Bars and Cafes in Old Town (San Diego)

Rockin' Baja Lobster-Old Town

A genuine Spanish-era adobe ranchero house is home to this popular restaurant in Old Town, where San Diego began. Inside the restaurant, soft adobe-colored walls are picked out with bright murals in a patio atmosphere complete with a waterfall. Lobster tops the menu, prepared Puerto Nuevo style with a sprinkle of spices. Try lobster melts or lobster tacos. Happy Hour in the Cantina runs 3pm-7pm Monday-Friday and offers discounted appetizers and drink specials.

Cafe Coyote

A sturdy, spicy meal offered here is the Chimichange de Pollo, a deep-fried flour tortilla wrapped around chicken and topped with melted cheese, chile sauce and tomatillo-jalapeno salsa. Not sure about spicy Mexican food? A good compromise is the Carne Asada Plate, flavorful sirloin steak quick-seared and served with refried beans, Mexican rice and guacamole. Ten different beers on draft, a full bar and appetizers are available in the Coyote Cantina or served to your table. Patio dining puts you in the middle of Old Town shoppers and gawkers. Cafe Coyote opens at 7.30am daily.

Old Town Mexican Cafe

Old Town Mexican Cafe is a lively Old Town restaurant serving unique Mexican food for twenty years. Both locals and tourists flock here for great food at low prices. There are daily specials, an array of upscale tequilas decorating the lively bar area, and cheerful service. The Chile Rellenos are the best in town and the Chile Verde Pork Burrito will haunt your dreams. No reservations are accepted; expect a long wait on weekend nights.

Great Wall Cafe

Predictably surrounded by Mexican restaurants in San Diego's Old Town, Great Wall Cafe thrives because of its attentive staff and attention to detail. Gourmet meals prepared by its Hong Kong trained chef range from the traditional choices of Chop Suey and Chow Mein to the exceptional Szechuan Curried Chicken or Shrimp and Scallops. Great Wall Cafe is highly touted by local food critics.

Mystery Café

The Mystery Cafe has been stumping guests for years with its presentation of innovative murder-mystery shows. After dinner is served by the staff of The Imperial House Restaurant, mingle with the players and try to find out who the culprit is in this wonderful mystery theater. Where else can you actively participate in your evening out, making it even more fun?

Brick By Brick

Featuring cutting edge live music, this is a popular hot spot in Old Town San Diego. In fact, when this place was known as Spirit Club, it hosted the then-unknown band called R.E.M. The stage continues to seek talent in rock, blues and alternative modes of music to provide live entertainment for San Diego locals and tourists. With a varying entertainment schedule, guests are advised to call for previews of upcoming entertainment on the telephone hotline. A full cash bar is available.

El Agave Tequileria

This is part of the El Agave Restaurant, a great Mexican place. The whole establishment is charming and upscale with comfortable seating and a staff that is friendly and helpful. (They will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about tequila.) With more than 500 brands, this is truly the place for tequila lovers.

O'Hungry's

O'Hungry's is a wildly popular restaurant and bar with a few gimmicks up its sleeve, like the yard-long beer served in a glass tube (the tourists go wild). There is a guitarist most nights of the week. The clientele is varied, but tourists, Navy officers and college students have been known to mingle together. In addition to the yard-long beers, there is a full bar. The menu includes lentil soup, sandwiches, burgers and more.

Juice Station

This location is convenient to many of the industrial parks situated in the Kearny Mesa area. Many locals stop here on their way to work to start their day off right with a delicious, nutritious juice drink or smoothie. A handful of tables are available, but the venue is mostly a carry out type of restaurant. More than 35 different combinations of smoothies are available and also teas, coffee and healthy snacks.

Living Room Coffeehouse

Located in a vintage wood-frame house, this comfortably furnished coffeehouse also offers an elevated, street-side patio area for sipping and people watching. A popular cram spot for students from the nearby Nazarene College, it also attracts tourists from the many nearby motels and residents from the fine old houses off the side streets. Coffee is king here or you could try the Iced Cafe Mazatlan on a hot day. You can also order Quiche Lorraine and Chicken Wellington, Baked Brie en Croute, breakfast dishes, sandwiches and salads, all extremely reasonably priced.