Came to this bar after dinner and I got the best vibes ever. Bunch of cool ppl, lots of regulars,…read morebartenders heavy pour, friendly and def will be on my list to return!

Service was good.. Prices of drink overpriced. Suppose toi…read morebe a dive bar. Bunch of kids. What happened?

We love a good dive bar, so while exploring San Diego's Old Town we did what any responsible day…read moredrinkers would do... we Googled "dive bars" & ended up at Old Town Saloon. And honestly? This place was exactly the vibe we were hoping to find. The second we walked in, I loved the vintage feel of the decor. It has that authentic old-school saloon energy that can't be manufactured. A genuine neighborhood watering hole with personality - a little worn in, full of character & packed with stories. One of the best parts of our visit was the bartender, who also happened to be the third-generation owner. He struck that perfect balance of being super friendly & welcoming without being all up in our business. You could tell he genuinely cared about the place & its history. He shared some great stories that made the experience feel personal. We settled in for some drinks & soaked up the atmosphere. The history of San Diego Old Town swirled around us as we enjoyed our time at the Old Town Saloon. Highly recommend.

This is a great spot to grab a drink when there is a crowd outside. We were waiting for the Whaley…read moreHouse tour and stopped in for a drink. Liz was awesome and even made recommendations for restaurants for us. She was talkative and engaging while also serving everyone quickly. Looks like a great spot for the evening, but we were just starting out the lunch drinkers for the day!

I plan to come back to San Diego every few months, and since I'm a creature of habit, I'm looking…read morefor something that I can do every single time. I'm really glad that I found Oculto because it has been one of the highlights of my San Diego trip. First of all, the concept of the seven deadly sins is really cool. The space is absolutely moody, intimate, and thoughtfully designed. It has an atmosphere that makes you want to slow down and enjoy your drink rather than rush through it. And since I don't really drink, I was definitely going slow. And I was alone, but the good part was I found myself just taking it all in instead of reaching for my phone. I started with an espresso martini-style cocktail that was smooth, balanced, and the perfect way to ease into the evening. For my second drink, I asked for the bartender's choice, and it ended up being one of my favorite cocktails I've had in a long time. It featured lychee, strawberry, and cardamom, and was garnished with a beautiful little rose. It was creative, elegant, and every flavor worked together perfectly. The cocktails were outstanding, but what really made the experience stand out was the service. Devin was an excellent bartender and an amazing conversationalist. He was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely engaging, making me feel welcome from the moment I sat down. He took the time to craft a drink based on flavors I enjoy, and it was clear he cares about creating a great experience, not just serving drinks. If you're looking for a cocktail bar with incredible drinks, a gorgeous atmosphere, and exceptional hospitality, I can't recommend Oculto enough. I'll absolutely be back the next time I'm in San Diego.

This speakeast is located inside the Tahona bar restaurant next to a small cemetery. It is…read morerecommended to make a reservation. We went on a weekday and was easily able to make a same day reservation. To get in, you check in with the host at Tahona and they lead you to the back where you have to go through a mini confessional to get into the speakeasy. You have to disclose one of the seven deadly sins or a sin of your choosing to gain entrance. Once inside, it is dimly lit with faux candles and moody lighting. The light fixtures are singular hands holding onto light bulbs, creepy and cool at the same time. Everything looks dusty, old, and worn adding to the occultesque vibes. We ordered a few cocktails and all were great tasting and carefully made.

I had a reservation for Thursday and it was packed but took less than 5 minutes to get seated. They…read moredo check your ID at the entrance it's 21+ only. Parking is a nightmare good luck finding parking within a mile of the restaurant. Pros: atmosphere, drinks, service Cons: food wasn't great for the price, restaurant was small and crowded, no parking Service: All of our servers were friendly and very accommodating. Gave us some knowledge on the menu and recommended cocktails based on our preference. I had spilled my drink and they were quick to make me another one. Food: I had intended to get the prime ribeye cap steak but they ran out for the night around 8pm. I shared the steak sampler which came with four different cuts of steak and 4 sauces. I ordered medium and it was cooked medium/medium rare which was fine with me, it also had a good sear, almost burnt though. Out of the four steaks, we only liked two based off flavor and tenderness. The other two were more tough and gamey. None of the sauces really stood out but the bordelaise and horseradish were good. For our sides we got fries, roasted broccoli, and the grilled wedge salad. Fries were average. The roasted broccoli had really good flavor, I expected the broccoli to be al dente but it was cooked to mush and drenched in sauce. The grilled wedge salad was decent, there was a slightly bitter taste to it. I know it says grilled wedge but the experience of biting into the salad and it being both hot and cold was not pleasant. Cocktails: I tried the Honey Ryder and New Wave. These were recommended as the more fruity/sweet cocktails. You can definitely taste the alcohol but it's only 2oz so it's not too strong. Ambience: 10/10 I got seated downstairs by the bar. Only thing about downstairs is that it's too dark to take photos unless you use flash. Overall, I agree with the other reviews saying to go just for drinks and appetizers. I would go again just to sit upstairs and get drinks and take pictures. We left unsatisfied and ended up getting in-n-out after.

Starlite, Star bright, first star I see tonight…read more This may be an "UnFriendly" take, but Starlite is a top 3 burger in all of SD. I said, I meant it, and there's no walking it back. Now if you're super into smash burgers, this ain't it, and you really need to rethink your life choices. This bad boii right here is a thickun', with beautifully melted gruyere cheese, dijonaise, and caramalized onions tucked inside of a majestic sesame seed bun-served with fries, a dill pickle, and a FANTASTIC aioli for $17!!!! Yes, $17!!!!!! This burger ain't no joke, and it's more than enough reason to skirt your buns on down to try it out. Now the fun doesn't stop there. Have you freaking seen this place? The outside does not do it justice whatsoever. Once you step inside the door, you'll forget where you are-partially because it's pretty dark and you can't see shit, but the other part is that it's magical. I love poppin' up to the bar and chillin' in this space. There are two more totally different experiences to dine in, but I'll leave that up to you to find and explore. Although they're known for their burger, delicious drinks, and signature ice cream sandwich, there's so much more to write home about. I RECENTLY HAD ONE OF THE BEST MEALS I'VE HAD IN A LONG TIME HERE. The steak sampler we had, with sides of honey gochujang carrots, and beautifully scalloped potatoes, left us in ecstasy! The four cuts of beef were incredibly tender, deftly seasoned, and seared to perfection. The accompanying sauces, except for the tomato one, were also really good. And I have even mentioned the twice baked potato or the BROCCOLI!!! YES, THE BROCCOLI!!! If you get nothing else, get yourself a burger and some broccoli-TRUST!!! I could go on, but I'll leave you with this...the parking is not pleasant, but the food is fantastic, the music is fresh, and the drinks are splendid. Starlite, you must be my lucky star. Super HUGE thanks to Dani, the chefs, and the crew for making Starlite so amazing. Enjoy my friends.

I love it here; this is one of my go to spots to bring people when they are in town for…read morework/visiting etc. Be warned, you can have a very long wait here if you just pop in, especially on a Friday or Saturday evening. Make a reservation if you know this is your destination. They have some spot on Tiki decor and the staff here is really friendly, happy to share their favorite drinks, or make suggestions based on your likes. If fruity drinks are not your jam... what are you doing in a Tiki Bar!! No really, they have great options for on the rocks or straight as well as ordering your favorite cocktail or beer. They have a ton of options, all sorts of alcohol bases depending on what your vice is, they also have non-alcoholic drinks for those so inclined. Hard to pass on a Mai Tai or a Zombie to start your evening off. lately I have been enjoying the Eastern Sour which is their take on a whiskey sour. It's always fun when someone orders a bowl and the room shakes and the lights flash with thunder and lightning adding a bit of excitement for first timers. Just to recap: Don't get mad if you have to wait and did not make a reservation. While they have lots of options, most drinks and all specialties are Tiki Drinks. Tiki drinks can be strong, mind yourself. If a place like this is not your vibe, that is fine, head back into Craft & Commerce, make room for others who are waiting to get in, just have fun!

We ate at Craft and Commerce and decided to jump in line for False Idol as walk-ins. Luckily we…read morelined up near opening because there were quite a few reservationists that showed up on a Friday night. We were led into a dimly lit speakeasy soon after lining up. Fortunately we got bar seating. The bar then quickly filled up with many standing as the bar got crowded. As far as drinks, their menu had many listed drinks. Wifey and I started with Rum Old Fashioneds and they were delicious. Our second drink was a King Kong Old Fashioned and it too was yummy. The bartenders were very friendly and attentive. The place was hopping and packed. We will definitely return.

Imagine walking into a dark bar and feeling like you just busted in on a funeral, except everyone…read moreis welcoming you and suddenly you're hanging with the locals. The lamplighter is a classic neighborhood hang in mission hills- I think it's a dive bar by day; but I think it gets "hipster" by night. I enjoyed the ambiance, bartender, patrons & music. Mackenzie was an outstanding bartender ! Made me feel right at home! And fellow stool mate Anthony was warm & fuzzy like a big old teddy bear! Note: cash only. No food, but you might get a candy apple vendor coming through...

Ella is the best! From the moment we walked in, the energy that Ella and the security guard brought…read moreset the tone and had me expecting a great experience. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with a couple of the bartenders. They came across as snarky and condescending, and it felt like I was inconveniencing them just by placing a drink order. The contrast between the warm welcome at the door and the service at the bar was disappointing.

The Mothership is a unique cocktail bar in San Diego with a spaceship theme. The front of the…read morebuilding is very unassuming, but once you enter, you are transported to a spaceship that has crashed on an alien planet. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made on OpenTable. The main bar area is just inside the entrance, and has a "inside the spaceship" vibe. The décor is great with bulkheads, overhead ducts and grates, geometric panels and lights, devices and cabling, etc. The back of the bar features a cool color changing and bubbling reactor. When I was booking our reservation, I was on the fence between booking the bar or dining room. While the bar area does look very cool, I'm happy I went with the dining room. The vibe in this area is you're half in the crashed spaceship, but also outside at nighttime on a tropical planet. The back wall has similar décor to the bar area, but there are rock cave walls, vegetation, and stars overhead. Shooting stars periodically shoot across the sky. There are subtle sound effects playing in the background that add to the environment. There is also some tiki influence with colorful tiki lights being replaced by illuminated aliens egg pods. There is also music playing in the background that they custom curated and is kind of a mix of sci-fi and tiki that totally goes with the environment. I started out with the Self-Destruct Sequence (black pot still Jamaican rum, spiced West Indies rum, aged Caribbean rum, grapefruit, lime, cinnamon, cardamom, Angostura bitters, absinthe, $17). This cocktail was excellent, and is probably one of my new favorites. It was perfectly balanced and complex. Every single flavor was there if you looked for it. She started out with the Away Mission (aged Caribbean rum, gold pot still Jamaican rum, crème de banana, kumquat, papaya, pineapple, lime, opal basil, mint, $16). This was another good balanced cocktail, but with a sweeter flavor profile. I was on the fence for my second drink, and ended up going with the Mindkiller (navy strength West Indies rum, white overproof Jamaican rum, Amaro Meletti, coconut cream, pineapple, tangerine, orange, lime, Tang cordial, $19). I asked our server before ordering it and she confirmed it was definitely a sweeter drink. After seeing this drink on many of the other tables, I had to try it. It is definitely sweet and boozy. The pineapple, coconut, and citrus definitely stand out and the Tang cordial on top kicks the orange into overdrive. I probably wouldn't order it again, but don't regret trying it. Plus, I got that cool swizzle stick to add to my collection. For her second, she had the Revival Mission mocktail (papaya, kumquat, mint, basil, pineapple, lime, soda, $13). We goofed and didn't realize this was the mocktail version of the Away Mission. It had a similar flavor profile but was sweeter. In hindsight, we should have paid closer attention and ordered one of the other mocktails. Be sure to check out the restrooms. They are lit with all red pattern on the walls with mirror on the ceiling, and a mission control type sound track playing in the background. The hallway by the bathrooms is also fully themed, with décor and bulkhead doors. We were initially greeted and served by Anthony, and another server who's name I didn't catch took over for him halfway through. Service was very friendly, and helpful as we asked several questions about the menu. All of our drinks came out in a timely manner, and we were not rushed to leave. We managed to catch the little show that occurs when certain drinks are ordered. The lights dim, special alarm sounds play, and smoke comes out of the spaceships overhead ducts. In addition to picking up some cool swizzle sticks, I also bought their purple cosmic skull mug and a pair of cocktail glasses as souvenirs from our visit. We will definitely return the next time we are down in San Diego.

Calling all Star Wars and Star Trek fans…read more This place is so fun and home to some of the best tiki-style drinks. So flavorful and not short changed on the booze! Their food is also very good. I ordered the fried tofu and it was the best tofu I've ever had by far! It's also part of the Chase Open Table program through the Sapphire Reserve card with means if you reserve it on open table you can get your $150 bi-yearly credit!

I love coming to the loft. my very first time here i actually made a friend. I've become a…read moreregular because the atmosphere is so intimate. You will be able to strike up a conversation with about anyone. I like the prices too for someone who gets tipsy off one drink its a good bargain. The bar tenders also will keep an eye on peoples behaviors when possible. one bar tender in particular noticed a man who was harassing my friend and i he kept him in check. the guy left us alone after that. I may have developed a crush on Travis. I'm sure I'm not the only one. He's a handsome bartender

Mind you the bar can opt out of certain artist playing on there jukebox but they didn't! I paid to…read moreget Morgan Wallen playing at the bar and ALL SONGS WERE SKIPPED by the bartender after stating "he's racist" . I let them know im paying for this music and they should not be skipping I understand they feel some type of way but also they need to realize the bar has channels to address this is in a manner that does not take away from a paying customer. Do better! Everyone does not have to agree but everyone can be respectful!