restaurants Archives | The ELL Blog

With summer seeming to speed by, I can’t believe it’s already time for another installment of San Diego happy hours! For the month of August, I’ve highlighted bars from the heart of downtown up to La Jolla, including my FAVORITE place for $5 poke as well as the best spot to grab $1 oysters by the pool!

1.Market Hall

Located downtown at the start of East Village, Market Hall is a gourmet food shop with a fantastic selection of high end products including cheeses, wines, and ready-made meals. The spot also has an onsite bar and restaurant which offers a daily happy hour from 4-9pm. Yep, you read that right — it lasts for 5 hours! And to make it even better, all of their happy hour offerings are INCREDIBLE. Rosé is only $4, and that poké and cucumber stack pictured above is a simple $5. It’s a pretty quiet spot, but definitely worth a stop if you’re looking for some amazing food and drinks at ridiculously great prices.

5 San Diego Happy Hours to Try in August | The ELL Blog

2. Park & Rec

This indoor/outdoor concept in University Heights offers a double happy hour Monday – Thursday from 4-6 and again from 10 til close. Cocktails and wines are $6 each, so you can grab a Pimm’s Cup and head to the back house for a game of corn hole. If you’re more interested in people watching, grab one of the adirondack chairs on the front patio and soak up the neighborhood scene.

5 San Diego Happy Hours to Try in August | The ELL Blog

3. The Pool House

The newest rooftop spot to join downtown San Diego, The Pool House is an outdoor bar at The Pendry Hotel that opens to the public nightly starting at 5pm. Don’t miss out on their “Rooftop Social” during the week from 5-7 when their entire menu is half off. San Diego happy hours don’t get much better than this — oysters are just $1 each, and wines start at $5.50. You’ll feel like you’re staying at a five star resort for none of the cost!

5 San Diego Happy Hours to Try in August | The ELL Blog

4. The Smoking Goat

After getting back from Paris, Elliot & I sometimes (more like always) crave a European atmosphere. Enter The Smoking Goat, an intimate French restaurant in North Park that serves up farmhouse style cuisine. Stop in Monday – Friday from 5-6pm for their nightly happy hour, which includes $4 beers and $5 wines. If you’re feeling indulgent, splurge for the escargot and duckfat truffle fries, which are just $6 each.

5. Catania

Whiskenladle Hospitality’s fifth Italian restaurant, Catania, is perched above Girard street in La Jolla, offering both city and partial ocean views from the patio. Their daily “apertivo” runs from 3-6pm, where you can order discounted cocktails and bites. Authentic appetizers include beef carpaccio, arancini, and a salami plate, while drinks range from wines to simple craft cocktails.

Interested in learning more about San Diego happy hours? Read my previous guides here, here and here!

Tuesday has recently become one of my favorite days of the week since it’s the perfect excuse to have tacos + margs on a weeknight. I’m always up for an reason to have some fun on a day other than Friday or Saturday! If you’re like me and looking for a spot to get some yummy Mexican fare at a great price, I’ve brought together six of my favorite San Diego Taco Tuesday spots for you to try out.

Bracero

Situated above Kettner Blvd in Little Italy, this authentic Mexican cocina serves up some of San Diego’s most sophisticated tacos. Their menu of unique taco selections include Beef Tounge Confit, Cauliflower Tortita, and Mexiterranean Abodaba which are $3.50 a piece everyday from 3-6pm. Their speciality cocktail menu is equally as intriguing with fresh takes on classics like a hibiscus sherry Paloma, and are $9.50 at happy hour.

El Camino

Upon entering El Camino, you may have the sensation that you’ve stepped foot inside a piñata. This colorful San Diego Taco Tuesday spot, with vibrant murals and bright tissue paper tassels strung from the ceiling, makes taco Tuesday feel like a party. El Camino is also one of the most affordable spots, too, with $2 street tacos and $3 margs, sangria, and Coronas on Tuesdays.

Del Sur

South Park is full of hidden restaurant gems, and Del Sur is no exception. This colorful Mexican eatery has local neighborhood charm with a spot-on taco + drink menu. Their Tuesday special includes $3 tacos, $5 house made margaritas, and $4 sangrias. If you’re with friends (or feeling thirsty), pitchers of their cocktails are discounted, too.

Cantina MayahueL

Cantina Mayahuel is one of our more recent taco finds, although I wish we’d known about it longer! Located on Adams Street, this small tequila bar feels straight out of Mexico. Everything is prepared in a small kitchen right behind the bar, making the entire drinking and dining experience feel intimate. The cantina specializes in a huge variety of tequilas and mezcals as well, which includes their own house made brand. Margaritas are $5 and tacos are just $3 a piece all day on Tuesdays.

La Puerta

This downtown spot has long been one of our favorite happy hours in the city with it’s amazing prices and yummy Mexican fare. Tacos and TJ Dogs are two bucks all night, while all drinks and apps are 50% off from 3-7. Try their cochinita taco with a Whole Lotta Love margarita – you won’t be disappointed!

Puesto

While Puesto may have already made it onto my list for best happy hours in the city, it would be a shame not to include it on a San Diego Taco Tuesday list, too. Their crispy cheese-grilled tacos and “Puesto Perfect” margaritas are always a great way to end a Tuesday! Get there early while their margs are only $6 from 3-5pm, and stay for the $2.50 tacos and $3.50 Modelo cans that run all night.