Throw On Your Padres Jersey and Head to These Local Bars for Some Opening Day Camaraderie
When SoCal’s signature sea breeze mingles with the salty-sweet smell of peanuts and Cracker Jack, it can only mean one thing—baseball season is upon us! In honor of another six months of singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” San Diego is setting up the San Diego Padres for a season of success at Petco Park! Surrounded by a mecca of vibrant pubs, eclectic foodie joints and swanky sports bars, one thing is certain: no one will go thirsty or hungry on opening day for The Friars. From western-themed tailgate venues serving classic ballpark eats to elegant rooftop bars, these aren’t your typical pregaming hotspots. With opening day right around the corner, warm up your vocal cords for a night of cheering on the home team with a Texas mule or mango margarita in hand.
Bub’s @ The Ballpark
What to Sip On: Pacifico
Bub’s @ The Ballpark is by far the closest place to Petco Park on our list—a true San Diego sports bar that feels like an extension of left field. You can throw your peanut shells on the floor and settle elbow to elbow at the bar guaranteeing the people on either side of you have Padres jerseys on, too. You must order the BallPark Tots! Crispy tots smothered in homemade chili and cheese with grilled onions and sliced hot dogs. Wash it down with a Pacifico, and the only thing leaving Bub’s bitter will be the other team’s fans.
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
The Deck at Moonshine Flats
What to Sip On: Pacifico
This one’s for all the coastal cowgirls and honky-tonk fans out there! Where else can you keep tabs on the Padres while learning the Boot Scootin Boogie with an ice-cold Pacifico in hand? Located in San Diego’s East Village, The Deck at Moonshine Flats goes all out when baseball season is in motion. Beginning March 28, this Western-style tailgate bar will be cheering on its Pads with home game specials, pregame offerings and post-game parties. Oh, and let’s not forget about the signature 32-ounce “Show Us Your Tatis” Buckets!
Fairweather Bar
What to Sip On: Piña Colada
Why not swap your TV screen for a VIP view of the ballpark at Fairweather Bar? This tropical venue takes pregaming to a whole new level (literally): it’s the closest rooftop bar to Petco Park, specializing in local beer and craft cocktails. Fairweather capitalizes on San Diego’s flawless weather, treating Padres fans to the whole package with “drinks from sunny places” and local delicacies from their first-floor restaurant. The garden-style patio isn’t a bad place to sip that pre-game piña colada or dive into a platter of grilled carnitas—all with a casual view of home plate, of course!
The Smoking Gun
What to Sip On: Pacifico
The Smoking Gun might just be the Gaslamp’s hottest neighborhood bar—with a Padres Fan Cave to prove it! You won’t find another pregame spot that serves your Pacifico Draft with such enthusiasm. The team at this pioneering sports bar are Southerners at heart, prioritizing hospitality over pretension. Trust us when we say you’ll want to find yourself here on a Thursday for what this gang calls their “Thursday Thang”—we’re talking all-you-can-eat chicken wings and nuggets! Baseball season always calls for some Padres season specials, so plan a visit to get your fill before the game.
Social Tap
What to Sip On: Espress Yo Self
It’s time to tap into your social side at your new favorite pre-game hotspot. Social Tap puts an elegant, classy twist on the typical San Diego sports bar, delivering elevated cocktails and delicacies in an upscale setting. It’s also Padres-approved: word on the street is that some of your favorite home team stars celebrate with post-game drinks (and maybe an ahi taco or two) here! This San Diego Padres bar always celebrates the new season with opening weekend specials and Padres Game Happy Hours—say hello to their specialty cocktails, like Ridin’ in the Cadillac and Espress Yo Self.
Draft
What to Sip On: Home Run
The cheers for Manny Machado might get drowned out by the crashing waves, but you won’t miss a single pitch on one of the largest TVs in captivity. With over 70 beers on tap and hand-crafted American entrees worth drooling over, Draft in Mission Beach should be on everyone’s happy hour bucket list. Enjoy $2 off select menu items, as well as affordable drink specials, including a $7 draft beer. How can the Pads lose when you’re drinking Home Runs for $16?
Location: Mission Beach
Bootlegger
What to Sip On: Pacifico or a Barrel-Aged Manhattan
At Bootlegger, you’re close enough to Petco Park that you might consider bringing your glove in case Soto connects with a fastball. Fans at this place go nuts over monumental wins. There are enough TVs where you will never have to twist your neck as you nosh a massive B.Y.O.Burger with a Pacifico or a Barrel-Aged Manhattan (or two). This is definitely a post-game bar where you will want to wear your gear.
Location: East Village
Park 101
What to Sip On: Prickly Pear Paloma
There is nothing more American than baseball, BBQ and Elvis Presley. Carlsbad’s Park 101 has all of these elements plus roaring fire pits, twinkling cafe lights and some die-hard North County faithful. We think loaded potato fries and a prickly pear paloma is the perfect combo for game day as you stress-eat between innings. As a bonus, every time a Padre hits a home run, you can proudly shout, “Elvis has left the building!”
Location: Carlsbad
Basic
What to Sip On: Pacifico
Despite its name, this local gem is anything but basic. Their speciality? Just your typical award-winning New Haven thin-crust pizza. Basic keeps things simple with classic ballpark eats and a daily happy hour but adds a spicy flair with toppings, like mashed potatoes with bacon or Little Neck clams. Aside from its reputation as an essential San Diego pizzeria, there’s a line of Padres fans out the door before every home game, eager to catch the next pitch while sipping on a chilled Pacifico or one of their “basic” cocktail creations. Pro tip: they love to surprise fans with home game specials.
American Junkie
What to Sip On: Not So Old Fashioned
We all know things might get wild here after the game, so we recommend eating light and keeping it classy, San Diego. American Junkie has salads, sandwiches, bowls and hand-tossed pizzas. The Not So Old Fashioned might have you paraphrasing Ron Burgundy when you say, “Here it goes down, down into my belly.” This is a great place to watch the game and root as loud as you want, but be warned: you might be chasing the sun home if you don’t leave after the final inning.
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Erik Hale is the visionary and publisher behind LOCALE Magazine. He launched the magazine in 2010, wanting to give the community of OC a premiere lifestyle magazine that knew all the native knowledge behind OC. “Six years ago Ashley and I sat at a table scratching the name LOCALE (among some other names) onto a sheet of paper,” says Erik, “coming up with story ideas and basically dreaming. Everything we imagined has happened and we have been blessed with so much more. I am so grateful as we start another year for my family, my two wonderful children, my health, our amazing writers, designers and photographers, our advertising partners and you.”
