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Swan Bar is an NP classic that surprisingly a lot of people miss. It has a really interesting vibe and a core classic feel to it. I prefer the outdoor patio but the music can get really loud. The happy hour is one of the best in SD - if you can make the 4-5pm timing. The drinks can be hit or miss here, (as well as the bartenders) some too sweet and some really good. The ones without sweetness forward flavors are your best bet. Overall a really fun place to stop by.
Cant believe I hadn't reviewed earlier after returning a couple times already. Solid bar for locals, tasty unique drinks. A staple spot to hangout w friends. The place is cute, on holidays they put tons of effort in their appearance. No matter the day of the week I think theres usually a crowd always seems popular.
After hearing about the great hh deals here we finally decided to come around the holidays when they decorate the whole place up. We got there right before open and there was a line but we were able to get in right away. It's open seating and they have a small indoor and decently large covered patio space. All the holiday drinks were not on happy hour and on the pricier end around $18 or so. They still had their happy hour menu at $7 for all cocktails. I got the negroni and found it realllyyyyy sweet so not my fave. My partner got the peppermint espresso martini from the holiday menu but didn't taste any peppermint. The decorations were super cute and well done though!
We were in the area, and wanted to check it out. Loved the holiday decorations. Plus they had "snow" at the entrance which was fun. It's definitely a popular bar for the holidays as there were no seating available when we walked in. The bartenders were really nice, and helpful in explaining what a particular drink my friend wanted to try had in it. Due to allergy restrictions wasn't able to try it out. Overall, definitely a cute place to check out if you're into holiday themed bars.
I came here for the holiday decorations and it did not disappoint! I loved the music and vibes and the drinks were really good! The only downside was that there were only 2 bartenders so it did take a bit to order drinks and since it was so busy (on a Tuesday night), it was hard to find seating. But worth it for the decorations!
Came here for my birthday a couple weeks ago. I hadn't been here in a while so I was really excited. Before I even walked in Pete greeted me by name. He remembered what I liked to drink "Makers on a Big rock". I was blown away. Had a great time and food still hits. Still one of my favorite spots.
WOW! Swan bar really did a fantastic job with their holiday decorations this year! The exterior has been completely transformed into a winter wonderland and the interior lights were also really festive! For drinks we got the gingerbread old fashion and the danger snorkel. Their smash burgers and garlic fries were also SO delicious and flavorful and on par with the Friendly! Swan bar has definitely become one of my favorite neighborhood bars!
I was back In San Diego and wanted to come here after seeing a few Instagram ads. The vibe is pretty cool. The inside is a dimly lit bar, and then there's an outdoor patio with large tables. I was skeptical when I found out most of the cocktails were on tap but I will say very good! I loved the Espresso Martini, would definitely order again. The Apple Pie Martini was also pretty good, reminded me of Fall. This is a cool place to check out if you're in the area.
Stopped by Swan bar a few weeks ago when out with friends. We were looking for a festive spot with food and drinks and ended up here. I forgot to take pictures of the inside but their seating area was all decorated with holiday trimmings, lights, etc. and was happening. We ordered a couple of drinks including a few Christmas specials. Unfortunately those were a bit too sweet for my friends liking. I opted for a gin and tonic and it was well put together. Overall was a fun spot to hang out with friends. Not too loud, just wish we had come earlier before they closed the kitchen.
We came here to try their holiday-themed cocktails and they did not disappoint! The place was very festively decorated. Right from the outside, you're greeted with blow-up Christmas decorations on the roof and inside the whole ceiling is covered with glittery gifts and lights. I love it! Unfortunately they had issues in the kitchen that night and had to close the kitchen early so we couldn't try any food. But looking at the regular drinks and the great service we got that night, we'll be back for more for sure.
I like that Swan Bar has a semi patio area that has coverage overhead, air breezing through and private fencing all at the same time. They also have an inside bar area with seats, tables and bar stool. The staff were super friendly, menu was easy to read, happy hour from 4-5pm on select drinks. They serve bar food as well. We ordered onion rings and poutine; our poutine was a bit salty. Overall, I love that the staff highly value our safety, attentive and friendly. Will return in the future. Good vibes all around.
We came to the Swan bar after hearing some good things about the place. It was super decked out for Christmas. We thought going a bit early we'd best the crowds but we were wrong. Place was super packed and there was a 10 minute wait. The bar has lots of space to sit and a great seasonal drink options. We had 1 of almost everything on their menu. The atmosphere was super chill. A must do on any list of bars to check out. We will definitely come back here after the holiday season to check it out again. read more
5 months ago
5 days ago
Swan Bar is an NP classic that surprisingly a lot of people miss. It has a really interesting vibe and a core classic feel to it. I prefer the outdoor patio but the music can get really loud. The happy hour is one of the best in SD - if you can make the 4-5pm timing. The drinks can be hit or miss here, (as well as the bartenders) some too sweet and some really good. The ones without sweetness forward flavors are your best bet. Overall a really fun place to stop by. read more
Cant believe I hadn't reviewed earlier after returning a couple times already. Solid bar for locals, tasty unique drinks. A staple spot to hangout w friends. The place is cute, on holidays they put tons of effort in their appearance. No matter the day of the week I think theres usually a crowd always seems popular. read more
5 months ago
After hearing about the great hh deals here we finally decided to come around the holidays when they decorate the whole place up. We got there right before open and there was a line but we were able to get in right away. It's open seating and they have a small indoor and decently large covered patio space. All the holiday drinks were not on happy hour and on the pricier end around $18 or so. They still had their happy hour menu at $7 for all cocktails. I got the negroni and found it realllyyyyy sweet so not my fave. My partner got the peppermint espresso martini from the holiday menu but didn't taste any peppermint. The decorations were super cute and well done though! read more
We were in the area, and wanted to check it out. Loved the holiday decorations. Plus they had "snow" at the entrance which was fun. It's definitely a popular bar for the holidays as there were no seating available when we walked in. The bartenders were really nice, and helpful in explaining what a particular drink my friend wanted to try had in it. Due to allergy restrictions wasn't able to try it out. Overall, definitely a cute place to check out if you're into holiday themed bars. read more
I came here for the holiday decorations and it did not disappoint! I loved the music and vibes and the drinks were really good! The only downside was that there were only 2 bartenders so it did take a bit to order drinks and since it was so busy (on a Tuesday night), it was hard to find seating. But worth it for the decorations! read more
10 months ago
Came here for my birthday a couple weeks ago. I hadn't been here in a while so I was really excited. Before I even walked in Pete greeted me by name. He remembered what I liked to drink "Makers on a Big rock". I was blown away. Had a great time and food still hits. Still one of my favorite spots. read more
WOW! Swan bar really did a fantastic job with their holiday decorations this year! The exterior has been completely transformed into a winter wonderland and the interior lights were also really festive! For drinks we got the gingerbread old fashion and the danger snorkel. Their smash burgers and garlic fries were also SO delicious and flavorful and on par with the Friendly! Swan bar has definitely become one of my favorite neighborhood bars! read more
6 months ago
Got a good cocktail. I love their happy hour and the ambiance. It's a classy place. I'm happy with the service read more
1 month ago
4 months ago
10 months ago
I was back In San Diego and wanted to come here after seeing a few Instagram ads. The vibe is pretty cool. The inside is a dimly lit bar, and then there's an outdoor patio with large tables. I was skeptical when I found out most of the cocktails were on tap but I will say very good! I loved the Espresso Martini, would definitely order again. The Apple Pie Martini was also pretty good, reminded me of Fall. This is a cool place to check out if you're in the area. read more
5 months ago
Stopped by Swan bar a few weeks ago when out with friends. We were looking for a festive spot with food and drinks and ended up here. I forgot to take pictures of the inside but their seating area was all decorated with holiday trimmings, lights, etc. and was happening. We ordered a couple of drinks including a few Christmas specials. Unfortunately those were a bit too sweet for my friends liking. I opted for a gin and tonic and it was well put together. Overall was a fun spot to hang out with friends. Not too loud, just wish we had come earlier before they closed the kitchen. read more
We came here to try their holiday-themed cocktails and they did not disappoint! The place was very festively decorated. Right from the outside, you're greeted with blow-up Christmas decorations on the roof and inside the whole ceiling is covered with glittery gifts and lights. I love it! Unfortunately they had issues in the kitchen that night and had to close the kitchen early so we couldn't try any food. But looking at the regular drinks and the great service we got that night, we'll be back for more for sure. read more
1 year ago
I like that Swan Bar has a semi patio area that has coverage overhead, air breezing through and private fencing all at the same time. They also have an inside bar area with seats, tables and bar stool. The staff were super friendly, menu was easy to read, happy hour from 4-5pm on select drinks. They serve bar food as well. We ordered onion rings and poutine; our poutine was a bit salty. Overall, I love that the staff highly value our safety, attentive and friendly. Will return in the future. Good vibes all around. read more
So we were looking to celebrate in a festive environment and after a bit of searching we found this spot. The place was packed, but they pulled of the Christmas Charm. We were able to get some drinks and perch ourselves at the end of the bar. We also ordered some food which came up pretty quickly. The burgers and fries were amazing and really hit the spot. The fries were crisp and the burger was flavorful and juicy. I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas themed drinks, but they were pretty good. read more
6 months ago
Imagine a dive bar feeling, but the bar felt nicer and clean. That's Swan Bar. Drinks there are always great and they have good burgers. Food menu is mainly the burger, fries, and nachos. It's a great place to go after dinner or just meeting friends for drinks. Went during their Christmas pop up and loved the decor. Their gingerbread old fashioned is one of my favorite holiday drinks. read more
1 year ago
Always appreciate a place that offers mocktails on the menu! The place is pretty expansive, or it wasn't super crowded when I went. The Mr. Aloha was a refreshing drink, but a little too sweet for my tastes. It wasn't as enjoyable towards the end, but it was still a good drink. The other two drinks were solid, but the horchata was pretty misleading, since we were expecting a more horchata-consistency and flavor. The horchata was pretty lacking, but it was happily consumed by the person who purchased it. The Mt. Dew drink tasted almost exclusively of its mountain dew, so it wasn't that great. Overall, not too bad, but would appreciate more balanced flavors or a mildly more accurate naming convention. read more
1 year ago
I've drive past this place forever: I finally went in. FUNNN!!!! First off the place was decorated immaculately for Christmas. I don't know if I've ever been to such a festive bar and I truly smiled upon walking in. Apparently the virus is famous for its drinks on tap, so I had to of course, have the espresso martini which was surprisingly delicious for being a premixed beverage! For a snack, I had the dirty pimento cheese fries in general. These were also delicious though the fries were a little crispy for my personal taste. The whole time I was there, I couldn't stop texting my husband and saying how we had to come back! Next time I wanna try their burgers and some more of those delicious sounding cocktails on tap! Sidenote, they really should sell gift cards because I want to give this place to my friends to enjoy !! read more
1 year ago
The majority of this review is weighted on their smashburger. I've hit most of the smashburger joints in the city, and I have to say: Swan Bar may have the best basic smashburger. Quality of Bread: Top Notch! Classic Brioche type bun with excellent consistency and perfectly sized for their burger. Quality of Meat: Well smashed with just the right amount of crispy burnt sear. Not too greasy (like one of my other favorite local spots) Quality of Cheese: Its american cheese. No surprises here Quality of Toppings: Great! Not too much of one thing. Well balanced with some excellent configurable options (fried egg etc) and some extra pickle slices and Pepperoncini on the side Presentation: 1/2 wrapped in paper for easy and clean handling I definitely recommend. The location is fairly spacious and dimly lit with a nice covered patio type area. The music was generally a little louder than I prefer, but acceptable. The drinks I had were happy hour pre-mixed cocktails, which were pretty good. I haven't had any of the fully mixed cocktails yet. I've read some complaints about service, but our bartender was welcoming and friendly Overall: Cool vibe, relaxed atmosphere, good drinks and fantastic smashburgers read more
Sat at the bar. Cocktails were fresh and tasty, love that they use an additive free tequila as their well. Absolutely loved the old school country music playing. Such a great vibe. Bartenders were friendly and helpful, will definitely be back. Got the Danger Snorkel with Mezcal and the Texas 2 step. Both cocktails were well balanced and delicious. What a great selection of drinks. They have something for everyone read more
8 months ago
This is my go to place for espresso martinis! On Wednesdays they have $5 espresso and dirty martinis till 5 pm and they are so bomb. The liquor to coffee ratio is perfect and the cream float adds the perfect texture and sweetness read more
2 years ago
WHAT AN AMAZING HOUR. Hands down the best happy hour I have ever been to. My favorite drinks were the appletini and the gold rush. Best to get here early because they run out of the drinks pretty quick and you can only order one per person at a time! All of the seating was first come, first serve. There was some indoor seating with dim lighting and there was seating on their covered patio. My only grip was that the music was too loud, so it was hard to catch up with my friends. But it's also only an hour long so we can always drink then go somewhere else to catch up! I will definitely be frequenting their happy hour. The staff were very friendly and professionally. As for parking, it is street parking so plan ahead and get there early. Also I didn't get to try their food but it look and smelled so good! read more
1 year ago
Cool vibe and they definitely go all out for Christmas! They had festive cocktails and food if you're hungry. There was loud music playing and it was packed for the holidays. read more
Swan Bar is everything I want out of a neighborhood bar. Chill yet lively, busy but overly crowded where it becomes uncomfortable, cool but not a "scene". And they have the BEST happy hour in the area... $5 happy hour draft cocktails EVERY SINGLE DAY. These cocktails are better tasting than many of the drinks I've had prepared at cocktail bars, including some pretty pricey ones in the area. The Irish Gold Rush is my go to, but the Black Manhattan is perfect for when I want something boozier. The margarita and mojito are also excellent on warmer days. The bartenders are really friendly and provide great service. Swan Bar's layout is great, with a cozy indoor space to hang out along with a large, semi-outdoor space in the back. The outdoor area has heat lamps and a nice fireplace -- extra nice on a chilly SD evening. Somehow we always end up here while on a walk so I have yet to try their food or stray from the draft cocktails, but their cocktail menu looks interesting and is well priced. I'm also happy to see they offer a vegan burger and presumably a few vegan sides (fries, onion rings, etc.). Looking forward to spending a bit more time here soon and working my way through their cocktail menu. read more
1 year ago
Great neighborhood dive with nice moody atmosphere. I went here specifically for their Kaiju Night collab popup with Bar Kamon and those drinks were really good. Something I will mention since it wasn't apparent to me is Swan Bar does serve burgers and basic appetizers if you want something to eat while drinking. read more
2 months ago
This is the place to grab a good happy hour drink before dinner! Love the vibe/ambience of the patio space as it's enclosed but you still feel like your sitting on a patio. They even have a small fireplace that is very cozy. We came here on a Friday right as they opened at 4pm to take advantage of the happy hour and it seems like since they blew up on social media it's very busy! There were people waiting online to get in right at 4pm as the happy hour only goes from 4-5! The happy hour is draft cocktails and so there's about 6 different cocktails to choose from but so worth it for $5! The espresso martini isn't anything out of this world but definitely a solid choice. Food wise we only got chili cheese fries which were a large portion for 2 people but I know that they also have smash burgers. Overall great place for a cheap cocktail during happy hour and great patio set up. read more
So easy to walk by this place and not see it! Nice locals spot with a lot of semi outdoor seating. I didn't realize some of the cocktails are on tap so I found it odd they are the same price as a hand mixed cocktail (unless it's happy hour - which is a really good deal) I found the bartenders nice enough and they were focused on getting the drinks out asap. They did seem a bit short on menus but overall worth a visit! read more
2 years ago
Lovelt ambiance with Christmas decor and we both got nonalcoholic drinks to spruce us up for the night. The mixed drinks were a fiery pick me up and it is a comfy place to relax at. read more
Cool and moody atmosphere inside, I love it! Drinks were super good, I got the Cisco kid and it was delicious. Also tried an espresso martini and it is one of the best I've had! Wasn't packed when I went on a Wednesday night, but I can imagine it being busy on the weekend- especially because of their amazing happy hour deal I'll be back to this bar! read more
2 years ago
I really love this little corner of the world, so any time one of my friends wants to meet up after work I usually try to meet up somewhere in the vicinity of this intersection. It was kind of by happenstance that we discovered the bar but really a matter of time. My favorite time to come in is right when it opens get a seat at the bar or really close by because the bartenders are really funny. Grab a martini or an espresso martini. If you're feeling crazy everything here is delicious I normally don't even like most burgers - but these burgers are fire, the french fries I think really set it off, so if you're not a burger person definitely get a fry. I feel like the ambience is always like a really cool local chill vibe. I'm not pretentious, but still like a level of upscale cause you have a really nice space that you're enjoying. read more
6 months ago
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2933 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116
University Heights, North Park
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Swan Bar - bars - Updated May 2026
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