Downtown's historic Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy neighbourhood are at the epicentre of San Diego's nightlife scene. New clubs open with amazing frequency, while older standbys constantly refresh their vibe. Rooftop bars with day beds and firepits are all the rage in Downtown, as are small jazz clubs and exclusive lounges. The beach towns all have casual local hangouts, many with outdoor seating. La Jolla, approximately half an hour north of Downtown, is well known for its classy nightlife.

The minimum legal age for drinking in California is 21 years and photo ID should be carried. Alcohol licensing stops at 0200.

Listings and information for nightlife in the city are available online at http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com and www.gaslamp.org.

Bars: Altitude Sky Lounge, 660 K Street, is a casual, fun rooftop bar overlooking Petco Park. Crowds assemble early for a bird's eye view of baseball games and brilliant sunsets. The attitude is a bit more upscale a few blocks away at Eden, 600 F Street, the above-it-all poolside rooftop bar at the ultra-chic Ivy Hotel. The Hard Rock Hotel's outdoor Moonstone Lounge and street-level Sweetwater Saloon, 207 Fifth Avenue, rock late into the night.

Clubs: Café Sevilla, 555 Fourth Avenue (website: www.cafesevilla.com), is a popular Gaslamp Quarter club featuring Latin, Brazilian, and Spanish rock. Regarded by many as the place with the best ambience in the Gaslamp Quarter, Café Sevilla has been visited by many notable musicians, such as the Gypsy Kings and Grace Jones. The Bitter End, 770 Fifth Avenue (www.thebitterend.com), is famous for its unusual California martinis and its live music in The Underground nightclub, with a full stage for live music, a dancefloor and a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system. Martini Ranch, 528 F Street (website: www.martiniranchsd.com), is a classic, elegant nightclub filling the gap between casual and upscale and offering a relaxed atmosphere, virtuoso bartenders and great drinks. Stingaree, 454 Sixth Avenue (website: www.stingsandiego.com), covers all the bases with six venues including a members-only VIP club and Rooftop Oasis. The movers behind the club have expanded their act into Pacific beach with Bar West, 959 Hornblend Street (www.barwestsd.com).

Comedy: Mystery Café serves up comedy with a dramatic twist. Located at the Imperial House Restaurant, 505 Kalmia Street (website: www.mysterycafe.net), the dinner theatre includes a four-course meal and award-winning performance that involves audience participation. The National Comedy Theatre, 3717 India Street (website: www.nationalcomedy.com), offers a hilarious, interactive improvisational comedy show that is based entirely on audience suggestions. Budding comedians test their material at the La Jolla branch of LA's famed Comedy Club, 916 Pearl Street, where established acts are often showcased as well.

Live Music: Undoubtedly one of the city's most famous dining and lounge establishments, famed for its live jazz, blues and folk, is named after the American blues artist Jim Croce. Croce's, 802 Fifth Avenue, corner of F Avenue (website: www.croces.com), was opened by his wife, Ingrid and often stars the couple's son, A.J. Croce. The venue hosts a wide and changing variety of musicians throughout the year. Top jazz, blues and classic rock musicians delight in the intimate supper-club setting at Anthology, 1337 India Street (website: www.anthologysd.com), at the juncture between downtown and Little Italy.

House of Blues San Diego, 1055 Fifth Avenue (website: www.hob.com), houses a multi-level music hall featuring national and local live entertainment and a full-service restaurant. Musicians have several other venues to choose from in Downtown, including On Broadway, 615 Broadway (website: www.obec.tv), and 4th&B, 345 B Street (website: www.4thandb.com). Humphrey's, a long-time favourite venue on Shelter Island, 2241 Shelter Island Drive (website: www.humphreysconcerts.com), hosts blues, folk, jazz and rock concerts at its outdoor theatre beside the bay. For more than 30 years, rock and blues bands have drawn crowds to North County's Belly Up Tavern, 143 South Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach (website: www.bellyup.com), about 30 minutes north of Downtown.