Star Bar

**What makes this different:** While The Waves and Señor Taquero feed Gaslamp's daytime workers and El Gordo handles the late-night taco runs, Star Bar serves the shrinking tribe of locals who remember when this neighborhood was more than just bachelorette parties and bottle service. This is the rare downtown spot where happy hour still means $4 wells and draft pours, not $14 "craft" cocktails with three ingredients. Pool tables stay busy, bartenders remember your name by visit two, and the door guy doesn't make you feel like you're entering a velvet-rope obstacle course.

The vibe skews dive-bar classic—cash-friendly, jukebox-driven, dimly lit enough that you're not cataloging every stain on the felt. Happy hour runs 1pm to 6pm, which tells you everything about who this place serves: industry folks getting off early shifts, remote workers who need a beer that won't cost $10, regulars who've been coming here since before the Gaslamp rebranded itself into theme-park territory. Pool tables get competitive during Monday night 9-ball tournaments; otherwise they're just reliably available, which is saying something downtown.

Service swings wildly depending on who's working. Keller and Marina get mentioned in reviews like local legends; Rob and Dalton apparently run a tight bar. But there are also bartenders who treat tourists like invaders, which—given the neighborhood—tracks with a certain territorial logic even if it's bad business. The EDM playlist is a weird choice for a rock-vibes dive, especially with an actual EDM club across the street, but that's a quibble when you're paying $4 for a well drink.

Practical notes: Gets loud late, especially weekends when spillover crowds stumble in. Patio seating exists but E Street isn't scenic. Park in one of the nearby garages and walk—street parking is a fantasy. Come for happy hour if you want elbow room and functional service.