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Thrillist Weekend Guides

Thrillist's guide to everything you can do this weekend and this month—from hot new restaurants to art exhibits to outdoor activities.

Thrillist Weekend Guides: Everything Happening This Weekend and This Month

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Events

Phoenicians make the most of their desert climes by knowing when to get outdoors and when it’s time to stay cool inside.

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Chicago

Christkindlmarket Chicago

Get Into the Holiday Spirit with These Weekend Events in Chicago

Nation

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Travel

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Between Rome, Florence, and Venice, Italian cities are beloved by tourists.

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Santa doesn’t always travel by sleigh—sometimes he travels by boat.

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New York

Photo by Chris Coe

Lifestyle

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Nashville

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These Breathtakingly Beautiful Small Towns Will Make You Want to Go Off the Beaten Path

Weed

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It’s hard to imagine now, but legal cannabis only became a thing in the US in 2012, when Colorado blazed the trail to more enlightened legislation.

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Maybe you happen to live in some fairytale ski town where your winters are a perpetual state of après-ski.

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Houston

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Blessed with the best of both worlds—a big, urban concrete jungle and an abundance of natural landscapes—Houston bursts with exciting things to do and thrilling places to explore.

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Dallas

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There’s always something going down in the Big D. A look at the city’s offerings might leave you dizzy: record shops, vintage shops, museums, bar arcades, nerdy bookstores, restaurants, bars, brunches, sports aplenty, and a thriving music and arts scene.

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Philadelphia

Photo credit: Gab Bonghi, photo courtesy of 48 Record Bar

December is your last chance to fulfill all those New Year’s Resolutions that went, well, unresolved.

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Leave of Absence

Our guide to San Diego bars will help you prepare for your visit. From ancient dives to fancy rooftops, these are the best lounges for a drink in San Diego.

San Diego

Photo by James Tran, courtesy of Wolfie's Carousel Bar

San Diego’s bars continue to amaze us with cutting-edge variety from <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-diego/best-rooftop-bars-in-san-diego-for-your-summer" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">showstopping rooftops</a>, scenic spots for <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-diego/best-beach-bars-san-diego" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">boozing at the beach</a>, <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-diego/best-dive-bars-in-san-diego" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">low-key dive bars</a>, and, of course, plenty of breweries to cement our status as <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-diego/best-craft-breweries-in-san-diego" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">the capital of craft beer</a>. The cocktail scene in San Diego is alive again, from a flashy futuristic newcomer in South Park to an artsy venue with stunning botanical flair. Whatever your spirited leanings, San Diego’s bars and cocktail lounges are ready to step up with the best the city has to offer. Here’s our list of the hottest places in town to grab a drink right now.

San Diego’s bars continue to amaze us with cutting-edge variety from <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-diego/best-rooftop-bars-in-san-diego-for-your-summer" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">showstopping rooftops</a>, scenic spots for <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-diego/best-beach-bars-san-diego" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">boozing at the beach</a>, <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-diego/best-dive-bars-in-san-diego" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">low-key dive bars</a>, and, of course, plenty of breweries to cement our status as <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/drink/san-diego/best-craft-breweries-in-san-diego" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">the capital of craft beer</a>. The cocktail scene in San Diego is alive again, from a flashy futuristic newcomer in South Park to an artsy venue with stunning botanical flair. Whatever your spirited leanings, San Diego’s bars and cocktail lounges are ready to step up with the best the city has to offer. Here’s our list of the hottest places in town to grab a drink right now.

Spanish for “rooftop kiss,” Techo Beso sits high atop the new <a href="https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/sanar-ac-hotel-san-diego-downtown-gaslamp-quarter/overview/" rel="noreferrer sponsored" target="_blank">AC Hotel Gaslamp San Diego</a>, overlooking the Gaslamp Quarter. Evoking the sunny beaches of Tulum, the beverage program uses house-made syrups and fresh juices in creative cocktails like a vibrant Yucatan Margarita, made with butterfly pea tea infused Fords gin, rose syrup, and lemon juice and Zama, made with Evan Williams bourbon, Aperol, lime juice, and passionfruit/vanilla syrup. The main bar features a raised DJ platform connected to the pool deck for easy lounging while gazing at expansive views of the Gaslamp Quarter and downtown San Diego. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://www.techobeso.com/menus/#cocktails" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Photo courtesy of AC Hotel Gaslamp San Diego

Techo Beso

Leave of Absence is located on the pool deck of the boutique <a href="https://www.stayalma.com/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Kimpton Alma Hotel</a> and is the third on-site bar/restaurant from acclaimed chef-restaurateur <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/dining-and-drinking/story/2022-10-19/renowned-l-a-chef-returns-to-san-diego-to-open-trio-of-restaurants-at-new-gaslamp-quarter-hotel" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Jason Neroni</a>. The breezy, beachy vibe makes tropically leaning cocktails a no-brainer, starting with Raspado, a Jamaica-lime slushy spiked with mezcal, or Belo, a Brazilian-inspired combo of cachaça, falernum, pineapple, and coconut. A trio of spa-like nonalcoholic juice drinks, available in shots or full pours over ice, make excellent chasers. Start your weekend early at the all-day happy hour every Friday from 11 am to 4 pm. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://www.opentable.com/restref/client/?restref=1256665&amp;lang=en-US&amp;ot_source=Restaurant%20website&amp;corrid=83b4a26e-7359-4e2e-abf6-42850097f19d" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Photo courtesy of Leave of Absence

Mothership imagines what might happen if a band of space marauders made an emergency landing on a planet that produced not only intoxicating spirits but bountiful plant life. A slate of tiki cocktails is conveniently ranked from “Cruising Speed,” like Nostromo’s Stowaway, made from aged Guatemalan coconut water rum, light Nicaraguan rum, black sesame infused crème de cacao, Italian sweet vermouth, orange, tangerine, lemon, walnut infused grenadine, coconut cream, and ginger bitters to “Ludicrous Speed,” like the notorious Mindkiller, a riff on a Painkiller that’s made with Navy Strength West Indies rum, white overproof Jamaican rum, amaro meletti, coconut cream, pineapple, tangerine, orange, lime and Tang cordial. It’s so potent that you’re limited to two. A half-dozen vegan options fill the food menu, ranging from Potato—a scallion latke, kimchi cream cheese, everything furikake, nasturtium leaf, Japanese cucumber, and black radish to Tofu, banana leaf-wrapped Otak tofu, tomato saffron sambal, nước chấm, crispy shallot and lime. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://www.exploretock.com/mothership/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Mothership

After successfully launching the wildly popular <a href="https://forbiddencovesd.com/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Forbidden Cove</a> adjacent to <a href="https://kilowatt.beer/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Kilowatt Brewing</a>’s Kearny Mesa tasting room, the owners decided to open The Space Pad alongside the brewery’s Oceanside taproom. In an about-face from Forbidden Cove’s beloved tiki theme, The Space Pad features futuristic cocktails that employ molecular tricks and treats like color changes, pearlized surprises, jelly textures, and smoke bubbles. A state-of-the-art lighting and sound system simulates alien abductions and other paranormal events, and ordering a particular drink could trigger an interactive experience like a visit to a tropical paradise or a mock liftoff. Also on the menu are Kilowatt beers, an absinthe fountain, and a seafood-centric bar menu. How to book: Reservations are required and can be made <a href="https://tableagent.com/san-diego/the-space-pad/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Photo courtesy of The Space Pad

The Space Pad

Botanica’s bar program highlights genever, one of Europe’s oldest distilled spirits, which is served in elegant flutes, as well as one of San Diego’s most diverse selections of gin and other botanical spirits from around the world. Like its sister bars, <a href="https://www.tahonabar.com/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Tahona</a> and <a href="https://wormwoodsd.com/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Wormwood</a>, Botanica also plans to offer educational genever and gin tastings and other events themed around both spirits. The chic lounge area features an art gallery of carefully curated pieces by local and international talent and is one of the few cocktail bars in the United States with an onsite NFT gallery. An art-centric cocktail program, with each drink reflecting a famous work, features standouts like potent Letters to Theo—bourbon, Brucato Amaro Woodlands, chocolate bitters, and allspice leaf or ethereal Meditative Rose with genever, vermouth blanc, rose, sandalwood, harissa, champagne cordial, and egg white. There’s also a contingent of classic genever and gin cocktails like the Negroni and French 75, plus non-alcoholic options, including Cacao Mushroom Chai with Meow Meow chai, a 10-mushroom blend, turmeric, cinnamon, and cashew milk, and Kentucky Rain, a tribute to Elvis Presley made with spiritless Kentucky 74, lapsang demerara and Aztec chocolate bitters. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://botanicabarsd.com" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Photo by Mary Beth Abate for Thrillist

Botanica

Frankie’s is a charming, comfy traditional whiskey bar at the recently renovated <a href="https://www.thebrickhotel.com/cocktail-lounge/%5C" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">The Brick Hotel</a> in Oceanside, with a long, inviting wood bar and lots of cozy leather banquettes against a backdrop of rustic exposed brick. It features a killer menu of rotating cocktails ranging from refreshers such as Strawberry Queen; gin, strawberry mulled wine, honey, Curaçao, lemon, and soda to savory World Star; shiitake mushroom-infused bourbon, salted coffee, and Aztec chocolate bitters or warmly spiced, luxurious After the Storm; vodka, cognac, Abuelita, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cream, and masa. Frankie’s doesn't have a kitchen, but <a href="https://www.copperkingsburgers.com/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Copper Kings Burgers</a> makes a regular stop there on Wednesday evenings, and you can bring food from the nearby <a href="https://www.mainstreetoceanside.com/sunset-market" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Oceanside Sunset Market</a> on Thursdays. How to book: Seating is on a first-come basis.

Frankie's

This Gaslamp Quarter hotspot plays Asian and Latin American fusion cuisine against the backdrop of the Amazon jungle. Libations mirror the restaurant’s tropical flair, offering cocktails like Junglerita, a tequila-based drink with prickly pear, guava, house-made Curaçao and lime, and Endless Nights, with espresso-infused vodka, Mr. Black coffee liqueur and walnut liqueur, topped with a boozy coconut whip, as well as strong, spirited choices with a dramatic, smoked-at-your-table finish. Stop by for happy hour, Sunday through Thursday, from 5 to 7 pm for $6 to $7 house wines, wells, and beer and a selection of craft cocktails for $9. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://www.opentable.com/restref/client/?restref=1230253&amp;lang=en-US&amp;ot_source=Restaurant%20website&amp;corrid=7f70b88d-33b3-44cf-9911-c379aab04607" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Zama 

Madam Bonnies is named for the notorious Bertha “Bonnie” White, who ran a brothel in the historic <a href="https://gaslampfoundation.org/the-hotel-lester/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Hotel Lester</a> building from the 1920s through the 1940s. Elegantly decked out with exposed brick, sleek banquettes, and three massive, colored glass chandeliers, the space is well-suited to everything from ladies’ night to a romantic tête-à-tête. The cocktail program showcases spirit-forward drinks, light and fruity refreshers, mocktails, wines by the glass or bottle, and a daily selection of beer. Happy hour deals include everything from $5 well shots to $12 Padres Manhattans, Tuesday through Saturday from 4:30 to 6 pm. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://www.opentable.com/restref/client/?rid=1224820&amp;restref=1224820&amp;partysize=2&amp;datetime=2022-07-02T20%3A00&amp;lang=en-US&amp;r3uid=hrdaLMFOv&amp;ot_source=Restaurant%20website&amp;color=1&amp;dark=true&amp;corrid=bc5e8fe8-129b-4a44-bb0f-c2d0086de534" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Photo courtesy of Madame Bonnie's

Madam Bonnie's

Madam Bonnie’s

Go Go Amigo, <a href="https://libertystation.com/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Liberty Station</a>’s south-of-the-border-inspired restaurant, boasts expansive patios, an outdoor bar area, and a beverage program showcasing tequila-based cocktails like Mexican Candy shots, cucumber margaritas, frozen palomas, and spiked agua fresca. Brunch on weekends offers bottomless mimosas with an entree purchase for just $20. Join them on Taco Tuesday from 4 to 10 pm for $3 off all margs and $40 house margarita pitchers. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://www.gogoamigosd.com/reservations" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Go Go Amigo

Explore the flavors of the Yucatan and Caribbean with Coco Maya’s cane- and agave-based cocktails, enhanced by citrus and spices in direct and fruit-forward versions. Side Piece is a curious blend of tamarind and chili oil infused mezcal, watermelon, lime, and mint that straddles smoky and savory elements, while Cocomaya Cocktel, with a house rum blend, passionfruit, coconut cream, and pina orange cordial is a fresh, tropical escape. Daily brunch serves up coffee cocktails, mimosas, Bloody Marys, micheladas, and mojitos alongside Bokits, a stuffed sandwich made with Guadeloupan fry bread. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://www.opentable.com/r/coco-maya-san-diego#" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Photo courtesy of Coco Maya

Coco Maya

A combination listening bar and record shop, Part Time Lover is a visually dazzling room with an open layout for optimal sound, cushy seating, a custom sound system built by Chicago-based <a href="https://www.uncannedmusic.com/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Uncanned Music</a>, and music chosen by San Diego’s own <a href="https://www.folkartsrarerecords.com/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Folk Arts Rare Records</a> store. The bar program focuses on Japanese American highballs like Lovers Rock, made with Japanese whiskey, vanilla, Campari, sweet vermouth, and walnut bitters, plus amped-up takes on traditional cocktails, like the Dirty Martini with Japanese gin, fino sherry, and PTL.’s olive-scallion brine. How to book: Seating is on a first-come basis.

Photo by Arlene Ibarra, courtesy of Part Time Lover

Part Time Lover

Elevate your craft cocktail adventure at Understory, the resident cocktail bar inside The SkyDeck at <a href="https://www.sandiego.org/members/shopping/del-mar-highlands-town-center.aspx" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Del Mar Highlands Town Center</a>. Named for the area between the main forest canopy and the forest floor, the innovative creations on the cocktail menu evoke the denizens of the ecosystem, like the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic_nightjar" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Satanic Nightjar</a>, with Ford’s London Dry Gin, turmeric, ginger, chili, tamarind, lemongrass, mint, and club bubbles, or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-backed_puffback" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">The Black Back Puffback</a>, a cherrywood-smoked cocktail with Cazadores Cristalino Tequila, Verde Mezcal, lime, agave, and cinnamon. Classic cocktails, crafted mocktails, and a well-rounded wine list ensure there’s something for everyone. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://understorybar.com/reservations/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Understory

The centerpiece of Wolfie’s Carousel Bar, Little Italy’s buzzy drinking den, is a dazzling 24-seat, carousel-shaped bar that rotates slowly, giving you a 360-degree view of the room every 14 minutes. Sip NOLA-inspired cocktails, such as a Belle Fille or a signature Wolfie’s Fantasy with cognac, rose, basil, and lime cordial. Have an international fling with spirit-forward Petite Mort; mezcal, passion fruit, lemon, egg white, and a port wine float, or tropical St. Barts, featuring dark rum, ginger, orgeat, pineapple, and a dash of Peychaud’s. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://wolfiescarousel.com/reservations" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Photo by James Tran, courtesy of Wolfie’s Carousel Bar

Wolfie’s Carousel Bar

The Waverly is a breezy, bright beachside eatery with a cocktail menu crafted by some of the best bartenders in San Diego. The beverage program is specifically designed to provide options for all times of day, so there’s no shame in snagging a rum-infused Chai Town in the morning and switching to a smoky mezcal Bodega Boy in the evening. The Rockies Old Fashioned with Stranahan single malt, Licor 43, Nola coffee, Cacao Rum, whiskey barrel-aged bitters, and a sizeable sexy ice cube is a wonderful twist on the classic. Still, the amazing selection of wine, beer, and alcohol-free options means all bases are covered. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://thewaverly.com/reservations/" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Photo courtesy of The Waverly

The Waverly

Wormwood brings a brand new drinking and dining adventure to University Heights as San Diego’s first absinthe bar, showcasing nearly 40 absinthes sourced from Europe, New York, Louisiana, and other distilleries. Like Tahona Bar and Botanica, its sister cocktail venues, Wormwood will also be a place of education about this mysterious, often misunderstood spirit. Enjoy absinthe in the traditional fashion of early 20th-century Paris, served from beautiful slow-drip fountains with a sugar cube, or choose from a cocktail menu showcasing revisited absinthe classics and a selection of non-absinthe drinks. How to book: Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available; otherwise, reserve a table <a href="https://www.opentable.com/restref/client/?rid=1193083&amp;restref=1193083&amp;partysize=2&amp;datetime=2022-11-27T19%3A00&amp;lang=en-US&amp;r3uid=dLlh2WXE3&amp;ot_source=Restaurant%20website&amp;color=1&amp;corrid=b4910285-acee-44ab-8c4a-0fa88bf36545" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">online</a>.

Wormwood

<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/authors/mary-beth-abate" rel=" noopener" target="_blank">Mary Beth Abate</a> is a San Diego-based freelance writer.

Beverage Director

Beverage Director: Find the Best Bars to Drink at in Your City

Drink

Find the best spots daily to eat and drink in hipster neighborhoods. Hit the roof, drink a beer and eat delicious at top-tier restaurants. Plan your nightlife adventure with maps and reviews of unknown micro-brews, rooftop parties, and independent drink.

Best Restaurants & Bars - Places to Eat & Drink - Thrillist

Bars

The Best San Diego Bar for Every Possible Vibe

Best Bars in San Diego: New Places to Drink and All-Time Favorite Spots

Here’s our list of the hottest places in town to grab a drink right now


San Diego’s bars continue to amaze us with cutting-edge variety from showstopping rooftops, scenic spots for boozing at the beach, low-key dive bars, and, of course, plenty of breweries to cement our status as the capital of craft beer.

Leave of Absence

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The Best San Diego Bar for Every Possible Vibe

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