San Diego's bar scene exists in a fascinating tension between its laid-back beach culture and a craft beer revolution that's been quietly dominating since the mid-90s. This is the city that gave us Stone, Ballast Point, and Modern Times — which means even your neighborhood dive probably has better IPAs on tap than most cities' best beer bars. The drinking culture here skews casual and sun-damaged in the best way, with patios that actually make sense year-round and a general resistance to anything too precious or Manhattan-ified.
The geography matters here. Little Italy and North Park are where you'll find the most concentrated quality — cocktail bars that know their stuff without the velvet rope nonsense, breweries that helped write the West Coast IPA playbook. Gaslamp Quarter is tourist-heavy and skippable unless you're specifically seeking late-night chaos. Barrio Logan offers some of the most authentic drinking experiences in the city, often attached to excellent Mexican food. The beach neighborhoods (Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach) lean heavily toward flip-flop-friendly dives with sun-scorched regulars who've been claiming the same stool since 1987.
Expect parking to be a genuine pain in Little Italy and North Park — Uber is your friend after 7pm. The craft beer strength here can actually be a weakness if you're looking for a great whiskey selection or wine program; many places lean so hard into beer that everything else feels like an afterthought. Prices are reasonable by coastal California standards, though downtown spots will push higher. Most places worth visiting don't take reservations, and summer weekends mean crowds.