it was rly special that we were able to see someone who sold out madison square garden at such a…read moresmall venue. they were able to accommodate her specific stage setup, lighting cues, visuals, sound, etc. even tho when we got there it was already p packed (it was 2 hrs before the headliner's set but we didn't realize so many ppl would come down from LA), we were able to stand at a bar behind the sound techs & have a mostly unobstructed view of the stage. GA can also stand on the balcony but we preferred staying on the same level. ushers / security were helpful abt telling us where we could go, but also diligent abt asking ppl to move if they were obstructive. backstage staff were also quick to mop up the stage floor upon artist's request. our main complaint was how hot it got, again even tho we were far back & not even in the crowd; even the artist made note of it. $20 parking wasn't ideal either but we've also seen worse

My daughter and I went to The Sound last week for a concert. She was careful to buy tickets for…read moreseats where we would be comfortable and could see. She made sure not to select obstructed view seats. The seats were the back row of the balcony. We could not see the left half of the stage and could barely see the heads of the center performers. When the people in front stood up we couldn't see a thing. If you select balcony make sure it's the front row. You'll be able to see everything. The sound wasn't great. There were several songs either a buzzing like a cord was bad. It continued through the whole song. They do not provide kids for their drinks at the bar which is weird because I thought it was a California law. Maybe it's not in effect yet. But it does explain why the floors were sticky. Parking was crazy. $20 with no option to park elsewhere. And no direction when you were leaving. A little chaotic. Probably wouldn't go here again unless I got front row balcony and I really wanted to see the artist.

I have always wanted to attend a concert here, but either I wasn't in Solana Beach at the right…read moretime 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.

First time at Belly Up in Solana Beach and wow... what a fun surprise! We came on a Friday evening…read moreto 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!

If you're a niners fan, then this is the bar for you! My bf and I felt right at home, it gets crazy…read morepacked especially for the games so I suggest getting there a little early if you plan on staying for the game. Bartenders were fast and you could tell they tend to their regulars first but over all good vibes, clean and environment, we will definitely be back

Came as a group of 4 before a concert at The Sound. We get ID'ed at the bar (all of us are well…read moreover 30), show our ID's and the bartender starts inspecting my friends Hawaii ID (she lived in Hawaii) he denies us service because he "doesn't feel comfortable" accepting her ID, then threatens to KEEP it?! So, if you're from out of state, be prepared to be asked for a "secondary" ID or they will refuse you service. Insane!

This is a three-day yearly jazz festival in San Diego (actually in Del Mar Hilton hotel). As a…read moreswing dancer, I only attended the late Saturday night dance (11PM to 2AM). The party happens in a large ballroom. However, the good dancing space is limited and split into two tiny floors on the right and the left of the stage, each good for 4-5 couples. The carpet covering the rest of the ballroom is smooth and perfectly danceable in your good dancing shoes. The attendance is pretty high, about 200 people, but most of them come to listen to the music. The dancing group was about 20 people total, with slightly more follows than leads. The skills of most are above intermediate. Hints: the crowd is thin. Unless you really know the swing dance community, it is wise to bring your own partner. The parking ticket ($10) shall be pre-paid in the lobby hotel upon entering, otherwise exiting will take a lot of effort. Overall: if the late night dance happens next year, definitely put it onto your calendar.

From the owner: The San Diego Jazz Party has more than 20 of today’s top Mainstream Jazz Performance Artists from…read morearound the world. Enjoy live music in an informal jazz club environment at the San Diego Hilton in Del Mar. Attendees can choose the full weekend or special focused programs within the Jazz Party. The Hilton Hotel is offering special rates for those who choose to stay at the hotel. You may come for the full weekend as a Patron with reserved table seating and full access to all performances including a brunch on Saturday. Or you may purchase tickets for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday performances. This is a unique opportunity to hear some of today’s greatest Jazz Artists performing together right here in San Diego.

In 1994, Del Mar started holding free concerts after the races on Fridays and sometimes Saturdays…read more 2011 marks the debut of the new Seaside Stage, which is located just west of the race track's Grandstand, with the ocean as a backdrop. Before, concerts took place in either of two locations- Saturdays in the infield area of the racetrack and on Fridays at the racetrack's Plaza del Mexico. "This year we decided to create one stage to accommodate all of our shows," said Josh Rubinstein, senior vice president of development for the Del Mar Racetrack, in a story on www.signonsandiego.com. "We feel the new stage location will provide better sight lines and a better concert experience for everybody who attends. Having one stage allows us to invest more in one location, as opposed to having two," Josh Rubinstein said. The new Seaside Stage is nice. It is a big step up from the previous staging area where music-lovers would need to traipse through the tunnel and walk far to get to the area. With the Seaside Stage, you just walk right into the betting area and then down past some tents, and voila! It's very cool to watch the Amtrack & Coaster trains buzz by and all the potted palm trees swaying in the refreshing ocean breezes gives the place a nice Humphrey's by the Bay ambiance. Del Mar has it all . The new Seaside Stage= 5 YELP STARS for sure!

Free concerts with track admission on the infield area of the racetrack? Count me in! We caught…read moreshows from Weezer and Offspring here after an afternoon of watching the ponies. Combined with a beer or two simply a fantastic way to spend a Friday or Saturday with friends.

This is a fascinating venue with lots of indoor and outdoor space. I attended a Masters party for a…read moregolf-related company, and they had cornhole, seats, bar tables, and even televisions set up outside while the large inside (2 large rooms) had the food, drinks, vendor tables, and TVs, tables, drinks, and plenty of room to roam around. The bathrooms are pretty and clean, and there's even an interesting lounge with quirky memorabilia. Since I wasn't the event organizer/host, I can't speak to how it was to plan the event. However, as an attendee, I was pleasantly surprised at what was here in the middle of an industrial area and would definitely keep this on my list of possible venues for events.

Great venue for private parties! Attended a formal event here and they had a great setup with…read moreseveral bars, indoor and outdoor seating and nice ambiance. Unsure if they provide their own catering or if you can bring outside catering services there as I wasn't part of the planning. Worth checking out if in need of a venue for around 100 people.

THE KRAKEN @ CARDIFF…read more Parking is available right out front, but you can also walk here if you're nearby. My friends and I tried walking from State Beach in Encinitas, it was about a 13-minute walk, but I wouldn't recommend it. The path smelled pretty bad, likely because of the seals and trash in the area. Once we arrived, we were quickly settled in. The restroom was clean and decent, and we loved how spacious the place felt. There's a nice outdoor area where people can hang out and drink, as well as an indoor section with a pool table. We tried some of their margaritas, which were absolutely delicious, and really enjoyed the ambiance. The staff was friendly, the service was great, and the overall vibe made it a fun spot to visit. Once inside, you don't notice the outdoor smell, so that's a plus. I'd definitely stop by again.

Ok I'm a long time lover of this dive bar…read more I don't expect much and I never leave a bad review unless DESERVED. The long time bartender was fired for unknown reasons .. ( probs for having a drink on duty but whatever.. kinda expected here!!) The new dude thinks he's a GOD and with ZERO!!!Personality! ZERO!!!Sense of humor ZERO knowledge of making basic drinks ( didn't know what a painkiller was and that he could charge $25 for it) and REALLY RUDE. Basically told me to piss off! So I ordered a beer. Later, on my way out...I mentioned the bathroom smelled like sewage and maybe he should call the plumber for Monday.. and told me to shut up and get outta here or he'd be calling the cops?! Over reacting for a simple situation...trying to help a business owner. This guy needs a job NOT in the SERVICE INDUSTRY!!‍‍

Beautiful view... Christine our waitress was excellent…read more.. Bus boys were very polite and very friendly.. Salmon not cooked enough x2 Braised short rib hash was excellent Denver Omelette as per ordered

Had an early dinner on the outdoor patio with girlfriends on a Sunday. John was our server. He and…read morethe other wait staff were timely, good at making wine suggestions, answered our many questions and were very accommodating. The food and drinks came out quickly too! When it comes to the location and ambiance you can't beat it. Made me wonder why I don't come more often. We shared Brussels sprouts, oysters, and bread, beet salad, ahi nachos and 2 entrees amongst the 5 of us. There was no rush for us to leave and there were a lot of different menu selections.

WORST EXPERIENCE!…read more Their violinist canceled on us two weeks before our wedding day!!! They had a contract with us for 8 months and acted like it was meaningless. The violinist booked another job shortly after our contract was signed in Jan and never told us for 8 months until Aug!! She tried to pass off her friend to fill in for her but her friend was a rock and roll singer/violist and it was not at all comparable to the vibe we wanted for our ceremony. The violinist said the other job paid more and that it was her 'breadwinner'. It was extremely hard to get a hold of the performer during the contract and The owner refused to pay for the difference to book another musician. The only reason we even found out was because I reached out to the performer and manager to send our ceremony songs and she replied saying she had another job booked!!! This place is a joke. They put an extreme amount of stress on my family and I canceling this late before our wedding. Thankfully I found someone to fill our wedding date on the side but the owner would not pay or contribute to the new cost. The owner also went black for 3 days w/o communication to us. It was an absolute nightmare!!!! They also had employees leave the company during our experience with them changing around our point of contact. Untrustworthy. Unprofessional. Unreliable. Poor business management.

A phenomenal company to work with for live music. They have a roster of some of San Diego's best…read moremusicians and artists, and are exceptionally considerate of their musicians and venues. If you need music for private events, weddings, corporate parties etc the Acoustic Spot is the best option for you!

My husband and I came here on a Thursday night since we were in the area. We were able to find a…read moreparking spot in the parking area for the shopping strip. The place was busy but we were able to find a spot at the bar to order food. The bartender took our order and it came out in a reasonable amount of time. I ordered the beer battered fish and chips which were battered nicely and came with a small container of tartar sauce. My husband ordered the Shrimp Al Mezcal and he enjoyed it very much. The sauce had good flavor and the shrimp was nicely cooked. Overall the food was great. Great casual neighborhood spot.

If you are catching a game.... this is the place!…read more TVs everywhere, atmosphere is on fire , happy hour is lit, and great selection of food items! Ordered the wings to start and were absolutely some of the best wings we have ever had! Lemon pepper dry rub and buffalo were bomb.com. Server was on point and ready to bring a new drink / fill waters for the whole game. Bloody Mary and list of beers on tap were fantastic. Had a blast with the family and other fans cheering on our team!