Above Ash Social has an above average downtown view with below average happy hour menu and food. Street parking wasn't too difficult on the weekend and you'll find yourself at the right location once you see the valet out front. Go past the couches towards the elevators and take it up to the rooftop. Although I made a reservation, no one checked and we were told to take a seat anywhere. There was one server covering the whole floor so she took a while to greet us. The daily happy hour from 4-6 wasn't promoted and the drink specials covered only some beers and wines, not cocktails. The half off bites were misleading because they were half priced and also half sized. In the end, our server recommended getting the original portion. =ORDERED= Make sure to place in your orders early because we were checked on every 30 minutes and the food took equally as long to come out. *Tuna Nachos: crispy wonton chips with a salty Asian inspired marinade. Had some sweetness from the pineapple, creaminess from the avocado and punch from the ginger. However for $17, I was underwhelmed by the amount of tuna and how it was prepared. Besides a few cubes, most of the tuna was cut into slivers with connective tissue still intact. Very little tuna with minimal flavoring. *Fries: best item we had all evening. Fries were hot and crispy with a strong truffle taste. Nice saltiness from the parmesan with a rather average ketchup. One of the best truffle fries I've ever had. *Sunday Flowers: was beautifully presented although it didn't change color as advertised. Very sour and salt forward. Personally, didn't enjoy the graininess of the drink. *Golden Hour: citrusy and surprisingly the bourbon wasn't too harsh. The pink peppercorn and honey foam was non-existent and this tasted closer to a boozy lemonade than anything. *Illusione: best cocktail of the three. Resembled an alcoholic hot chocolate with the foamy cinnamon honey top. Warmed the soul in a different way. Our servers were friendly but unfortunately overworked. It was particularly chilly that day so we asked for a heater but it took 30 minutes for a staff member to fix the heater and then find a way to turn it on. Since the venue was so open, there weren't enough heaters to go around so I can't see Above Ash Social being too pleasant to be at in the evenings. Tables weren't being cleaned actively since there was only one server with one other person manning the dirty dishes. The view was indeed the best part about Above Ash Social. Considering we came for happy hour, we were disappointed to hear how the deals were irrelevant in terms of pricing and sizing. For the prices they're charging, the food and drinks should have been much better. Service took forever and I rather get my happy hour fill elsewhere. Forgettable night, unforgettable lesson to not return. read more

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Where to begin on how disappointing this experience was. Was it the service? Was it the way they sat us outside in the cold by ourselves and shut the door so we're could not get back inside? Was it that they didn't have our reservation when it was made months in advance? I'm not sure. All I know is, I will not be returning. The first and last time I came was on Valentine's Day 2024, a chilly February evening. When my partner and I arrived, we were greeted by two hostile employees, both of which could not be less interested that we were there. My partner had made reservations for us to sit on the patio and they sat us in the middle of the indoor restaurant with a table for four so big I could hardly reach him. When we asked to be switched outside to the patio or even to the balcony, we were told the patio was booked (obviously, that's why we made reservations) and the balcony was closed as there was construction across the street for a very tall building, so putting us outside would put us in danger. No problem at all and totally understandable. Five minutes later the waitress came back saying that we would sit on the balcony since it was what we wanted. At first I thought it was sweet, but she was actually just rude about it. She put us outside facing the construction and closed the glass doors behind us so we were alone in this apparently dangerous balcony completely closed off from the rest of the restaurant. Although nice on paper, it felt like a, "this is what you wanted", so deal with it. Maybe it's because we are young and they thought we'd order something small and not tip well, but even if we did, why would you treat a customer like that? The only thing that saved the night was our waiter who gave us blankets because it was so cold out and he was so sweet. This happened over a year and a half ago and still upsets me so I figured it was time to get it off my chest. Food was good though so slay. My advice is to go elsewhere unless they have completely restaffed except for waiter. I have never left a bad review before as I worked in the restaurant industry growing up with my dad, but this experience was just too upsetting. I'd give this one star but I'm not sure if it's being managed differently now and I don't want to knock the new staff if they're really trying to make it better read more

Great place to come for either happy hour or even to watch a sporting event due to their big screen. Raul is extremely helpful and gave us excellent customer service. Definitely want to try the food but I've only had drinks ip here. Hoping to come back soon read more

Online it says they are open Mondays as well as on the sign outside of the door. I was waiting upstairs with like 5 other people all who also thought it was open. Not sure if this was a new change but the front desk seemed to not care read more

The Rooftop - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Wanted to enjoy this a place after our Alice in Wonderland experience since it's in the same hotel but unfortunately we did not. They sat us at an uncleaned table and took 20 mins for them to take our drink order. Took another 20 mins to bring out a glass of beer and rosé. They didn't even bring water that my friend ordered. So by that time I did not want to order any food and just asked for the check. Not sure how new they are but hopefully they'll improve. read more

The Rooftop - Looks a little sad - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Love this place. Stayed at the property and went up for happy hour twice. They offer happy hour every day from 4pm-6pm. Great prices, $5 draft beers, $8 well drinks and $9 wine. Shareable apps are half off ranging from $5-$10 with the discount. Amazing views, beautiful decor, great service! read more

The Rooftop - Sunset on Ash - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Such a cute hidden gem! With rooftop seating options around the restaurant you have choices for your view. Loved their truffle poutine with braised short-ribs, mushrooms and cheese curds. It was a large portion, and easily could have been shared with 3-4 ppl for a taste before your entree, or ordered for an entree instead. Try the Forever Yours (gin based) or Carrot+corn (mezcal based) drinks for fun flavor combos! Thanks Jessica for the awesome service! read more

Stayed at the Carte Hotel and decided to check out the roof top bar. To bad it was raining so the bar was a bit chilly. But the good part was we share the entire bar with just 2 other people. Although it was cloudy the view was still very nice. Our server/bartender Tanya (she was very friendly and funny) recommended a mazcal drink that was delicious. Not too bitter or sweet just a nice refreshing pre dinner cocktail. The truffle fries were delicious. Crispy outside fluffy inside with nice flavor. I wanted to like the hamachi more. It was beautifully plated but the sauce lack something. Maybe a bit more citrus would help. The octopus and fish could be fresher. There was definitely a fishy aftertaste from the octopus that I did not enjoyed. Over all this is a great place to come to grab a drink and enjoy the view. read more

The Rooftop - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

The glasses seemed kind of dirty when we first arrived at the table. A majority of our party did not like their food that much. Their drinks were tasty! The photo opportunities are great here! Prices were not that bad. read more

A new swanky rooftop bar with beautiful views of the harbor. Snag one of the comfy basket chairs to enjoy the sunset! The entrance is from the Carte Hotel, head to the elevators and press rooftop, enter either elevator A or B to get to Above Ash Social. The menu is a bit small, esp with the wine by the glasses, in my opinion, so I opted for a beer instead. Looking at the food menu and what they were serving others, the burgers look gigantic, but we stopped in here before another event, so did not order any food. On the deck, there was also a long table with fire to keep warm, so large parties are possible. Prices are a bit on the high side, but that is typical for this area and for the high-end vibe this bar has. The service was quick and efficient and it is certainly a good spot to grab a quick drink and enjoy the great views. read more

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My friends and I decided to check out this rooftop bar after listening to live bands battle it out nearby a couple nights ago. Above Ash Social opened a couple weekends ago, so it hasn't gained popularity as of yet. The building was a little hard to find and using the elevator requires brains LOL. The view up there was amazing. I loved the different patio areas where you can lounge on. Don't worry if it starts raining because there were some covered areas as well. They also have a huge big screen TV, a nice long table with fire, and a giant Jenga to play with. My friend ordered a dirty martini, which is definitely not my kind of drink, it was just too strong for me. The kitchen was closed when we got there, so I'll have to try their bar menu next time! read more

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Views views views! This place is seriously awesome during a sunset! The vibe is great, you can dress up or casual. We came here first before getting our night started and it did not disappoint. What's nice about this location is that its hidden above a hotel, so it's not as busy making it easier to squeeze in for happy hour. They have some really neat furniture arrangements to sit on plus a very very large TV screen that plays movies or sports. They have some modern. fire pits areas too. The staff is really accommodating and friendly as well! We were a party of 13 and they did have some tables available to push together but we really wanted a view- so the staff let us snag some chairs where ever we liked! Drinks were super yummy, bathrooms conveniently located near by as well. Definitely will be returning! read more

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Been here twice and I have to say both experiences were completely different. The first time, the drinks were good, service was great, and I thoroughly enjoyed Above Ash. Enjoyed it enough to come back with some friends months later on a not-so-busy Saturday. The service was slow. I'm sure there's still staffing issues in the industry, but getting orders, drinks, food, the check, etc. Took FOREVER. My drink had a bug in it and after 10 minutes of waiting for the waiter to come by, I decided to bring it back to the bar myself. Gross The poke nachos looked good but tasted like old fish in soy sauce. Truffle fries were better. Overall experience was the opposite from my first. I'm not a fan of fishy fish or buggy drinks so don't think I'll be back unfortunately read more

The Rooftop - Is that a bug? - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Not worth a second visit. At first glance the lobby and location is nice and really thought we were in for a great experience but it was actually far from it. our waitress (tori I think was her name) took our drink and food order but never seen her again. She never came back to see how our food was, if we wanted more drinks. Not sure if she was on break, but no other waiter/waitress came by either despite seeing new faces. We had to get up and ask our bartender for the check. The service definitely does not match the location. read more

Great service! Was super fast. Came up for a night cap and was starving after a night out with the hubs. Was greeted right away and sat at the bar. There were still plenty of seats and it was 10 pm. There were parties there and looked like a great time. The Carte burger was done just right and was very tasty. It was also a double burger which came as a surprise and even had fries. Will definitely come here again! Kudos to the bartenders and servers! read more

The Rooftop - Carte Burger and fries - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We were incredibly disappointed. I always like to try new places, and the photos and menu looked great. Unfortunately, it was not even close to enjoyable. Food: I will begin by saying they were not even close to being at 50% capacity - because I am very forgiving of packed restaurants. However, It took over an hour to get our Charcuterie Board (no cooking required). And over another hour for our meal. But usually, the long wait is forgiven once your food comes, but it was only further downhill from there. I have never tasted a more bland, flavorless meal ever. And my guests had the same experience. Environment: Even at barely 50% capacity, it was deafening. We were all not even speaking to each other because if we were to, we would have to yell, further adding to the loud volume. Unfortunately, it was just a fail all the way around. Certainly not worth the $80-$100 per person, with two drinks per person, an appetizer for the table, and individual meals. read more

Beautiful Scenary, views, great service, bartenders were very nice. I went here for a networking event, and will definitely return! Drinks were good! read more

Discovered this gem of a rooftop Happy Hour destination earlier this year and return often to meet friends who live/work nearby, and/or take the trolley to join us from afar. Highlights: The front-of-house staff is professional and attentive. The chef has made the rounds of other quality kitchens and provides consistently good preparations, large and small. The happy hour menu is a great "light meal" option to share with friends Good veggie HH options- everyone enjoyed the brussel sprouts (meat removed/onside), cauliflower, hummus, and patatas bravas- delicious flavors, good "tapas" menu Bonus: They offer Guadalupe Valle/Baja Mexico wines- a rare find! Try the Mont Xanic for a real treat- delicious, one of the best from the region Lowlights: Noise! Despite being an open-air venue on the 16t floor, when a table is full of people celebrating loudly the acoustics of the space bounce the sounds around Vanishing sunset views due to construction next door- enjoy them while you can! Be prepared for things out of their control, including: Chilly weather: San Diego does NOT have a "tropical" climate, and when the cool breeze off the Pacific Ocean/bay blows in the temperatures drop quickly. Homelessness: the street scene upon arrival/departure may be rough to hear, see and smell. San Diego has 1000s of unsheltered people all over downtown and this area is no different. While homelessness is not as evident as in the East Village (where many shelters are located), and the life night is not as raucous as in the Gaslamp - there are many people sleeping rough around the hotel- on the sidewalks, and in tents- so be prepared for that "ambience" before/after your visit. read more

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We stayed at the Carte hotel for two separate weekends so we were able to grab drinks at the rooftop 2 nights in a row and then another night on a different weekend. The drinks are fairly priced and their Blue Canadian drink was our personal favorite. The ambiance is nice if you get to sit near the glass overlooking the buildings and the view. The reason I took 3 stars off is because first, scarce options and secondly, the servers weren't the most professional. Of all the restaurants we've been to in SD over the two weekends, the ladies here definitely made us feel rushed to order, and 30 minutes before last call which was supposed to be at 9, they told us we could only order one drink and no second rounds. However, a while later we saw the server ask another group of older customers whether they wanted more drinks. The second weekend we stayed at the hotel, I went to the rooftop with my family. We ordered two drinks and gelato. The gelato didn't come out for a long time, then she tells us the flavor she listed is not available. We chose a different flavor and it still didn't come out. We asked, and she said she realized she took our order after last call. Ended up with no gelato after waiting for a while. She forgot to even take it out of the bill so we had to go through more trouble. Not satisfied with the experience there. read more

I had a couple of apps and a glass of wine here and it was great. I can't believe I had not been here before. The views of Little Italy are amazing! They have a comedy show set up for every third Thursday which I would love to come back for! read more

The Rooftop - Hummus - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Really liked the small boutique feel with multiple areas to relax and take in the view, especially during Golden Hour. Ample seating, good drinks, comfortable & clean, and best of all Excellent Service!! We were done drinking and wanted to catch up for longer -staff never made us feel rushed. Luckily it wasn't completely packed, nor anyone waiting for our seats, otherwise we would have left out of courtesy. Definitely a great place to hangout with friends, meet new people, or just relax. You're in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of downtown but you feel completely removed. If you haven't been, a must go!! read more

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Great ambiance. The bar food was delicious, we got pizza and the carnitas panini and it was soooo good. Drinks were pricey but next time we will to try something else to really enjoy what they offer off their menu. read more

The Rooftop - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

The food was great, the place was very nice asides from the extremely loud Christmas music. We had the beet salad, Bianca pizza, ahi poke, and the wagyu NY strip. The drinks how ever took 10-15 minutes to arrive, which ruined the experience for us. We ate most of the food without a drink. read more

Outdoor dining is great when it's warm and sunny...not so much when it's 55 degrees and dark out on a fall or winter night. We shivered our way through dinner while eating food that got cold the minute they brought it out to us. *Those photos of the restaurant showing heat lamps and big fire pits? Only if you're there for drinks. If you're there to eat a meal, no heat for you. The service was non-existent. The bar patrons get all the attention while we couldn't even get a drink refill. OpenTable is usually great at suggesting restaurants worthy of a special occasion, but this one really missed the mark. read more

Beautiful atmosphere with a great view. It's definitely on the expensive side but the food was good. I got messy fries and my friend got a spring pizza, both of those were DELICIOUS, especially the pizza, I'd order that all week long. It was chilly out and our waitress came out with- get this- blankets for usssss! The down side- one of my friends ordered chicken, it didn't come out for over thirty minutes and by that time we had all gotten and finished our food. The thing wasn't really that there was an issue in the kitchen, but that nobody communicated this to my friend who was waiting and asked about it. She got it to go. read more

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Arrived on a Tuesday night. Was not impressed at all. The old fashions were great. The charcuterie board was good. They took about 45 mins to bring our entrees out. The Cacio e Pepe was extremely dry. Ordered 3 Wagyu filet mignon, the waitress did not ask how we wanted our steaks cooked, therefore it came out very rare. our Our server was nice enough to apologize for the long wait & offered complementary round of drinks. Would come back only for drinks. read more

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This place is super nice, good food crafty drinks, and amazing view. However, we went in a big group so that means the gratuity was included and the service Was absolutely terrible. Our server was named tori and she sucked!!! read more

The Rooftop - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Like everything now, the prices keep going up. They do have a very good happy hour though. So if you're gonna go - try to make it by then! Good food and beer. Excellent views . Giant screen for sports. Couches. Real nice! read more

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The reason I'm giving it three stars is because of the ambience and view from this venue. We went there with a group of about 20 and were told that they would have to do four people per check and that each check could only have one credit card. Thank God, I had cash on me, but many didn't. The restaurant was not even busy so I don't see how hard it is to run separate credit cards. The food was mediocre at best. I ordered the Montecristo sandwich which the waitress told me came with fries, but when they brought the sandwich there were no fries. I waited so long to get the fries that I had finished the sandwich. Friends who were sitting across for me also had ordered a sandwich and also got no fries. The staff was slow beyond compare and literally you had to ask for every little thing that should be standard. The only reason I would return is to have a drink and look at the view. read more

Great views, lousy food for the price. Nothing more to say about this spot.

Located in the very edge of Little Italy, Above Ash is a great space on a nice sunny SD Sunday afternoon to grab a drink and enjoy the views. We stayed at the Carte Hotel over the holidays and enjoyed the potential of the bar but can't quite say we experienced what it could be. Drinks. Some lite food options and a variety of seating options including fire pit. Although I don't think it's a bad space I was left thinking it didn't have any character. It was ok cool. They need someone to see the potential and make it happen. I vacillate between 3 and 4 stars to be honest. I think I'll go 4 stars for potential and review it again on a subsequent trip. read more

Cool set up inside and outside with huge tv. Ok beer selection. Good service. Have not tried food there yet.

Had a short stay at the Carte hotel for the weekend and decided to eat at their hotel Above Ash Social the first night. My server Marius was fantastic and the food was great. Had the osso bucco for dinner which was so tender and flavorful. Finished the meal off with some delicious dark chocolate gelato. Great meal and incredible service. read more

Delicious drinks, great poutine and AMAZING pear and persimmon cobbler. Quick and friendly service! Amazing view of San Diego, it is a little bit on the pricey side but still with the stop by! read more

Very cool vibe and if by chance you enter act with "Sonny", your experience will be maximized no doubt. Should have come here sooner. read more

The Rooftop - Very cool vibe and if by chance you enter act with "Sonny", your experience will be maximized no doubt. Should have come here sooner. - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

First time trying this place and only left a bad taste in my mouth. Came on a Saturday night, place was not packed, maybe 7 tables full. Service was extremely slow. There was a reservation mix up on their end due to miscommunication, and the birthday girl was comped a birthday shot, which was nice, 1 star for that. It was super hot in San Diego so we needed to hydrate. Had to ask our server for water maybe 5 times. Stopped trying after the 6th reminder. Finally got water when we were done paying the bill. For whatever reason they add a 18% gratuity no matter how small your party is... odd. Menu is extremely limited, there's maybe 5 choices of apps and entrees to choose from. Food is over priced for the quality and quantity. Everything we ordered was bland except for the fries and hummus, I'm assuming due to it being pre made. 1 star for that. Caccio e Pepe was possibly the worst I've ever had. Asked for parm and salt to season myself and apparently they don't own salt shakers since I was given salt in a glass with a spoon. The 4 pieces of steak I paid an additional $12 for were ok. Cocktail menu was nothing amazing and super limited as well. They do have an open bar, however 2 tequila mules were ordered and they both looked and tasted different. Even the ice was different... no consistency. Not sure how they have such high rating. read more

The Rooftop - Bland pasta - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This place has an unmatched view and a great vibe no matter the occasion. However, their website, service and Yelp have conflicting information and staff is often confused. We arrived at 945 and were never told the kitchen closes at 10pm while the rooftop doesn't close till 11pm. Per there website the kitchen is 5pm to close (which would be 11). The bar tender was very smug when I asked to order food at 10pm sharp. The manager was much more willing to explain. Customer service and restaurant advertised information really knocks this place. read more

The Rooftop - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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The service was incredible. The food and drinks came out right away. I got the margarita pizza and it reminded me of the pizza I had in Italy! It was delicious!! The views are amazing! Such a great place for photo ops! 10/10 recommend and I plan on coming back soon. read more

The Rooftop - Margarita and Daylight Savings - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Looking for a beautiful rooftop bar close to Little Italy? This is your spot! Located in the Carte Hotel, take the elevators all the way to the top. There is an indoor area where the bar is with several couches. There are 2 outside areas with couches, fire pits, & televisions. Small drink menu with okay drinks- pricey & not strong... read more

Definitely not the best spot for the Little Italy area. My boyfriend and I were excited for a rooftop bar to come closer to our area as most are more in central downtown. We walked over on a weekend night for a glass of wine and were disappointed. The place was not packed, yet there were dirty drinks left on tables and the bar area did not look super organized. The seating area was nice to come to watch a game, but the way it was set up, once people sat in front of us or were standing to hang out, we couldn't see the TV. Overall, not the best experience given the other amazing bars in the area. read more

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