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    The Whiskey House

    4.2 (847 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    The Whiskey House Photos

    THE WHISKEY HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Chun P.

    Minus One Star: Called ahead during Comic Con, the recording said Happy Hour was available every day. When we actually got there the staff said Happy Hour was not available during Comic Con. Very annoying, but we stayed anyway. Gorgeous, elegant, and sophisticated old Americana interior design, romantic. Friendly staff, despite the Happy Hour lie. The $18 burger and friends was solid. Tasty burger with a juicy beef patty, bacon and cheese, and fresh veg. Fortunately that was still a decent price and a one quality burger. Will be back...and hopefully Happy Hour is available next time.

    Solid whiskey selection. Pricing on par for a large city
    Cory S.

    Pretty solid overall. Large whiskey selection as expected. The service was pretty good at the bar, average or slightly above. I got a glass of their makers mark private barrel and a chicken sandwich. Overall, two very solid choices, nothing insane but above average. Great spot to take some clients if they are into bourbon and you have a nice budget.

    Mike J.

    How did I miss this place? Friends have been telling me about this place for years. Saying it's one of the best Happy Hour places in downtown. Now after my first visit I would have to agree. I get there a little after 4:30 on a Friday and it's completely packed. Luckily somone just left the bar and there was the only empty seat in the place. I start off with the beer and which shot and ordered the pork-chop which looked like half the bar patrons ordered lol. My bartender was Jose and even though the bar was at capacity he was quick to help me out. The food came quicker than I expected. I couldn't believe how good the pork chop was. Better than most steakhouse chops I've had. Had an amazing texture and taste like it was right off the gri I love the fries as well skinner than average and a good crisp to them. No soggy fries, those are the worst. The place itself is nice and has a dark date night ambience to it. At the same time could pass for a local dive bar. Lots of regulars were in there. For a pork chop and drinks and to get out under $30 is a great deal! I highly recommend this place!!!

    Steak and Caesar salad. Peach old fashioned.
    Angelica R.

    I came during happy hour and sat at the bar. No one bothers you too much. But, I was reading while I was enjoying the food and drinks. I was checked on a few times, but mostly when the drink started to get low. I absolutely loved the vibe of this place. Played great music. For some reason even with the music and the people, it didn't feel super loud. I still enjoyed reading my book, eavesdropping and people watching. I will definitely be back to try to whiskeys. I don't know if they offer tastings or flights. But, I'll def be back for the happy hour. I have been told that their burger is REALLY GOOD (I am always in search of a god burger, but on this day I wanted to hit a bunch of spots and didn't want to get too full. TMI?‍).

    Walt N.

    Solid place to sample any whiskey in the world! Don't be afraid to pull out your credit card though - it's gets expensive quick!! My only downside to TWH is the dim lighting. Very hard to read the menu or appreciate the color of the pour. They are in The Guinness Book for having over 4500 bottles!!

    Burger
    Sally T.

    Finally made it down here for happy hour and it was WELL worth it. The food, the prices - everything absolutely hit. We got the wings, steak, fish ceviche (fire), and the crème brûlée. Every single dish delivered. Honestly, I couldn't believe how affordable it was. In this day and age, this is the spot if you want solid food with GREAT pricing.

    If they don't have it it doesn't exist
    Darci M.

    Let's just say Nicole was the best! We took the train and Reilly down from North County and my son told us this place was a must! Nicole was amazing! Sweet New Yorker that shared her favorites with us and made sure we had a great pregame ! Thanks so much approved from 21-81 years old

    old fashioned
    Alex F.

    Dark interior, cozy vibes. Large selection of whiskies and whiskey drinks, as the name implies. Had the birria tacos at the bartenders recommendation and they were great.

    Kimberly K.

    We stumbled upon this little gem accidentally while looking for the Lazy Hippo for breakfast, it's right next door. To our surprise, they have the same menu the Lazy Hippo had when it was open, which was such a happy find. This ended up being one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. The food was hot, fresh, and absolutely delicious, and the service was outstanding. Nicole and Kelsey were our servers, and they were incredibly friendly and personable, making our brunch experience even better. It's hard to find a place where all four of us completely agree that it's exceptional, but this one absolutely did! I had the California breakfast burrito, my husband had the $20 breakfast special, which included bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, and French toast topped with fresh strawberries, our son had a regular breakfast burrito, and our daughter had the cinnamon roll pancake. All were absolutely delicious! This will definitely be a regular breakfast stop for us every time we're in San Diego!

    Peanut butter whiskey
    Bailey M.

    This is not my first time here because truly I love coming here. The whiskey is always really good. They have good recommendations. The ambience is super dim lit, and it's a very social place where good conversation and good whiskey collide My favorite whiskeys are Russell's 10 year Blantons Does peanut butter whiskey is probably on my top 3 so far It does get pretty busy so I would say either come early or come during the week

    This is the dirty glass she took the cherry from.
    Tina P.

    At 8pm yesterday (5/26/26, I had a wonderful drink until I watched the female bartender making a drink for the lady next to me. She took out of a dirty glass that I pushed away when I sat down the pick with a cherry and placed it into the drink she was making! Ugh! Uck! Yuck! Why would she do that except to lazy to make a new cherry! I didn't order another drink from her! We just left. It took everything in me not to tell the customer where her garnish came from!!!

    Claire J.

    I had such a better experience this time around at the Whiskey House! Drinks were great and not watered down, a good sweetness and balance to the Whiskey sour in particular. They have super tasty wings with great prices on snacks during happy hour (daily 4-7pm). The whiskey sour was only $8 on happy hour-- awesome! I'll definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for a dimly lit, relaxed whiskey bar experience downtown. The service was also quick while they were pretty busy :)

    Lesleigh P.

    Very cool spot in the Gaslamp to enjoy many whiskey options, as well as grab a bite to eat. So many options for flights, and the staff is super friendly (and patient) the whiskey/liquor book is 93 pages, lol. Espresso martini was so delicious, with Bailey's foam. The food was pretty decent, we tried some happy hour options: Vietnamese wings, fries, and Scotch eggs. I'd try something different next time. I really liked the fresh cut fries with their house ketchup.

    The Japanese whiskey

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    Page 1 of 22

    The Whiskey House Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Whiskey House

    Is there valet or assigned parking?

    Absolutely not. You're on your own.

    Are they dog friendly?

    Yes, on the patio.

    Can you make reservations for groups less than 6 people?

    Yes they do. I did one on their website.

    Can we bring children who aren't 21 if we want to come to eat?

    Yes, kids can be inside until 9pm. There is outdoor seating as well.

    Is there plenty outdoor seating?

    They are mostly, if not all indoor.

    Menu says tastings are .5oz pours. Several reviews have mentioned bigger. So what size are the tasting pours? And what size are neat pours?

    I can confirm that Tasting Pours are 1/2oz. but while I usually drink "neat", I had an Old Fashioned this time so I don't know the answer to the second half of the question.

    Is there a dress code?

    No there is not, or its casual at best

    Are kids allowed to go in with parents for Happy Hour?

    It's a bar. People drink in this bar. It's called the Whiskey House for a reason. Please don't bring your kids!

    Do they have whiskey tastings?

    Yes there is a tasting menu

    What days are happy hour?

    They have happy hour every day from 4:30pm to 7pm.

    Is this a 21 and over restaurant?

    I believe so. But hey maybe if you want to start educating the kiddos on whiskey from a young age...

    View All 17 Questions

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    False Idol - Rum Old Fashioned

    False Idol

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    0.8 miLittle Italy
    $$

    I love it here; this is one of my go to spots to bring people when they are in town for…read morework/visiting etc. Be warned, you can have a very long wait here if you just pop in, especially on a Friday or Saturday evening. Make a reservation if you know this is your destination. They have some spot on Tiki decor and the staff here is really friendly, happy to share their favorite drinks, or make suggestions based on your likes. If fruity drinks are not your jam... what are you doing in a Tiki Bar!! No really, they have great options for on the rocks or straight as well as ordering your favorite cocktail or beer. They have a ton of options, all sorts of alcohol bases depending on what your vice is, they also have non-alcoholic drinks for those so inclined. Hard to pass on a Mai Tai or a Zombie to start your evening off. lately I have been enjoying the Eastern Sour which is their take on a whiskey sour. It's always fun when someone orders a bowl and the room shakes and the lights flash with thunder and lightning adding a bit of excitement for first timers. Just to recap: Don't get mad if you have to wait and did not make a reservation. While they have lots of options, most drinks and all specialties are Tiki Drinks. Tiki drinks can be strong, mind yourself. If a place like this is not your vibe, that is fine, head back into Craft & Commerce, make room for others who are waiting to get in, just have fun!

    We ate at Craft and Commerce and decided to jump in line for False Idol as walk-ins. Luckily we…read morelined up near opening because there were quite a few reservationists that showed up on a Friday night. We were led into a dimly lit speakeasy soon after lining up. Fortunately we got bar seating. The bar then quickly filled up with many standing as the bar got crowded. As far as drinks, their menu had many listed drinks. Wifey and I started with Rum Old Fashioneds and they were delicious. Our second drink was a King Kong Old Fashioned and it too was yummy. The bartenders were very friendly and attentive. The place was hopping and packed. We will definitely return.

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    False Idol - Isn't it gorgeous?!

    Isn't it gorgeous?!

    False Idol - Tiki themed decor

    Tiki themed decor

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    Noble Experiment - Spiced banana flip! Delicious!

    Noble Experiment

    4.5(1.9k reviews)
    0.3 miEast Village
    $$

    My husband and I recently spent some days in San Diego. He found this speak easy and we decided we…read moreneeded to try it out. This was definitely the highlight of our trip. From the spooky, dark, skulls old school ambiance and decor, to the experience of not ordering from a menu, everything about it made it feel unique and curated making it feel like a true individualized experience. As mentioned, there are no menus. We sat at the bar, the bartender makes casual conversation with you regarding the types of drinks you enjoy. He curated something for both my husband and I based on what we shared we enjoyed. The drinks were delicious. The entry was very cool! It felt as if you were entering a hidden spot - which you do. When you enter the restaurant, you let the hostess know you're there for the Noble Experience. She let us know to head to the wall with the kegs (which is actually a door). You enter and there's a small waiting area where you're greeted by another hostess. This place is a 20/10. We can't wait to return on our next visit to SD.

    Drinks are hit and miss. No menu bar is more gimmicky than anything…read more I'm sure there's some set menu that the bartenders just play off of and quality of the drinks really really just depends on who's your bartender. First round was great, not exactly what we ordered but still quality cocoktail. Second round was not good at all. And especially not what we ordered lol The wait on off days can be 5-10 minutes. Busy days it can be 1-2 hours. Drinks: 5/10 Service: 6/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Value: 4/10

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    Noble Experiment - Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail

    Strawberry cucumber Gin cocktail

    Noble Experiment - Ceiling and chandelier

    Ceiling and chandelier

    Noble Experiment - Skull wall

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    Skull wall

    Aero Club Bar - Burns Vista

    Aero Club Bar

    4.5(903 reviews)
    2.1 miMiddletown, Mission Hills
    $$

    Great nice meets divey bar with fun vibes and games and good drinks! Staff is quick and friendly…read moreand we love popping into aero club!

    $34.00 (before tax & tip) for two burgers: Patty Issues (3 patties) and This Burger Understands Me…read more(2 patties). I'll definitely be back for the bar, the pinball, and those burgers! We walked in and found out that they have a strict age limit, which I discovered when they insisted on scanning my ID into a machine. I'm closer to the tomb than the womb, so I'm not entirely sure what they were expecting to find. But apparently, the machine needed to verify that I'm legally old enough to be there. Afterward, the bartender thanked me by name. My person who is closer to the womb than the tomb forgot their ID. It could have been Justin Bieber, or myself for that matter, but it wasn't going to happen. The burgers would have to be, to go. First impression is the decor is classic, and the place was absolutely immaculate. Later, I noticed the bathrooms were spotless, and perhaps most importantly, there was no graffiti on the walls. It's a class act establishment where civilization survives. There's a back covered patio surrounded by ferns, a great game room, and then the backyard where the food trailer is located. It was Sunday around 2pm, and while talking to the bartender, they mentioned that they had wings out for happy hour and the games. But I had my sights set on the Wagyu burgers. If I must say so myself, it was an excellent choice on my part. The patties were perfectly seasoned, and the toppings mixed with the Wagyu juices to create a delicious little sauce. I happened to have some chips underneath the burger, and they basically became the lucky recipients of all that wonderful burger grease. Very, very yummy. Walking around while waiting for my food, one can't help but notice that the bourbon selection is fantastic. While my person was booted, I can still say that all the employees were cordial, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. No attitude, no nonsense just good service. While it's listed as a dive bar, it's way too chic for that classification. I love a welcoming bars with great burgers, an excellent bourbon selection, and enough character to keep me coming back. Which I plan on doing in force!

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    Aero Club Bar - Bar area

    Bar area

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    Starlite - Starlite Burger

    Starlite

    4.1(2.7k reviews)
    2.0 miMiddletown, Mission Hills
    $$$

    Starlite delivers that quintessential sleek, mid-century modern lounge atmosphere right along India…read moreStreet. The iconic geometric wood ceiling, dramatic chandelier, and moody lighting make the space feel effortlessly cool. The craft cocktail program is legendary, and the elevated gastropub menu is just as impressive, the grilled octopus was tender with a wonderful smoky char, the Jidori chicken was remarkably juicy with perfectly crispy skin, and the sea bass was delicate and flaky. Taking off one star because street parking along India Street can require quite a bit of circling during peak evening hours, and the dining room gets rather loud and dim once the crowd settles in. Still, an absolute San Diego staple and a top choice for a stylish date night, late-night craft drinks, or dinner with friends.

    I had a reservation for Thursday and it was packed but took less than 5 minutes to get seated. They…read moredo check your ID at the entrance it's 21+ only. Parking is a nightmare good luck finding parking within a mile of the restaurant. Pros: atmosphere, drinks, service Cons: food wasn't great for the price, restaurant was small and crowded, no parking Service: All of our servers were friendly and very accommodating. Gave us some knowledge on the menu and recommended cocktails based on our preference. I had spilled my drink and they were quick to make me another one. Food: I had intended to get the prime ribeye cap steak but they ran out for the night around 8pm. I shared the steak sampler which came with four different cuts of steak and 4 sauces. I ordered medium and it was cooked medium/medium rare which was fine with me, it also had a good sear, almost burnt though. Out of the four steaks, we only liked two based off flavor and tenderness. The other two were more tough and gamey. None of the sauces really stood out but the bordelaise and horseradish were good. For our sides we got fries, roasted broccoli, and the grilled wedge salad. Fries were average. The roasted broccoli had really good flavor, I expected the broccoli to be al dente but it was cooked to mush and drenched in sauce. The grilled wedge salad was decent, there was a slightly bitter taste to it. I know it says grilled wedge but the experience of biting into the salad and it being both hot and cold was not pleasant. Cocktails: I tried the Honey Ryder and New Wave. These were recommended as the more fruity/sweet cocktails. You can definitely taste the alcohol but it's only 2oz so it's not too strong. Ambience: 10/10 I got seated downstairs by the bar. Only thing about downstairs is that it's too dark to take photos unless you use flash. Overall, I agree with the other reviews saying to go just for drinks and appetizers. I would go again just to sit upstairs and get drinks and take pictures. We left unsatisfied and ended up getting in-n-out after.

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    Starlite - Bar area after entering

    Bar area after entering

    Starlite - Pistachio ice cream sandwich

    Pistachio ice cream sandwich

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    Born & Raised - Chicken - great idea but the sauce was way too salty

    Born & Raised

    4.1(3.5k reviews)
    1.1 miLittle Italy
    $$$$

    We loved everything about born and raised. From the start the hostesses were very welcoming and…read morenotified us about the special occasion and it followed through the course of the service from when another host walked us to our table and our server came to the table as well. Our server Daniel was very attentive and well versed in his job. He was very educated about the menu as well as the wine list as well. We highly recommend b&r and suggest you request Daniel as your server!

    Ten stars out of five…read more We came to Born & Raised for our fourth anniversary, and I had over the top expectations... and they exceed even those. I genuinely cannot think of a single thing I would change about the evening. Daniel, our server, was phenomenal beyond compare. His knowledge of the menu was extraordinary, but what really impressed me was his knowledge of the spirits. Ask a question and he didn't simply have an answer--he understood what he was talking about. Throughout the evening, we felt less like patrons of a restaurant and more like honored guests. The beef tartare was possibly the best I've had since an extraordinary version at Le Cirque in Las Vegas years ago. The filet arrived a perfect medium rare and was so tender you practically could have cut it with a fork. And then there was the Steak Diane. I learned to make Steak Diane from a professional French chef, and it has been one of my specialties for years, so I'm probably more critical of it than most people. This was incomparable. Absolutely over-the-top phenomenal. But what ultimately made the evening wasn't any single dish. It was the way the entire experience felt as though it was about us. We were there celebrating four years together, and Born & Raised somehow made an already important night feel even more special. The room, the food, the cocktails, the service, the attention to detail--everything. There are simply no nits to pick. Five stars because Yelp won't let me give them ten.

    Photos
    Born & Raised - View from our table

    View from our table

    Born & Raised - Dirty hash browns with trout roe, chives and crème fraiche

    Dirty hash browns with trout roe, chives and crème fraiche

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    Steak sampler

    The Whiskey House - whiskeybars - Updated September 2026

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