Ooh I'm on the verge of loving this bar. I'm a huge fan of dives that feel comfortable, like an old comfy sweatshirt, if that makes any sense. Catalina Lounge is definitely that kind of dive. It's more open and well-lit than most I've been to, and has a bunch of pool tables and nice guys who taught us how to play the giant shuffle board.
The down side? I can't help but think they're a teeny bit pricier than I expected. And they don't take credit cards, so keep that in mind before using the teeny tiny ATM by the front door.
Dive bars are fun fun this one made me want to shower and avoid eating from the most likely contaminated food/snacks. Been here 50 and went only a couple times when I was drunk on the way home. Filthy and not a woman in sight I would even ask out. Avoid this and just to be safe, get an antibiotic shop after you leave. Yuck!
Review Source:A nice bar with a good local feel (even if it is a little divey). Â They have cheap pitchers of beer, cheap mixed drinks, it doesn't get too crowded, and the TVs are big and nice. Â The beer selection is minimal but they always have something from Stone or Ballast point. Â
The downside, I think they are a Packers bar. Â Nasty cheese heads everywhere.
Awesome down to earth bar. They always have an open pool table ( they have 4). There is also shuffleboard, darts and a deer hunter type arcade game. Cheap drinks and friendly staff and locals . We come at least once a month to play pool and darts . No dj but a jukebox that is connected to surround sound throughout the bar that you can put money in and choose songs. We will be coming back!
Review Source:It doesn't take much to make me a happy football fan.
Actually it only takes two things: Food and beer.
Oh wait, I don't mean football. I just mean making it a good Sunday. The Cat has some killer pitcher specials on Sundays and some food to top it off.
I don't really care if it is chimpmunks, monks or old fat man running around on the TV's in the background; I will cheer for another full pitcher of beer though!
Great dive bar to frequent anytime but Especially this NFL season... Cheap beers (do yourself a favor and get a tasty micro over the budlight special, it'll only cost you a couple dollars more and is So worth it) Annnd Football Sundays they now have the grill going! Last Sunday was burgers, meatballs, chips, cheese and crackers for Freeeeee.
Def a solid place to get your game on in OB/Point Loma.
Ooooooh OB. Now that a group of my friends have moved in the area, we've been scoping out more of the bars in San Diego's hippy community.
This was definitely dive-y, complete with pool tables and cheap, stiff drinks. No frills seems to comes to mind, so if that's what you're in the mood for then say hello to the mustachioed bartender and knock 'em down.
And don't forget, cash only!
Came here on a Monday night with my roommate to watch the Clippers game. It's a pretty cool, chill place in OB. The bartender was SUPER SUPER nice. He offered us free pretzels :).
This place is a no frills place to get a beer, or whatever alcoholic beverage of your choice. It's pretty dive-y but not in a hipster way. There were a lot of down to earth people just here enjoying a drink w/ their friends. There are also loads of pool tables and shuffleboard.
A big plus is that it has its own parking lot around the corner on Catalina st, so you don't have to bother with looking for parking.The downside though is that they are a cash bar. They have one of those ATMs that charge you 10 bajillion dollars withdrawal fee though in case you have no cash and really need a drink.
I'll definitely be back here for a drink and to watch a basketball game, with little crowds.
I figure my first Yelp review should be to the first bar I visited when I moved to SD.
First time going here was 3 months ago. It's definitely a divey local bar. Only a handful of people there when I showed up. The bartender, Karen, was friendly and made small talk with us. They pour the drinks strong there, and cheap to boot. This was also the first time I played shuffleboard, and for free, I figured why not? They also have pool tables, darts, Big Buck Safari and a juke-box.
Now I've been several times since. Most recently went in on a Friday night, where it was much more crowded than the previous times I had been. I didn't mind - the crowd was very varied (haha), but everyone was really chill, even downright friendly when I needed to squeeze in between people to make an order at the bar. And even though there were people on the shuffleboard table when I showed up, they let us have it after their game was over.
Bottom line: Cat Lounge is awesome to have right down the street for cheap, strong drinks, good people, and free shuffleboard. Nothing fancy, but a good time all around.
"Glass of Sprite please."
Yea, i mean, ya gotta order something to drink atta bar right? Makes it kinda tough for those who do not drink but would still like to enjoy some NFL Football games!
Ive been in this spot more and more lately since i dont have a TV, but love the NFL! I mainly check this spot because its relatively close and quite very unpretentious! Its OB!
Leave me and my Sprite alone, im here to watch the Chargers at the Cat Lounge!
Atmosphere - Not too bad...but nothing special. Â Kind of a divey neighborhood bar which would be cool to come grab a drink at, but not really to watch a game (lots of TVs but with the narrow area it's akward to view). Â Was here for a Monday Night Chargers game and the place was pretty empty...which I prefer to overly loud and packed...but to each his own. Â Pool tables and shuffleboard in the back.
Food/Beverage - Full bar...didn't see a CASH ONLY which is typical in OB. Â No food but there are chips and such and they usually offer free food on certain game days.
Cost - Have drink specials for games....on par with most bars in OB.
Why 3 stars?...well while even though I wasn't Norm or Cliff here the bartenders were both very nice, but there was only 1 person on staff at any given time. Â Drinks were decent, laid back atmosphere, but the TV viewing was akward and there really wasn't anything that I experienced that made me feel the need to seek the place out again. Â Been there three times and never had any complaints....just nothing to make me wanna go back and no food.
I love the Catalina!
The bartenders Karen and Joe are always glad to see you and super professional. Â Cleanest dive bar I have ever been in. Â Reasonable drink prices, 4 pool tables, darts and hello: SHUFFLE BOARD! Â
They also give you a bowl of Pepperidge farm goldfish to snack on (request only).
This bar rocks.
This might be a dive bar by San Diego standards, but I thought it was just a regular bar with some pool tables and darts.
I enjoyed a pitcher to myself while simultaneously kicking Jeanna W.'s ass in pool and learning about stenography. I'm even typing this in shorthand since it's so much more efficient. A new shorthand keyboard costs $11,000 but it was worth it.
Anyways, the bartenders here were cool and much more unpretentious than the ladies serving the drinks next door. The drink prices made my wallet happy and the vibe was "everyone's welcome, even you, weirdo with the scarf".
Stopped in here while waiting to see Danny DJ next door. It was a Saturday night and we had just finished dinner. Catalina Lounge was easy to find (across the street from 7-eleven) and there is plenty of parking. The bouncer dude was friendly and the crowd seemed to be a bunch of locals out enjoying themselves.
The atmosphere is very relaxed and the bartender is cool. Out of all the places I have been in OB this is by far my favorite. The patrons and the staff didn't make me feel like an outsider for not being a local. The lounge has pool tables and it's a huge place. If your in the area it's the place to check out!
(They take debit cards. Very few places in OB do.)
i dig this place. Everything about it. but i'd like to share a story
i go into the men's room, where there is a troff-style urinal.
as i begin doing what i intended to go in there to do, a tough as nail marine walks in the door, sees me, and immediately leans over to crotch-level and stares directly at...my special place.
i become somewhat uncomfortable
after a few silent moments (which felt like an eternity to me), the marine guy finishes his analysis of me and stands back up and yells
"YOU NEED TO HYDRATE!!!"
i become more uncomfortable.
"What?" i ask
"YOU NEED TO HYDRATE!!!! he responds....very angrily.
now at this point i feel as though the marine can sense my low comfort level, and takes it personally, as he backs up and shifts into FIGHT STANCE (while i'm still pissing) and goes
"I'M NOT LOOKING AT YOUR DICK, BRO, I'M LOOKING AT YOUR PISS!!!! YOU NEED TO HYDRATE!!!!!
there is more to this story involving this particular man trying to accuse me of not usually washing my hands or something weird...but...
the point is, this is an AWESOME place, but occasionally plan on running into some "characters" .... and please remember to hydrate....and always wash your hands. thank you
This is a 4 star Dive bar, which doesn't mean 4 star dining experience. It also isn't a 4 star trendy bar, it's a 4 star for Dives.
It means, internet juke box that actually works, you can search for Tom Petty and it's probably already there or download Split Enz if you need to, cause you all want to do robot arms and sing "One Step Ahead of You".
It means locals of all ages and cheap beer on tap with HAPPY HOUR prices at appropriate times.
It means, hockey games if you ask and it's not already on. Chargers will already be on, and so will the Padres in season.
It means pool tables on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
It means, outside patio for smoker friends to puff on.
It means close to my house in OB, so it earns another star.
It means eating Take-Out inside is OK, cause they treat you like it's *your* rumpus room ;)
It means full bar, so I can have rums and cokes since I don't always drink beer.
I don't frequent the place that much, but when I do I feel a sense of home, if the bartender offers to heat me up some of her dinner, now that is a place worth going back to, sing it to the choir honey, "Why lie? I need a beer."
The Cat lounge (as the neighborhood lovingly calls it) is a great lil' dive bar with all the necessary amenities a dive bar should have. Four pool tables, shuffle board, darts, juke box, "we have sold alot of beer and liquor" bar crap, wood panel walls from the 70's, a good beer selection, staff that are easy to talk to and also look like they just rolled out of bed, a smoking area that allows smokers to be smokers, goldfish crackers upon request, and yes the dive bar video game kiosk found at any respectable dive bar in America. This bar is CASH ONLY.
So it's not a swanky joint but it's a near perfect dive bar. People are friendly. The drinks are average. The crowd is mixed in age. I get hit on by both men and women at this bar. (Mostly straight women who have drinken a lil too much). 7-11 is across the street so feel free to get a late night snack you will regret in the morning.
The Cat feels like a beach bar but is far enough away from the beach (1.5 miles) to avoid the beach drama of tourists or imports who now think they are local. Â Of all the dive bars in SD this one is #1 on my list mostly because I can walk there. Cheers!
The good ole Cat Lounge!!! Â Pool and shuffleboard joints are usually winners for me. Â It's a dive bar so you can't expect much. Â The drinks are fairly cheap, but they definitely need some live music here.
Some pretty randy cougars usually pass through and give you the eye, just make sure that you don't drink too much...because you make a desicion you'll later regret. Â :)
I was really excited to go to Cat Lounge. Â Dive bar, shuffleboard, cheap drinks, sounds like heaven. Â We arrived around 10pm on a Saturday night and the place was kind of dead, but I like that. Â The world is overpopulated with the wrong kind of people and so the less surrounded by them, the happier I am. Â Full bar + a respectable selection of drafts.; $13.75 for a pitcher of Stone Pale Ale works for me. Â
My main goal in life is to drink beer and play shuffleboard (at least on a sat night). Â Right when we got to Cat, this obnoxious group got their grubby little hands on the table and weren't letting go. Â After a few rounds of pool, a few "Hey man, can we get next game?"s, and about 45 minutes of enduring my death stare, they still would not give up the goods. Â FINE, assholes, off to tiny's we go.
Cat Lounge is a really cool bar (with a really clean potty!), but some of the patrons kind of act like they own the place and missed the day in kindergarten where everyone learned to share.
I have been to this wonderful dive bar several times. My sister lives in the area so this is one of their local hangouts. First off I gotta so goldfish crackers are so good to munch on while having a cold one...
The bartender is a really nice guy and will make your drink fast. The drinks themselves are strong and cheap (bonus). And I love the fact that this place has both pool tables and shuffleboard. Â The crowd is always chill and laid back.
If your looking for a good place to unwind, have a few drinks, and meet some cool people, this is the right place.
A bar that doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is: A Dive Bar.
Cheap Drinks.
Free Goldfish.
Pool and shuffleboard.
A laid-back crowd.
A few creeps hanging out.
And best of all: JOE. Joe has to be the nicest and friendliest bartender in San Diego. ALWAYS remembers what you're drinking and gets it to you quickly. I can't say enough good things about Joe.
Be forewarned: This is not a "bumpin" place to go and "get your groove on" and hang out with the "pretty people." But there are plenty of places in SD for that. This just isn't one of them.
The Cat Lounge was the first bar that my roommates took me to upon moving to San Diego in 2006. Â Since then, it has become like one of those old friends from high school--not the ones you are thankful that you never have to see again--I'm talking about those select few that you make it a point to keep in contact with over the years, the ones that you can still be confident with that no matter what happens in your life, they will always be there with a smile and an interest in what is going on. Â
That is what the Cat Lounge has become to me. Â I first liked it because between shuffleboard, pool tables, and the darts, I never ran short of things to keep my evening entertaining. Â Add to that drinks that don't lighten the wallet too much while being plenty stiff and I found myself a comfortable friend that I can come back to time and again. Â I've had more head-to-head dart championships with complete strangers than I can remember, and have found myself there with my roommate in the middle of the week after a hard day at work just to have a couple of beers and play shuffleboard. Â It's always the same, and most of the time I see the same faces, but that is what makes the place for me. Â
I've expanded my bar rotation to many different areas and many different venues in the past couple of years, but the Cat Lounge will always be that one place that I can go back to and be guaranteed to have a good time, every time.
I went out the other night to the Catalina Lounge or the Cat' Lounge, as it is so affectionately called by the locals. Â Well let me tell you something: there are absolutely no cats to be found anywhere around.... not a feline as far as the eye can see. Â I was a tad bit disappointed to discover this fact. Â
The bar is very large with a few pool tables and a shuffleboard table too. Â These were both pretty crowded and there was probably no chance of me getting onto any of the tables without challenging someone to a match of said game. Â Â
One fact to note about the bar is that it is incredibly well lit which is generally frowned upon by me. Â My friends and I were not intimidated by the bright lights in the ba, because we are all incredibly good looking, but for the benefit of some of the other bar patrons, dim lighting would have been nice. Â The crowd on this night seemed to be a nice mix of surfer types, OB mock-thugs, 20/30 somethings, and men in their 50's. Â Â
I didn't pay for drinks, but I can only imagine that the pitchers were pretty cheap. Â The jukebox was one of those ones that was connected to the internets, so it had a lot of variety. Â
I could see Catalina Lounge being a really fun little weekday hangout when I imagine that the pool tables and shuffleboard table are a little less impacted.
The Cat Lounge is everything that a bar is supposed to be.
- Â Drinks. Â Good beer selection, reasonable prices, stiff pours on cocktails.
- Â AWESOME bartenders. Â Joe is my favorite. Â Seriously, go in there sometime and just talk to him about nothing, and you'll end up talking about everything. Â He's one of those bartenders that seems to only exist in books and movies...the guy who you go into a bar and grab a beer and he just stands across from you and talks - but he's smart. Â And he makes you feel good. Â
- Â Free Goldfish Crackers. Â Amazing. Â
- Â Pool tables.
- Â Shuffleboard.
- Â A good crowd. Â I'm sure it's happened, but I've never seen the slightest altercation here, let alone a fight. Â Everybody's just happy. Â Well, unless you're drowning sorrows (this happens a lot), then you're just mellow. Â
- Â Good location for those of us in PL/OB. Â Sadly, I'm moving out of the 'hood soon and my trips there will be much less frequent. Â
I once spent 6 hours at the bar in the same bar stool, getting up only for bathroom breaks. Â
Don't bitch about cash only. Â It gives the place street cred in my book.
I love you, Cat Lounge.
Oh yes, this place has been many things to me. Â A place to go incognito and carry on a sordid yearlong love(ha) affair, a place to go and drown my sorrows, a place to meet my crazy friends, and of course a place to get down on that shuffleboard table.
Cheap pitchers, complimentary goldfish crackers and fabulous bartenders make this one of my favorite haunts. Â In fact, it might be the main reason I miss living in PL/OB.
The Cat Lounge is my home away from home.... Â and lucky for me, it is within stumbling distance. Â The crowd is a fun mix of young and old, the drinks are good are cheap, and the bartenders kick ass. Â Especially Joe: Â the man is a legend! Â The bathrooms are remodeled and clean. Â The music is decent. Â And how can you go wrong with free goldfish crackers?!? Â
I love this bar!
This is probably the seediest looking bar of all time. Â Old faded paint on the outside proudly asserts the bar opens at 6 a.m. Â At night, smokers delight in the ocean breeze on the long entrance way. Â Country music can usually be heard from the sidewalk and the bartender can be seen taking a glass from drunks trying to stumble outside with them. Â Scratching the surface, my friends.
The deco is classic dive: Charger/Padre posters, a delightful Bud Ice billiard light (Yes, Bud Ice, that's like Warp-5 on the Way-Back Machine), and the most comfortable bar ever, complete with elbow rests.
Continuing the theme here, I have a place in my heart for the Cat Scrounge. Â Yes the premium beer selection is cheap and available in pitchers, yes there are four pool table for a mere 75 cents, and yes there is a free shuffleboard table.
But, the two things I go to the Cat Lounge for are the bartenders and the people.
Whether it's Karen, Joe, or Jeff (on Saturday night), each bartender is very attentive and friendly. Â When it's a slow night, each bartender is more than happy to talk and joke around: they're just really friendly people.
The people are the other big draw. Â It's a good mix: Nazbos, OB locals, people from east of the 805 who have heard of the dive bar to end all dive bars, and out-of-towners. Â This concoction of 20 and 30 somethings results in the greatest people watching on the peninsula. Â Â The crowd is always friendly: I've gone in more than once for a beer and walked out with new friends. Â
Three cheers for Cat Lounge, in all her seedy glory.
I have a very special place in my heart for the Cat Lounge. I'm not a Point Loma or OB native. In fact, I'm from La Jolla. People are always amazed that someone from La Jolla could love the Cat Lounge, the little dive bar that could, but what's not to love?
+ The best and friendliest bartenders one could ask for (Karen's feisty but she always makes you feel like she cares, Joe's a good, sweet man and Geoff looks tough but makes some of the best girly drinks I've ever tasted (I recommend his Lemon Drop!)
+ The music! While I wish I could control the buttheads who pay three quarters to hear Jennifer Lopez as they chug their Bud Light, the majority of the music played in a typical night usually ranges from a little Led to some Doors all the way to Depeche Mode and occasionally, hits some Elton. Variety, you have to love it.
+ Let's hear it for all the Goldfish and pretzels you want! How do they always know when I'm fiending for a little plastic bowl of delicious Goldfish? Amazing!
+ The sightseeing. A little trash, a little class (very little), you never know what you might see (or do) during a night at the Cat.
Much like when you first meet someone you have a certain impression then BAM...they start to reveal a different side that wasn't what the friendship was originally based on...not necessarily bad but just a little different....
I first started hangin' out at the cat lounge a long time ago for a few beers on random thrusday nights...if im sober driving drinking coke, if im NOT driving, drink cheap beer, dip and eat pretzels and goldfishes'....
The bar is usually dead and the tv's are usually showing the pads in whatever predicament they were in...(for instance last night blowing a 2-4 lead in the 7th)
Well one night I hung out for a little longer than usual and then it started to fill up with folks...like a LOT of folks...a lot more than what i originally expected....it was like i was in a different bar...
I even got into a conversation with the owner Bill who told me the story of another dive bar that I used to frequent...the late great AZ cafe...
So this bar is ranking right up there as one of my all time favorite bars in all of the world...
1. Cash only...
2. Has little styrofoam cups you can use as a spit cup when dippin'...
3. free pretzels and goldfish...
Update 4/23/07
I'm going to re-review the Cat Lounge. Â 5 stars, up from 4, and probably one of the best bars I've hung out in, San Diego or otherwise.
3 Pool Tables at 75 cents a game - Check
1 Great Jukebox that is loud enough so that you know it's time to party, but quiet enough that you can actually talk to people - Check
Several friendly bartenders who offer you free peanuts. - Check
1 Block away from my buddy's house - Check
Pitchers of Cheap Beer - Check
Good Beer - Check
Jim Beam Rye - Check
1 Dart Board - Check
1 Golden Tee Machine - Check
and sealing the deal:
1 Free Shuffleboard table - Check
The place is like a friggin amusement park for adults.
Old Review:
My favorite (or least favorite) thing about this place is the sign above the bar that reads "You're first incident at this establishment will be your LAST".
My best friend from high school lives right across the street and frequents this bar. Â And knowing my weakness for large quantities of $6 miller lite pitchers, he warned me to be on my best behavior.
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