Aero Club Bar on India Street near Middletown, San Diego, the 1947 pilot's dive turned whiskey shrine with 1,200 bottles, pinball and ten-dollar pours.
Food program: Bar snacks, no full kitchen
Address: 3365 India St, San Diego, CA 92103
Coin-Op Game Room on 30th Street in North Park, San Diego, the 2013 arcade-bar with retro pinball, classic console cabinets and game-themed craft cocktails.
Signature drink: Cocktails named after arcade characters, local craft beer rotation
Food: Bar food, smash burgers, loaded fries
Whistle Stop Bar on Fern Street in South Park, San Diego, a beloved dive with twelve drafts, a jukebox that runs vinyl, live bands and a steady daily happy hour.
Signature drink: Twelve drafts, deep top-shelf list, daily happy hour
Food: No food, BYO from neighbours
The Tipsy Crow on Fifth Avenue in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter, the 1874 Spencer Ogden building running three levels of cocktails from the main bar to The Underground.
Signature drink: Pre-Prohibition cocktails on the main bar, draft beer downstairs
Food: Sliders, pretzels, bar food
Princess Pub and Grille on India Street in San Diego's Little Italy, the long-running British-owned pub serving fish and chips with rugby on satellite.
Signature drink: British and Irish drafts, single malts
Food: Fish and chips, bangers and mash, full British menu
CUCINA urbana's bar on Laurel Street in Bankers Hill, San Diego, the 2009 Cal-Italian room with daily happy hour and a retail wine program at minimal corkage.
Signature drink: Retail-priced bottle program with $5 corkage, Italian cocktails
Food: Cal-Italian sharing plates, late-night menu Fri-Sat
Madison on Park on Park Boulevard in University Heights, San Diego, a Mediterranean kitchen and cocktail room in an iconic mid-century space with seasonal drinks.
Signature drink: Seasonal Mediterranean-inspired cocktails
Food: Mediterranean small plates, brunch on weekends
