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    Hennessey's La Jolla

    3.9 (303 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    Order Hennessey's La Jolla Takeout or Delivery

    Hennessey's La Jolla Photos

    HENNESSEY'S LA JOLLA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    I've been coming here for a couple years now and the bar tenders and servers are professional, friendly, and always bring a positive energy to my day. The food is delicious and they have the best HH and weekly or monthly drink or food specials. During the World Cup games the Hennessy's staff team made sure that TV's were displayed throughout the bar and the front patio. The restaurant ambiance is well balanced and makes Karaoke nights on Thursday epic. I am so impressed with the quality of service and people that work here and i would highly recommend families with children, night out with your friends or relatives and even special events to be held at this establishment. I want to give a special shout out to Elden! Thanks for always making my Hennessy's experience a memorable one!

    live music
    Fumie W.

    awesome spot for some live music and drinks on friday nights 8-12!! good vibes and street parking available

    Christina L.

    I will be honest it's a nice bar but I was not a fan of the crowd. That in no way is the bars fault. But the drinks were really over priced even for something basic. The bartenders were nice, place was clean but I wouldn't drive out of my way to come back here.

    Jennifer L.

    You seat yourself and the wait staff will come to you with a menu. I'm a bit of a fish and chips snob and Hennessey's knocked my socks off. They hand dip their fish in a light breading and fry it to a crispy finish. It was honestly one of the best I've had.

    Curro Waffle Sundae
    Steve H.

    Churro Waffle Sundae w/ Irish Coffee. That's really the important part, whether you eat here or somewhere else. Just came in for some evening drinks, unhurried and low-key, perfect fit. In La Jolla proper, but not pretentious. Plenty of outdoor seating, either out front or near their fire pit. (They do allow quiet dogs at the tables outside). Service (Grace?) was awesome, patient and helpful. They had nice live jazz (Sat night) in the enclosed bar area, and you could pick your volume level just by where you seat yourself. The Buffalo Wings (10pc/16$) were legit -- crispy and traditional, served hot. Hennessey's Lemonade was easy drinking, fresh squeezed. The Irish Coffee was exactly Buena Vista style, not tarted up.

    Calamari
    Jan H.

    Pretty easy to get a reservation and I like that they have a separate semi private room with a TV and fireplace. The service was good and everyone was friendly. Parking can be a challenge, there are a few lots around, or else it's basically Street parking. For food I wanted to get something a little more traditional so I went ahead and tried the shepherd's pie. The portion was a pretty good size, I couldn't quite finish it. It tasted pretty good, although I've had better. It came with a side of broccoli, which I thought was a little unusual and didn't really fit. We also ordered the flight of fries, which came with three different fries, and three different sauces for dipping. The fries were good, the whiskey sauce was our least favorite. I enjoyed the calamari, it wasn't too chewy and I liked that it had a good mix of legs and rings. Overall this is a pretty good Irish pub, and if you are in the area or live nearby I definitely think it's worth a visit. If you're coming from pretty far like I was, I'm not sure it would be somewhere to repeat often.

    Covered exterior dining
    Jiansen W.

    Hennessy's La Jolla is a lively Irish-themed tavern serving bar food and drink. There are lots of interior and exterior seating. Happy hour is on weekdays 4-7pm. SERVICE Friendly, helpful, attentive. DRINK 4/5 Hennessey's Elijah Craig Small Batch Old Fashioned: whiskey-bourbon forward, with a sweeter taste towards the bottom of the drink. Wish luxardo cherries were used instead, however I understand this is a happy hour drink. FOOD 5/5 SMOKED BBQ BRISKET SANDWICH Thin-sliced, tender smoked brisket topped with melted cheddar, BBQ sauce & crispy onions, served on a fresh bun, with kettle chips 4/5 Smash Burger Cooked onions that still have a kick, bacon, two beef Pattie's (a little too cooked), melted cheddar in between buns all for $7 on Thursdays is a deal. 3.5/5 Nashville Hot Chicken Bites Flavor is Nashville spicy, honey sweet, served with sides of sliced pickles & ranch dip. Breading texture could be improved

    Wine and old fashion
    Macarena O.

    Very nice Irish style bar with a lot of different areas to hang out. Their happy hour is from 4-7pm. My husband got the old fashion and I got the jumbo house red wine (a Cab). We also got the 3 samplers of fries - very big quantity and I loved all the sauces it comes with. Dogs are allowed anywhere which is a plus. Service was nice but very slow. We had to ask for someone to come take our order and to bring check a few times but I would still come back, maybe for St. Patrick's day!

    French Fry Sampler
    Jemiah J.

    Went here on a Sunday morning during the 16th Annual La Jolla Art & Wine Festival. It was a great spot for brunch since they weren't busy. I've been to Hennessy's in Carlsbad, and both locations have a similar pub-style vibe. I really liked how spacious this tavern is. Service Food came out quickly. The manager was very nice and welcoming. Food We ordered the French Fry Sampler, which included Classic Tavern, Zesty Garlic Parmesan, and Spicy Sriracha fries, served with Guinness Ketchup, Sweet & Smokey, and Chipotle Aioli sauces. I wasn't a fan of the Sriracha fries, but the Classic Tavern and Zesty Garlic Parmesan were delicious! I didn't even dip the fries into the sauces much, but all the sauces were pretty good. The tomato soup was tasty! My husband had the Red-Headed Reuben. I found it a bit dry, and he thought it was okay, but said he wouldn't order it again. Beverages The drip coffee was great. Coors Light on tap hit the spot for my husband. Parking We parked at Air Garage, conveniently located right across the street. Hot Tip Check-in through yelp and you'll receive 50% off any appetizer!

    Entrance
    Michelle N.

    While in La Jolla we were nearby and the outdoor seating was perfect. We had burgers & beers! Server took great care of us and we didn't feel forgotten about because we chose to sit outside. Definitely great lunch spot!

    Ash M.

    Great spot for karaoke! Came here after a comedy show nearby and the place was packed and they had a great $7 burger and fries deal my friend loved. We had great service and sang our hearts out (with a little liquid courage of course!). Would come back when I'm in San Diego again!

    Great Irish Nachos
    Gaby J.

    Came here on a busy Sunday afternoon to celebrate St. Patrick's day. Unfortunately, we didn't get a seat in the patio as it was first come and first served or so I thought until the people behind us kept getting seats before us, which sort of pissed me off. They also had the fireplace turned on at 5 in the afternoon which made the room unbearably hot even with the windows open (that I had to ask on my behalf). Although the server came right away after we sat down, we weren't given a drink menu and she seemed annoyed that we didn't know what we wanted (ma'am you need to give us a drink menu if you want us to order a drink other than a Guinness). Plus, she also asked what we want less than a minute after we sat down. Great for impatient people but not good for us indecisive folks! Like another review said, the servers can feel unwelcoming at times but by a few drinks, I would say I would come back (the food was great!) but only if I get a patio seat. It was way too hot to be sitting indoors with the fireplace turned on and lots of guests inside especially if you're here in the afternoon (It was like they didn't want the indoor guests to stay too long. Just order, drink/eat and leave) Parking: Street parking Price: $$ Service: Was a hit and miss. Sometimes, they were friendly and sometimes they felt rushed but I think it was mostly due to the holiday weekend... Recommendation: Irish pub nachos & burgers. Skip the fries. Try to get an outdoor patio seat in the day. They have the fireplace indoors and it can get pretty toasty on sunny afternoons.

    Pool of grease... the whole bun was saturated with grease.
    Jessica M.

    The burger bun was so saturated with grease I could not even cut it. The bartender/server never checked back so I did not eat. I would not go again.

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    Dan L.

    Thank you for the outstanding review Jiansen! We hope to see you soon.

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    3 months ago

    Amazing staff. Friendly and the manager Dan is great, Food is great as well. Couldn't recommend highly enough.

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    11 months ago

    Tim's open mic on Monday nights is well worth the visit! With good service and drinks, the music makes it a place to hang out.

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    Sat outside waited 20 minutes nobody came to take our order why have us sit down at all waste of time

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    7 months ago

    The food was amazing! Service was great. There was a live band that was fun. Definitely will be back!

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    Page 1 of 8

    Ask the Community - Hennessey's La Jolla

    When does the live music start on Fridays?

    Happy Hour Musician at 4pm. Night time musicians at 8 or 9pm. Please reach out to us at the restaurant for a quicker response.

    What time does Karaoke start on Thursdays?

    9pm!

    What are suggested, healthy vegan options (ideally gluten free)?

    Hello Tara, We do not have a wide variety of vegan options here at Hennesseys. Any of our salad options with our balsamic or Italian dressing would be suitable as long as… 

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    The Whaling Bar

    The Whaling Bar

    4.0
    (133 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    We arrived at The Whaling Bar just after the La Jolla Concours, on a mission for dessert--and…read morewalked straight into the buzz of their Martini Hour. The place was lively, but luck was on our side: one perfect booth remained for the four of us sweet seekers. We settled in and immediately starting gabbing (versus checking out the menu). George came over to take our order. Without even glancing at the dessert menu (a bold move, I'll admit), I asked for one of each dessert to share--paired, of course, with a couple glasses of Scarpetta Rosé bubbles (okay so I glanced at te wine menu). Priorities . What arrived was equal parts surprise and delight. First, a charming little glass jar filled with lightly whipped crème fraîche and topped with salted caramel--simple, elegant, and absolutely delicious. And then... the "hamburger." Cue the table going completely silent. Naturally, we had questions. Our server walked us through this masterpiece from the bottom up: a golden caramel cake "bun," topped with a chocolate-coated ice cream "patty," a delicate mango gelée "cheese," and even "pickles" made from matcha cake. Finished with a second warm cake layer and a touch of garnish we were too excited to fully catch--because at that point, we were already diving in. The contrast of warm cake, cool ice cream, and rich chocolate was nothing short of fantastic. Playful, unexpected, and genuinely delicious--exactly the kind of dessert experience you hope to stumble upon. Thank you, The Whaling Bar, for the sweet surprises. We'll absolutely be back--next time for martinis, and I've already been told the duck meatballs are not to be missed.

    Note to self: happy hour red blend is disgusting…read more Service was nice but not fast. Vibes very cute.

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    Searching for cozy dinner spots? We got you!
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    Raised By Wolves

    Raised By Wolves

    4.4
    (2.3k reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    What appears to be a fancy liquor store from the outside is actually a hidden speakeasy with an…read moreunbeatable ambiance. The revolving door and the immaculate dome inside are fun additions! They have a pretty extensive menu. My party came after dinner so we ordered some of their decadent drinks as dessert. They were all very rich in flavor! Looking forward to trying some of their heavier cocktails and bar flights the next time I visit :) Make sure to check-in with the hostess when you arrive. I had a reservation and was seated immediately.

    I am happy to update my original review based on our most recent experience at Raised by Wolves. I…read morewanted to give them another go since our first experience didn't live up to the hype that surrounds this establishment. My husband and I just finished our dinner at Teleferic Barcelona when I suggested we give Raised by Wolves another try - as we had about an hour before picking up the kids. For a Saturday, I was pleasantly surprised that as walk-ups we only had to wait a few minutes before we were seated at the bar inside. While we waited, we enjoyed perusing their bottle selections for purchase and I'm happy to say that playing music slightly louder in the waiting/market area helped dull the sounds from the inside bar. It helps create more of a 'moment' when you sit at the fireplace and slowly turn inside. This time we were seated right at the bar, which was perfect for us. Chuck was our bartender and 10/10 on the cocktails he made. This time, I went with their Tiki Room and my husband an off-menu Boulevardier (which I have to say I'm impressed he knew what that was because even I didn't, lol). Both drinks were perfectly crafted and enjoyed by both of us. We only had a moment for just one drink this time, but I have to say our experience was so much better than our first (perhaps a fluke of an evening). The staff were all welcoming and knowledgable, other guests were dressed well, and the ambiance lent itself to the vibe we were looking for. After doing some homework, I made the connection that Raised By Wolves was part of the hospitality group that also owns Lafayette Hotel, The Baby Grand, Ironside, etc...all locations my husband and I absolutely adore. Happy to support such amazing places around San Diego and I look forward to more!

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    Tiramitini and Mojito.
    Tiramitini and Mojito.
    The secret panel that rotates like a carousel into the wolf den.
    The secret panel that rotates like a carousel into the wolf den.
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    Zoya

    Zoya

    4.6
    (191 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Where do I start? This place was superb. I had a party of seven from work. Reservation experience…read morewas great. We called to add a couple extra people, and then those people didn't show; they rolled with the punches. The table was set when we got there. Service throughout was friendly, prompt, over and above. Ambiance was great, in a very important way: There was nice music, but you could hear yourself think! Nobody had to repeat themselves a million times. Perfect sound level for a group our size. But the food was the absolute star of the show. Literally everything was perfect. For shareable appetizers, we got both the trio and the mezze plate. It was basically hummus flights, with pita triangles and multicolored carrots. All the hummus types were delicious. But a special shout-out to the truffle hummus--it was divine. It was very truffle-y, but it was also very light and creamy. Somehow that's not a combo I expected. Next, I'm already a falafel fan, but good *Lord* their falafel was unreal. Some kind of perfect crispiness on the outside and soft flakiness inside that I've never experienced before in falafel. I asked the server what he'd recommend, and he said beef kebab. I got the beef kebab. He was not wrong. The meat itself was sumptuous. And I just moved from Texas, where every other backyard BBQ has someone smoking their brisket for 18 hours. This was the kind of cook where even the marbling melts in your mouth. Even the carrots were good, I don't know what to tell ya. 10/10.

    Not sure what race is all about with this place. Waited to…read moreget seated while this other customer came in and started talking to one of the staff and the others didn't pay attention. Food - blah. Spicy Caesar not spicy at all. Falafel - not good. Overall I didn't care for it

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Chicken shawarma
    Chicken shawarma
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    Paradisaea

    Paradisaea

    4.1
    (287 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$$$

    SOLE was quote possibly the best server we have ever had the honor of being served by. From the…read moremoment she greeted us to the extra tip we provided, it was top notch service and she always knew exactly what to say and how to answer any question we had. We were also very pleasantly surprised at how delicious every item was that we ordered. We had the wagyu salisbury steak (nostalgic!) which was really great. Trimmings are used from the other steak entrees and the jus was to die for. We also really enjoyed the cabbage with fried garlic chips and homemade chili crisp sauce. Do not forget to get their sourdough which was deliciously crispy on the outside with a brown butter wash. It was quite possibly the best sourdough we have had and well worth the extra stomach space. The frozen dirty martini was a bit overdiluted for our taste so we opted for a classic martini up, which was great. Their cocktail menu is fun and worth trying one or two. We also had some bad luck and the fresh Cacio e Pepe we ordered was inedibly salty. Sole was polite in letting us know how it is prepared and that the pecorino could be a bit salty, unfortunately we have had many variations in the past and were familiar. They may have generously over salted the water it was boiled in, or the fresh pasta itself was over salted. We did not want it comped, we just couldn't take more than a bite nor did we want to take it home. Needless to say they worked to have it removed anyway. We would've paid for it no problem. The service and food was fantastic otherwise. It was really thoughtful of her/them to remove it anyway. The drinks came without delay and even their manager would stop by to help out. A great team, a great experience. Would definitely come again.

    I sat at the bar for dinner with my wife last night. They take a long time to acknowledge us. No…read morebig deal. They are very nice. My drink was empty for quite a while and I wanted another. Every time I try to flag a bartender down, they do that thing were act like they can't see you. I finally ordered my drink. No big deal. I wanted pepper for my salad. Again it's hard to flag someone down. I finally do and after waiting for a while, I noticed he must have forgotten because he was washing glasses. Again, it was hard to flag someone down but I finally got pepper for my salad. No big deal. My wife's drink was almost empty and they took it without asking if she was done or wanted another drink. Again, it was hard to flag someone down but we finally got it. No big deal. I wanted a glass of wine with my meal. After again flagging someone down, I ordered my glass of wine from the same bartender who forgot my pepper. I was almost finished my meal and hadn't gotten my wine. I flagged another bartender down. He went and said something to the original bartender. I waited another 15 minutes and was done with my meal. Still no wine. That pissed me off. I flagged another bartender down, canceled my wine order and paid my check. I didn't leave a tip. I have not "not" tipped in probably 20 years. I worked as a busboy and waiter growing up and I always tip big. Not this time. This is a great place otherwise.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Birthday Cake
    Birthday Cake
    Dessert #1: short bread cookies & tangerine bubbles over a white chocolate mousse

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    Dessert #1: short bread cookies & tangerine bubbles over a white chocolate mousse
    Bernini's Bistro & Bar

    Bernini's Bistro & Bar

    4.3
    (693 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    I'd heard about Bernini's so many times over the years, and I'm so glad I finally went. The service…read morewas amazing from start to finish. I'm trying to get better about catching names, but the whole team made us feel taken care of. I tend to grade my Italian spots by their focaccia, and theirs was perfectly soft. We also ordered the lasagna and the spaghetti & meatballs to keep it classic, and it didn't disappoint. There are so many Italian restaurants in San Diego, but I see why Bernini's has been able to thrive here for over 20 years. I'll be back and will highly recommend!

    This was our first visit and it certainly was memorable. We were seated in a quiet little table…read morethat was private and perfect for us. Our waiter came over and welcomed us and set down a bottle of cold water and asked if we wanted anything else to drink. The evening was underway without a hitch. We asked a few questions and then we reviewed the menu. When Robert came back with the glass of wine, we were ready to order and the process was easy. We shared the fried calamari which had two shrimp and several different kinds of vegetables. It was served with two kinds of sauces. It was very good. My husband ordered the Salmon a la Griglia and he really enjoyed it with the risotto. I had the Seafood Cioppino. It had a great deal of seafood including really big mussels, shrimp and salmon. The broth was great too. The service was great and the meal was terrific. It has a nice variety on the menu. It seems to be a popular neighborhood place. we will be back to try some of the other treasures.

    Photos
    Bernini's Bistro & Bar
    Bernini's Bistro & Bar
    Indoor dining

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    Indoor dining

    Hennessey's La Jolla - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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