Haunted Head Saloon

On our lists of the best cocktail bars, activities and arcades & games in San Diego.

Opened in 2002 in downtown Oceanside, this pirate-themed dive earned a shoutout from Maxim as one of the best bars near a military base for its cheap drinks, foosball table, and pool table. Regulars sign dollar bills at the bar and tape them to the walls and ceiling, building up a collection that's become part of the room's decor. Games run to pool, foosball, two bar-top electronic machines, and a jukebox, with big screens for watching games. The bar never charges a cover and checks ID at the door for its 21-and-up crowd.