1. The Cordova Bar

    1. The Cordova Bar

    0

    San Diego, CA

    The Cordova Bar

    4.7 (223 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Services - The Cordova Bar

    Bartending services

    Catering services

    The Cordova Bar Photos

    Business Info

    THE CORDOVA BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    DJ
    Live music
    Karaoke
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - The Cordova Bar

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    Whiskey sour
    Shirley O.

    Fun place, down to earth vibe and solid drinks. We came in on a Sunday evening and had a blast listening to the live band and getting on the dance floor a few times. The bartenders themselves were also having fun and dancing behind the bar. I had the whiskey sour which was delicious and easy to drink. We ordered some burgers across the street and brought our meal to the bar.

    Cute little hot cocoa bar at The Cordova tonight
    Cheryl G.

    Tonight was my third time at The Cordova Bar and each time I visited, I've been impressed with how nice it is in there. Their outdoor patio space is really lovely with fire pits and couch seating and lots of succulent plants. The interior is small, but it was really decked out for Christmas. They had live music which I thoroughly was enjoying. Tonight they put on a Christmas pop-up market. Fun little event that brought me in to check out local artisans. It featured a hot cocoa bar and they had festive holiday cocktails. They even had the TVs with cute little snowy scenes that looked like you were looking out the window into a winter storm. Definitely recommend for a good time if you're in the neighborhood!

    Whiskey Sour
    Lauren B.

    Been here twice and keeping this bar on our go to list. They had a live band the first time we came and had a small cover fee. Since the band was done, we didn't have to pay cover which was nice. It was packed inside but they have plenty of outdoor space. Second time was during Wednesday night bingo. Grab a seat inside and join the fun. There were about 10 of us and some people had great luck. We did not so I don't know what the prize at the bar was. Their decorations for the holidays are cute and the server was so kind. The vibes you want to keep coming back to. They have a lot of outdoor seating with a few fire pits as their indoor seats can fill up. Parking is in the neighborhood which means a short little walk to this bar. But it's not difficult to find a spot. Happy hour is amazing. $10 vodka or gin martinis and $5 beers, wells, and wines. There's no food here though and I believe I heard that people will bring food from across the street or order delivery.

    A side of the cocktail menu, June 2025
    Wendy G.

    Nice spot to grab a cocktail in Morena. HH 4-8 offers $5 beers and discounted wells. We were the only ones there around 6:30 on a Tues evening, so a bit of a bummer to not have any crowd ambiance but bartender was still really friendly and prepared some delicious pours. As a cocktail gal, I tried the Velvet Dragon which was an excellent tart and sweet concoction featuring passionfruit and coconut rum. I also requested the Peanut Butter Cup, which is only on the Fri martini menu, but the bartender was kind enough to serve it anyway. Composed of pb whiskey, chocolate liquor and topped with whipped cream, this libation is the definition of dessert in a glass.

    Mistletoe
    Ryan B.

    Really really loved this place. We've been meaning to try it forever but never stopped in. Decorated nicely for Christmas and the fire pits were so warm and gave it a homey look. Cocktails were all excellent and about $5 cheaper than most other similar spots. It's just divey enough that it's relaxed, and just classy enough without being pretentious at all. Would love to go back for another cocktail very soon!

    Jonaline A.

    A great little spot to have some drinks and have a good time with friends! I went with a group of 4 and we were able to find a little booth to sit at next to the bar. There wasn't too much seating indoors, but they had a nice big patio area outside. The drinks were delicious and enjoyed the overall vibe of the bar.

    James V.

    An exquisite bar on Morena. Fantastic cozy vibes inside - but I loved the outdoor patio on a weekday evening. Can't beat their happy hour: $5 beers/wells/wines from 5pm til 8pm. Service was welcoming and prompt. Shout out Mike for the great conversation and sponsoring my whiskey ginger - appreciate it!

    Iliana M.

    We always have the best time at this bar! Super chill and we love to come on Friday's for martini night! The workers are so friendly and all the drinks we've had are amazing. My personal favorite is the peanut butter espresso martini, it's basically dessert in a cup!

    Classic Gin and Chocolate Martinis
    Phuc T.

    Stopped by for HH on a Friday afternoon. Ordered the Classic Gin Martini and Chocolate Martini. The Classic was good. The Chocolate one was just okay. Sweet like Chocolate milk. Expected. EZ was our bartender and he seemed like a chill guy. Overall, nice chill spot.

    Bartender's choice - New York Sour
    Kevin P.

    A nice little cocktail bar in Morena; I've come here a few times now and have always had a good experience, and will recommend a visit to friends looking for a chill bar to hang out with not too much noise and fuss. Ambience-wise: Cordova has the indoor bar area and an outdoor lounge/patio area out front. It's almost like some of the businesses we have around SD that was probably a local home before and then redone into a bar. In my opinion, it gives it a very homey feel outside especially if the weather is right. Inside, they keep the lighting dimmer but not to any point where you can't see where you're going. The decor is nice and nothing super flashy or trendy. They sometimes have DJs spinning records, or artists that come to perform music; and I believe there are other similar things going on everyday. It can fill up here, but I haven't seen it get packed or become too much where you can barely hear others right in front talking, so it definitely maintains a more relaxed vibe. Drink/food-wise: I haven't tried it myself or know what is served, but they do have food that they serve in the outdoor area. Cordova has a good list of cocktails that they serve. I've tried the White Russian, the Cordova Paloma, and the bartender's choice (forgot what they call it). Each one was well made, and I especially enjoyed the Bartender's Choice. Bartender asked what my vibe was and he was able to make a New York Sour, which is similar to a whiskey sour but with red wine. They also have a good beer list for those that aren't there for cocktails. Service: the bartenders and workers here have always been fantastic and very nice/patient each time I've come here. They'll detail each drink if you have questions and provide recs with no issue. The bar, seating areas, and bathrooms are kept pretty clean which is a big plus for me because bars can understandably get messy sometimes. In summary, I like using Cordova as one of my quick go-to spots for any chill, relaxed meet ups for a couple drinks. Service is excellent, ambiance suits my needs, and most importantly the drinks are great. Definitely a hidden gem in SD for non-locals.

    Peanut butter expresso martini
    Marjon F.

    My boyfriend and I stopped here on a Saturday night. I loved the vibe, dark and private, yet alive and fun with music to sing along. I'm a big expresso martini girl, so I had to try there peanut butter whisky expresso martini. It is on the sweeter side, more of a dessert martini, but it tasted amazing! My first expresso martini with whisky. I don't think I could drink more than one, though. We sat at the bar and the bartender was super tenitive and nice. They have a ton of expresso martini options, so I'll definitely be back to try the others soon!

    Key Lime Martini
    Becky L.

    of youre cruiing down Morena and you aren't paying attention, you may miss this place, so I urge you to pay attention. A hip little cocktail bar that serves creative drinks with a swanky vibe. Make sure you stop by on Friday for their Martini night and let your taste buds be engulfed in a variety of sweet, smokey and tangy flavors sure to delight even the most refined of taste buds. Each night has something going on so you can't really go wrong here. Ty is one of the owners and he was so nice and made us feel welcomed and really wanted to give us a good drink and make sure we had a good evening - talk about great customer service! Definitely recommend this place for a quick drink after a long day at work, a date night, or just a place to enjoy one of San Diegos amazing small businesses!

    Menu - Feb 2024
    Kristen W.

    Local spot. Love the vibes here - chill and casual. Staff is super friendly here. Lots of seating outside on the patio. There's also a few heaters and few fire pits. Decent seating inside too. They also gave us pretzels to snack on. We tried the 1) Peanut Butter Espresso Martini and it was well balanced! Not too sweet. 2) Classic Gin Martini - the gin used was mid, but we didn't expect much. We'll be coming back!

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    2 days ago

    Coolest bar in the area. Check out their IG and visit to see why! Bartender EZ is the best!!! Love this spot.

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

    The drink selections were well thought out. The ambiance was very intimate and welcoming. And the service was top notch.

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    11 months ago

    Great music and great bartenders especially the 2 blondes. Awesome personalities!!! Will visit again!!

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    We hope you come see us again and get to try more fun cocktails

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    Thanks Jocy

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Cordova Bar

    Do they have a parking lot?

    No they do not have a parking lot you have to park on the street down around the corner and over on the side

    Is there live music here? Which nights?

    They do have live music, best to check out their site for more info. We were there on a Wednesday and there was

    Do they have happy hour?

    False. As of 2/21/23, there is no happy hour in fact I got charged an extra dollar off each drinks so a $14 drink is $15.

    Do they serve food?

    No they don't. However most nights there is a pretty good taco pop up across the street. Also they have A very good Italian food place that will deliver.… Read more

    View All 5 Questions

    Review Highlights - The Cordova Bar

    The staff at Cordova, Becca, Laura, and EZ, went so above and beyond during my visit, I'm still thinking about it.

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    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.

    The self-appointed king of speakeasies is back at it with another one. I stopped by Oculto 477 on a…read moreWednesday evening an hour before close. Located in Old Town San Diego, we had dinner at a restaurant within walking distance from Oculto. I parked for free on the street and made a reservation day of. It's a pretty small speakeasy so if you're going on a weekend, you're probably going to have to make a reservation in advance. Ambiance (4.5/5): Oculto has the seven deadly sins theme going which is pretty cool. I've been to a similar speakeasy in St. Pete, Florida. Once you arrive at the mezcal bar that houses Oculto, check in with the host, and he will bring you to a "confessional." There, you must confess one of the seven deadly sins before the door to the speakeasy is opened for you. Naturally, I went with "lust." Once you get inside, it's a charming speakeasy. Service (2.5/5): This is one of the areas that leaves a little to be desired. There was only one bartender working when I was there. Since speakeasies have elevated cocktails, service was quite slow. They definitely needed two bartenders there to speed up the process. They also have a two-drink minimum which I was annoyed about on principle. I often have multiple drinks at a bar, but I never feel like I'm forced to do it. Food (N/A): I'm not sure if they have food, I don't believe they do. Regardless, I was on a liquid diet. Drinks (4/5): Pretty interesting menu of craft cocktails. When I'm at a speakeasy, I look for unique drinks that have an interesting combination of ingredients and flavor profiles. In addition to a nice list, they also have a dealer's choice cocktail where you can tell the bartender what you're into and they will craft a custom cocktail for you based on your taste. Another cool thing about Oculto is that it's located next to the cemetery in Old Town. That adds to the spooky theme.

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    Seat at the bar

    Oculto 477 - La Llorona

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    This is a great space! Love meeting friends here - locals and tourists are always pleasantly…read moresurprised by this literal 'hidden' gem tucked in the middle of an industrial area (parking may take a bit to find). The main food available is from Pizza Cassette, which has delicious sandwiches and wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pizza pies. Drinks are available from a brewery, a trendy and unique wine spot, and a meadery! Truly something for everyone. It's dog friendly and great for groups to still feel intimate with standing areas, barrel table tops and picnic style tables. There's usually always something happening like trivia night or live music, but heads up, they don't stay open too late - won't be an issue for most, but in case you're looking for a spot at 8pm, double check the hours, especially for food.

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    The Gärten - VIP flight from Lost Cause Meadery

    VIP flight from Lost Cause Meadery

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    The Gärten

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    The Cordova Bar - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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