36 Best Cocktail Bars near Santee

“I went to the Full Circle Saloon and they played this degrading song that said “A lap dance is better when the stripper is crying. Well I find it quite a thrill when she grinds me against her will.” More lyrics from this song say ” I told Bambi I wanted to skin her….. and wear her face like a mask. I have to admit it was even more of a turn-on when I found out she was doin’ me to buy baby formula.” This is a a song appropriate for serial killers and John’s who rape sex workers who are forced by their situation to work against their will. The bartender was angry and irritated with me when I asked to him to please turn it off. Two other female workers were unconcerned. The Female owner Michelle Bailey said she will not be a song N*** and did not offer to do anything about it. Oh She said there is a guy there that likes to play this song when he plays pool. If people there accept this happening I will vote by not going there.“

“God, everything is delicious! I used to work in front of the restaurant so I’ve tried many options on the menu and today I drove from home (UTC La Jolla) just to have the steak and eggs burrito plus I took one carne assada burrito to go. Without mentioning their sauces are the best. I don’t mind driving from home bc the quality is the best in the city - it’s extremely fresh! 5 starts ❤️🙏 thank you for making me so happy! 🤤“

“Immediately fell in love with this quaint and chicly decorated speakeasy lounge. The staff was incredibly personable and helpful. The vibe was relaxed and unassuming. When I made the reservation, it was noted that there is a 1.5 hour limit on the table. Thankfully, Botanica isn’t incredibly stringent about this rule as it gave us more time to eat, drink and be merry. My friend and I split the bill and I paid $87.49 with tip included.

Here’s what we had:
Blistered shishito peppers - mild spice but flavorful

New York strip yakitori - ordered two of these because they were that good! The steak was tender and the sauce rendered an umami flavor

Botanika roll - tasted fine, but it ate one note. You can taste the citrusy parts but not much else.

Mochi dessert - you can only get dessert if you order the pre fixe chef menu, but since our waitress didn’t know this, she put the order in and gave it to us! We were incredibly grateful because it was the perfect end to a good meal

For cocktails we ordered Spirited Away, Dragon of the West, Kyoko Sakura & Heads will Roll. All of the cocktails were beautifully presented and quite tasty.“

“Amazing meal! We ordered 3 meze and 2 mains. The fish of the day was a Turkish branzino and was delicious. Everything was super flavorful and our server gave us feedback on the order (suggesting a few changes) which was much appreciated. The Bosforo kebap was hands down the best item we ordered but the eggplant atom was a close second.

Highly recommend getting a reservation.“

“Relaxed atmosphere with live entertainment, reasonably priced drinks and friendly staff“

“What a fun local pub and the BEST girl bartender! Had the Guinness. Went on a Wednesday afternoon/ night and it was hoppin.. Highly recommend.“

“Fun atmosphere, fun drinks and great staff!“

“🙂👍 Manny's an awesome bartender!“

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

“The food is so good! 100% recommend the vodka sauce! Stuffed mushrooms are fantastic. Ambiance is fabulous and service is so good. Alex was our server, he’s a keeper. This is our new go to Italian restaurant.“

“Love this place, the owners and the bartenders. Amazing Blood Mary's and breakfast.“

“I had long time that I didn't really like going out until I came across this place it's very welcoming and the vibes are great I also feel taken care by the bartenders nino and nena are great and friendly. I just love how comfortable and safe I feel there 😊“

“My favorite dive bar no doubt ! Great drinks, great atmosphere, love the kareoke and dj nights. Pisces is the best bartender, she is always so welcoming, makes excellent drinks, and makes every visit to Shooters a good time. I always enjoy coming here and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great local spot.“

“All good dudes hang out at Clem’s.“

“Kensington Club delivers an exceptional experience from start to finish. The ambiance is elegant yet welcoming, making it perfect for both relaxed evenings and special occasions. The staff are attentive, professional, and genuinely friendly, ensuring every guest feels valued. The food and drinks are top-notch, with great attention to quality and presentation. Everything runs smoothly, creating a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere throughout. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a premium and memorable experience.“

“Everything about Fernside is great!“

“This is one of our favorite places to take friends when they come to visit. We took our parents last night, and it was perfect. The patio is the best place (I think) to enjoy a meal and the buzz of La Mesa. We happened to come when they were doing an outdoor street concert. The energy was perfect!
Our favorite thing to order is the La Reina molcajete. It's cheesy deliciousness and we ended up eating our leftovers for days. We tried the La Jefa version last night. Still very good and plenty for two people. I love all the fun cocktails you can order, and the service is exactly what you'd expect for a CRG restaurant - friendly and attentive.
Restrooms are clean, there is plenty of parking behind the restaurant, and the food is wonderful.“

“Its a dive bar. Not terrible, but very dive bar ish. I've seen a band there, the place is small and can feel a little crowded. But it was fun. Also very loud. But again, fun. Bartender was very busy, so not very fast, but she was very nice. Busy is not her fault. Maybe additional help during blush nights?
IDK. Im just one person. It was fine. Not great or amazing, but fun and fine.“

“3/5 for a first timer during restaurant week… the special menu was $50 per person…. we never got any bread with our dinner (and didn’t realize we were left out until we were on dessert)… and, portions were small, so the bread would have been nice, especially for $50… also, the server made us make our food order at the same time as our drinks… personally, i like to have a drink or two before i order my food… so, the service was rushed in that sense… and no one asked me if i wanted a second glass of wine i had the veal and my friend had the lobster ravioli… both tasted decently but, again, small portions… the burrata was amazing and the desserts (tiramisu and lava cake) were pleasant i think i’d like to try again on a night that isn’t as busy, and order off of the actual menu“

“Enjoy the place every time I'm here.“

“Excelente servicio esta buena la música con el mariachi muy rica la comida nos tocó de mesero el Sr Alfonso muy amable muy buen servicio.“

“We went to Hacienda Grill over the weekend for a birthday. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was awesome! Our server was very attentive and kind. I highly recommend this place. We will be coming back soon. 😊“

“Best bar in San Diego super nice staff and great food“

“Our go to mex restaurant…..simply the best!“

“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“

“Excelente servicio my rica la comida recomendado para la familia“

“Food was delicious and the whole family loved it.
I got stopped at the door for a weird reason but because of it I would give 10 stars. I was asked what I was getting and doing because the gentleman noticed I had my kids with me, he said he couldn't allow me to go to the bar but I could order food. Way to look out for those kids I respect the man and the business just for looking out for the kids good job!!“

“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.“

“I had their Hawaiian latte iced with oat milk and it was so good I came back the next day. The brown sugar lavender latte is just as amazing! My new favorite coffee shop.“

“The karaoke is wild! I’ve been here a few times now since it’s the neon moon. The staff if so cool and this is divey not douchey! As for the people, honestly while here someone paid for the entire tab of everyone in the bar. The woman running the night is the sweetest. It’s awesome to see what is has turned into.“

“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.“

“es un buen lugar para comer rico y es divertido“

“All the staff here are AMAZING! They have been such a great staff and has welcomed me and my daughter since day 1. The buffalo chicken strips are amazing along with the blue cheese side which is phenomenal and the steak fries are so good. Burgers are amazing too. Love Johnny B’s!“

“Favor variety of curries for the one with the other menu items gives this place a strong vote for look curry places. They have creative cocktails that are quite tasty and without lots of sugar sweetener. An appropriate atmosphere for a local stop.One where you feel you are entering into a new dimension.“