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    Sound by the Sea

    4.2 (110 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Sound by the Sea Wine Bars Photos

    Business Info

    SOUND BY THE SEA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    DJ
    Live music
    Hipster
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Sound by the Sea

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    Reviews With Photos

    Truffle mushroom pizza
    Devyn M.

    Honestly, I am not so sure about this spot. Is it trendy? Yes. Do they play good music? Also yes. I'd say it's a cool spot to grab drinks and enjoy a few accoutrements alongside them, but if you're coming to fulfill an appetite, I don't think it's the place for it. The music definitely makes you want to hang out, and the interior decorations are super trendy. I was one of few guests, and before my food had arrived I was asked to close my tab. Not normally an issue, except that the pizza I ordered (the truffle mushroom) didn't come out initially, and I was served the margarita pizza. There's only two pizzas on the menu, and somehow they made the wrong one. They kindly fixed the mishap, but I might have taken notice of this before I tipped.

    Vanilla latte and truffle popcorn
    Alicia D.

    The Sound Bar has a really fun vibe and is a cool place to hang out with friends. The music and energy make it feel lively, especially in the evening. It's a good spot if you're looking for drinks and a social atmosphere. The DJ had a great selection of music. The food selection was okay. I had the truffle popcorn which was great! The staff was very nice and the place is family friendly.

    Wooo!
    Leland S.

    My friend was performing here on a lovely Sunday afternoon. Here was my experience. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking. I didn't have any issues really but I can see it getting busy if there's a major event happening. Seating: Plenty you have the choice of indoors or outdoors. Room for maybe 40 people - great for groups or individuals Vibes: Oceanside is a pretty neat area. Its in its name, like a clean beach town. The spot itself is pretty neat - clean and unapologetically a space for music lovers - from the vintage audio gear, comfortable seating, and local vibe. Daytime wise, the space is clearly built for listening, not shouting--so you can actually talk, relax, and soak it all in. FOOD/DRINKS: Mint Condition (Recommend) Refreshing! I enjoyed the zest of lemon, refreshing mint flavor, bubbly sparkle and the calmness of the tea and cucumber. Truffle Popcorn (Recommend) If you're looking for something lite, this is what you're looking for. Well-cooked popcorn with well mixed truffle and parmesan. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Awesome! Friendly people that were invested in the experience. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Good stuff - music, food, drinks, and vibes. If you're looking for more than "just another bar," this place delivers: great atmosphere, music you can enjoy, and smart food & drinks. I'd definitely come back with friends or for a relaxed date night. TIPS: * Arrive early or check their socials for events.

    Lilian W.

    Sound by the Sea is a bar that focuses on music. I am so happy I stumbled upon this place because it's truly one of a kind. It looks like they frequently feature various DJ's to play through the day. Their sound systems look expensive and feel top notch - hearing the music was one thing, and feeling the music was another. The service is great, but I can tell the staff get busy. I came on a weekend night, and there were lots of people coming in and out. Sometimes it took a while to get a hold of the staff for taking our orders or checking out, but it all went through slowly and smoothly. Everyone is required to order something. I got a rose lemonade that came in a bottle - it was floral and not too sweet (I personally didn't love it). Overall, I'd love to come here more frequently to enjoy the music and atmosphere. I hope they expand to more locations because I truly believe there needs to be more places like this around!

    Grapefruit radler
    Allyson D.

    This spot is inviting with the music you can hear from the sidewalk. We had no intention of entering here, but we were curious what this place was because besides the sign on the building, we saw an auto body shop sign in front (which was located behind their shop). They basically play vinyl and offered drinks and snacks while you chill and listen to live vinyl music played by the DJ at the bar. We sat at the bar and he didn't interact with us once. We thought that was odd since we could've chosen to sat anywhere else; there was other seating inside and a whole patio outside. Sitting at the bar is awkward enough to not be welcomed by the person working behind the counter, you know? Drink menu consists of different alcohol and non-alcoholic options. A few of the snacks you choose from are flatbreads, empanadas, or charcuterie. The flatbread comes from a spot in San Diego so they are toasting it for you. It was good. They offer combo deals which I thought was cool. Two beers of any choice and flatbread was $25. This place was not bad, a bit too hipster that would probably do better in North Park, but cool concept. The bathroom is literally behind a farm barn door near the bar.

    Mafalda C.

    The place to be.. music flows, as well as conversations. Good variety of food and drinks. Service is a little slow but overall everyone is nice. Small space, make a reservation for parties. We enjoy it there every time.

    Tiramisu and truffle popcorn plus cocktails!
    Jenna D.

    Came from 8-9pm on a Friday night. I love how eclectic this place is. Lounge vibes are strong. Loved the tiramisu and truffle popcorn. Husband liked the El Golpe (so smooth because of the soju). I had the Sweetest Taboo, but I'd opt for a glass of wine next time. DJ was great. Check insta for their lineup.

    Tea
    Sage S.

    This place was so cute! Parking is along the street which wasn't too bad on a Tuesday night. The ambiance is amazing, love the vibe. Inside & outdoor space were equally aesthetically pleasing. Service was fast, friendly, & thoughtful. Loved the DJ of the night, also liked that there was an actual section to buy records. We got some tumeric tea, truffle popcorn, 2 empeñadas (spinach/mint/beef, & then chicken), also got the flatbread which was delicious. Will definitely be back!

    Chapati and tea
    Lisa G.

    I had the pleasure of attending ASMOTthe first special event by **Sound by the Sea**, featuring a five-course East African fine dining experience by chefs Chris Nshimye, Davin, and Jason, Every dish was rich in flavor, and the warm, welcoming staff created a chill yet sophisticated vibe. Adding to the magic, Captain Planet curated an all-vinyl tribute to African Funk and Jazz, perfectly complementing the evening. This was a truly unique fusion of food and music, we hope this is just the beginning of many more events to come! Thank you to the staff and chefs for a magical experience

    DJ area
    Liana M.

    I came here on my visit to O'side last month. I was happy to find it was a short walk away from my vacation rental, too! But I can't speak to the parking situation because of that. My immediate impression was great. Moody, colored lighting, DJ was already spinning, it was packed. I sat at the bar space in the middle where the DJ was since I was by myself. Loved the music. I think my experience may have been a little better if I was at a table though. They seemed to prioritize larger parties in terms of service. It took so long for me to get served. I mean, they were busy, sure. But I was watching their staff. And they kept congregating by the bar, talking to each other. Meanwhile, it took 15 minutes for me to get a drink. And then I ordered one of the pizzas, which was a mistake. Apparently these are artisan pizzas made fresh but I read that on the menu which was the only thing I could do while I waited. What that really means though is you have to wait nearly an hour to get a tiny pizza that's like maybe the equivalent of 2 slices. The pizza was tasty, but for the price and wait time and the fact that I was still hungry after -- not worth it. And I was never informed it would take a long time. Even worse, all I got was an apology from the waitress. No discount, no "we want to make it right here's a free appetizer," no coupon. Just a sorry for the wait, an hour after I ordered a tiny pizza. I might come back here just for drinks and to listen to the DJs. But I'm never ordering food from here again. I really hope they work on their customer service and get a faster/better kitchen! The space is really cool, especially the back patio. But please be more attentive to your patrons!

    Cheesecake Brownie
    Sophia N.

    I've been going to this place for a while and I love it! It has the coolest vibe and is a great place if you just want to get a cocktail and chill. My boyfriend and I did the 2 cocktail and a dessert combo for $35 which I think is a pretty good deal! We both love the Tago Mago which has a nice mango flavor a little bit smoky. Definitely going to keep coming back!

    Caitlin W.

    Went here the other day for a friend's birthday and we were immediately greeted with great service! The drinks were great and came out quick! Honestly the best vibes and best apperol spritz we have ever had

    Chill beats late evening

    The vibe was chill when we arrived but became high energy late evening when the music became fully immersive. There was a dj playing along with live performers simultaneously. Totally different than any other place we've been to and loved it.

    Beer menu. No mention of canned, bottled, or draft.

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    Photo of Tracy C.
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    20 days ago

    Fun Place, great sound system, good people. Recommended to anyone who wants to hear great music and likes a good vibe.

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    11 months ago

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    Dominique V.

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    Dominique V.

    Thanks Lisa, it was a great night and more food-collabs to come!

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    6 months ago

    Great vibe! They had a dj who was playing the different albums and he was playing good tracks. I highly recommend!

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    Dominique V.

    Thanks Allan, hope to seen you soon again, welcome any time, team SBTS

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    Thanks Sash, hope to seen you soon again, team SBTS

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Sound by the Sea

    I am looking to visit on a weekend night in a couple weeks with my girl friend, is it just a walk in and sit down or are reservations available/recommended? is there any local, nice hotels nearby this bar that anyone can recommend?

    We recommend reservations for groups of 4 and more people. If it's just the two of you we suggest you come by and usually the wait is 5-10minutes on the busy moments. Recommend hotels: Green Room & Fin hotel.

    Is this only for 21 and up?

    hi Kaylee, we are absolutely kid-friendly! After 8pm we keep it more 21+

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Sound by the Sea

    Dom and his staff were so accommodating and fun, all the cocktails were well balanced and the music was on point.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Same Same - NEW YORK STRIP STEAK with fried shallots and Thai-style chimichurri

    Same Same

    4.5(257 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    My husband and I came here for our first wedding anniversary and it was amazing! Don't let the…read moresmall menu fool you - every single thing we ate was delicious! FOOD: - hot potatoes: has a pickled radish and some sort of crème sauce that was so good - these were my husband's favorite. - chicken satay: It came with pickled cucumber (think when it's cucumber kimchi, but it wasn't a kimchi type of marinade). The peanut sauce had a little spice (if you don't have any spice tolerance I would avoid the sauce, but it was sooo good). This was my favorite. - khao soi curry (has egg noodles) and that was delicious. We added the brisket to it which was a good add. My husband ate his so fast and I had to make him not take any more so we could have leftovers! DRINKS: - we got complimentary champagne for our anniversary which was so so sweet of them and made our night! The champagne itself was actually one of the best champagnes I have had. It had a nice sweetness to it. - my husband had the thai lager, which he said was okay. It tasted like most lagers he's had. - we shared the tangerine you are my sex machine as it sounded interesting and i do have to say this was the only thing we weren't big fans of. it was very smokey, but my husband put "old boat motor" in my head and that's all we could taste. if you love smokey drinks this would be for you. - I had a house cocktail that I cannot remember the name of for the life of me, but it was sweet, peachy (I think) and had champagne in it from what I remember. It was so good and would get it again! The vibe inside the restaurant was cool and there are over 30 tigers (our server counted for us, but she said she couldn't even find them all). The bathrooms were cute and very clean. 10/10 recommend. The check even came in a romance novel!

    Located in the village on the second level of the plaza, is an artsy and definitely trendy little…read morerestaurant but not in a way that's doing too much. I think everything really complimented each other well from the music to the art to the menu, it was great! Our server was nice as we were indecisive with even such a small menu, we had a hard time. The drinks were good and strong, unique and creative. Which I guess when you're going out and want to stay on theme, it works. We had the coconut broth hamachi which was so lip-smackingly addictive with those wonton chips! I would come back just for that dish! The chicken satay skewers were also delicious and the sauce that came with it was a good mix of sweet, savory, spicy and salty. I do think from there it was kind of just okay? I got the half fried chicken which smelled a fish sauce glaze and that's what I went in expecting but there was no punch of that fish sauce flavor you know? It needed a bit more pop. BF got the pork belly banh mi bowl which I guess in theory why would you get that at a Thai place? But the pork belly was hard and firm, not as you'd expect it to be which was dissapointing. Our friends got the Khao Soi which was delicious I do have to say and the Panang with Brisket. I think it was cool to try but im just stuck in my ways and prefer the ole mom and pop down the road with more options. But its fun for a night out!

    Photos
    Same Same - Indoor decor

    Indoor decor

    Same Same - 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)

    Same Same - The guests of honor: it is, after all, National Margarita Day

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

    The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill - Poke inari bombs

    The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill

    4.4(205 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    This is a fun lil gem! Dropped in for a last minute casual dinner with the fam on Mother's Day & it…read moredidn't disappoint. This is a small bar with all the fun tiki vibes, and the food didn't disappoint either. Service was friendly and made us feel totally comfortable bringing littles in. We loved the drinks! They're cute kitschy and yummy.

    I'm a sucker for tiki drinks and tiki food, too (I suppose Polynesian is the more appropriate and…read moreaccurate term) and this place exceeded my expectations. There is a bar/lounge level on the first floor which is fairly chill and then, for you adventurers, you walk and walk and walk up the stairs to the rooftop deck. The views here are absolutely tremendous and the vibe is definitely upbeat. I highly recommend burning a couple of calories to reach the deck to check out the amazing views. I tried the Cobra Kai drink (rum, rum, more rum, and maybe some fruit juice) and it knocked me out. You won't be unhappy with the heavy pours here. They also do fun and delicious mocktails. The fish tacos were outstanding. You get two of them and they are huge and delicious. Get them beer battered. I am a huge fan of Cubano sandwiches. The one here is fine but is not a must order. It is a "Hawaiian Cuban" (wrap your brains around that fusion combo) and comes with your normal Cubano ingredients (pickles, ham and cheese) and also minced kalua pork. The kalua pork was very dry and I just don't think the combination works. Just my two cents. The bartender and other staff were extremely attentive and friendly. Interestingly, the place is kid friendly but I think they stop the kiddos from entering around 8 or so. I am not exactly sure. This is a fun place for tik

    Photos
    The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill - Jason Momoa

    Jason Momoa

    The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill - Loco Moco

    Loco Moco

    The Lobby Tiki Bar & Grill - Temple of Doom

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    Temple of Doom

    Ladies Love Outlaws

    Ladies Love Outlaws

    4.3(3 reviews)
    1.7 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
    Ladies Love Outlaws - Mac and cheese with Tri Tip

    Mac and cheese with Tri Tip

    Ladies Love Outlaws

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    Sound by the Sea - wine_bars - Updated May 2026

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