Nightlife in San Diego

Gaslamp Tavern sates fans’ appetites for bar fare and fun with 13 draft beers, a menu of pub-grub favorites, and 12 flat-screen plasma TVs broadcasting sporting events. Whet palates with a brew or specialty drink before stepping up to an appetizer of zesty nachos, a colossal conglomeration of tricolored chips, cheese, beans, and sour cream bonded together by guacamole and double-dog dares ($8.75). Burgervores delve into the tantalizing tastes of the South of the Border burger, with guacamole, jalapenos, and jack cheese ($9.50), while pizzaterians dine on barbecue chicken slices ($9.50). A weekend breakfast (Saturday and Sunday until 2 p.m.) features bacon-laden breakfast burritos ($7.75 each) and morning-ready cocktails such as a homemade-style bloody mary ($5–$7), served in a glass crafted from a deep-dish pizza.

Relaxed yet sophisticated lounge service in an iconic and luxurious setting.

While trekking across New Zealand, Matt Baker and PJ Lamont stumbled upon a burger shack in Queenstown and immediately became addicted to the eatery’s organic, grass-fed beef patties. According to a profile in Beach & Bay Press, the duo often dined there more than once a day and eventually convinced the chef to both part with his recipes and train them how to make them. Upon returning home, the pair recruited PJ’s brother Martin for their budding endeavor: a gourmet burger place that would rely entirely on organic, grass-fed beef from New Zealand. After finding the right spot for their gastropub, the three put their own sweat into renovating it; PJ carved the wooden menu himself without using a woodpecker even once.

That menu quickly garnered its fair share of media buzz and awards by combining beef patties, ground fresh daily, with unique ingredients such as pesto aioli, grilled pineapple, and beetroot. Organic, local vegetables make up the condiments and the house tomato chutney, New Zealand’s hardier version of ketchup. But Bare Back Grill does more than burgers, satisfying appetites with natural chicken and lamb, tempura tofu, and seared ahi tuna coupled with a wide selection of beers and wines. Guests can gulp down Kiwi Steinlagers or sip Australian and New Zealand wines while lounging at either Bare Back location.

Red C Lounge's no-frills show posters promise two things: chest-pounding beats and plenty of drinks. DJs deliver those beats in a variety of styles, delving into the jazz-influenced rhythms of deep house on Tuesdays or sampling the long-forgotten hooks of obscure soul or jazz on Rare Groove Fridays. The bartenders also offer a variety of drink service, sliding gin cocktails to customers seated on bar stools or providing bottle service for those who stake a claim to a table by draping their pants over a chair.