A city of nearly perfect weather with more than 250 days of sun a year, San Diego is a mecca to the active set. But just because the weather is conducive to outdoor activities doesn’t mean things fold up like a beach umbrella when the sun goes down. In fact, for many, this is the signal to start partying, and the city doesn’t disappoint.
One of the best places to check out the action is downtown’s historic Gaslamp Quarter: 16 walkable blocks packed with rooftop bars, hip nightclubs, jazz clubs and restaurants offering alfresco dining. Most venues feature that typically casual Southern California vibe, but some have a dress code, so check before showing up in beachwear and flip-flops.
Omnia strives to combine opulent, classic design with modern technology in a multilevel club with almost 20,000 square feet of partying space. Fluxx prides itself on presenting party-goers with an ever-evolving club that dazzles. Besides dancing to top-tier DJs and listening to some of today’s hottest artists, Fluxx guests have enjoyed occasional boxing and wrestling matches, black light fashion shows and even an 80-person spin cycle class. Visitors enter Asian-themed Bang Bang via a tunneled staircase reminiscent of a Tokyo subway, complete with Tokyo subway sounds streaming through hidden speakers. The nighttime hot spot features an Asian fusion restaurant, a sushi bar and a “theater” which hosts some of the hottest up-and-coming DJs.
San Diego includes a thriving gay community, with Hillcrest one of the favored neighborhoods for LGBT nightlife. Urban MO’s is a hetero-friendly gay bar that boasts great burgers and a fun, upbeat vibe. Flicks offers games, karaoke and video clips. Rich’s is where guys go to dance, and Gossip Grill is the current lesbian hot spot.
At 22 stories above San Diego Bay, Marriott’s Altitude Sky Lounge offers one of the best views in town, making it the perfect place to sip a chilled cocktail while watching one of San Diego’s signature sunsets.
For party-goers who crave a meal after most other restaurants close, Searsucker serves a late-night menu 11 p.m.–1 a.m.
Read This Next
Women in Travel
2016
Sep 22, 2016All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedAirlines
Aug 18, 2026Air India Selects JFK’s New Terminal 6 For Future Operations
JFK Millennium Partners, the company building and operating Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s John F. Kennedy International Airport’s new Terminal 6, and Air India recently announced the airline chose T6 for its operations beginning in 2028, aligning Air India with other Star Alliance member carriers in the new terminal. Sixteen leading international carriers have now selected T6 for their operations, including Air Canada, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and TAP Air Portugal.
Sponsored Content
The Art of Balance in Seoul: Beyond the Boardroom
The value of a destination is no longer defined solely by infrastructure, efficiency or scale. Increasingly, it is measured by a city’s ability to balance productivity with well-being — creating opportunities for focus, restoration and more meaningful connections.
August 2026
Aug 18, 2026Pamper Your Passion for Barefoot Luxury in the Seychelles
Imagine a place where the weather is always warm and the sun forever shines upon groves of towering palm trees and unspoiled white-sand beaches, where a vast expanse of turquoise water surrounds you as far as you can see. When I first landed in the Seychelles last spring, I knew I’d discovered a hidden Eden. Known as the Land of Perpetual Summer, the archipelago consists of 115 islands scattered in the western Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar and 1,000 miles east of mainland Africa.
Daily
Aug 18, 2026North Carolina’s The Art of Living Retreat Center to Host Creative Living Workshop
The Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina, is inviting travelers to relax, unwind and form a deeper connection to themselves with a restorative retreat experience.
Sponsored Content
Why Japan Is Best Explored by Sea with Princess
Japan is a destination that rewards repeat visits because no two regions — or seasons — feel quite the same. One moment, you’re wandering through centuries-old geisha districts in Kanazawa. The next, you’re watching neon reflections dance across Tokyo streets long after midnight.
Daily
Aug 18, 2026Portugal Hotels Partner with MOKE International Electric Vehicles
Looking for an environmental angle for your next excursion to lovely Portugal? Now you can charge up your MOKE for stays at Bomporto properties in Lisbon and Porto. And in case you’re wondering what on earth a MOKE might be, we’re happy to elaborate: Created by British luxury motor brand MOKE International, these iconic vehicles were designed in the 1960s by the same Sir Alec Issigonis, regarded as the father of the Austin Mini.
Puerto Rico by Water: Beyond San Juan
Destinations
Aug 17, 2026Daily
Aug 14, 2026MGallery Collection Debuts in the Maldives
It’s official: V Villas Maldives at Mirihi –MGallery Collection is open, welcoming guests to a private island experience rich in Maldivian heritage. The all-villa property is set upon Mirihi island within the South Ari Atoll, where the setting includes sparkling azure lagoons and sugary white-sand beaches. Accessed by a 30-minute seaplane crossing from Malé, guests arrive to discover a world of luxury comprised of 42 expansive villas, including four new opulent overwater villas, each with an ample private pool and direct lagoon access. Villas were crafted by the renowned experts at multidisciplinary design firm Studio Gronda, who fashioned each to fit harmoniously into the surrounding tropical landscape.
Sponsored Content
The World Awaits with Turkish Airlines’ Global Access
Turkish Airlines enjoys the unique position as the airline flying to more countries than any other airline. Its unrivaled global reach is only the beginning of the experience that awaits passengers with Turkish Airlines.
August 2026
Aug 14, 2026Take Along These Essentials, Wherever You Go
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Marketed to avid sportspeople as well as those who find traditional earbuds uncomfortable, Shokz OpenRun 2 gained a reputation as the best bone conduction headphones on the market. This is due in large part to their hybrid design, transmitting high notes by vibrations while using conventional speaker units to play the low notes with which technology struggles. Customers swear by their durability as well as their sound quality, perfect for runners and cyclists who need to be aware of their surroundings. $179.95.
ShareThis