Bar staff phenomenal. DJ cannot take requests even for 30th bday (clearly doesn't know bpm).read more

1ST STREET BAR @ ENCINITAS…read more Parking is available on public streets or in nearby neighborhoods. I visited during Halloween weekend and, since I was the designated driver, I ended up finding a spot just a street down--it was surprisingly easy! This was my first time visiting any of the bars in Encinitas, and my friend had recommended this place, so I was really excited to check it out. The line was out the door probably due to Halloween, and the cover was $20, which is on the pricier side. I'm not sure how busy it gets on a regular weekend, but it was definitely packed when we arrived. The space itself was great, with good music, lots of people dancing, and a lively crowd overall. I really enjoyed my experience and would definitely consider coming back on another weekend.

I have always wanted to attend a concert here, but either I wasn't in Solana Beach at the right…read moretime or I could not make it down. We were looking for a fun evening to bring in the Christmas spirit post Thanksgiving and I saw this advertised concert on the website that I thought our daughter would really enjoy. I went ahead and purchased our tickets which were very reasonable for a show. I love that Belly Up has its own website so people can still afford to attend their shows. We saw Grammy nominated and Father of Contemporary Jazz David Benoit perform all the Peanuts Christmas songs from A Charlie Brown Christmas. WOW! What a terrific show! We sat on the main floor right up close to the stage and we all had such a good time especially our daughter as it was a surprise show for her. The layout is perfect with lots of open space, a bar area, dance floor and a second level. It is quite large inside but you cannot see that from the outside. Acoustics are perfect and David Benoit is still the master of the piano. He had a guest vocalist Courtney Fortune which added to the evening performance. Parking is about the only challenge so we made sure to arrive extra early and grabbed a spot right out front. Also parking was free! I definitely recommend this venue for good service and great music.

First time at Belly Up in Solana Beach and wow... what a fun surprise! We came on a Friday evening…read moreto see Atomic Groove playing all the best 80's & 90's hits, and the energy was AMAZING. Every single musician was so talented -- not only were they great on their instruments, but they could all sing too! That honestly caught us off guard in the best way. It was such a fun girls' night vibe -- singing along, dancing, and just enjoying the music. We're definitely coming back, and next time we're bringing more girlfriends with us! We came hungry and almost grabbed food before arriving, but decided to wait -- good thing we did because they actually serve food here along with drinks. We ordered the hamburger sliders with truffle fries, plus beer and a cola. The food was solid and hit the spot. Only small downside was the soda -- it was flat and didn't have carbonation. But everything else made up for it. Overall, such a fun spot with great live music, good food, and a lively atmosphere. Can't wait to be back!

If you're a niners fan, then this is the bar for you! My bf and I felt right at home, it gets crazy…read morepacked especially for the games so I suggest getting there a little early if you plan on staying for the game. Bartenders were fast and you could tell they tend to their regulars first but over all good vibes, clean and environment, we will definitely be back

Came as a group of 4 before a concert at The Sound. We get ID'ed at the bar (all of us are well…read moreover 30), show our ID's and the bartender starts inspecting my friends Hawaii ID (she lived in Hawaii) he denies us service because he "doesn't feel comfortable" accepting her ID, then threatens to KEEP it?! So, if you're from out of state, be prepared to be asked for a "secondary" ID or they will refuse you service. Insane!

We stumbled upon The Alley by chance and were glad we found it. It is the kind of place you do not…read moreplan for but end up talking about afterward. If you are looking for a fun little spot with a DJ, lights, and a mix of truly random people, this is it. The drinks are affordable, which already puts it ahead of the curve. The DJ is solid and plays a surprisingly wide range of music that somehow works for everyone in the room. The dance floor is always packed, and that energy feeds into the entire space. What stood out most is that there is no single niche or crowd this bar caters to, which makes it feel welcoming and easy to enjoy. For a small town, seeing it this packed felt like a win. This is the kind of place where you show up for one drink and leave hours later. I will definitely be back the next time I am downtown and want to dance the night away.

Chill Vibes with a Fun Atmosphere…read more The Alley is a bit of a hole in the wall--but in the best way. It's a great spot to chill, relax, and enjoy some karaoke. I really loved the overall vibe of the place, though it does get crowded pretty quickly. The drinks are average and a bit on the pricey side, and the service was friendly, though nothing extraordinary. Overall, not a bad experience at all--definitely a fun little hangout spot!

Jimmy O's new food and drink menu is a solid upgrade. The cocktails are well-balanced, fresh, and…read moreactually strong, with some unique options that stand out from typical bar drinks. Food is still approachable but noticeably better -- especially the wings and shareables. Great spot to grab a bite early and stay once the music picks up. Service is fast and the vibe stays consistent. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't been in a while.

Only came for a drink bit a lot of "we don't have or we ran out" to example…read more.. - No Herradura Reposado - No Diet Coke - No pico de gallo for their tacos (ran out of tomatoes?) Clearly this place is mismanaged or simply. Gets enough business where it doesn't care. Judging from the disco ball rolling at 4pm, we are the wrong demographic.

Unfortunately, this party no longer happens…read more ----- Old review ----- Firehouse North County Dance party is the swing/blues dance party that occurs monthly, typically on the fourth Saturday of the month. The party happens in the Dancessence studio in Carlsbad at 8:30 PM and is preceded by lessons at 7:30PM. The cost of the dance with the lesson is $15. The lesson format is still being figured out, so check the web site https://www.facebook.com/swinginsandiego for up-to-date information. On the night I visited, there were three one-hour lessons offered simultaneously: swing for beginners, blues for beginners, and intermediate Lindy hop. The latter was run by Meeshi, the dance teacher behind the event. Dance started at 8:30PM with an excellent Billy Watson All-Stars band playing a mix of swing and blues tunes for a crowd of about 50-60 dancers. The dancers were a truly mixed bunch with skills ranging from true beginners to quite advanced, in age groups anywhere from college to retirement (the average age here was higher than in other San Diego venues). As is typical for San Diego, there were somewhat more follows than leads. However, a significant percentage of the dancers came in as couples, so in order to have more fun I would very definitely advise the follows to bring their own lead to the event. Light snacks were provided, music was wonderful, floor is huge with comfortable seating, parking is a non-issue, ventilation actually works. Great evening altogether. Please spread the word - we need this event to keep returning, in order to keep the live music going it seems that more dancers are needed..

We recently moved here and wanted to check out the local bar and grill. First timer at the Cow Shed…read moreand I will say it did NOT disappoint! The vibe is unlike anywhere in San Diego! Think Joshua Tree meets the country. Becca is amazing-she was our bartender AND making all the food which was incredible! Felt like we knew her forever with how friendly and inviting she was. She knew the whole history of the bar which was really impressive. 10/10 will be back!

I recently visited The Cow Shed and had such an incredible time! The vibe here is so fun--it's the…read moreperfect spot to hang out. A huge shoutout to the bartender and the barback; they were absolutely hilarious and provided such amazing service, which really made the night. I also ordered an espresso martini, and it was so good--definitely one of the best I've had. I had such a blast that I honestly can't wait to go back again soon, and I'm already planning to bring a bigger group of friends with me next time!

Si really great ambiance , Service was great…read more Food amazing we actually didn't expect it The fajitas where amazing ! We will come back

Went here on a Friday evening. It was lively, including live music on the back patio…read more I ordered an old fashioned, nachos, and truffle fries. The good: the nachos were solid. Black beans, cheese, chicken, salsa, guacamole, etc. It was a generous portion and easy to share. The old fashioned was overly sweet, which is common, but the maraschino cherry and orange wedge made it even sweeter. They appear to have a full bar, so I expected a more balanced drink. I didn't order a second. The bigger issue was the truffle fries. They tasted like standard salted fries. When I asked, the server explained they use a truffle seasoning added to salt. I requested extra seasoning, but I still couldn't detect any truffle flavor. Essentially, they were regular fries with a $2 upcharge. When asked the waiter admitted he has never had truffle fries elsewhere. My guess is neither has the owner or chef. To their credit, the waiter and management removed the fries from the check, which I appreciated. I didn't try any entrees, so I can't comment on the full menu. If you're looking for a busy, noisy weekend spot with music, this could be a good fit.

SNL Dance is a weekly (Saturdays) dance event at the Escondido Elks. This review is written from…read morethe point of view of a swing dancer, with one star deducted for not enough swing music; if you dance ballroom and country and are a lead in your golden years, this is a solid five-star. The event starts at 6:30 PM with an hourlong lesson. I have attended the one for waltz, and it was excellent: if you have good knowledge of any partner dance, most likely you will be able to advance pretty far within an hour. The music starts at 7:30 is provided by the ALIAS band, consists of a mix of very different styles, and is OK. The floor is of excellent quality and has area sufficient for the 25-30 couples dancing simultaneously, with leading still easy and large moves possible. The dance floor is surrounded by multiple large round tables, there is enough of them to accommodate more than hundred attendees. The dancers are of the retirement age, mostly good and versatile dancers, somewhat skewed towards country. There are more follows than leads, event is beginner-friendly. Logistics: The parking is ample and free, the venue has a full bar, entrance fee is $12.