San Diego Nightlife Guide
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San Diego Nightlife Guide
Nightlife in San Diego, also known as America's finest city, provides fun and activity for everyone who visits. Whether you’re looking to whoop it up, chill out, or have some good, clean family fun, you’ll find it all here. San Diego is known as one of the top spots for family vacations, so there are plenty of places to take the kids after a day seeing the sites. You can't go wrong with a restaurant like The Old Spaghetti Factory, a festive place with great food and messy-as-you-wanna-be dining surrounded by antiques that tell a story of the city. For something a little fancier, try Anthony's Fish Grotto on the Bay located next to the Star of India. Out on the bay, you'll see the lights of the United States Navy ships shining, leaving gold shimmer on the water. It's a peaceful experience, and Anthony's has delicious food to compliment such a gorgeous visual. Beware when walking around by the Star of India, however. The boat, they say, is haunted.
If it's a romantic night out for two you seek, San Diego’s perfect positioning on the coast provides plentiful options. A long time favorite is the Crab Catcher in La Jolla. The restaurant overlooks La Jolla Cove and the view is breathtaking. You even have the option for a slow after-dinner stroll with your date down along the cove next to the restaurant. An equally breathtaking option is George's on the Cove. George’s boasts views of the ocean everywhere you look along with wonderfully creative and tasty dishes lovingly prepared by Trey Foshee, award-winning chef. In downtown San Diego you’ll find rooftop restaurants aplenty, but none can top Bertrand at Mister A’s, a long time icon in San Diego and regularly voted the most romantic restaurant in the city. The dark velvety red decor and candlelight have lent themselves to endless proposals. The food is exquisite and the twinkling skyline views help round out the ambience. Make sure and dress your best for your evening here as this restaurant, unlike many in this laid back city, has a dress code.
Downtown in the historic Gaslamp Quarter is a great place to play at night with dancing, live music, great restaurants and maybe a baseball game at the nearly new PETCO Park. The ever-popular Martini Ranch claims live music, nightclub, big screen sports, and great food. The Blue Tattoo provides pumping hip hop, dance, and techno for you to shake it to with different DJ's spinning their special flavor on different nights of the week. If chilling out and catching a slow groove is more your style, check out Croce's, owned and operated by Ingrid Croce as a tribute to her late husband, singer/songwriter Jim Croce. Croce's Top Hat Bar & Grille deals out the soul and funk, and is a fabulous place to catch national -- as well as up-and-coming local -- blues acts. Another option is the Jazz Bar, which has been said to have some of the best contemporary and Latin jazz in Southern California.
For a little more casual evening, head to one of the beach cities where flip-flops are always in fashion and you will find pink-cheeked surfer boys and girls, fresh and salty from the beach, taking in a micro brew. Pacific Beach is the most vibrant for night life if you’re looking for places to dine, dance, and schmooze. Sushi bars abound in the beach area, as do top-notch places to pull up a stool and have a beer. San Diego is known for it’s microbrews, and nowhere is there a better selection than in PB (as the locals call it). Pacific Beach Bar & Grill is a must see for the singles crowd and is known to the locals as a great place to meet that cute guy or girl, but also has a dance floor and pool tables for those just out for some drinks and laughs.
If you like your spirits with an ocean view, Canes Bar & Grill is the place for you, right smack on the boardwalk where Pacific meets Mission Beach. A little further south in Mission Beach, we have The Pennant and The Beachcomber, filled with happy locals with the beach on one side and the bay on the other. If one is too crowded, you can walk across the alleyway to the other. People here tend already know each other, and someone just might call you Norm when you walk in the door to help you feel welcome.
For a truly beachy, laid back experience, try Ocean Beach and pop into Sunshine Company Saloon Ltd. There are no strappy sandals in OB, and the only dance club plays reggae. At Sunshine Company, you will admire palm trees indoors, have a beer and play some pool. There isn't a lot of activity, but after a night running around in Pacific Beach, this may be exactly what you want.
No matter where you decide to spend your evening in this beautiful city, the texture of its landscape and architecture along with the variety of things to do and see will keep you and yours entertained.