San Diego Bar Crawl

Our Local Expert Says:

THE place for breakfast in Pacific Beach, especially on weekends. Expect long lines, but they move quickly.

Description:

PB breakfast joint draws lines around the block for a rooftop table and the famous waffles.

Description:

This bar is dedicated to the memory of Ron Trenton. A lifeguard and pilot, Ron Trenton loved the beach and dreamed of owning a casual beach bar. After his plane disappeared in 1997, Ron's brothers decided to open his dream bar in his memory. The bar holds exactly what Ron once dreamed: casual atmosphere and a fun-filled scene. A long appetizer menu is popular among guests. Try the Calamari Strips or Nachos Grande. From the entree menu, consider a Cheeseburger or Fish Taco. Daily drink specials complement your meal. Live entertainment is performed on weekends.

Our Local Expert Says:

While it's not the favorite of locals, PB Bar and Grill offers everything a tourist could want - great dance music and nightclub in back, patio seating, pool tables, and tons of tv's perfect for all your sports needs.

Description:

Located in Pacific Beach, Pacific Beach Bar & Grill offers superb pizza. Try the Garbage Pizza or the Mexican Pizza, which substitutes layered flour tortillas for pizza dough. Other tasty treats include coconut-covered shrimp, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, gyros, prime rib and a large selection of "south of the border" dishes like tacos and fajitas. But be sure to leave some space for the heavenly desserts like Brownie Sundae and Mexican Cheesecake. All these are sure to make you returning for more!

Description:

The beautiful people of the "just over drinking age" set have discovered this small restaurant tucked within the favorite watering hole of Moose McGillycuddy's. Mexican food can be ordered a la carte or as combinations. One of the burritos (prices vary by ingredients requested and grilled to order) is enough to fill you up for an entire afternoon. For the less adventurous, hamburgers and fries are filling, grilled to order and inexpensive. Beer and wine and margaritas are available to cool down the spicy salsa.

Description:

This extremely popular beach sports bar offers decent food, drinks, music and fun. A diverse appetizer menu inspires grazing rather than dining try spicy Mexican-inspired Nachos or Guacamole and Black Bean Salsa. Need something more substantial? Try Tod's Garden Pasta featuring fresh, usually local vegetables tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. The signature Moondoggie Burger offers a big half-pound, char-grilled burger with cheese and a side of fries. The full bar offers specialty drinks such as the all-premium pour Dogarita. The cheerful, casual California beach bar atmosphere is decorated with surfing memorabilia.

Description:

Check out Firehouse Beach Cafe, a lively, fun place to eat. Located next to a firehouse, its menu is enormous, including nachos, burgers, pasta, chicken and seafood. A favorite item is the Martini Pasta, which boasts dry vermouth among the sauce ingredients. As the name suggests, this restaurant has many spicy dishes, which are indicated on the menu with a chili pepper next to the dish. Some dishes get two chili peppers, like the Firehouse Wings. There are several daily specials like Margarita Mondays and a Bloody Mary bar on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Description:

In Short
This tiny watering hole is a rarity among beachside bars. With the patio just a mere bottlecap's throw from the boardwalk, it's one of the few beach bars where you can actually high-five bladers, boarders and joggers as they pass by. Most days, this shack is relegated to a no-nonsense breakfast and lunch menu of omlettes, sandwiches and salads. On weekends (and everyday during summer), it's a post-beach cocktails crowd.

Description:

Though it's a typical "dive bar," Beachcomber defines Mission Beach. Locals stand in line to enjoy the $1 beers on Thursday nights, whiffing in the fresh beach smell and adorning Mexican, late-night shack. Though the dance floor is often packed, Beachcomber isn't filled with gyrating patrons - rather, locals in bathing suits and shorts fill the area with simply their bodies, chatting amongst themselves while downing the specialty. Venture up the rickety wooden steps to the smaller, cornered back where a flip cup/beer pong tournament is likely to be going on, and if you catch of whiff of the popcorn, don't hesitate in getting a bag.

Description:

Drive-thru Mexican fast food is famous for the ultimate California burrito and late-night hours.

Description:

Located alongside the funky surf shops and bikini boutiques of bohemian Mission Beach, the Mission is the neighborhood's central meeting place. The menu features all-day breakfasts, from traditional pancakes to nouvelle egg dishes to burritos and quesadillas. Standouts include tamales and eggs with tomatillo sauce, chicken-apple sausage with eggs and a mound of rosemary potatoes, and cinnamon French toast with blackberry purée. At lunch, the menu expands for sandwiches, salads, and a few Chino-Latino items like ginger-sesame chicken tacos. Seating is casual, comfy, and conducive to lingering (tons of students, writers, and surfers hang out here), if only with a soup-bowl-size latte. Expect waits of half an hour or more on weekends. Other locations: 2801 University Ave., in North Park (tel. 619/220-8992), and 1250 J St., downtown (tel. 619/632-7662); both have similar menus and hours.

Description:

In Short
The raised and fenced-in garden patio secludes diners from the bustling street and pedestrian traffic of Garnet Avenue. Inside find a festive restaurant and tapas bar. Choose a filling paella (rice dish) or a fresh seafood entree, or opt for a mix of hot and cold tapas items like manchego cheese, breaded mussels and stuffed peppers. Many ingredients are imported from Spain, and are also available in the eatery's shop that's located two doors down.

Description:

In Short
While it does possess all the typical acoutrements of the standard 90s coffeehouse (chalkboard menu, pastries from Brad & Cie, musty, dark decor), the Pannikin boasts one attribute unique to any other in San Diego: the mini-chain has been a force on the caffine scene in San Diego for more than 20 years. Each location also features unique gifts, cards and gourmet food items from all over the world to complement the mostly South American beans.