Ambiance was delightful, it's so beautiful inside. George was our server and he was a treat! He was so attentive and funny and made our experience perfect. Everything we had was so good. We loved the "twinkies". The polenta was the best I have ever had, it was so creamy and flavorful, the tomatoes in it were so juicy. Pig Mac was great as always. We ordered way too much for just two people but can't wait to return! read more

The Whaling Bar - Caesar salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

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This bar is perfect for a cocktail before or after dinner. The ambiance of this bar is very classy and dim lit. The bartenders do such a great job at making well crafted drinks that are unique and taste amazing! We had an awesome bartender who was happy to chat with us about his experience as a bartender and give us info on the bar. It was overall a great experience and would definitely come back for a fancy occasion! read more

The Whaling Bar - Jewel (left), Prosecco (right) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

It is new so there were some kinks regarding service but overall, we had a nice meal. First, the space and decor is intimate and well designed. We didn't have any drinks besides a beer and water (which they weren't good at refilling and I had to ask a few times). We ordered the Caesar salad (crisp and flavorful!); hamburger (unique and delicious but came with nothing on the side); duck meatballs (it was okay and I wouldn't get it again); and lobster roll (it never came out but we weren't charged for it). Overall the food was fresh and had lots of flavor. HOWEVER, their menu is very limited. If you don't like the few items they have, you're out of luck. We heard two different parties sitting close by say they didn't want anything on the menu. One even asked the waiter if he can get a sandwich. I wanted to lol and say "those old people"but I empathized with his sentiment. I wish there were more to choose from! Also, we were surprised the burger came without anything else, but it was our favorite dish. We would come back to grab a few burgers, drinks, and a salad. Then again, Burger Lounge is pretty darn good, a fraction of the price, and a block away, so I might just opt for that. Okay, if I'm truly honest, I'd only come here for a drink or bring out of town guests to show them a pretty space. (Also, it's one of those places with a 5% service charge because they can't afford to pay their employees minimum wage off of $30 chicken and $20 salads. My irritation with this is just add it to the darn food price so I don't have to see the line item). read more

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Pleasantly surprised with my experience here! I was a little hesitant when I saw how limited the menu was, but they do an incredible job of mixing casual and fine dining. A very good representation of what you'd expect from a spot in La Jolla. The staff was extremely attentive and very knowledgeable about the food and drinks. The food was delicious and the drinks were fun and festive. The highlight was probably the hamburger dessert. Such a fun and creative presentation! Highly recommend checking this place out! read more

The vibe, the food and the drinks are all 10/10!!! Our servers have always been super kind and offered great recommendations. They make a delish cocktail no matter your preference and it's just super cute for a date night in La Jolla. read more

I go there for the Caesar Twinkie and it is to die for!!!!! George is the absolute best bartender there is!! He's super attentive and always makes sure I'm happy with my experience!!! Speaking of experience the ambiance there is just phenomenal. Such a great balance of classy and coastal. This is on my top 3 recommended to anyone!!! read more

Lousy short pour cocktails. Very limited menu. Not the original neighborhood atmosphere. Expensive and disappointing ! read more

The service was outstanding. Food was served quickly and was very tasty. Menu offered many unique takes on familiar dishes read more

The Whaling Bar - Hamburger dessert - Cocktail Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Very overhyped. We came in early on a Friday night and asked for seating at the bar where there was plenty of open seating. They placed us on the waitlist and never called back read more

Abolish this place! They have a pretty good happy hour special. We also enjoy sitting at the bar. The service here is top notch. They have amazing experience and always make a wonderful drink! The food here is everything! Love their whipped ricotta we get it everytime. Their happy hour Caesar salad is great too. Small but tasty! read more

Was surprised to come here and have an opportunity to try on opening night. WOW My wife and I live in Cardiff, and we frequent the SDCM sister restaurant, waverly, often. Also great. We didn't have a reservation and got a seat at the bar. All four dishes (whipped ricotta, lobster roll, short rib bao, and pickled potatoes) were all very good. Cocktails, great. Service. Great. Ambiance, great. This is a great addition to La Jolla and San Diego. Will be back. read more

Love this spot! food and drinks were so good, love the vibe and ambiance, service! We sat at the bar and enjoyed Martini Hour, their version of happy hour with great drinks and food. read more

The Whaling Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

Great bar with some good food and yummy drinks! I asked the bartender, Tommy, to make me a drink that was a little bit spicy - and it was right on point! We shared a bunch of appetizers and everything was delicious! I loved the ambiance and the older pictures on the wall. We will definitely go back! read more

It's amazing! Welcome back Whaling Bar! The food is unique and so flavorful and the servers were friendly, attentive and helpful. Highly recommend the double double burger, Mille feuille with mushrooms, duck meatballs and Caesar salad with mascarpone stuffed croutons . Everything was excellent! Highly recommend and will be back very soon! read more

The Whaling Bar - Double double burger. Sooo good! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Good food, small portions, high prices. And when you get your check you find they're charging you 5% more than the prices stated in the menu. I think that's fundamentally dishonest. Indeed, I think it's fraudulent. As if that weren't enough, they blame it on the fact that they have to pay their employees the minimum wage that's required by law. What's next, a further surcharge because they have to comply with health regulations? Outrageous. read more

The Whaling Bar - Check showing bogus 5% surcharge over the menu prices. Fraudsters! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

I was quite disappointed with the quality of beverages that I tasted this Friday night at the Whaling bar. I came in for happy hour, expecting extremely high quality to be matched with extremely high-quality service, but unfortunately the drinks fell short. I tried the happy hour Margarita, which was OK I've definitely had better and I'll definitely have worse in the future. Since I was here for happy hour, I decided to try another drink because maybe I was mistaken after my first choice so I went with the dirty martini. Unfortunately, this drink was served kind of warm, which was not refreshing and not what I was expecting. Not only that I understand that it's top hour, but I feel that the drink should not be premade, especially at a restaurant or bar with the caliber that the Whaling bar has. Each drink should be made to order rather than to be batch made ahead of time. Because of this batch process, I think the quality of the drinks has really slipped. My experience was a one off, but I'm not sure that anything on the menu screamed out to me in order for me to return. read more

5 Stars for this long awaited venue after closing the historic bar. Plates are very small, but very tasty. Craft cocktails are excellent and service was great! read more

Loved the ambience, great food and very good service. Had family visiting and took them there and we had lots and lots of food. They had this the lamb shawarma BAO on their specials and we ordered many of those. The polenta was so good, had to repeat the order a few time. Ordered 2 rounds of cocktails and all so good! read more

We stopped in for an after-dinner drink and loved it. Beautiful setting with enough nooks and cranny's to make it feel private but lively. My cocktail (a bourbon specialty one with chai tea) was perfection. Will return and try some food next time as it looked great! read more

My liver pâté was very salty that I have to send it back. My wife steak was salty and tough. We'll be back but only for drinks! read more

Total dump! Nothing worth ordering unless it's $120 per entree. We went there expecting class and received a bunch of hype.

It was ok. The service was excellent. The ambiance as well. The place is small but very cute. The drinks were small and not cheap. We didn't order food as it's mostly a limited appetizer menu. Also not cheap. La Jolla has lots of great restaurants and look forward to giving the Whaling Bar another chance in the future. read more

I went there a couple weeks after the opening. I was alone ( as I usually am). From the moment I walked in the service was great from the hostess to the bartenders who kept an eye open for an available seat at the bar for me. The ambiance is cozy, not a big place but perfect. The drink I had was nice as was the appetizer. Definitely can't wait to go back... unfortunately I have been told it is too popular now and hard to get in. Obviously they are doing something right! read more

Recently went here with some girlfriends. Can't say enough good things about this place! The staff was very friendly, great atmosphere, and the food was absolutely delicious. I'm dying to dine here again! Would definitely give this place a 10/10! read more

Historical location in La Jolla , fantastic food and drink. Service is great. Ambience outstanding!

We shared 4 small entree plates and each one was truly inspiring! What a wonderful experience in dining. A memorable dinner indeed!

Food was very creative and exceptional, and the service was excellent. Attentive, friendly and professional staff went over and above to make us feel personally cared for. The eclectic decor and restored frescos created a fascinating and intimate setting for dining. read more

The service was good. Unfortunately , the food was below average for the price range they offer . Very small portions for a very high price. An additional 5% surcharge is also added to every check. For two tiny tapas ( appetizer) we paid $52. We would not recommend the whipped ricotta ( personally we did not see any interest as it didn't have any flavors) and the focaccia bread is not true foccacia bread but just 2 thin grilled and oily slices of sourdough bread. You don't even have enough bread to finish the ricotta spread you paid for $19. Overall very disappointed of our experience. read more

The food and service were great. For me, the highlights were the Lobster Roll and Carrot Walnut Bread. read more

The Whaling Bar - Walnut Carrot Bread - Cocktail Bars Near Me - La Jolla, California

I had the pleasure to launch the book that I wrote at the Whaling Bar on Monday 8th April. It was a stellar experience in every respect.There were 55 people in this truly remarkable space. The new iteration of the Whaling Bar is spot on. The decor is fascinating, the food is absolutely delicious and very creative and, the service is par excellence. I cannot recommend this venue highly enough. read more

My friend and I came here for happy hour today, which is from 3-5 on Saturdays and it was an amazing experience! We both ordered the Afternoon Aperitivo cocktail, which was perfect to sip on - refreshing and just strong enough, served in a coupe glass. The drinks were half off, so only $10 each. We also ordered the kale salad and the double double burger. The kale salad was surprisingly delicious. It was shaved thin with a light citrus dressing and a lot of Parmesan - a great portion size for us to share. One thing that made this place really stand out was our server, Alex. He was extremely charismatic, funny, gave us some great recommendations, and made us feel super welcome. He accommodated my gluten allergy and pointed out that the salad recipe was written on the plate on which it was served - how clever! I can't wait to go back! read more

The Whaling Bar is a cozy spot in la jolla for delicious drinks and food! lovely ambience for a date night or a drink at the bar .

I had the pleasure of attending the opening night of the new whaling bar at LaValencia in La Jolla recently . Having spent more nights and afternoons that I can remember at the original Whaling bar I arrived full of trepidation. The last effort at filling that space with a pseudo French bistro was a tragic disaster! I had no idea what the new iteration would look like but upon entering I was immediately impressed by the design and careful curation that creates an atmosphere of casual elegance. Well thought lighting, redesigned horseshoe bar to see and be seen and an open kitchen, that unlike others actually allows you to see The Chef and his crew as they create the incredible dishes that are brought to your table. I presented myself to the extremely pleasant hostess, and inquired as to where she had placed the rest of my party. as she pointed to their table, I noticed it was by the kitchen door and politely asked if she could find another table for us and without hesitation, and with a smile she pointed to an empty booth and asked me if that would be OK. What a nice change from the haughty and rude attitude that you find elsewhere. There is so much more I could add to this review, but let me just give you the salient points. The food is incredible. Much better than I had expected and much better than 90% of the restaurants in La Jolla. The service is Pleasant,professional and performed by servers that are both prideful and knowledgeable of the restaurant. The bartenders, excuse me,Mixologists are equally pleasant and willing to create whatever will make your experience one to remember. I'm impressed that the new operator did not try to recreate the old whaling bar. instead, you can see he did his homework and has given us a spot that creates the ambience of the old whaling bar while infusing it with an embrace of modernity. Times change, I will remember the old whaling bar, but I intend to enjoy this new one as much as I did the old one! read more

Friendly staff who were very nice to my daughter, definitely worth checking out! Great location next to the shortcut to the beach!

This place is super expensive and quality is not good drinks are really small and super expensive never again and never recommend

Went for dinner and the food was great! We loved everything. My favorite side was the cucumber dish.

Truly wonderful experience at this restaurant. The customer service was fantastic. The food was incredible. The ambiance was beautiful. The drinks were magical. Our table for a reservation was not exactly ready and they offered us a round of free drinks. I was designated driver and the bartender made me the most fantastic mocktail. We barely waited for this table, and every single hostess and server made the entire experience wonderful from waiting for our table to dessert. We tried a lot of different dishes, but can you not go wrong with the salads, the duck balls, the ricotta appetizer and those desserts! The hamburger is a must! Best dining experience in a long time. read more

Went there for happy hour martini's. The food was not happy hour prices. They just had miniature martini's that weren't served cold. Food was delicious, but was off of their regular menu. Beautiful bar, fun experience. I wish they had served drinks cold. read more

Just want to share our short experience with this restaurant today. Me and my wife just visited an art gallery show, which about 2 minutes walk to this restaurant. We walk-in about 8pm and ask the front host if they accept walk-in. She said "yes, we have a table available ". She said to wait and will ask someone to get the table ready. After a couple of minutes, she came back and pointed to the table and said, "that will be your table, he (other waiter)is setting it up right now". So I step aside away from the host station as there's a couple behind me who just walk-in. The host and customer have some conversation and I noticed the host start pointing to the table that she mentioned earlier to me. I guess this where the one star review kicks in. She gave the table to the couple, then she approached me and my wife , and said "sorry we have little hiccups, the table is not available. Do you want to wait or be on the waitlist ". Our answer to her is "no" with a respectful response. Me and my wife are both educated there's no point of asking or make arguments why our table is given to other party. The host never gave us the whole meaning/reasons of what she called "hiccups". My point of view is , it's because of my skin color and the couple who got our table are white. But, again there far more better restaurants in La Jolla. read more

Had an awesome experience this weekend at the Whaling Bar at La Valencia. It is definitely the IT spot in LJ right now. We had a reservation and I think reservations are a must due to the size and how popular it is. It is beautiful inside and the renovation was worth the wait. The drinks are delicious- we had a few martinis and all were good. The food was a standout and you would not think you were in a bar. The lamb schwarma bao bun which was a special was delicious. The duck meatballs and ricotta dip were also so good. The highlight was definitely the "hamburger" dessert. Truly looked like a hamburger and was such a fun surprise for it to be a dessert. They were very busy and needed our table so the lovely host (can't recall her name but beautiful petite woman with short hair) asked if we could move to bar- and they comped our drinks and dessert! They honestly didn't need to do that but it was such a nice gesture. We are local to the area and will definitely be back! read more