Swan bar strikes the perfect balance between casual and upscale for a bar in North Park. It's not fancy at all, but the cocktails would pass for a much fancier establishment. Bartenders are nice and efficient and the vibe is typically on the rowdier side. Legendary happy hour daily 4-5pm. $7 espresso martinis are undefeated. read more

Everytime I come, I always get the Espresso Martini. 10/10 It is smooth, creamy and strong. Lots of seating indoors and outdoors. Recommend coming during daytime between 4 and 5pm for Happy Hours! Lines are short and service is quick. read more

TL;DR: Came for the drinks, stayed for the burger Now don't get me wrong the drinks are still solid and they have some really creative cocktails but the burger (double w cheese) was the perfect bite to go with the bevs A saucier version of innouts double-double, this burger really hit the spot. To make everything even better, their fries beat innouts limp soggy ones all day. Seating can be a little tough but the outdoor decor and vibes are always happy and fun. Cheers, Swan Bar! read more

Swan Bar - double with cheese and grilled onions - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Swan Bar is an NP classic that surprisingly a lot of people miss. It has a really interesting vibe and a core classic feel to it. I prefer the outdoor patio but the music can get really loud. The happy hour is one of the best in SD - if you can make the 4-5pm timing. The drinks can be hit or miss here, (as well as the bartenders) some too sweet and some really good. The ones without sweetness forward flavors are your best bet. Overall a really fun place to stop by. read more

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After hearing about the great hh deals here we finally decided to come around the holidays when they decorate the whole place up. We got there right before open and there was a line but we were able to get in right away. It's open seating and they have a small indoor and decently large covered patio space. All the holiday drinks were not on happy hour and on the pricier end around $18 or so. They still had their happy hour menu at $7 for all cocktails. I got the negroni and found it realllyyyyy sweet so not my fave. My partner got the peppermint espresso martini from the holiday menu but didn't taste any peppermint. The decorations were super cute and well done though! read more

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We came to the Swan bar after hearing some good things about the place. It was super decked out for Christmas. We thought going a bit early we'd best the crowds but we were wrong. Place was super packed and there was a 10 minute wait. The bar has lots of space to sit and a great seasonal drink options. We had 1 of almost everything on their menu. The atmosphere was super chill. A must do on any list of bars to check out. We will definitely come back here after the holiday season to check it out again. read more

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Cant believe I hadn't reviewed earlier after returning a couple times already. Solid bar for locals, tasty unique drinks. A staple spot to hangout w friends. The place is cute, on holidays they put tons of effort in their appearance. No matter the day of the week I think theres usually a crowd always seems popular. read more

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We were in the area, and wanted to check it out. Loved the holiday decorations. Plus they had "snow" at the entrance which was fun. It's definitely a popular bar for the holidays as there were no seating available when we walked in. The bartenders were really nice, and helpful in explaining what a particular drink my friend wanted to try had in it. Due to allergy restrictions wasn't able to try it out. Overall, definitely a cute place to check out if you're into holiday themed bars. read more

Swan Bar - The ceiling view - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

It took me a while to finally make it down to Swan Bar (mostly because the initial reactions from friends were less than raving), but I was happy to finally make the trip down 30th. The four stars are mostly for the vibe, the very likeable bartenders, and the excellent, if too literal, singular happy hour. The two times I have gone have revealed a good mix of neighborhood people and scattered others enjoying some decent cocktails and really good happy hour (again, singular) deals. Although, I have yet to find a drink I really like here, I have the feeling it's there to be discovered, and at $7 a pop during happy hour (not "hours"), I'm happy to keep searching. Food-wise, I have only tried the fries, which were good, so I can't say much else about that. This seems to be more of a drinking establishment anyway, so it may not matter so much. I look forward to my next visit and hope to discover that elusive favorite drink. read more

Came here for my birthday a couple weeks ago. I hadn't been here in a while so I was really excited. Before I even walked in Pete greeted me by name. He remembered what I liked to drink "Makers on a Big rock". I was blown away. Had a great time and food still hits. Still one of my favorite spots. read more

Swan Bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here for the holiday decorations and it did not disappoint! I loved the music and vibes and the drinks were really good! The only downside was that there were only 2 bartenders so it did take a bit to order drinks and since it was so busy (on a Tuesday night), it was hard to find seating. But worth it for the decorations! read more

Swan Bar - Holiday drinks! - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Got a good cocktail. I love their happy hour and the ambiance. It's a classy place. I'm happy with the service read more

Swan Bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

WOW! Swan bar really did a fantastic job with their holiday decorations this year! The exterior has been completely transformed into a winter wonderland and the interior lights were also really festive! For drinks we got the gingerbread old fashion and the danger snorkel. Their smash burgers and garlic fries were also SO delicious and flavorful and on par with the Friendly! Swan bar has definitely become one of my favorite neighborhood bars! read more

Swan Bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Unfortunately, it's not my favorite anymore. Happy hour prices have gone up (I know I know everything has and the price still isn't bad). I ordered my favorite fast and dirty a few weeks ago and it was not right. It wasn't very dirty at all and they didn't have bleu cheese olives. The olives they did use tasted rancid. Very off putting. It's extremely loud inside the patio area due to the acoustics. Also this is just my personal opinion but I liked when they did the Krampus theme and not the over the top Xmas like all the other bars. ‍ *smash burger still good read more

The appletini cocktail is a silent killer for hangovers. Beware the happy hour is pretty good too!

I was back In San Diego and wanted to come here after seeing a few Instagram ads. The vibe is pretty cool. The inside is a dimly lit bar, and then there's an outdoor patio with large tables. I was skeptical when I found out most of the cocktails were on tap but I will say very good! I loved the Espresso Martini, would definitely order again. The Apple Pie Martini was also pretty good, reminded me of Fall. This is a cool place to check out if you're in the area. read more

Swan Bar - Inside bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Giving an additional star because I have historically had great experience here but this past weekend I came in on Sunday evening to br met with male bartender (white male with tattoos) who was beyond rude. He didn't greet upon entering, when we asked how long kitchen opened, he first ignored us and then gave an answer. And then threw menus at us. We immediately left. As long as he is there, I will not be back. read more

Love this bar and their martinis! They have happy hour and the martinis are such a hit and only $7! I love the holiday time when they decorate the bar into a winter Christmas wonderland with festive drinks and holiday decor :) read more

We came here to try their holiday-themed cocktails and they did not disappoint! The place was very festively decorated. Right from the outside, you're greeted with blow-up Christmas decorations on the roof and inside the whole ceiling is covered with glittery gifts and lights. I love it! Unfortunately they had issues in the kitchen that night and had to close the kitchen early so we couldn't try any food. But looking at the regular drinks and the great service we got that night, we'll be back for more for sure. read more

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Stopped by Swan bar a few weeks ago when out with friends. We were looking for a festive spot with food and drinks and ended up here. I forgot to take pictures of the inside but their seating area was all decorated with holiday trimmings, lights, etc. and was happening. We ordered a couple of drinks including a few Christmas specials. Unfortunately those were a bit too sweet for my friends liking. I opted for a gin and tonic and it was well put together. Overall was a fun spot to hang out with friends. Not too loud, just wish we had come earlier before they closed the kitchen. read more

Swan Bar - Gin and tonic - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I like that Swan Bar has a semi patio area that has coverage overhead, air breezing through and private fencing all at the same time. They also have an inside bar area with seats, tables and bar stool. The staff were super friendly, menu was easy to read, happy hour from 4-5pm on select drinks. They serve bar food as well. We ordered onion rings and poutine; our poutine was a bit salty. Overall, I love that the staff highly value our safety, attentive and friendly. Will return in the future. Good vibes all around. read more

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They had outstanding cocktails, would recommend the espresso martinis. The music and the lighting were spot on. read more

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So we were looking to celebrate in a festive environment and after a bit of searching we found this spot. The place was packed, but they pulled of the Christmas Charm. We were able to get some drinks and perch ourselves at the end of the bar. We also ordered some food which came up pretty quickly. The burgers and fries were amazing and really hit the spot. The fries were crisp and the burger was flavorful and juicy. I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas themed drinks, but they were pretty good. read more

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My girlfriends and I went to their happy hour for my birthday, and not only was the service super friendly and quick, their espresso martini was delicious!!! Super cool vibe, I would highly recommend! read more

Swan Bar - Espresso martini and the bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Imagine a dive bar feeling, but the bar felt nicer and clean. That's Swan Bar. Drinks there are always great and they have good burgers. Food menu is mainly the burger, fries, and nachos. It's a great place to go after dinner or just meeting friends for drinks. Went during their Christmas pop up and loved the decor. Their gingerbread old fashioned is one of my favorite holiday drinks. read more

Swan Bar - Gingerbread old fashioned - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Such a great place to go and hang out with friends. It can get crowded on the weekends but the vibe is great.

Always appreciate a place that offers mocktails on the menu! The place is pretty expansive, or it wasn't super crowded when I went. The Mr. Aloha was a refreshing drink, but a little too sweet for my tastes. It wasn't as enjoyable towards the end, but it was still a good drink. The other two drinks were solid, but the horchata was pretty misleading, since we were expecting a more horchata-consistency and flavor. The horchata was pretty lacking, but it was happily consumed by the person who purchased it. The Mt. Dew drink tasted almost exclusively of its mountain dew, so it wasn't that great. Overall, not too bad, but would appreciate more balanced flavors or a mildly more accurate naming convention. read more

Swan Bar - Aloha Mr. Hand + strawberry horchata + forgotten drink with Mt. Dew - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This is always great, but it becomes magical during the winter. They deck out the patio with Christmas decorations, making it a fun experience for the holidays. The bartenders and service are always excellent. I love the happy hour drinks here which are mainly batch cocktails but are delicious and strong. Highly recommended! read more

I've drive past this place forever: I finally went in. FUNNN!!!! First off the place was decorated immaculately for Christmas. I don't know if I've ever been to such a festive bar and I truly smiled upon walking in. Apparently the virus is famous for its drinks on tap, so I had to of course, have the espresso martini which was surprisingly delicious for being a premixed beverage! For a snack, I had the dirty pimento cheese fries in general. These were also delicious though the fries were a little crispy for my personal taste. The whole time I was there, I couldn't stop texting my husband and saying how we had to come back! Next time I wanna try their burgers and some more of those delicious sounding cocktails on tap! Sidenote, they really should sell gift cards because I want to give this place to my friends to enjoy !! read more

Swan Bar - Main bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Best happy hour in town with a great selection of drinks for $5 between 4-5pm. Great spot for a festive holiday vibe, but it can get crowded, so take advantage of earlier hours if possible. The staff were very welcoming when they opened and took our orders right away. Definitely recommend it out in North Park and need a spot to try out for good drinks! They also serve some food here but have yet to try. Will need to though because the fries always smell delicious. read more

Amazing local spot for craft cocktails and bar grub with a dark dive bar feel. They're super busy on Friday and Saturday nights but more mellow on weeknights. They do happy hour on weeknights for the first hour, half priced draft cocktails. Every one I've tried is delicious, especially the black manhattan! They're closed on Mondays and Sundays and only open evenings but one of my favorite industry friendly week night spots. read more

The majority of this review is weighted on their smashburger. I've hit most of the smashburger joints in the city, and I have to say: Swan Bar may have the best basic smashburger. Quality of Bread: Top Notch! Classic Brioche type bun with excellent consistency and perfectly sized for their burger. Quality of Meat: Well smashed with just the right amount of crispy burnt sear. Not too greasy (like one of my other favorite local spots) Quality of Cheese: Its american cheese. No surprises here Quality of Toppings: Great! Not too much of one thing. Well balanced with some excellent configurable options (fried egg etc) and some extra pickle slices and Pepperoncini on the side Presentation: 1/2 wrapped in paper for easy and clean handling I definitely recommend. The location is fairly spacious and dimly lit with a nice covered patio type area. The music was generally a little louder than I prefer, but acceptable. The drinks I had were happy hour pre-mixed cocktails, which were pretty good. I haven't had any of the fully mixed cocktails yet. I've read some complaints about service, but our bartender was welcoming and friendly Overall: Cool vibe, relaxed atmosphere, good drinks and fantastic smashburgers read more

Swan Bar - Smashburger - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Sat at the bar. Cocktails were fresh and tasty, love that they use an additive free tequila as their well. Absolutely loved the old school country music playing. Such a great vibe. Bartenders were friendly and helpful, will definitely be back. Got the Danger Snorkel with Mezcal and the Texas 2 step. Both cocktails were well balanced and delicious. What a great selection of drinks. They have something for everyone read more

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WHAT AN AMAZING HOUR. Hands down the best happy hour I have ever been to. My favorite drinks were the appletini and the gold rush. Best to get here early because they run out of the drinks pretty quick and you can only order one per person at a time! All of the seating was first come, first serve. There was some indoor seating with dim lighting and there was seating on their covered patio. My only grip was that the music was too loud, so it was hard to catch up with my friends. But it's also only an hour long so we can always drink then go somewhere else to catch up! I will definitely be frequenting their happy hour. The staff were very friendly and professionally. As for parking, it is street parking so plan ahead and get there early. Also I didn't get to try their food but it look and smelled so good! read more

Swan Bar - Inside patio - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Swan Bar is everything I want out of a neighborhood bar. Chill yet lively, busy but overly crowded where it becomes uncomfortable, cool but not a "scene". And they have the BEST happy hour in the area... $5 happy hour draft cocktails EVERY SINGLE DAY. These cocktails are better tasting than many of the drinks I've had prepared at cocktail bars, including some pretty pricey ones in the area. The Irish Gold Rush is my go to, but the Black Manhattan is perfect for when I want something boozier. The margarita and mojito are also excellent on warmer days. The bartenders are really friendly and provide great service. Swan Bar's layout is great, with a cozy indoor space to hang out along with a large, semi-outdoor space in the back. The outdoor area has heat lamps and a nice fireplace -- extra nice on a chilly SD evening. Somehow we always end up here while on a walk so I have yet to try their food or stray from the draft cocktails, but their cocktail menu looks interesting and is well priced. I'm also happy to see they offer a vegan burger and presumably a few vegan sides (fries, onion rings, etc.). Looking forward to spending a bit more time here soon and working my way through their cocktail menu. read more

Swan Bar - Irish Gold Rush by the fire. Only $5 during happy hour! - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is my go to place for espresso martinis! On Wednesdays they have $5 espresso and dirty martinis till 5 pm and they are so bomb. The liquor to coffee ratio is perfect and the cream float adds the perfect texture and sweetness read more

Swan Bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Cool vibe and they definitely go all out for Christmas! They had festive cocktails and food if you're hungry. There was loud music playing and it was packed for the holidays. read more

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This is the place to grab a good happy hour drink before dinner! Love the vibe/ambience of the patio space as it's enclosed but you still feel like your sitting on a patio. They even have a small fireplace that is very cozy. We came here on a Friday right as they opened at 4pm to take advantage of the happy hour and it seems like since they blew up on social media it's very busy! There were people waiting online to get in right at 4pm as the happy hour only goes from 4-5! The happy hour is draft cocktails and so there's about 6 different cocktails to choose from but so worth it for $5! The espresso martini isn't anything out of this world but definitely a solid choice. Food wise we only got chili cheese fries which were a large portion for 2 people but I know that they also have smash burgers. Overall great place for a cheap cocktail during happy hour and great patio set up. read more

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So easy to walk by this place and not see it! Nice locals spot with a lot of semi outdoor seating. I didn't realize some of the cocktails are on tap so I found it odd they are the same price as a hand mixed cocktail (unless it's happy hour - which is a really good deal) I found the bartenders nice enough and they were focused on getting the drinks out asap. They did seem a bit short on menus but overall worth a visit! read more

Swan Bar - Bar - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great neighborhood dive with nice moody atmosphere. I went here specifically for their Kaiju Night collab popup with Bar Kamon and those drinks were really good. Something I will mention since it wasn't apparent to me is Swan Bar does serve burgers and basic appetizers if you want something to eat while drinking. read more

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