31 Best Nightlife in Downtown, San Diego
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We’ve compiled the best of the best in Downtown - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
False Idol
A walk-in refrigerator harbors the secret entrance to this tiki-theme speakeasy, which is attached to the full-service restaurant Craft & Commerce. Beneath fishing nets full of puffer-fish lights and elaborate tiki-head wall carvings, the knowledgeable staff serves up creative takes on tropical classics with the best selection of rums in town. The bar fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Make a reservation online a week or more in advance.
Noble Experiment
There are a handful of speakeasy-style bars in San Diego, though none deliver so far above and beyond the novelty quite like this cozy-yet-swank cocktail lounge hidden in the back of a burger restaurant. Seek out the hidden door (hint: look for the stack of kegs), tuck into a plush leather booth next to the wall of golden skulls, and sip on the best craft cocktails in the city. For even more exclusivity, check out the speakeasy-within-a-speakeasy Young Blood, which is an all-inclusive cocktail experience in an adjacent space for the up-front fee of $67. Reservations are almost always a must, so be sure to call ahead.
Recommended Fodor's Video
The Casbah
This small club near the airport, the unofficial headquarters of the city's indie music scene, has a national reputation for showcasing up-and-coming acts of all genres. Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and the White Stripes all played here on the way to stardom.
The Grant Grill
The Rooftop by STK
At this rooftop bar and lounge atop the Andaz hotel, a fashionable crowd sips cocktails poolside while gazing at gorgeous views of the city. Thursday through Saturday, the scene heats up with a DJ spinning dance music, while velvet ropes and VIP bottle service please the A-listers (like Prince Harry) in the crowd.
Vin de Syrah
This "spirit and wine cellar" sends you down a rabbit hole (or at least down some stairs) to a whimsical spot straight out of Alice in Wonderland. Behind a hidden door (look for a handle in the grass wall), you'll find visual delights (grapevines suspended from the ceiling, vintage jars with flittering "fireflies," cozy chairs nestled around a faux fireplace and pastoral vista) that rival the culinary ones—the wine list is approachable and the charcuterie boards are exquisitely curated. This is more than just a wine bar: the cocktails are also worth a try.
Westgate Hotel Plaza Bar
The old-money surroundings, including leather-upholstered seats, marble tabletops, and a grand piano, supply one of the most elegant and romantic settings for a drink in San Diego.
Altitude Sky Lounge
Location is everything at this sophisticated lounge on the roof of the 22-floor San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter. The views of the Downtown skyline and Petco Park will give you a natural high.
American Comedy Co.
At this underground space modeled after the legendary comedy clubs in New York, there's not a bad seat in the house—which is especially great since the venue pulls in some of the hugest names in stand-up comedy.
Bang Bang
Bar Basic
This spot is always bustling, in part because it's the place to be seen for Padres fans or anyone else attending events at Petco Park. True to its name, Basic reliably dishes up simple pleasures: strong drinks and hot, coal-fired pizza. The garage-style doors roll up and keep the industrial-chic former warehouse ventilated during the balmy summer.
barleymash
This gigantic space can resemble either a raucous club or a sports bar, depending on what night you're there. But the drinks are strong and reasonably priced, and the reclaimed wood decor makes for an intimate atmosphere, even when the DJs are spinning mostly Top 40.
Cat Eye Club
Separated from the hectic hustle of East Village by just a short and dimly lit foyer, Cat Eye Club might as well be in an entirely different world. More specifically, it's a trip back to the 1960s, with mid-century modern furnishings, a Wurlitzer jukebox and Rat Pack flicks on regular rotation. Their menu of tiki cocktails ranges from simple sips to punch bowls, or for those who prefer their drinks flashier, the Cradle of Life, garnished with a flaming lime wedge.
Coin Op
Step back into the '80s with this kitschy yet vibrant hybrid of bar and video arcade. The room is stocked with vintage arcade cabinet games like Galaga and Pac-Man, as well as Skee-Ball and other childhood favorites. Yet unlike those trips to the arcade, Coin Op features a rotating menu of craft cocktail creations, including punch bowls, to make those pinball tournaments even more spirited.
Come on the first Sunday of the month for free games all day long.
East Village Tavern & Bowl
Twelve bowling lanes means no more hauls to the suburbs to channel one's inner Lebowski. Lane rental is pricey during prime times, but reasonable if you consider that some nearby clubs charge a Jackson just for admission, though reservations are definitely recommended. From the expansive bar area you can watch sports on 33 flat screens, and the satellite radio plays an assortment of alt- and classic rock.
Fairweather Rooftop Bar
The star of the show here is the rooftop bar; it's a great place to meet for a drink, specializing in tropical treats like Singapore slings and piña coladas, but its location right next to the ballpark makes it such a sweet spot during baseball season. On the main floor, Rare Form is another bar and dining area that serves great tacos and local beers on tap.
Hard Rock Hotel
A-list wannabes (and a few real celebs) gather in two bars, the loungey 207 off the lobby and the rooftop Float. The latter's Intervention and Wintervention daytime parties feature some of the world's biggest DJ names, or if you prefer a rock show, head to Maryjane's Underground at 207. Maybe you can't be a rock star, but you might as well party like one. Just be prepared to spend like one, too.
House of Blues
The local branch of the renowned music chain is decorated floor to ceiling with colorful folk art and features three different areas to hear music. There's something going on here just about every night of the week, and the gospel brunch on select Sundays is one of the most praiseworthy events in town. Can we get a hallelujah?
Monkey Paw
What was once a notorious dive bar attracts hipsters and grizzled locals alike for a vast selection of craft beers (some brewed on-site), shuffleboard, and cheesesteaks that hit the spot no matter the hour.
Oxford Social Club
A luxurious Downtown nightclub beneath the Pendry Hotel, Oxford Social Club has become one of San Diego's trendiest new clubs, with a predictably ample-size line outside on weekends. But once inside, the place is spacious and comfortable, with plush bench seating and strong cocktails, plus table reservations and bottle service for the high rollers.
Prohibition
This underground jazz lounge lives up to its name with a slinky speakeasy style. Red lighting, dark wood, and leather-tufted couches provide a cozy 1920s–'30s-inspired backdrop to the live jazz on weekends. There's a "cocktail attire" dress code and cell phones are not allowed at the bar.
Punch Bowl Social
Sevilla
For more than two decades, Cafe Sevilla and the Sevilla nightclub have brought a Latin flavor to the Gaslamp Quarter through a mix of contemporary and traditional Spanish and Latin American music. Get fueled up at the tapas bar before venturing downstairs for dancing. Salsa lessons during the week provide an especially memorable experience.
The Lion's Share
Hemingway would have loved this exquisitely designed brick-and-wood bar that serves up equally exquisite craft cocktails that, while pricey, are definitely made for sipping. The place attracts a sophisticated crowd and is highly recommended for those looking to impress a special someone.
The Nolen
The Waterfront Bar & Grill
It isn't really on the waterfront, but San Diego's oldest bar was once the hangout of Italian fishermen. Most of the collars are now white, and patrons enjoy an excellent selection of beers, along with chili, burgers, fish-and-chips, and other great-tasting grub, including fish tacos. Get here early, as there's almost always a crowd.
Top of the Hyatt
This lounge at the Manchester Grand Hyatt crowns the tallest waterfront building in California, affording great views of San Diego Bay, including Coronado to the west, Mexico to the south, and Point Loma and La Jolla to the north. It's pricey and pretentious (don't you dare wear flip-flops), but this champagne-centric bar is great for catching a sunset or celebrating an anniversary.
Upper East
The trendy poolside bar on the fourth floor of the swank Hotel Solamar is a sexy spot to people-watch while sipping sangria or chili-mango margaritas and noshing on snacks from the "Slow Food" menu. On cool evenings, reserve a cabana or warm up next to one of the roaring firepits.