south park Archives | The ELL Blog

My monthly guide of San Diego happy hours is back (see here and here for previous guides)! For July, I’m highlighting some favorites in Hillcrest, La Jolla, Mission Hills and South Park. Read below to find out where to get the best fish tacos on happy hour, which place in San Diego is making cocktails with their own fruit wines, and where to stop in South Park with the pup for a glass of wine!

1. Hundred Proof

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

This brand new bar concept is located just down the street from the group’s first restaurant Trust (one of my go-to favorites for brunch). With a modern-meets-woodsy vibe, Hundred Proof is a great spot to grab craft cocktails and bites. From 3-7pm during the week, they offer $7 craft cocktails, $6 wines and $5 beers, plus $3 off all food. Their fish tacos were some of the best I’ve ever tried, and they were only $6 for a plate of three! Their marble bar and jackelope wallpaper make it a pretty fun spot to Instagram, too.

2. Fruitcraft

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

Recently re-conceptualized from a winery to a fermentery, FruitCraft in Hillcrest is making some of the most interesting cocktails in San Diego. All of their wines and spirits are made from a range of fruits other than grapes, such as pineapples, pomegranates, cranberries, and mangoes. FruitCraft then uses these to mix up a range of unique cocktails, such as their take on a Moscow mule made with pumpkin wine! While they don’t currently offer a traditional daily happy hour, stop by on the weekend for Sangria Saturdays and get discounted red and white sangrias.

3. Bar by Red Door

Located in Mission Hills, Bar by Red Door is the sister concept to their adjoined farm-to-table restaurant, Red Door. The space is filled with hanging plants, modern seating, and plenty of natural light, with a bar menu written out on an entire wall-length mirror. Happy hour runs daily from 5-7, and includes $8 cocktails, $6 wines and $5 beers. They also offer food on happy hour as well, with farm fresh offerings like caprese lettuce wraps and mixed vegetables.

4. Whisknladle

Happy hour at this La Jolla gem is everyday from 4-6, making it the perfect spot for a drink near the beach. All libations are $5.55, including select cocktails and house sangria. Small plates are also on happy hour, including a bowl of local mussels and garlic toast. Weekend happy hours are especially hard to come by in La Jolla, so definitely keep Whisknladle in mind if you’re around on a Saturday or Sunday!

5. The Rose Wine Bar

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

South Park is full of great local spots for food and drinks, and The Rose Wine Bar is no exception. The bar has a patio perfect for pups, and they offer an extensive wine list for anyone’s palette. During happy hour (Monday – Wednesday from 4:30-6:30 and Thursday-Sunday from 11:30-6:30), glasses of wine and flatbreads are $2 off, and beer & cider are just $5. Corkage is also reduced to $5 during happy hour, too, so you can pick out a bottle in their shop to share!

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.