Gaslamp Quarter/Downtown/Little Italy
4th & b Local favorite for live music, located downtown adjacent to the Gaslamp Quarter. Call for shows. 345 B St., downtown, 619.231.4343. Map Q16

airport lounge From the back patio of this hip hangout you can practically touch the planes coming in for a landing at Lindbergh Field. 2400 India St., Little Italy, 619.685.3881. Map O15

ANTHOLOGY Chic three-story venue with amazing acoustics has live jazz, Latin, blues and rock. 1337 India St., Little Italy, 619.595.0300. Map Q15

Aubergine Swank restaurant that lets its hair down Fri.-Sat. DJs spin hip-hop, house, rock and more. 500 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.232.8100. Map Q16

BASIC Urban bar in a cool, renovated warehouse near the ballpark serves brick-oven pizzas. 410 10th Ave., East Village, 619.531.8869. Map Q17

BEACH Frolic in the sun all day and bask in the glow of the moonlight all night. At the W Hotel's rooftop bar Beach you will encounter heated-sand floors, a fire pit and private cabanas. 421 West B St., downtown, 619.398.3100. www.wbeachbar.com

THE BITTER END Sip this bar’s signature Black Martini in the romantic upstairs library lounge, or shake it on the small (but packed) basement dance floor. 770 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.338.9300. Map Q16

Candelas Sexy spot also serves Nuevo Latino cuisine. House DJ spins tunes Thurs.-Sat. 416 Third Ave., downtown, 619.702.4455. Map Q16

CONFIDENTIAL Hip space, specialty drinks, live DJ entertainment spinning funk, R&B, hip-hop and house. 901 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.696.8888. Map Q16

double deuce Downtown’s only country bar features weekend line-dancing and “rockstar karaoke” on Thursdays. 528 F St., Gaslamp, 619.450.6522. Map Q16 www.doubledeucesd.com

Dublin Square Traditional Irish pub serving pub grub and drinks. Live entertainment on Saturdays includes Irish music. 554 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.239.5818. Map Q16

East Village Tavern & Bowl Sports bar and bowling alley near Petco Park also features darts and pool. 930 Market St., East Village, 619.677.BOWL. Map R17

EDEN/ENVY Vegas-worthy club in the Ivy Hotel features sexy, sensuous décor. Rooftop bar Eden lures with heavenly views of downtown. 600 F St., Gaslamp 619.814.2055. Map I8

The Field Disney goes to Ireland. Gaslamp pub has fish & chips, frothy pints and patio seating, plus live entertainment select evenings. 544 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.232.9840. Map Q16

THE Fleetwood Big-city sophistication meets dive-bar chic at this spot near the ballpark, with flat screens, couches and updated comfort-food menu. 639 J St., Gaslamp, 619.702.7700. Map Q16 www.thefleetwood.com

Henry’s Pub Nightclub and restaurant serves California cuisine and showcases live entertainment nightly. 614 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.238.2389. Map Q16

house of blues Live rock, blues and pop music, plus Sunday gospel brunch. Call for current shows. 1055 Fifth Ave., downtown, 619.299.2583. Map Q16

J6 BAR Hotel Solamar’s rooftop poolside bar is a tropical oasis with lush landscaping, private cabanas for bottle service and a great happy hour. 616 J St., Gaslamp, 619.531.8744. Map Q16

Jimmy Love’s Two floors for dinner and dancing. Live bands perform jazz, blues and dance music seven nights a week. 672 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.595.0123. Map Q16

ON BROADWAY Housed in an old bank, San Diego’s first mega-club still packs in a huge weekend crowd. Where else will you find a dance floor in a bank vault? 615 Broadway, Gaslamp, 619.231.0011. Map Q16

ONYX/THIN Underground nightclub Onyx features DJ entertainment and a popular Tues. night jazz jam with trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. Street-level Thin is great for cocktails and mellow grooves. 852 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.235.6699. Map Q16

Patrick’s II Live music, drinks and dancing. Blues, soul and rock bands nightly. No cover charge Sun.-Thurs. 428 F St., Gaslamp, 619.233.3077. Map Q16

RED CIRCLe cafe S.D.’s top DJs spin house, trance and mash-ups at this handsome tapas lounge. 420 E St., Gaslamp, 619.234.9211. Map Q16 www.redcirclesd.com

The Shout house Dueling pianos played by impossible-to-stump musicians. Music ranging from classic rock to the ‘50s. 655 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.231.6700. Map Q16

STARLITE Hard-to-find hotspot features equally hard-to-find exotic liquors, tattooed bartenders, jaw-dropping interior design and open-air patio. 3175 India St., Midtown, 619.358.9766. Map J10

STINGAREE Tri-level dance club and restaurant with rooftop cabanas. Ultra hip nightspot with several house specialty drinks. Dress code enforced. 454 Sixth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.544.9500. Map Q16

Stout Belly up to the bar and tip back a pint at this comfortable neighborhood pub. 1125 Sixth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.702.7933. Map Q16

SWEETWATER SALOON & MOONSTONE LOUNGE Rock ‘n’ roll glamour at the Hard Rock Hotel. Rande Gerber presents street-level Sweetwater and rooftop Moonstone. Hard Rock Hotel, 207 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.702.3000. Map Q16

Top of the Hyatt Panoramic vistas from the West Coast’s tallest waterfront building. Take in the sunset or enjoy the lights of downtown. 1 Market Place, 619.232.1234. Map Q15

WHISKEY GIRL Bustling sports bar serves nachos, burgers, burritos, pizzas, steaks and more. 600 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.236.1616, $ Map Q16 www.thewhiskeygirl.com

La Jolla
Cafe Japengo Beautiful people to go along with the artistic sushi and Asian fusion fare. 8960 University Center Lane, UTC, 858.450.3355. Map T21

JACK’S Wine bar offers live piano music Thurs.-Fri.; beach bar has ocean views accompanied by the sound of steel drums. 7863 Girard Ave., 858.456.8116. Map W19

Whaling Bar Classic old-school haunt at La Valencia hotel has an Old World seaside feeling. 1132 Prospect St., 858.454.0771. Map W19 www.lavalencia.com

North County
belly up North County’s premier live music venue. Voted best live-music venue and lauded by Rolling Stone magazine. 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. 858.481.8140. Map X22

CoYOTE BAR & GRILL Hot live music and cool fire pits. Indoor/outdoor spot offers casual ambience and a view. 300 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, 760.729.4695. Map T22

Epazote Great views, steak and live music Thurs.-Sat. 1555 Camino del Mar, Del Mar Plaza, 858.259.9966. Map X22 www.epazotedelmar.com

Finely Lounge Modern lounge inside Pasquale del Mar. Happy hour 4-6 p.m. weekdays. Live music Tues.-Sat. 3790 Via De La Valle, Del Mar, 858.259.0504. pasqualedelmar.com

JiMmy O's A favorite of sports fans and locals. Choose between the sports bar and the nightclub. 225 W. 15th St., Del Mar, 858.350.3735. Map X22

Beaches
710 BEACH CLUB Steps from the beach, this live music venue has everything from rock to hip-hop. 710 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach, 858.483.7844. Map H8

CANES BAR & GRILL Oceanfront hot spot for live music and hurricane drinks. 3105 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach, 858.488.1780. Map I7

Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge Live jazz and blues along with dancing. A longtime favorite located right on the water. 2241 Shelter Island Drive, Shelter Island, 619.224.3577. Map K8

JRDN “Jordan,” Tower 23’s hip bar, overlooks the ocean and has a variety of signature cocktails. 4551 Ocean Blvd., Pacific Beach, 858.270.5736. Map K8 www.jrdn.com

SOUTH BEACH BAR & GRILL Just steps away from the ocean, this bar offers light fare and drinks. 5059 Newport Ave., Ocean Beach, 619.226.4577. Map J8

Turquoise Cafe Bar Europa This Euro-style wine bar has tapas, cask wines and live music nightly. 873 Turquoise St., Pacific Beach, 858.488.4200. Map H8