Nighttime Hot Spots

Looking to spend a summer evening out on the town?
Try these 10 hot spots.

Anthology

1337 India Street, Little Italy
619-595-0300 | anthologysd.com
Recently opened Anthology offers a top-notch dining experience, coupled with live music from name acts, in upscale surroundings that recall the spirit of supper clubs of the 940s and '50s. Big-name musical guests perform on a cutting edge stage and state-of-the-art sound system. The setup features a mix of dining areas, VIP rooms and lounge areas indoors and out-and daily menu changes. Little Italy just went big time.

Blanca

437 South Highway 101, Solana Beach
858-792-0072 | dineblanca.com
Solana Beach is home to the new "in" spot for North County residents: Blanca, a restaurant and lounge on the Pacific Coast Highway. True to its name, white is everywhere, as is the attentive wait staff Blanca boasts luxurious touches everywhere from menu to table, place settings to decor.

Epazote Oceanview Steakhouse

1555 Camino del Mar, Suite 322, Del Mar
858-259-9966 | epazotedelmar.com
This linchpin of the Del Mar social scene has recently undergone a revamping, including name and menu changes. But the "in' crowd still flocks here; the ocean-view terrace with bonfire is still the place to be (with a drink by your side); and the menu (though emphasizing steak) is still a shining example of the best in Southwestern cuisine.

JRDN

723 Felspar Street, Pacific Beach
858-270-JRDN | jrdn.com
Chic takes to the beach at JRDN, a restaurant and lounge attached to the equally chic Tower 23, a boutique hotel known for luxury and relaxation. Being a literal stone's throw from the ocean, the views are gorgeous. Inside JRDN, a "dune wall" replicates a sandy wave washing ashore, and leads you back into a private dining room. Here, a frameless glass wine cellar spans the south end of the room; to the west sits the Sunset Patio, where a fire pit keeps this hot spot hot into the wee hours.

W Hotel

421 West B Street, downtown
619-398-3100 | starwoodhotels.com
Opened right before San Diego last hosted the Super Bowl (in 2003), the W has lost none of its luster. Relax with a drink on the sand or near the bonfire at Beach, one of the first rooftop bars in San Diego. Or have a drink in the lobby's lounge area. For a quieter, more intimate experience, don't forget Magnet, the cozy bar on the west side of the W.

Stingaree

454 Sixth Avenue, downtown
619-544-9500 | stingsandiego.com
What more can be said about Stingaree? Its dining is top-of-the-line, its VIP section immense, and the rooftop bar provides as much privacy (with its cabanas) or exposure (with its open-air leather lounge beds) as you desire. It is perhaps the best celebrity sighting spot in town. As for a ringing endorsement, none other than Paris Hilton dubbed it "The place to party in San Diego."

Jack's La Jolla

7863 Girard Avenue, La Jolla
858-456-8111 | jackslajolla.com
The sheer variety-eight dining and drinking boutiques-is matched only by the elegance of the entire establishment. A fine-dining, open-air restaurant, piano bar, beach bar and ocean-view oyster bar are all available for evening entertainment in the heart of La Jolla. Whether you prefer the indoor confines of a wine bar, the sand beneath your feet or the beautiful nighttime sky, Jack's offers it all.

Jsix and Jbar at Hotel Solamar

616 J Street, downtown
619-531-8744 | jsixsandiego.com
Jbar at Hotel Solamar boasts the most casually elegant of San Diego's rooftop spots. Find a spot near the bar for some action, or utilize the terrace's spaciousness to find a bit of privacy. The downtown location makes Jbar a perfect stop during a night out or after a Padres game. Downstairs, Jsix offers upscale dining and another bar for an evening's enjoyment.

Altitude Skybar & Garden Lounge

660 K Street, downtown
619-696-0234 | altitudeskybar.com
Owning the bragging rights to the tallest rooftop bar in San Diego (on the 22nd story of the Marriott Gaslamp Quarter), Altitude offers unparalleled views of San Diego Bay, Coronado and the Coronado Bridge and, perhaps most interestingly, into Petco Park. Many grab a spot by the south edge and catch the Padres baseball action. But Altitude also offers sophistication and elegance, with bottle service, a VIP section and a trendy crowd enjoying the breathtaking view.

Ivy

600 F Street, downtown
619-814-1000 | ivyhotel.com
The hype surrounding the recent opening of this downtown hotel was nearly unprecedented in San Diego, but the Ivy lives up to it, boasting Eden, an elegant, picturesque rooftop bar and lounge; a ground-floor' restaurant called Quarter Kitchen and the nearby UltraLounge; and nightclub Envy in the basement. Lines can be long, but with this much variety and class on every level, the Ivy promises to deliver whatever tempts you.

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