Belly Up Tavern on Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach has booked rock, reggae, jazz and indie in San Diego's North County since 1974, a 600-capacity room in a converted quonset hut.
Tip: All-ages most nights. Doors 19:00 or 20:00 depending on the bill. Half-hour drive from downtown; the Coaster commuter rail stops a block away.
Address: 143 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach, CA 92075, San Diego
Park 101 on Coast Highway in Carlsbad Village is the 8,000 square foot multi-level San Diego North County rooftop with BBQ counter, craft beer and Pacific sunset views.
Tip: Rooftop opens 16:00 weekdays, noon weekends. Game-day Padres and Chargers feeds fill the top deck; the BBQ counter on the ground floor handles overflow.
The Observatory North Park on University Avenue is the restored 1929 North Park Theatre, a 1,100-capacity Live Nation room booking touring rock, hip-hop and indie in San Diego.
Tip: General admission floor, balcony reserved seating. Doors 19:00 most shows. West Coast Tavern on the corner is the pre-show kitchen.
Altitude Sky Lounge atop the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, opened 2005, sits 22 floors above K Street with ballpark, harbor and downtown skyline views.
Tip: Open 17:00 daily, closes 00:00 weeknights and 01:00 weekends. 21+. The ballpark side fills first on Padres home nights.
Mister A's atop the Manchester Financial Building in Bankers Hill has run a rooftop dining room and bar over San Diego since 1965, with views of Balboa Park, the harbor and Coronado.
Tip: Bar opens 15:30; arrive before sunset for the terrace. Business casual enforced. Saturday and Sunday brunch runs 10:00 to 13:00 with live jazz.
Top of the Park on the seventh-floor penthouse of Inn at the Park, formerly Park Manor Suites, is the Hillcrest rooftop terrace in San Diego with Balboa Park and harbor views.
Tip: Open Friday and Saturday afternoons most weekends, brunch 10:00 to 14:00 Sunday. No cover; walk-in. The west-facing terrace catches the sunset.
Pacific Beach Ale House on the corner of Grand and Mission Boulevard pours house craft beer on a Pacific Beach rooftop sky deck in San Diego, the closest rooftop to the boardwalk.
Tip: Rooftop fills by 18:00 on summer weekends; walk in early for sunset. Brewery on site, IPA flights are the bartender pick.
Park 101 on Coast Highway in Carlsbad Village is the 8,000 square foot multi-level San Diego North County rooftop with BBQ counter, craft beer and Pacific sunset views.
Tip: Rooftop opens 16:00 weekdays, noon weekends. Game-day Padres and Chargers feeds fill the top deck; the BBQ counter on the ground floor handles overflow.