23 Best Bars in Old Town and Uptown, San Diego

Launched by the team behind Kindred, Mothership is a cocktail experience right out of the most fantastical science fiction. Its interior has to be seen to be believed, half of it resembling a cinematic spaceship and the other half looking like the alien worlds it landed on, while the drinks they serve—with names referencing the likes of Alien and Star Trek—are dazzling and delicious tiki concoctions. Reservations open up 21 days in advance but fill up fast, but bar seating is first-come, first-served.

Named for its proximity to the airport, this over-21 watering hole draws in whiskey lovers for its unbeatable selection of more than 1,000 bottles. Sip on craft beer or cocktail under the Christmas light-laden ceiling, or head to the arcade room for billiards, pinball, and more. Additional seating is available in the somewhat hidden back patio as well.  Tuesdays are half-off games in the arcade, but free popcorn is available all day, every day.

Although it draws plenty of gay customers, the festive and friendly atmosphere is popular with just about everyone in the Hillcrest area (and their pets are welcome, too). The bar staff stocks more than 100 brands of tequila and mixes plenty of fancy cocktails.

Get your margarita skinny, spicy, or standard, with homemade sours and fresh-squeezed juices, at this prime spot within Fashion Valley Mall. Don't miss weekday happy hour ($8 specialty cocktails from 3 to 6 pm) or Taco Tuesday ($6 tacos until 6 pm and happy hour drink specials all day).

This no-frills neighborhood watering hole gets packed on weekends and whenever professional soccer is streaming on one of the large TVs.

The well-respected Cantina Mayahuel carries San Diego’s largest collection of agave-based Mexican spirits—with tequila and mezcal flights to boot—and is regularly frequented by local service-industry pros. Happy hour runs from noon to 6 pm, and service switches to 21+ only after 7 pm.

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.

On the north end of 30th Street is a temple to both beer and punk rock. Fall Brewing's antiestablishment ethos might come across as pretentious, but once inside, the expert beertenders are happy to help find you the perfect pint to enjoy on the large front patio or bar tables inside. A rotating fleet of food trucks often park out front, and there are many nearby restaurants where you can order and bring your own food into the brewery. (Locals know the best smashburger in town is just a few doors down at The Friendly.)

Created by beloved local bartenders Eric Johnson and Christian Siglin, Happy Medium is a hip, but not overly precious take on the neighborhood cocktail bar. The menu of elevated bar bites rotates often, but always go well with drinks both serious (Old Fashioned) and silly (booze-infused slushies).

Swing by the Monkey Bar in the lobby of the Town and Country Resort for small bites, firepits, and plenty of drinks to choose from. Happy hour runs Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 6 pm. Having more than one cocktail? Try the Drunken Monkey to collect a variety of colorful monkey garnishes.

Sip quality ales and lagers brewed on-site at the art deco-inspired brewery helmed by owner/brewer Kelsey McNair. His award-winning West Coast IPA Hop-Fu! put his hoppy brews on the map years ago, but his extensive portfolio of pilsners, stouts, dunkels, and other styles caters to a wide variety of craft beer enthusiasts.

This retro-cool hangout with stiff cocktails might be one of the most popular bars in Hillcrest, but don't expect a glitzy facade. The intentionally dated decor sits within the tatty walls of a white-brick box that probably hasn't had a face-lift since the LBJ administration.

A more laid-back counterpoint to nightclubs where DJs spin bass-heavy EDM, Part Time Lover is a haven for those who prefer their vinyl listening experience paired with a good cocktail. Inspired by listening bars in Japan, the stylish, Stevie Wonder-referencing lounge features a rotating cast behind the turntables every night, spinning jazz-funk, classic soul and other eclectic sounds, with a cocktail menu that features both refreshing and spirit-forward options. And if you like what you hear, there's no need to vacate the bar to go shopping—Folk Arts Records is housed inside.

Referred to as Red Fox Room by those in the know, this dimly lit lounge is loved by locals, and not just the seniors who flock here to sing Sinatra tunes to tickled ivories and the occasional impromptu horn section. The bar opened in its original location in 1959, but much of the bar's features—including its ornately detailed fireplace—date back to 16th- and 17th-century England. Though relocated just across the street in 2022, its charm and potent cocktails came along for the ride.

Arguably the most popular nightclub in the area, Rich's rocks Hillcrest until closing time, and even then it's hard to call for some to call it a night. The dancing and music here are some of the best in the city, making Rich's popular not only with gay men but also plenty of lesbians and straight revelers. Come ready to have fun and pick confetti out of your hair for a day or two afterwards.

This swanky whiskey lounge is a welcome alternative to the neighboring dives and dance clubs. Live jazz, a tranquil atmosphere, and a bourbon-loving craft cocktail list keep locals flocking.

This Mission Hills hangout captures all the warmth and camaraderie of a traditional British pub—except here you can enjoy consistently sunny weather on the sprawling patio. The bar hands pour from a long list of imported ales and stouts, and the early hours for big matches make this the place to watch soccer (football, if you're speaking the King's English) and rugby.

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. 

The heavy use of wood and stone, and accents like banjos and rifles, might give Sycamore Den a masculine vibe, but it's a highly specific and kitschy one: ’70s dads. Though the hipster-pop concept might seem like it was plucked right out of a Tumblr meme, the drinks here are worth the irony, and the calendar is typically filled with great local, acoustic live bands.

As one of the few true late-night supper clubs in San Diego, Turf is often bustling until last call every night of the week. The somewhat gritty, old-timey interior harkens back to the 1950s, but the only cloud of smoke hovering around the dim lights and vinyl booths comes from the communal grill rather than Marlboros. Grill your own steak, order a martini, and enjoy a San Diego institution.

Cowboys gather for line dancing and two-stepping on the wooden dance floor—but be forewarned, yee-hawers, it can get pretty wild on Western nights on the first Saturday of each month. There are also Latin, hip-hop, and drag revues but the real allure is in the creative drinks ("Gone Fishing"—served in a fishbowl, for example) and the breezy patio where love (or something like it) is usually in the air.