Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Nómada

    3.8 (92 reviews)
    Closed 3:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Nómada Takeout or Delivery

    Nómada Photos

    Business Info

    NÓMADA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Nómada

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Conchinita pibil - family portion
    Jenna D.

    Conchinita pibil family platter definitely serves 3 people. It comes with a big dish of rice, beans, guacamole, and tortillas. We definitely over ordered! Pisco sour is still delicious. Service was great. Sangria had too much cinnamon. That was the only complaint from the table.

    Cindy L.

    The place is so nice, we had a date night here and did not regret it. I love how big, open, and clean the place was. The food was delicious and freshly made. I loved how well-seasoned everything was and even though we were full, we had to get dessert, it was such a generous amount much of it, that we had to pack it up to take home. We'll be back to enjoy another meal here soon.

    Chicken mole with rice and flour tortillas.
    Steve P.

    Had a nice meal at Nomada. Recently taken over from another Mexican restaurant. The decor was not changed but is a nice Mexican decor. Started with a couple of Cadillac Margaritas which were quite good. The chips and salsa were somewhat different with the chips being dusted wish some sort of spice. The salsa was quite good. Between us we had the Chicken Mole and Enchiladas plate. I found the mole to be quite tasty with the right amount of spice. The chicken was thighs (much better than breasts) and were very tender. The mole was served with white rice, not Mexican rice, and flour tortillas. (Given a choice of corn or flour). The flour tortillas are made in house and were very good. The enchiladas were also quite good. One with the mole sauce and one with roja. Service was prompt and friendly. Overall, a nice meal.

    OVEN-ROASTED LOCAL CATCH (sea bream) with roasted veggies, salsa fresca, rice and beans
    Scott T.

    since late January, way too many of the family's eating out experiences have been epic failures. NOMADA was no exception. the allure of spending a hundred bucks on food that compares poorly with dinner at Taco Bell is lost on me. we ate here on a Sunday evening so maybe the regular kitchen staff had the night off after the busy weekend and the dishwashers were doing the cooking. the nineteen-year-old ordered an appetizer for the table. I was less than jumping up and down excited by the prospect of trying their BIRRIA CHIMICHANGA BITES (chili braised beef rolled in flour tortillas and fried with salsa macha aioli and consommé for dipping). fortunately, as my wife's fond of reminding me, I'm wrong most of the time. a knock-off of the Southwest Egg Rolls ubitiquious at chain restaurants since the mid-eighties, the mini-chimi's were derivative but tasty. the consommé was way too French (clean, clear, and boring as hell) and would have been better left rustic. nobody at my house has nut allergies, but be aware that macha typically includes peanuts which should have been disclosed on the menu. still, the overall dish was tasty enough to earn a second star. that they arrived hot from the fryer was a contributing factor. everything went steeply downhill from there. my POZOLE (a chili broth soup with pork and hominy) arrived at room temperature and the flavor was muddled and weak. the kitchen neglected to include the bolillo (roll) listed on the menu. cilantro, included with the rest of the adds (Mexican OREGANO, diced WHITE ONION, and a LIME slice) was dry and papery and looked like it was leftover from Cinco de Mayo (and it's March already). doubt the veracity of that statement? look at my photograph. cilantro's supposed to add an herbaceous freshness but mine was nearly as dry as the oregano. the wife unit's CHICKEN ENCHILADAS with Mexican crema and black mole and bean and rice sides was another dismal failure. nothing was warmer than room temperature. the beans (and I LOVE beans) were completely without flavor. the rice was neither rinsed (or fried in a bit of lard before cooking, my preference) and was sat on her plate in a gloppy, starchy lump. like the rest of the dinner (except for the mini-chimi's), the OVEN-ROASTED LOCAL CATCH (sea bream) with roasted veggies, salsa fresca, rice and beans was another room temperature mess. the restaurant is lovely. except that they failed to catch the kitchen's innumerable missteps, the front of the house was attentive and for the most part professional. however, the kitchen staff needs to be marched up the temple steps so their still beating hearts can be carved out with an obsidian blade. all the entrees arrived at room temperature and under-seasoned. my request for salt, devolved into serious drama and I don't remember EVER adding additional salt to a restaurant dish. confidence is high NOMADA's fat-free, under seasoned recipes were cooked up by a cardiologist and not a professional chef. the dishes we tried were poorly designed and even more poorly executed. I nearly never write a restaurant review for less than 3 stars (almost eighty percent of mine are 4 and 5 stars) that's not a national fast-food chain. This place is the exception: 2 stars rounded up from 1.1. if it's not, NOMADA should be Spanish for never again. learn from our mistake: for the love of all things delicious, resist the urge to eat here sober. have a margarita or three before moving beyond the chips and salsa.

    Christine D.

    Found this place off of yelp after searching for nearby "cocktails" Very clean and fantastic ambience to enjoy authenticate Mexican food. This is an hidden area located deep in Carlsbad. I am so glad we found this little gem! The inside reminds me of an old town in San Diego but way better. We sat indoors and requested to sit facing window to see the view. The chips and salsa are very good. Not your average chips. They are seasoned with a tiny hint of spice. Ordered an espresso martini and my friend had a pisco sour. Really tasty! That espresso martini was one of a kind. Sweet enough to make me forget I actually had alcohol in it. On this visit, we shared cajeta pancakes and the birria bowl with flour tortillas. The chile braised beef melted in your mouth. The pancakes. Oh my!!!! Fluffy, moist and drizzled with cajeta (creamy caramel sauce mixed with warm spices like cinnamon and vanilla. Topped with sliced blackberries and strawberries. Our server, Kylie, was great. Not only did she serve us with so much attentiveness, she helped us when we did not know what to decide on. She was great. Prompt, professional, yet still super fun! To end our visit, we were served tres leches. It was ok. I wanted the flan but there was not any made at the time. I would definitely come back here to try other items on the menu.

    Birria
    Amy R.

    My husband absolutely loved this place. It looks very nice and upscale and love the outdoor area. It was absolutely freezing inside we had to ask them to turn off the AC. Birria flauta app was amazing. We split the pork dish. It was ok. I wish they had a regular carnitas dish on the menu. Service was great. I would like to return to try more items before I make up my mind.

    katrina b.

    Elevated Mexican food and then some! Ambience, food, and service was perfection. The mole was one of the best I've had! Perfect for a date night or casual dinner with friends!

    Dianna S.

    Glad to see this place has opened again this time with a new name and new food. Food was so tasty and the service was amazing. Chef Alex Carballo stopped by our table. It was wonderful to meet him and hear his ideas for the restaurant. I am looking forward to them adding the musical talent and also the weekend brunch. Will definitely be back!

    Birria bowl
    Andrea B.

    So far we've been here twice for lunch and it's pretty much VIP for us. Never too busy service is pretty quick and free chips and salsa! I will say it's not spicy but I'm not a huge fan of spicy. The food is pretty good! I love the pozole and the tortillas are good. Beans and rice are not the main character

    Amanda N.

    Super cute spot tucked away in La Costa. They've got indoor and outdoor seating and bars, so there's plenty of space! We went on a Saturday night and got seated quickly. The cocktail list looked so good, but we decided on some wine from Mexico because we've been dying to try some from down there. The cab merlot blend was nice and great body. We got the birria bites and they were really good. Great flavor, comes out super hot. They're kinda like egg rolls filled with birria and cheese with a salsa aoli. We got the carne Asad plate and the fish taco and prime ribeye taco. The plate is plenty of food. Good quality meat. The tacos were good but idk if a $17 taco is something I'd regularly do. Overall we had a great time. And they had a salsa dancing class that Saturday night! It was really cool to watch and you could easily just join in.

    Queso Birria Taco
    Tina O.

    Came for Happy Hour, service from Heather was great, food was terrific! My favorite was the fish ceviche! Beautiful restaurant. Definitely recommend!

    Guac?
    Heidi T.

    So bummed that our experience was as disappointing as it was. We started with chips and salsa and the aguachile. The salsa was essentially just blended tomatoes, maybe some onion, possibly lime, but it was so plain that we were genuinely surprised it was being served. The aguachile was even worse. The shrimp were only butterflied into large, floppy pieces, so we ended up cutting them ourselves just to make them manageable. Trying to scoop that texture onto a tortilla chip was not enjoyable. Hoping to turn things around, we ordered guacamole. Unfortunately, it was just mashed avocado with maybe salt and the faintest hint of onion. No depth, no balance, nothing memorable. For mains, I ordered the birria bowl, which was actually flavorful and the one redeeming part of the meal. My husband got the taco sampler, and the only taco that stood out at all was the birria. When my birria bowl arrived, it came as a bowl of shredded meat with a separate plate of toppings, including a random pile of dried herbs that looked like oregano. When I asked our server what it was for, he said, "to put on stuff." We honestly laughed because we thought he was joking. But he wasn't. It was surprising that he couldn't explain something that was on the plate. Having traveled throughout Mexico and growing up in San Diego, I've never been served a random pile of dried seasoning like that without context. Toward the end of our meal, there was live music. I have no issue with live music at all, but this was so loud that my husband and I had to raise our voices just to talk across a two-top table. It completely took away from the experience. Overall, everything felt poorly managed. The staff seemed undertrained, and aside from the birria, the food was below par. This location has so much potential, and I'd love to see it succeed. The neighborhood doesn't need an overworked or complicated menu, it needs simple, flavorful Mexican staples done really well. Right now, it feels like it's missing that mark. There's a big opportunity to bring in dishes people usually have to go out of their way for, while still keeping things approachable and consistent. Without that shift, it may be hard for this spot to last.

    Mabel B.

    Came without reservations for dinner and we were able to sit in their patio area. We've been here a few times under the old ownership and never saw the patio this lively or even used. This place is a vibe and we loved it. Our server was friendly and attentive. Food came out fairly quickly except for my dish which lagged several minutes behind the rest of my party...good thing my margarita was delicious. Good flavors throughout and entire party was content and stuffed. Will definitely be back.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joe M.
    1
    22
    0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Cindy L.
    2503
    2271
    5395

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Scott T.
    100
    1072
    10336

    5 months ago

    Helpful 16
    Thanks 3
    Love this 9
    Oh no 7

    6 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Andrea B.
    21
    122
    69

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tina O.
    0
    13
    16

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 5
    Photo of Alisa M.
    1569
    1200
    242

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Jessica J.
    468
    26
    20

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of E A.
    7
    100
    8

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Andrew S.
    118
    375
    467

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Great food & service! We enjoyed our meal & loved the salsa & chips. Our waitresses recommendations were spot on.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Ricoh F.

    Ricoh F.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Nómada

    You might also consider

    Same Same

    Same Same

    4.5
    (270 reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$

    We had been aimlessly looking around for a spot that was open since our flight got in late at night…read more& we were starving. Places like the restaurant below were closing when their times were supposed to be open still. Kitty and Nate were awesome with their customer service! Super nice and accommodating, even when the food was a little too spicy for my mom. There were things like the drinks they made differently to accommodate for what we were looking for. Love the ambiance and the food was great. Whoever commented on having a midlife crisis, karmas going to kick your ass when you are that age. At least the owner has something going for themselves & has been really creative in the whole experience.

    I've been here twice in the past week for happy hour and it's sooo good every time…read more The happy hour is Mon thru Thursday every week from 3-5 pm. I don't quite remember the prices but I think everything priced was fair/good value seeing as their food and cocktails are amazing and very high quality. I love the chicken gochujang sandwich. It is sweet, tangy, spicy, and the perfect portion. It is part of their happy hour but also their regular menu so it's great that I can enjoy at a discount. The happy hour was house cocktails only, but they do them really well. Their original cocktails are fun, delicious, and one of a kind. I tried a few and you can't go wrong. Lastly, the bartenders and servers are exceptional. They are kind and fun and definitely help to make the experience and environment a lot more enjoyable. I really enjoy this place and look forward to coming many more times and bringing more friends and family in to enjoy as well!

    Photos
    Indoor decor
    Indoor decor
    HOT POTATO (fried fingerling potatoes, Thai spicy rub, pickled red onions, and lime aioli)
    HOT POTATO (fried fingerling potatoes, Thai spicy rub, pickled red onions, and lime aioli)
    The guests of honor: it is, after all, National Margarita Day

    See all

    The guests of honor: it is, after all, National Margarita Day
    Tower39 Rooftop Lounge

    Tower39 Rooftop Lounge

    4.2
    (193 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    It's the 1st day of Summer and I wanted to spend a lot of time outdoors soaking up the sunshine…read more What a perrrfect time to finally go to the Tower39 Rooftop Lounge! I wanted to go there for the longest especially for Happy Hour. When I got up there, I was amazed at the ocean views and pleasantly surprised it wasn't crowded during this beauuutiful late afternoon. I picked my spot to sit then stood in line while looking over the front-n-back menu. Everything sounded good but I wanted something fresssh and summery. The friendly staff was very knowledgeable about the menu and helpful in my decision to keep it Summer related. Not too long afterwards, my order came out. Looove the quick service! Both female bartenders were slaying it as soon as the line grew. It was niiice to see the world cup on the t.v. screen. I enjoyed watching it while I ate my yummy food and watched the magical sunset. More people showed up closer to the golden hour. Overall, I had a wonderful experience. Highly recommend this coastal hot spot to the Yelp Community!!

    Great spot, but no service. You have to go up to the bar to order which is a bummer. It would be my…read morego-to spot if they had servers. They recently updated their seating as well, to super comfortable seats. The food was really good as well! We had the shareable fondue, the prosciutto flatbread, the quesadilla, and one of their salads, and the food was delicious! Overall recommend this spot, but really wish they would add service or bring back the QR codes to order from the table. Plus you can't beat that gorgeous view of the beach and palm trees.

    Photos
    Tower39 Rooftop Lounge Seating
    Tower39 Rooftop Lounge Seating
    Tower39 Rooftop Bar
    Tower39 Rooftop Bar
    Tower39 Rooftop High-Table Seating

    See all

    Tower39 Rooftop High-Table Seating
    The Pocket

    The Pocket

    4.0
    (23 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Had a birthday dinner planned at the pocket, but unfortunately, due to weather they closed. Most…read moreplaces would have left it at that and said please join us another time, but the manager Patrick reached out and asked us if we would like to have drinks and food at the bar at VAGA instead. Although it was not what we planned for my friend's birthday it was still a great evening . The food, drinks, and service at Vega was exceptional! The weather ended up clearing right before sunset and we had a beautiful view from the bar! Looking forward to trying the pocket soon!

    My wife and I recently took a trip to San Diego, and for one night, we stayed at the Alila Maria…read moreBeach Resort Encinitas. There are three restaurants onsite. One is a nice, sit-down restaurant. One is a coffee house. The third is the Pocket Pool and Bar. We found the service to be good, but we really didn't enjoy the drinks. The space was rather empty in the middle of a Sunday afternoon. We received coupons good for two welcome beverages at The Pocket when checking in at the resort. When we arrived at The Pocket after checking in but while waiting for our room to be ready, we found ourselves to be the only guests there. No reservations were needed. The clouds were out but it would soon be nice and sunny. We sat down and each ordered a zero proof cocktail. The ask was for something fruity and sweet. We ordered a variation of the Feeling Peachy, consisting of peach puree, citrus, mint, and bubbles. We did choose to give the bartender the freedom to make drinks that would be fruity and sweet as none of the drinks on the menu sounded like what we were feeling for. The bartender brought us drinks that we tried and decided we wouldn't have ordered if we didn't have vouchers for free drinks. As such, we acknowledged they weren't for us, though if we would have paid for them, we would have been disappointed. As such, I'd encourage anyone ordering drinks at The Pocket to stick with drinks on the menu. Speaking of the menu, the menu offers beach bites like smashed guacamole, craklin' buffalo wings, elote fries, quesadilla, sunset ceviche, and dirty nachos. The main event dishes include blackened Baja fish tacos, the wagyu double smash, millionaire's BLT, coastal Cali burrito, and Pacific poke. The balanced-ish menu items include pocket Caesar, the wedge, paradise bowl, and the Santorini. Treat Yourself dishes include cookie sando, assorted fresh fruit, and seasonal sorbet. Beverages include cocktails, wine, drafts, cans, zero proof. The Pocket is a surf-inspired bar with a view. There are televisions to watch sports games, and with the bar being part indoors and part outdoors, you can catch the nice weather or escape from it depending on if it is sunny or rainy. You can make a reservation on OpenTable. The bar hours are open daily from 11 AM to 7 PM. The kitchen is open Monday through Thursday from 12 noon to 6 PM, Friday and Saturday from 12 noon to 7:30 PM, and Sunday from 12 noon to 6 PM. Should we visit the Alila Maria Beach Resort Encinitas again, we may give The Pocket a try again but more for the atmosphere, good service, and perhaps some bites instead of drinks.

    Photos
    The Pocket
    The Pocket
    Ponto Passion!

    See all

    Ponto Passion!
    GONZO!

    GONZO!

    4.7
    (1.5k reviews)
    6.3 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Locally owned & operated

    Gonzo Ramen is literally the best restaurant to ever exist. Their atmosphere offers unique decor,…read morenot to mention they have the best food, and the employees there are really nice. I always enjoy dining there with my family because they have good food that we can all enjoy together. Every year for my birthday I go to Gonzo! I simply love eating at Gonzo. First of all, I can't get over how scrumptious their food is, it is so tasty and packed with flavor. If you stand in line to order, as soon as you sit down you will have already been served. I don't know how Gonzo prepares their meals so fast, yet so delicious. Also the fact that they cook their food fresh daily is crazy to me. I've been to many ramen restaurants and no one compares to Gonzo's. My go to on the menu is the tonkotsu ramen with gyoza and chicken karaage. Gonzo also offers a very unique atmosphere that makes you feel like you're in Japan. They have waving cats, a big banana neon light, posters and a floating ball on top of the water station. The ball is so cool but I am still puzzled on how it works. Their decor can not be matched. They also have a TV that is always playing Anime. You can also sit inside or outside so if you feel like sitting inside, sit inside but if you want to sit outside, sit outside. Gonzo also does not offer reservations so there is always a place to sit. If there is nowhere to sit just get It to go, truly there is no other ramen stop better than Gonzo. Lastly, the people there are super nice, and always check up on you, they are very polite, and they always say your welcome. While you wait, you can enjoy your appetizers until your main meal arrives. Also if you ask them for a free ticket to their store, they will give you one, each member of the family gets one. You can go next door and trade them in for tokens, these tokens can be used to play claw machines so you can win stuff. But what tops that off is that all of the employees are welcoming and happy. Gonzo Ramen is the best restaurant in the world. They offer good food, an amazing atmosphere and the people there are super nice not to mention the location is very conveniently located near my house. I seriously think about Gonzo all the time. Gonzo is that go to place for me and my family.

    I wasn't sure if this place would be overhyped, but it was genuinely so good! The ramen was so…read moreflavorful, and filling. By the way - the spicy is not too spicy

    Photos
    GONZO!
    Gonzo red (miso based) with extra egg
    Gonzo red (miso based) with extra egg
    GONZO!

    See all

    Ladies Love Outlaws

    Ladies Love Outlaws

    4.3
    (3 reviews)
    7.2 mi

    I'm so glad the Heritage crew decided to utilize this space. Urge had the vision, but not the…read moreexecution to make 101 Proof really shine. They had fantastic bartenders and menu, but the speakeasy concept has been outdated for a while. Now, a Honky Tonk is a very different, good thing. The tunes are something North County has been wanting, but been missing in favor of larger venue DJ's, but the juke box here has been curated with classics. It's far too small to dance unless you're slow or maybe 2 stepping in the corner. The ambiance is dim, relaxed, fun. The drinks are just as good as some of the top bars around, helmed by Wyatt who you may remember from Switchboard and KNVS is a staple in Oceanside. Prices are excellent, staff is great. While you can get a cocktail here, you don't have to. A classic shot and a beer is just as likely to be had here as a stemmed glass proper cocktail. When it's jamming it is near a standing room all the way around. No doorman asking for a password, no re-entry on nights when Heritage are open (Monday is this exception). It's funny to watch South O locals wander in here and realize maybe it's time to stop trying to change places to be like other places and enjoy the experience shown.

    Drinks are solid and served in kitschy mugs or fun appropriate to their name glasses. The…read morebartenders were as good looking as the drinks and knew how to make them, but the ambiance is lacking in a huge way. Cheaply done from the tables to decor and even though we went on a Saturday night the place was slow. Music was also good, but the DJ stopped playing about 20 min after we'd gotten there. That was a bummer. One round and we moved on.

    Photos
    Ladies Love Outlaws
    Mac and cheese with Tri Tip
    Mac and cheese with Tri Tip
    Ladies Love Outlaws

    See all

    Sound by the Sea

    Sound by the Sea

    4.2
    (117 reviews)
    8.8 mi
    $$

    I am not sure there is anywhere in North County that is anything like Sound by the Sea. It has…read moresuch a great laid back, chill vibe that you can feel walking in and never leaves you while you're there. We went for some drinks and something to eat after an event and it was the perfect place to wind down, listen to some great music and just enjoy yourself and your company. We had the charcuterie board with meat and it was perfect. There were a lot of different meats and cheeses I thoroughly enjoyed and a perfect accompaniment to the drinks, which was my main focus. I had the Exotica '58 Tiki and my gf had the Midnight Driver. Both were delicious and potent and looked incredible (see pic). We will definitely be back here but next time we might bring some folks to join the vibe... or maybe not. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!

    I'll admit, I'm never in Oceanside since it's a bit of a drive compared to the other beach towns…read more My girlies and I decided to stop by here on the way home from being in OC, and the vibes did not disappoint. As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the host (I forgot his name, but it starts with a V?). Super friendly and helped all of us feel at home; Would occasionally check-in to make sure our needs were taken care of too. Sometimes you walk into bars and deal with judgy/pretentious people or service workers and we didn't get that impression at all from any of the staff here. My girlies and I ended up sitting in the outside area, which honestly was a great choice due to the humid weather AND we got a great view of the beach sunset. It's a bit stuffy (when it's hot), but still nice inside the establishment. We also ordered some drinks and tiramisu to make the most of our time there. Overall, Sound By The Sea is a great spot to catch-up and unwind during one of those longer summer nights (cue the Summer Nights song by Lil Rob lol). I hope you also enjoy the same fun experience my friends and I shared yesterday. Thank you. :-)

    Photos
    Preparing for the DJ/live music collaboration.
    Preparing for the DJ/live music collaboration.
    Food: Prosciutto Flatbread. Drinks: Tropical Princess
    Food: Prosciutto Flatbread. Drinks: Tropical Princess
    Dean Martini

    See all

    Dean Martini

    Nómada - seafood - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...