I loved the laid back vibe of this place! Plenty of comfortable seating, and I loved the pool table to hang out by and enjoy a game with friends. The bartenders were all super friendly and quick with service. Both drink we tried were tasty (and strong!), they also had popcorn for you to help yourself to if you wanted. Overall this was a great spot to spend a chill weekend and grab some drinks. Id definitely come back! read more

Sycamore Den - Good drinks! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Time to chill! This is my new place to have a quiet conversation and cocktail. This bar is a throwback and while it's old, it's updated. Next trip, I'll sit in the conversation pit. We had manhattan and old fashion, both constructed perfectly by our mix master Rylan. Rylan was also familiar with the area and directed us across the street to Blind Lady Ale for a slice. Cool spot w excel service and cocktails. read more

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Stepping into @sycamoreden Den feels like time-traveling straight into a dreamy 70's hideaway--disco balls spinning, cocktails flowing, pool table ready, and the coziest cabin vibes. Always here for the drinks, the energy, and the DJ keeping the groove alive. A Normal Heights gem through and through. read more

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We stumbled upon this joint after the thrift market across the street because we saw the happy hour sign and they had the r&b jams going. Cool old Hollywood aesthetic. Happy hour is 50% off everything - crazy! I had a fantastic whiskey sour and something with gin that was awesome. The patio still has the music playing there and the booth there was comfy. I'm most def coming back Cora was super nice and friendly read more

Sycamore Den - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

A classier, sexier, elegent, yet unpretentious bar along Adams Ave's typical dive bar experiences. Sometimes you feel like being classy in a nicer, classier place. Friendly bar staff. They've got lovely and sophisticated cocktails at prices that are about 20-30% cheaper. read more

Loved my visit here this past weekend! Happy hour from open til 7pm daily. Excellent cocktails at a great price! At first they only had on bartender so it took a while to get drinks, but more staff was added later in the day. They have an outdoor patio that's amazing including a TV. During the summer it might get a little warm without fans. There's free popcorn but no food. We ordered a pizza from nearby and brought it in. It's Normal Heights so uber or plan on looking for parking in the neighborhood. I'll definitely pay them another visit! read more

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If you want some good cocktails, I'd recommend trying out this place. The two times I've been here, it wasn't too crowded as I came during the weekday night or weekend evening. They got some good cocktails drinks along with popcorn, which is free! The vibe inside is great - good for socializing or for date nights. The people there are really nice and friendly and get the drinks done pretty fast. So if you want a place to have some fun and chill, this is the place to visit! read more

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Sycamore den has a great happy hour!! Amazing cocktail for under $10 and the free popcorn is the best!

This is a really nice bar. Servers are normally really nice. They have a really good Sunday happy hour. I believe the happy hour is from 5 pm to 7pm. The music is really good. Drinks are great! They have some really good cocktails. Place is pretty chill. They just remodeled the back, so it's really nice. Good amount of seating and a gigantic disco ball hanging out, its pretty cool. Definitely casual environment. They also have seating out in the front which is nice you can sit and have a drink hanging out watching towards Adams street. Cody is a really good bartender. Always pleasant. He definitely pays attention to his customers. I like also that you can get some free popcorn here. They also have the Hook & ring game if interested. Normally the crowd here is very chill. Definitely one of the best bars down on Adams street. But also close to some other cool spots. Definitely a vibe. read more

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This place has a great vibe. They usually have live music in the evenings, offer free popcorn, and even have a fun little game where you swing a metal ring and try to hook it. There's both indoor and outdoor seating. The last time I came was for a friend's birthday, and we had our own little private area, which was a nice touch. The staff are always friendly, though service can be a bit slow since it tends to get crowded. They were also out of all three IPAs I tried to order, so they definitely need to do a better job keeping the beer stocked. The selection was pretty disappointing. Still, it's a fun spot overall. Great music, good energy, friendly service, and lots of space. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Sycamore Den - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stumbled into Sycamore Den on Adams Ave after a friend's glowing rec--perfect timing, I rolled in just after opening and had the whole retro-vibe joint to myself and the super-friendly bartender. Ordered the SycDen Paloma (Ilegal Mezcal Joven, grapefruit, lime, agave, Sprite, Tajín rim) and--plot twist--they were showcasing a new Murcielago tequila and swapped the mezcal for it on the house. The drink was next-level refreshing: bright citrus, subtle smoke from the spirit, and that spicy-salty Tajín kick. Dangerous how easy it went down. Vibes are chill and unpretentious--one pool table for low-stakes games, a huge dog-friendly patio out back, and a free popcorn machine (yes, unlimited buttery goodness). No kitchen, but you can BYOF from the killer spots nearby (taco shop run, anyone?). If you want a laid-back, no-attitude bar with killer cocktails and a neighborhood feel, Sycamore Den is a gem. Already planning my next visit. read more

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My friend reserved the back patio for her birthday and we had a good time! The staff was friendly, the space is decent, the decorations are cute. From the outside, it doesnt look like a place I would typically walk into but once you're inside it's nice. The drinks were great! They have a few selection of cocktails and draft beers mostly. The bartender takes his time with each drink so they look and taste good. The place has a pool table as well which was a good pass time. Had such a good time I forgot to take any pictures... that alone should be a reason to go back read more

I love their happy hour! Amazing cocktails at a great price. I get the whisky sour usually. I like the bartender. I also like the Monday music bingo read more

EXCELLENT vibes in this establishment. Cowboy Bebop on the TV's, eclectic music playing (I was shazaming every song), warm, cozy 70's decor, funky in like the best way possible. Popcorn machine you can just take popcorn from. The bartender was great. Definitely coming back!! read more

Sycamore Den - Syc Den Margarita, Lestat's Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

FOOD/DRINK: They have free popcorn that you can get from the machine. Their cocktails are really strong. Our go-to drinks are negroni, gin and tonic, and crime of passion. SERVICE: All the servers and bar backs are WONDERFUL! They have a passion for making cocktails for their customers and will always make sure you are taken care of...with more drinks, of course! AMBIANCE: It's a 70's inspired bar with vintage decor. Each DJ has their own type of music but whenever I go, it's always a vibe. I absolutely love that they are dog friendly. PARKING: It can be tough since there is no parking lot, but you shouldn't have a hard time since you can park in the residential area. read more

Randomly walked into this bar & it turned out to be so cute! Love the ambience. Had both indoor and outdoor seating . They offer free popcorn , thought that was cute. I ordered their den Margarita and the hubby ordered a Crime of Passion, it was also very delicious. Strong but tasty drinks. Definitely would recommend and will be going back :) Ramen QR codes were available to order from the table, we only tried the drinks but ramen smelled delicious. read more

Fantastic ambiance. Love the new pool table. Always popcorn to snack on after a few drinks. Home of the best bartender in SD, KP!

Such a fun vibe here. People are super nice and fun. The drinks are delicious and gorgeous too! read more

Sycamore Den - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is such a funky and fun vibe. I absolutely love the monthly Burlesque shows as well. What a fun and supportive crowd! Great drinks, great bartenders, and lots of options to find food in the neighborhood. read more

The best part about Sycamore Den is the FREE POPCORN. Immediately upon walking in, all you smell is popcorn. It kinda seemed like it was an air freshener plug in scent or something to mask the body odor, but no - it's real popcorn. The craving started immediately upon first sniff. So I went on a mission to find the popcorn. It's located toward the back, so just keep walking past the bar and you'll eventually find it. It's self serve and they have trays and paper liners on top of the machine. They even had valentina hot sauce and tajin!! Literally the perfect bar snack. Popcorn aside, I came here on Halloween and it was a fun time! There were dancers performing which was super entertaining. I'm not sure if they do that on the regular. After the performances, the DJ started playing music. On that night it was hip hop, which is my type of music! The bartenders were quick even on a super busy night! I ordered a few rounds of tequila sprite (I know, boring but it's my go to) and they were pretty strong. This place was a whole vibe. It seems like a cozy place to go on a weekday night. I'd definitely come back, even if it's just for the popcorn and vibes. read more

Sycamore Den - FREE POPCORN - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Review is strictly for removing the hook and ring. Pool table sucks. I can go anywhere for a pool table but not a hook and ring. This sucks. If it wasn't for the amazing bartenders I wouldn't come here anymore. read more

Sycamore Den has such a great atmosphere - cozy, but very unique. They even have a little back patio outside which is a great hangout spot with a larger group. This spot is perfect for a night out! The drinks were okay, not bad but not particularly memorable. Still, the vibe alone makes it worth a visit and bartenders were all very friendly! Will be coming here again! read more

Sycamore Den - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Happy Hour here is a must! Staff is awesome! Drinks are great. Inside has a chill vide with plenty of seats inside and out. FREE POPCORN what?! Plenty of beers on tap. Cocktails are above average. Vibe is fire. Happy hours beers are around $4!!! 50% off most of everything 5-7pm daily! Get some Sick Den!! read more

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Honestly have always loved coming to Sycamore Den since I first discovered it a couple years ago. It's a cozy bar in Normal Heights that's perfect for a casual night out with friends. The bartenders here are always so friendly and quick with cranking out drinks to keep the lines moving. It can often get somewhat busy here whenever there's an event, but there's usually plenty of couches and tables to sit at. The crowd here is always so friendly and lively, one of those spots where you can see the community is thriving. Personally love getting the espresso martini here. It's nothing super fancy, but it's perfect for when you're in need of a quick one - nice balance between sweet and strong. I've yet to visit during happy hour, but 50% off during happy hour seems like it'd be such a great deal for these espresso martinis, so I'll have to check it out when I can. read more

Sycamore Den - Espresso martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

A super fun & cozy bar in normal heights! I love the 70's inspired interior design and it's a very welcoming place upon arrival. The two cocktails we had were part of their spring specials menu and both were 10/10 amazing! I got the passion fruit fizz & a spicy marg. Bartender was lovely & charismatic despite being busy and I had a great time here overall! Would love to come back on a weekend night to experience the "throwback nights" they have playing only music that we know and love! read more

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It's full of middle aged college students and young professionals. It looks decidedly retro and on Fridays & Saturdays it sounds like someone with impeccable taste in every music genre is turning up the joint. If you can get over the fact that it smells like popcorn everywhere, it's a fun place when you can find a comfortable seat. My friend and I sat in a long booth near a bunch of guys that all looked like Ron Weasley and they were very intent at playing their game of tossing something at the wall. There were a few moments where we were caught in a zip line as they swung their string at every angle. Somehow it all added to the experience. Other mentions: - mocktails - light bites - canned cocktails (Topo Chico, White Claw, etc) - live DJ on Fridays and Saturdays read more

This place is gross. They claim to offer burlesque shows on certain days but it's not burlesque. It was straight stripping. Letting these women bare behind on the bar top. Right next to drinks and plates and cups. Absolutely gross. No, I do not recommend this place. read more

Sycamore Den - Woman bare behind on the bar top. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Incredible staff, great drinks. We come here often for happy hour and always have a good time.

I came here causally just expecting a typical bar experience of silent drinking CODY changed that this guy is a legend, great conversationalist and completely changed the vibe of my night - it went from silent to "yo what's up, what do u like" I told him peach and he whipped up a cocktail just for me and sent me on my way Sometimes it's the simple things at bars - the people - that define the experience. So long as he works here, I will be coming back. read more

This bar is fantastic! Great vibes, great cocktails! Dog friendly! The staff is amazing and I always have a great time. I highly recommend this place read more

Lively spot in the heart of Kensington. I love the loungy atmosphere and very pleased that the bar is never extremely packed so you can actually hear what your friends have to say. Aeroclub Whiskey Sour is the best drink on the menu. read more

It isn't that Sycamore Den isn't great - it is - but it's only 5-stars when you don't have to argue over a reasonable misunderstanding that somehow took on a life of its own. But we'll get there. I stopped by, not to long ago, to see what, according to friends who have long since dispersed, that I was there and, they assured me, it was time well-spent. I vaguely remember a couple of oddly dressed young people who, in 50s Bee-Bop fashion, couldn't explain why they were dressed that way (not that I'm arrogant enough to think they owed me an explanation). But it was, as some like to say, what it was. I remember it being nicely packed for 7PM-ish plus. There was a food station on the patio, which left only the eastern side available where a couple, smoking, leaned into each other, laughing at who-knows-what. Inside, most of the tables were spoken for and the bar was buzzing with low high-grade energy. Not having a stool to sit on, I plunked myself down in what I jokingly referred to as 'the children's table,' a dry patch of the bar where either small people or latecomers like me sat. Danielle was the bartender serving me as she was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. She was, as I came to learn, not only very charismatic, but an astute manager of people and time. (It was something i would see again with Jade at The Hills pub in La Mesa as you'll soon find.) I ordered the $12 'Wolf Ticket' and, after, a draft beer called 'Polite' from The Societe. They were both outstanding but for different reasons. With the way Danielle made Wolf Ticket, the whiskey was nicely balanced with a degree of smoky sweetness that made it hard to preserve. The beer was deliciously IPA-y and worth every penny. The other bartender I made time to know was John. John is absolutely everything you want in a local tender; he's informal, relaxed, personable, and he knows his beer. He's everyone's friend and the reason people keep coming back to bars. But it's also a theme I'm beginning to discover with the owners of SD, THP (in La Mesa), Aero Club, and a few other I will almost certainly visit. What cost them a star was the way they handled my dispute. Or AITA? When I order the cocktail, Danielle asked for a card they could charge as I, or anyone else, could wrack up as the night as the drinks wore on. But I checked my bank balance after ordering the beer and saw a $20 dollar charge. It didn't occur to me at the time that this was probably a pre-charge to make sure the card was legit. But because it said $12 for 'Wolf Ticket' on the menu, I don't think it was unreasonable of me to assume the draft beer was $8 dollars. But when I got back from the bathroom to ask for the check - seeing they were in the thick of things - I through six clams down on the counter and headed out. The next morning the charges from my bank showed another $8.45. Long story short, I didn't factor in tax and they added 20% percent of the bill as the tip. In other words, the charming guy at 'the children's table' was no longer, but in his place there was a $1 dollar bill and a $5 dollar bill but, hey, it could have been anyone's tip, so let's give our bartenders some more money on my behalf. Which I would have gladly given anyway! Anyone, I spoke to a cog in the ether and they returned the tip they added to the check (which, did I bitterly mention, was about a buck-and-a-quarter less than what I left?). Anyway, theatrics aside, go! It's fun. It's your crowd. Support local business. But tell that guy in the ether to find his passion...he's a real business killer. read more

We LOVE sycamore den. It's been our go-to since moving to the neighborhood last year. Nothing can beat their 50% off happy hour that is on EVERY drink EVERY day 5-7pm and very friendly service. I always go for the Crime of Passion which is definitely a local favorite. There's no food menu but there's free popcorn and tacos that are usually outside every weekend! The DJs play some bangers and the new outside patio is perfect for a chill night out. read more

Sycamore Den - Crime of Passion - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

All in all, great experience! Staff was really nice, space was extremely cozy. Such a great vibe inside and out with a lot of seating and fun event nights like trivia and bingo. Heat lamps outside which is always a nice touch in the winter. I was lucky enough to pop in during the holidays and it was truly SO festive. If you see this before it's gone, it's worth stopping by to enjoy! I had a few of the signature cocktails but, the one noteworthy drink was the Autumn Blazed- truly to die for. You know that first sip of a perfectly crafted drink? One so good, you order the next one before you finish your first? This was exactly that. Every sip was truly perfection. Ironically one of the bartenders, Cody, came up with the drink. He deserves a medal lol. Fun Note: even if you don't need to go, be sure to stop by the restrooms to enjoy some eclectic bar art. read more

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A cozy cabin with a delightful patio and signature drinks that tie it all together! Despite the rush and limited staffing, drinks still came out quickly and to the highest quality. read more

Sycamore Den - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Shit bar service on weekend nights. Guy bartender is so in love with himself he forgot he is in the business of selling drinks. Does not have awareness. They have no awareness of who is at the bar and service is the absolute worst. You can't get a drink which defeats the whole purpose. The way it works is bartender(s) work as a team, selling drinks and being aware of who is waiting for drinks, getting to them in a kind of order. Not here. I've been to bars all over the world and have never walked away without a drink. Can't wait for them to close due to sales and rent increases, it will come. Plenty of other places to spend your money. read more

Worst service I've had in a long time. Tried to get a drink before the show for the wife and I for around 15 minutes. Never got one. Bartender was too busy servicing the younger generation. Just left out of frustration after 20 minutes. If you are pressed for time, avoid this like the plague. Horrible service. Zia pizzeria a few doors down was awesome though. read more

Sycamore Den is already an incredible bar, but having Cody behind the bar takes the experience to another level. His knowledge of flavors is next level--he doesn't just make cocktails, he crafts them. Whether you know exactly what you want or just give him a vague idea, he'll mix up something perfect every time. Beyond the drinks, Cody is just a genuinely great guy. He's friendly, easy to talk to, and always makes you feel welcome. The whole staff at Sycamore Den is fantastic, but if you get a chance to sit at Cody's bar, you're in for a treat. Highly recommend! read more

Craft drinks and craft drinks in cans. Draft beer and in cans. Vending machines with all of that, too! Free popcorn. Indoor, outdoor and patio seating. Snazzy interior. Iron Maiden pinball machine, skeeball, fortune teller machine by bathroom, deep basement seating, live music most nights and eclectic tunes lighten up the experience. Surrounding street parking. No food, but pretty good spiced FREE popcorn. read more

Sycamore Den - Vending beer and mixed drink machine! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Sycamore Den has great drinks and staff. I love the 70s vibe. This business is all about kindness and gives back to the community. The monthly burlesque shows are amazing, not just for the professional performances but because the producer donates a good portion of the proceeds to community based organizations. Pay no attention to anyone who has the caucasity to say anything else. read more