Photo by: DTown Productions
The San Diego Gaslamp District is the happening spot in downtown San Diego. You’ll find everything from shopping, theater, nightlife, restaurants, and bars.
The Gaslamp Quarter has a plethora of bars, more bars than you can imagine, and there’s a bar for every taste. It would be fair to say that there is a bar on every corner in the San Diego Gaslamp District.
But as every drinker everyone knows, all bars are not equal. To save you time and money while partying in San Diego, here’s a list of my favorite bars in reverse order, numbers 3 – 1 are inter-changeable depending on my mood.
Best Bars in San Diego Gaslamp District
4. Jimmy Love’s
Featuring live music or a DJ 7 nights a week, Jimmy Love’s is in the heart of the Gaslamp district and the perfect place to start your bar crawl. Get there early and avoid the cover charge. Arrive early enough to take advantage of the happy hour from 5p-7pm featuring $4 drafts (select), house red or white wine, and $5 well drinks along with an assortment of $5 appetizers such as magic meatballs, shrimp pot stickers, and cheese steak fries.
With two bars, a full menu, dance floor, and live music you might be tempted to stay all night, but resist temptation because more bars await so forge on.
Tip: Check in on Foursquare and get a free shot.
Jimmy Love’s, located at 672 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 (corner of 5th and G Street), is open daily from 5 p.m.–2 a.m.
3. The Tipsy Crow
The next stop on your San Diego Tour de Bar is The Tipsy Crow.
The Tipsy Crow is the one of most unique bars you’ll ever visit and not because it was formerly a gentleman’s club, but because drink prices fluctuate like stocks. Be sure and keep your eye on the Drink Exchange drink ticker screens posted throughout the bar because drink prices rise or fall depending on demand. One minute that Jack Daniels you ordered might be $5, the next it’s $10.
Have no fear because like the stock market, there’s always a Market Crash. During a Market Crash drink prices take a dive drop and the lucky patrons of The Tipsy Crow have 5 minutes to stock up on drinks before prices rise to normal “trading” levels.
Enjoy ½ off food prices during daily happy hour: Monday – Saturdays from 3-8 p.m. and 5 p.m.–2 a.m. on Sundays.
While every night at The Tipsy Crow features some special event, Tuesdays is by far the best night to visit. Every Tuesday:
- Tap That Cask: At 7pm a new keg from a local craft beer brewery is opened during Tap that Cask. Sign up in advance to be a guest tapper and receive $3 cask pints for you and up to 10 of your friends and a Tipsy Crow Cask T-Shirt.
- Beer Exchange: Low prices on craft beers from 8 p.m.–2 a.m.
Tip: Save 15% off your tab when you show your boarding pass, train ticket, or similar proof of travel to your server or bartender.
Tip: Local? Or don’t have proof of travel? Check in on Yelp and get a free order or cinnamon sugar pretzel bites.
The Tipsy Crow, located at 770 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 (corner of 5th and F Street), is open Monday – Friday from 3 p.m.–2 a.m., Saturday & Sunday from 12 p.m.-2 a.m.
2. Patrick’s Gaslamp Pub
Now that your belly has a little food and you’re laid a good foundation of beer, it’s time to enjoy live blues at the premier blues club in San Diego, Patrick’s Gaslamp Pub.
Patrick’s Gaslamp Pub features a different band nightly. Tuesday night is Open mic night, affectionately known as Walter’s Chicken Jam sessions. If it’s not crowded, everyone in the audience gets a chance to jam. We went on a Tuesday, not knowing it was open mic night and were a little confused when everyone in the bar each took a turn playing.
A true bar serving up only alcohol and good music, Patrick’s Gaslamp Pub offers two daily happy hours with $2.75 domestic bottles, $3.25 domestic drafts, and $3.50 well drinks from 10 a.m.–8 p.m. and 11 p.m.–2 a.m. You’ll get your drink on at Patrick’s.
Tip: It’s a tiny bar so stake out your spot early.
Patricks Gaslamp Pub, located at 428 F Street, San Diego, CA 92101, is open Monday – Friday from 10 a.m.-2 a.m., and Saturday & Sunday from 9 a.m-2 a.m.
1. Henry’s Pub
Sufficiently relaxed and mellow after your stint at Patrick’s, it’s time to work off those calories by getting those feet moving on the dance floor at Henry’s Pub.
Henry’s Pub features live entertainment nightly. Embrace your inner Straycat on Tuesdays as you enjoy live swing dance and rockabilly music.
Can’t make it on a Tuesday? Come on Thursday for live acoustic or rock on Saturdays. There’s even karaoke on Sundays. Each night of the week offers a different style of music.
$3 drafts, $3 house wines, and $3 well drinks are offered during happy hour from Monday – Friday 3 p.m.-7:15 p.m.
Tip: Homemade chicken tenders. Need I say more?
Henry’s Pub & Restaurant, located at 618 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101, is open Monday – Thursday from 3 p.m.–1:30 a.m., and Friday – Sunday from 11 a.m.–1:30 a.m.
Need a place to crash during after your bar crawl? Read my Andaz San Diego review here.
What do you think of my picks for the best bars in San Diego Gaslamp District? Would you agree? Or do you have other bars that should be on this list?
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Andaz San Diego Review - Traveling Well For Less | Traveling Well For Less
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[...] All in all it worked out well as we continued with my Gaslamp itinerary and instead headed for The Tipsy Crow, one of the Best Bars in the San Diego Gaslamp District. [...]
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