3 Best Bars in Old Town, San Diego

The bar of this restaurant, named for the cactus whose sap is distilled into tequila, is home to the Tequila Museum, a collection of hundreds of top-shelf bottles each as sip-worthy as the finest cognac.

Cocktails shine at El Sueño, an upscale modern Mexican restaurant with a huge, jungle-esque patio and moody bar that offers plenty of tequila and mezcal concoctions. Expect classics like Palomas and mules as well as innovative mixology, like the bright orange Bad Bunny made with jalapeno-infused tequila and carrot juice. A rotating margarita of the month keeps things interesting, and if you want to continue switching things up, head upstairs to Tako for sushi, sake, whiskey, and more.

It took founder and CEO Doug Constantiner 10 years to open a second location of Societe, his award-winning brewery that originally opened in 2012. But when he did, he chose Old Town to start pouring their high-quality lagers and ales, which flow from over a dozen taps as well as a selection of cans. The indoor space feels cozy and tucked away, while the outside patio overlooks a bustling thoroughfare in the center of Old Town. San Diego craft beer prides itself on IPAs and Societe is no exception, with numerous hop-forward options to choose from.