The Top 10 San Diego Clubs

ALTITUDE Sky Lounge: Rooftop spot

ALTITUDE has earned the distinction of being one of the top San Diego clubs, as well as one of the top new nightclubs in the world. It is a rooftop club perched atop the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, and it also sits at the top of several lists of the west coast’s best rooftop bars and clubs. 

ALTITUDE is less than 100 steps away from PETCO Park, and its location high above San Diego’s downtown area offers great views of the action, so out of town sports fans will relish the unique views you’ll find here. As the night wears on, the music picks up and the trendy crowd arrives. 

Drinks tend to be on the pricier side, but the unique location and incredible views more than make up for it. If you’re looking for a trendy, chic bar with a view you won’t find anywhere else, ALTITUDE Sky Lounge is the San Diego club for you. 

Rich’s: Gay club #1

For the best gay club experience in San Diego, head to Rich’s in Hillcrest. Generous drink pours, a good mix of locals and visitors, and multiple dance rooms with individual music themes make this a great place to cut loose. The main area features top 40 and pop music, and the alternative hip-hop room offers a little more edge. Rich’s smoking patio offers guests a chance to relax when the dancing becomes too much.

The Casbah: Live music, cheap drinks

If you like live music, look no further than the Casbah. This San Diego club (read: dive bar) is an intimate setting to see your favorite band, and you’ll get to rub elbows with the band members before and after the show as they navigate the crowd. Drinks are cheap, and there’s an outdoor patio for when you want to cool off. 

Traveler’s Tip: The Casbah is loud (in a good way) so consider bringing a set of ear plugs, and don’t forget your desire to have your face melted by a mind blowing rock show. 

This venue books a variety of bands, famous and not, and notable acts who have performed here include Mudhoney, Tapes ‘N Tapes, Yelle, and Aesop Rock.

Noble Experiments: Secret passwords and a jukebox 

Noble Experiments is not your typical San Diego club. A place for trendy, beautiful people to dance and meet, it is not. For music, you’ll find a jukebox, and you’ll need to make a reservation in advance to gain access to this secret bar. What sets this San Diego club apart? It is home to the city’s best cocktails. Master mixologists utilize fresh fruits and syrups to create delicious, inventive drinks, and the extensive menu showcases their talents and creativity. 

You can also have a bartender craft your own personalized drink based on your preferences. Much of San Diego is devoted to the beach, but Noble Experiments hearkens back to era of speakeasies. Drinks aren’t cheap, generally costing between $12-16, but few people complain about the price point once they’re handed one of the best cocktails in San Diego.

Confidential: Tapas and the trend 

Confidential is one of the city’s tapas bars, and its eclectic small plates and cocktail menus make this San Diego club one of the best. It is trendy but low key, and celebrities sometimes head down from Los Angeles for a quiet night at a VIP booth. 

San Diego clubs are varied and fun, and they offer the opportunity to have a few drinks and unwind. Of course, you wouldn’t want to hit the clubs without eating first, so check out some of the San Diego’s most popular restaurants.