Nestled in the heart of downtown San Clemente on 123 Avenida del Mar, this brewery is a great find! Menu is loaded with options including the in-house beer braised beef Beeria taco and the Smash Burger. Both of these will not disappoint. Great food deserves great beer and this place surely delivers on that front, with a wild selection of brews on tap. 5 stars for food, beer, friendly service, outdoor patio, and overall chill vibe. Definitely adding this place to my rotation list read more

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Docent Brewing on Del Mar is a lively, cozy, super chill spot to enjoy a brew or three and grab a bite...with friends or by yourself. Today I'm flying solo and needed a good beer and a solid meal. Surprisingly, I was no fond of their English Barleywine, and I LOVE barleywines. However, their Red Rye Ale was very proper and treated me quite well. The Chile Verde Quesadilla was delicious with bold flavor from the Chile Verde and a nice kick from the green salsa. Also included a side, which the arugula salad round things out nicely. Not at all sad that I wandered in. First time. Won't be my last!! Cheers, friends!!! read more

Docent Brewing - Chile Verse Quesadilla & The Rube - Brewpubs Near Me - San Clemente, California

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The service was okay it is a self serve so you order st the counter then pick it up at the counter. It took some time for the food to come out we have waited for the food to come out for atleast 25mins. We saw this while driving downtown and didn't even know that it was here! They actually extended it so it was more visible but before it was a very small place so it is possibly why we have not seen it... they have a patio and plenty of seating inside and a bar plus they also have tables at the very back... the ambiance is okay it is a quick stop where you get a drink and a quick bite! The food were a little bit more on the expensive side and it is not something where you would come back for but they do have plenty of selection when it comes to drinking beers! It is a drinking place so if you like socializing and beer then this place is for you. read more

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My husband loves their beer here. I got some type of GSM but found it too dry and bitter to drink.Next time I'll get a beer for sure! read more

Docent Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - San Clemente, California

Love this spot. They just expanded so they have so much space including the outdoor patio. Great place to grab a beer and hang with friends. Plus, the beer is always great and they always have something gun to try. read more

Docent Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - San Clemente, California

Ive only come here twice, but both times Ive found myself enjoying this place so much. The staff was so friendly and funny, and I really appreciated that. The place is super beachy, and gave an overall comfortable and chill atmosphere. The food was so good. Their smash burger is super well made, along with the rest of their food. Plus, the variety of sides is super impressive. 10/10 would recommend read more

Large space. Bad service. Didn't get order right, but insisted they had and therefore charged us a second entree for getting what we'd originally ordered. They offered ollipop as the soda option without identifying that it is a prebiotic drink. Drank one sip and ordered water instead. (Not taken off bill) Beer was okay, food wasn't bad, but neither good enough to make up for the service. We won't be returning. read more

I had the opportunity to visit again. This place is amazing. The food is delicious. The beer selection is top-notch. It was clean, the staff was kind. And it was well worth my time. I highly recommend this place read more

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Docent is the absolute best! Not only during your typical weeknights or weekend hangouts, but I planned a pub golf crawl for my husband and the manager and bartenders were all in to participate! They were so welcoming to our group of 20-30 people it was definitely one of our favorite stops!!! They were also super in to the theme which was Master's! Highly recommend you stop in here!! read more

Docent Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Best burger in OC Tater tots are amazing too New regular spot of mine. Quiet spot compared to sports bars read more

Docent is, well, decent. They have about 12 beers on tap and a few guest ciders, seltzers, etc. The place itself isn't huge. It can probably seat 20ish people inside and maybe 30 or so outside but if the weather is good, outside is where you want to be anyway because it's right on Del Mar and it's good people watching. My favorite beer was the Uncle Bert, a Scotch ale but I was pleasantly surprised by the food. The eats menu had tacos, salads and sandwiches/burgers. I got a chicken salad sandwich with fries and it was great. Super fresh, generously sized and the fries were perfectly cooked. Nothing like a beer and some fries right on the coast. Good times. read more

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Awesome brewery with n downtown San Clemente. Nice outdoor patio. You go in and order the brew that you like, they pour it for you and that's pretty much it. They have a food menu which we didn't try. I tried a couple of IPAs including their Gimme. Theybweee both leggit. Really enjoyed our time time there. read more

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Great beer, delicious food, and the staff is so awesome. But having no A\C is insane. Everyone is dying. The poor staff they do their best considering they are dripping with sweat. But still have a smile on their face. It's the talk of the whole place. No one can last long. It's a hot box with zero breeze. Hopefully November will be better. read more

Really good tacos! We tried the birria and kimchi. My husband got a blonde and I got a dry wine. The pours were small but drinks decent. We would definitely come again for tacos. read more

Service was excellent and the beer is very good, but that's it. There is no atmosphere and the food was horrible. Only been there once and had the docent bowl. Not sure what it was supposed to be, but the flavors did not mesh and it actually tasted like the food had all been sitting out a while. read more

I think this might be my favored Docent spot. I like how cozy it feels inside. Beers are solid and service was great. No bathroom inside though! It think there's a shared public one outside that all the shops share for their customers. Got a cheese quesadilla. Comes with fries. Kids loved the quesadilla and the fires were more fried batter with some potato content inside . Tasted delicious but definitely fills you up. read more

We had a delicious smash burger, and amazing fries for lunch here. We will be back for sure!

Absolutely amazing food! The Korean kimchi Reuben was to die for! Tater tots were the best I've ever had. The beer was gold medal status.

We recently discovered that we love Docent! The beer, the food, the service, the atmosphere... it's all great. We like the Rabbit Habit (which I think is an IPA) and the Bert Day blonde ale. Also, the chicken Al pastor tacos are INSANELY good. We will be back more often! read more

Omg! I wish this place was in my neighborhood! The tacos... oh the tacos. We tried one of each and they all were delicious. And the arugula salad was the perfect complement to the meaty tacos. We tried the 4 different IPAs and all were distinct and hit the hoppy bitterness you'd expect. Super friendly and helpful service. My only complaint is EVERYONE seemed to need to have their annoying dog with them. So not the restaurant's fault. Definitely feels like a locals favorite. Those are some lucky locals!! If I could, I'd give this place 6 stars! I'll be back! read more

Docent Brewing - Beer - Brewpubs Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Chicken sesame salad is soooo not worth the $ dressing is not good the salad is so boring. Lettuce and chicken for $16

Cute little place off of Del Mar. indoor and out door seating. They staff is friendly and the beer is very good! We have never eaten there but the food looks delicious!! Another plus is it's dog friendly! read more

Great beer and a great small intimate atmosphere service is quick and also the environment and staff are super friendly and the food is really good too. read more

Docent is a hidden gem on Del Mar and loved by the locals, the beer is fantastic and the food is incredible. They have the best Smash Burger in San Clemente, the Beeria Tacos are also amazing. Great fun location with speedy service! The ambiance is perfect for relaxing, having private conversations and people watching, whatever you're into. read more

Great little place, it is small though. food and drink are excellent. We will be back. Service is great.

This establishment has to be the best in service thus far! I have been to the San Juan Capistrano establishment, which is their very first establishment. Service has been exceptional. Favorite beer tender was Garrett at the San Juan location. We've come to love the San Clemente location. Taylor, has to be the best boss in town! Not only is he kind and friendly, he is also the epitome of respect. We come from out of town, almost every weekend and this is our favorite spot. Hats down to Taylor and all the crew that hold down their own and keep this spot running. Thank you for all you do. read more

Docent Brewing - Docent is the best! - Brewpubs Near Me - San Clemente, California

Great stop among the main thoroughfare of San Clemente. Good beer selection and the food was quite tasty, too.

Delicious food, friendly service. Smash burger was surprisingly flavorful. Sesame salad was tasty. read more

Docent Brewing - Brewpubs Near Me - San Clemente, California

Small location with some outdoor seating on a patio that goes onto the street (covid type patio). Didn't try their food but it didn't appear to be too appetizing while looking at the plates of others. If you're an IPA person, this would be your jam. If you're not, I wouldn't recommend. read more

Truly a gem of a brew pub. What's fresh on tap is a great variety, even for us cider lovers. Counter service staff is friendly and the food is worthy of both snacking and a nice dinner out. Love the patio seating (it was a bit rainy the first time we went) and the lounge/sofa area is comfy (the chairs are huge.) read more

Great experience every-time I come here. The beer tenders are so friendly and helpful when choosing what beer. The place even has two patios! 10/10 read more

Docent Brewing - West coast IPA - Brewpubs Near Me - San Clemente, California

Delicious sandwich! On the sweet side and paired with a healthy side salad or potato selections of your choice. I enjoyed their non alcoholic kombucha ( pear flavor) was delish! read more

Docent Brewing - Fried chicken sandwich and arugula salad - Brewpubs Near Me - San Clemente, California

Some of my favorite brews of all time have been brewed by Docent. They have an excellent kitchen, and their menu includes some vegan items. Some breweries have a cool warehouse vibe. Docent is more 'super comfy basement'. Enormous, well-loved couches and chairs fill the place. Bar and patio seating is also available. read more

I loved the experience and the atmosphere. The people were very friendly, and the setting was cozy and inviting. The food was delicious - definitely one of those places you'll want to return to. read more

Super friendly staff. Nice ambiance with shady spots to sit outside under umbrellas. Wish they had hazy ipa on the menu. read more

My husband, daughter and I visited this brewery on a Sunday afternoon. First thought, parking sucks at the beach. Not their fault of course just be aware and allow extra time. The brewery is extremely small maybe 2-3 tables inside. Very tight. They do have a few tables outside with umbrellas for shade which is where we ended up. The guy who took our order was incredibly nice and helpful. My people had the chicken sandwich and I had chicken salad. We all agreed everything was excellent including the beer. Now a major downside imo is there are NO sodas. U drink beer or water. There is a little market a couple doors down but that's a bit inconvenient. The area is very quaint and cute. Lots of shops and places to eat. I'd absolutely go back and highly recommend. It was a great start to a lovely day. read more

Heard that Docent had the best burgers in OC so on the way back from weekend trip to La Jolla, we stopped off at Docent in Carlsbad. Sure enough, their smash burger was fantastic. So with that in mind, we decided to try their other locations. Their San Clemente location also had great burgers. We also tried their kimchi taco. Their kimchi tasted authentic and was also very good. Their beer are also pretty decent but their food is even better. read more

We walked right past it so look for the patio . Signage is small. But the beers here ( especially the IPAs are incredible. Very possibly the finest in San Clemente! Coming from Carlsbad and native to San Diego I've had a plethora of craft brews over the last few decades . Docent produces brews better than most in SD. From their Gold Metal Session ( Hefty Fee) to their Incredible IPA ( Our Glass). Docent is at the top of their game. Now food. We only had a few Tacos but here again they deliver. From the preparation, tortillas, to the tasty meats. Expect to be pleasantly surprised. Whoever is making them cares for the best. Tip, they have a little hidden patio out back. Kind of a " speakeasy" patio. Very cool. read more

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Great staff, amazing food and I love they have wine options as well as amazing beer! Can't wait to go back and try their smash burger that everyone talks about! read more

Docent Brewing - Tacos and spicy cucumber salad. So bomb! - Brewpubs Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Great beer, food and vibe! What more could you ask for? Oh yeah, friendly service too!