SAN DIEGO

San Diego | California

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I moved to San Diego in mid-2008 and lived there until mid-2023.  So, I have one gobillion recommendations.  Here are some of my favorites that I try to hit when I'm in town.  Ton more to recommend, so reach out when you go!  Lots of places to go by boat, too.

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*Luce.  My favorite spot in SD.  Bay Park.  Was a regular there forever.  Amazing local spot.  Gets a star for the # of TVs, but not your average sports bar.

*The Bullpen.  One of the best sports bars around.  Hotties on staff.  Will give another star if they bring back the pool tables.

JRDN.  Pacific Beach.  On the boardwalk.  All-around stellar.

*Knotty Barrell.  Downtown.  Best wings in town.  Great up-scale sports bar.

*Smoking Gun.  Downtown.  My favorite spot downtown.  Pool table.  Arcade in the back.  I am king of the duck machine.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines.  Best burger on Earf.

Portside Pier.  Downtown.  Everything there is great and it's a beautiful venue.

Divanti.  Little Italy.  Stellar Italian.

Island Prime/C-Level.  Point Loma.  Excellent over-water steak & fish house.  C-Level is the open-air, more casual bar next door/attached.  Both excellent.

Eddie V's.  La Jolla.  It's a chain, but this one is amazing.

Zama.  Downtown.  Great Asian-Fusion spot owned by a friend of mine.

AKA.  Same owner as Zama.  Beautiful spot!

Sushi Fish Attack.  Clairemont.  Hilarious name, excellent sushi.  They don't sell t-shirts.  Gerald is sad.

**Home & Away.  Old Town.  Great sports bar with a huge outdoor space and great food.  My Lake of the Ozarks trip originated here.  

**Old Town Saloon.  Old Town.  Cleanest dive I've ever seen, but a hell of a dive nonetheless.  This is a diamond in the [Spanish for] rough.

**The West End.  Fifteen years in SD and never made it in til nearly three years after I left.  Hell of a dive in North PB/Bird Rock!

The Waverly.  The best of Cardiff.  Definitely worth the drive!

Shake Bar & Grill.  In the Marriott Vacation Club on A.  Open to the public and surprisingly good.  Unknown to most, so there will be seats.  

OB Surf Club.  Parking is really tough, but not early in the day.  On Saturday, anyway.  Been there eight years [as of 2026], but I somehow missed it till now [July 2026].  Great beach spot!  

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