Service ambiance is great Karoke !!!fun place bartenders are awesome and friendly ... Kelly is great at night her service and customer service ..Brittany and her spaghetti night Thursdays ...as the whole team is the crew do an overall job !!!! read more

See all

remodel is nice Prices are overpriced for East County bars. Every other one is cheap cheaper.

Great prices!!! And also some people and it was so fun. I don't even remember what happened

This is a really cool dive bar . I always have a a lot of fun when I come here . The patrons are very friendly and I always have a good conversation with someone here. They do karaoke Friday and Saturday nights . It is so much fun here ! The karaoke DJ is amazing . He's very good and a sweetheart. They have 2 pool tables and the bartender Bella makes delicious cocktails. read more

I love spaghetti night on Wednesdays!!! Amazing fun and friendly! Would recommend this dive bar to anyone!

Good dive bar Good drinks Note sure if they refill their bottles with cheap booze.... Overall good dive bar bartenders are sweet read more

Great little quaint bar with a good community atmosphere, when I went it seemed country themed from all the karaoke combs and i loved it!

Bella is such a sweet bartender, make sure to tip her well! We had such a fun time here! Friendly people and pool tables.

Fabulous place. Interesting clientele. Melanie was wonderful as was the music. I can't wait to go back. read more

I spent $15 on 3 beers, and left a $3 tip. My total was $18. I checked my bank account the next day and was charged $20. Kelly jean was the bartender. Someone stole an extra $2 tip. 12/6/23 read more

Don's is the classic definition of a dive bar filled with its regulars and new guests as well. The bartenders are always as friendly as you can get which makes for a pleasant evening. The last time I was there they had a great band, Primal Vinyl, who played a mix of classic rock and up tempo ZZ Top type blues. My girlfriend loved them and insisted on dancing. They also have a security guy there and he was both friendly and polite. Love this place and will go back again. read more

Only friendly to regular patrons. And if you dated a regular patron and are no longer with that regular patron, they act like they don't know you and that regular patron will always be favored no matter what! I was a victim and kicked out, recently due to this favoritism. It is sad because when I was dating the regular patron, I did enjoy the bands and the friendly people. Good neighborhood bar when you don't want to drive far. Unfortunately, the favoritism ruined it all for me. read more

If you havent stepped outside your comfort zone, stop in to Dons. Karaoke, pool tables, outside paddock. Great prices, dance floor, and dedicated bartenders!! read more

A bar filled with racists. They were extremely rude and bar fights were breaking out. They only gave me and my friends half a pitcher of beer because the keg ran out and then never gave us the other half when they refilled the kegs. Don't go here unless you are looking for a fight or rude customer service read more

Love Snake Oil Gypsies band, they play 2nd Sat of every month and always rock! read more

See all

This place is a neat little hole in the wall. It's in a random location and looks sketchy but it's actually really awesome! Good vibes, good people, good times. Each time I've been here Christina has been super awesome! She's super pretty, sweet, attentive, and good at what she does. Drink options are good, they have live entertainment sometimes, and pool. I definitely will be back and highly recommend this place! read more

Don's Cocktail Lounge - Live entertainment Captain Jack Sparrow and the Scallywags - Sports Bars Near Me - El Cajon, California

If I could NOT give a star for writing a review I would....Being my FIRST time there I was NOT welcomed in I was NOT acknowledge by the bartender, I had a complete stranger get the bartenders ATTENTION to even get a drink...my girlfriend and I went to the bathroom as a buddy system as always when we go out not even 2min in the restroom and someone was banging on the door and to the point to where they brook a picture frame and glass was on the floor. The bartender had called last call at 115am and the bouncer told us to hurry up and drink that they were closing but they are open tell 2am....I will not recommend ANY of my friends to go there...the only good thing about that bar is Jeff the karaoke guy. read more

First, let me make sure that I provide full disclosure that I come here on a semi-regular basis and have done so out of loyalty to friends of ours that work here (Debbie & George). Now, this honest review is being written with the understanding that the rating I'm giving it, is in regards to comparing this place with other DIVE BARS. Don's is a good old fashioned dive bar, like most that you'd find throughout San Diego. Some aren't fans of dive bars, I happen to like them. As long as safety isn't an issue, dive bars have character and interesting wildlife, to say the least. Don's Cocktail Lounge used to have a really bad reputation for fights, but I've been coming here for a few years now and I can count on one hand (with fingers left over) how many times I've seen any kind of physical altercation. I read an older review that called it a Peckerwoods (motorcycle club) hangout. There are a few clubs that will come in now and again, but all of them are pretty respectful when they do and none claim it as their "turf", as far as I know. The layout of the bar itself is a little funky, because they tried to squeeze in as many pub tables as they could between the pool tables and the dance floor. There is entertainment on (3) nights a week. Thursdays are always reserved for KARAOKE (hosted by a great KJ George James) and they usually try to have live music on Fridays & Saturdays. One of the owners tends to burn bridges with entertainers, so when there is no live music, they will fill in with more karaoke. Like most dive bars, the crowd is hit or miss. it's usually a good mix of older folks at the bar and younger ones congregating around the pool tables. IMHO the drinks could be a little cheaper for the type of establishment this is, which is one star lost. The other star lost is for the fact that they don't serve any non-microwaved food. Although, they do allow you to bring in food from the outside and there are restaurants within walking distance. Final note... if you like karaoke, Thursdays are the best days to come here. read more

Friendly honkytonk bar with an awesome owner! Her dog is, like, the mayor of El Cajon - so sweet. Thanks for the brews!

Me and my best friend went to Don's cocktail on Saturday night . This was are first time in this bar we had went for a girls night and some karaoke fun... We walk in and go to the far end of the bar by the bathroom because there was a open spot we stood at the bar for almost 10 mins waiting on a bartender to great us and see what we wanted to drink but they still had not done that so a guy who was standing next to us ask if we had been served yet and we said no we have not he then asked how long we have been waiting and we told him for about 10 mins now so he ended up getting one of the bartenders attention and he told her that we needed some help she looked at us and I kindly asked for two Jack and Coke doubles she took almost 5 minutes to pour them and bring them back to us.. after we got are drinks we waited to use the bathroom and the guy who helped us get are drink was talking to us it was finally are turn to use the bathroom so me and my bff went in at the same time and I had just sat down to use the bathroom when people started to knock on the bathroom door I was done and my bff had just sat down when they started pounding on the door to the point they had broke a picture that was on the wall next to the restroom... When we were done with our drinks we had sat back down at the bar and waited to see if we could get service again to get another drink and neither one of the bartenders who were working that night acknowledged us again looked our way or asked if they could get us a new drink they ended up walking past us multiple times and not asking us anything or saying anything to us.... Then we had met a couple and we sat at the end of the bar with them and was talking for a little bit and we still did not get service and then finally they decided to say last call and then asked us if we would like another drink they poured us a drink and a shot and then they proceeded after that to tell us that we needed to hurry up and drink our drinks because they were closed and we needed to go why would you pour drinks for us if you guys did last call already and you guys were closing .... So we decided we needed to use the restroom me my best friend and the girl that we are talking to so we all went to go in the bathroom together and then the bartender decided to tell us that it was only one person and the bathroom at a time we asked her if there was a sign or a rule against all three of us going in the restroom at once and they did not answer that question so the three of us went in we use the restroom they decided they wanted to knock on the bathroom door and tell us we needed to hurry up so we came out of the restroom and I sat at the bar trying to finish my drink that I paid $29 for two Jack and cokes double to the point that I was upset I asked the bartender for the name and the number of the owner and I repeated myself multiple times and she refused to give me the name or the number of the owner and then decided to tell me in a rude way that they didn't have it and they don't know the name of the owner and I said okay no problem I was trying to finish my drink when the bartender decided she was going to snatch my drink out of my hand and dump it all over the counter which was very rude and disrespectful considering I just paid for my drink and she served it to me and they were closing at 1:30 and not two when their website says 2:00am I will never in my lifetime ever recommend any of my friends or family or acquaintances or people I just meet to ever go to Don's cocktail off lost coaches ever ever this was the worst experience I have ever had in a bar or with another person who was rude and disrespectful to the people who are supporting their business and bringing in their money..The only good experience about that bar was the fact that I had my best friend I made two new friends and the karaoke guy Jeff he's the only reason I would think about going back there but I will not support that business any other way read more

Ain't bad depending on the bartender. Was there on Thanksgiving and the bartender was shithoused! Sorta funny... She chased the peeps right out! Good patrons, the ownership try's and the pool is free on Sunday nights. Too many old locals getting 86'd for stupid shit. It causes tension. Fun though, no fights! read more

I have been a regular at Dons for 7 years. I can't believe how rude and nasty this bartender named Daphnie was to me tonight, that I have never seen. She refused to tell me her name, which I learned from two other patrons. She called me a bitch for asking for a water after I misplaced my drivers license and threatened to call the cops on me! Seriously, all that hate, just for requesting a water, after not being able to locate my identification Card in my purse??? She even pulled out a phone to make me feel threatened. I know I am 20 years younger and pretty but she didn't have to go there. read more

Do not go to this shi#hole of a bar! Last night was the final straw. The bartender is absolutely terrible and won't pay attention to you. Plus she measures the drinks in a jigger, which I get if your a bar in Gaslamp and you're pouring premium spirits. There were people lurking around in the dark parking lot and people slumped over in their car. To top it off, there was a huge puddle of blood and drops of blood everywhere right outside the entrance. I felt like we were in the ghetto, not my hometown of Lakeside. Disgusting! read more

Seems to be the unofficial hang out (or even official?) for Santee chapter of PW Motorcycle Gang. Not shocking there has been some incidents here in the past, but I have not either witnessed or experienced any hostility, even would go as far as to say it was reasonably welcoming, but you're definitely on their turf. Bartender nice, decent tap selection. May not be everyone's scene for sure, but not too bad. read more

Wanted to watch the Green Bay game and decided to go out instead of staying home. Should have stayed home. It's a dive bar at best with marginal prices for beer and the bartender was very nice. That is the only reason it got 2 stars was because of Angie she was sweet and accommodating. Patrons were unfriendly and rude so a trip back will not be on our list. If Angie works some other bar we would definitely follow her. Plus this place had a odor or maybe it was mildew I don't know but it wasn't pleasant. read more

Great bar....... Not sure what you would want more in a old drinking room? I have a feeling bad reviews for this place were written by total pussies or they are just flat out full of shit ! read more

Fun place with great live music! Quick access off of the freeway and plenty of parking! The bartenders are really friendly. There are 2 pool tables. read more

My first visit was last month. It was very friendly and welcoming. excellent service and drinks. Very good selection on jukebox. Pool tables look almost brand new. The crowd was diverse enough that anyone would feel welcome. I highly recommend for everyone (over 21 that is)...... read more

Good old east county bar. Not going to be a local spot of mine, but the drinks were strong. If ur in the area feel free to roll the dice I promise it will be at least very interesting. read more

Great place to go in east county, the service is always great when i go in on Wednesdays and Sundays.

It's a hole In the wall dive bar so no 5 star possible but I always have a good time for karaoke.

I love Don's. It's close to home. People are nice. Bartenders, especially Cheryl, are awesome. Drinks are cheap. Pool and good music. What more do you need. Lost one star because they do tend to close early when it's slow, which is understandable. read more

Here at Dons with Krystal. She's definitely one of the best bartenders I've ever met. Definitely a great place you all ages (21 and up of course). I will be back with some friends for another great night. read more

I went here for a good time last night. Halloween costume party! Great! Kickin band cool! Patrons told me no girls bathroom. Used mens. Not cool. Bartender called me a bitch twice. Not cool. Another patron gave me a bunch of fuck you's when she pointed out how they tricked me with the bathroom. I did not bite though. Just gave her a hug and me and my neice giggled alot. Went outside to try and figure out what kind of people these were. Watched a big ol brawl. Will never go back unless i bring my own bouncers. Zero class. Zero respect. read more

Best spot for a drink or two. Definitely not for an all nighter event. The bartenders are awesome, and always attentive to your needs. They have Sculpin on draft and its right around 6 bucks a pint, and 8 for a mug. The music is always crowd picked, so hope for a good night haha. Very small stage with a wood dance floor. Nice overall. read more

Came here for a drink the atmosphere is real upbeat pool and beer pong tournaments can't beat that especially with a military discount. Talked to Krystal she is a real bad ass bartender she knows her stuff. I would definitely will get drunk here again!!! read more

Oh, I've tried, but this place just deserves a passing upl Don't even pass through the doors. Not only is the bartender atrocious to look at, she is atrocious to socialize with. Do yourself a favor and don't even walk through the door, no matter how desperate you are for a drink! Trust me! read more

yuck, yuck super yuck. Lousy drinks that cost too much and they only pour 7/8 th of a shot. Believe me peeps , keep on movin' right past this dump. read more

Fun place ... nothing fancy, friendly people, good service with dancing music on Fridays and Saturdays

Awful! The worse of the worse in Lakeside...and that's saying a lot. Crypt Keeper old bartenders that move with the speed of molasses. Old smelly guys with missing teeth at the bar day and night. The owner is an unfriendly senile d***. I'm all for dive bars, but pass this one up if you are under the age of 65. read more