San Diego: Nightlife

Rich’s
1051 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 295-2195
Located in Hillcrest, Rich’s is the largest gay club in San Diego. The popular venue boasts two main areas, each stocked with its own bar, DJ, and dance floor. Each night it’s a different party that caters to different segment of the LGBT community, including bears, lesbians, and more. Expect a line, as the weekends parties, featuring house and dance music, are especially popular.

Urban Mo’s
308 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 491-0400
Urban Mo’s Bar & Grill serves the best of both worlds, offering delicious bites like burgers, onion rings, and chicken sandwiches as well as strong drinks in the heart of San Diego’s LGBT neighborhood. Colorful lawn ornaments like pink flamingoes are its trademark décor, which adorn the outdoor patio, and a friendly staff welcomes all allies and members of the community. The drag shows and Sunday brunch are local favorites.

Pecs
2046 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 296-0889
Into leather and Levi’s? You’ll want to take a peek inside Pecs, an old-school gay bar secreted away inside an unlabeled cement building. The patrons are generally an over-30s crowd, with many hairy-chested men who play pool or lounge on the outdoor patio. The drinks are strong and cheap, including specials like a $4 double well and a $7 pitcher.

Bourbon Street Bar & Grill
4612 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 291-4043
This lively piano bar with a New Orleans theme draws big crowds on weekends, who flock to Bourbon for reasonably priced drinks, musical and burlesque performances, and a DJed dance floor. The venue is also host to some serious drag and karaoke nights, and also serves bar fare like burgers and cheesy tater tots.

The Hole
2820 Lytton St, San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 226-9019
The Hole celebrates its identity as a “Pretty Much World Famous Dive,” an apt slogan for this friendly “hole”-in-the-wall that that is also one of the San Diego’s oldest gay bars. The Hole boasts a spacious patio, which fills up for its Sunday beer busts, and has a fire pit for chillier California nights. Although the venue attracts many bears and their admirers, patrons of all stripes like to frequent The Hole for its no-frills setting and relaxed atmosphere.