This place is nice, but not exactly the type of bar I like to drink in. Its nice because if the open air, but the vibe seems kind of weird, and you never can actually guess when they are open. The Yelp says they are open every evening, but I had tired coming here a couple of times for weeknight drinks, only to find their doors closed. From what I can gather they are only open on the weekend. I can honestly say that shelter has lost my business to Biergarten a number of times. Oh well.... read more

Shelter is a pretentious establishment. In my handful of times going, I've only felt the stuffiness of this place. Last night I unfortunately went again and had a horrible experience. First, when I asked how much Buliet Bourbon was the bartender said $8 and then charged me $10 because it was poured on ice. Next, while I was sipping on my $10 bourbon I watched Game 7 of the Clippers vs. Warriors series along with other patrons only to find out that at 9pm Shelter turns their TV screens into a Shelter billboard. When asked to turn the game back on, the manager said they weren't a sports bar. Then why have sports on at all? Management needs to figure out that people can read read through the crap and trying to burn their brand in patrons minds can be done more tactfully. I won't be going back anytime soon unless they figure their stuff out. Pathetic! read more

On thursday, friday, and saturday nights this is among the liveliest places in Encinitas. It blows my mind that people make the drive from so far, but you'll meet people from south of san diego and north of san clemente on weekends. I like the staff too, nice guys. read more

This would be an easy place to like if they could just adopt a service model that aligns with the location. I've been to Shelter twice, once at night and once during the day. At night, they do a bottle service and you're steered away from their comfy trendy booths unless you buy a bottle. I get it, but it's a bit of a pain, especially when you see plenty of empty tables with 'reserved' signs on them. Why not let me and my party sit down until you have a customer who wants bottles? The message I get from this is that my patronage isn't terribly important.Got it. I'm a quick learner and I won't come back at night. Fair enough. The last time I came, it was during the day and I must admit that it was a great atmosphere with the open roof on a sunny day. Very open and breezy and potentially perfect for coastal day drinking if the service was better. We sat at the bar initially and the tender was very pleasant but service was simply slow. It took a long while to simply be acknowledged and it was a bummer. We came within moments of actually leaving but finally we were able to place a drink order. Cocktails were quite good FYI. We later moved to a table and I was pleasantly surprised that they didn't enforce the "bottle service or no seat for you" rule during the day. But it was a bummer to discover that our cocktail server couldn't care less that we were in her section. It took forever just to have her look in our general direction and order another cocktail. It honestly felt like we were in LA getting the urban slow disinterested service that we often get there. Bummer. read more

I can understand why there are some less than pleasant reviews on Shelter- the drinks are on the pricier side, there is no happy hour, it is generally pretty crowded, yada yada. But that is WHY I like it- this is something different from the neighboring bars; it is the perfect place to meet at be able to dress a little nicer and treat yourself to a few drinks that are a little fancier. The atmosphere is awesome: an open bar, filament light bulbs, and of course the highlight is the retractable roof that they leave open as long as it is a nice night out. I was excited to hear last night that they are now open 7 days a week (before it was Thurs-Sun) because they are serving food! I am just hoping that it will not take away from the lounge vibe that Shelter already has. read more

Super cool space. The open air roof, old chandeliers and hanging old fashioned light bulbs make this place a must go. The glassware and signature cocktails were also spot on. Super busy (it was the grand opening) and they had a DJ spinning. I had no trouble getting in and getting a drink but they do enforce a mild dress-code. read more

Celebrating my birthday party there second time, always a great music, great DJ, nice atmosphere, no "naked" girls dancing around your face on the table like in other clubs love it !!! read more

Very bad attention. We came here with a group of friends and three of the bartenders were super rude at us. Bad service. I wouldn't suggest this bar to anyone. I asked for the check and they never bring it to us and made fun of what we were asking for. Avoid this place read more

We had heard of this bar through a friend, so we made reservations for our friends birthday a couple days before. When we got there, the bouncer had to check our IDs (we are all 21), and he would not let one of our friends in with her Washington State ID because he thought it was fake. It's completely real, and after we complained, they said they refuse to serve us even if the ID was real. We then got back in line after we had calmed down and asked them to check again, he looked at the ID and said he knew it was fake, so we called the cops. The cop came and said he could verify the ID but he couldn't force the people to serve us. The bouncer was EXTREMELY RUDE to us, although the other host was being understanding. We were super frustrated with the experience. We ran into a couple women in the street who also said they had a bad experience at this place, one of her girlfriends got roofied. I understand being able to refuse service to anyone- but the only reason we got worked up was because the bouncer couldn't do his job and verify a REAL ID, and was very unprofessional and rude. read more

Love the music! Good cocktails and nice staff. I have been during the winter when roof was closed. I will come back this summer!

Not a good experience. Still waiting for the drink I ordered two hours ago. Don't waste your time and money.

My friends and I consistently finish our nights at shelter and the new bouncer turned us away for no reason when we were exceptionally sober when we rolled into line laughing about random stories we were reminiscing about from high school. He picked out the most sober person from the group to accuse of being to drunk. He looked new but will not be returning until they have reasonable people working the door. He said he has seconds to determine how drunk people were but we were chatting with him for at least five minutes trying to reason with him and he wouldn't even let us try and prove we were fine. read more

Met a few friends at Shelter last night. So disappointed. Great atmosphere but terribly unfriendly and rude servers and staff. We def felt as if we were an inconvenience to every staff member we has the displeasure of having wait on us. Sorry you've just hired the wrong people. Won't be back. The only positive were the bouncers. Super nice! read more

Absolutely horrible service. Their staff has no idea how to treat customers. The place was empty and their staff still had no clue.

Omg! Bartenders are super rude! They throw the menu at us and treated us like crap! Dude! chillax, we don't need that attitude... cocktails are definitely overpriced for what they offer! read more

I had a horrible first experience in which the rude bouncer at the front yelled at me in my face when I was trying to just pay my tab. Once it finally got paid...I didn't add a tip because of the horrible service. And I work in the service industry- I never don't leave a tip because I know that is the majority of what the wait staff lives on...tips. But after spending over $50 myself earlier in the day while with my large group of friends for 3-4 hours and opening up another tab and not being allowed to go back in to close it and even trying to give the bouncers my id so they can get my tab without me having to wait in line to go back in and get it (a convenience for them because I wasn't even trying to go back in!) - I decided not to tip on my $17 tab. But come to find out, I was charged a $4 tip without my consent. So now not only do I not respect the bouncers but I do not respect the wait staff as well- for adding the tip. Somehow, a friend convinced me to give shelter a second chance on Friday night. Well, the same bouncer checks my id and gives me an attitude as he says "welcome back- we remember you". I calmly walked in and reminded my friend that I refuse to spend money there so we better make this quick. My friend had the female bartender, who is actually always very sweet and never forgets or messes up our order- so props to her for being awesome and knowledgable! But as we leave- the bouncer says under his breath- "see you later yelpers!". Well a few of my friends wrote yelp reviews about our first experience at shelter, and he obviously took the time to read them. So I opened the door again and told him- it's his own fault for yelling in my face, and then he apologized...which I will say thank you for apologizing jerk. But there is no need for an attitude with me as a customer. How rude, disrespectful and childish to act like that. The day he yelled at me- I got in a cab down the street about 3 hours later and the cab driver noticed me saying "you're the girl that got yelled at in front of shelter!". So that goes to show how ridiculous it was. Needless to say, a fake apology from the rude bouncer is definitely not going to make me want to go back. My friends and I will not be back there. And to the bouncer reading this- looks like I'm not the only yelper who is making you guys loose good local business. read more

I thought this place was pretty lame. Came with friends on a Friday night. The decor was cool but it seemed pretty out of place in Encinitas. Maybe it's just me but when I think of E town I think of super beachy/ casual bars. This had more of a downtown vibe. And it most certainly had downtown prices. I absolutely thought we paid too much for the drinks. The music was way too house/ new age/ whatever for my taste and so we left for 1st Street Bar after our round of drinks. It was packed and seemed like a lot of people were having fun which is cool but I probably won't be back. read more

Your website says you should be open on Mon -weds 5pm-10pm. I have been here on the weekends and it is a fun experience. But since, I've tried to bring my friends (who have never been here and been wanting them to check out your place) here on a Monday night and Tuesday night and this place has been closed from 530pm onwards. What's up with that? read more

Shelter is extremely overpriced and overrated. Encinitas isn't L.A. or NYC last time I checked. The staff is rude and cocky. Drinks are very weak (cranberry vodka $12.-???) The music was horrible and the dj didn't take any requests. The crowd was young and unattractive. The line was unnecessarily long outside due to the overly rude and obnoxious bouncers lying to the people in line by telling them that the place was at capacity, which is clearly displayed by a fire code sign near the front door as a max capacity of 92 people. There were at least 200 people in the place. However, when the bouncers' friends or acquaintances showed up they were ushered in immediately, which made people annoyed from the get-go. Navigating through the place is impossible. Just to get a drink from the incredibly small bar, you have to push your way through a sea of people standing on the sides of what should be a dance floor, but instead are a bunch of oversized, rib-high bar tables directly in the middle of the place. The bathrooms are also in the very back of the place on either side of the bar, which means you have to push past the sea of people dancing in the aisles because of the lack of an adequate dance floor, or any dance floor for that matter, as well as the patrons at the bar trying to get a drink. The concept of Shelter is a refreshing change from North County's typical beach dive-bar, however this place certainly disappointed our group of 7. I wouldn't recommend going here at all. We certainly won't be back. read more

Very cool place. The people that work here are cool and the ambiance is very nice. The roof opens, come on. I recommend.

I went there with a group of friends a couple of weekends ago. The service was not even close to good. The bartenders ignored me until I basically shouted to them! We were not an exceptionally large group (about ten of us) but wanted to have a conversation, so we waited for a group to leave and we took over their area on the couches (bottle service "only" as were later "informed" ). The server was pleasant enough. At about 9:30ish, another person comes by and rudely tells us "You guy need to leave, this is for VIP bottle service only." I have been to enough bars/clubs in my day where you don't need to rude to your patrons. My tab was still at the bar (fine) It was sort of, kind of getting crowded, so it took about 15 mins. for me to settle up (not even a "thank you"). The net net is this - NEVER again! If you are over 30, don't bother. read more

Kind of a joke. A line. Door guys. A TINY bar. Bad music. Reserved tables where no one sits. Gay crowd turned hipsters turned people annoyed that they can't get in. Why do you want to get in so bad? The emperor wears no clothes. read more

Amazing spot for Sunday day drinking. Mellow hip hop, bartenders are amazing, no shortage on the pour, so Sunday funday. Love this spot!!! Cheers! See you next week. read more

So my first ever 1 star review goes to this place! Out with my brother and his wife and my cousin -buying their overpriced drinks, we got their early and were seated at a table, after and hour or so the place got busy and we were on our 3rd round of drinks when the bouncer and waitress very rudely come up to us and tell us to get out of the table someone bought it for $700!! first off- this isn't vegas who spends that in Encinitas? I calmly say " no one told us we could loose our table, why weren't we offered the choice to buy a bottle or told sooner so we could have grabbed seats at the bar when we arrived? The waitresses only response to any of my questions "This is our policy!" I said what is? being rude and disrespectful to your customers?? My cousin asked the bouncer if they could buy the table next to us - and then the bouncer took our drinks and said "you need to leave the BAR!!" are you kidding me? They threw us out ... all of us 35-40yrs old, being totally chill spending a few hundred there.. SO RUDE and NO understanding of how to run a business. So unless you plan to spend $700 on a table! and dont mind being pushed around by idiot bouncers and bimbo waitresses who cant even give you a decent reply..then Go here! good times await! read more

Wow, I've never been so disappointed with an establishment that has so much potential. Great location and building, but the staff is horrible and rude. The drinks are poured very small, and the staff is unfriendly. And honestly the crowd inside is not what you would expect it to be. The musty dive bar next door has better vibes. read more

Great atmosphere. Beautiful staff. Music was awesome. I don't get the complainers about this place. It's what north county needed.

Ok shelter... Enjoy the 'new' bar popularity while it last because your dumb gorilla doors r not needed after that. Worst experience ever they let all these people ahead of the line... Bs! And the place was not ever nearly full. read more

What can I say? I went back and I had a fantastic time. They took care of me and couldn't have done more to make sure I had a blast. I will be back, lots of fun and I'm glad I was given the opportunity by their team. Thanks guys, you won me over. read more

Stopped in with a group of girlfriends last weekend. Ryan the bartender/server gave us shots and never checked back on us. After waiting for over 30 min, my girlfriend approached the bar where he was doing a magic show for some friends. He was literally smirking when she was asking for some service and respect. We left and he could have cared less. He could have said sorry and offered to take our drink orders. Go anywhere else in Encinitas for a cocktail. Obviously less than 10 people in the bar on a Sunday was too many people to get service. read more

I've been waiting a long time for this place to open. At first, it seemed like it was going to be an extension to the Saloon next door, but once inside it's really a stand-alone establishment (although there is a door that leads directly next door). The booths are very cozy, although there are a limited number. There's additional seating at bar-height tables in the center of the space, and at the bar. Four big tv's adorn the place, so surely you can expect a crowd on Football Sunday. When I was there, the roof was closed, but according to their facebook page, it's convertible... which I think is awesome. Looking forward to going back again to have a drink with the top open. read more

Awesome place to grab a cocktail and relax. Great location and creative drinks to choose from. We like to grab dinner on the 101 then swing by after for a drink! read more

It was a good night out, cocktails were fun and strong, cool that the roof was open. Very upscale hipster, not sure why there is bottle service. read more

Love the option for bottle service so you don't have to go up to the bar! We went there with a group for my friend's birthday and the service was awesome!!! The retractable roof is a huge plus too! read more

I have always enjoyed the atmosphere at Shelter (retraceable roof is insane) and was stoked to hear that they were finally serving food. Right off I was impressed with their selection of typical bar food taken to the next level. I ended up with the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich and Truffle Fries. Sandwich was perfect and fries were delicious that coupled with a few drinks and a friendly wait staff made for an amazing late lunch. read more

Super cute fancy spot. Roof was open so it was nice and not hot even tho it was crowded. Small room though. The shot glasses were small and fancy. $30 for two tequila shots and a cranberry vodka. Felt like I needed 10 more the cup was small! Once u leave... Even to smoke outside... You'll have to wait in line again to get back in. Small place so they reach capacity fast even tho there were tons of open tables. We ended up next door at the saloon and it was way more fun! read more

My Wife and I were hanging at the beach and started to walk home. Decided we wanted to grab a cocktail so stopped in. The whole experience was excellent. Great music, fantastic bartender, delicious and well made cocktails. The bar interior is very cool and casual. Even everyone hanging in the bar was cool too. Well done and great to see in Encinitas. Recommend to anyone any age anytime. read more

35 year old Encinitas native here. Going to give this place the most honest review i can. When they first opened 2+ years ago, they rubbed a few people (especially laid-back locals) the wrong way, because they had a stricter dress code, even at 5 or 6p they would require close toed shoes and shirts tucked in i believe. Since then they have relaxed and you can day drink there on the weekends or go in before say 8p in shorts or more casual attire. Not being in my early 20's anymore, i usually don't go there past 8 or 9 because it starts to get really crowded and loud. I'll stop by on my way home from work on a Thurs or Friday night from say 630-8ish and it's a great chill place to socialize with friend or the bartenders and get a little loose. If you are up for partying like your Downtown, cruise in anytime after 930 or 10p and you will get your fix of loud music, body 2 body action and having to wait sometimes 5-10 min for a drink. read more

We went here for the first time for a friend's 41st Birthday at 6:00 on a Friday night recently. While the ambience is nice and there are plenty of cocktails to choose from, there was ZERO food at all offered. I know this is supposed to be a 'club' (which is kind of funny for downtown Encinitas anyway) vs. a restaurant, but when you have 30 people there drinking cocktails for 4+ hours or so...it would be nice if they even put a bowl of nuts on the table. Most of our party left to eat randomly and then returned because everyone was getting so drunk without food too, not even appetizers. It was okay, but I would not choose to have a party there again or even seek it out for a happy hour place. read more

I went to Shelter for my best friends 21st birthday and we had a blast. She flew in from another state so I was glad that Shelter gave her a good experience. Shelter is a bar, however at night it feels more like a club which is good if you're looking for that type of experience with loud music and a decent social scene. Everyone there was quite sociable and it was easy to get an invite to a table. They played good house music that was upbeat and easy to dance and drink to. It was $9 for each cranberry vodka we ordered and they made them strong so I ended spending roughly $40 without tips. The place was busy though so it took a couple minutes for the bartenders to get to us, but once they took our order we got our drinks fast. I'd definitely go back to Shelter if I'm looking for a fun night out with my friends. Also, the outside bouncer was really friendly and there were bouncers inside the bar to make sure everything stayed in order. Many reviews say that there's a long line to get in around 11pm/midnight however we didn't have to wait in line on a Friday night. So much fun! read more

Nice spot, great ambience - the drinks are over priced. Its a good place for a drink before dinner. Probably wouldn't want to go later at night to be subjected to standing in line - when the place obviously has occupancy. read more