and service. Definitely coming back.
This place is definitely for the vibes for a drink or two as it’s quite pricey. You do feel like you’re stepping back in time, very retro. Artisanal drinks taking awhile to make for about $17 a drink. Super cute record store in the back with a variety of records ranging from $25-$45. Great music and friendly staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A speakeasy on 30th. great drinks
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 4
Was such a fun experience.
You get ID'ed by the door. Make sure you have your physical ID not a digital copy. When you go inside, it is a seat yourself wherever you want. It is more of a community seating vibe. It was nice, it felt like everyone was sitting together in a way. The drinks were fire. The DJ was playing great music. All in all was such a fun night.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 4
Good drinks, nice environment.Nice decorations.I even had to buy a record.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bartenders and staff are great. The drinks are delightful and yet the place is so over crowded it leaves everyone feeling a bit hostile for a seat.
Great bar with great drinks and even better music. There's often a line, don't let it deter you, it moves quite quickly. The inside can get packed but you'll always be able to get a drink. Enjoy the music and ambiance inside :)
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Cool atmosphere and vibe. Great music selections.
Atmosphere: 5
I have been to Part Time Lover on several occasions and always enjoyed my experience there.
Last night I went and ordered drinks for a friend and I from the tall male staff member wearing a Disney lion king shirt. A different bartender made the drinks and served it to us. The drinks looked different from what we have received in the past, and I attempted to let the bartender know that we may have received the wrong drinks. The bartender turned to the first staff member in the Disney shirt who took our order, who then took the drinks from the bartender and aggressively slammed them on the countertop in front of us while repeating the name of the drinks before then walking away. The bartender then also walked away.
As a person who has worked in the service industry for 3+ years, this interaction made me feel unsettled and uncomfortable. Even if I had ordered the wrong drink, I would have appreciated a simple clarification on what we were receiving. Spending nearly $40 for two drinks and then being subjected to an aggressive outburst/being treated badly is in such poor taste. I cannot imagine ever treating a customer this way. I do not anticipate returning in the future.
Drinks were absolutely delicious!
Atmosphere is very cozy and classy!
Highly recommend checking this place out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service was a little slow. Japanese spirit focused cocktails. Very cool retro vibe . Cool little used vinyl shop in the back.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 3
Same owners as The Lafayette Club. I appreciate all the detail that went into the space and that they kept the record store. My traveling partner found a record she had been looking for for years! Go earlier if you want a nice cozy spot. We heard this place gets busy but we went before dinner reservations across the street.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
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