When Southern California gas prices or a nasty breakup get you down, the perfect cure is for a girl’s night out! As you already know, San Diego has a killer food and bar scene just begging for you to venture out and take a bite (or a sip). Throw on a cute fit and grab your best girlfriends and head to our top picks for a Girl’s Night Out!
Dinner
Madison on Park
Madison on Park is a dream for the senses. The ambiance immerses you in its modern geometric design perfect for any Instagram page, while its food wows you with its flavorful Mediterranean dishes. I love this spot as it has something for every girlfriend, whether she be gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, or a picky eater. And don’t get me started on their cocktails! They’re all exciting, flirty and fun, just like you and your girls.
Items we love: If you’re a lobster snob like us here at the Native SD, then you must try the Ravioli Rossini – it is to die for! Pair it with a nice white wine of your choosing and you will be in heaven.
Starlite
This hidden gem of a bar and gastropub shines bright in our eyes! At first, the curb appeal hits you with a playful mid-century modern vibe. The food and cocktails echo high-end American gastropub cuisine and the cocktails feature rare spirits sourced specifically for the gastropub’s unique experience. Starlite tends to book up quickly, so make sure you make your reservation ahead of time!
Items we love: The Lemon Ricotta Cake. I tend to be a sucker for lemon ricotta anything, but this dessert absolutely takes the cake. Pair it with a nice glass of bubbly, and your night can’t go wrong!
Camino Riviera
I was shocked when I found out that food can be sexy. Camino Riviera was the first and only place I’ve experienced sexy food and I cannot recommend it enough. This Yucatan-Inspired restaurant gives you all of the excitement, vibrance, and flavorful indulgence of the Yucatan Coastline without leaving San Diego. I highly recommend Camno Riviera for a group of girls who are itching to get down to Tulum – you will not regret it!
Items we love: The roasted eggplant dip – such a great light app to split with all of your girls. Pair it with a spicy marg and your night is starting out right!
Cannon Ball
Sushi and oceanfront dining? Say less. Cannon Ball has to be one of my favorite sushi spots in San Diego. This open-air rooftop restaurant is positioned right next to the Mission Beach boardwalk and has the best rooftop to catch a beach sunset. Its playful atmosphere is amplified when they bring in live music on Thursdays. Cannonball is also a short Uber ride from the Pacific Beach bars, making it a good jumping point to start your night.
Items we love: There is no way I could even attempt to pick just one sushi roll to list as an item that we love – they’re all so good! So I’m going to say their shishito peppers. The cotija cheese and tortilla chip garnishes make these shishito peppers so unique and very tasty.
Monarch Ocean Pub
Cruise up the 101 and make sure you stop at Monarch Ocean Pub in Del Mar! This airy and playful pub is the perfect stop for our laid-back and beachy babes. Monarch has an array of delicious cocktails, delightful appetizers, and entrees that will amaze you. We love Monarch for its mellow and beachy vibe, its happy hour, and its nightly sunset toast. So grab your girls, lift your glasses, and toast to one hell of a view.
Items we love: Monarch’s Shroom & Burrata flatbread paired with their Maison Saint AIX rose. I’m not normally a rose girl but this rose is HEAVENLY!
Cesarina
This playful Italian restaurant in Point Loma is sure to wow you and your girls! They take their cuisine to a higher level with their broad offerings of pastas, sauces, and toppings that you can mix and match as you please. Their food is not only impressive to the eyes, but it is also astounding to the taste buds! You’re guaranteed to be more and more impressed by their variety of dishes the more you go. And don’t get me started on their cocktails! If you’re a traditionalist, you must have their Aperol Spritz, if you’re adventurous, try any of their seasonal cocktails.
Items we love: The entire vegan and gluten free menu!! There are so many tasty items featured for all of our hot girls with tummy problems. Cesarina sees you and is there for you!
Drinks
CoCo Maya
CoCo Maya is flirty, tropical, and screams “Girl’s night!” This Caribbean and Latin inspired rooftop restaurant has a perfect array of cocktails and a menu that is bound to wow. We also highly recommend swinging by for brunch! Ensure you bring a hat and sunglasses, their rooftop can get very sunny. Coco Maya’s vibrant atmosphere and lively crowd are perfect for you and your girls. You may even sneak a peek at a previous Bachelor or Bachelorette star, they’re always hanging around!
Items we love: Their Espresso Martini is delicious! Don’t let the whipped cream topping scare you off, it seeps into the beverage and adds a really nice texture.
Park & Rec
Are you and your girls feeling up to a night out dancing accompanied by delicious craft cocktails? Park and Rec in University Heights has you covered! Their sexy and vintage-inspired indoor/outdoor bar has multiple spaces and bars for you girls to run around and mingle. Park and Rec offers an array of beers and can make just about any cocktail you can ask for (but apparently not a frozen daiquiri, don’t ask why I know this, I lost a bet). Make sure you pop into their live music venue for dancing and more cocktails. They’ll even bring in local bites on the weekends like taco stands, and food trucks.
Items we love: Margaritas! I know it’s not one of their craft or seasonal cocktails, but it’s a total classic and they do it well. Also, tequila makes dancing way more fun.
Kairoa Brewing Company
If you’re a fan of breweries, you are in the right city. With over 150 breweries in San Diego County, Kairoa stands out. This modern New Zealand-inspired brewery not only has great brews, but great views. You guessed it – another rooftop! If you’re not a fan of beer, don’t fret, Kairoa has plenty of kombuchas, seltzers, ciders, and wine cocktails to offer. When you feel the late-night drunchies coming on, Kairoa has got you, and every girl in your group! They have a wide range of unique dishes and plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options.
Items we love: Auckland Wine Spritz. The combination of lavender and earl grey is absolutely flirty and phenomenal – just like you are.
Kindred
Kindred in South Park sure took me by surprise the first time we visited. I fell in love with Kindred immediately for its edgy and eccentric atmosphere that seems to be inspired by death metal tunes and artists. The surprises kept coming when I looked at their menu and everything listed was vegan. We love that for you, Kindred! Aside from their vegan treats, their cocktails and the bar itself is a total treat! Their edgy ambiance extends into their cocktails with unique spirit pairings and flavor combinations. Kindred is a fun spot for day drinking but the vibe at night is unparalleled, exuding whimsy and elation!
Items we love: The Painted Desert, I loved the combination of rums and hints of the Chai Pear Shrub – yum. But please just get one! This bad boy hit me hard with the blend of two rums, brandy, and a few other liquors.
The Nolen
Who doesn’t love a good rooftop bar? Unless you’re afraid of heights, I just don’t get it. The Nolen by far is my favorite bar in downtown San Diego. It has earned this accolade for its sexy metropolitan vibe, amazing rooftop views, and of course the beverages. A rooftop bar is always fun for the summer, but I do love the Nolen for spring and fall nights. Their fire pits make it the perfect spot to cozy up with your best girlfriends and catch up. It’s also the ideal spot to start off your downtown night out, as the Nolen is in the heart of Gaslamp and is within walking distance of more bars and nightclubs.
Items we love: I’m not a whisky girl, but I have been told that the Nolen’s Old Fashion is one of the best in the city. But if you’re like me and only like whisky when it’s in the hand of a man, I highly recommend their Lover #1 cocktail. It has Damiana which is debatably the most delicious spirit!
Dancing
Moonshine Flats
Moonshine Flats is always my top recommendation for a night out dancing. Whether you and your girls are in the mood for country music, throwback rap, or something reminiscent of your scene kid days, Moonshine Flats has got you! To say they have something for everyone is an understatement. If your group is a bit more laid back, head over to the Deck at Moonshine Flats. This portion of Moonshine Flats has more of a bar and game area atmosphere. Here, you and your girls can grab a few drinks and snacks, play backyard games like Jenga, cornhole, shuffleboard, and ping pong, and catch up! If you’re looking for something more lively, get your girls over to Moonshine Flats concert venue. I am a HUGE live music girl, and regardless of the band, my girls and I always have such a great time with Moonshine Flats’ artist of the night. With three different bars, there are plenty of spots to grab a drink and then hit the huge dance floor. Moonshine Flats also offers line dancing lessons so you won’t be lost when all of the regulars hit the dance floor.
Items we love: The shot seat! You will know it when you see it, and this is the place to make memories! Or maybe lose them. Regardless, grab your girls and your phones, hop on the seat and go for a spin while also trying to take a shot – it’s always comical!
Vin de Syrah
Are you wanting a venue that is a bit more intimate, but still bursting with excitement on the dance floor for your girl’s night? Vin de Syrah is for you! This sexy and quirky wine and spirit lounge is perfect for a girl’s night out. They offer an extensively impressive wine list, yummy cheeses, small bites, and desserts, as well as beers and a never-ending list of spirits. They’re happy to indulge you with their personal spin on your favorite cocktail. With Paint and Sip, Tarot Card readings, and burlesque on the weekdays followed by DJs and live music on the weekends, there is never a shortage of entertainment at Vin de Syrah.
Items we love: Vin de Syrah’s weekly paint and sip. This is ideal if your group is down to drink wine, but doesn’t feel like dancing.
Barleymash
Inspired and driven by two things (Beer and Bourbon), Barleymash is a guaranteed good time if you and your girls are looking for a more laid-back dancing experience. Barleymash has many beers and bourbons on tap along with just about any liquor you could think of. On weekend nights, the main level and basement level turns into a club with DJs in both areas. I personally love the basement area. Every time I’ve been to Barleymash, the basement area tends to have better music and quicker access to drinks. I also love that Barleymash is right in the middle of Gaslamp, this makes it easier to hop around from bars to clubs.
Items we love: I LOVE Barleymash in the summer just after a Padres baseball game! The garage door windows will be wide open letting in the cool summer air and the vibe is always buzzing with the post-game excitement. I know sports and girls’ nights don’t always go hand-in-hand, but if you’re down, it’s always a fun time!
