On this visit we had dinner at the Tavern first. I really liked this restaurant and I would come back here when not attending a show. The menu has an option for everyone. So many good choices I had a hard time deciding what to order. Great trivia and history on the walls with pictures of past performers from many years back. So fun! I look forward to coming back and trying different things read more

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One of our long-time local favorites. In warm weather, we enjoy the patio and watching the ever-changing array of characters ambling along South Cedros, some destined for shows at The Belly Up. The inside dining room and bar is cozy and decorated with posters from musical acts. Tavern is popular before shows and we go early on weeknights to beat the crowds and enjoy the food. The menu is reasonably priced. The tasty pan seared lemon and butter scallops on linguine was $29. The lobster tacos are $28, with the lobster chunks in a bowl with a subtle tomato sauce, and choice of torillas, with Spanish rice and black beans. Tavern has a full bar and a short but excellent wine list, reasonably priced, and mostly from California. Wines by the glass start at $11 and go to $14. A bottle of William Hill, Central Coast, Chardonnay, wsa $42 and the Rombauer Carneos, $65. Corkage is $25. Most cocktails are $15. It has local beers on draft and in the cans. Service is always fast and friendly. They check regularly for water refills, and any thoughts on the meal. We enjoy the casual, neighborly feel to the Tavern. A California beach town classic. read more

Best place to eat before a show at the Belly Up! My go-to has been the filet medallions. Always great! Perfectly cooked each time. Cocktails are on point. Old fashioned was excellent. Wine list is what you need. Not huge, but full of solid wines. Review for the attached restaurant: Kind and efficient service. Joy was stellar!!! Nice welcome upon coming in. Server had it all nailed down. Look forward to coming again! 5/20/26 visit read more

Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach-- Where "I don't dance" is a fictional speech. The music kicks in, and you're off in a flash, Doing moves your knees may invoice you for in cash. The well drinks? My taste buds filed a complaint. Top shelf had them cheering, "Now THIS one ain't!" But drinks play backup--the bands are the stars, We came to shake things, not critique the bars. The backup dancers bring moves so slick, My hips yell, "We've got this!" My knees say, "Be quick." Their choreography puts mine to shame--I mostly just wiggle and give it a name. Day shift's my favorite: we boogie, we flirt, Feeling flirty, even though I'm no longer thirty. The crowd's got plenty of spark and delight--Then I'm home by eight-thirty, still calling it a night. They've got Fly Girl classes to teach you the groove, So you can show up with moves that actually move. There's night shift, too, if you're hungry for more--But I'm home by eight-thirty, as I've said before! read more

We saw Don West in Italy last June. This venue provided a more intimate experience. They have seating for about 200 folks and are on a first come first serve basis. If you eat at the Tavern next door you do get priority entry. The acoustics are good and the staff is great. read more

I have always wanted to attend a concert here, but either I wasn't in Solana Beach at the right time or I could not make it down. We were looking for a fun evening to bring in the Christmas spirit post Thanksgiving and I saw this advertised concert on the website that I thought our daughter would really enjoy. I went ahead and purchased our tickets which were very reasonable for a show. I love that Belly Up has its own website so people can still afford to attend their shows. We saw Grammy nominated and Father of Contemporary Jazz David Benoit perform all the Peanuts Christmas songs from A Charlie Brown Christmas. WOW! What a terrific show! We sat on the main floor right up close to the stage and we all had such a good time especially our daughter as it was a surprise show for her. The layout is perfect with lots of open space, a bar area, dance floor and a second level. It is quite large inside but you cannot see that from the outside. Acoustics are perfect and David Benoit is still the master of the piano. He had a guest vocalist Courtney Fortune which added to the evening performance. Parking is about the only challenge so we made sure to arrive extra early and grabbed a spot right out front. Also parking was free! I definitely recommend this venue for good service and great music. read more

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We have been coming to this venue for over 25 years and it's amazing. There aren't a lot of music venues in San Diego where you can see some of your favorite bands up close and personal. FYI - if you prefer not to stand, you can get there when the doors open and try to snag a seat. If not, you may have to stand or buy a seat. Otherwise, I think you will love everything about this classic San Diego spot! read more

Had another amazing night at Belly Up watching Talking Heads tribute band... awesome! Tim the bartender is always nice. The food at The Tavern is really good, be sure to call for a reservation. If you eat there then you get speacial side door entry with your ticket. Large areas for groups, sitting, or standing on the dance e floor area. Prices vary so check the schedule. Have fun! read more

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Nice intimate venue with a restaurant attached that serves good food. Dining there allows early entry to the show if you don't have reserved seats. We had reserved seats in the balcony and the view was very good for one of us and partially blocked for Sometimes your view can be blocked with the rafters. Sound was good and service was excellent. read more

Love this venue! I've been coming here for years to all different types of shows and they are always amazing the sound is great! This is the first time I've ever had something to eat off the menu I ordered chicken strips with fries I upgraded them to sweet potato fries and it came with dill pickle ranch & bbq sauce they were actually really good very crispy & it came out very hot! I also ordered an old fashioned which was also yummy overall a great experience like always here at the belly up! read more

Belly Up Tavern - Bars Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Came here with a friend to see BetaMaxx perform. The band was amazing, my favorite '80s cover band! I've seen them a few times at other venues. The sound system was really great, but it was too overpacked. For $25, it was standing room only, with very little room wiggle, much less dance. I would've enjoyed the experience more had it been less crowded. read more

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I love the belly up. We have been going here for years. It's one of the oldest bars in San Diego. It looks very original. We saw atomic groove that last night. They were great. I would definitely go back and see them. The bartender was pretty rude and ignored me. I'm very small and he helped larger people next to me and overlooked me but honestly, the friendliest part of the staff was the bouncers. They were extremely kind and caring. I was thankful that they were around. They said a few nice things to me and it really helped to make my night sometimes it's the small things that make or break the night like a kind staff member that takes a moment to say something to you one of them told me to drink some water and I remembered that the whole night and it really helped me in the end. Thanks bouncers for everything I felt very safe with them. read more

Belly Up Tavern - loved him - Bars Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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We've seen about 6 shows here and I really enjoy this venue. The bathrooms are huge, and always clean. We've lucked out finding parking near by every time we've come, and security to get in is very friendly. You can stand all the way at the back of the bar and still see the band on stage and hear them clearly. If you want a light snack, the chips and guac is absolutely the best. I wish I had a good photo of the mountain of guac they give you. The sliders and chicken tenders are standard bar food, and enjoyable. read more

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I came a week ago and had a wonderful time at the Iam Tongi concert. If you get there early, you can definitely score a seated view of the show. There's plenty of parking on this street and you can park for free. I didn't order any food but the bar had a great selection of beers and cocktails. The venue probably holds 200-300 people. This was my third show and I have no complaints. The sound and lighting are amazing! read more

Belly Up Tavern - Bars Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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First time at this local venue & it did not disappoint. First a great dinner with excellent service at the Tavern Restaurant that is connected to the The Belly Up. If you are dining prior to an event you will be permitted to enter thru a side entrance which is awesome. Upper loft seating was comfortable & had a great view of the performers. The service staff upstairs was every bit as amazing as the staff at the restaurant. My only complaint is about the security personnel upstairs... very rude & unpleasant but tolerable because the Steely Dan concert was epic! read more

Belly Up Tavern - Interior of the venue. - Bars Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Fun to go to Belly Up for concerts! We go there often for parties and pay extra for the private upstairs loft area on Friday nights for Atomic Grove. It makes it a fun night where we have seating, a great view of the stage, and a waiter to order or drinks and food through. The price is pretty reasonable and we always have a great time! read more

Belly Up Tavern - Bars Near Me - Solana Beach, California

First time here and a very clean, wide open venue to enjoy music and other entertainment. We scored tickets via VetTix.org donated by the Belly Up Tavern but were not able to post via VetTix because were were out of the neighborhood and VetTix has a geographical limitation for posting reviews. The location has its own tavern through which you can get into the entertainment side through a back door if you dine or cocktail with them (pretty nice option and the menu looked inviting for the site). We saw Coco Montoya and his blues/jazz group and were quite glad we had the opportunity. There were plenty staff to assist for any needs, from food to bar and entrance. read more

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"So needless to say I'm odds and ends But I'll be stumblin' away Slowly learnin' that life is okay Say after me It's no better to be safe than sorry" - a-ha A fellow Yelper (thank you, Klariza F.!) hooked us up with comp tix to see 80s cover band The Spazmatics on a Friday night. Arriving just before doors opened at 8:30 for a 9 pm concert, we lucked into a prime street parking spot right in front - somehow no one had taken it despite a fair number of patrons already waiting in line to enter the venue who had presumably parked farther away! Tickets, IDs, and bags were efficiently inspected once inside. The venue was much larger than I anticipated, with two bars and multiple seating options, as well as a spacious dance floor. We easily found seating together for our party of 5 (which later became 7) with a good view of the stage. Having had dinner before the concert, I declined to order food but it was nice to know it was available. Opening act Hot Lava played for 45 minutes (I thought they were just ok), and then there was a 45 minute break - too long in my opinion, and the primary reason for this review being 4 stars rather than 5 - before the main act which I loved. From a-ha's "Take on Me" to Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer," every song The Spazmatics covered during their 1 hour set was so much fun! read more

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First time at Belly Up in Solana Beach and wow... what a fun surprise! We came on a Friday evening to see Atomic Groove playing all the best 80's & 90's hits, and the energy was AMAZING. Every single musician was so talented -- not only were they great on their instruments, but they could all sing too! That honestly caught us off guard in the best way. It was such a fun girls' night vibe -- singing along, dancing, and just enjoying the music. We're definitely coming back, and next time we're bringing more girlfriends with us! We came hungry and almost grabbed food before arriving, but decided to wait -- good thing we did because they actually serve food here along with drinks. We ordered the hamburger sliders with truffle fries, plus beer and a cola. The food was solid and hit the spot. Only small downside was the soda -- it was flat and didn't have carbonation. But everything else made up for it. Overall, such a fun spot with great live music, good food, and a lively atmosphere. Can't wait to be back! read more

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My new favorite place to see a show. We sat in the upstairs area overlooking the stage and the view was great and worth the extra money we paid to have a reserved seat to go to. Sitting in the upstairs there are servers to take drink and food orders and our server, Stacey was super rad, very attentive and quick with our orders. We only ordered the pretzels for food which were pretty good. The drinks I believe were a reasonable cost for a music venue and the pours were definitely generous. The vibe was super mellow and even the security team seemed to be laid back but still attentive to their job. Great place and can't wait to go back to another show. read more

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My absolute all time favorite venue in San Diego. It's always comfortable and they have some good bar food. Service has always been great. The Old 97s, The Blind Boys of Alabama and George Thorogood are some of the concerts we've seen here. LOVE this place. read more

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Went to see the Madonna tribute .. generous pours, great atmosphere and sufficient staff around to ensure a well managed all round experience. Danced till nearly midnight! Gear friendly vibes. read more

Throwback night at the Belly Up! Haven't been to the Belly Up in about 20 years! The vibe is still the same, just with some nice upgrades to the venue. The opening band, Hot Lava (@hot_lava_band), kicked things off with major B-52s energy it super fun and energetic. Then The Spazmatics came on and WOW GODDARN they were GREAT! So many fun hits from the '80s, it honestly felt like a total time warp in the best way. There was a mix of standing room on the floor and some seating available. I believe there's also an upper section for an additional cost if you want a different view. All in all, the Belly Up is still as awesome as I remember. Can't wait to go back again soon! read more

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The Belly Up Tavern is one of the best venues in my opinion. It's been a main staple of Solana Beach for so many years. I've been here for concerts, comedy shows, and parties and highly recommend finding something that you'd like to hear or see here. The place is well oiled and runs smoothly from being near the Coaster Station, waiting in line before doors open, getting inside with bag checks, grabbing a drink or seat. There's usually a big open area for those who like to dance as well as seating on the sides and back area while still having a good view of the stage. There's usually security does a great job of blending in but are definitely aware when things need attention. The bartenders are very cool and they keep a variety of distilled beverages as well as wines and beers. read more

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I simply LOVE coming to the Belly Up, they book good musicians and handle the ticket sales themselves. Save on fees by picking up your tickets at their Box Office or sign up for e-tickets to be sent to you. This really makes a difference on your wallet! I appreciate that they have not sold out to a large corporation that raises the prices for everyone. The layout is very well thought out. It's a medium-size concert venue, the General Admission has limited seating on the first level, large bar and a dance floor. The second level loft has four rows of seating for slightly higher price. Through the years, I've seen The English Beat, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Coco Montoya and Tommy Castro, plus others I canot remember at the moment. The food and drink menu is good and the prices are very reasonable. Your experience will be memorable, they are organized, provide good service. Pro Tip: If you make reservations at the Tavern Restaurant next door, show your receipt to the security guard for early admission to the venue. Buy your tickets on their website, arrive early and don't forget to tell'em that Rosemary sent ya!! read more

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What a nice concert venue. I like the set up that allows ppl to sit on both sides and still have good views of the stage. The bar isn't too far from the stage. I'll go back for more concerts. read more

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Always a fun experience. Definitely have to get there early if you want any kind of table seats or at least a chair. Good service, the servers are always wandering the area. Fun crowd, always see my friends. April and the Funk junkies rock! We also went to see a band that I had never heard about which you will see pictures below. read more

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This place is a LOT nicer than I expected! It's very clean, spacious, has excellent AC, nice decor, lots of free seating, serves pretty good food and drink, and is well staffed with friendly and attentive staff. It's a really nice venue to watch live music! If you have a chance to go, you will certainly not be disappointed by the venue. We saw an 80s cover band there and it was a lot of fun! read more

Belly Up Tavern - Bars Near Me - Solana Beach, California

Went to see the Totally Eighties Band at the Belly up on New Year's Eve. Fabulous music, great musicians. What a nice establishment. The service was great! Parking on the street but we got there early so no problem. read more

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BELLY UP TAVERN @ Encinitas Came here during Saint Patrick's Weekend for an Irish Band! The place itself was very close to all the small shops, and we walked just from Pizza Port! It's also right by the beach, so location is great and parking was available. The place had a whole merch table, ended up buying a Belly Up shirt for $35, and they were quite sold out of so many things that night. I got a shirley temple for just $6, pretty good price and was great! The place had great AC, so I didn't feel like it was too hot or steamy. Bathrooms were available and were clean! Highly recommend stopping by this place, or even for a concert or performance. Great area and spot. Service was great as well! read more

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GREAT venue! Went to see Marcos Valle. The set up is intuitive, large dance floor with chairs and tables on the side. The manger SCOTT is phenomenal, kind and patient. The type of person that should be managing a large place. Thank you Scott for a fun safe evening! read more

Belly up is a great little venue for local and national bands/artists. I came during st Patrick's day weekend to see an Irish band. The building is super cool with a huge shark hanging from the ceiling of the bar and a good sized stage and standing room. Seating is first come first serve unless you pay extra in advanced for balcony seating to the top right of the stage if you're looking at the stage. Bathrooms are nearby and clean. They share it with another business next door but not a bad thing. Bar is real nice and had a lot of good options. They did run out of Guinness on st Patrick's day weekend which was odd as they should have expected to be selling more of those for the holiday, but that's a niche area where it wouldn't affect me coming back or not. I'd recommend coming here if there's an artist or band that peaks your interest. It has all the room you need and optional seating if needed/ preferred. Great location being near the beach too and other restaurants and bars to visit before coming here for your concert. It does get crowded but that's expected at big events. I'd give it five stars if they had more beer options. read more

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Have seen 15 or so different bands/acts here. Never disappointed. You come out floating. The Samples, Van Halen cover band, and Debbie Gibson are my favs. Buy tix in advance for anything. Side bar is quicker than the main. Try to park around back. Managed well. read more

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It's an amazing place for a concert, small intimate, bar tenders are on point. And look out for the shark.... read more

Belly Up Tavern - Margo Price - Bars Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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Amazing experience all around. The ambiance was trendy, fresh, and comfortable (10/10). Service was outstanding, incredibly kind and attentive. The food was unreal. The poke appetizer was so fresh, the shrimp taco was one of the best I've had in a long time, and the turkey club had perfect meat portions. Highly recommend. read more

Belly Up Tavern - Turkey club - Bars Near Me - Solana Beach, California

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We had a fantastic dinner at the Tavern, prior to the Concert at the Belly Up. We started with a couple of Margaritas and then went straight to our main course, we had the fish and chips, which came with all the sides including Malt Vinegar, the Burger was fabulous along with Garlic Truffle Fries and we also had the filet Mignon Medallion's and Spring Rolls. We had the bread pudding for dessert. Everything tasted amazing. In addition, if you eat prior to a concert, they provide a priority entry to the venue, definitely an added benefit. We will be back read more

Belly Up has been around for ages. In a previous life, I remember coming here with some coworkers in the Spring of 2000....and nothing has changed...which is a great thing! It's an intimate venue, but can somehow pack a full house without feeling like you're shoulder to shoulder with everyone. Security is visible and they keep people from standing in the no standing zone, without being rude! My partner and I went to see BetaMaxx- they always put on a great show! Tickets were reasonably prices. Drink prices are appropriate venue priced...what do I mean by that? Are they higher than most places? Yes...but they aren't outrageously high. There's a small parking lot to the side of the venue. Love this venue! 5 stars! read more

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One of my favorite concert venues in San Diego! I'm not a huge concern goer these days and have only been to Belly Up two or three times now, but boy does this place run a well-oiled-machine. I recently attended a concert here with my fiancée and a couple friends for a Tab Benoit concert and was very impressed with great this place is. We arrived about half an hour before the show started and while parking here is somewhat limited, there's plenty of free parking in the surrounding blocks and we ended up only parking about a block away. We approached the venue and one of the first things I noticed was that there was no crazy line out front, no chaos, nothing that would normally raise my anxiety when in large crowds. The security officers at the front were very friendly and welcoming and were extremely professional from what I saw while waiting for our friends. Once they arrived we all proceeded in where our tickets were scanned, our wrists stamped and we were wanted for weapons. For such a small entryway they kept everything moving in a very fluid manner. Once inside we proceeded to the bar, grabbed a couple drinks and headed to the front near the stage. I hate buying drinks at most concert venues because everything is low-shelf and overpriced, but Belly Up has a very good beer selection as well as a bottle selection and I would say is one of the better assortments compared to other venues I've been to. The prices also weren't nearly as bad as other concert venues. Once the incredibly awesome show was over with, the crowd made its way out of the venue and there was no rushing or bottlenecking at the exit. Once we were out the venue dispersed the crowd quickly and getting out of there was very smooth and easy going. I really enjoy this venue. From the professional employees, the intimate setting of the venue and how inexpensive it is to get there and park, I'm a huge fan. I don't always do well in large crowds, but I found Belly Up to be quite delightful. One final thing, Tab was my first blues concert and it was amazing! I don't think any other venue could have hosted his concert better. read more

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Hidden gem that all the locals love. Intimate spot that makes you feel like you are right in the action wherever you stand or sit. Sound system is amazing. Full bar and affordable tix makes this the perfect place to rock out with friends, family, or lovers. Saw Madame Gandhi, Femi Kuti, and 10,000 Maniacs here. Would definitely recommend seeing Femi Kuti if you want to experience Afrobeat! Your soul will thank you. Something else to keep in mind...20 minutes of live music increases wellbeing by 21%. Be happy and see live music at a local venue! read more

Love the food and staff - you can right into the show from the restaurant - tasty dishes and good drinks!