50 Best Bars near Santee

“Casual, fun, good music, cool workers.“

“If you like whiskey then you gotta try Woodson Whiskey 🥃 🔥 Back home in Nor Cal, the liquor stores sell out same day it’s delivered and I can see why. My husband is a chef & uses it as a marinade… and let me tell you, it’s 🔥🔥🔥“

“The beers were good and the atmosphere was also excellent. There was a private event in the 'dance hall' so can't comment on that but those folks seemed to be having a good time.
The food options were good. I had the loaded nachos with BBQ pulled chicken. Pretty good.
I'd go again.“

“The Alibi is no longer, it is now the Malt House. What a refreshing difference. From the lighting to the layout this place is fab. They have pool and shuffle board and plenty of TVs for all of the sports fans. The bartender that I met is Eric and he is a really nice guy. He is courteous, sociable and efficient, these are qualities all bartenders should have. For those of us who were not regulars of the Alibi were not treated very well by the night bartender Laura. Well, she's no longer tending bar and it's a whole new atmosphere. If you're going to Santee or even just passing through I recommend a visit to the Malt House. Oh, I almost forgot, the bathrooms and patio that were in desperate need of an overhaul were remodeled, job very well done. I will definitely be patronizing the Malt House more often.“

“Outstanding service and food was very good! Great atmosphere 😊“

“Relaxed atmosphere, and quick service. Server took and delivered my order fast, and made sure had everything I needed.“

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

“Fun atmosphere, fun drinks and great staff!“

“Absolutely outstanding experience at The Tower Bar! From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm, stylish, and inviting. The staff were incredibly attentive and friendly, making sure everything was perfect throughout the visit. The drinks were expertly crafted—balanced, creative, and beautifully presented. The food was just as impressive, with every dish full of flavor and clearly made with care.

What really sets this place apart is the vibe—perfect for relaxing with friends or enjoying a special night out. Everything felt top-notch, from service to ambiance. I’ll definitely be coming back. Highly recommended!
★★★★★“

“All good dudes hang out at Clem’s.“

“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“

“Everything about Fernside is great!“

“My wife and I stumbled upon Majorette while exploring Rolando Village. It looks like a dive bar, but it has a really good beer selection and great food. I'm a fried chicken sandwich snob, and it doesn't get much better than their fried chicken thigh sando. The only real option for my wife (who is vegetarian) was the grilled cheese sandwich. While it was delicious, it would be nice if they would at least offer an Impossible burger substitute for their smash burger. I also wish they were open for lunch instead of just dinner, but such is life. We will definitely be back soon!“

“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 great place!! We stumbled across this place when we were out to dinner. The staff is friendly and kind. The owner Deano does all the work with the awesome bands they host on the weekends. From Country to hard rock. We haven’t heard one band we haven’t loved. If your looking for a great bar with great music this is the place. Everyone is welcome in this bar. Great atmosphere and you can even order food and eat while while you listen to fantastic music or play pool and watch sports. This is a true fabulous neighborhood bar. Come And enjoy. Char and Mark Handy“

“Music 4-5 nights a week!“

“First time going here! I was skeptical at first because it’s a bit smaller than i’d like, but it turns out its a lot of fun and not as intimidating as the bigger places and $7 for 1 good sized beer, that’s a good deal! I will be returning soon, so much fun and they play plenty of todays hits and songs I know how to dance to, also no cover charge on Wednesdays!!“

“The girl with purple hair with no name tag was very attentive. This was on a Tuesday night. The atmosphere was very chilled. She was amazing 👏
Also very fast on serving my drinks. I will definitely cone back again. The wings were phenomenal!!“

“🙂👍 Manny's an awesome bartender!“

“great Club to play music at. Friendly staff and patronage“

“good place to eat and relax“

“5 out of 5 for stars.... best hidden gem in San Diego“

“This is my kind of place! It's cozy, the person at the door and the bartenders were friendly and welcoming, the beers were *reasonably priced*. There were a couple of street taco vendors outside, where we had some delicious tacos during the band's break (just enough room in front of the stage to dance!). I'll be back, for sure park nearby, in a well-lighted area and have someone walk you to your car when you leave. Better yet, rideshare. The area can be sketch. Just saying. Besides, the money you save on the drinks will more than pay for your Lyft or Uber.“

“I Came Here For Fundraiser Benefit For My Family Member Gabe Garza. We Appreciate The Love And Kindness From This Awesome Little Bar In Lemon Grove. I Definitely Can See Why Gabe Loved This Joint. Oh Yeah The Bar Tenders Are Hard Working & Very Kind. I Seriously Like How You Feel Welcomed Her. I Definitely Recommend This Place.“

“They have about 20 beers on tap. I asked for a mule, was recommended the Dublin Mule (Proper No. 12 Apple Whiskey, ginger beer, & lime) and it's one of the best drink recommendations I've ever had! We also got a Guinness & it was great.“

“THANK YOU CINDY ❤️I won $466 in my first try gambling. Good luck to anyone returning or first visiting. I passed by here while getting my cars windows tinted and I would never regret the comfy environment they introduced me in.Served the special they had on the board and beers I was happy with entering and leaving.The taco shop next door served me rolled tacos fast so If your hungry that’s ++Chill served liquor is available. Games like Pool and table tennis or ping pong are at the ready with regulars. A lot of hugs I notice.Small but cozy with food on the side ~Zen“

“Laidback, good wine and friendly“

“Great little dive bar with awesome live music and reasonably priced drinks. Friendly staff and dedicated owner who has improved the place continually since he bought it.“

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

“great service.....small crowds. the best part is that they have a fuzzball table. whatever you do, do not do not play against Ms. Tracy Osborn. The women will take your soul! great bar“

“A local fav! Laidback friendly atmosphere.“

“Visiting this fest in particular was a first for me. I thought they did a good job about having variety among vendors. It would be nice to see more authentic oktoberfest food options, although I'm new to CA so- not sure if that cuisine is here or not. Great Brat/Sausage varieties and a couple pretzel spots. That was the most I saw within Bavarian cuisine though.

Could also use some seating or public restroom Options outside of the ticketed Beirgarten areas. Overall a nice visit though.“

“I love coming to Grover's Tavern to grab an Ice cold $10 mini pitcher of space dust or modelo, when the beautiful bartender Ruby is working.On Friday Night's & Sunday afternoon's She is a whole vibe. Her happy, positive energy is contagious & unforgettable. What a wonderful time it is when Ruby is serving her specialty drinks while providing amazing spectacular hospitality. She is pure Gold. Ruby Keep shining bright like a diamond ?“

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

“This has become a favorite spot for our family. They’re always adding new menu items, and the staff is consistently kind and welcoming to both us and our kids. It’s a great casual sushi restaurant for families who want to try different dishes without spending a fortune.

We appreciate having an affordable local restaurant where we can enjoy a fun night out without breaking the bank.“

“If you’re looking for a spot with great vibes, good people, and live music, Poway Irish Pub is the place to be. I’ve been coming here every weekend, and it never disappoints. The live bands always bring energy, the pool tables keep things fun, and it’s super easy to meet and socialize with genuinely cool people.

It’s one of those rare places where you can just relax, enjoy the music, play a few games, and feel right at home.
Definitely my go to weekend spot, highly recommend checking it out!“

“Been going to Kelly's for a few years now and mad a few friends here. The ladies behind the bar are all friendly, gorgeous and good people. I never have an empty glass when at Kelly's and prices are affordable.

Kelly's has fresh popcorn but doesn't serve food. There is a Mexican Take-out next door though if you get hungry.

-Tiny-“

“Good people and great location. The owner is great . Definitely recommended“

“Great dive bar, easy access off and on the freeway and a great oasis on the way to magnolia to see a concert Friendly staff as well as the patrons“

“Was ORIGINALLY disappointed because they didn't serve liquor. HOWEVER, they do have wine and 'sporty bombs', which were actually pretty tasty (shot of sake and cider). Otherwise, have domestics on draft plus a few IPA varieties (Elysian 'Spacedust' and Sculpin in bottle). The two pool tables are clean ($.75/game) and even. Although the place puts 'dive' in dive bar, the atmosphere was pretty cool! Good conversation with the other patrons there and the jukebox selection was a good variety. Look... it is not your typical downtown or PB location, but since I only live“

“I love their chicken wings mostly, with buffalo sauce. Other recommendations include their mac n cheese, chicken alfredo, and loaded fries.“

“The staff and the vibe here are great! I was skeptical when ownership changed from Space bar but it was an improvement. Great bands, great energy and great bartenders. Rachel, Lex and Ian are some of my favorite people to interact with when they’re bartending. The Dive bar experience is exactly what you would want! Also they do happy hour all day on Mondays!“

“Although service is slow and you need plenty of patience. They only have one bartender at a time She's awfully busy and never stops. The She's great at what she does. never misses a beat. I like that she cleans my glass before she serves my wine.“

“Lived in San Diego for decades. Rarely went out but always passed Chicos. Finally went there. Just found a neighborhood watering hole. Met a nice regular, a chef from the Grant. Bartender was great. Using the website, he made the unique frappe I asked for. Next it was beer for me. The selection was good and prices more than competitive. There are several pool tables and the Padre game was on the biggest screen. We'll be going back.“

“Why Pete’s Place is My Favorite Spot!
The drinks are always tasty and served insanely fast! Jesse is hands down my favorite bartender: incredible bartender with the best personality! Michelle is an absolute angel. I’m so grateful to be so close to the best bar in LaMesa !!“

“Fun af. Partner went in. We’re gay. Really welcoming straight pool bar. Won 2. Lost 1. lol. For all you straight dudes…. Couple hot women. Nothing Special. Not a hook up bar. Have gone back several times. Clean. Parking great. Fair prices. Amazing pool players. Check it out.“

“Awesome place to watch games! Bar is pretty big and the service is great! Would def come back, the atmosphere was phenomenal! I got the burger of the month and had two patties, which made me happy and full. But I was expecting the burger to have more flavor, the patties tasted like plain meat and unseasoned. But I would still go back and try other items on their menu.“

“I really want to absolutely love this place but I’ve come in twice during karaoke and had to leave due to headaches caused by the sound system being way too loud or not mixed well for higher harsher tones. Never left a review like this but hoping it helps. I want to come back and not have to leave because my head hurts. Hope you guys can figure out the sound a little better. Love the place though!“

“Love Jaime and the chill environment“

“Great local spot for beer and wine lovers The atmosphere is always welcoming, and it's become one of mny favorite places to relax and grab a drink. I've been coming here for quite a while, and it never disappoints. Arturo is a great guy who realy helps make the place feel friendly and inviting There's usually something fun going on, which keeps the vibe lively, and there are also some really good local food spots nearby, so it's perfect for hanging out and exploring the area a bit after your drink.“