It's comforting to know that Bob the bartender is still serving up the locals here. His eyes look tired but he is a dedicated man of 18+ years to the most OB of all OB hangs: The Sunshine. The food is the same, the attitude's the same, and the chatter of old wrinkled smokers is still loud and boisterous out on the patio. Not much has changed since I first crossed the threshold back in '97. But perhaps thats what we love about the Sunshine. It's an old friend who's always there for us. Sure that friend's annoying sometimes but when you were stranded and alone he came and picked u up in the rain. We all need friends like that.
When u are in OB, this is a great spot for a beer and ballgame on the tube. Grab yourself a seat on the patio, order up a pint and tell Bob I sent ya. And tip him well. He's a good man.
Still cash only.
Still Older/Younger crowd
Still Smokey.
Still OB.
oh, Sunshine.
That's kinda all I gotta say. One of the busier and popular bars on the Newport (the OB Strip). I would visit sunshine on occasion in my OB days. Good happy hour that lasts only an hour. They are connected to an awesome taco shop too.
The reason why I say "oh Sunshine" is because you can have either a great time or a shitty time there. You can have fun with your friends one visit, only to come again and have a bartender be rude and dismissive of you.
The bouncers are on a perpetual power trip and always have been. They are huge fans of playing the "this ID is fake" game. One of them tried it on me once. Funny, because he checked my ID a few times before that. He said he could take it because it was fake. I asked him how it could be fake when he let me in without a problem the weekend before. He just smiled and chuckled and said "I don't know'.
Sunshine is filled with OB locals. If you like Ob then you should visit here. You end up seeing the same people here over and over. Other reviewers got the crowd description right. Lots of bros and Point Loma/Ocean Beach kids who have never really left OB. Has a slightly Pacific Beach vibe to it.
Great place for a drink or 2 if you are in the area or near the beach. Not really my style, but its very popular.
First night I was there, couldn't wait to leave. Bartenders were not friendly at all, didn't seem to want to be there or help you. Definitely wouldn't make conversation.
Second night, I was with a group of people -- we were barhopping all over, when we found ourselves back at this place. Â No big deal, maybe tonight will be better. Especially with our own group of people to converse with.... No, no, NO....
The bouncer (very heavy set guy) let my friend in, took my ID - and insisted it was a FAKE! Why in the world would I be under 21 and have an ID made that says I'm almost THIRTY YEARS OLD? That is mind blowing.... Â So I held up the line, and the rest of my friends... He went to get other waitstaff to look at my ID - to which they also agreed it was a 'fake' and then weren't going to give it back to me!! I needed to catch a flight the next day and we all know how well flying without an ID works, right?
Finally, they gave it back to me, after a LOT of arguing -- I left with my whole group and they lost out on serious cash from us.
I will NEVER, EVER, step foot in that bar again. Â They are rude jerks. Â Why would anyone want to spend money to have a good time at a bar but be treated like crap and you're a nuissance to them..
DON'T GO HERE - trust me!
Definitely one of my favorite bars in OB... seriously, the drinks are good, it has an upstairs deck which is open on warm nights, and there is a taqueria INSIDE the bar, and it's open late. What's not to like? There's also a patio area on the ground floor where you can smoke, but of course the rest of the bar (except the upstairs deck) is nonsmoking. I go here with friends all the time and love it. It usually has the perfect amount of people, good prices, and good service. One of my top 3 bars in OB.
Review Source:Came here with a friend and my cousin. To sum it up, never again. We sat on the deck or whatever so they could smoke a cancer stick, which was great because the view was really nice. My cousin got me a drink, cranberry and vodka; but it mostly cranberry juice. To make matters worse, some idiot threw up on top of the stairs so we had to wait for them to clean it up. Â I hate when bartenders are irresponsible and keep serving people who clearly are way too intoxicated.
Would I come back? Absolutely not
I've been here several times and I don't know if it's just not my crowd. Picture a bar full of 20-something white people and rude bartenders lacking personality (They throw drinks in front of you & don't even look you in the eye when asking what you want).
People aren't chill. They don't strike up a conversation with anyone outside their clicky circle of friends. They eye-ball you up and down like you're at the wrong bar.
Anyways, I hate talking $h!t about anyone. That's just been my experience every time.
I will end on one good note. They had football on one Sunday. The place was empty and the pitchers were fairly cheap.
Sometimes I feel like the bartenders would rather just talk amongst themselves than serve drinks and the donstairs smoking area is soooooo congested but the lively night vibe, the roof top patio and the big screen TV's make it worth it. Â If it's nice out, hit this place up for some day drinking. The view and drink prices will make you very happy.
Review Source:I'm an OB gal. I live in the area and so I oftentimes find myself frequenting the Sunshine Saloon during the course of an evening prowl. They've got pool tables and a juke box. The sign is bright and alluring, so I find myself drawn like a moth to the flame. But for a cash only joint, you guys need to come down off the price of those pitchers. My advice: go down the street to South Beach and spend $11 for a pitcher of the same beer Sunshine will charge you $18 for.
$1.00 for one song on the juke box? $1.00 for each game of pool? You see how these costs can quickly add up. This place probably pays its rent with the money engendered by ATM fees alone, as they've conveniently situated their own personal ATM right next to the bar..
Came here for Happy Hour with some friends. So glad we came here because it is probably one of the cheaper places I have gone to in my life. About $6 for a pitcher of Shock Top (half off pitchers)??? Not bad at all!!! Flat screen TVs pretty much everywhere as well as pool tables. Just a good time waiting to happen.
Review Source:This place is fantastic. A fun bar with a laid back vibe that always gets it right. What more could you want?
The staff is friendly, from the bouncers to the bartenders, and very helpful. No pretentious pricks here: its one of those places where everyone is looking to have a good time, and there's a strong chance you'll end up making friends with the people at the next table.
Good prices and amazing atmosphere!
For some reason, I used to always find myself at the Shine when I lived in SD. Â But I can't put my finger on why. Â None of my friends particularly liked the place. Â The fact that it has an indoor/outdoor smoking area is pretty convenient if you wanna have a cig and still watch the game on TV. Â But given the high number of smokers in OB, the section tends to smell like crap after awhile and it's hard to breathe (even if you are a smoker). Â
The rest of the bar isn't much better. Â It tends to get packed on weekends -- which can be cool, ya know, for a lively atmosphere and what not. Â But that also puts you in close contact with the high number of bad drunks here.
Yet drinks are cheap, and the upstairs bar/deck is great if it's a nice day (so... most of the year). Â
Blah blah blah, the Shine... blah.
Great place to go if youre in ob. They have a great happy hour from 5 to 6. All pitchers are half off.
If you like to play pool their tables are in good condition and are not the small six footers. They also take coin and cash. I like this place cause they treat you like a po erson not a patron. Just dint act like a douche from pb! Also another plus if your a smoker is being able to smoke cigs while you drink at the downstairs bar. There is no roof covering and the upstairs is the same. Now for the coup d graux...(i know thats nit how you spell it). They have an attached mexican food store called livingstons chicken kitchen that is so good. Real quality chicken. Hope you visit its one of my faves. Oh one more thing. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is that its cash only.
Four Stars with an asterisk. Â Attention Smokers!
To me any bar without entertainment is not entertaining, I am usually bored out of my mind.
However, listen up you smokers, The Shine has been having Marlboro nights on Friday nights. The lowdown on the deal, show the Marlboro girls in the bar your ID and they make sure you are old enough to smoke (uh, could you even be in the bar if you're not old enough to smoke? but I digress) and they give you a coupon redeemable right at the bar for a pack of Marlboro, any flavor, for $1. A buck! The rule is one per person but say you are with a friend who is not interested  in the deal for themselves, why then, have them play along then you get two packs - for $2. Seems like it's every Friday happy hour to night. Not really a great reason to recommend a bar, but I've heard worse!
Nothing I like more than bouncers on a power trip. Psht. EVERYtime I've been here, security is rude. But this place has variety, it has options, it really does- no denying that. Â
Up or down?
In or out?
left or right?
pool or no pool?
smoking or no smoking?
Sunshine is big too, so on a Saturday night in OB when Pac shores is packed, this place will still have standing room, and most likely, sitting room.
Drink specials +1
Want to feel like youre going to get beat up for for going into a bar for no reason other than the fact that you aren't a regular?
Want to have 3 different bouncers check your purse, for drugs, alcohol, weapons or all of the above?
Want the bouncer to insist that your ID is fake when your 23 years old?
Want to be accused of being drunk when your in fact the designated driver and have not had a single drink?
Want to feel like your at somewhere like typhoon saloon or pb bar and grill in pb?
Sunshine is your spot then.
After reading other reviews looks like my feelings are mutual.
long live Gallaghers.
So I originally gave this place a three-star rating because it doesn't have much to offer, but then I visited the place again with my boyfriend last night and remember why I used to go to Sunshine all the time.
Our bartender last night was Bob. Honestly, one of the best bartenders in town. Not only was he attentive and friendly, but his service was never less than impressive. He asked us if we wanted another one of our drinks before we finished and was never quick to take our form of payment.
The food is pretty damn good and hits the spot. I had fun last night and remembered that I usually do. I had to up the rating at least by one star (see what great service and good food do). Oh, and $1 jello shots are always amazing!
If it weren't for the smoking patio, I'd probably knock it down to two stars, but the fact that I can show up on a Sunday with a cigar and drink beer inside a bar while watching the game earns it three. Â I could imagine a non-smoker taking away a star for the same reason.
The bouncers really watch the people and if they get obnoxious are quick to kick them out, which is pretty cool since it defuses possible situations. Â I've heard it is cash only, which I don't care about because I assume every place in OB is, so always carry. Â For such a large bar, I would expect a wider selection of beer, but they have at least one or two things to make everybody happy. Â They have several pool tables, so during the day there is never a wait. Â High Life tallboys are $5, and the white trash in me loves that.
There are other bars in OB that I like more, and if I am with a group of friends that don't smoke, I probably wouldn't go in here with them.
NOT a bar for minorities.
I came here last weekend with my coworker who is blonde/blue eyed (you'll see why this matters in a moment). When the bouncer checked our IDs, he let her in without checking her hobo-sized bag. However, he insisted on checking my wristlet. For the men out there, a wristlet is only big enough to put some bills and change in. He wasn't satisfied with me unzipping it and letting him shine a light, he insisted that I take out my money, also. Oh, I forgot, asians like to smuggle flasks in their wristlets, ok.
I never felt so uncomfortable in any public location. Having grown up in Orange County and spent a good amount of time in San Francisco and Los Angeles, I am not accustomed to being the ONLY asian anywhere. My friend got so drunk that she lost all sense and decided to confront a bartender by asking him, "hey is my friend the only asian in here??" Bartender looked around and replied, "well she can be a hot commodity!" What the eff?? I felt like some exotic oriental rug being judged at an auction to be selected by the highest bidder or some shit.
Oh yea, CASH ONLY, but they've got an ATM on-site. An extra star for the cheap drinks. 3 rum and cokes for 8.50. Can't beat that anywhere else. Got so plastered I almost forgot I was an exotic oriental rug.
Avoid if you're a minority.
I came here for a birthday gathering in the upstairs deck at night.
It was filled to the brim with people smoking. The upstairs bar is inside, and has pretty limited seating capacity.
The bar is cash only, which is always a negative in my book. My cocktail, well, it was actually fairly gross. I tossed it out after just a few sips and decided to stick with beer from there on out.
I'd like to give this place another whirl, in the daytime or around sunset for a brewski.
Spending time at the Sunshine Saloon (The Shine) is practically a rite of passage for anyone of drinking age living within 20 miles of Ocean Beach. It's a cash only bar, with a pretty awesome little taco/fried chicken shop attached for your late night cravings. If you've been there, I am sure you've eaten Jo-Jo's with Cheese on at least one occasion....
Drinks-wise, they have a pretty strong selection of draft beer, with fairly cheap pitchers during happy hour that are fairly expensive outside of that....I think I've paid $17 dollars for a pitcher of Stella, in OB? Ouch. Their mixed drinks are pretty strong, which I appreciate....more bang for your buck. :)
The roof-top is a fun place to chill with friends, but when everyone lights up it's hard to breathe and later your hair smells like smoke. Ick. Same goes for the patio, it's an attached patio to the main bar, but since it has an open roof smoking is allowed. Spend 10 minutes in that area and you'll need a shower before passing out. Again...ick. Wish smoking wasn't allowed. Â
Halloween is 5 stars every year, there is nowhere I'd rather be....everyone dresses up and really gets into the holiday, there is no cover charge and everyone dances.
Overall, the Shine gets a solid 4 stars because I've had some seriously fun nights here....and my sister met her husband here!
Who charges $1.50 for a glass of ice? This place, that's who!!
WHAT the hell's next? $10 for air?? It's FROZEN WATER, SD is surrounded by water? I know we are in a recession and all but REALLY?
Oh and let's not forget the additional charge of $1.75 to make a "TALL" captain and coke.
I will warn everyone to avoid this place like the plague and not just on here. That is just beyond ridiculous and a sure fire way to loose customers! Someone call dateline, oh and meet me at Pac shores, where the ice is free and the drinks are good, strong and cheap.
I have given this place the nickname OB Bar and Grill because it shares some similarities to the Pacifc Beach Bar and Grill only with much more of an OB vibe to it.
It is located in virtually the same location of the main strip of Newport as PBBG is located on Garnet Ave. (Both the main drags in respective neighborhoods.)
It is one of the larger sports barrish type of places in OB which is a neighborhood that is definitely much more of a hippy town.
There is dancing but not so much that there is a dance floor. Just the occasional booty shake or head bob next to a high top table.
There are a few bros but you certainly won't find as much Ed Hardy or Affliction gear as PB.
The food is about the same as you would find at PB Bar and Grill. You'll eat it but it won't knock your socks off.
The security staff is plentiful, but again more of an OB vibe to it so while there are quite a few of them, they aren't all trying to be tough guys like many PB bouncers.
The crowd while not as fun to look at as PB bar and Grill certainly much more entertaining to talk to than 21 year old SDSU kids drunk off their ass from jungle juice.
All in all I really like the Sunshine Saloon. It takes certain aspects of a PB bar that I do not like and kind of gives them an OB makeover. Â I will certainly back with a popped collar. Â JK
After just two visits, it's safe to say that I will probably never step foot in here again.
On both occasions the bar staff and security managed to get on my bad side, by being not only extremely rude but act unnecessary toward my group of friends.
Granted, I know you are used to dealing with 500 pound meat heads, but that doesn't mean you can treat a lady so.
The sad part is that the drink prices are decent, and on Sunday we ordered a 60oz pitcher of marg's for something like $20. SCORE. Â But the vibe in here, is a little to much for me.
Although I like Sunshine, this place will always remind me of one of my worst creeper experiences. That is a bold statement since my friends have proclaimed me to be a creeper magnet.
I went here with a couple of college friends on a whim after we left another bar down the street.
I got a vodka and red bull that was more like a vodka with a splash of red...hey, at least I was getting my money's worth :/
Well my friends and I grabbed some chairs and were talking for half an hour when a guy in a hoodie....with the hood on, comes up to us and put his arms around my best friend and myself. He then talked to my friend who was facing him and told her, "I like you...you are my favorite" and then turned to my best friend, "I like you to, you are shy and that's why you are my favorite" then proceded to kiss her on the cheek. My bff's face was priceless.
I tend to giggle when I am nervous. Big mistake.
He turns to me and says, "No, but you are my favorite...you have a great sense of humor" and then kiss me on the cheek. On the inside I was just creaming, "Ewwwww!!!"
My friend was in shock and didn't know what to do so she kept telling him we were just going to go. He didn't see to like this and said, "Nooooo, don't leave. If you want me to leave, just tell me." So she told him to leave.
He was gone for about 3 seconds when he decided to come back.
He tells my friend, "she's my favorite. Can I taker her with me?"
yep, he was talking about me.
He then started to grab me and pull me away. I was in shock and all I did was have a scared look in my face O_O
After I was able to break free we bolted for it.
Afterward my friend gave us anti bacterial that my bff and I put on our face where that guy given us a sloppy gross kiss.
If only there were some magic trick to make me repel creepers instead of somehow reeling them in :[
Sunshine Company takes the term "happy hour" rather seriously- it's only one hour (5-6). Â
In other news their upstairs patio has a nice view. Â Their clientele reaks of axe. Â And their bartender's aren't what you would call attentive. Â
So if you are thirsty between 5 and 6, wear axe, or want to take in a nice view while day drinking- this is your place.
Ah, OB! Â It's nice to see you again. Â When I think of Ocean Beach, the Sunshine Company always comes to mind. Â There will never be a night without the extremely overly-intoxicated weird guy that comes up to you & your friends (like the chair air guitar guy the other night), or the person who suddenly passes out and falls out of the bar stool. Â
The cool thing about this place is that it has a rooftop bar with a great view of Point Loma, Newport Ave & the beach. Â Even better though, is the tacqueria attached that serves up some great enchiladas and fish tacos.
With lots of beer on tap and an "interesting" crowd, you'll always have fun at Sunshine Co.
Walking around OB I found this place...it looked cool and was different from the other bars in the area. I mean they were playing country and being the son of a Texan...I have taken a liking to it. So I convince my friends to join me for a drink or 2. We walk in and I immediately recognize the smell....of piss and alcohol :-x...besides that the place is pretty cool. Â
The have dollar jello shooters, very cheap well prices and a good selection of beer. Not a place I would go to on a regular basis but definitely worth a look if you are in the neighborhood.
Although Sunshine Company as a bar is half-decent, the usual nightlife crowd is a bit rough around the edges. Â This bar primarily attracts three types of people...
1. Stoners
  Our hero and his friend were heading into the bar when they were accosted by a person on the sidewalk asking to borrow a light.  The end of the extended lighter was met with a spliff of premium grass.  *PUFF PUFF*  Quite a few glossy-eyed easygoing folks can be found inside as well.
2. Smokers
  If not for the smog of cigarette smoke, our hero might enjoy sitting on the open air balcony.  Also, if you sit on the 2nd floor patio long enough with a pack of cigarettes beside you, it's inevitable that some poor bro will try to bum a stick off of you (see item #3).  Perhaps repeatedly.
3. Dudes (wearing hats, usually of the flat-brimmed variety)
  'Nuff said.
PROS:
- $1 jello shots.
- Cheap pitchers of beer during happy hour 5-6 PM.
- An attached Mexican food joint that's got lots of late night eats available.
CONS:
- Dude ranch.
- Smoker haven.
- Out of state IDs don't fly with the bouncers here.
Hmm does the term meat market mean anything?
The few times I have been there it seemed to be just a bunch of dudes walking around in flat brimed hats.
I like that is very much a beachy place and there is outdoor options but not a place I would want to probably go back unless on a pub crawl with a bunch of friends or somebody had a birthday there or something.
Related- to bar's  (out of 5 possible stars)
Venue- 2
Service- 2.5
Fun factor- 2.5
Overall exp- 2.33 Stars Â
Drawbacks- A lot guys and a pain to get drinks but could be fun if you were from out of town or stumbled in with a bunch of friends.
Walking into this place, I felt like the token asian. *no offense*
We sat upstairs at the bar...started with a Tequila Sunrise.
Pretty good.
2nd was a sip of a Patron shot.
3rd was a Double Cranberry Vodka.
4th was a Sex on the Beach (THAT was yummy)
5th was another Sex on the Beach.
I give this place 3 stars because I was so drunky that everyone and everything made me laugh. Uncontrollably.
Fun place with fun people.
Check it out. :)
With a bar as big as the Sunshine Company, you'd think they'd make it a point to accept credit cards. Â Nope. Â They want you to get raped for $2 just to get some of your own hard earned cash out of their ATM. Â It ain't happening. Â Good thing I had cash to cover the Scooby Snack shooter that my homegirl Julianne wanted to buy me with her credit card. Â Delicious but she felt bad. Â (Jules, don't worry babygirl, you know I got you!)
The line for the ladies room...*sigh*... Why Sunshine Company, why, do you insist on only having 2 stalls?! Â Grrr!
Downstairs had sufficient seating areas and I think I counted 4 pool tables. Â I would have played, but I didn't want to embarrass all the guys that were playing. Â They looked like they couldn't have handled their egos being crushed by a female. Â
It was way too hot downstairs so Jules and I went upstairs to the outdoor deck. Â We get upstairs where there is another bar and a security guard in front of the outdoor deck. Â He says "Sorry ladies, it's full right now". Â So we sat at the bar with our beers and waited. Â As other people came up to try to get outside, he told them it was full and that there were other people waiting and motioned to us. Â How freakin' cool and sweet is THAT?! Â About 5 minutes later, he let us outside where it was so freaking cool out!
Beautiful deck and I bet its got a great view of the beach during the day. Â There was a gorgeous full moon out and Jules and I were much more comfortable while our friends were inside the sauna. Â
Parking can be a bit of a problem in Ocean Beach but we got lucky and found a spot right out front.
Until SC gets with the times, bring yo bills.
What's going on tonight?
Nothing.
Shine-box?
Who's going?
You know.
Cool.
And so begins another evening of drunken debauchery in sandals. The staff has been there for years. They've seen it all and still love to watch.
Big ass beers. Smoking patio. Upstairs. Pool tables. TV's. Occasionally hot girls (all of which are approachable). The occasional fight. Always seeing a neighbor. Brother Bobby Sunshine and Tall-stacks.
Seriously? What more do you need? Food? Livingston's.
I don't usually Yelp things from the past, but turning 21 came up in a conversation recently and brought back memories. I am now going to share that special day with you.
Sunshine Company was the very first bar I went to once I was really truly 21. I had been living in San Diego for all of a week, and had only made one local friend (we didn't have yelp back in those days, kiddies). Big shout out to Geoff over at The Black, for being that one local friend, who, after all of these years is still an awesome friend. He, after 5 days of knowing me, took me here for my birthday, all expenses paid.
The story went something like this;
Me (very excited to be 21 and getting the obligatory free drink I had heard so much about) - "Hi, its my 21st birthday, do I get a free drink?"
Sherry - "Um....."
Me - (grinning like the Cheshire cat)
Sherry - (after a long pause) "Listen....you don't get free drinks around here unless we know you, and since you JUST turned 21 we clearly don't know you".
Me - .........
Sherry - "Do you want something, or not?"
Me - ........
Sherry - "Well??"
Me - ......
Sherry - "Can I see your ID?"
Up comes Geoff to the rescue, buying me enough liquor to stay in my system until I was 22.
The thing is, I lived in Ocean Beach for 5 years, and came to discover that Sherry was right...and she did get to know me, and she did buy me PLENTY of drinks over those 5 years. Â This bar holds many memories of those years.
This was the scene of my friend getting arrested for attacking her ex boyfriend during the OB Street Fair, the bar where I got kicked out once for almost having a fight with the same friend (though never 86ed, God bless you Sunshine Company), the bar where I had my first random San Diego make out session, and my last.
Cool place, with an upstairs outdoor patio, and a downstairs one as well (upstairs subject to being open only when busy). They also have Livingston's Chicken right next door, with a walk up window IN the bar. And the shit is good!!
Its got a locals feel, but so does the rest of OB. Its a small beach town in a big city. This place is totally worth popping in and having a beer or two on a sunny day (and something from Livingston's once you are good and liquored).
Oh, the memories......
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