The Alley is a popular dive bar and nightclub in Carlsbad known for its lively, atmosphere,…read moreaffordable drinks and diverse crowd. It features DJs, a packed dance floor, and events like karaoke and live bands, attracting locals and visitors looking for a fun, no-frills night out with a wide range of music. Had no idea what to expect but had a blast. You just dance the night away with people you don't know. What a vibe.

LOVE The Alley. So last week after Michael & I went to the Grand Lake Tuesday $6 Disclosure Day…read more4pm show, & as usual, the spirits were calling us over. To supply a cushion to rest our booze on we ordered a snack of hand cut thick potato wedges aka fries. Well not to be too critical they were what we ordered..hand cut potatos & they were fried....however these had to be the least crunchy/crispy & most mushy/soft..."you call these FRIES??" ever. We ate some to do the job for which they were intended...absorb ETOH...after loaded with ketchup & I do mean loaded as the squeeze top came off when Michael squeezed..Oops! Bartender guy apologized for that & then later (& fries unfinished) after letting him know how subpar they were @ $12.00!! for maybe 2 potatoes worth of stuff ...he gave us a decent break on their cost... 50% off ADVICE!...get the 1/2 lb. burger for a couple of bucks more we still love you Alley but consider a change for those spuds

Bartender decided to be incredibly rude and insulting in response to a simple mixup of leaving my…read moreID at home (despite being obviously of age and having a PDF of my DL accessible to show). Unfortunately discovered it was not in my phone case when sitting down at the bar. Was gruffly told to leave and that I couldn't be in the room, as if I'm a nuisance and with zero humanity. I understand having and following rules around IDs, but you can do so in a way that isn't unwelcoming and rude to guests. I will not be returning, not giving this disrespectful establishment any more of my business. Good luck!

As I was in this neighborhood, I decided to stop in here for a drink (it was recommended when I was…read moreacross the street at Burma Superstar for lunch). Friendly, low-key bartender, jukebox, pool table, and lots of cool stuff to check out throughout the bar. As no one was playing the jukebox, I got to play to my hearts content, which was very fun. I'll definitely be back, hopefully to play some pool.

Stumbled in, looking for a fun bar. Stayed for a lot of beers and a really good time. Friendly…read morebartender,social locals, and worth stopping in

This neighborhood bar has very strong drinks for an affordable price!! Everyone is super friendly…read moreand always greets you, when you walk in, kind of like "Cheers"!!

Had an amazing experience at Tallboy!…read more Sat at the bar on a sunny weekend and immediately loved the vibes. Bartenders were friendly and seemed to know a lot of the regulars. Can't quite describe it but it didn't feel like an SF bar, felt more open and like a community watering whole. On to the food and drinks. I'm vegetarian so was so excited to try the dogs - which are vegan. And I may be biased but you cannot tell that you're missing out on anything with all the flavor packed combos. The bun was fluffy and soft and you have multiple fun themed options to choose from. My partner and I ended up getting the deli dog and truffle meltdown. Deli was perfect - classic mix of spice and crunch with the spicy brown mustard and giardiniera peppers. And the truffle meltdown was so savory and decadent - totally different flavor profiles from each dog! We were only going to grab one drink but the menu was so inventive we ended up getting two. I ordered the banana hammock (which comes with a fire show) and espresso martini slushee which was is up there with the frozen Irish coffees I've had in New Orleans. Man writing this has my mouth watering... definitely coming back for more dogs, drinks, and vibes!

I've heard all the hype about Tallboy, so I had to check it out myself…read more I do think it lived up to some of the hype, but I think they could've used their space better. It is a unique layout to a bar, and probably better concept for earlier hours, when it isn't as crowded during the night. It can fill up really quickly, since the area to order a drink, dance, and mingle is narrow, since the bar is literally in the middle of the room. Some of the staff can be extremely nice and kind, and there are some who you can tell are fed up, upset, and don't have the best attitude. I get it, though. It's a cool bar to check out or be the first stop of the night. The djs they have always turn up. Good luck getting a drink under 15 minutes though!

Best bar in the area by far. Relaxed fun vibe. Friendly crowd. All the bartenders are great and pro…read moremixologists.

Super chill, casual bar with great vibes!…read more Came here on a Monday evening, and the place had a good amount of people hanging out. Loved that there were lots of seating-bar seating, high tops, and cushioned booths in the back. Good music (D'Angelo, Fugees, Tupac...) which was at a perfect volume, so nobody was yelling! The string lights made for a warm, very comfortable vibe. Our martinis were perfectly chilled and delicious. There's a self serve water dispenser next to the bar, which is always nice. No food, so don't come hungry. They have a cute DJ booth, and looks like they have occasional DJ sets that are posted on their IG-Might be fun to check out! Really glad that we stopped by this place, and will definitely be back. Great way to close off a 3 day weekend!

Place is Great. Nice employees and clientele. Enjoy it every time. Strong drinks made well by…read moreprofessional tenders.

Played pool and a guy we didnt know broke the stick. Bouncer got so pissed he yelled at us girls to…read morestop yelling. Just misdirected anger... totally killed the vibe.

Date: 2/22/2025. Time: 4:00 PM. 63°. Sunny…read more I was supposed to be at 1701, but they are not opened yet. Thus, I met my friend next door at Space Lounge for drinks. Usually I don't imbibe. I am not much of drinking the Henny. All their cocktails have exactly that. The only one that looked appealing to me was the expresso martini. The service could be a little more attentive. My friend and I were the only two people in the lounge at the time. We sat and waited for somebody to come by to ask what would I like to drink. It did not happen; thus, my friend had to go the bar and purchase the expresso martini. The expresso martini was smooth and mellow. The only time I had the Henny was years ago at a Chinese wedding banquet. I added some to the shark fin soup, which enhanced the flavor of the soup. Yes, I enjoyed the expresso martini. The atmosphere of the lounge is one of sophistication and upscale. Comfortable seating all around. Nice place to hang out, do some chillaxin' with friends. Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

Super chill spot with hella cool people! Wandered in here with a friend while waiting for a concert…read moreat Fox. So we had a few drinks and chatted it up with Rick. He's super knowledgeable AND passionate about his craft, plus an overall fun person to hangout with. We heard that this spot isn't getting much love these days and just wanna say it's totally worth the visit! You get excellent service, people who love what they do, community and also some bomb a** lumpia if you show up when the lumpia ladies are taking orders! Come thru!

Perfect neighborhood five bar. Great bartenders, excellent cocktails, good selection of draft…read morebeers, very unpretentious - what more could you ever want in a neighborhood place?

Great dive bar. Good service, good prices. Cool old school…read morevibe. 1000% better than Merchants