The Nightlife Guide Everyone’s Talking About

How many times have you found yourself wondering what you should do tonight? San Diego is an incredibly city, full of world-class nightlife options, yet we’ve all struggled to figure out what to do on a given night. Whenever you feel stick, give this list a one through and you’re sure to end up with at least a few viable candidates for any night out.  

1. Noble Experiment

Address: 777 G St San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 888-4713 Yelp: 4.5 stars with 1100+ reviews Website

• Such a fun spot! It’s hidden behind a secret door at a restaurant called Neighborhood
• They make a solid old fashion, definitely one of the best we’ve had
• Try out their Dealer’s Choice –  you tell them your choice of liquor and they’ll  they make you a make cocktail to knock your socks off

2. Seven Grand 

Address: 3054 University Ave San Diego, CA 92104 Phone: (619) 269-8820 Yelp: 4 stars with 500+ reviews Website

• We’re huge fans of Seven Grand both in LA and SD
• Classy ambiance, talented and professional bartenders and way my rye, scotch and bourbon then one could count

 

3. Level 9 Rooftop Bar

Address: Located in Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, 509 9th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 727-4000 Yelp: 4 stars with 70+ reviews Website

• Excellent rooftop bar with stunning views of the city
• Never too loud, so it’s possible to actually catch up with friends and have a conversation

 

4. Oxford Social Club

Address: 430 5th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 738-7040 Yelp: 4 stars with 60+ reviews Website

• The avant-garde nightclub is a swanky boutique nightclub that brings the energy, attitude and culture of the boisterous 5^th Avenue indoors
• Top-notch, well-known DJ’s perform Thursdays to Fridays
• Tons of beautiful people

 

5. Mina Lounge

Address: 650 6th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 234-6652 Yelp: 4 stars with 200+ reviews Website

• Fun, modern, upscale Hookah lounge and wine bar
• They also offer premium cigars if you’re in the mood

 

6. FLUXX

Address: 500 4th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 232-8100 Yelp: 3 stars with 700+ reviews Website

• FLUXX is the Gaslamp’s most unique experiential nightlife venue showcasing intimate live music performances by some of the hottest artists and top-tier DJs
• Good for when you’re looking for a Vegas like experience in San Diego or if you’re just in the mood to dance

 

7. Omnia Nightclub

Address: 454 6th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 544-9500 Yelp: 3 stars with 300+ reviews Website

• They have a pretty solid flow of well-known artists and DJ’s performing
• Great for dancing, beautiful balcony and rooftop as well

 

8. Cannonball

Address: 3105 Ocean Front Walk San Diego, CA 92190 Phone: (858) 228-9304 Yelp: 4 stars with 600+ reviews Website 

• Great mission beach rooftop spot – inspired by Pacific Rim influences, Cannonball serves delicious inventive sushi and California cuisine and desserts. They also have refreshing beach craft cocktails that you can enjoy while soaking up the essence of the beach
• Check out their rooftop sunset serenade every Thursday from 6-9pm

 

9. Upper East Bar (Lounge Six)

Address: 616 J St San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 531-8744 Yelp: 3.5 stars with 200+ reviews Website Ride the private elevator up to the rooftop of this beautiful Kimpton hotel, where a lush oasis beckons. The scene evolves from tranquil by day to sultry by night. Here the bar scene buzzes, a cosmopolitan mix of locals and guests mingling with artisan cocktails in hand  

10. Club Train

Address: 527 5th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 780-3250 Yelp: 4.5 stars with 20+ reviews

• Always a fun option – check out multiple venues in a single night, no cover charge, no waiting in lines

 

11. Starlite

Address: 3175 India St San Diego, CA 92103 Phone: (619) 358-9766 Yelp: 4 stars with 1500+ reviews Website

• This place is stunning; they’ve won awards for their interior design
• It’s one of San Diego’s most custom interiors with the designers/builders having their hand in all aspects of creating the space. A smoke tinted glass door opens up to an ipe slatted hexagonal hallway which leads directly to Starlite’s sunken white bar. Above the bar hangs a striking chandelier crafted from varied lengths of stainless steel tubing, angled at the ends to reveal the embedded lights to twinkle and reflect in the mirrored ceiling. Natural elements such as stacked stone, walnut paneling, and cork tiles, compliment the gold pendants and luxe black leather booths.

 

12. The Tipsy Crow

Address: 770 5th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 338-9300 Yelp: 4 stars with 1000+ reviews Website   The Tipsy Crow occupies one of  Downtown’s most historic buildings, the Spencer-Ogden building, dating back to 1874, exuding all the stimulation and excitement of a multi-level, vibrant venue.   In exploring the three levels, the Main Bar, the upstairs Nest and the Underground, you’ll find an array of old-school games, entertainment, dancing and spots to unwind.  

13. False Idol

Address: 675 W Beech St San Diego, CA 92101 Yelp: 4.5 stars with 100+ reviews Website Behind the refrigerators inside Craft and Commerce lies a hidden Hawaiian Tiki themed bar called False Idol where you can enjoy a great fun vibe with groovy music

• Their drink selection mostly rum-based, but they have a huge variety to choose from

 

14. El Dorado Cocktail Lounge

Address: 1030 Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 237-0550 Yelp: 4 stars with 400+ reviews Website

• Solid dive bar with live performances and DJ’s spinning old school hip hop

 

15. Soda & Swine

Address: 2750 Dewey Rd Ste 104 San Diego, CA 92106 Phone: (619) 501-9989 Yelp: 4 stars with 400+ reviews Website

• When it’s late and we’ve been out we just can’t get enough of the Dirty Fries and Sliders
• Located in Liberty Station, you’ll find yourself with a tons to see if you need to walk off the calories
• Love their wooden benches, red stools and beautiful succulents throughout the space

 

16. ALTITUDE Sky Lounge

Address: Marriott San Diego Gaslamp Quarter 660 K St San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 446-6086 Yelp: 4 stars with 1100+ reviews Website ALTITUDE Sky Lounge is an elite rooftop bar in San Diego, pairing stunning panoramic views with a sleek, modern atmosphere complete with a blazing fire pit and can’t-miss happy hour. The bar offers bottle service; a fine selection of wine, beer and cocktails; an impressive array of appetizers, flatbreads, and burgers; and more  

17. Onyx Room

Address: 852 5th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 235-6699 Yelp: 3.5 stars with 300+ reviews Website

• Onyx Room Nightclub features a variety of local San Diego spun DJs and International talent. With music genres from hip hop, mash-ups, top 40 and party rock to house, electronic, dubstep, 80’s and reggae we have something to offer for everyone
• Check out their Neo Soul Tuesdays for live music and spoken word night, Rumba Lounge Fridays to spice up your night with the biggest Latin party in San Diego and Onyx Saturdays lead by their award winning DJ for a fun-filled experience in Onyx Room.

 

18. Polite Provisions

Address: 4696 30th St San Diego, CA 92116 Phone: (619) 269-4701 Yelp: 4 stars with 900+ reviews Website

• High ceilings, an outdoor patio and a pretty laid back bar that serves classic cocktails at a reasonable price make Polite Provisions one of our favorites
• You can place your food order with Sode & Swine right next door and they will gladly run your food over to you at the bar when it’s ready
• Their beer and wine selection rotates daily if you (or a friend) isn’t feeling like having whiskey

 

19. Club Crawl San Diego

Address: Gaslamp, East Village San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 718-0996 Yelp: 4.5 stars with 200+ reviews Website

• With Club Crawl San Diego, you get to experience up to four of the best San Diego night clubs for the price of one – all for $25, VIP-style, while meeting a mass of new people. No waiting in lines, no cover charges, and drink specials at select locations

 

20. Bang Bang

Address: 526 Market St San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 677-2264 Yelp: 3.5 stars with 500+ reviews Website

• Their tunneled stairway entrance, reminiscent of a Tokyo subway station is definitely one that makes Bang Bang one of a kind;  their Ryan Gosling themed bathroom was the talk of the town for a while

 

21. Moonshine Flats

Address: 344 7th Ave San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 255-7625 Yelp: 3.5 stars with 200+ reviews Website

• Moonshine features live music, line dancing and DJs spinning the top country, rock and pop music. Also, the venue boasts a massive wooden dance floor and one of the biggest LED screens in Southern California
• With a more laid-back and relaxed atmosphere than its hard partying counterparts, The Deck at Moonshine Flats is open 7 days and nights a week and features backyard style games including corn hole, shuffleboard and ping pong

 

22. Parq Nightclub

Address: 615 Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 727-6789 Yelp: 3.5 stars with 300+ reviews Website

• Awesome nightclub – beautiful inside and top-notch sound, lighting and design
• Lots of beautiful, well dressed people

 

23. The Aero Club Bar

Address: 3365 India St San Diego, CA 92103 Phone: (619) 297-7211 Yelp: 4.5 stars with 500+ reviews Website Built in 1947 by Maryann Prophet, a pilot, and her husband, owner of a number of vending machines in San Diego, the Aero Club was originally intended to be a place where Maryann and her high-flying friends could enjoy a cocktail and pass the time telling tall tales of aerial exploits.

• Huge Whiskey selection – over 800 whiskeys, the most in all of San Diego
• They have an old jukebox that’s operational and open for anyone to use (as long as you have a quarter)