I just moved here from Ventura/ LA county area.. I'm no stranger to dive bars.. This place was horrible! I like to go during happy hour on Friday so I can get a chance to look about the place without a crowd. Don't do that here!!! Smells of old sweaty men, dirty, ridiculously small, crap drinks. I will never go back.
Review Source:As per the many other Yelp reviews, this place is the kind of old-school dive bar best appreciated with some loud music and 70s porn in the background. Hit them up whenever the Stalins of Sound are playing, and you'll be good to go. And yes, that was totally a plug for my pal's band.
Cheap drinks, loud music, a punching game for the tough guys, and an Art Deco tower to top it off. Hey, why not get a tattoo upstairs while you're there?
Cheers to making bad decisions!
The Tower Bar is a classic San Diego establishment.
Located east of the 15 on University Ave, you can't miss the colorful tower that hosts local shows, a pool table (when there are no shows), beers, drinks, and colorful characters (myself included).
At some point bartender busted out some popcorn and that just won me over.
Nothing like complimentary snacks.
Then I had an emotional breakthrough, so if you wanna talk about safe space to drink some booze and get all emotional and shit, this is it. Cause I was feeling vulnerable, tipsy, and a little raw, but then there was popcorn and I was like, "I'm glad I came here."
Thanks for the memories and the popcorn.
Will I come back?
Of course. How could I not? It's the fucking Tower Bar.
This place is great. Strong drinks at a cheap price. I want to thank the bar tender who took the time to fish my phone out of the girls bathroom. Granted i was quite inebriated..so he didn't even have to give me the time of day. Â That guy was amazing and I'm totally going to buy him a shot the next time I go in there. Unfortunately I dont remember his name but he's the brunette bar tender with long hair in a back pony tail and a sick beard. Thanks again dude!
Review Source:The perfect little dive bar! We came here for a friends birthday on a saturday night and as soon as we walked in we knew we were going to have a blast. It's roomy but had a lot of people. ! The atmosphere was really laid back and there was a nice mix of fun people. The drinks were cheap and strong and the bartenders were great. Quick and polite. Even though there were a lot of people, I didn't have to wait long to get my drink.
Love this spot!
This is as good as it gets. You can't do better, you can only do things differently.
Obviously they aren't try to appeal to any demographic but their own; and they do it just right. The bar is small, and I like that. Watching bands play here is an intimate experience because you're so close you can literally touch them.
They also have the punching game which is MY FAVORITE.
$4 shots of jameson makes my evening just right.
This place. OH. MY. GOD.
So yes, I've only been in there once in my life. After driving past it for years and always being curious, I bit the bullet one Friday night and did it. And... it was totally f*cking worth that three dollar cover- this place is pure magic.
The crowd- super diverse, and I mean that in a "holy crap, how are people here not killing each other but actually having a good time together" kind of way, not the "it's a small world" kind of way. I don't know if it's always like that, or if it was just because the night's theme was "Punk Vs. Hip Hop," but it was cra-mazing (Crazy Amazing- yes I made up a word because it was that good). Â You had Mexican punk rockers straight from the pages of a Love and Rockets comic dancing in the mini mosh pit with white college girls as Asian American hip hop heads kicked it in the back next to the steampunk girl and stovepipe hat guy ordering drinks at the bar. Where else in SD could you find a crowd like this, in such a tiny bar too?!
Also, did I mention that Jameson on the rocks was $4? FOUR FREAKING DOLLARS. So yeah... that may actually be the secret to everyone's happiness at Tower Bar. Whatever it is, this place is a wonderland of weird, and I love it.
Yo, I totes felt like I was in a scene from 8 Mile last Friday at The Tower Bar. It was Rock Vs. HipHop night and the guys were battling! It was fun.
I was a little disappointed that there was no old skool porn playing on the wall. I was told that Tower usually plays black/white porn on the screen, but I guess I came on a special night...no pornz ;( Â
The people were super cool to me, but I think it's because I was there with a Rock Star.
Good Times!
Why would you go somewhere else?
You wanna go to a club so you can dance? Come here, everyone dances. Not to Kanye though, that sucks.
You wanna pay $10 for a drink at a swanky rooftop bar? Come here, cheap drinks and everyone is so super swanky.
You're really into the Mayan calander? Come here, Ryan the door guy will literally school you on that shit. Free education!
You like softcore vintage porn but are too embarrassed to tell your friends? Come here. It's on da tv.
You wanna pay $20 for parking so you can walk to a club you get to wait an hour in line for? Come here, parking is free and if there's a show, you'll probably never pay more than $5.
You wanna sing really badly to some shitty Journey song? Good, go the fuck somewhere else.
I don't want babies. Not right now at least. I don't want to have to tap into my beer monies for diapers and formula and Osh Kosh B'gosh threads. no dice.
No babies. Â
They are like little, smelly people.
Thats all they are. little people.
They just stare at you, draining your soul like little psychic vampires.
*makes sign of the cross with fingers.
Babies are just little poo factories.
They never know when to STFU.
That being said...the only inspiration I have encountered thus far to make babies, is so I can buy my baby a little tower bar T shirt. That's the only reason.
Outside of that, the only other way iI would prematurely bring a baby into this world would be by way of broken condom, which would kinda be cool because that would make my baby a .001%'er. Â He'd be an ultracriminal. Â Takin' names.
This is the best bar in the universe. Â They are right down the street from my house, I can walk there if I have a large enough group with me to not get jumped, and when I've crashed my bike by myself coming home way too tanked, no one ran over me! Â What more could you possibly want??
In all seriousness though, I could repeat what has been said. Â Yes, there is porn/absinthe/leather boots/loud bands/bad pool table/bad neighborhood don't be stupid/Pabst Smears/popcorn. Â Â There are also Bloody Marys with Guinness. Â There is also a bartender who will spin Electric Wizard on vinyl for you xmas day. Â There is the universal truth that this place will save your life in a hangover. Â Half the time the jukebox is free, and it has Django Reinhardt! Â Who has that?! Â
But more than that, this bar has a feeling of community, history, and connectedness. Â It feels like a family, like a fucking punk rock "Cheers". Â This is the only bar I go to on a regular basis when I'm not going to/playing a show, the only place I would consider for a nightcap, my destination when I have one five-spot left. Â The owner is one of the nicest and coolest people ever, the staff are the raddest staff of any service establishment in San Diego, and everyone is down to earth and ready to have a good time. Â
When I came here on New Years Day, everyone in the bar was hugging everyone else, and standing shots of whiskey for the regulars. Â That's the kind of place this is....
Tower Bar is not for the light-hearted nor people who fancy the downtown pretentious vibe.
I would have to say that Tower Bar is becoming one of my favorite places: cheap beer, rockin' music, good friends...and entertaining porn. Â It's that simple. Â If you want a bar with polished floors, well-groomed people, $12 drinks, and a bathroom attendant wiping your ass, then don't come to Tower Bar.
One of these days, I hope to get another tattoo at the upstairs parlor...
Ok...i can't declare I am a fan since I was tithering between 3 or 4 stars on reviewing the bar. Â Like most dive bars, you don't expect much but you also get to see new things.
Checklist:
Small and dank bar - Check
Various Characters (not sketchy but different) - Check
Cheap to Standard to Draft Beers n Mixed drinks - Check
Pricing - reasonable - Check
Bathroom - Did nt check this but my friend Jen said the women's bathroom is clean - Super Check
Music - Rock, Punk, Rockabilly - Check
BBQ outside with the smoke coming in..- Check  but Rossi cooks a mean Carne asada hot dog (got a taste but Roger can review it)
The location itself is somewhere I have not been to before, City Heights and the bar itself _ Towers among the neighborhood. Â As our friend Jen said, I didn't know it was East of 805 then when i saw her, I said Jen its farther east, its east of the 15 (around Euclid/University).
Came here to see Rossi and a couple of bands. Â Made it to the first two but my ears are not attuned to loud music for long periods of time. Â I had a good time with the group that were there (fellow Yelpers unite!).
Overall, I wouldn't be scared to come again. Parking is neighborhood, although they do have a small lot. Â I think for an early show, I was comfortable to be here. Â I don't know about later in the evening.
I should have taken a picture of the Tower, interesting landmark in City Heights!
P.S. Â Videos played on the TV hilarious but for ADULTS only. Â I have seen worse, this was more exploitation stuff with nudity (probably rated R for violence not sex). Â Saw an animated talking D*ck on one of the movies, even in my experience of a lot of dive bars, this was hilarious!
"girls dont wear shorts in this neighborhood after the sun goes down."
...my friend whispered to me as i entered tower in jean shorts and heels. i kind of gave a blank stare to the obvious shock my outfit caused. hey, i was just embracing the warm evenings we were beginning to have. it somehow slipped by me when looking up the address that i was entering the heights (def not part of my routine hangout spots) - and my outfit was actually more appropriate "work attire" than "hang out at a bar and look cute, attire."
oops.
in an attempt to hide my embarrassment and newfound discomfort, i grabbed a seat at the bar and asked for a vodka soda...$3.50..i ate free popcorn that suddenly made an appearance in front of me, i watched B&W foreign porn...i sipped a friends absinthe...i did not like, blegh....i took pictures like a good yelper does.
then i ran back to my car before i could get any unwanted business :-|
i think i can cross tower bar off my list now...
"Review of the Tower Bar"
-- or --
"David and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamschlong"
--------------------------------------------------Â-------------------------------
I'd driven by the Tower Bar countless times, wondering what kind of sketchy goings-on could be found inside this mysterious and colorful phallus on the corner of Euclid and University.
Last weekend, I had a chance to find out.
Sadly, the answer is "not a whole lot".
The truth is, the Tower bar is like a Monet painting. Â It looks cool from far away, but it's a jumbled mess when viewed close up.
Sure, the bartenders are nice, and the drinks are relatively cheap, but I'd be lying if I said that the Tower is a place that I'm eager to visit again.
The vibe is very mellow, but there's all this random broken Target furniture strewn about, and the place could use a once-over with Windex. Â There's also a stage, but no music was playing on the night that I visited. Â
A tattoo parlor is upstairs, at the base of the shaft of the tower. Â If you listen closely, you can almost hear the needles whirring.
They also play '50-era novelty porn. Â It's more awkward than sexy. Â :-/
Oh -- the Tower supposedly has the most comprehensive absinthe collection in town.  I won't touch absinthe with a ten-foot pole, but it might be a good option for all of you fans of "la fée verte".
Definitely an eclectic destination.
Best bar in San Diego, always the fall back bar if something else ends up being boring. Â The bartenders are always on point. Â The drinks are stiff, the tall cans are cold. Â There's a celebrity working the door. Â The decor is a bunch of rad old beer stuff. Â There's titty flicks playing on the tv. Â The bands are good, but the sound system sucks. Â Show nights are never that expensive, you won't pay 8 bucks for 4 local hipster bands here. Â The DJ's here are some of the best when it comes to Rock n Roll, Punk, and Garage. The bathroom has that proper dive bar amount of filth.
Thursday nights they have an eating contest. Â Winner gets a $30 bar tab. Â It's super fun.
"Have you ever been to Tower Bar?"
"No, but I've always wanted to."
This is usually the conversation one has concerning Tower Bar. Yet, this is also the conversation concerning Tower Bar that is usually repeated 500 times over the course of 5 years.
Finally, my friend and I venture here after, yes, having that conversation for the 501st time. The atmosphere is very divey, but clean and not a hooker in sight (at least not on the inside). Cheap drinks, nice clientele, and dogs are allowed! We spent about 30 minutes talking to a couple with the cutest pugs. So if you bring your dog here, be warned, that people will bother you. The bartender also keeps a binder of the history of Tower Bar- Amazing!
There was also a cardboard cut-out of a man (possibly and possibly hopefully David Hassellhoff) in the women's bathroom. This way, I was startled back to sobriety when I left the women's bathroom, all ready for another round of drinks.
Regarding the bathroom, I would like to point out that if the toilet doesn't flush all the way, you HOLD DOWN the handle until it does! I cannot stress this enough. It is pretty much a universal bathroom rule at bars!
Anyway, what are you waiting for? Go to Tower Bar already!
Yeah, tall can of PBR, a back of beam and can I get a little rock-n-roll with that?
Whenever I walk into this bar I always feel a little more rock-n-roll. Â I get that "welcome to awesometown, usa." feeling. Â Love this place. Granted I am normally a step away from 3 sheets upon entering and if not, my friends ensure that I soon arrive to that spot.
If you want a little dirt in your life. You have a desire to flashback to an old style rocker bar. You wanna see some good bands and not have any attitude thrown your way. Actually, I take that back. You might get some attitude. This place reeks of attitude. But then...you should have a spine and be able to handle it. It's cool. Just hang out.
Sundays are normally tits. They occasionally have bands play or Marcus spins a pretty fluid mix of everything rock-n-roll. This all coincides with a little parking lot BBQ. Just plain ol' fashion good times.
Tower bar is pretty cool, they have lots of variety of live bands, it's a bit packed, so dress in clothing that is not super warm so you can step onto to the dancefloor and get your jazzercize on!
I got the yelp deal when I was there which was a while ago. It was an $8 dripped through sugar cube Absinthe with the YELP deal Friday night, I love this place and whoever books the bands. Ah-mazing.
It was a mod night, and people were dressed appropriately but it's not necessary to do so. If you were a t-shirt and jeans and didn't look dressed up, you'd fit in fine. If you dressed up you might feel weird, I'm just sayin'.
I love you Tower Bar. You are by far my favorite bar in San Diego. I wish other bars could be more like you Tower Bar. Your prices are cheap, your drinks are stiff, your staff is fun and friendly, and the people who frequent you are generally good people.
Interesting, eclectic and fun crowds, cheap drinks. Great music and great energy. Love it love it love it!
I used to be a Monday night regular before Lady Dottie and the Diamonds jumped ship for U-31.
This bar was always hopping and the crowd was a bridge mix of nuts and chews-rockabilly, be-bop, rockers and mods.
It's grown quiet these days, despite a reasonably priced strong-pour cocktail and excellent off-the-grid DJs like Old Man Johnson on Friday nights. He plays a great selection of 60's soul that has the few regulars dancing on their stools.
The owner is a star and the bar hasn't lost one bit of it's unconventional appeal, it just seems to have lost it's patrons.
It's one of the only bars in San Diego that you can catch random softcore porn (Russ Meyer and his bobbing boobs of thunder) or kitschy 80's dance classics . (Breakin'!!!!!)
Come on back kids, don't let the Tower die.
You need to park your car where you can see it your car for two reasons:
ONE- so you can make sure it doesn't get stolen.
TWO- as you are constantly watching your car you get to see every pimp, junkie, hooker, crackhead, car thief, wino, tranny, drug dealer...
I guessing some of the patrons may not get this full effect as they are:
*Likely Homeless
*Don't own a car/Ride the bus
"Dude, you are going to die here of alcohol poisoning while watching softcore porn."
These words coming out of a friend's mouth were one of our hero's last memories here on a Saturday night. Â Sailor Jerry's rum was being given away for free against the backdrop of softcore biker porn on the projection screen.
The interior seemed like something Frank Gehry drew on the back of a napkin while drunk off his rocker. Â Even though Tower Bar's namesake tower has been removed, it's still fairly easy to spot on the street corner. Â With no security and 3 exits, it seemed like a place that was just as easy to escape from as it was to get in to.
To get a sense of the atmosphere of this place, 24 oz cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon aren't referred to as "tall boys" (as they often are called by hipsters), but rather they are called "man cans." Â They are quite proud of serving PBR, Hamm's, Schlitz, and other beverages with a grade of "C" or less on <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbeeradvocate.com&s=69ccad0f4f407b7236cbf14861ffdd180a60bf26545e8f72ba757fc3dd7f1354" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://beeradvocate.com</a>.
Luckily, our hero didn't die here; however, he was questioned by police officers when he left whether he witnessed a fight between some Somalians in the street by the bar. Â This is definitely one dive bar that you will leave with some stories and with more hair on your balls (which you will need to come here).
PROS:
- Cheap, strong drinks.
- $2 man cans of PBR and well drinks every Tuesday, along with competitive eating contests as well.
- A truly authentic dive bar feel, complete with a picnic table right in the middle of the bar and a pinball machine that could be from the 60's.
CONS:
- Located in a shady neighborhood.
- Balls in their pinball machine often get stuck, requiring a little nudge.
- The structural rigidity of the architecture is questionable. Â Load-bearing supports are crooked and look as if they could collapse at any moment.
Could it be that I love this place more than i have without Lady Dottie? Â Please dont get me wrong i like Lady Dottie, but i LOVE me the Tighten Ups better!
This review is not about Cover Bands, but the Lack there of at the Tower.
Monday nights its Don, Myself and Sexploitation movies, and all the other regulars. Â The Jukebox is blaring out some rockin' fucken tunes! Â Shots of Jack and a PBR tallboy stand by my side the whole night... Â Sometimes I would avoid the Tower on mondays. i didnt want to see the same band over and over and over again, Â I had to start going else. Â but now im back! Â woot woot! Â
on the side note:
If Rockers went to heaven it would look just like the Tower Bar!
It takes a LOT to give a 5 star review to a bar located in one of the scariest neighborhoods in town that has no toilet seat in the men's room (why should I care anyway?) The thing is, this is the only bar in town where you can strike up a conversation with some rather interesting people, listen to great music, partake in an eating contest, and watch soft porn on TV while getting sh*tfaced at the same time.
It's totally worth the venture into Cracksville- but ladies, if you need to go outside for a smoke, do so with a guy- or else you WILL be mistaken for a hooker by whatever crackhead, trucker, or Republican happens to be driving down the street at the time.
let me give you fellas the hi-lights:
Pabst blue ribbon, served in a tall can for dirt cheap
1960's sexploitation flicks on the tv
a lot of cute girls
here is how it usually goes wrong:
when i am looking at a cute girl in the Tower, she is looking back at a guy (me) who is drinking PBR out of a tall can and been staring at boobs on tv all night...not exactly her prince charming.
i guess its true what they say about having too much of a good thing...but i still like the tower. it is free of the Pacific Beach, bro-meatbag types. Â good music and alot of cool people.
This bar reminds me why San Diego kicks so much ass.
I caught Los Sweepers at the Johnny Rad Fest last night. Total fun, yea, totally. It's one kick ass thing to see a bunch of greasy punks passing a liter of rum, purse hidden, around in the dance-pants audience ... and then three levels more kick ass to see the band take a few swigs. This is fucking rock n roll.
My drink couldve used more bite potion, tasted more like the chaser. The walls were covered head to toe with old fashioned ornaments and eye buzzing delights. The bar has been around some 80 years. Great place to get wasted and watch the world spin.
The neighborhood is not downtown, not la jolla, not the "new" north park, not hipcrest, it's not the beach. It's eastside. Deal with it, pussy.
I tell you what, the owner is great, the bartenders are great, the bathroom is always fully stocked with toilet paper.
Go here for Lady Dottie and the Diamonds. Â Forget spin class or yoga or salsa or whatever the heck - dance your muffin top off right here, ladies. Â Oh, my. Â The drinks are cheap, the tenders are quick to notice when you want one, and the music is poppin'. Â Okay, so you've got to like soul and funk. Â On the up side, there are always cops roaming the streets. Â On the down side, there are always cops roaming the streets because some sort of shit is always going down in Uni Heights like a shooting or a hold up or domestic abuse.
Anyway. Â Go on Monday nights. Â Meet Frank, the doorman, as well as Johnny and Danielle and that other guy I never order a drink from simply because I order a drink immediately upon entering the joint and don't get to that end of the bar.
Ladies, if you're bringing your boy, don't get mad at him for gawking at the two televisions that are playing soft core porn-ish videos. Â Hell, you should be watching them too if at least just for the helluvit.
Men, if you're going with your lady, try not to gawk at the two televisions that are playing soft core porn-ish videos. Â And if you are going to gawk, be proud of yourself! Â You're a man.
I was so wasted..............
I was a hippie
I was a burnout
I was a dropout I was out of my head
I was a surfer
I had a skateboard
I was so heavy man, I lived on the strand
I was so wasted
PUNK ROCK WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
I had never been to the Tower Bar but realized upon entry that I would have dug the fuck out of this place when I was 14. When we got there, I showed my ID and immediately got a stamp on the inside of my wrist that said FUCKTARD.... PUNK ROCK WOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I noticed that my Volcom hoodie was pegging me for a square or a bro so I took it off the instant I stepped up to the bar. I was only wearing a beater underneath so it allowed me to show off all my tattoos and immediately gain unanimous acceptance. To stick with the vibe, I got a miller high life and started talking really loud so that everyone around me could hear how punk rock I was.
A girl that was as tall as me with a chest piece tattoo was eyeing me from across the room. I looked over and she started to approach where I was sitting.
Girl: YOU COME HERE OFTEN!!
Me: WHAT ABOUT POSSUMS!!!
Girl: WANNA GO OUTSIDE?
Me: WHY? I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY!!!
Girl: YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE!!!
Me: WHAT!!!
Then we left... This place is fun... I'll be back...
The Tower Bar.
This is located in one of my favoritest areas in San DIego. Â Funky, grimy, and with some really good little places.
Tower is one.
First off, the place has about 1,000,000 things going for it because the owner is named Mick. Â Me personally, that is important. Â Mick's are really cool. Â Can't think of a Mick that is not. Â Seriously.
That is not that important, though, to most. Â The place is a GREAT. Â It has a sense of timelessness and is blessed with a sensation of both hope and resignation ... a nice blend for a bar. Â On different days I drift from one to the other, so it is an accurate reflection of my moods and I can feel at home here no matter what.
The place serves good drinks, is relaxed and friendly, and has little pretense. Â Pool tables, bar stools, beers and drinks.
Good place to drink.
Many things to like about the Tower Bar
1. Ballenas of Tecate
2. Live Music
3. Cheap Prices
4. Funky interior
5. Interesting People Watching
This place might be in a dicey neighborhood, and it might be packed full of hipsters that would make the denizens of the Mission in SF blush with the way they squeeze into skinny pants and the way they massacre their hair, but at the end of the day, it's just a fun bar with good prices and the crowd isn't overly smarmy. I recommend coming here for a live show.
The best dive bar in San Diego, close, comfy, dirty and a little stiffling. Â What more could you ask for? Â Oh yeah, tons of Shlitz adds everywhere, some cool hot rods in the parking lot, a tattoo parlour upstairs and an excellent boxing machine.
Not to mention some of the funniest drink specials in town, including the famous Pabst Smear
Lady Dottie and The Diamonds play here on Monday nights. You know the movie Dirty Dancing? Remember the part where Baby carries the watermelons up the steps and ends up at the dance party ???
that is what this place is like. except cooler.
People really whip out their dancing shoes here.
You must love a classic dive bar that has Pabst Blue Ribbon in total abundance. Â I've only gone on Monday nights to see Lady Dottie adn the Diamonds, a 50's-60's rock/r&b/soul fusion band of white nerdy guys fronted by a 50-ish year old black woman, the incomparable Lady Dottie, whose fevered growls, brilliant voice, and smokin' moves only incite the silly SD hipsters that flock to this tiny yet AMAZING dive.
Now, let me just say, as a 'Halfrican,' i like to think that i possess a modicum of rhythm. Â Equally acknowledging my Caucasian heritage, i know it's just a little rhythm, but I can dance. Â But for the life of me, I don't understand how the long haired, tight-pants wearing hipster emo tragic crowd can make these weird spastic movements--that totally work to the beat of Lady Dottie's traditional soul grooves. Â It's mesmerizing. Â If my gorgeous friend hadn't told me to dance with her, I'd have stayed up against the bar, sipping a cool PBR watching these hipsters and this beautiful aging soul goddess in utter bemusement.
Check it out. Â The Tower is a San Diego landmark, and it's a legend in the making.
"Long Beach Hoe's."
A friend had to work out here this weekend and had a hotel....So seven of us crammed in her suite and were ready for some "out of town" points.
Someone recommended the tower bar...So we went...I saw an amazing band that I fortunately got to see in Long Beach the next day...The drinks here are cheap, and The door guy used to live in long beach, so he let me in even though I lost my ID at the Live Wire bar.
(For long beach residents, this place is a mix between Alex's and the V room...Just a little smaller)
But here is the best part of the story...
We didnt feel like taking a cab back to the hotel...So my friend found some dudes to take us...These were the biggest bro's I've ever met in my life...They were so lame it was retarded...Dont get me wrong...At 2 in the morning, Im pretty easy to impress...If you're funny, and cool, then we can all be friends. Bro or no Bro...These guys were not funny, or cool....We had to kick them out of the hotel after they drank all our beer, ordered porn, and told racist jokes that werent close to being funny...
When we went to the car the next day there were 2 notes left for us.
"your pussy smells"
"long beach hoes"
And they're creative too! Thanks for making those letters the best ending to a mediocre trip out of the LBC.
Needless to say, no out of town points were scored that weekend.
So I finally made it out to the Tower Bar. Â It's odd that I hadn't been there before, seeing my affection-bordering-devotion to dive bars, decaying buildings, live music, and cheap beer, but somehow I was unaware of all the Tower has to offer.
Anyway, last Saturday Apes of Wrath, Vitro, and Sus Hijos were playing there, so you know I had to show. Â And I wasn't disappointed. Â The sound is loud and decent--I suppose it'd have to be to keep Lady Dottie and the Diamonds coming back. Â
The bar is decorated with classic beer ads and other vintage bar accoutrements. Â When I was there the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling were playing on the televisions above the bar--to my overwhelming joy. Â Apparently quirky and cultish DVDs are kind of their 'thing' these days. Â
The crowd is exactly what you'd expect in a rock'n'roll dive bar in San Diego--heavy on the Rockabilly and wannabe rockabilly crowd, with a healthy dash of hipsters, quasi-punks and other 20- and 30-somethings of a general dif-dif persuasion. Â I personally had the good fortune of being there with an area native who had actually climbed to the top of the original tower before it was demolished, and gave me a cool first-hand history lesson of the bar and the tower's history.
I'd say it was an overall 3-star experience, but I'm adding a star for potential, and because they are planning to rebuild the actual tower, which will rule. Â And also because they sell tall-boy beer coozies that say Tower Bar on one side and "I'm With Stupid ^" on the other. Â Awesome!
Freakin' Tower Bar. I love this place and I have a good group of friends who are loyal Tower Bar costumers.
I first came here on a Monday at 11:15 p.m. and I didn't know what to expect. The bar is kinda in a shady part of town, it is east of the 15 freeway and I don't go east of the 15 freeway that often. I got into Tower, and to my surprise, the place was going off like no other. The best rock band was playing and the small dance floor was packed with people gettin' down to the music. Tower is awesome because you can dance right in front of the musicians and the bands that play there play their music good and loud. The drinks I got were pretty strong and they affordable and the crowd at the bar was eclectic, but I got the impression that everyone there seemed that they were on the up and up, even the middle-aged, single dudes who came out to Tower Bar. Â
There aren't that many watering holes in SD where you can go and have a blast and listen to really great live music on a Monday night, but you can do all those things at the Tower bar.
The location of the bar is a bit isolated, but there is more energy here on a Monday, then some of the best downtown night clubs on a Saturday night. Â
The only thing is, getting up on a Tuesday morning is pretty rough after spending a Monday night dancing and drinking at the Tower Bar.
Quite frankly, you cannot beat the Tower Bar on Mondays. Lady Dottie & the Diamonds bring down the house with old rock and soul covers and the crowd loves every minute of it. You seriously need to see Mondays to believe them, it's seriously one of the absolute best things to do in San Diego every week. Bring your dancing shoes and come prepared to sweat.
They get great bands in there on other nights as well, and do what sounds like a pretty hilarious eating contest on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays, I forget.
But make sure you check out Dottie on a Monday. Do it!
AV
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
