A night of live music in La Jolla
3 stops, all within a short walk
1
< 0.1 mi
5:30 PMDinner
2
0.1 mi
7:00 PMThe show
3
8:30 PMNightcap
← San DiegoDate night guide · San Diego
Best live music venues for a date in San Diego
Eat early, catch the set, stay for one more.
37 spots · Jump to the list
Live music takes the pressure off a date: there's always something to react to, and nobody has to carry the conversation. The list runs from jazz clubs to bars with a band in the corner. Check the lineup before you go, eat beforehand, and leave time for a drink afterwards to talk about the set.
This guide ranks 37 live music venues in San Diego, from Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown to Hillcrest / Bankers Hill and Oceanside / Carlsbad. Editors' picks come first, then the rest by rating, and the plans below build a whole evening around the best of them.
Nights couples planned here
Published date nights with a stop on this list.
Make a night of it
Routes around the top spots on the list, with the best-rated places nearby for the rest of the evening.
A night of live music in Little Italy / Middletown
3 stops, all within a short walk
1
0.7 mi
5:30 PMDinner
2
0.2 mi
7:00 PMThe show
3
8:30 PMNightcap
The list
Editors' picks first, then by rating · the top 24 of 37.
BarLa Sala Lounge
5.0(18)La Jolla · $$
BarThe Cordova Bar
4.8(13)Little Italy / Middletown · $$
BreweryMujeres Brew Club
4.7(13)East Village / Barrio Logan
Beer GardenQuartyard
4.6(26)Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown
Cocktail BarMission Ave Bar and Grill
4.6(21)Oceanside / Carlsbad · $$
WineryNegociant Winery
4.6(12)Hillcrest / Bankers Hill
RestaurantHamburger Hut
4.5(24)Encinitas / Del Mar · $
RestaurantCicciotti's Trattoria Italiana
4.5(20)Encinitas / Del Mar · $$$
RestaurantTurf Supper Club
4.5(17)$$
Cocktail BarProhibition
4.5(16)Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown · $$
BarSeven Grand San Diego
4.5(15)North Park · $$
Outdoor & culturalHillcrest Farmers Market
4.5(6)Hillcrest / Bankers Hill · $
BarWhistle Stop Bar
4.4(25)South Park / Golden Hill · $
BarNautilus Tavern
4.4(24)La Jolla · $$
BarThe Pour House Oceanside
4.4(19)Oceanside / Carlsbad
RestaurantRei Do Gado
4.4(18)Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown · $$$
BarThe Coyote Bar & Grill
4.4(18)Oceanside / Carlsbad · $$$
RestaurantBlack Rail Kitchen + Bar
4.4(9)$$$
RestaurantBeaumont’s
4.4(7)La Jolla Shores / Torrey Pines · $$
BarNorthside Tavern
4.4(5)Ocean Beach / Point Loma · $$
Hotel BarLaFayette Hotel
4.3(16)Hillcrest / Bankers Hill · $$
RestaurantCannonball
4.3(16)Pacific Beach / Mission Beach · $$$
BarEn Fuego Cantina & Grill
4.3(12)Del Mar / Solana Beach · $$
Jazz LoungeDizzy’s
4.3(9)Good to know
- What's the best place for live music in San Diego for a date?
- Our top pick is La Sala Lounge in La Jolla, rated 5.0 out of 5. The Cordova Bar and Mujeres Brew Club round out the top 3.
- Which San Diego neighborhoods have the best live music venues?
- Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown (3), Hillcrest / Bankers Hill (3) and Oceanside / Carlsbad (3) have the most spots in the top 24.
- Are there affordable live music venues in San Diego?
- Yes — La Sala Lounge, The Cordova Bar and Mission Ave Bar and Grill are all $$ or under.
- Do I need a reservation?
- It depends on the spot. La Sala Lounge and Prohibition take walk-ins.
- What should we do before or after?
- Make it a night of live music: dinner, then the show, then nightcap. The plans on this page pair each top spot with the best-rated places within about a 20-minute walk.