Great vibe and speedy service! We loved the Vinyl room and security was very attentive to their surroundings. read more

I came to Part Time Lover last year after eating at a restaurant nearby. I don't drink alcohol in general so I had asked if they could make a drink virgin... They told me no. The only options then were "a fruity drink, a chocolate drink, or a bubbly drink" and so I asked for a fruity. It tasted like juice in sparkling soda. I honestly was underwhelmed and turned off by the fact they hadn't put any effort in thinking about customers who come for the vibes but don't actually drink alcohol. It was also a jam packed Saturday night and it was incredibly loud so when trying to talk to my friends sitting next to me I had to shout. Ended up straining my voice by the end of the night. This experience last year was probably 2-3 stars, not good. But fast forward a year and some months later, they have a "Free Spirited" section on their menu now!!! This time I also went with a fruity drink and it was actually really good!! I'm glad Part Time Lover has turned a new leaf and actually put conscious effort into their mocktails. We also came here earlier on a Thursday night so it wasn't packed, was very easy to get a seat and just hangout. This better experience bumped up my impression of the place, so 4 stars! read more

Part Time Lover - Mocktail from 1 year ago, juice with sparkling soda - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great vibes!! Seating and tables are first come, first serve, so keep that in mind. Otherwise, you'll probably be standing for most of the time. The bartenders were friendly, but it could be a little hard to get their attention when you're ready to order. The drinks were good overall, although some are WAY stronger than others lol. If you prefer your drinks on the lighter and sweeter side like me, I'd recommend the Lodi Dodi and Sway Reduction! read more

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Came in to try their drinks during pride weekend around 5pm and it was very busy. You do need to show id either at the front door or at the bar. Open seating so you gotta keep your eye on people to see when they leave so you can grab their seat. Record store and bathrooms are im the back. You have to order at the bar and then go sit. Music is super loud so be prepared. Decor is retro and dimly lit. Parking is tough. Uber. Otherwise, service is fast and friendly. We ordered the lodi dodi and PTL old fashioned. Drinks were good but nothing I would come back for. read more

Part Time Lover - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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3.5 stars but giving them 4 because I feel like it's based off the time of day you come in here. We came in pretty late on a Friday night and it felt like a dive bar with how packed it was! The drinks were fantastic and service was incredible (shout out to the bar staff for killing it), however I feel that it was almost too crowded which weakened/cheapened the vibe a bit. The bathrooms were horribly dirty and packed, and the crowd was on the very drunk younger side. Would like to come back earlier in the evening or mid week to give them another try! read more

Wify and i decided to grab a drink after our weekday dinner. Found this place close by and came to check it out. The place is packed even on a Tuesday night. Love the vibe and decor, cute vinyl music shop in the back. read more

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Came here for drinks Monday night. Music was really loud so I wasn't able to hear any of my friends talk. It got louder as the night went on. The toilets didn't seem to work either in the women's restroom. Drinks were decent read more

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Finally made it to this cute speakeasy in San Diego! We stopped by on a Sunday around 5 PM and had no trouble walking right in. There were plenty of seats available, and service was quick and smooth. Cocktails were around $15-18 each. I ordered the Perpetual Motion and absolutely loved it, the sweet strawberry flavor paired perfectly with the creamy Calpico. It's the kind of drink I'd order again and again. I also tried the Piña Colada, which was equally delicious. Even though the cocktails are beautifully handcrafted and easy to sip, you can still taste the liquor, which I always appreciate. This is such a great spot for a first date, a girls' night out, or simply catching up with friends. One of my favorite parts was exploring the vinyl room, it adds such a fun retro touch. The entire space has a nostalgic, vintage vibe that makes you feel like you've stepped into another era. It's the perfect place to relax, enjoy some creative cocktails, and soak in the atmosphere. read more

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An unassuming record store entrance leads to a dimly lit lounge with that 70s/john wick feel. Welcoming staff all very friendly and helpful. Order at the bar to pick up your drinks then take a seat wherever you choose to lounge. Couches, tables, chairs, barstools Dj has the records spinning and on display so you can see the artists. Sound was awesome! You can feel that gentle bass thump. We enjoyed the ambiance listening to new artists. The record store in the back has more rare albums to browse. Available for purchase. Drinks are ok but the vibes were chill and a live dj spinning vinyl. Not too crowded during our age group visit but hear from others it can get pretty crowded later in the evening. Parking wherever you can find it along the street. read more

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Part Time Lover is the perfect spot to chill if you want good music and an even better ambience to people-watch or catch up. Their drinks are ok. Their bartenders are super nice, but the drinks are usually meh whenever I go. Seating can be difficult to come by as it gets pretty busy inside. If you come with another person or a group of people, I recommend one person (or maybe two) ordering at the bar while everyone else tries to find a seat. I came by on a random weeknight but there were still plenty of people inside. A bartender helped me right away, and I got a couple PTL Whiskey Hi-balls. They were fine. Not very strong. Besides the drinks, I enjoy people-watching here. So many patrons, so few seats. It's great. As others have said, there's a vinyl shop towards the back of the bar near the restrooms. Such a cool concept! The restrooms are also generally clean, and it's even decorated super nicely and retro in there too. read more

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Vibey! My favorite part of Part Time Lover was probably their unique interior design. Such eye catching light structures, and gorgeous archways at the bar. I enjoyed their music themed drink meu and in-house record store. Very cool. I came here pretty early on a Saturday evening (around 6pm) to avoid any long line. I had left to get food and came back (around 7pm), after which I think the line started to form. It was a vibey environment: low-light, candles, plush seating. The seats are hard to come by, so another plus of coming early. They also had a record shop inside the bar, which was cool to look around. I was DD that night, so I got one of their NA drink (I forgot the name of it) but it was a fun juice mixture. read more

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The drinks here are great, fun concepts that give a gentle buzz as you chat and immerse yourself in the cozy space. The music selection is fantastic, with a record shop in the back for you to peruse during your time there. As it gets closer to busy hours service can be a little slow, but I think the quality of the drinks are worth it. read more

Freaking love coming here is such a goodbye music people drinks services mediocre. There's absolutely no food but go to Barry first and then come down here perfect. read more

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Glad I got to check this place out while I was visiting San Diego. It came recommended from a bartender at a spot I frequent here in Las Vegas and it certainly didn't disappoint. The concept of a listening bar with a record store in the back is super cool. I tried the Lodi Dodi while we were there and it was a really delicious cocktail. Everyone in my party enjoyed their drinks. Only downside was that they were carding every single person as they came in. While I understand not wanting to serve anyone underage, the problem was that the same gloves they were wearing while making cocktails they kept on as they're touching people's IDs which of course are not routinely cleaned by the typical person. Similarly, we noticed our bartender kept her gloves on between making our cocktails and taking our payment which resulted in my partner's credit card having some sort of fruit pulp on it when it was returned to him. Aside from this, great spot! read more

Part Time Lover - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Good drinks and cool atmosphere. The concept is great. Service was a bit slow, but the biggest issue was food safety. The bartenders kept on interrupting the making of our drinks to check people's IDs when they were walking in. They were wearing the same gloves when handling the other people's IDs, and then went straight back to prepping our drinks, touching the garnishes, etc. Never once did they change the gloves. They must've handled close to a dozen IDs while making our drinks. Kind of gross. When they handed my credit card back to me, it had citrus pulp on it (or something similar) - further evidence of them not washing their hands. It should be common sense that you shouldn't be handling money/cards and food. read more

Part Time Lover - Seating area - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Very cute vinyl bar located on North Park. Bar has darkparking ambience and has jazzy vibes. I would recommend bringing a date here! read more

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Went during my friends bachelorette party. Vibey place with great drinks. It's dark and sexy, with just the right amount of noise. Go to Bacari for dinner and pop in after for drinks. Highly recommend! read more

Ooh I dig the vibes here. I came here after eating some City Tacos nearby. This place was packed on a Monday night. Good thing there was plenty of bar tops for me to sit down. They don't have a bouncer or security so once you enter, the bartenders will ask for your valid ID in order to stay inside and order. Menu is cute it's like a tiny record. What makes this place cooler how it's kinda a speakeasy. You can browse their record store in the back of the bar area. Good music and vibes. I ordered the Bikini Kill and it did not disappoint. I really liked it!! Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend! read more

Part Time Lover - Bikini Kill (Serrano tequila blanco, mango, guava, tamarind, xila, lemon) - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Finally got to check out this spot in May of 2024. It was packed but we were still able to find shared seating. My friend and I got mocktails and my other friend opted for the Grave Robber cocktail. It came with tequila, oolong, agave, lime, grapefruit essence, and lava salt. The drinks were refreshing, but mocktails were pretty simple. There is a back room where they sell records. Definitely a cool spot in North Park! read more

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This is a nice establishment, especially for lounging with a date. Very clean and nice drinks too. A little pricey however that's the norm in this area for the more popular out of towner type spots. The servers are friendly. But you have to be patient as they are often quite busy. The record store and records theme is what they present online but to be honest that is only a minute section of the establishment. It definitely doesn't describe the theme of the place neither. The worker in the record section simply ignored me when I tried to purchase a record and after a minute I had to ask for him to please ring me up. No apology from him. No biggie, I still had a decent time drinking here. read more

Very chill vibes! Like what other people have been saying, it is super hard to find seating and if you are by the bar, you have to squeeze your way through people. Cute vinyl shop in the back and cool bathrooms. I'd recommend finding seating first, and then ordering. I'd say the age range is maybe mid-late 20s. Bartender was super sweet and gave good recs! Drink: Lodi Dodi- Sweet and would def order again! I love the presentation of it read more

Part Time Lover - Interior - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Fun speakeasy in North Park. Probably the most popular bar in the area. The DJs are unreal and this spot always has the best music. The drinks are creative and fun. The vibe is immaculate: dim-lighting, wooden furniture, nice wallpaper, and dark curtains. Cute but very overpriced vinyl shop in the back, it's more for show. It gets insanely busy here every night. There will always be a wait after 9 PM. Wait isn't long, but it's essential as it gets PACKED inside. Seating is always full and people will throw hands for a table. There is minimal room to stand. Unfortunately, there is NO DANCEFLOOR :,( The bar lines are INSANE and can be hard to follow. But the bartneders are patient and helpful when it's finally your turn. While I warn about the crowds, this place is awesome. 10/10 one of the best spots in San Diego, the staple of North Park. read more

Did not know what to expect coming in, but we ended up loving the ambiance & the drinks. From the outside, you could not tell there is a cocktail bar inside. We came around 7pm on a Thursday night & there was a good amount of tables available. We also tried a couple drinks & loved them. Parking can be a bit hard, as it's only street parking or paid lots, you might have to walk a bit. Overall, would recommend this spot & would visit again! read more

Part Time Lover - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Great spot for delicious cocktails and chill vibes. We came in on a Saturday night around 9pm and there was a bit of a wait to get in since the space is limited. The drinks were great and the tables open up quickly. I recommend the chain reaction! Would come again! read more

Part Time Lover - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Just a couple of full time lovers who decided to check out Part Time Lover! Known for their groovy theme and moody interior, this spot is definitely one of the most popular bars in North Park. Disguised as a record store from the outside, it's quite the sexy listening party on the inside. We dropped by for a nightcap on a Saturday night and it was packed! There's a line to get in, but it moved rather quickly. Once inside, you can really enjoy the gorgeous interior! Super classy and beautiful. There's a walk-up bar and plenty of plush seating and tables. Tucked away at the back is a vinyl shop with tunes from everywhere and from every era. They have special guests spinning pretty often-- be sure to check their calendar to find out who's up next. The drinks are pretty good! We got their Sway Reduction which was a nice citrus-y cocktail. I wouldn't say that they have a full bar or the widest variety for any special requests. Just something to note! read more

Part Time Lover - Sway Reduction - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

This place gives the whole vibe of a speakeasy but the best part is no reservations needed to get in. The space inside is a lot larger than expected, but half of the battle is trying to find a seat. If you come during the weekend, you might have to stand around for a bit before a space clears up. The main area is dimly lit to set the vibes, but chilling at the record store is such a cool way to take a break from the crowdedness of the main room. The drinks are all pretty good and reasonably priced for the area. I would say this place is more for getting a couple of drinks to chat with friends (the interior is gorgeous), but I wouldn't go out of the way if you're looking for some unique drinks. You go to the bar to order so plan your route accordingly to get back to the table if you want another round. read more

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Cute bar and awesome bartenders! I came here on a wednesday evening after dinner so it was not packed like a lot of other reviews mention. I had no idea that this place was around. The last time I was here - it was still bar pink. Ha! Anyways, our bartender was quick and so friendly which I appteciate. We had one person in our group who couldn't have alcoholic drinks so our bartender made her a delicious booze free 'shot'. Ambiance is perfect for date night or just a place to chill and have a few drinks with friends. Seats were comfy and I just loved the vibe. I'll definitely be back soon! read more

Part Time Lover - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Went to PTL to grab a couple of drinks with some friends for their birthday, drinks were very strong but really unique in their own ways. Two of my friends enjoyed the mocktails as well. Very cozy and casual setting as we sat in the way back of the place with a round couch. Very nice place for casual drinks! read more

Part Time Lover - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Part Time Lover has such a fun, unique concept combining a cocktail bar with a vinyl record shop. The space has warm lighting, retro design details, and a really lively energy that makes it great for a night out with friends. The cocktails were well made, and the overall vibe felt stylish and social without being overly crowded. Definitely a cool spot if you enjoy good drinks, music, and a creative atmosphere. read more

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The drink choices here are amazing. All of them are strong and taste scrumptious. My favorite is always a dirty gin martini. Their olives HIT THE SPOT! read more

Cousin took us here and it was our first time bar happing at North Park! Great great ambience. The only thing is it gets really packed so we did not find any seating and was primarily standing at the records store area to hear each other. The records are nice to look at but a bit over MSRP. My favorite was seeing the Nirvana record. We were hoping for a live DJ, but they went on a break while we were there. They didn't restart until we're leaving. The drinks are good but quite expensive. I think we got the Lovers Rock, Sway Reduction, and Lodi Dodi. There are very few stalls at the bathroom so line could be long, but the bonus is that they have Japanese toilets! Another bonus is the great stickers they have at the record store! read more

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It's an absolutely amazing speakeasy with a fantastic 70s vibe ranging from the furniture to the ceiling to the bar top. It's incredibly comfortable and inviting and you'll easily find a corner or spot for yourself to enjoy. But first and foremost it's about the drinks and the bartenders there are world class. They are friendly cheerful engaging and can keep track of a lot of orders. And the drinks they turn out are fantastic - a great mix of options whatever your flavor profile is. Definitely worth the trip to visit read more

Part Time Lover - Right hook - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Such a cool bar with a chill vibe. Dark and old times, intimate lighting, interesting decor, delicious cocktails with creative combinations. Bartenders were great, and the space is made to be open to small groups and pairs, you can make friends on the sofas or at the bar, or have your own time with your party along the walls. read more

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Part Time Lover is the perfect place to relax and have a good drink and listen to good music with friends or on a date. The cocktail bar does get very busy which does cause a louder atmosphere unfortunately. But the ambiance and the decor of the bar is amazing. Low lit room with different tables and chairs to sit at. The back has an actual record store where you can buy vintage records and there's also a DJ playing music on his record player. The drinks are very good as well! The main issue I had with the bar was how they present the tipping options to customers. If you weren't paying attention you'd be tipping very high since they start their tip amounts at 20%, 23% and 26%. I've yet to go to any bar that had such high expectations when the drinks themselves are nothing bizarre or crazy which would make someone want to tip 26%. To me this is a very sneaky business model that hopefully doesn't catch up to them. read more

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Honestly a staple in North Park and San Diego for anyone that is coming out of town! It is such an upscale yer chill bar, it gives vintage romance style if that makes sense! So much seating and beautiful bar - along with great selection. My go to is the High Roller I believe. My gf and I came on a Wednesday around 5pm not busy at all, if you come on a Friday to weekend it is packed like a line outside the door sometimes too. I suggest coming weekday for a casual drink and check out their awesome record store inside! The record team are great guys very welcoming and love sharing their knowledge and thoughts! Don't be shy to ask they seem very passionate about what they do and it's refreshing. Fun bar, fun drinks, and fun music what more could you want for a night out! read more

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Don't spend your money here. As soon as we walked in a guy chased us down for my id. Literally ran from one end of the bar. It's my husband birthday and we just felt targeted and they put him and I out. I am 35 and look well over 21. We were clearly not welcomed we drove over an hr and spent 30mins looking for parking to specifically come to this listening bar. SMH. Be kind. Don't discriminate. read more

I came in around 9pm on Friday. There wasn't a line to get in but it was very packed. There's a record store in the back that has some rare records that are worth checking out. I got three different drinks but i didn't like any of them. I love sweet cocktails but they were all too sweet. The lychee one would taste really good if it wasn't so sweet. I'd love to check it out again when it's less crowded and maybe bartenders would have more time to make their drinks. The bartender who made drinks for me was amazing though. read more

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vibes: top tier. drinks: delicious. servers: chill. I got the Big Cat (orange one) and my friend got the Bikini Kill (pink) both were super fresh and very well made. read more

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I think this place is a tad overhyped, but good to visit at least once! I capped off a night out here and there was a short line to get in around 11:30. The security at the front is really nice and friendly. I was surprised at how big this bar was??? Lots of seating and tables if you're able to find a party leaving. Great music and lounge atmosphere if it wasn't so busy. They have a record shop/showcase in the back that displayed various vinyls. It's cute! I didn't get a drink here but my friends did and they really liked them. read more

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Dark and vibey, it's a good bar for hanging out but can be hard to have conversations in. The cocktails are varied, but mine was much sweeter than expected with very little mezcal smokiness coming through. Seat yourself and then go up to the bar to order. Do love the wine menu descriptions. read more

Part Time Lover - Wine July 2025 - Bars Near Me - San Diego, California