The Best Craft Cocktail Bars in San Diego

San Diego is known for having the best craft brewing scene in the country, but its craft cocktails are coming up too. From innovative tiki drinks to CBD- and amethyst-crystal-infused beverages, these craft cocktails are guaranteed to knock your socks—or flip flops, or whatever footwear you have on—right off of your feet.

Read on to discover some of San Diego’s best craft cocktail spots.

Madison

Ready to step up your cocktail game? University Heights’ Madison, voted Best Cocktails and Best Design in San Diego, features everything from cannabis- and amethyst-crystal-infused cocktails to mezcal flights to a build-your-own old fashioned menu.

Realm of the 52 Remedies

Step inside Realm of the 52 Remedies and you’ll feel like you’re in a different land indeed. This beautiful Convoy-area speakeasy is named after an ancient Chinese manuscript for remedies that is considered the basis for modern Chinese medicine. Drinks feature Asian flavors and ingredients such as wasabi, Korean rice syrup, and the Japanese fruit shikuwasa. Realm of the 52 Remedies is located inside restaurant/bar Common Theory.

Kindred

South Park bar and restaurant Kindred has been going strong since 2015, and its craft cocktails are still some of the best in San Diego. There are around two dozen cocktails to choose from, along with awesome vegan fare.

False Idol

For an experience that goes beyond just cocktails, head to False Idol, a tiki-themed speakeasy inside Craft & Commerce. Designed by legendary artists, False Idol features water running down rock walls, skulls on spikes, and colorful glass buoys and pufferfish lights on the ceiling. A mix of classic and modern, their tiki cocktails are well-crafted and pack a punch.

You and Yours

Located in East Village, the spirits at You and Yours are distilled onsite. Their seasonally based cocktail menu consists of vodka and gin spirits, and cocktails are made with locally sourced produce.

Polite Provisions

Award-winning Polite Provisions first opened in 2010, and ten years later they’re still serving some of San Diego’s most impressive craft cocktails. If you’re hungry, you can order food from Soda and Swine, located next door, and they’ll bring it to you in the bar.

Raised by Wolves

While it’s worth visiting Raised by Wolves for the entrance and décor alone, the bar’s one-of-a-kind cocktails take the experience to the next level. This speakeasy, tucked inside the UTC mall, has more than 45 cocktails and mocktails, ranging from seasonal drinks to adventurous concoctions. Reservations are highly recommended.

The Grass Skirt

Pacific Beach tiki bar The Grass Skirt serves over two dozen exotic cocktails—from classics like Mai Tais and Singapore Slings to more adventurous concoctions.

Campfire

This Carlsbad eatery pays homage to its community with a cocktail list honoring the people, places, and things that make Carlsbad unique. The cocktails, food, and ambiance are all worth coming for.

Newtopia Cyder

The team at Newtopia Cyder travels the world in search of the best herbs, spices, and botanicals for their craft cider. Visit their tasting room at their Scripps Ranch headquarters or their new San Marcos location.

Written by Whitney Currier for Knockaround.