By day we soak up the sun and play on the beaches along San Diego's 70-mile coastline. As the sunsets you can unleash your creativity with coloring book menus, retro arcade games, learn the mysteries of the universe or bet on the ponies; the fun has just begun in San Diego. Here are some exciting suggestions and fun to enjoy in this city’s vibrant neighborhoods that offer a thriving nightlife scene.
Sip while you shop for new sunglasses or a fixed-gear bike at Moniker General Store. Okay, the Moniker General Store because is a crafty beverage bar, mixed with a fashion boutique, and a art gallery. The 4,200 square foot space in Liberty Station is part of San Diego’s newest art and culinary hub. The hot spot includes a 1950s inspired cocktail bar named “The Bar” that serves up signature cocktails, mocktails, rosé slushies, and more than 20 bottled beers and 24 wines from San Diego and Baja. Plus, they have a relaxing, pet and family-friendly patio outdoor.
Known for its draft cocktails, punch bowls and bartenders sporting suspenders, Polite Provisions, located in the hipster-friendly North Park neighborhood, features a one-of-a-kind menu: a 25-page coloring book. The menu illustrates more than 80 beverages and includes a crossword puzzle, labyrinth maze, word games and 14 classic cocktail names hidden within a word search. At the end of a colorful night, patrons can take the menu home for a small price,for which a portion of the proceeds benefit San Diego’s New Children’s Museum.
Science and beer collide at the quarterly “Two Scientist Walk into a Bar.” Every three months, the Fleet Science Center invites 50 local scientists from fields like evolutionary biology and quantum physics to hang out at 25 participating bars around San Diego and answer questions about any topic. People thirsty for knowledge, and beer can look for the “We are scientists. Ask us anything” signs at participating bars and breweries.
Live out your Lost in Translation fantasies at HIVE, a dining, drinking and entertainment venue in the diverse Kearny Mesa neighborhood. A 50-seat bar dubbed “The Island” offers infused spirits, craft cocktails and 50 beers on tap, while a spacious dining area offers an assorted food menu ranging from Asian to Californian cuisine. The main attraction is HIVE’s 13 recently redesigned private karaoke rooms available for rental with option of bottle service.
Drink like a grownup and play like a kid at a couple of San Diego hangouts that are bringing back the good old days with classic arcade games. Coin Haus in La Mesa Village offers more than 30 video games and an unique self-serve system of 50 taps pouring beer, wine, kombucha and coffee. With locations in North Park and downtown San Diego, Coin-Op offers a wide selection of old and new arcade games, a full bar serving craft cocktails and local beers, and a food menu featuring hot dogs, hamburgers and pizzas, varied by location.
Located in vibrant downtown San Diego, Striders offers patrons the opportunity to place bets on horse races happening around the world. Inexperienced race gamblers can even try a complimentary Group Betting 101 class on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m. The two-story, upscale restaurant, bar and lounge features two outdoor areas, a large dining room and an open kitchen. The Turf Club on the second floor features more than 150 HD TVs, a 15-ft TV wall and a giant Jenga and foosball table.
Yes, the Donut Bar is technically a donut shop and not a bar, yet it still offers a sweet way to enjoy a pint of craft beer. The famed spot in downtown San Diego not only sells the world’s most Instagramable donuts but also reopens on Fridays and Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. with freshly baked batches and 24 beers on tap, all carefully selected to pair well with their rotating donut selection.
Plan Your Trip To San Diego
To explore the thriving nightlife, activities, area attractions, as well as packages and discounts available visit the San Diego Tourism Authority website.
Photo Credits: San Diego Tourism Authority
