San Diego is packed with snazzy cocktail bars to raise a glass to. After all, “the whole world is about three drinks behind” (Bogart), and luckily, cocktails have been around for a long time. In the US, alcoholic beverages made with spirits started to appear in the 1800s. However, similar forms of cocktails date back to Ancient history. The Romans and Greeks were said to flavor their drinks with spices, honey and other aromatic blends, while a few millennia later, the Brits started to prepare punches, which contained spirits, fruit juices, and spices in big bowls.
Although we still don’t know the exact origin of these alcoholic and aromatic delights, there’ve been two milestones that have marked the way we enjoy cocktails today, namely the arrival of sugar from the Americas following the Spanish colonization in the 15th century and the transportation of ice made possible by Boston’s “Ice King”, pioneer of the ice international trade in the 19th century. If you’re hunting for a great place to end the day, forget your sorrows and relish fresh and amazing cocktails, take a look below at our list of swanky cocktail bars in San Diego.
1. Raised by Wolves
Hidden behind the chimney of a boutique bottle shop, this charming and architecturally stunning speakeasy seems like it’s from a different time and place. The bottle shop, which they playfully refer to as “the library”, resembles a 1920’s liquor store with a vintage metal cash register, marble floors and a vast collection of liquor and wine bottles from all over the world. The bar itself is as promising as the store, decorated with plum-colored velvet chairs encircling a round marble bar, wooden panels and floors and 1920’s satin lampshades under an emerald-colored glass dome.
Popular drinks include Tiramisu ‘Tini, Cosmic Dancer and Island Old Fashioned. Our standout is the refreshing Cosmic Dancer, not because of its nod to T.Rex, Bowie or Nick Cave, but because this is not your standard Ramble. It consists of the typical raspberries, gin and citrus on crushed ice, but comes with a twist—added vino amaro, making it the perfect reinvigorating drink for summertime.
🍹 4301 La Jolla Village Dr #2030
2. Noble Experiment
This East Village bar is another swanky spot to sip on flavorsome cocktails on the weekend. Hidden behind a wall of kegs in a downtown restaurant is actually a secret door that leads you to a dimly lit room with white booths placed beside a wall, fully decorated with gold skulls.
The décor may seem eclectic first with various classical paintings, a huge white chandelier and black and white marble floors, but the overall ambiance seems to make sense and give a mysterious vibe. Their drinks vary from Noble Classics to Dealer’s Choice. Noble Experiment is almost always booked so you should make a reservation in advance to guarantee entry.
🍹 777 G St. San Diego
See also: Wine bars in San Diego perfect for both experts and casual wine lovers
3. Polite Provisions
Polite Provisions is a laid-back and inviting bar with an apothecary-esque style located in North Park. The menu consists of spirit forward drinks, champagne beverages and refreshing cocktails, but there are also a lot of delicious non-alcoholic options, prepared by the bar’s expert mixologists.
Make sure to check out their happy hour menu, everyday on weekdays at 4:00-5:30 pm. And best of all, if you’re not the type to order cocktails when you go out, Polite Provisions has 46 taps that dispense a range of microbrews. It really is the cocktail connoisseur’s and beer lover’s heaven!
🍹 4696 30th St
4. Fifth & Rose at The Pendry
Fifth & Rose is an elegant and stylish lobby bar located at The Pendry Hotel in Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego. It’s one of the best places in town to savor inventive cocktails prepared by their baristas and mixologists while enjoying gourmet small plates. Some of the items on their menu can be a bit pricey, but the ingredients used are always of top-notch quality. If you’re feeling extra fancy, try the Smoke & Mirrors cocktail prepared with Casamigos Mezcal, Amaro Montenegro, Carpano Antica sweet vermouth and smoke & salt bitters.
🍹 550 J Street
See also: Libraries in San Diego to treat your inner bookworm
5. Frankie’s
If you find yourself in Oceanside, you should definitely pop by Frankie’s for a cold reinvigorating cocktail to end the day. All cocktails are valued at 15$ and have fun names like Center Of Attraction, Gasoline, Killa Whale and After The Storm. Try Midget Cough—named after Action Bronson’s song—made with tequila, tangy tamarind, spicy habanero, sweet pear and Li Hing Mui, a salty dried Chinese plum. It’s a sweet, sour and salty goodness, perfect for getting your spirits up.
🍹 406 Pier View Way, Oceanside
6. Realm of the 52 Remedies
For anyone that feels guilty after having a few too many, at the Realm you’re invited to think of it as a way of taking care of yourself. Inspired by Chinese and South Korean tastes and philosophies of building health and longevity, the baristas continuously prepare new and inventive, secret concoctions, always looking to enchant and impress.
As you enter the bar, you are immediately transported to the Far East. It’s a feast for the eyes as you’re surrounded by an all-white streamlined apothecary, East Asian drawings and paintings, corridors filled with porcelain plates, lotus-shaped booths and silk lanterns. It’s a calm and intimate space, perfect for dates or small gatherings.
7. Campfire
If you’re not just looking to get drinks, but are also craving some insanely good food, you should definitely consider visiting Campfire. The restaurant has managed to find the perfect balance between rustic and elegant, exuding warmth and hospitality with its star of the show, the 12-foot wood-burning fire pit. With different types of fish, meat and s’mores prepared by the fire, you’ll get hints of smoke filling up the cozy space every now and again.
Their cocktails vary from refreshing and bracing to decadent and free spirits, whatever your heart desires. Savor the Tarantula, an exhilarating drink made of mezcal, Dolin, pickled celery and ginger, or for bourbon lovers, Kentucky Crest, carefully prepared with bourbon, grilled guava, toasted green tea, Campari, pineapple and lime.