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Mix & Match: The Hottest Date Spots Downtown San Diego

Mix & Match: The Hottest Date Spots Downtown Print E-mail
Written by Molly
August 04, 2009
Nighttime_SD_Downtown_SkylinePLAY:  The following suggestions can be mixed and matched.

First we start with the pre-dinner, sunset drink:

1. Siren at Se San Diego

2. Eden Rooftop at the Ivy Hotel

3. Float at the Hardrock Hotel

4. Top of the Hyatt at the Grand Manchester Hyatt

Next, make a reservation for dinner at any one of these restaurants:

1. (Fine Dining) Suite and Tender at Se San Diego

2. (Upscale Sushi) Nobu at the Hardrock Hotel

3. (Steak) Cowboy Star

4. (Romantic French) Café Chloe

5. (Asian Fusion) Red Pearl Kitchen

6. (New addition close to downtown!) (Italian Fusion) Cucina Urbana

Lastly, pick your pleasure for an after-dinner experience:

1. (Wine Bar and Late Night Lounge) Syrah

2. (Secret Jazz & Blues Lounge) Prohibition

3. (Lounge/Club) Side Bar

4. (Intimate Wine Bar) The Grape

5. (Late Night Lounge) Suite and Tender Bar at Se San Diego

BLOG:  I have two loves in life… my husband and downtown San Diego.  However, my relationship with my husband is much healthier.  Downtown San Diego is such a tease, and my love affair with it is addictive.  Just when you think you’ve found the newest, hottest restaurant or bar, the scene has moved on… and once again you're left guessing.  My "therapist" has asked that I turn my obsession into something useful.  So, I will stalk the scene and pass my observations on to you.

Siren at the Se San Diego Hotel is one of the newest rooftop bars downtown, but it’s smaller and more exotic.  When you stop by this tropical paradise make sure to try one (or more!) of their unique selection of edible cocktails.  They are molecular miracles!  Note that the House of Blues is adjacent to the Se, and, therefore, I suggest you check out HOB's music offerings to see if you can include it in your evening.

Eden Rooftop Bar and Lounge at the Ivy Hotel gently places you in the middle of the Gaslamp and surrounds you with scenic downtown.  Much like Float, Eden Rooftop Bar and Lounge can be difficult to get into if you go on the later side of the evening, but, if you get the timing right, you will truly feel like you’ve taken a leave of absence from the daily grind of life.

Float:  This place is like Jekyll and Hyde… but, I mean that in the best sense.  If you go during the day or early in the evening then it’s easy to get in and it’s a relaxed, conversation-friendly environment.  However, if you get there too late, you better know somebody and appreciate a scene... and being “scene.”  Or to look at the ridiculously beautiful cocktail servers in their bikini tops.

Holy View!  You are virtually in the clouds when you visit the Top of the Hyatt.  This lounge is sophisticated and classy, but not arrogant.  As far as attire, the Top of the Hyatt is flexible… It takes on the flavor of whatever you are mixing it with!  (Classy date- cocktail dress; bike tour- slacks or shorts and sandals.)  It is simply beautiful and romantic.  And… if you are really nice to the valet guys, they might even store your bike in the bike closet for safe keeping!

Suite and Tender is just that!  It is amazing food, amazing decor and amazing service.  Yes, that is 3 "amazings."  This is a date you pull out of your sleeve when you are:  1) celebrating an anniversary, 2) making up for something you did wrong, 3) preemptively apologizing for something you are about to do wrong, or 4) making up for lost time because you haven't taken your significant other on a date in a decade.  The entire hotel, Se San Diego, is posh... so check out the Suite and Tender Bar and the poolside bar, Siren.  Tip: Be sure to sneak into the Uber Lounge (which is really the indoor portion of Siren) well before midnight as that is the time they shuffle the other folks out of Siren and into the elevators.

When the Hard Rock Hotel hit our city it sent a ripple of L.A./L.V. glamour through the Gaslamp!  And nothing is better than chic sushi (say that 10 times really fast- ooh!  A fun game to play at dinner!)  With the arrival of the Hard Rock came the entrance of Nobu.  Nobu is "Noveau Japanese Cuisine" with a sophisticated, expensive feel ... and menu prices to match.  This is a great date place if you really want to feel like you are out on the town!  And you may just run into a celebrity in the lobby... (There have been sightings.)

Being from the south, I like anything with the word "Cowboy" attached to it, but I think I am the ONLY person living downtown who has not been to the highly rated Cowboy Star.  Husband- get on this!  From what I've been told this steak restaurant sets itself apart from the dark wood, snobby servers, and good-ole-boys smoking cigars type of joint.  Oh, Cowboy!  Save me from the proverbial same-old-tired-steak-restaurant train!  This place is the real deal with a full service butcher shop and all.

The romance of the pretty parisian bistro, Café Chloe, demands a love story.  Here is my suggestion for those who are married.  Arrive at Café Chloe at separate times.  Then sit on opposite sides of their white marble wine bar.  After several brief moments of eye contact, the guy should approach the girl with a predetermined conversation starter.  Pretend like you don't know each other- and reaquaint yourselves over a fabulous French dinner... It's a food affair without the consequences!!

Red Pearl Kitchen is a staple in my playable diet.  It's like a sweets craving that mut be satiated!  Red Pearl Kitchen has a club like feel without the loud music and large crowds.  However, the red lights and Asian fusion could put a sexual spell on you.  You cannot go wrong with this place... just be ready to eat.  Thoughtful detail:  Ask to sit at the chef's table in the kitchen!

My new favorite restaurant is Cucina Urbana!!!  My heart has been stolen... or maybe I left it in their wine library?  This Italian-fusion restaurant is a breath of fresh air on Banker's Hill.  It's the newly remodeled version of what was Laurel... and it's country chic design will make you feel right at home. 

Walking down the stairs to the underground Syrah is like sliding down the rabbit hole with Alice in Wonderland!  If you can find the door (I'll give you a hint- look for the ivy) then you will be rewarded with some of the most decadent decor downtown has seen to date.  Syrah is one of the newer establishments downtown, and, while most wine bars "mature" and become better over time, this place is better when drunk young.  Well... young or mature... it's equal opportunity drunk here.  Just make sure to arrive early because later in the night it can get really crowded and lose some of that romantic feel.  (If you choose to come here before dinner, here is a Thoughtful Detail:  Order a cheese board and do a wine pairing!)

Prohibition is also a newer establishment.  It is a great after dinner lounge if you appreciate an older crowd.  From the illusive entrance (you need a password to get in- just email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  a few days in advance) to the underground location- this place makes you feel exclusive!  Or like you are doing something naughty...  Prohibition is a throwback to the days of the speakeasy, complete with a lounge singer and a cocktail waitress that calls everyone "hunny."

Isn't it great when your best friend leaves town for a bit, refreshes, and then comes back with a makeover- looking and feeling better than ever!?  Well, my old friend, Side Bar did just that!  The newly revamped lounge is my favorite late night spot downtown.  Their new design is uber chic and their servers are just as hot as their decor!  Have I used enough exclamation points to get my message across?  Go early to enjoy the tall comfy bar seats and great service, or go late if you want to dance!

Looking for something completely chill at the end of the night?  The Grape is a great little wine bar in a tiny nook off 5th in the gaslamp.  It's a great place for concentrating on conversation not crowds and cover charges.  I included this quaint bar because it provides a little respite from the craziness of downtown.

Suite and Tender Bar is the "Bar" attached to Suite and Tender (see above).  This bar feels super exotic and they play great music at the end of the night.  One of the newer lounges in town, this bar is like the sexier younger sister of its namesake restaurant. 

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