5 live music in San Diego, editor-picked by TableJourney. All San Diego nightlife.
The Casbah ★ 4.8
Little Italy · 2501 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101
The Casbah on Kettner Boulevard, founded by Tim Mays in 1989, is the 200-capacity San Diego punk and indie room that booked Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and the Strokes on the way up.
Tip: Doors usually 20:30, some all-ages shows. Moved from the original 75-capacity room two blocks south in 1994; the current Kettner space holds 200.
Music Box ★ 4.5
Little Italy · 1337 India Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Music Box on India Street in San Diego's Little Italy is the 13,000 square foot tri-level concert hall, opened 2015 in the former Anthology room, booking national touring acts.
Tip: Tickets through the venue site or Eventbrite. The mezzanine has the cleanest sight lines; floor general admission fills early on big shows.
Soda Bar ★ 4.4
North Park · 3615 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92104
Soda Bar on El Cajon Boulevard is the 200-capacity San Diego indie and rock room booking touring bands six nights a week along the City Heights and North Park border.
Tip: All shows are 21+, no exceptions. Doors typically 19:30; tickets through the venue site. Cash bar, kitchen at the back.
Belly Up Tavern ★ 4.6
Carlsbad / Encinitas (North County coast) · 143 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach, CA 92075
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.
The Observatory North Park ★ 4.5
North Park · 2891 University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92104
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.