STEPH JUDGEMENT: Casual neighborhood tavern with good happy hour deals. We were walking by when we saw a sign advertising their "Nauti Hour", which was 1/2 off beers and apps from 3-6pm. They also have daily specials. The place was casual-nice, with an open plan that let in some nice afternoon breezes. The crowd skewed older and rather well-heeled, more wine than beer. We sat at the bar, where a friendly bartender took our order. We weren't terribly impressed with their draft beer selection--mostly very mainstream stuff. I got the Sam Adams summer ale and the hubby got a Truly seltzer. We shared a cheese quesadilla served with pico de gallo, sour cream, and guacamole--it was large and delish. It was a good place to get our evening going. read more

Nautilus Tavern - Quesadilla - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing happy hour 2-5 has a 50% off all appetizers and drinks. All appetizers are full size meals, the Margarita flat bread was absolutely delicious didn't even add any protein and it was an entree size itself while being the most flavorful tomato sauce with super fluffy flatbread Melissa was amazing, she was our host, food runner, bartender, and server. Amazing Job! read more

Nautilus Tavern - Happy Hour Happy Life! - American Near Me - San Diego, California

We wanted to love this place. What we loved about this bar was Saul. He showed up on time and had the doors open, chairs set up and the restaurant ready to go for guests by opening time. 10am. The bartender strolls in at 10:17 with 4 of us sitting at the bar waiting for service staff. I noticed you use Toast which would validate the late clock-in. The bartenders reasoning was they were there for a private party that had them at the bar until 4am that morning. Recommendation would be to not schedule the same staff back-to-back when you have a private event that could possibly run over. You could tell she was dragging from exhaustion/lack of sleep. The Buffalo Trace napkin holder can definitely use a dusting. read more

See all

Love the happy hour here. Fun vibe with good food and a big drink selection. These nachos were actually really good and massive. read more

Nautilus Tavern - American Near Me - San Diego, California

The perfect place to stop! Glad the hotel recommended it. Walking distance. They had live music. We danced. We had nachos and pizza. The nachos were my favorite! The beer was nice and cold! Just good friends having fun. The bartender was friendly. Perfect place to chill! read more

See all

Great place to have a bite and drinks! The food is amazing and portions are substantial! Its a good sports bar with clean restrooms too! The wait help is incredible! Milana was so helpful and the bartender was great as well and I didn't get her name. Go check them out as you won't be disappointed! Mahalo read more

This place is pretty chill with all right food, but I got commission to do their stage mural and they never paid me for it and refused to pay me for it. I don't know if it's just a change in ownership or what but this place is shady and it just breaks my heart to know that they have an art piece of mine that hasn't been paid for. Therefore, it's been stolen from me. Everything is overpriced and the service is not good at all. I am a local in town and it's very upsetting knowing that I don't even feel welcome in a place where I've decorated their walls with my own money and didn't get paid for my investment. Just think about that when you're looking at the mural on the wall, it says Nautilis Tavern read more

Place is legit!!! Close to 9pm and staff couldn't have been more helpful and friendly! Courtney was super nice and helpfl!!!!!! We will be back for sure!! Shrimp tacos were so good! Ceviche is bomb! And the waffle dessert is so good i can't wait to get another romor read more

See all

Weirdest interaction I have ever experienced. I'm not one to write low rating reviews however, I thought I should share my experience. My boyfriend and I came on Sunday, December 30th at 5:46pm. We saw online that their happy hour was from 3pm-6pm. We came in excited to try a different place and watch the 49ers game and get drinks on happy hour! Unfortunately, our experience here was weird and left my stomach feeling a bit uneasy. As we were looking at the menu, the server greeted us and asked us if we would like to start with any drinks. We said yes and asked if it was still happy hour. She then said "no, it ended at 5pm". That was fine, maybe their happy hour changed and they just needed to update their website. No big deal. We didn't question it and still ordered drinks and ended up ordering the nachos. But then as we were closing out our tab and finishing the rest of our drinks, it just got even more weird. As we were closing the server said, "I felt bad since you guys asked for happy hour so I ended up giving it to you". It was a nice surprise and we thanked her and we just ended up staying for a few more minutes to finish our drinks. A lady then comes in and sits at the bar around an hour after we got there (6:45ish) and proceeds to ask the server if it was still happy hour. The server then answers with a firm no, it's not happy hour it ended at 6. This interaction happened right in the center of the bar, right where the center tv is. So I heard and saw this interaction. I was confused as to why she had told the lady 6 but had told us 5. My boyfriend then went to the bathroom before we left. He saw on their chalkboard that it says happy hour is from 3pm-6pm. We were both confused as to why the server was telling us 5. As we were exiting, I proceeded to ask, "just wanted to make sure for future reference what time does happy hour start and end". She then answers, "it usually is 3pm-5pm but sometimes they'll let us have it until 6pm". I'm not sure why there wasn't just a direct answer. This is where I regret not questioning why she had told the lady 6pm but us 5pm. I just thanked her and we left. We left discussing what happened. I tried to maybe justify why she had said 5pm the first time maybe she was new, maybe she just confused the times however, after hearing her tell the other lady that happy hour is over at 6, I knew that wasn't the case. I may be overthinking this situation however, I thought it would be nice for others to hear about my experience here. I'm not one to feel like race had something to do with this interaction but I just can't help but feel that it did. I was giving possible reasons as to why she was acting this way and trying to understand but overall I was just confused about this whole situation. I even called the next day to ask again what their hours were and the person on the phone said it was 3pm-6pm. I work in the industry, and I am truly excited for anyone who comes in for happy hour and will even apologize if they miss our happy hour. But not everyone is like that. I don't think I'll be coming back and as for anyone who is looking for their happy hour it is 3pm-6pm like it is stated on their website, Instagram, and in their restaurant. read more

See all

Great place to go for Taco Tuesday Trivia night with our family. Good food and fun ambiance. Staff are friendly.

Me and my mom wanted a beer after having dinner around the neighborhood and we were sad to find out they had a taco guy at the tavern or we would've dined here. We arrived in the middle of trivia night and the vibes were so fun! The staff were so friendly and fast! We really enjoyed ourselves. read more

Nautilus Tavern - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Otis is the Man! We tried to keep him hopping but he is a pro and kept us Stocked! Super fun and great sense of humor too! Food it first rate! Must try the Chips and Guac and the Truffle Fries, as they have just the right amount of Truffle! All the food was beyond good! Ambiance is well... Stellar! Sit outside. I mean you are in San Diego and the weather is always Awesome!! You can see the tv's or people watch because you sit right off the main boulevard! We stopped in here several times during our stay and it was always First Rate! Live entertainment at night too! read more

See all

Five stars for the Sunday NFL games viewing setup. They have a host/emcee which makes it a lot more fun but is not over the top. They'll put on any game you want to watch and have 13 different TVs to accommodate customers. The emcee also does trivia for prizes such as free drinks. Wasn't super crowded so I'd call it a hidden gem for now. Decent selection of brunch food and lunch foods such as tacos, which were large and good. Friendly service. read more

See all

Had a great dinner and drinks here with the wife to celebrate my adult circumcision going smooth. Will definitely be coming back

My boyfriend and his dad preformed at Nautilus Tavern in the band Gaba Groove the evening before Easter. They were accompanied by Bonfyre which is a Reggie band. This was the first time any of us came to Nautilus Tavern and we would definitely come back again to see other bands perform. The service there was great because the bartender and servers kept refilling our drinks. I ordered a side of fries which tasted pretty good and were pretty filling considering they were a side! Overall was a great experience and I'll definitely be back to try more items on the menu. read more

Nautilus Tavern - Lil bathroom selfie - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Love band with 2 sax players?? Amazing. Also the mango salsa for the coconut shrimp app is amazing and well worth the trip. Shrimp tacos were good but nothing special. Drinks were also good. Definitely worth a try if you haven't been here before. read more

They make a killer espresso martini that has a creamy topper! It was like drinking a latte where you can take your finger and rim the cup for the foam. This is a perfect spot in La Jolla for a night cap and some football. read more

Nautilus Tavern - Gin Espresso Martini - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Popped in for a drink and to watch a game on the tv. Bartender was a great, friendly guy. Good beer selections. Snacked on some food and a friend got the burger. All was great! Cute little patio area out back, good happy hour every day from 3-6 along with other specials. read more

I cannot believe we have lived in the area for 14 years and not have learned about the Nautilus Tavern. From fresh ceviche, to delicious burgers, to the area's best wings, Nautilus is hands-down the best tavern in the area. While their standard fare prices are very competitive, their incredible happy hour pricing is over the top, and includes top shelf wines like Meomi. The entire staff is extremely friendly and you can eat indoors or outside. While indoors enjoy sports on mutilple flat screen TV's. I have not met one naysayer. Many of the clientelle are very local, like walking distance local. Great crowd. Fantastic place!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

OK! Not only was the food so delicious... Like literally everything was so delicious. The service was outstanding. The ambience was so fun and definitely a local place I would go to if I lived there. Young crowd! And while I was in San Diego/La Jolla for three days, this was one of the spots me and my girlfriends attended all 3 days. I wish I would've gotten pictures of food and a few other things but of course we were too busy having fun ! Man/bartender Courtney Lexi and a couple other amazing people help us out and gave us a great experience. If I ever find myself back in the area, they are gonna be wanna hang out with and see!! read more

Nautilus Tavern - Me and the girls taking a picture before drinks and food - American Near Me - San Diego, California

12/6/25 at 10:45 (ish)! My partner and I came here for brunch seeking out a Bloody Mary. When we walked in the ambience was all right, it was very empty and immediately didn't look as fun as the pictures I saw on Google maps. That being said, the waiter was very kind, positive and helpful. We weren't really sure how seating worked and it was kind of awkward when we walked in so we picked our own table outside which was dirty and had a cup rings all over it . I looked past it. I was pleasantly surprised to see a chicken and waffle option on the menu as well as a Bloody Mary but was disappointed to see a high price tag on said items. When my Bloody Mary arrived it didn't have anything sticking out of it not, even a celery stick which was advertised on the brunch menu. For a $19 Bloody Mary, I have to say I was disappointed but I was excited to be drinking the Bloody Mary I had wanted so badly. When my chicken and waffles arrived I was immediately disappointed. The chicken tenders looked like three little stubby burnt stubs. The waffles were pre-cut, weren't warm and honestly tasted like they had been made a while ago. The chicken didn't have any taste at all- it didn't even taste like chicken- like it didn't even have any flavor and I had to like dunk it in the maple syrup. My partner got the Steak and eggs with the chimichurri sauce and noted that while it came out cold it was pretty good. The chimichurri sauce was notably nice and the steak was pretty good. The potatoes had no flavor but were cooked well. We definitely won't be coming back unless the vibes and the ambience is heavily improved. And when I want chicken and waffles, I want one big waffle with like a big hunk or two or three of chicken not some skinny little burnt nubs. read more

Nautilus Tavern - Chicken and Waffles - American Near Me - San Diego, California

I'm sad writing this review because I honestly used to love this little bar. My partner and I would come here for date nights when I lived in PB in 2022/2023. The drinks were unique, food was solid, it had a great sports bar vibe, the patrons weren't wild and most were in their 30s/40s/50s, and the bartenders were chill and personable. On our most recent visit though (the first time in a little over a year), it was completely different, and not in a good way. Ironically I had recommended this place to a couple clients the day before going, out of excitement for the prior experiences we had, and I had to deliberately rescind my recommendation to them after this experience. We arrived around dinner time and sat at the bar. The menu had changed considerably which was a bummer. None of the top recommended dishes I remember and would regularly see great reviews for on yelp were still on the menu. The healthy bowl, poke stack, buffalo cauliflower, coconut shrimp, pasta, and a number of signature drinks all seem to be gone. These were the items that actually made me love the place since it appealed to so many palates. Now it's just your run-of-the-mill/find-it-anywhere bar food (burgers, tacos, wings, fries). I could've stayed in PB for that. Probably the only positive change I noticed is the drink options (beer/wine/margs/sober/and draft) seem to have expanded a tad. I wouldn't say it's "better" but there are more of them. Regarding our experience - we arrived around dinner time. There appeared to be set up occurring for a class reunion out back, but still not too busy yet. We sat at the corner of the bar. Somehow the sports bar didn't have many sports on, but lots of local news, which I thought was a bit odd since it was during the Olympics. The bartender greeted us after a few minutes and gave us menus. We intended on ordering food and drinks, but generally have one drink before putting in food. With the menu changes though, we weren't thrilled about the options. We put in our drinks - I got the Lavender Haze and my partner got the La Jolla Mule. The mule tasted fine but the lavender haze was awful. Seriously, awful. I don't think the drink normally is bad, as I think I remember having and liking a version of it last time we had come. But this time it tasted extremely sour and bitter - like there was no simple syrup - just a ton of lemon juice and gin. My partner tried it too and echoed the same. Neither of us could finish it. I would've asked the bartender for something different, but it felt like he spent the entire time avoiding us. We were sitting at the corner of the bar-top nearest the drink drop off for tables outside so it wasn't like he didn't cross our spot... he would just directly avert eye contact and carry on elsewhere. It was strange. My partners drink was empty for a solid 10-15 minutes before he checked back in. I'm not sure if this bartender was just having a bad night, or overwhelmed, or what, but there was a lot of loud, disgruntled, and indirect vocalizations (not *to* anyone, just aloud as he's working) about how he was the only bartender at the front and didn't have a working portable cash out/square terminal. While I understand the frustration... it doesn't seem very professional. In another exchange we observed, a customer asked for a Guinness half and half. The bartender gave her a light beer. She asked him to remake it, reiterating that she requested a half and half. He didn't know what she meant or what a half and half was (another edgy vocalization of "I've been bartending for ten years and I've literally never heard of that in my life") so the customer explained it was half a lighter beer + half Guinness, and quite popular on the east coast. He proceeded to dump half the beer he gave her and top it off with Guinness from the draft. I'm no bar expert, but the amount of head on this preparation didn't look like the half and half's I've seen. He said "I'm assuming the head will just go away like a normal Guinness". She politely accepted what he gave her and he moved on. After we had waited with one empty drink and one hardly touched drink with no check in for about 10-15 minutes, we eventually decided we would not be eating or spending any more money there. We finally were able to flag down the bartender and check out. All in all, a place we used to really enjoy and rave about has been removed from our rotation of bars and I can no longer recommend it. read more

See all

Great service with a smile! Great for bar food & beer. Burgers were great too ! I personally like the Totchos Nachos made with tots !! read more

Nautilus Tavern - Buffalo Cauliflower Too spicy - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Good food, great service and fun place to watch a game. It's always a good time every time I go to this place. The bartenders/servers are very friendly and they typically play the sound for the big games. A bunch of TVs sound you are bound to see your team play here. The food is pretty typical but their brunch menu has a twist to it. Give it a try. Well worth it. read more

Love the staff. Went twice on my vacation and even though there was a slight mix up with the order on the first night, it was addressed and fixed. The food was great, drinks were fantastic, and I was able to enjoy the bar with my 20 year old daughter as she had Mocktails. If you're in La Jolla, take a few steps south from the "main area" and check out this friendly bar. read more

Favorite place! Such a fun vibe, always cool events and the best people. Killer portions and flavor on food.

We love this place! Their food is really really good!! Brisket sandwich, steak frites and fish tacos, all fantastic! The service is always really great, and their manager Courtney is present and making sure everyone's happy. A great spot for football, good food, and fun energy! read more

Good bar food done well. Can't beat their half off happy hour every day and they usually have multiple games on. If you really want a deal they have a restaurant card at Costco you can buy where you get a $100 card for only $58. Screaming deal!! read more

It is fun but could be a hell of a lot cleaner. Sometimes the servers can be rude and rushed.

This neighborhood bar and grill opened as a replacement for the La Jolla Tap and Grill which lasted a couple of years at this locale. Parking is curbside on the nearby streets in the Windansea area as there is no available private lot. They previously offered weekday specials starting at 5 pm ranging from a burger and beer for $12 on Mondays to 20% off chicken wings on Thursdays. The number of customers when I arrived at a past visit during pre-pandemic times was solid as over half the tables were seated. I selected the BBQ plate ($17) which consisted of slow smoked beef tri-tip served with a macaroni salad, barbecue baked beans, and a small house salad. The food came out pretty quickly from the kitchen so that was a positive. On the other hand, the items were decent but nothing stood out. The number of dining establishments is few in this part of La Jolla so a spot like the Nautilus Tavern should be able to hold its own with sufficient patronage from the locals. read more

See all

Amazing and fun atmosphere..plenty of outside seating as well. Plenty of parking on the street and underground. So many tvs to watch sports We got the Buffalo cauliflower ..mozzarella sticks...garlic penne pasta.the good was amazing and plentiful. Drinks..mule and spicy margarita were my fav and strong but still tasted goof. Service..fast and friendly. read more

See all

We are locals and have been here a couple times now - bartenders are great- friendly and attentive. HOWEVER, if you go during happy hour, CHECK YOUR BILL AND THE RECOMMENDED TIP AMOUNTS! Drinks are half off during happy hour but when they present you your bill and the options to tip, the tip percentages are based off the regular prices of food/drinks, not happy hour prices, so if you click 20% tip you end up tipping 40%. Very deceptive and has happened to us twice now! read more

Great sports bar. Great food. A lot of fun. Fun folks. Great place to watch football or any other sport really. If u haven't been. It's a must go for sure. read more

Stumbled across this spot on a Saturday and loved it! Quick and friendly service. The gochujang chicken sandwich was perfectly cooked and delicious and came with plenty of fries. We also got the club sandwich which was huge and super good too. Thanks for a great lunch!! read more

We stopped in on a Monday afternoon after walking along the beach. We were in need of an ice cold beverage and had noticed this place bustling the evening prior. To our surprise & perhaps luck, it was just us and a few other patrons so getting our needs met was nearly immediate- win! We pareses the menu-which we had heard was good but settled on just our beverages this time due to dinner plans elsewhere. This place does have big TVs, a nice patio, spacious indoor seat which could accommodate parties & a large bar top. We will try it again as we make our way back to La Jolla. read more

Nautilus Tavern - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Service was great! Claire was our server. We stopped by to watch the UFC fight. The shrimp was delicious! Chicken sandwich was also good. Parking is not the best. It's a cool spot. read more

If you like sports - this os not the place for you. On a Thursday night, with - count em - 14 people in the entire place, watching the MLB playoffs and score is tied with bases loaded, two outs.... This genius "manager" changes the station!! No announcement. No "are you watching this?". I spent MONEY to be here and watch the game. I protest, hey why dod you turn that off wirh no botice or asking?? I get told "more people like football than baseball " There are 13 televisions and three games on. Like I said, "if you like sports, or respect for the customer, this is not the place for you (or me) ." Go to Duck Dive or JRDN or The Local or The Shack or The Spot and get much more respect as a customer. read more

Nautilus Tavern - "Manager" and tied playoff game. - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Just drinks at a bar but watch your bill. Ordered a Tito's on the rocks. Charged me for a double without asking. She said that on the rocks meant a double... what? She adjusted the bill but that was weird and at least I wasn't too drunk to check it. Maybe that's a San Diego thing...hmmm. read more

A bar tucked in to a quieter spot in La Jolla that is most likely a decent spot for a drink and some sports. We ordered a to go meal on a Monday evening. It wasn't very full and still the service was bad. A manager walked past us multiple times doing menial tasks. There were multiple pieces of our order that were incorrect along with the food being just average. read more

Nautilus Tavern - Fried Shrimp Po boy - American Near Me - San Diego, California

After reading my previous review, the new GM Courtney reached out to me to let me know that much has changed here in recent months. Courtney showed me the utmost professionalism in making the situation right and trying to get to the bottom of what occurred. Courtney is an absolute gem! She has a tremendous amount of compassion and empathy, and I can honestly say that I have never had a General Manager of a restaurant go to such lengths to make sure that the situation was corrected. I have so many positive things to say about how the new GM Courtney took charge of the situation and made me feel like coming back to give them another chance. She also indicated that the old business partner is no longer with the corporation, therefore they have been cleaning house... Bravo, Courtney! There is a new Sheriff in town!! read more