The Hunt for the Perfect Holiday Cocktail
Our intrepid writer braves the winter winds in search of Pacific Beach’s best cockles-warming drink
Ever since chilly winter winds reached San Diego, I’ve mastered the art of lying around watching movies. My neglected winter wardrobe is begging me to get a life, but the usual lineup of cheap, rowdy bars I frequent just isn’t getting me out the door. I need delicious cocktails and a chic venue, with the same comfortable beach vibe that tends to draw me away from the more hectic downtown scene. I need to explore a different side of Pacific Beach nightlife, and I certainly need to get off this couch. With this plan in mind and a small crew of drinking experts in tow, it’s time to brave the cold in search of alcoholic warmth.
In one big teeth-chattering mass, we step eagerly into the warmth of Tower 23’s lounge and bar, JRDN. The décor and the crowd are stylish yet relaxed, and there are just enough people here that it isn’t overly chaotic. A wall of glowing waves casts brilliant hues of color across the room, gleaming through half-filled glasses and bottles of wine. We finish gawking and get down to business, perusing the holiday cocktail specials like the Ho-Ho-Jito and the Pumpkin Patch; the latter is a festive drink, crusted with a sweet cinnamon rim. The last chills in our fingers quickly dissipate with one sip of the toasty Joyful Irishman—a mix of coffee, Frangelico, Malibu, Bailey’s and Godiva chocolate cream. It’s warm wintry joy in a mug, and suddenly I’m in love.
Chatting for a moment with bartender Joshua Packtor, I learn that JRDN’s Happy Hour menu is changed every day, and its “So Raw” event on Thursdays has drink and sushi specials. Unlike much of the P.B. bar scene, the atmosphere here is intimate and energetic. I picture myself watching the sunset while sipping mind-blowing cocktails, completely at ease in the ambience of effortless sophistication, and realize that JRDN is paradise in P.B.
Back on the nippy streets, we see the lustrous red walls and rooftop umbrellas of The Firehouse in the distance. Inside, the crowd is bustling and noisy with laughter. The entire room is filled with vibrant red lighting and black and red accents that create a sexy, almost devious environment. An off-duty manager offers me a loaded plate of calamari (delicious) while the bartender whips up one of the most popular drinks—an out-of-this-world cucumber mojito. Made with VeeV Açai liqueur, the drink is packed with antioxidants and is absurdly refreshing.
The roof is as striking as the downstairs, with an ocean view, a fire pit, a deejay and another full bar. We try a thin mint shooter (think Girl Scout cookie bliss, add booze, and get excited) before finding the last open table by the fire and enjoying the great drinks, good music and fun, vibrant scene.
On the move again, we find that the night is colder, and I’m in need of something stronger to drink. Johnny V’s may not have a cocktail menu, but the pool tables, beautiful wooden interior—complete with two festive trees—and fully stocked bar draw us in with ease. The guys are excited by the plethora of flat-screen monitors, and I’m more than content with the amazing vodka gimlet in my hand. The bar area is like a little island in the middle of a massive space, and it’s surrounded by restaurant seating—which motivates some of the guys to delve into the burger section of the menu.
Bartender David Gunter, who has been with this family-owned venue since its opening last June, explains that the Friday-night specials attract a great crowd. Not only are drinks half-off, each comes with a complimentary appetizer as well. The weekend swarm sounds fun, but there’s definitely something to be said for the bar’s laid-back vibe on a weekday.
I figure there must be enough drinks in my system to keep my body warm, as our final trek of the night is no longer torturous. We arrive at Bar West, and I already know what to order—the infamous Pears Hilton, filled with Absolut Pear, sour apple pucker, white cranberry juice and a tasty slice of pear. This place looks and feels like a snazzy downtown V.I.P. section, but with a “beachy” P.B. twist. Everyone looks good, and the funky beaded dance floor is packed to the gills. We decide to dance with our final cocktail in hand, enjoying the music and the joyful mayhem of the moment.
The best way to stay warm after the bars is clearly a taxi ride home. Tired and a bit tipsy, we reminisce about the night’s adventures, swearing an oath to always try new things. Discovering the classy side of Pacific Beach was both fun and relieving, as the fate of my holiday plans moved out of the house and back to the nightlife.
Jordan Restaurant
723 Felspar Street
San Diego, CA 92109
858-270-JRDN (5736)
http://www.jrdn.com/
The Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge
722 Grand Avenue
San Diego, CA 92109
858-274-3100
http://www.firehousepb.com/
Johnny V’s
945 Garnet Avenue
San Diego, CA 92109
858-274-4833
http://www.johnnyv.signonsandiego.com
Bar West
959 Hornblend Street
San Diego, CA 92109
858-273-9378
http://www.barwestsd.com/
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