The Best Restaurants for Live Music in San Diego, CA
Looking for some amazing tunes alongside your ahi tuna? San Diego has a long list of eateries that mix tunes and tastiness for an incredible lunch or dinner experience. The dining scene here offers piano bars, live bands, and everything in between. The beautiful year-round weather in SoCal allows some restaurants to move the music to the back patio. Check out our list of the eight best restaurants with live music in San Diego, CA.
The Red Fox Steakhouse and Piano Bar
2200 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, CA
(619) 297-1313
Open until 12 a.m. seven nights a week, The Red Fox Steakhouse and Piano Bar offers one of the best dining experiences in the city. Music starts nightly at 7 p.m. The mood inside is shaped by red leather booths, dark-wood accents, crisp linens on the table, and a roaring fireplace. However, ambiance is only the beginning. This piano bar with a retro vibe offers exceptional filet mignon, ribeye, lobster tail, fried scallops, and more. The garlic bread served alongside a salad with every meal is especially addictive. The cocktail menu and wine list are both spectacular! The best part is that prices are quite reasonable compared to many of the steakhouses around San Diego.
Humphreys Backstage Live
2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA
(619) 224-3577
Humphreys Backstage Live is one of San Diego’s top spots for dining, drinking, and dancing. There’s a live stage with a huge dance floor. However, Humphreys is technically a restaurant. The only proof you need is a single glance at a menu featuring jumbo lump crab cake, lobster macaroni and cheese, black mussels, yellowfin poke tuna, St. Louis ribs, burgers, and more. The cocktail menu features Southern California microbrews and craft cocktails that have been handpicked by the in-house team.
The Shout! House
655 4th Avenue, San Diego, CA
(619) 984-5879
This phenomenal piano bar can easily grab you for hours! Enjoy amazing musicians battling it out on dueling pianos as you settle in for a full meal. Just be prepared for a slightly raucous atmosphere where both the performers and the audience are encouraged to sing at the top of their lungs! While the menu here mostly consists of standard bar fare, the burgers and wings are notably scrumptious. The drink menu is loaded with colorful cocktails with music-inspired names.
Prohibition
548 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA
(619) 501-1919
Prohibition is a speakeasy-style lounge that brings in a great rotation of bands to play live music. The dim lighting and intimate atmosphere here will definitely make you want to speak in hushed tones between sets. The small size of this spot will place you just a few feet from the performers!
Cafe Sevilla
353 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA
(619) 233-5979
Cafe Sevilla is a tapas bar that will make you tap your feet! Located in the heart of downtown since 1987, this beloved spot offers gorgeous Spanish ambiance and award-winning cuisine. The live music and flamenco dancers on the weekends truly give you a taste of authentic Spanish nightlife. Savor paellas, meat dishes, amazing seafood, wines, sangrias, and a “dulce” menu full of sweet Spanish treats. Cafe Sevilla even has a dog-friendly patio!
The Casbah
2501 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA
(619) 232-4355
The Casbah is a legendary spot for live music in San Diego that welcomes bands and performers all week long. There’s a good chance you’re going to build up an appetite in this high-octane setting. While the menu here isn’t extensive, patrons do love the taco plates. The famed drink on the cocktail menu is the Casbah Jack Hammer that features Tito’s vodka with cranberry, orange juice, pineapple, soda water, and lime.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
789 West Harbor Drive (Suite 158), San Diego, CA
(619) 615-0281
When you’re planning a big night out, chain spot Eddie V’s is the perfect spot for prime beef and chops, exceptionally fresh oysters, scallops, tasty Chilean sea bass, and so much more! The warm goat cheese salad is the perfect starter! In addition to offering an elegant atmosphere, Eddie V’s also has a piano bar. This is a great spot for a date or special occasion.
Aquarius Bar and Grill
1548 Quivira Way, San Diego, CA
(619) 615-0281
Looking for live music on an outdoor patio right on Mission Bay? Aquarius Bar and Grill has it! The nice part about Aquarius Bar and Grill is that you don’t have to wait until dark to hear some jams. This restaurant does live music on the patio every afternoon throughout most of the year. There’s no better place for sliders, nachos, and a beer on a sunny SoCal afternoon! And the patio is also pup friendly!
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our San Diego city page!
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