Came here to celebrate a birthday, so there were six of us. We were seated at a booth with ample room to spare. The ambience of the place is cozy, modern, and eclectic with its tree like lamps and greenery throughout. The bar is located in the middle of SkyDeck,, so you can order from the many different surrounding restaurants straight from the app, which they'll serve to you at the table. Understory is known for their specialty cocktails with their full bar, that's hard to miss as soon as you walk in. Of course, I had to get the drink in the ceramic elephant. Not only was it decked out with a flower, dried fruit, fruits, and mint leaves looking fabulous, it also tasted amazing and it was pretty strong, which I liked. All of us at the table ordered a drink, and everyone seem to love theirs. Got the taste of the blue moon, which had a unique flavor that I loved. All the drinks were beautiful. Since Understory is a bar, their tables are round and small, so when we ordered food from their neighboring restaurants, the table was a bit small, and we had to get creative on where to place everything. The tables are also far from the seats, so it was a bit of a challenge to eat our meals. The place is definitely one to visit, but what I would recommend, if you're wanting a full dinner, is to get your drinks at Understory, to enjoy the ambience and appreciate the creative craft cocktails, then switch to the restaurant you'd like to eat at, where the tables are designed to accommodate the space you need for a full meal. read more

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Love Understory! We always end up here for a nightcap because the vibe is just so good. The atmosphere is lively without being too loud, making it a great place to unwind after dinner. The service is always friendly and attentive, and the cocktails are consistently on point. The prices are also very reasonable, especially considering the quality of the drinks. One of my favorite things about Understory is that you can order food from any of the restaurants in Sky Deck and have it delivered right to your table while you enjoy your cocktails. It makes it the perfect spot for groups when everyone is craving something different. Great drinks, great service, and an awesome atmosphere--definitely one of my favorite places for a nightcap in San Diego. read more

Understory Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

It was my first time at understory bar. The bar tenders are super friendly and are super knowledgeable on the drink and can gauge what you would like based on your preferences. We showed up at around 10pm and you would not believe that they have an amazing happy hour with drink only being 8-10 dollars and they're full sized. An amazing deal and the drinks are strong! One drink and I was starting to feel the alcohol. Very worth the price during happy hour. They also have some very pretty drinks on the menu making the place super instagramable. Highly recommend for affordable drinks and a 10pm-close happy hour is unheard of! read more

Creative bar located in the middle of Sky Deck. It's located in a plaza with plenty of parking. It wasn't busy on a Saturday afternoon. The craft cocktails have names that are related to birds. The menu itself is a book with photos and descriptions. Drinks looked nice and tasted good. However, there's something that is missing from the drinks that would make it 5 stars. Don't know if it's too much of one ingredient or if something needs to be added, but it didn't taste as good as other craft cocktail places we've been to. read more

Understory Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Great cocktails, nice atmosphere and location. I enjoy how you can order from multiple food hall restaurants. Service is good and staff is friendly. read more

This is a very cool spot, it still feels very isolated even though you're in the center of the food hall. Great drink menu, and it was so easy to order food from the restaurants in the food hall and have it delivered right to our table in the bar. Highly recommend if you're in the area! read more

Always a great decision to grab a few drinks here especially with friends. This place is decorated perfectly. Reminds me of Vegas Style spots without the neon lights. Comfy lounge chairs and booths, unique decor and excellent service. Weekend nights tend to be super busy. The best time to drop in is the midweek. Never a wait! Over the years it's been a great way to close out a day. Give them a visit. Cheers! read more

My girlfriends and I went to Skydeck and stopped here for cocktails to start our night. The bartender was super friendly and tentative to helping us pick our drinks. This is a really great spot for a date night or just hang out with the girls. Skydeck generally is a really fun spot to go, for our drinks or food. And this is a great place to start! read more

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Good spot in the middle of sky deck. Good selection of drinks with restaurants all around. Can order food to your bar table via centralized code. Drinks: Signature old fashioned 4/5- Solid old fashion with some coffee liqueur, good sweetness and smokiness Manhattan 3/5- Solid drunk based off recommendation. Might be because I'm not usually a manhattan or rye drinker Over solid spot with potential when combined with food options read more

Understory Bar - Signature old fashioned - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

We went here during a busy hour but it didn't feel like it. Bartender answered all our questions and gave us recommendations for our palate. I also love the ambiance it gives off! On Sunday they have spritz Sunday where they have a select amount of spritz for $12, a very great deal! read more

Understory Bar - Recommend amazing drinks - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Went here for the first time. Sofia and Jess are awesome, very talented bartenders. Cool vibe. Will definitely be returning soon for the great service and fantastic drinks. read more

Understory Bar - Mezcal sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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I got a mocktail after giving up alcohol and ordered the mocktail mango margarita with tajin and loved it! Service was prompt and they gave us space to have our convos and checked in with us regularly. The ambiance was really nice and calming. It's in the center of a food court so it's a bit loud but it feels like you're away from everyone with the setup. read more

Understory Bar - Mocktail Mango margarita with tajin - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

My friend was celebrating her birthday at Understory, thankfully she made reservations because this place can be really busy. Understory is so beautiful and moody, it's a perfect place to have a nice cocktail and small plates. The QR codes on the table allow you to order food from other restaurants within Sky Deck which is really convenient. Although Understory has a food, I only opted to get a cocktail, a mezcal cocktail called the Halcyon Horsehoe, the mezal was really nice a smokey and the drink was not too sweet. My friend ordered a carajillo which was so tasty, I wish I opted for that as well. Cocktail costs are on the higher side but they are worth it. read more

I came here with a friend on a Saturday evening and it wasn't busy. We were seated immediately at a booth, which was nice. I had a couple of alcohol-free drinks and they were tasty and well made. Service was a bit slow at times. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting. Overall, a pleasant spot for drinks and conversation. read more

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Understory Bar is located at the Del Mar Highlands Town Center. It's on the second floor right in the middle of the Sky Deck. It is part of the indoor outdoor area that's really spacious and has great natural lighting. There is free parking in the structure. The cool thing is that you can order from any of the restaurants in the vicinity through the QR code and your phone and they will bring it to you regardless of which restaurant you're at. My first drink was the barbary macaque ($17) which was slightly sweet and delicious! This was definitely one of our group's favorite drinks. My second drink was the domino cuckoo ($17) which was slightly bitter from the campari and was tiki-like. The vibes here were great when the sun was shining bright and the drinks were good. read more

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Phenomenal!!! I have been wanting to go here for ages and so happy I finally went! Jasmine our bartender was fantastic. So knowledgeable about every drink, answered all our questions, was spot on, and had the best customer service. Someone give her a raise ASAP! The drinks here are worth every penny. read more

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Understory is located in the middle of the SkyDeck. The ambiance is inviting with lighting that looks like trees and cozy booths. I had a reservation for 5 people and we were sat promptly. The menu has very appealing visuals for each cocktail the make and depending on the cocktail, can come in different types of glasses. The drink I got had a tropical taste to it and came in an Elephant glass. Unfortunately the experience wasn't the best due to the DJ that was blasting music while we were there. I could barely hear the person next to me since the music was echoing throughout the whole building. When we asked our waitress if they could turn down the music, they said they couldn't since they weren't the ones who hired them. But the DJ was performing in their bar which didn't make sense to me. read more

Understory Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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COCKTAILS AND DECOMPRESS (4.5 stars) Sometimes a good cocktail or two is needed to decompress. I am not much of a drinker these days but when I do it's because I'm extremely stressed and I need a feel good moment. And lately, I've been dabbling THE RABBIT EYE ($17) - nolets gin, lemon, blueberry, sage, and egg white. I love gin and quickly drawn and compelled to get this drink from the menu list. Price it portion was a little pricy but this place is one of those crafty cocktail bars - so I get it. I felt as if I was drinking a blue berry drink (but spiked) with a foamy top. If you haven't had egg white froth in your cocktail, think of the foamy top as a smooth and silky layer of foam. Not too bubble/foamy but light and smooth. The cocktail taste was not strong at all BUT after having brunch and my third cocktail of the day - I did feel a small feel good buzz. Mission accomplished. HIGHLY RECOMMEND Not sure why I had two of these when I did want to try the cocktail in the elephant cup. More reason to come back! APPROVED. read more

Understory Bar - The Rabbit Eye - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Super cute! It was nice that we could order food from the nearby restaurants but the tables are not really set for eating. They are just too tiny. Good for drinks and hors d'oeuvres. read more

An amazing place to get drinks and food!! Understory is in the middle of the skydeck and you can order food from any restaurant. It's great place to go if you have people who want to eat different cuisines. The ambiance is the best part about this bar with very nice booths and tables. And everyone who helped us that night was beyond nice and very fast! Will definitely be coming back and recommending it to my friends and family. read more

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We had a great Saturday afternoon with Jerrica at Understory bar. She is a fantastic bartender, knowledgeable and personable, giving great suggestions and making balanced and nuanced cocktails. The bar is light and bright with a comfortable feel and we easily ordered in delicious food from Marufuku Ramen which was delivered right to our table. This is a must try if you are in Del Mar or anywhere near by. Definitely ask for Jerrica; she made the experience perfect. read more

Understory Bar - A "Forty Leg" and a "Prince Ruspoli's Turaco. They were both delicious. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

The bartenders here are true mixologists who really know their craft. They're personable, attentive, and happy to work with you to create whatever drink you're craving. The vibe is super hip, set right in the heart of the market halls--making it the perfect spot to sip, socialize, and explore. A little on the high end but not unreasonable. read more

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Really enjoyed this place, I wish they had more mocktails as my parter doesn't drink, but she did enjoy the one she got so take that with a grain of salt. Nice atmosphere and they do have some expensive high quality drinks if you want to flex, but their standard cocktails run $17-$20 which is on the higher side but I haven't been disappointed with anything I've had. Cocktails can take a minute to make but they can be pretty intricate. read more

Fantastic ambiance, craft cocktails, and excellent service. Understory is the perfect central location for the ultimate SkyDeck experience. The hostess and server were really helpful and friendly. Their drink menu is unique and creative. I was even able to order a mocktail off menu! They are quick with recommendations and checked on us frequently. We ordered food from all the restaurants around using the QR code on the table. On a Friday night, as the evening went on, there was a live DJ playing music too! A great spot to hang with friends or go on a date. read more

Place was great! Went on a Saturday and got seated right away (2 of us). Service was super friendly and food was quite good. You can order from all the restaurants from the bar, which is pretty cool. Seating was a little dirty but other than that no notes. read more

We had a great time here for date night! Understory bar is located in the middle of Sky Deck. The ambiance was night with low lights and a corner booth. You might be sharing a bench with another party but quickly it didn't bother us. The cocktails were beautiful. We got the Van Dam' Vanga and the Halcyon Horseshoe. Both were surprising and delicious. I think the pricing is expected for a craft cocktail. My favorite was that you can order food from any of the restaurants within Sky Deck and they bring the food to you! We ordered some burgers from Craft House and they were so delicious! I got the shroom and truffle burger. My fiancé got the Not so Basic burger. Both came with a large helping of fries. Everyone was very nice and attentive. We were mostly left alone to enjoy each others company. Really great experience. read more

Understory Bar - Burgers and drinks! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Walking into this place for the first time is such an experience - so many options around you, decor is really pretty. They lived up to the 'luxury cocktails' name as we loved all of our drinks! I specifically enjoyed the Domino Cuckoo, it was an experience with the 'buzz button' edible flower. They recommend you bite into it halfway through the drink, it gives your tongue a tingling sensation and was such a sensory delight! Being able to order from the surrounding restaurants and have them bring it to you in the center at Understory is great-- but ordering through the QR code adds an 18% service charge...... whereas if you just walk over to the place you want food from, you avoid that charge and they'll still bring it over to you. Pretty bizarre of a charge and influences you to pay less of a tip. Regardless, we enjoyed this spot and would absolutely come back!! read more

Understory Bar - Domino cuckoo, pornstar martini (forget the purple ones name) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

One of my favorite date spots!!! Sit at the understory section to order drinks AND be able to access and order food from the other food stands surrounding it. Scan the QR code to order and they will bring the food to you! Such a cool and unique concept especially if you want to try different things and not be constricted to one cuisine. Perfect mega feast ! Poke nachos were very good but I do wish there was more fish; felt imitation crab heavy. Pork bao buns are a must from the ramen place. Pizza was good as well!! Can't go wrong read more

Understory Bar - Poke nachos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Located in the center of the Sky Deck, this place is perfect for grabbing a drink and ordering from any one (or more) of the restaurants in the Sky Deck. Small caveat, in order to order from the restaurants while at Understory, you have to purchase a drink from Understory. I ordered a gin and tonic with Empress gin and then food from Kiin. Great experience and totally worth it to enjoy a fun outing with a friend or lively date night. read more

Love the cocktails, friendly staff and amazing ambiance! If you want to grab a fancy drink, and feel like it! This is the place! read more

Large, geometrical tree statues loom over this modern botanical cocktail lounge. In staying with the nature theme, their menu depicts each hand crafted cocktail; loosely illustrated, incorporating floral and fauna elements. Reservations are highly recommended. THE ELABORATION FOOD. Note: They don't make food here. Food can be ordered to your table from surrounding restaurants. We decided on Craft House... - Shrooms & Truffle | Eight ounce (juicy) patty, with smoked Gouda cheese, mushrooms, arugula, garlic aioli, onion jam and black truffle. I basically listed all my favorite ingredients so this burger was obviously delicious. I had a refreshing side salad (spring mix) with tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions. - Parmesan Garlic Truffle Fries | More truffle and I loved the pungency combined with the garlic and parmesan. - Buffalo Cauliflower | Looks like boneless chicken wings, but it's cauliflower coated in buffalo sauce. Great flavors and texture. THE DRUNKS DRINK. - The Domino Cuckoo | A little bitter, with subtle notes of spice and sweetness. Garnished with a dehydrated pineapple and a trippy little Szechuan button (aka buzz button) that creates a tingling/numbing sensation when consumed. THE PARKING. Location is on the second floor Sky Deck at Del Mar Highlands (food hall). There's a surface lot in front and parking is free, but you gotta hunt it down. You can also park in a parking structure (behind all the shops) off of Townsgate Drive. THE WEIRD SIDE. The tables are bolted down and spacing is unusually far from booth seating. Pretty uncomfortable when trying to eat... read more

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I ordered a mocktail, the crimson fruitcrow, and it was awful. You usually can't go wrong with a mocktail, but this one was genuinely gross and impossible to drink. The bartender also didn't bother asking me how my drink was, and only talked to my partner about his drinks read more

Understory Bar - Barbary Macaque - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

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Second time coming here with a party over 6 and Aisha has been server both times. She makes the experience here super fun and she is so beyond cool, relatable and nice! I enjoy coming here on any other day, just very convenient that understory allows you to order food from all the restaurants in the food hall. Ambiance is for sure chill and fun, with some nights a DJ! Area is always so clean, trendy and worth taking photos. Understory is located in the middle of the food hall. You have to be 21+. The food hall itself is great, haven't had anything bad to say about this place. Bathrooms are located in the back right corner and has plenty of space and privacy. I will be coming back here again, especially for the 50% off happy hour! read more

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Dark lighting and very immersive ambiance. Seating is intimate and good for small groups to talk over cocktails. The drinks were great and they have happy hour deals for classics. It can get crowded on weekends so recommend reservations in advance. Plenty of parking in the plaza. Located on second floor. read more

I stopped by for the Après Ski booth they have. The vibes at Understory are always unbeatable, but it was quite busy, so it took some time to get drinks and appetizers. The place has plenty of parking and is located on the second floor of a food court. Previously, they didn't serve food directly--you would scan a code at your table to order from the food court, and only drinks were available. This time, however, they were serving appetizers, which was a nice change! read more

Such a cute place with an intimate vibe in the center of Sky Deck. Came on a Thursday night at 5:45 and was able to get seated at the bar for a party of two without a reservation. You can use their QR code to order at the restaurants in Sky Deck and they'll deliver it to your table. They have a great HH with 50% off select cocktails and daily specials. Service was great as we didn't have to wait too long to order or to receive our drinks. They have a variety of cocktails that feature many different spirits, lots of wine options, and a few N.A. options as well. We ordered two different old fashioned cocktails - Old Viejo (mezcal) and Old Vieux (cognac). We were happy with ours as they took a cool spin on your typical old fashioned. The Old Viejo came with a pale santo stick - super Cali vibes but I love the smell of palo santo so no complaints! The high tops and bar seating is set for your party, but the big booths are communal. So if you're a small party and don't mind sharing the space with another party, it works out nicely! We ordered a few apps from different places. They were staggered when brought out which was perfect. They provide plates and napkins when needed and if you need a box, just ask. Would definitely come here again! read more

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Love the drinks here and the vibe is awesome. Best part you can order food from the surrounding restaurants. The staff is super helpful and attentive. My go to drink has been the halcyon horseshoe cause I do enjoy a good mezcal. Every drink I've tried here has been great and if you don't like one they will happily make you something different. That to me is awesome service. The atmosphere is what really attracts me to this place. I come back because they don't have any music playing so you're able to hear your guest and enjoy the drinks and food together. The location has a lot of other things to offer so after drinks it's nice to walk around and grab some dessert. read more

Understory Bar - Menu cover - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

Such a neat place smack dab in the middle of skydeck's food market. You can order drinks only or also order food from any of the surrounding restaurants through your phone. Everyone in your party can order whatever cuisine they're craving. We went on a Saturday evening and a DJ was spinning music but it wasn't overbearing. It was perfect, adding to the overall chill but fun ambiance. We ordered a few drinks which tasted and looked scrumptious and we both were craving something different and ordered tacos and karaage chicken. Everything we drank and ate was delicious. I was also surprised how quick the food came out as well! I will definitely return. read more

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This place knows how to make drinks. Servers / bartenders are really cool and go out of their way for customers. Big fan of this spot. Great happy hour too. read more

Beautiful little bar inside Sky Deck, Del Mar. Girlfriends and I were in the area so decided to give it a try because it is center of the plaza- it is beautiful light structure with understory themed décor in the middle- you can't possibly miss it. They have good service, delicious strong drinks. The drinks are themed/names after Understory like frogs, birds, plants- all very unique. You have the option to order food from any of the restaurants in the plaza, and they bring it over. We had a blast- had few drinks and got a pizza from on of the Italian places. I would go back again read more

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