San Diego is making sure its over-21 crowd doesn’t go thirsty; with countless bars and restaurants serving up curated cocktails using top-tier ingredients, as well as craft beers, incredible wine selections, impressive non-alcoholic options and more, the hardest choice is where to go first. For locals looking to imbibe in a new neighborhood or visitors that want to drink in all San Diego has to offer, we’ve compiled the best places to drink around town.

Trust Restaurant

A neighborhood restaurant at heart, Chef Brad Wise’s Trust Restaurant is a place to gather, celebrate and raise yet another glass in a toast to good tidings. Led by Bar Manager for Trust, Fort Oak and Cardellino, Jess Stewart, the beverage program serves as a vehicle to enhance the food, building on the flavors and styles found in each dish. As an ode to the restaurants neighborhood, each cocktail gets its name from beloved spots within San Diego’s renowned Balboa Park, like the Friendship Garden, with Maker’s Mark, lemon, strawberry, aperol and toasted sesame, or the Lily Pond crafted with vodka, lemon, snap pea and shiso. In line with the rest of their menu, Trust’s cocktails combine familiar ingredients with new bold flavors and techniques, pushing guests into a comforting unknown. With a robust selection of non-alcoholic cocktails offered on Trust’s brunch menu year round, Bar Manager Jess Stewart is committed to making all guests feel welcome, no matter their drinking preferences. With items not typically found on restaurant beverage menus, like Faux Prosecco and the Upside Down, a 0% ABV Golden Ale from Athletic Brewing, and Trust’s spirit free sippers a refreshing choice for San Diegans extending the non-alc habit beyond Dry January. Stewart’s spirit free brunch beverage menu also includes craft creations like Honeydew Lemongrass Limeade and the energizing Vanilla Whip Cold Brew.

Bartender crafting drinks at El Dorado Cocktail Lounge. — *Photo Courtesy of El Dorado*

El Dorado - The Revival of a San Diego Craft Cocktail Institution

A cocktail lounge that was formative in establishing San Diego’s craft cocktail scene, El Dorado Cocktail Lounge has officially reopened on March 2 under its new ownership, Pouring With Heart, the hospitality group behind North Park’s Seven Grand. Swing by the saloon for classic cocktails made perfect like the El Dorado Gold Rush, where house honey syrup takes center stage with bright fresh lemon and bourbon and the bright but smokey East Village Ricky, with mint, cucumber, fresh pressed lime, mezcal, soda top and a tajin rim. With the goal of bringing consistently great drinks 365 days a year, El Dorado will offer a timeless cocktail experience that is a comfortable contrast between being highbrow and lowbrow, making it a go-to spot for regulars any night of the week. El Dorado is for the people, serving up a killer happy hour seven days a week from 4-8pm with discounted old fashioneds, daiquiris crafted with fresh juices and Miller High Lifes.

Polite Provisions

Located in North Park, Polite Provisions is Consortium Holdings’ award-winning 1920’s inspired bar that whisks guests away to the time of the neighborhood drug store and soda fountains. Recently celebrating its 10th birthday, Polite Provisions is an ode to the apothecary, crafting its cocktails with an extensive range of bitters, soda pops, elixirs and tinctures that are made in house with fresh produce, natural ingredients and unprocessed sugars. Led by CH Project’s acclaimed beverage director, Alicia Perry, the bar boasts one of the most extensive tap systems in the country, with craft beers, wines, cocktails, sodas and even iced coffee comprising its 46 taps.

Cocktail and spirit classes are also held on-site throughout the year, where guests can learn to express citrus or shake cocktails with egg whites just like the master mixologists. Perry, who originally started at Polite Provisions as a server almost a decade ago, has created a renowned beverage program reflective of her own personal style, which she describes as refreshing, bright, floral and crushable. Well regarded in the beverage industry, Perry was recently selected for the Bartender in Residence program by PUNCH for the class of 2022, and has helped Polite Provisions win numerous local awards, like Best Cocktail from San Diego Magazine and Best Cocktail Lounge from Modern Luxury, as well as placed the bar on many national lists like VinePair’s ‘Best Places to Drink in San Diego,’ The Culture Trip’s ‘10 Best Bars in San Diego,’ and The Manual’s ‘Definitive List of the Best 25 Bars in America,’ to name just a few.

Madison

Located in San Diego’s University Heights neighborhood, Madison on Park is a lounge and eatery with a Mediterranean and Southern California-inspired menu. This neighborhood gem brings together a sophisticated mid-century modern and Italian design with stunning high vaulted ceilings and sky views with intricate wood joinery creating an indoor-outdoor aesthetic perfect for enjoying a drink after work or before a night out on the town. Known for their specialty cocktails with unique ingredients, sip and savor options like the Any Port in a Storm made with Dr Bird & Appleton Jamaican Rum, Port, House Avocado Pit Orgeat, angostura and absinthe dash, Motor Bike with El Jimador Blanco Tequila, local watermelon, aperol, ginger and lime and Stellar Ember, a blend of Peruvian pisco, passion fruit, Galliano, egg white, Peychaud bitters, and passion fruit sparkle dust. With the beautiful indoor-outdoor ambiance, Madison is the perfect place to cozy up with a cocktail and catch up with old and new friends.

Rare Society

Channel your inner Sinatra by sipping cocktails at Rare Society, the retro-swanky steakhouse from acclaimed Chef Brad Wise. With two San Diego locations, and additional outposts up the coast, the restaurants’ beverage program is overseen by Bar Manager, Colin Berger. Berger invents three to four new cocktails each season in addition to year-round menu staples like the soul-warming Bookkeeper, with mezcal, cinnamon, grapefruit and lime. Meant to complement the dishes coming out of the kitchen, Manhattan’s are made with two types of Amari, vermouth, and curacao, making it lighter and brighter than the traditional sipper. Martinis are served dirty, given Chef’s penchants for heavily seasoned food; this means using London dry gin, olive brine and blue cheese stuffed olives. Even the trimmings of Rare Society’s house dry-aged steaks are treasured and used to create the star of the cocktail menu, the Rare Old Fashioned; a familiar cocktail turned extraordinary using dry-aged, fat-washed bourbon, rosemary citrus oleo saccharum, gentian bitters, and garnished with charred rosemary, crispy bacon, lardo, and a wagyu bourboned cherry. Inside the space, black marble, tufted leather booths, and a gold paneled ceiling invoke the lore of Rat Pack gatherings and raucous dinner parties, making Rare an ideal setting for sipping in style.

Marisi

Cultivating an authentic Italian dining experience focusing on handmade pasta paired with woodfired dishes from the hearth and a beverage program customary to Italy, Marisi should not be overlooked when searching for your new favorite place to enjoy a drink, or two. Marisi’s cocktail program is highly researched and meticulously executed, using techniques and house-made ingredients encompassing the sentiment ‘classic cocktails made better,’ introduced as culmination of Vice President of Bar and Spirits, Beau du Bois’s nearly two decades in the beverage industry along with Wine Director Chris Plaia’s passion for clean, sustainable farming practices, curating a list of wines that are predominantly organically and biodynamically farmed wines. In a romantic setting reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast, Marisi offering a beverage program featuring a classic Bellini, Aperol Spritz, Marisi Gin & Tonic, Cosmopolitan, Apricot Old Fashioned, tableside gin and vodka Martinis and a selection of over thirty labels of Vermouth, among other things.

In addition to its cocktail offerings is Marisi’s selection of Weller Full Proof Single Barrel, private select bourbon, gives guests the Kentucky tasting experience helping them ‘thief’ the bourbon straight from the barrel. Completing Marisi’s bar program is its wine list, just shy of 90 labels Marisi’s wine menu is a concise list of thoughtfully placed bottles built to complement Marisi’s food offerings. Rich in Italian varieties, small-grown producers, and progressive styles of wine, selections are divided between two of the world’s premier wine-making regions of Italy and California. Set in a timeless space radiating charm and nostalgia of the Italian coast, Marisi has quickly become one of San Diego's new favorite places to enjoy a classic cocktail or glass of wine.

Herb & Wood

A quintessential San Diego night out is not complete without a stop at Herb & Wood, the city’s beloved archetype for drinking and dining. Mirroring the ingredients and ethos of Herb & Wood’s cuisine, the cocktail program is reflective of the clean, bold flavors gathered across the menu. Led by Esteban Kauffman, the drink menu showcases seasonal herbs and produce in both the Herb & Wood classics like the tequila and mezcal-based Pina Y Pina and the classic H&W Old Fashioned, as well as more novel libations like the Aye Poppy with gin, poppy amaro, luxardo bitter and lemon and Desert Rose with mezcal, ginger liqueur, Aperol, agave, lemon and rose water.Created in the Herb & Wood image, the beverage program showcases spices present throughout the cuisine, like sumac, which is used in dishes like theBaba Ganoush and Whipped Feta and in the Gin & Sumac cocktail. Similarly, the Iberico & Bourbon cocktail uses the fat reserve from Iberico Jamon, found in dishes like the Grilled Iberico Pork “Secreto,” to fat wash the bourbon. Travelers and locals alike are welcome to experience the grand sophistication of the space while simultaneously enjoying the comfortability of this tried and true drinking destination.

Cocktail on wooden table at Herb and Sea in Encinitas. — *Photo Courtesy of Herb & Sea, by Kimberly Motos*

Herb & Sea

Tucked away in San Diego’s beach town of Encinitas, you’ll find Herb & Sea, a restaurant beloved by its community for its fresh fare and buzzing neighborhood bar. The 1920’s art deco building right off the town's main thoroughfare captures a familiar seaside allure, inviting guests to experience the seamless blending of East Coast culinary traditions with a modern California sensibility. Developed by North County born and raised Bar Lead Laz Jimenez, Herb & Sea’s cocktail menu is complete with both refreshing and direct options, as well as spirit free sippers. Favorite libations from the bright and playful menu include the Pretty & Pink with gin, maraschino, basil, dragon fruit, citrus and meringue and the Fine-Apple with charred pineapple infused mezcal, campari and sweet vermouth. For a creamy pick-me-up before hitting the quaint yet buzzing streets of downtown Encinitas, try the Turon Espressotini (Nitro) with vodka, ironsmith espresso, mr. black coffee liqueur, banana liqueur. In addition to cocktails, Herb & Sea has a comprehensive wine list on deck, compiled of home-grown, California favorites, all to be enjoyed in its consistently lively atmosphere.

Hamburger Hut

Located off of North Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas, Hamburger Hut has emerged as the ideal spot for tiki-inspired cocktails, unforgettable burgers and a lively crowd. The space that was previously Priority Public House underwent a number of updates leading to its grand opening to capture Hamburger Hut’s intended sentiment of a laid-back swim club with additions like a walk-up order window, tropical plants, mid-century modern furniture, classic red and white burger branding with turquoise trim, white oak countertops, bamboo paneling, funky tropical wallpaper and more. The location serves a full cocktail menu, ranging from frozen cocktails such as Hurricanes and Negroni Slushies, tropical beverages like the Space Monkey made with over proof Jamaican Rum, banana, oat milk, lemon and nutmeg, and direct cocktails like the Neptune Sunset made with Rye Whisky, Braulio, rhubarb honey and grapefruit oil and more all perfectly paired with a smash style burgers or cheeseburger and fry. A lively craft cocktail bar on the inside and a family-friendly patio on the outside, Hamburger Hut was created with the Leucadia community in mind; a mix of families and young people looking for an evening destination to enjoy delicious food and refreshing beverages.

Puesto

Known for its signature tacos wrapped in a crispy melted cheese, delicious margaritas and Cervezas brewed at its Mission Valley location, Puesto, with three San Diego locations has become a staple in the city, beloved for its mouthwatering offerings and lively atmosphere. With a commitment to showcasing quality, scratch-made ingredients, Puesto introduced its diners to an additive-free tequila program created by Vice President of Bar and Spirits Beau du Bois rolling out a menu of over a dozen tequila-based cocktails all made with additive-free tequilas, including El Tesoro, Del Maguey Vida, Olmeca Altos reposado tequila and others.

Favorites include the Puesto Perfect Margarita made with reposado tequila, fresh lime, organic agave nectar, Coconut Margarita with reposado tequila, coconut, fresh lime and the Cadillac with Siete Leguas blanco tequila, Grand Marnier and fresh lime. Rounding out its beverage offerings is Puesto Cervecería, spearheaded by longtime San Diego brewer Doug Hasker featuring a selection of Mexican-style seasonal beers like the Puesto Clara a traditional Mexican-style light lager and Puesto Negra, a smooth, dark Mexican-style lager awarded a silver medal at the Great american Beer Fest. Whether you’re looking for a first-date spot, cozy place to catch up with friends, or just a place to enjoy Happy Hour, Puesto is surely one of San Diego’s favorite places to grab a drink.

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