Bars

Downtown -- Downtown is the busiest place for nightlife -- you'll find something going on nightly. The best nights (or worst, depending on your tolerance for crowds) are Thursday through Saturday, when the 20-somethings pour in and dance clubs spring into action Here are some of the best spots, and keep in mind that many clubs have "city style" dress codes -- no tank tops, sports jerseys, etc.

Party Time -- On weekends, lines begin forming outside popular venues by 10pm, so go early to avoid the queue -- and maybe even dodge a cover charge. Some downtown clubs also serve dinner, providing another (albeit pricey) way around the line. Upscale clubs also offer VIP bottle service, which includes a reserved table and a commitment to an astronomical bar bill. Advance reservations are normally required (call or check websites for more info). All establishments (including liquor and grocery stores) must stop selling alcohol at 2am. Some bars even set their clocks ahead 20 minutes or so to make sure lingering drinkers have turned in their glasses by the magic hour.

Brewpubs & Wine Bars

Over the last 10 years, San Diego has been making a name for itself in the beer world, with local brewers earning props at gatherings like the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer Festival. Although San Diego's regional wineries haven't yet earned the same respect, there are plenty of great places to taste local (and international) beer and wine.

Pizza Port Brewing Company, 135 N. Highway 101, Solana Beach (tel. 858/481-7332), and 571 Carlsbad Village Dr., Carlsbad (tel. 760/720-7007), has creative pizzas and giant pretzels to go along with award-winning beers, including the signature Sharkbite Red Ale. Kids can enjoy the housemade root beer (and you can try a stout or porter ice cream float). Pizza Port has been a North County favorite for 20 years.

Stone Brewery World Bistro and Gardens, 1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido (tel. 760/471-4999), is a must for beer aficionados. San Diego's most acclaimed brewery, maker of such beers as Arrogant Bastard Ale and Stone Ruination IPA, opened this boulder-strewn, indoor-outdoor spot at its North County facility in late 2006. Lunch is served Monday to Saturday, dinner nightly, with brunch offered on Sunday.

Coronado Brewing Company, 170 Orange Ave., Coronado (tel. 619/437-4452), offers a daily happy hour from 2 to 6pm, as well as all-you-can-eat dinner specials Wednesday to Monday. Kids 12 and under eat free from 4 to 7pm on Tuesdays at this family-friendly restaurant and brewery.

Karl Strauss Brewing Company is Southern California's largest distributing microbrewery and has four San Diego locations -- 1157 Columbia St., downtown (tel. 619/234-2739); 1044 Wall St., La Jolla (tel. 858/551-2739); 9675 Scranton Rd., Sorrento Mesa (tel. 858/587-2739); and 5801 Armada Dr., Carlsbad (tel. 760/431-2739). Once a month there's a traditional "firkin" keg tapping when a wooden mallet is used to drive in the spigot (beware of spraying beer). An extensive dining menu is also available.

Notable national chains in San Diego include Rock Bottom, 401 G St., Gaslamp Quarter (tel. 619/231-7000), and 8980 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla (tel. 858/450-9277); and Gordon Biersch, 5010 Mission Center Rd., Mission Valley (tel. 619/688-1120). Yard House, 1023 Fourth Ave., downtown (tel. 619/233-9273), doesn't brew its own suds, but its selection of some 130 draft beers makes it worth noting.

Wine and beer drinkers can find common ground at The Vine, 1851 Bacon St., Ocean Beach (tel. 619/222-8463), which serves quality wines by the glass and by the flight, and also has an excellent selection of beer. Located a block from the OB pier, The Vine also has an eclectic menu of small-plate offerings.

3rd Corner, 2265 Bacon St., Ocean Beach (tel. 619/223-2700), is so much more than just a wine bar. It multitasks as a restaurant with excellent tapas and entrees (though seating is limited for dining) and as a wine shop where you can meander among racks of wines, looking for just the right one to uncork. It serves late (by San Diego standards) and is popular with local restaurant-industry types.

The two preceding listings might give the impression that Ocean Beach is the place for wine bar action, but that honor is held by Hillcrest, which has a passel of fine establishments from which to choose. Hip and stylish Crush, 530 University Ave., Hillcrest (tel. 619/291-1717), has more than 50 wines by the glass, specialty cocktails, and a small-plates menu. It thumps to the rhythms of DJs later in the evening. Wine Steals, 1243 University Ave., Hillcrest (tel. 619/295-1188), has a casual neighborhood feel and includes a wine-shop component. It's also conveniently attached to a cheese store. The Wine Lover, 3968 Fifth Ave., Hillcrest (tel. 619/294-9200), is intimate and romantic, and features more than a dozen wine flights. It also has truffles, cheeses, and imported charcuterie. And don't let the nondescript strip-mall setting dissuade you from checking out The Wine Encounter, 690 University Ave., Hillcrest (tel. 619/543-9463). This is where you'll find probably the city's largest by-the-glass selection, with more than 150 wines available, along with nearly 30 flights. Bottles are also available for sale. Bamboo Lounge, 1475 University Ave., Hillcrest (tel. 619/291-8221), has an unimpressive selection of wines by the glass, but the Asian-influenced back patio is so sweet it deserves a mention.

Downtown is another hot spot for wining. The Grape, 823 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter (tel. 619/238-8010), was San Diego's first wine bar, opening in 1996 (yes, we were a little slow to pick up on the trend). This cozy nook offers relief from the rollicking Gaslamp club and bar scene, and features an appetizer menu and 25 different wine flights. A newer arrival is The Cask Room, 550 Park Blvd., East Village (tel. 619/822-1606), located near PETCO Park. Nice touches like comfy club chairs and sofas, free Wi-Fi, and a selection of cheeses and desserts complement the unique collection of vintages from boutique and family wineries. The San Diego Wine & Culinary Center, 200 Harbor Dr., Gaslamp Quarter (tel. 619/231-6400), is directly across the street from the Convention Center, and there's even a trolley stop steps away from the door. The wine bar is open daily, except Sunday, and SDWCC also offers classes and food/wine excursions.

In the North County, Tastes: The Total Wine Experience, 641 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas (tel. 760/942-9549), lives up to its lofty name. It has a Eurocentric emphasis, focusing on wine regions in France, Spain, and Italy; 40 wines are available by the glass, and a small-plates menu of seasonal fare is on offer. Gaffney's Wine Bar, 897 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas (tel. 760/633-1011), serves wines from around the world by the glass or half-glass, with wine flights changing every few days. There are appetizers like cheese and pâté, and chocolates from fabulous Chuao Chocolatier, which is located in the same shopping center.