Is there parking at Carruth Cellars in Point Loma?

Yes—the spot is located at Liberty Station, which has dedicated parking. Since it's in a mixed-use area with other vendors and attractions, you shouldn't have trouble finding a spot, though it can get busier on weekends when there's live music.

Do I need a reservation or can I just walk in?

Walk-ins are welcome, and the outdoor courtyard setup makes it pretty flexible for groups of varying sizes. That said, weekend evenings with live music can get crowded, so going earlier in the day or on a weeknight gives you more breathing room.

What's the deal with kids and families here?

Fair warning: the back patio became 21+ starting November 1st due to past behavior issues. Families with children can still enjoy the front patio area, but if you're planning a family outing, expect a smaller footprint than you might see on social media.

What should I order first?

Start with a wine flight and the Farmhouse Chopped Salad or a Crostini flight—people consistently rave about both. If you want something more substantial, the turkey pesto panini is solid, and the cheese selection is genuinely worth exploring given it's literally in the name.

When's the best time to visit?

Tuesday and Sunday evenings when there's live music if you're into that scene and don't mind a crowd. Otherwise, weekday afternoons are quieter and give you a more relaxed vibe to actually taste the wines without shouting over a band.

Is there outdoor seating and how's the vibe?

Absolutely—the large outdoor courtyard is the main draw, with live music some weekends that occasionally gets people dancing. It feels open and safe, though weather-dependent. Indoor seating overlooks the garden if the San Diego marine layer rolls in.

Are there vegetarian or dietary options?

The Farmhouse Chopped Salad and Crostini flights appear vegan-friendly or easily adapted, and the cheese selection offers flexibility for different diets. Call ahead or ask staff about specific dietary needs, especially if you're avoiding gluten.

The outdoor patio seating makes it a candidate for dogs, but check current policy when you call—patio rules have shifted recently, so it's worth confirming before you arrive with your pup.

Carruth Cellars Urban Winegarden & Cheese Shop: Liberty Sta…

“Carruth Cellars turned Liberty Station's old naval barracks into a courtyard where wine tastings share space with live bands and Tuesday-night regulars who bring their own cheese boards.”

While Meet Dumpling works a cramped kitchen and Mitch's pulls from marina boats, Carruth runs on an entirely different rhythm—this is the neighborhood's answer to the European wine garden, where the product is local (they're growing grapes and making wine in Ramona) but the vibe is pure Point Loma: unhurried afternoons that bleed into evenings, live music that pulls strangers into impromptu dancing, and a patio setup that treats October like prime outdoor season.

The front courtyard feels like someone's ambitious backyard project—string lights, mismatched seating, a casual disregard for formality. Tuesdays and Sundays bring live bands, usually acoustic acts that know when to stay background and when to push things louder. The wine list skews toward Carruth's own labels—whites that pair well with San Diego's year-round farmers market produce, reds that aren't trying to be Napa but aren't apologizing either.

The cheese shop inside does serious work: a curated selection that changes with what's good, plus paninis built around whatever they're stocking that week. The turkey pesto panini gets mentioned often—one of those simple builds that only works when the ingredients are dialed in. You can order cheese flights alongside wine flights, which makes sense until you realize you've spent two hours on the patio and the sun's gone down.

Fair warning: as of November 2024, the big back patio went 21+ after some operational recalibrations. Families now get relegated to the smaller front area, which changes the dynamic if you're rolling with kids. But for date nights or weeknight unwind sessions with no agenda beyond trying that new Viognier and seeing who's playing, this is the spot that justifies Liberty Station's slow transformation from abandoned base to walkable destination.