When I go to a dive bar, I'm going to either just get a quick drink and pop out, or going there to hang and get the rough edges of my day hammered smooth. I'm not going there to get pampered. These guys pour fast, pour heavy and give you what you want. Oh and it's all reasonable price-wise. Anyone expecting any more out of a dive bar isn't looking for a dive bar. Go downtown and pay $20 to get past the door guy to pay $15 a drink. Good luck with that. Oh yeah...juke box is awesome. No juke box, no customer here...so please keep it! See you fools soon. read more

Great music good conversation always cool people to chat with and something fun to see. No food only snaks, but you can bring stuff in!

A cool bar! Beautiful outdoor area. Nicely renovated. Barman Eric friendly and service good. Bathrooms need attention and a touch of renovation but okay to pee! read more

Pretty chill spot for what it is. Went for a friend's birthday &they had a singer &band playing, which was different. Their drink portions are pretty small for the price but it's a better atmosphere than some of the other bars in the area. read more

Ib local great place to chill on the outside patio have a couple drinks or meet great people just a fun bar to hang out at good times

The ok part: Decent selection of beer, nothing amazing, but some of the usuals plus the Stone Pale Ale, so that's a plus. Full bar and the bartenders know how to make a drink. The bad part: As some of the other reviewers wrote it's mildly UN-welcoming. The bouncers grab your ID and treat you like your under 21 and trying to scam the place until your ID is scanned in. The bartenders aren't friendly, but I dont' think that's the same as being rude. I didn't really take any offense to their mostly indifferent demeanor. The good part: The prices are cheap, there's pool if you want to play, and best of all there's a large outdoor deck that doesn't overlook, but is very near to the beach. Also if you're not into loud, packed places it doesn't get that way. Summary: Stroll in off the beach, order a couple of nicely priced drinks, and relax on the patio, you'll have a good time. Don't take it personally if the bartenders aren't "bubbly" and enjoy the place for what it is. read more

I just have to say the bouncer at the front is great and does I.D checks. The lady that served us the food was nice and the food is delish. The pricing of the drinks,fantastic. You don't find cute bars like this anymore. I AM from Indiana.... And I missed my old bar that I used to go Into with my dad as a kid . I knew the owners so it wasn't a big deal. The old man that was there, I don't know if him and his wife are apart of this bar... but he talked up a storm and we really enjoyed it. He was funny. He was sweet. And he knew my husband was I the Navy! You can let lose and chill in this bar. My husband and I just moved into this area. And I can't wait to walk there and have some brews! Thanks for being awesome and having awesome pricing. I'd rather go there than some club. I hate clubs and I am 21., lol. My husband and I love to chill :) xo from the Becketts read more

This place is such a piece of crap please do not go here. It's not even a dive bar It's a straight up tweaker bar. I would say the only decent place in IB Is the scoreboard and that place is a mess as well. It's too bad barrels has to close down every other day. read more

Great place for a beer. Total dive bar, but it works out for that afternoon beer or stiff drink. Strong generous pours and decent prices. Only reason I went from 5 down to 4 is its cash only... still, great dive bar! read more

I love this bar. Whether you want to dress up in high heels or show up your beach gear, this is the place to be. The drinks are quick and cold, and DD's don't normally get charged for soda and coffee. The staff is crazy fun, and always willing to chat, cut you off, call a cab, fill up the patio heaters, break up fights.........everyone does everything. The regulars are friendly, and will even let you win a few games of pool if you ask to play. I kinda liked it better before all the decor changes, but it's still cool. Best nights are military pay day weekends - when all the boys are out to play. read more

I visited The Plank in July of 09 with my husband. He died in a motorcycle accident the following October. This was one of the last places we partied and had a great time together--I will always remember. I drank a few "blow-jobs" with a friendly Latino Lady and laughed and had a good time. I wish I could go back and do it all again! sltydogger@bellsouth.net read more

By any objective standards, this place is terrible. Poor service, poor quality, poor atmosphere. The burger I had was cheap because it tasted cheap. The water had a weird flavor (probably due to unclean glasses). The best part of the meal was the bag of (plain) Lays that came on the side. Even the patrons smelled badly. Would not recommend to my worst enemy. read more

this is the place where i met my husband back in 1991-1992! first time i saw him sitting in the bar, i thought to myself, what a good-looking guy that is! well, to make a long story short, we were married for 28 years and he has been my soul mate ever since! sorry to say, he passed away in 2017- every time he walked in the plank-inn, they use to say,there's cadillac; he loved cadillac's! he knew the owner very well-mr. winkleman-don't know if he is still alive or not? my husband's name was ronald ross! rest in peace my love-i will soon see you again!!! read more

Very nice staff, awesome atmosphere. Short review but not much esle to say other than check this place out!

The only good thing about this place is the out door space. The drinks where nothing to write home about. I can think of a thousand other places in San Diego I would rather go to and I will go to those other places before I ever go here again. read more

Great little neighborhood bar! Awesome feel all around with great atmosphere!! Had conversation from local patrons and outstanding service! A bunch of Navy paraphernalia from the locals surround the entire place! Thanks for the good times!! We will be back to visit... read more

Should be called the Olde Skank and Shank! The kind of place you go to get in a fight. Dirty, smelly, mean bartenders, nothing to recommend it other than the location. There's real skanks here, too. The kind that walk around asking for money so that you know they're in business. They don"t serve food either, not that I'd want to eat here. read more

Good place in San Diego to hang your (KKK) hat and listen to Keith urban. Rude honky tonk bartenders, horrible music. Definitely won't be going back. read more

I'll never go here again.. Creepy bar, creepy people, rude staff, not a comfortable place to be in.

Hi just wanted for everyone to know how much fun you can have at the Plank.The bartener is extremely friendly plus she makes really great drinks .Vera is her name. She always has a smile on her face. The bar is very clean because Rose dose it and she good at it. It's a great place to kick back have some drinks and hang out with friends. read more

Personally I'd rather spend more money at a nicer, cleaner bar than having to go to this cash only bar... Music wasn't the best. Weak drinks. You have three options for bar food. Bathrooms are disgusting. Just the atmosphere in general was horrible. If you like dirty bars, where the customers wear wife beaters and get completely trashed then this is your place! Ohh and the guy at the door told me "to come back and have fun next time" in such a sarcastic tone as I walked out. Maybe I would if service was at least better... read more

As soon as me and a few buddies walked in we were given this look like we didn't belong. The bartender cards us and instead of handing my buddies ID back in his hand he tosses it in front of him and gives him a dirty look and asks us what we want. We ordered a few beers go back to our table and everyone was clearly a local they would look at us as if we just didn't belong so we just drank out beers and left. Stay away bad service and clearly a spot for locals. read more

oh the plank . the only bar in the world where you can hear the old redneck song "i love this bar" about 4053495039 times a hour. two pool tables tons of locals and if you know people you can have one hell of a time or get in a good fight you will blog the next day about. downside being the lame ass fuckers who pop in once in a wile for pitcher night . oh quick joke , what do you call four girls sitting at the bar in the plank. give up . ? " a full set of teeth " back in the day they had food and it was pretty good BBQ but now days nothing but drama and cheap drinks . read more

I stumbled on this little gem after a day of drinking on the strand. My friends and I wanted to watch the last of the Bronco's WIN, however, we ended up staying 'cause this place ROCKS!. I was a little faded for sure and irked that I couldnt bring in my backpack but ended up having a blast. I never go to I.B, but this place rocks. Its for sure the petes place of I.B. Inside looks like a normal old bar with pool tables and an internet jukebox, but the outside it where its at, talk about a perfect patio with an outdoor bar, stage, and multi levels. When we got there their was an interesting group of people that just looked like they were ready to party( pretty much regulars, bikers, and the normal others you would expect at a dive bar) Then we saw this crazy lookin guy talkin to everyone, and who would guess it, he got up on stage and was a comedian/musician! He was giving me and my friends crap about being from Denver without realizing that it was just my friends visiting, but had fun with it. He asked us what we wanted to hear, we yelled it out and he played it, he was a pure 70s and 80s jam rocker and an awesome guitar player. I want this guy playing at my wedding for sure. I live in kearney mesa, but this place would deff be worth the drive a few times a month. read more

A dive bar that only accepts cash and doesn't have bottled water. Proud staff on a Friday didn't make us feel welcome. Just dropped in for a shot and a beer but I will go somewhere else the next time I am in town. read more

Me and me mates walked the plank and lived to tell about it. Cash only is the only way to go and games of pool take some time because the bar back needs to re fill the ice before hitting the next shot. Bud lights anywhere from $1.50 to $9 depends on how good the bartender is at math at the moment read more

We went on a Saturday, but it was dead except for older regulars. Neat patio but we were the only ones on it. Very close to Imperial Beach. Nice bartender and door-lady, but we felt out of place as young, non-regulars. read more

Love this bar! Especially nice when you get to know the regulars, and the bar tenders are awesome! Always look forward to stopping for a drink after a visit to the beach. :) read more

This place used to be the stuff of legends. Fully packed, any day of the week. Since the "stud crew" left, their loyal band of groupies quickly dissapated. Remember to bring your cash as they do not accept cards. Nice outdoor area for smoking or socializing. Woudl be cool if they had some speakers out there, though. Still a cool place to grab a drink. Margaritta Mondays offer $10 pitchers of salty booze filled goodness. :) read more

I'd heard about Ye Olde Plank from many different sources... mostly because of the history. Any bar can have a different personality on a different day or different time of day... or bartender. But while I visited it was 5* It's certainly a "local" place, but I walked in for my first visit ever and mentioned I'd heard this was "the place" to visit in IB, and in short order had a drink in front of me and greetings from most of the customers around me. No pretenses to be sure... people come here to drink. But while I was there obvious locals and obvious tourists came through, all with friendly greetings. The bartender knew what the locals favorite drinks were and started pouring before they sat down. Guess you can see, I'm observant. Fair prices for the location (remember, prime location on the beach, generous pours, enormous character... and I like this kind of 'joint' and can't imagine not going back. Not many places around have the history and stories to go with it like this place; but if blended fruit drinks with umbrellas are your thing, you have a 50/50 chance of going away happy. read more

Was at Ye Olde Plank a few weeks ago with my son and his wife for a few 'good morning' drinks. Have to say, drinks were really good and reasonably priced; and the bartender knew his clientele. A few old military dudes and locals come in for coffee and beer, but he treated each one with respect and even put out their drinks before they came in. It's one of those nice old places that needs to keep going. Thanks for a good time!! read more

Hey, the plank is a great place to meet friends. Take your family down to the plank as well. I know of monday nights. Margaritas are only a dollar and a half. There are many things to do at the " plank " as well. there are two pool tables and there are game machines to play. Hey, they even have an ATM machine!!! its cool to go and hang out like pple in the "cheers" bar. Come on down! ITS WORTH THE TRIP!!! read more

Don't waste your time or money... unless you are a local or a drunk bimbo the bartender thinks he can seduce you'll be treated like dirt, like you are such an inconvenience for ordering a drink! Has been my experience the past 4 years ever time I'm in town, finally had enough, drinks are poorly made and no effort... we were so excited our first couple times going there, in town once a year... sorry guys... if only the customer service matched the environment... read more

Hey WAKE UP PEOPLE this an awesome bar. This is what a great bar is like in Wisconsin ! Fun always a good time. Can't wait to get back to San Diego area this place is on my must stop place when I am in town. Party hard or get the F@*& out!! read more

Friendly neighborhood bar with laid back atmosphere. Good value on Margarita Mondays!! Good place to watch sports and just hang out and chill. Patio area is pretty cool especially in the summer. read more

All you 20-somethings -- If you don't care for IB or don't care for the "dive" beach bar atmosphere of the Plank, as you call it, PLEASE go elsewhere. Those of us who actually live in IB and love both the town and the Plank would be VERY PLEASED to have fewer loud, whiny, intolerant babies around who don't like anyone who isn't just like THEM -- especially those horrible OLD people who are over the age of 40 -- PLEASE go downtown San Diego instead -- pay $10-$20 to park if you can even find a place, $10-20 for a drink, sometimes cover charges, and party with the rest of your age group. We wouldn't want you to have to go through the horrible trauma of being in a bar with someone over the age of 40, so PLEASE don't put yourself through all of that and go elsewhere! We will definitely make it without you, and might be able to enjoy our town and our "Ye Olde" with fewer babies hanging around whining about how terrible it is. Thank you. read more

Today was a beautiful Sunday in Imperial Beach, SD. A perfect day to hang out with my best friend and my sister, so we decided to stop by The Plank, to have a beer... The barman, Eric answered to our questions nicely at the beginning: Draft, or bottle? blah, blah, blah... but suddenly- I've been in SD for 2 months, coming fm Europe, so I'm not familiar with the infinite laws in US- he looks at me holding a bottle of water from my beach backpack and starts saying: that bottle outside! like 6 times in a row without letting me ask, what is the problem?with my water bottle??? i felt i was reprehended like a child, guys, i'm 47-yrs-old, great looking :) but a grown up lady! :) So, i placed my poor bottle of water i just purchased for the beach outside in the sun, :( .... ok, well this guy is having a bad day, and we proceeded to drink our beers at this nice bar's patio, where you can sit, look at the ocean and enjoy yr company, even lite a cigarrete! :) but half way trough, he approaches me and starts yelling to get rid of my beach backpack and place it somewhere... i was eyes wide-open and in shock, what came out of my mind, was just to let this young gentleman know, you don't scream to customers, specially to older, or all ladies whatsoever like that, and walked out of the place without being able to finish my drink that i just purchased, :( ... 3 of them actually... when a shame this nice bar has such a rude person as a bartender... specially when it's my friend's favorite bar and this finally screwed up our relaxing time at the YE OLDE PLANK... hope Eric improves his customer service skills and learns to treat people as he wishes to be treated... oh, by the way, i'm from, Spain, yes, i have an accent, ask a lot of questions and love to be kind and smile to people... Peace and love! read more