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World Travel Guide > Guides > North America > United States of America > California > San Diego

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Places in San Diego

San Diego Nightlife

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 entertainment.signonsandiego.com and www.gaslamp.org.

Tickets for cultural performance and events are available for purchase from Ticketmaster (tel: +1 619 298 1695; www.ticketmaster.com). Half-priced same-day tickets are available from Arts Tix (tel: +1 858 437 9850; www.sdartstix.com). Cultural listings are available online at San Diego's performance and events website (www.sandiegoartandsol.com).

Bars in San Diego

Altitude Sky Lounge

The 22nd-floor rooftop bar comes with unbeatable views of Petco Park and downtown San Diego, accompanied by hand-crafted cocktails, carefully chosen wines and small plates. Crowds assemble early for a bird's eye view of baseball games and brilliant sunsets.

Address: Gaslamp, 660 K Street, San Diego, 92101
Telephone: +1 619 446 6088.
Website: http://www.altitudeskylounge.com

Bagby Beer Company

One of the finest brewpubs in California, Bagby Beer Company occupies a huge lot at the corner of Coast Highway and Minnesota Avenue, with beer garden and terrace bar making it the ideal summer bistro. Bagby's own draught list numbers more than two dozen beers and is accompanied by rotating roster of guest beers from across the US and Europe.

Address: Oceanside, 601 S Coast Highway, San Diego,
Telephone: +1 760 512 3372.
Website: http://www.bagbybeer.com

Seven Grand San Diego

Get comfortable in a booth or sit at the bar and take in the 'International Wall of Whiskey', Seven Grand stays open until 0200 every night of the week. The bar is home to the ever-popular Whiskey Society and draws scotch fans and bourbonites from across the US due to its extensive collection.

Address: , 3054 University Avenue, San Diego, 92104
Telephone: +1 619 269 8820.
Website: http://www.213hospitality.com/sevengrandsd

Clubs in San Diego

Café Sevilla

This is a popular Gaslamp Quarter club specialising in Latin, Brazilian, and Spanish rock. Regarded by many as the venue 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.

Address: , 353 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, 92101
Telephone: +1 619 233 5979.
Website: http://www.cafesevilla.com

FLUXX

This 900-capacity club in San Diego's Gaslamp quarter is a popular late night venue come the weekend. The high-end club attracts the glitterati of San Diego and invites visiting jockeys every Friday and Saturday night, offering patrons bottle service for a hefty cover charge. Previous celebrity guests include the likes of Pamela Anderson, Usher, Snoop Dogg and Nelly.

Address: , 500 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, 92101
Telephone: +1 619 232 8100.
Website: http://www.fluxxsd.com

Tipsy Crow

Famed for its unusual California martinis and its live music in an underground nightclub space, the Tipsy Crow is an award-winning local institution. It occupies one of Downtown's most historic buildings, the Spencer-Ogden building, which dates back to 1874.

Address: , 770 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, 92101
Telephone: +1 619 338 9300.
Website: http://www.thetipsycrow.com

Live music in San Diego

House of Blues San Diego

This popular blues- and rock-themed chain occupies a 1,100 capacity venue in Downtown with a multi-level live music hall and a full-service restaurant.

Address: , 1055 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, 92101
Telephone: +1 619 299 2583.
Website: http://www.houseofblues.com/sandiego

Humphrey's

An intimate live music venue situated on the bay of San Diego's Shelter Island, Humphrey's is a local favourite and regularly hosts blues, folk, jazz and rock concerts at its outdoor theatre.

Address: , 2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, 92106
Telephone: +1 619 224 3577.
Website: http://www.humphreysconcerts.com

Tin Roof

An unpretentious bar and live music venue in the Gaslamp Quarter, Tin Roof occupies a huge downtown spot with two floors and three bars. Live music is on the bill almost every night of the week and patrons can enjoy the bar's other major attractions: a beer pong table and shuffleboard court on the patio.

Address: , 401 G Street, San Diego, 92101
Telephone: +1 619 230 8606.
Website: http://www.tinroofsandiego.com

Classical music in San Diego

Dance in San Diego

Theatres in San Diego

Music and Dance in San Diego

Culture in San Diego

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Featured Hotels

Hotel Solamar

A member of the hip Kimpton Hotel group, the 10-storey Hotel Solamar is a modern, stylish hotel in San Diego located in East Village, just one block from the Gaslamp Quarter and Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. Excellent both for leisure and business, this 4-star hotel is artfully designed with 235 guestrooms characterised by modern, clean sophistication. A fourth-floor patio houses an outdoor splash pool with the poolside Jbar featuring DJ music and cabana seating at night. The hotel's Jsix Restaurant serves Asian-inspired Californian cuisine.

La Valencia

Beauty, elegance, and charm live inside the pink stucco walls of this property, known locally as La V. Stunning views of La Jolla Cove and the ocean act as backdrops in the richly appointed La Sala room (where martinis and tapas are served in the evening) and many of the 100-plus original guest rooms and 15 villas, each boasting a whirlpool tub, king-size bed, and personalised butler service. The hotel's exclusive =Sky Room , with just a dozen or so tables and a small bar, is one of the most elegant restaurants in San Diego. The sidewalk level Whaling Bar is a La Jolla institution where local nabobs mingle over steaks and martinis.

Gaslamp Plaza Suites

The Gaslamp Plaza Suites is a European-style, San Diego hotel built in 1913, with many elements of the original décor intact such as the sculpted Corinthian marble, Australian gumwood carpentry, hand-cut mosaic tiles and bronze and brass embellishments which can be seen throughout the hotel. The location is as central as it could get - in the heart of the Gaslamp District. Complimentary continental breakfast is served daily on the rooftop terrace overlooking the beautiful Downtown area of the city.

Sofia Hotel

One of the oldest hotels in San Diego's Downtown has been transformed into a chic boutique inn with 212 rooms that have the feel of urban studios with efficient Wi-Fi and access to Currant, one of lower downtown's most happening cafes. Some rooms are dark and noisy - ask to see a few before unpacking.

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

Set smack at the foot of Fifth Avenue, across the street from the San Diego Convention Center at the edge of the Gaslamp Quarter, the 12-story Hard Rock attracts awe-struck sightseers ogling The Rock Shop (collectable Hard Rock gear), Nobu (chef Nobu Matsuhisa's entree into the SoCal dining scene), Maryjane's diner-style coffee shop and the Sweetwater Saloon - a sidewalk bar by day and happening dance club at night. Guests in the 420 rooms and suites are greeted with their choice of music drifting from speakers on the flat screen HDTVs. Red leather chairs and low white couches, swirly patterned rugs and square showerheads in the ceilings set a fun-loving mood, enhanced by Sleep Like a Rock beds.

Tower 23

Named for the lifeguard tower it faces, this ultra-hip Pacific Beach hotel has 44 slick rooms with rain showers, Egyptian cotton bedding, LCD screen TVs and H2O toiletries. Some suites overlook the boardwalk and beach and have private balconies. Wi-Fi is available throughout the property - checking your e-mail from a cafe table by the sand is just about as SoCal techie as you can get. The hotel's JRDN restaurant serves the freshest regional seafood and produce in a casual setting.

Introducing San Diego

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