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A rainbow of colorful cocktails against a dark background. — Kettner Exchange’s summer specials

The Hottest Cocktail Bars in San Diego, August 2022

The newest drinks in the city can be found at these bars

by Kelly Bone@TheVegFoodie Updated Aug 22, 2022, 10:44am PDT

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Kettner Exchange’s summer specials

| James Tran

by Kelly Bone@TheVegFoodie Updated Aug 22, 2022, 10:44am PDT

Summer is here and so are the warm-weather cocktails. San Diego’s bars are ready with cool relief from brunch to late-night hours. Enjoy longer days sipping from a rocks glass spiked with cherry blossom tea gin or welcome the afternoon gin fizz floating with aquafaba.

The Eater Cocktail Heatmap will be updated frequently to highlight new openings or fresh menus that are generating serious buzz around town.

Know of a cocktail spot with a decent amount of heat that should be added to the list? Send us a note!

Note: Map points are not ranked.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

If you book a reservation through an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Communal

The cafe, which offers much more than coffee, has launched its summer menu. Head in for an Oceanside Summer, its take on a pina colada spiked with Sabe gold rum or enjoy a flight of seasonal spritzes like rose vanilla and elderflower with prosecco.

Open in Google Maps

602 S Tremont St Suite 100, Oceanside, CA 92054

Visit Website

Pineapple cocktail with leaves and gold shaker. — Communal

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Matsu

The four and eight-course Japanese menus at Oceanside’s Matsu is the star, save a space on your table for the excellent cocktails. Chill with a Kaku-Hi, a shimmering blend of icy Japanese whisky, sparkling water, and lemon oil; or, try the Kitsunu made with Etsu gin, citrusy yuzu, and a hint of shiso leaf.

Open in Google Maps

626 S Tremont St, Oceanside, CA 92054

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Hottest Restaurants in San Diego, September 2022

Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

This season, general manager Reira Moon and chef Grant Prill have introduced new house cocktails at the sushi restaurant which utilize light spirits, such as soju, with accents like rosé-infused syrup, black currant, and yuzu.

Open in Google Maps

1815 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054

Visit Website

Three floral cocktails on raw concrete surface. — Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

Also featured in:

Jeune et Jolie

Strawberries, cherries, and watermelon color the new summer cocktail menu by bar manager Rachel Debber. Enjoy the Pasteque with tequila and watermelon, accented by cardamom, or take a breather with the Fraise, with a pile of pebble ice cooling a mix of bourbon, Campari, strawberries, and rhubarb.

Open in Google Maps

2659 State St Suite 102, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Visit Website

Pink cocktail with pebble ice and baby breath. — Fraise at Jeune et Jolie

Also featured in:

Hamburger Hut

Reopening along Coast Highway, Hamburger Hut’s new Leucadia location introduces a tiki-inspired cocktail menu. The re-envisioned space mixes family-friendly games with easy-drinking hurricanes and a negroni slushy, or, get heady with a Neptune Sunset made with rye whisky, Braulio, rhubarb honey, and grapefruit oil.

Open in Google Maps

576 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024

Visit Website

Pink cocktail with flowers against dark background — Neptune Sunset at Hamburger Hut

Waverly

This North County hotspot has refreshed its drink menu just in time for warm summer hangs. Bartender Chris Nguyen recently introduced the Red Moon, a riff on the classic Army & Navy, with cherry blossom tea gin spiked with red bean orgeat, lemon, and apricot.

2005 San Elijo Ave, Cardiff, CA 92007

Visit Website

Pale coupe glass against waxy leaves. — Red Moon at The Waverly

Also featured in:

Cross Street

Cross Street opened at Del Mar Highlands with an impressive cocktail menu by Jesse Ross (Sycamore Den, Fernside). Favorites include the citrusy No Fly List with Blanco tequila, cocchi americano, yuzu, pineapple, lime, agave, and soda. Or try their spin on an Old Fashioned, the Oak & Sesame, a blend of American and Japanese whiskies and house-toasted black sesame with a kiss of amaro.

Open in Google Maps

12925 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130

Visit Website

Cocktail with pineapple leaves. — No Fly List

Gravity Heights

Offices may not be running at full capacity, but office park-bound Gravity Heights is as busy as ever. Snag a table early and enjoy the namesake Heights Fizz with gin, orange, and mint topped with a fluffy aquafaba head. Or get Coco Loco with rum, bananas, pineapple, and ginger.

Open in Google Maps

9920 Pacific Heights Blvd, San Diego, CA 92121

Visit Website

Looking down at a pink cocktails with mint and lemon on top of menu. — Gravity Heights

Also featured in:

Queenstown Bistro

An outdoor respite in the heart of the UTC Mall, Queenstown Bistro recently partnered with Hera the Dog Vodka to introduce two new cocktails with a portion of the proceeds going to San Diego’s all-breed dog rescue The Animal Pad. Choices include the Hair of the Dog, their take on a bloody Mary, and Posh Pooch a summer lemonade with house-made lemongrass syrup, St. Germain, and splash of sparkling white wine.

Open in Google Maps

4545 La Jolla Village Dr #9028, San Diego, CA 92122

Visit Website

Pale yellow cocktail on white table. — Queenstown Bistro

Realm Of The 52 Remedies

Tea-infused cocktails lace through the Eternal Remedies menu at Convoy’s Realm of the 52 Remedies. Highlights include the Earl Grey featuring Kasama Filipino rum with Jura 10yrs single malt scotch, saline water, honey, and cinnamon cream. Or explore their Asian cinema-themed seasonal menu that includes an ode to the Japanese film 13 Assassins made with 10-year single malt Scotch whisky and blood orange under delicate baby breath flowers.

Open in Google Maps

4805 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

Visit Website

Cocktail with a large branded ice cube glowing in yellow light. — Realm Of The 52 Remedies

Also featured in:

Convoy Music Bar

Accessed from an alleyway behind one of Convoy’s busiest strip malls, this cocktail haven is an elegant 40-seat space fashioned after Tokyo’s listening bars. With a premium sound system and DJs providing nightly mood music, the bar features a menu of cocktail classics made with Asian flavors and ingredients.

Open in Google Maps

4646 Convoy St #112, San Diego, CA 92111

Visit Website

A negroni cocktail garnished with an orange rind. — Convoy Music Bar’s negroni variation.

Also featured in:

Where to Eat Tacos in San Diego

The Fishery

The growing cocktail program by Eddie Avila continues to impress. Known for his milk punch, the latest version is infused with Beto gin, Italicus rosolio, bergamot, Luxardo bitter bianco, and Rare Tea Co. chamomile flowers. Other recent releases include An Olive Grove in Nice, with vodka, grapefruit, and Vicario olive leaf liqueur.

5040 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109

Visit Website

Pale cocktail with large branded ice cube on wood table. — The Fishery Punch

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Dolly’s at Hoxton Square

Just in time for summer, Dolly’s has appeared on the rooftop of Hoxton Manor. This new open air bar from Matt Bone (Old Man Bar, Reading Club) and Will Pidd (Young Blood, J&Tony’s) focuses on natural wine and classic cocktails like the Pidd’s Cup with aromatized wines, cucumber, gin and ginger and Tokyo Blond Old Fashioned with Japanese whisky, orgeat, and nocino. Or find out if they really do, and the menu states, make the World’s Best Negroni.

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3131 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

Soy sauce cocktail. — Dolly’s at Hoxton Square

MOTHERSHIP

Kindred's Permanent Vacation nights proved so popular they got their own spin off bar. Immerse yourself in a fanciful world of intergalactic spaceship meets strange new world with titillating cocktails like the Homing Beacon, a swirl of rum and apricot brandy with cascara, coconut and a float of hibiscus.

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2310 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104

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Pink and white cocktails on blue background. — Homing Beacon at Mothership

Also featured in:

San Diego's Essential Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants

Kettner Exchange

Enjoy the long summer nights with the refreshed cocktail menu at Kettner Exchange by bar director Claire Sexton. New favorites includes the Cherry Valance with gin and white peppercorn and the Miami Slice with rum, vanilla, coconut, and lime.

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2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

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Dark pink cocktail with flowers on dark marble table. — Kettner Exchange

Also featured in:

Charles + Dinorah at The Pearl Hotel

The recently reopened restaurant at the Pearl Hotel is shaking up their cocktail menu. Ease into the evening with an L.A. Tea, an iced gin and matcha drink made creamy with coconut milk or spice up the night with a Before I Say Good-Chai with masala chai, coffee liqueur, coconut cream and amaretto.

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1410 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106

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Five cocktails against a bamboo background. — Charles+Dinorah

Also featured in:

16 San Diego Brunch Spots to Try Right Now

KINDRED

Enjoy the South Park bar’s breezy indoor/outdoor space with refreshing cocktails like the Mint Condition with gin, Sicilian mint amaro, and frothy aquafaba . Or, stop by late Fridays and Saturdays for Dark Age Summer with 80’s tunes and cocktail classics like Sex on the Beach.

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1503 30th St, San Diego, CA 92102

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Cocktails cheering against pink wallpaper. — Kindred

Also featured in:

You & Yours Distilling Co.

You & Yours recently celebrated five years of distilling their iconic gins and local vodka (and more) in the East Village. Founder Laura Johnson’s downtown tasting room crafts excellent cocktails like the Summer Salad with Y&Y vodka and pineapple, yellow bell pepper, orange, lemon, and cayenne chili oil.

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1495 G St, San Diego, CA 92101

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Cocktails on white marble table. — You & Yours Distilling Co.

Also featured in:

Callie

This East Village restaurant is destination-worthy for its food as well as a fine cocktail list from bar lead James Roe and team. The bar and kitchen have merged their missions in the new De La Montaña cocktail. The bright orange sipper includes leftover carrots from the restaurant’s signature crunchy Egyptian carrots dish, juiced and blended with mezcal, pasilla, and pineapple.

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1195 Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

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Carrot cocktail on wood table. — Callie’s De La Montaña

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Communal

602 S Tremont St Suite 100, Oceanside, CA 92054

Pineapple cocktail with leaves and gold shaker. — Communal

The cafe, which offers much more than coffee, has launched its summer menu. Head in for an Oceanside Summer, its take on a pina colada spiked with Sabe gold rum or enjoy a flight of seasonal spritzes like rose vanilla and elderflower with prosecco.

Open in Google Maps

602 S Tremont St Suite 100, Oceanside, CA 92054

Visit Website

Pineapple cocktail with leaves and gold shaker. — Communal

Matsu

626 S Tremont St, Oceanside, CA 92054

The four and eight-course Japanese menus at Oceanside’s Matsu is the star, save a space on your table for the excellent cocktails. Chill with a Kaku-Hi, a shimmering blend of icy Japanese whisky, sparkling water, and lemon oil; or, try the Kitsunu made with Etsu gin, citrusy yuzu, and a hint of shiso leaf.

Open in Google Maps

626 S Tremont St, Oceanside, CA 92054

Visit Website

Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

1815 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054

Three floral cocktails on raw concrete surface. — Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

This season, general manager Reira Moon and chef Grant Prill have introduced new house cocktails at the sushi restaurant which utilize light spirits, such as soju, with accents like rosé-infused syrup, black currant, and yuzu.

Open in Google Maps

1815 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054

Visit Website

Three floral cocktails on raw concrete surface. — Wrench and Rodent Seabasstropub

Jeune et Jolie

2659 State St Suite 102, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Pink cocktail with pebble ice and baby breath. — Fraise at Jeune et Jolie

Strawberries, cherries, and watermelon color the new summer cocktail menu by bar manager Rachel Debber. Enjoy the Pasteque with tequila and watermelon, accented by cardamom, or take a breather with the Fraise, with a pile of pebble ice cooling a mix of bourbon, Campari, strawberries, and rhubarb.

Open in Google Maps

2659 State St Suite 102, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Visit Website

Pink cocktail with pebble ice and baby breath. — Fraise at Jeune et Jolie

Hamburger Hut

576 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024

Pink cocktail with flowers against dark background — Neptune Sunset at Hamburger Hut

Reopening along Coast Highway, Hamburger Hut’s new Leucadia location introduces a tiki-inspired cocktail menu. The re-envisioned space mixes family-friendly games with easy-drinking hurricanes and a negroni slushy, or, get heady with a Neptune Sunset made with rye whisky, Braulio, rhubarb honey, and grapefruit oil.

Open in Google Maps

576 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024

Visit Website

Pink cocktail with flowers against dark background — Neptune Sunset at Hamburger Hut

Waverly

2005 San Elijo Ave, Cardiff, CA 92007

Pale coupe glass against waxy leaves. — Red Moon at The Waverly

This North County hotspot has refreshed its drink menu just in time for warm summer hangs. Bartender Chris Nguyen recently introduced the Red Moon, a riff on the classic Army & Navy, with cherry blossom tea gin spiked with red bean orgeat, lemon, and apricot.

2005 San Elijo Ave, Cardiff, CA 92007

Visit Website

Pale coupe glass against waxy leaves. — Red Moon at The Waverly

Cross Street

12925 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130

Cocktail with pineapple leaves. — No Fly List

Cross Street opened at Del Mar Highlands with an impressive cocktail menu by Jesse Ross (Sycamore Den, Fernside). Favorites include the citrusy No Fly List with Blanco tequila, cocchi americano, yuzu, pineapple, lime, agave, and soda. Or try their spin on an Old Fashioned, the Oak & Sesame, a blend of American and Japanese whiskies and house-toasted black sesame with a kiss of amaro.

Open in Google Maps

12925 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130

Visit Website

Cocktail with pineapple leaves. — No Fly List

Gravity Heights

9920 Pacific Heights Blvd, San Diego, CA 92121

Looking down at a pink cocktails with mint and lemon on top of menu. — Gravity Heights

Offices may not be running at full capacity, but office park-bound Gravity Heights is as busy as ever. Snag a table early and enjoy the namesake Heights Fizz with gin, orange, and mint topped with a fluffy aquafaba head. Or get Coco Loco with rum, bananas, pineapple, and ginger.

Open in Google Maps

9920 Pacific Heights Blvd, San Diego, CA 92121

Visit Website

Looking down at a pink cocktails with mint and lemon on top of menu. — Gravity Heights

Queenstown Bistro

4545 La Jolla Village Dr #9028, San Diego, CA 92122

Pale yellow cocktail on white table. — Queenstown Bistro

An outdoor respite in the heart of the UTC Mall, Queenstown Bistro recently partnered with Hera the Dog Vodka to introduce two new cocktails with a portion of the proceeds going to San Diego’s all-breed dog rescue The Animal Pad. Choices include the Hair of the Dog, their take on a bloody Mary, and Posh Pooch a summer lemonade with house-made lemongrass syrup, St. Germain, and splash of sparkling white wine.

Open in Google Maps

4545 La Jolla Village Dr #9028, San Diego, CA 92122

Visit Website

Pale yellow cocktail on white table. — Queenstown Bistro

Realm Of The 52 Remedies

4805 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

Cocktail with a large branded ice cube glowing in yellow light. — Realm Of The 52 Remedies

Tea-infused cocktails lace through the Eternal Remedies menu at Convoy’s Realm of the 52 Remedies. Highlights include the Earl Grey featuring Kasama Filipino rum with Jura 10yrs single malt scotch, saline water, honey, and cinnamon cream. Or explore their Asian cinema-themed seasonal menu that includes an ode to the Japanese film 13 Assassins made with 10-year single malt Scotch whisky and blood orange under delicate baby breath flowers.

Open in Google Maps

4805 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

Visit Website

Cocktail with a large branded ice cube glowing in yellow light. — Realm Of The 52 Remedies

Convoy Music Bar

4646 Convoy St #112, San Diego, CA 92111

A negroni cocktail garnished with an orange rind. — Convoy Music Bar’s negroni variation.

Accessed from an alleyway behind one of Convoy’s busiest strip malls, this cocktail haven is an elegant 40-seat space fashioned after Tokyo’s listening bars. With a premium sound system and DJs providing nightly mood music, the bar features a menu of cocktail classics made with Asian flavors and ingredients.

Open in Google Maps

4646 Convoy St #112, San Diego, CA 92111

Visit Website