San Diego is definitely a party city – it has a thriving beach bar scene and a raging downtown, full of tourists, conference-goers, and locals alike. San Diego is a place that takes itself lightly and that is why so many people love it here. It has sun and sand, beer and bods, mountains and mayhem. We could go on. So we decided to make a guide for people who want to really revel in the party life here.
This is a guide for people who are either in their twenties or want to feel like they are in their twenties. This is a San Diego itinerary for those who want to wake up sunburnt, hungover, and happy. It will take you through the two younger and boozier neighborhoods of the city. But beware, this itinerary is a marathon, not a sprint. Or this itinerary is like sprinting through a whole marathon.
Good luck. And be safe.
The Itinerary
1. Go To Miss B’s Coconut Club For Brunch
2. Cruise The Strip On Mission Beach
3. Get A Beer At Lahaina Beach House
4. Get A Beer PB Shore Club
5. Optional: Get A Drink At PB Alehouse Or Firehouse
6. Eat Lunch In Northern PB
7. Head To Coin-Op Game Room In Gaslamp
8. Eat Dinner In Gaslamp
9. Go To barleymash Or Whiskey House
10. Head To The Late Night Spots
11. Map to this itinerary
Morning
You’re going to want to get to the beach early today. Don’t bother eating in whatever neighborhood you live in. In fact, even if you are from San Diego, you should probably just rent a hotel room at the beach for tonight. Doesn’t have to be fancy. You will not be using their gym or eating their complimentary breakfast. Just a place to rest your head that has no bed bugs.
Now to start the day.
Go to Miss B’s Coconut Club for Brunch
Miss B’s Coconut Club serves Caribbean-inspired food alongside traditional brunch fare and the food is delicious. But what’s even better are their tropical drinks on offer. Think lots of rum and those big, sharable bowls of cocktails. The Chester Copperpot is a particularly over the top option that you should probably consider if you want it to be a memorable occasion. Or perhaps it will help you forget. Their painkiller is also delicious.
Alternative:
An alternative for brunch, that is slightly less drink-centric, is The Mission Cafe, one of our favorite breakfast spots in San Diego. They serve beer, Bloody Marys, and mimosas alongside delicious breakfast dishes. Try their crispy, perfectly cooked rosemary potatoes. They are worth the visit alone.
Find our review of The Mission Cafe here.
Late Morning
Cruise the Strip On Mission Beach
Walking the strip on Mission Beach or in Pacific Beach (PB) are classic San Diego scenes. There are roller bladers and bikers, bubble blowers and jugglers, break dancers and trinket sellers. This is where the continental United States end, where everyone has hit the ocean and can’t pursue their dreams any farther west, so they set up shop on the strip. Look out for SloMo the rollerblading neurosurgeon – a staple of the strip.
This is the main thoroughfare of these beach towns so use the strip to get around – walking from Miss B’s Coconut Club to Lahaina Beach House to PB Shore Club and beyond. Take some deep breaths of that salty air, enjoy the collective humanity, and appreciate that you are alive here on earth.
Get a Beer at Lahaina Beach House
Lahaina Beach House is what a beach bar should be – laid back, straight forward, not looking to be anything but a place to hang out. Lahaina Beach House has a large deck out front where most people gather and look out onto the beach and the ocean. Get a pitcher from the bar and sit and people watch the skateboarders and rollerbladers cruising down the strip. This place does get crowded on weekends, particularly in the summer, but it is worth a visit. Lahaina Beach House is a gem.
Get A Beer At PB Shore Club
PB Shore Club has a similar vibe to Lahaina Beach House – laid back San Diego beach bar with no frills, but friendly service and a fun vibe. In the summer these places are always filled with people having a good time. There is a bigger indoor bar area, but the best part is the deck out to the side.
PB Shore Club serves Red Bull vodka slushees which gives you a good idea of the purpose of this place. Get one if you want. Or just a beer or two. Talk to some strangers. Meet some new friends. Cheers to the sun. And the sand. And the waves. The whales and the dolphins. The jellyfish and the guy you just met’s mermaid tattoo. At this point things should be loosening up.
Optional: Get A Drink At PB Alehouse Or Firehouse
This depends on how long you spent at the last two bars and your tolerance for drinking all day. If you want another drink before lunch take a detour at the parking lot just north of PB Shore Club and head to the roof of PB Alehouse or Firehouse Eatery. Firehouse is a little fancier, but they are pretty much equal otherwise. You are only going here for a drink, so don’t order any food
Afternoon
Eat Lunch In Northern PB
Northern PB has a hub of restaurants and bars all right near each other which makes it a good destination for any eating and drinking needs. We recommend one of three options (all right next to each other): our favorite option is Oscar’s Mexican Seafood, a place that serves bomb fish tacos and ceviche, as well as some steak and vegetarian options. This is literally the perfect San Diego beach day summer food. Oscar’s does not serve alcohol. Get a Jarrito.
If you are craving buffalo wings head to Dirty Birds where they have some of the best wings in San Diego. If you want pizza head to Mr. Moto Pizza across the street. There is also Duck Dive and Bare Back Grill if you want pub food, like a burger, but Dirty Birds has burgers too so maybe just stick with that. These places are all within a block of each other so it should not be a problem to cater to all eating types.
Early Evening
Head To Coin-Op Game Room In Gaslamp
Gaslamp is the downtown neighborhood of San Diego where mistakes tend to get made. There is not much to do here beyond eat, drink, and drink some more. And go to Padres games, but that is a different story. Coin-Op Game Room is a fantastic option to have some extra-drinkular activities to help you pace yourself when you are in Gaslamp. They have a whole world of awesome arcade games and other more standard bar games to keep you distracted from the beer in your hand. This bar is always a fun time no matter your age or skill level at gaming.
Eat Dinner In Gaslamp
Time to eat. And you have options. If you have not yet eaten Mexican food today now is the time (or even if you did, get more). You have three great choices: El Chingon, Tacos El Gordo, Karinas Cantina.
El Chingon is a straight up party, but they also serve good food. Go there if you want lots and lots of tequila and a DJ thumping some music at you. It’s a good time.
Tacos El Gordo is a renowned taco joint that started in TJ in the 70s and serves delicious street tacos. They are famous for their adobado tacos. Get those. Or don’t. Whatever. It is not a sit down place so you will be eating standing up on the street. Which is how it was meant to be – hence, street tacos.
Karina’s Cantina is a place that specializes in Mexican seafood options and ceviche, similar to Oscars, but is a more formal sit down restaurant with craft cocktails.
Other options: sushi – head to Bang Bang. This is a club and/or sushi restaurant. You will never know when it will transform from one to the other. So good luck.
If you want pizza – head to Basic Pizza. A bar with lots of beer options on tap and thin crust New Haven-style pizzas. Basic serves by far the best pizza in Downtown San Diego.
If you want a more formal sit down experience – head to Huntress (a steakhouse) or Meze Greek Fusion (a Greek fusion restaurant), but these will require reservations so we hope you planned ahead and timed things perfectly.
Late Evening
Go to barleymash or Whiskey House
Whikey House and barleymash are our go to big night out in Gaslamp bars with big drinks and lots of people and lots of fun and lots of noise and lots of dancing and maybe some STIs, who are we to judge. Make friends. Drink some drinks. Lose half the people you showed up with. It doesn’t matter. You still have things to check off your list. These places are meant to be hazy memories.
Head to the Late Night Spot Downtown
If clubbing is your thing, end the night with a bang. Maybe even a Bang Bang. Or Oxford Social Club. Or Nova. Or Parq.
If this is not your style, end your night at a dive bar. Star Bar or Chee-Chee Club (not a club). Or Tivoli (the oldest bar in San Diego).
Stay out until 2am. Then get home safe. You did it.
