From the Gaslamp Quarter to Old Town, San Diego’s active culture and friendly vibe make it the perfect city for going out and grabbing a drink with friends. With thousands of bars scattered across the city, you’re never far from your next pint. But, there are a handful of spots that stand out from the crowd as the best bars in San Diego.
Village Vino
4095 Adams Avenue
(619) 546-8466
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 105 reviews
Featuring an ever-changing list of wines from small, family-owned wineries across the globe, Village Vino is the place to discover new varietals. Limited-production and small-batch wines are served by the taste, glass and bottle.
Pair your glass with a seasonal menu of farm-to-table nibbles made from organic, locally-sourced ingredients.
Tornado
4026 30th Street
(619) 282-0456
Yelp: 4 stars, 885 reviews
In a city famous for craft beer, you could spend all weekend hopping between tap rooms and breweries. Or, you could pop into Tornado and sample all best local brews in one spot. With over 50 beers on tap and a staggering number available by the bottle, feel free to ask the friendly bartenders for a recommendation.
Gaslamp Tavern
868 5th Avenue
(619) 239-3339
Yelp: 4 stars, 226 reviews
Whether it’s a bowl game, a Charger’s game or a UFC fight, Gaslamp Tavern is the place to be. Game day specials, juicy burgers and plenty of massive TVs being out plenty of fans, so you’ll always have someone to cheer on your team with. Oversized windows are left open most days to take advantage of San Diego’s beautiful weather and keep the bar from feeling like your average dark and crowed bar.
Seven Grand
3054 University Avenue
(619) 269-8820
Yelp: 4 stars, 473 reviews
The rich, moody atmosphere inside Seven Grand is just what you would expect of a prohibition era speakeasy. With an international wall of whiskey featuring several hundred selections and carefully curate a menu of bourbon-based cocktails the focus here is pretty clear. But, if you aren’t a whiskey fan yet, there is a well-rounded selection of tap beer. Pool tables, live music, and a cigar bar complete the upscale, old-fashioned vibe.
Taste & Thirst
715 4th Avenue
(619) 955-5995
Yelp: 4 stars, 388 reviews
For rehashing work woes and commiserating with coworkers, Taste & Thirst in the Gaslamp Quarter can’t be beat. Half-priced drinks, including cocktails, tap beer and wine mean you won’t shell out your whole paycheck on the tab. Plus, happy hours goes from 3PM until 8PM, so you won’t have to clock out of work early to get a good deal.
The Aero Club Bar
3365 India Street
(619) 297-7211
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 503 reviews
Aero Club has a history as colorful as its Christmas-lighted interior. As the name suggests, Aero Club opened in the 1940's as a hangout for local pilots. It then changed hands several times to become the go-to spot for cops and truckers. Today, Aero Club welcomes anyone who can look past its tattered décor. But, looks don’t matter that much when you consider the ample booth space, 20 tap beers, a well-rounded cocktail menu and San Diego’s most expansive whiskey collection boasting over 800 bottles.
Polite Provisions
4696 30th Street
(619) 677-3784
Yelp: 4 stars, 775 reviews
Touting themselves as “manufactures of local tonics, elixirs and cures,” Polite Provisions mixes up some of the most creative, and delicious, cocktails in the city. The expansive menu of retro favorites and hand-crafted cocktails is always evolving and the bartenders are happy to create bespoke drinks to suite your tastes. If you want to become your own mixologist, cocktail classes are offered several times a year.
The Casbah
2501 Kettner Blvd
(619) 232-4355
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 480 reviews
Named after the hit song from The Clash, The Casbah might look like a dive bar, but it is the best spot for live music in San Diego. These aren’t just hard-to-sit-through local acts either. The Casbah brings in big names and up-and-comers that are getting lots of buzz. More impressively, there is live music at least six days a week and cover charges range from zero to $15, depending on the act.
Hamilton’s Tavern
1521 30th Street
(619) 238-5460
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 1138 reviews
Though Hamilton’s Tavern officially opened in 2003, various bars at the location have held a liquor licenses for 75 years, longer than any other site in San Diego. The current rendition is named after local resident, Herman Hamilton. The retired marine doesn’t drink any of the hard-to-find brews served up from the 28 taps or two cask engines, but he does spend most days at his namesake bar telling stories of the good-ole-days to guests.
Station Tavern
2204 Fern Street
619) 255-0657
Yelp: 4 stars, 985 reviews
In a coastal city that’s sunny and warm year-round, there is no shortage exceptional views and exceptional outdoor patios. But, this pick for best outdoor bar has one thing no one else does – a playground for the kids. That’s right, there’s no need to schedule a babysitter just to grab a burger and a beer. The communal picnic tables are open and welcoming and the strings of twinkling lights under the patio invite you to get up and dance.
RoofTop600
600 F Street
(619) 849-1234
Yelp: 3.5 stars, 328 reviews
Grabbing a drink atop the Andaz Hotel is a great way to indulge in luxury without booking a room at the swanky hotel. With cocktails starting at $15, an evening at RoofTop600 isn’t a bargain, but those prices do come with stunning views of the San Diego skyline and Petco park. For an even more decadent experience, order bottle service to your private fire pit or cabana.
Noble Experiment
777 G Street
(619) 888-4713
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 958 reviews
If you want to impress a new special someone with a unique experience that is much more memorable that a boring dinner and a movie, make reservations at Noble Experiment. To get in to the quirky speakeasy, you’ll need to text a “secret” code one week in advance. It might work for a last-minute date, but once you are in it is quiet enough for conversation and the setting will give you plenty to talk about.
Fairweather at Rare Form
795 J Street
(619) 255-6507
Yelp: 4.5 stars, 289 reviews
On the bright, sunny patio that sits atop Rare Form Café you will never feel guilty for day drinking in a dark, stuffy bar. Opening at 1:00PM on the weekend, Fairweather’s aloha-shirt clad bartenders blend pina coladas, daiquiris and a menu full of other beach drinks.
Sacred Juice
2967 Beech Street
(619) 230-5185
Yelp: 5 stars, 61 reviews
To detox from all the other bars on this list, stop into Sacred Juice. This locally-owned juice bar serves cold-pressed juices and smoothies made from 100% organic produce. Though they offer three and five-day cleanses, you can also stop in for a yummy, nutritious treat.
Urban Mo’s Bar & Grill
308 University Avenue
(619) 491-0400
Yelp: 4 stars, 663 reviews
Wild and wacky Urban Mo’s might be a hot LGBT hangout, but it also describes itself as “hetero-friendly.” Colorful décor and drinks adorned with tiny plastic animals create a festive atmosphere on a normal night, but those are few and far between thanks to a calendar packed with themed nights, glow parties and line dancing.
Quad Alehouse
868 5th Avenue
(619) 239-3339
Yelp: 4 stars, 134 reviews
It may have opened in mid-2015, but Quad Alehouse is already making a big impact on the bar and craft beer scenes. But, that’s not surprising since it is just the newest project from the folks behind another heavy-hitter on this list, Gaslamp Tavern. Quad Alehouse focuses on local craft brews and small-batch beers from across the country, all of which pair well with their menu of slow-cooked and smoked meats.
