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The Lamplighter

4.0 (1.1k reviews)
Closed 6:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

The Lamplighter Photos

Business Info

THE LAMPLIGHTER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Divey
Casual
Karaoke

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Recommended Reviews - The Lamplighter

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Reviews With Photos

Established 1957
Amy M.

Street parking is available pulling up to the long time establishment. I have been coming to this Karaoke kingdom for decades! It has a dive feel (cash only!!) but as of late, has gotten a face lift with a huge back covered patio,updated booths and a stage! It still has a pool table and booths but on weekends there's reserved tables only which is kind of a bummer. The staff is kind and make stiff drinks! Great people watching!

Part of the bar
Christina L.

I really honestly like this bar. It's open quite early, I went for myself to see if it was lol. They have a pool table inside. Their a CASH ONLY BAR just word of advice! They do have an Atm Machine available inside by the main front door. They have some seating available in the back of the bar but also in the front. The staff here is really nice. The prices are really good. Just a great bar in a great spot.

Tequila sunrise toast--here's to another 50+ years, Lamplighter!
Wendy G.

You can't miss this cornerstone of SD dive bar history on the Hillcrest/Mission Hills border. Gotta be doing something right to be open since 1957! BF and I enjoyed a few pre-dinner drinks here and had a good time. Bartender had been there 10+ years and took special care of her regulars. Drinks were strong and affordable (appreciated the extra Malibu pours to take our Adios over the top), and the vibe was down to earth. Left right when trivia night was heating up, but might return to check out the karaoke sometime.

Harper M.

Now this....this is a place. From the cheap drinks, to the karaoke, all the way to the air cannon/smoke machines. A fever dream all around. 10/10.

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13 hours ago

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7 days ago

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2 days ago

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7 days ago

such a fun bar! usually cash only so prepare for that, but it's really good time. Karaoke bar so you gotta sing!

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8 days ago

AMAZING! Fantastic drinks and atmosphere. So good. I loved every minute. The staff was great.

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2 months ago

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5 hours ago

great place can. would recommend to anyone! great service and great drinks. the staff was awesom. ambiance and musi was great

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5 months ago

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2 days ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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8 months ago

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8 months ago

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1 month ago

So fun! Great for cheap drinks & karaoke & a fun Friday or Saturday night! Loved the singers & vanilla vodka soda

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8 days ago

Best bar ever. The music and the drinks are top tier. Bartenders are highly attentativr. Vibes are amazing and fun. Highly recommend.

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8 days ago

James and Ella at the front were great! Great bar, fun karaoke. Highly recommend to anyone in the area.

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Photo of Sam W.
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1 month ago

Ella and Joante were the nicest and sexiest ever! Love this bad super fun ambiance is awesome and the drinks are amazing

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7 days ago

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1 month ago

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7 days ago

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

Cant say enough great things about James & Mariah, super sweet and a great vibe for your night

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4 months ago

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4 months ago

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2 months ago

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8 months ago

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6 months ago

Such a fun time at the lamplighter. Good times. Great times. Kareoke and drink. Keep it up.

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5 months ago

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7 months ago

Great service love it here!!! Landon, Jess and JJ are the best bartenders!!! I always have a fun time!

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6 months ago

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2 months ago

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7 months ago

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3 months ago

We had so much fun here! Great Karaoke! We recommend everyone to join the party !baby Joe is the best bartender! Come join on a Saturday!

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1 year ago

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1 month ago

Marwa and James were so fun! awesome place. Great drinks and fun vibes , was disco night

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1 year ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

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4 months ago

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Page 1 of 27

Ask the Community - The Lamplighter

Do I need to make reservations?

No, you do not. It’s just an option for an elevated experience.

What time does karaoke start every night? 8? 9?

9pm

I assume it's 21 and up correct?

Yep

View All 5 Questions

Review Highlights - The Lamplighter

It is family owned and the people are great, although I'm partial to JJ because he sings Michael Buble.

Mentioned in 27 reviews

Read more highlights

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The Cordova Bar

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Stopped by here after dinner and had a blast. This place is a vibe…read more They had a DJ. There's plenty of seating, both indoors and outdoors. Service was awesome from start to finish, and the drinks were reasonably priced, which is always a plus. They're dog friendly, which is awesome. Overall, it had a great crowd and an easy, laid-back atmosphere. Definitely a fun spot to hang out.

Dope cocktail bar in Morena area. Just dropped in on a routine Saturday night for 1 cocktail and…read moreended up having many lolol They had a DJ in playing which was cool and kept the vibes right for the night (although I think the volume could have been a bit lower as I felt like I had to yell to talk or do the awkward lean in to hear). Bartenders were cool. Nick was our fave though for sure. He made some mean cocktails. Solid liquor selection plus a list of cocktails to choose from. I initially ordered the something and picante (can't remember the full name) and found it to be way too sweet. Then switched to a basic Lalo with soda and lime to cleanse my palette. After tried their version of an espresso martini which was quite good but made with nitro brew and kahlua so a bit on the sweeter side. I ended the night with my fave drink though which was a Hugo spritz and it was perfectly balanced. Definitely will be going back, especially for the love band Sundays. Parking is all street parking.

Photos
Happy Hour 5-8PM features specials on Martinis, Craft Beer on Tap, Wine and Wells.
Happy Hour 5-8PM features specials on Martinis, Craft Beer on Tap, Wine and Wells.
Peanut Butter Espresso Martini
Peanut Butter Espresso Martini
Classic Martini $10 During Happy Hour 5-8PM

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Classic Martini $10 During Happy Hour 5-8PM
Oculto 477

Oculto 477

4.2
(306 reviews)
1.3 mi
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I plan to come back to San Diego every few months, and since I'm a creature of habit, I'm looking…read morefor something that I can do every single time. I'm really glad that I found Oculto because it has been one of the highlights of my San Diego trip. First of all, the concept of the seven deadly sins is really cool. The space is absolutely moody, intimate, and thoughtfully designed. It has an atmosphere that makes you want to slow down and enjoy your drink rather than rush through it. And since I don't really drink, I was definitely going slow. And I was alone, but the good part was I found myself just taking it all in instead of reaching for my phone. I started with an espresso martini-style cocktail that was smooth, balanced, and the perfect way to ease into the evening. For my second drink, I asked for the bartender's choice, and it ended up being one of my favorite cocktails I've had in a long time. It featured lychee, strawberry, and cardamom, and was garnished with a beautiful little rose. It was creative, elegant, and every flavor worked together perfectly. The cocktails were outstanding, but what really made the experience stand out was the service. Devin was an excellent bartender and an amazing conversationalist. He was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely engaging, making me feel welcome from the moment I sat down. He took the time to craft a drink based on flavors I enjoy, and it was clear he cares about creating a great experience, not just serving drinks. If you're looking for a cocktail bar with incredible drinks, a gorgeous atmosphere, and exceptional hospitality, I can't recommend Oculto enough. I'll absolutely be back the next time I'm in San Diego.

The self-appointed king of speakeasies is back at it with another one. I stopped by Oculto 477 on a…read moreWednesday evening an hour before close. Located in Old Town San Diego, we had dinner at a restaurant within walking distance from Oculto. I parked for free on the street and made a reservation day of. It's a pretty small speakeasy so if you're going on a weekend, you're probably going to have to make a reservation in advance. Ambiance (4.5/5): Oculto has the seven deadly sins theme going which is pretty cool. I've been to a similar speakeasy in St. Pete, Florida. Once you arrive at the mezcal bar that houses Oculto, check in with the host, and he will bring you to a "confessional." There, you must confess one of the seven deadly sins before the door to the speakeasy is opened for you. Naturally, I went with "lust." Once you get inside, it's a charming speakeasy. Service (2.5/5): This is one of the areas that leaves a little to be desired. There was only one bartender working when I was there. Since speakeasies have elevated cocktails, service was quite slow. They definitely needed two bartenders there to speed up the process. They also have a two-drink minimum which I was annoyed about on principle. I often have multiple drinks at a bar, but I never feel like I'm forced to do it. Food (N/A): I'm not sure if they have food, I don't believe they do. Regardless, I was on a liquid diet. Drinks (4/5): Pretty interesting menu of craft cocktails. When I'm at a speakeasy, I look for unique drinks that have an interesting combination of ingredients and flavor profiles. In addition to a nice list, they also have a dealer's choice cocktail where you can tell the bartender what you're into and they will craft a custom cocktail for you based on your taste. Another cool thing about Oculto is that it's located next to the cemetery in Old Town. That adds to the spooky theme.

Photos
Seat at the bar
Seat at the bar
La Llorona
La Llorona
Oculto 477

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Starlite

Starlite

4.1
(2.7k reviews)
0.9 mi
$$$

After dinner at Kingfisher, we were looking for a great place to end the night with dessert, and…read moreStarlite turned out to be the perfect choice. The funniest part was actually finding the place. We kept looking at the Yelp photos of the exterior, and the logo made us think the restaurant was in a large standalone building. Our Tesla kept navigating us to the same location, but we couldn't find what we expected. On our second pass, FSD actually pulled us right in front of the entrance--even in a red zone for a brief moment--just so we could finally see the Starlite sign. It honestly felt like the car knew we weren't recognizing the place. It was such a funny experience that made FSD seem almost human. Once inside, we were blown away. The interior is absolutely top-notch--stylish, elegant, and full of character. The pistachio dessert and the chocolate mousse were pure heaven, rich, smooth, and beautifully presented. The hidden disco room with the waterfall is simply insane and adds such a unique vibe to the experience. Even the restrooms are thoughtfully designed and incredibly cool. Starlite isn't just a place for dessert--it's an experience from the moment you arrive until you leave. Highly recommended if you're looking for an unforgettable atmosphere paired with amazing desserts.

Absolutely ridiculous that their 21+ age requirement isn't listed anywhere except a third party…read moresite at the VERY BOTTOM, where absolutely no one has to look to make a reservation. Made reservations for my birthday. I thoroughly reviewed their website. This age requirement is NOWHERE on their website, so we booked a reservation with Open Table. No problems. We drive an HOUR to this freaking place to get turned away at the door because it's technically "a bar" even though they have a full dinner menu. When I point out none of this is advertised anywhere, I'm informed it's on Open Table, and that we should've seen it there, and were dismissed. They said they could give us another restaurant recommendation and then proceeded to just dismiss us without even that courtesy. We go back to verify this age limit, and it's there... one TINY line 2 scrolls down on the page, WAY beyond any of the information needed to just book a table, which is the only thing Open Table is used for. Complete waste of time for a poorly advertised bar with zero helpful staff on a dumpy street by the airport.

Photos
Bar area after entering
Bar area after entering
Chef's vegetable salad, beautiful presented and super yummy!
Chef's vegetable salad, beautiful presented and super yummy!
Cocktails are fun!

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Cocktails are fun!
The Gärten

The Gärten

4.6
(80 reviews)
1.9 mi
$$

This biergarten is awesome. As soon as you walk in, there's a food truck immediately to your left…read moreserving wood-fired pizzas that are absolutely phenomenal. They also offer a great happy hour special Tuesday through Friday with $5 off pizzas. I don't remember the exact hours, so you'll want to check those before visiting. One of the things I love most about this place is the variety. There are three different brewery stations throughout the venue. I got a flight from the back room, where they serve mead, which is tough to find around San Diego. I ordered a flight, which came with six selections, and every single one was excellent. The staff here are fantastic. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and one of the chefs even came out to give the pups some pepperoni, which was a nice touch that definitely stood out. The space itself is huge with plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating. It's a great place for groups to gather, relax, and enjoy a few drinks without feeling cramped. Overall, this is a fun and unique spot with great food, excellent drinks, and outstanding service. I'm definitely looking forward to coming back.

This is a great space! Love meeting friends here - locals and tourists are always pleasantly…read moresurprised by this literal 'hidden' gem tucked in the middle of an industrial area (parking may take a bit to find). The main food available is from Pizza Cassette, which has delicious sandwiches and wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pizza pies. Drinks are available from a brewery, a trendy and unique wine spot, and a meadery! Truly something for everyone. It's dog friendly and great for groups to still feel intimate with standing areas, barrel table tops and picnic style tables. There's usually always something happening like trivia night or live music, but heads up, they don't stay open too late - won't be an issue for most, but in case you're looking for a spot at 8pm, double check the hours, especially for food.

Photos
VIP flight from Lost Cause Meadery
VIP flight from Lost Cause Meadery
The Gärten
The Gärten

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The Lamplighter - karaoke - Updated July 2026

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