libations
The downtown San Diego skyline, as seen from Mister A’s
Drinking in the View
Gorgeous weather and a flair for craft cocktails and beer makes San Diego the ultimate
destination for enjoying libations on the patios of local bars and restaurants.
In San Diego, where the average daily tem-
perature is about 70 degrees year-round, it’s
no surprise that entrepreneurs are compelled
to open hip bars with patios that bask in
the sunshine. Of course, in this Southern
California city, picturesque weather isn’t the
only thing that inspires a wealth of outdoor
drinking spots—captivating scenery also
provides ample reason to get outside and
enjoy a beverage and a view. Some watering
holes, like those in La Jolla, Mission Bay and
Pacific Beach, sit just steps from the sand,
offering relaxing ocean breezes and water-
color sunsets of burnt orange, red, pink and
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purple sinking into the Pacific. Downtown,
in the city’s vibrant Gaslamp Quarter, high-
rises feature rooftop bars with sweeping vis-
tas of the city from the San Diego-Coronado
Bridge to Petco Park and beyond.
BEACHSIDE BEVERAGES
While a bathing suit and sunscreen may be
the only supplies necessary to enjoy a day at
the beach, a perfectly prepared cocktail post-
swim is a welcome addition. Locals and vis-
itors alike enjoy drinks at the many popular
bars nestled along the city’s coast.
The area’s sunny weather is an ideal match
for Café Bahia’s Mediterranean style. Located
at the Bahia Resort Hotel in Mission Bay, the
restaurant offers an expansive menu, com-
fortable decor and year-round alfresco dining.
Visitors can indulge in a classic cocktail or
one of the cafe’s signature drinks, like the
strawberry lemonade made with Tito’s Vodka,
house-made strawberry simple syrup, fresh
lemon juice and club soda. Also on the menu:
beer cocktails—a trend in this craft beer capi-
tal—like the Sunny San Diego prepared with
Absolut Mandarin, fresh orange juice, cane
sugar syrup and Coronado Brewery draft beer.
Across the bay is a tropical paradise called
BY BRIANA VERDUGO