Dancing in San Diego

The Alley
Carlsbad Village
Spy Report - May 31, 2009 - This is across the railroad tracks from Coyote. It's a somewhat younger crowd but usually a good rock band on Friday and Saturday night. When the band shuts down at Coyote you can move over to The Alley.

Bayview Restaurant at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) - use Gate 4.
My spies in the field (thank you Nick) inform me that there is live music here, with mostly seniors (and up, lol). Formerly an officer's club. Swing, Foxtrot, etc. This place was invaded by the San Diego Swing Cats on March 24, 2006 and I heard much fun was had by all - live swing music by "The Recruits".

Belly Up
143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach, CA 92075 (map)
(858) 481-8140 (box office)
I've been here a few times but before I started dancing. Popular venue with cover charge. Always room for some dancing; music varies considerably

Belo
919 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 (map)
Restaurant, Bar. DJ'd - "house, hip hop, R&B, mash-ups and 80s'" - sounds like there may be some much needed Hustle music here. To be investigated.
Dance in the "electric green room" or relax in the "moody more intense red room".

Bing Crosby's Restaurant & Piano Bar
Fashion Valley Shopping Center
7007 Friars Rd
San Diego, CA 92108
Late October 2008 spy report said there was a live Swing Band on Wednesday with some people dancing. Every Wednesday with Sue Palmer every other week.
Visited November 12, 2008 - Excellent venue / atmosphere - no formal dance floor, dancers occupied small areas between tables and the stage vying with wait staff for space. Floor slightly sticky, but overall I recommend this place for the swing (Jitterbug) enthusiast.

Cafe Sevilla
555 Fourth Ave., San Diego, CA 92101 (Gaslamp district) (map)
Open 5:00pm - 2:00am, 7 days a week
My spies say popular for late night Latin dancing
Salsa dancing past midnight Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday with live music, come early for a free dance lesson (8:30 PM by Valerie)
Sunday - starts at 6:30PM with a dance class (switches from Cha-Cha to Bachata to Merengue); live band at 8:00PM. Cover $8.00 - includes the dance class & a Tapas buffet (until 7:30 PM).

Carvers Steaks and Chops
11940 Bernardo Plaza Drive, San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 485-1262
Bar & Lounge Hours of Operation
M-F 11:30-close | Sat-Sun 4:30-close
Happy Hour | M-F 2-6:30
Spy report received 2/17/2009 - The lounge at Carvers steakhouse in Rancho Bernardo is a great place for Friday / Saturday night dancing, also classic rock. A little more upscale, no cover charge, slightly older crowd (30-60). Small dance floor but we make do. Friday night is overflowing with a lot of single people. Don't expect to get a seat on Friday night unless you get there at 6:00 and eat dinner in the lounge. Bands start at 8PM but the first set (dinner set) can be somewhat subdued depending on the band. If you don't want to eat and don't mind standing and mingling 9PM is a good time to get there.
Spy report received 2/2/2010 - The dance floor is so miniscule to even be considered as a dance venue. The band was good, contemporary, we left right away to get a real dance experience.

Ciao Bella Caffe Bar e Ristorante
5263 Baltimore Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942 (map) (Calendar)
619-337-0238
Monday evening - 9-10:30pm - Tango
Tuesday evening - 8:30-11:30pm - West Coast Swing, DJ - Brick (this night has its own website, see here) Tuesday March 6, 2007 Spy Report - edited: Dance floor is a good size for a small restaurant - room for 12-16 WCS dancers. Dancers started to come in at 8:45-9:00 and most were from Starlight's intermediate WCS class. Age 20s-50s total of 10 girls and 8 guys. No cover charge. The DJ's music was good, mostly West Coast Swing, some Night Club 2 Step, a Cha-Cha and Salsa. All the women I asked to dance were friendly and more advance than me, also younger (I am in my mid 50's and have 2 years of WCS). I left at 11:00pm. This is a good place for a dinner and dance date. Not a good place for a single beginner, unless you know some of the people. The owners said on Thursday there are more advance dancers (including some dance teachers). You too can be a spy, just email me with your experience!

I visited for the first time on Tuesday July 3, 2007 - The March Spy Report was pretty accurate - Brick's music is excellent. Some advanced to very advanced dancers here, quite a few whom I recognized from elsewhere. Visited again on a Tuesday on December 2, 2008 - More intermediate dancers here, compared to the very advanced Thursday dancers.
Wednesday evening - 8:30-10:30 pm - Tango
Thursday evening - 8:30-11:30pm - West Coast Swing. Visited on Thursday July 12, 2007 - Very advanced West Coast Swing dancing here, drawing good dancers from out of town. Visited June 19, 2008 first visit in a long time; place still rocks with some of the most advanced WCS anywhere.
Friday evening
- 1st and 3rd and 5th Fridays - 9:30pm-12:30am - "Corner Boogie" - East Coast Swing, Lindy, Balboa. Visited on Friday September 7, 2007 - Pretty much Lindy the whole time; just watched as Lindy is still on my "to learn" list. Dancers mostly in their 20's and 30's, some older.
- 2nd Fridays - "Blue Bella" Blues and Soul dancing - 9pm -1am
- 4th Fridays - 9:30pm-11:30pm - Hustle - Ron DJ; preceded by Beginning or Intermediate lesson by David Nguyen 9:00-9:30pm - Visited August 24, 2007 - Had a nice time, more women than men, considerable range of dancers.
Saturday evening - check the Calendar
Sunday evening - 8-11pm - East Coast Swing and lesson.

Clays La Jolla (formerly Elario's Bistro & Sky Lounge)
7955 La Jolla Shores Drive, San Diego (La Jolla), CA 92037 (map) (Calendar - Click on "Jazz")
Hotel La Jolla, 11th floor
858-551-3620
Wednesday 6-10pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, some nights to midnight - Live Jazz or Latin Jazz. Note: occasionally this venue will be reserved for private parties, check the website or call to make sure the place is open to the public!
There is a small dance floor - I have yet to check it out

Club Caribe (website takes a while to load)
5080 Bonita Rd., Bonita, CA 91902 (map)
619-472-2400
8pm 1:30am (2 dance floors) dress to impress, 18 on up
Thursday evening - Reggaeton / Hip hop.
Friday evening - Lady's night
Saturday evening - Rebentón Tropical - Merengue, Salsa, Bachata, Reggae

Club 66
901 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92101 (map)

Coyote
Carlsbad Village
Spy report - May 31, 2009 - this is a favorite destination in the summertime because the band and dance floor are outside. The management always seems to find great bands and during the summer the place can get so crowded that people are dancing in aisles and on the sidewalk. Bands play most nights except karaoke nights which I think are Monday and Tuesday. Sunday night is jazz night. Otherwise expect rock, R&B and reggae. If you want a seat here it's highly recommended that you get there early in the evening to get a seat. They serve good Mexican food and there's a full bar.

Decos
731 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 (map)
Dress to impress and bring $
One cover charge for three dance rooms: Latin, Hip Hop and Progressive
Thursday-Saturday

Etta's Place
6179 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92103
Blues - Sundays, 4-8PM

Excelsior
1025 Prospect St. #210, San Diego (La Jolla), CA 92037
Dress fashionably
Various music - Jazz, Salsa, Hip-Hop, Electronica

Firehouse
La Jolla YMCA Firehouse
7877 Herschel Ave., San Diego (La Jolla), CA 92037 (map)
(858) 459-1640
Tuesday evening - Salsa: From Tracy August 16, 2009: There is a salsa night at the La Jolla Firehouse every Tuesday night. I have heard that it is the same crowd as at the La Jolla Marriott, except that it is open to 18+ (or maybe it's all ages).
Lindy Hop dancing Thursday evenings (produced by CafeSavoy).
Live music 1st and 3rd Friday evening, not sure on the kind of music or sponsor link.

Four Points Sheraton
8110 Aero Drive, San Diego, CA 92123 (map)
(858) 277-8888
Thursday evening - Discontinued Salsa: From Tracy, August 16, 2009: La Jolla's A Time To Dance studio hosts a salsa party every Thursday night at the Four Points Sheraton on Aero Drive. Dancing usually starts at nine, right after the lesson, and concludes a little before midnight.
Saturday evening - From Carl, January 20, 2010: Went to 4 points Sheraton to dance on a nice large wood floor in an enclosed room by itself and a bar but were told that they have scaled back to only Saturday nights for now.

Henry's Pub
618 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92101 (Gaslamp district) (Calendar)
(619) 238-2389
Tuesday evening - Rockabilly & Swing, "Stilettos" 9:30pm-1:30am, no cover
Friday evening - Funky Disco / Eighties / Top 40, "Good Times" 9:30pm-1:30am, $5.00 cover after 9:30pm
Saturday evening - Dance, Funk, Soul, Rock & Roll, DJ'd, 9:30pm-1:30am, $5.00 cover after 9:30pm
Scoped out July 18, 2005, good size line to get in on Monday; most other places in the Gaslamp district are pretty slow on Mondays.

House of Blues
1055 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92101 (Gaslamp district)
Bar, Restaurant, Music Hall
December 4, 2006 - Saw the "Fab Four" a super excellent Beatles tribute band. The concert area is standing only, cement floor, seating costs more and is not as close as the stand area. Didn't see any dancing during this concert. I suspect any dancing here is of the open free style kind.

Humphrey's by the Bay (click on "Backstage Music Club" to get more info) (Calendar)
2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA, 92106 (map)
Live music every evening, expect a cover charge each evening, except Mondays usually no cover.
Note: This is a large sprawling complex of buildings so you may have to ask for directions to the Backstage Music Club (formerly Backstage Lounge)
First visited May 30, 2005, place was packed and the smallish dance area limited movement.
• September 2007 - I visited on a Saturday for a birthday party - nice crowd, great band, dance floor too crowded for partner dancing.

In Cahoots
5373 Mission Center Rd., San Diego, CA 92108 (map) (Calendar)
(619) 291-1184
Mostly Country dancing
Spy Reports: Popular location for country dancing.
• June 2007 Spy Report: Free dance classes 6:30-8pm Tuesday through Saturday. Partner and line dancing. Waltz, Jitterbug Swing, 2 Step, and Cowboy Cha-Cha are the most repeated couples dances.
• July 2007 Spy Report: The action seems to have shifted to Friday and Saturday nights. The last times I've attended on Thursdays activity has been a bit slow, this could simply be summer slow down though. Still, an uncrowded floor was nice for a change. There also seems to be an increase in the number of West Coast Swing Dancers. They generally stake out the corners during the right music. Night Club Two Step now appears on the teaching calendar, usually on the last lesson day of the month.

Jimmy Loves
672 Fifth Ave., San Diego, CA 92101 (Gaslamp district), CA 92037 (map) (Calendar)
Live music / dancing every night. Tuesday "Jazz & Rhythm and Blues", Wednesday "Dinner Jazz"; Fridays and Saturdays Disco / Top 40

Kava Lounge
812 Kettner Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101
Soul Swing every 1st and 3rd Wednesday (produced by CafeSavoy).
Street Swing on Sunday evenings
Other music other nights.

Lucky Star
3893 54th St. (southeast corner of 54th & University), San Diego, CA 92105 (map)
(619) 229-8228
Ballroom themed Chinese restaurant with a large dance floor for a restaurant, complete with lots of disco lights.
Monday - 6-9:30pm - DJ'd music - "Ballroom, Big Band, Salsa, etc." Cover charge $3 and one drink.
Thursday - 7-9:30pm - Moonlight Serenade Orchestra (big band) plays American standards, Swing, Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha and maybe an American Tango, Salsa, Mambo, etc. The "all volunteer" big band may be out of tune at times, but fun is had by all! Cover charge $6.00 and one drink.
First visited July 14, 2005, mostly seniors dancing but some young people too; had a lot of fun. No partner required, just ask! I was a regular here on Thursdays for about six weeks but then started going to Pattie Wells for the West Coast Swing / Night Club 2 Step party; later I switched to a Night Club 2 Step course Starlight! Expect to do a "step-step" to slow stuff. Floor can get crowded. On September 7, 2006 I visited for the first time in around a year - still quite popular and the band really played well - mostly EC Swing, but a few Rumbas and other tunes mixed in. On February 22, 2007 I visited for the whole program, the band again played very well. Too crowded for a good "ballroom line of dance", but still an excellent venue for those who want to dance to a big band!

Moonlight Serenade Orchestra at Lucky Star - Photo courtesy Xu Li-Jones

Margarita Rocks Beach Club
959 Hornblend St., San Diego (Pacific Beach), CA 92109-4045 (map)
Multi-level dance floor, dancing to 2am (Wed-Sat?).
Their web page markets to the hot beach babe set

La Jolla Marriott
4240 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego (La Jolla), CA 92037 (map)
(858) 587-1414
Salsa Friday and Saturday nights
Cover charge $10.00 as of September 2006; includes Salsa & Cha-Cha or Merengue dance lessons from 8:30-9:30pm, dancing until 2am. Make sure to get your parking ticket validated for free parking as the rate is steep.
I finally visited for the first time on Friday, September 8, 2006. This place is a massively popular Salsa venue, with non stop music. Many of the music tracks are quite long, so be prepared. The sound system is excellent and loud. Mostly Salsa, with a Merengue or Bachata mixed in now and then for a change of pace. I did hear one Cha-Cha and one Samba. I arrived just as the dance lesson ended and stayed for a couple hours. The level of dance expertise increased during the course of the evening. The place is good sized and there are many nooks and crannies off the main dance area where all levels of dancers can thrive. Dance space was pretty tight in the main area and the whole place became crowed, so keep your arms in! I counted at least 300 people, certainly the most of any regular dance venue I've seen in San Diego! Some very advanced, just plane cool dancers here. Many 20 and 30 somethings here - I was certainly one of the older ones present, but no problem. A large liquor bar is to one side with stools, and some seating elsewhere, but get in early or plan to spent most of your time on the dance floor if not standing. The women really like to dress up here, men a little more casual, but some bling-bling and hair gel evident, particularly with the later arrivals. Several pool tables around the far edges.

On Broadway Event Center
615 Broadway
Visited Friday November 21, 2008: a truly massive place with at least four different music climates. Upstairs 30 ft. ceiling, biggest disco ball ever, lights go down and the volume goes up after 9:30 pm - hip hop / electronica - hi energy. Downstairs, a place for 80's music, Latin music, and Top 40. Fairly young crowd and what dancing I saw was "sexy club dancing", not partner dancing. Lots of bars and cool places to sit. The occasion for my visit was a Hustle party upstairs earlier in the evening, first time, maybe to be held again every three months or so. The place is truly worth a visit just to gawk at the expanse of it all. The food was good too.

Pal Joey's
5147 Waring Rd., San Diego, CA 92120-2705 (map)
First visited Saturday, October 26th, 2007 arriving quit late, around 11pm with a friend. Nice friendly borderline dive bar - lots of space, with two pool tables, classic bar, padded booths, with a good sized entertainment area in the back with enough dance floor space for four to six couples. The Blue Invaders were playing, a good dance band, we stayed until closing at 2am. The clientele, like most neighborhood bars, appeared to be mostly close nit regulars - wide age range. There were some dancers on the floor at times, mostly free styling, didn't stop up from doing a few WCS, Jitterbugs and even a nice Night Club 2 Step which brought compliments from one of the long time patrons who was familiar with the dance. I recommend coming with friends or a dance partner if you want to do a lot of partner dancing.

Pasquale
1250 Prospect St. #B10
San Diego (La Jolla), CA 92037
Spy report - May 31, 2009 - This is an upscale Italian restaurant that has live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I especially like the R&B band they have on Thursday. They have a small dance floor.

Patrick's Irish Pub
3314 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064
(858) 486-0764
Live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights
Spy report received 2/17/2009: Friday and Saturday nights they have good classic rock bands about 3 weeks of the month. You just have to check out their schedule. Some weekends they have Irish music. They are after all an Irish pub. It's a small dance floor but we all manage to dance on it. Sometimes they have a $5 cover charge. Music starts a 9:00 and ends sometime between 12:30 and 1:30 depending on the band. Age group: 20-50.

Patrick's II
428 F Street. San Diego, CA 92101 (Gaslamp district)
(619) 233-3077
Live music & dancing 7 nights a week. Blues, Rock and Soul (cover charge Friday, Saturday evenings)
Bands start around 9pm.
More Bar than Night Club. Visited Friday January 6, 2006: the place was packed, the 145 St. Deluxe Blues Band was playing. The dance area is seriously microscopic to the point of being impractical - but free form dancers like it.

Second Wind Bar
8528 N Magnolia Ave., Santee, CA 92071 (map)
(619) 596-8350
Bar: Live music Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat
First visited May 11, 2005, mostly deserted dance floor (was a Wednesday), nice band though.

710 Beach Club
710 Garnet Ave., San Diego CA 92109 (Pacific Beach) (map) Calendar - look for link on home page
(858) 483-7844
Frequent live entertainment, check calendar.

Squid Joe's
850 Tamarack Ave., Carlsbad, CA 92008 (map)
Live music and DJ'd music some nights with dancing, don't know details, was recommended to me, Thursdays mentioned.

Temecula Stampede
"way up north"
28721 Front St., Temecula, CA 92590 (map)
(951) 695-1761
Country Honky Tonk - Dancing Friday and Saturday evenings. "Club Envy" Wednesday evenings.
Large floor with outer track for two stepping.
Ride the mechanical bull! Yee-hah!

Tio Leo's
5302 Napa St., San Diego, CA 92110 (map)
(619) 542-1462
Tuesday - Zydeco Tuesday
Lesson - 7:00-8:00pm - Beginning and Intermediate Zydeco
Zydeco Dance 8:00-10:30pm - DJ'd by Greg Benusa
$5 Cover Charge
This used to be the spot for Jitterbug on Thursdays and Argentine Tango on Mondays, but those days are gone! There continues to be live music most nights with Zydeco on Tuesday and frequently a Swing band on Fridays. Visited on Friday December 26, 2008 - Sue Palmer playing, very, very crowded, dance floor jammed, lot of fun by all.

The Tower Bar
4757 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92105 (Calendar)
(619) 284-0158
Live music sometimes during the week, check Calendar
October 4, 2007 Spy Report: "I was at The Tower about a year ago and it is a small place not really open enough for dancing."

Trellises [Town & Country Resort & Convention Center]
500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108 (map)
(619) 908-5017
Ballroom / Swing and a little Latin - Friday evenings - smallish dance area (that piano can get in the way!). Live band (usually The Pier Group), no cover, but get parking validated with a drink or something.
A slower pace with a wide range of ballroom dances, excellent place to unwind. Mostly boomers and seniors, occasionally some younger people. Dress nicely. Dance area can get crowded forcing step-steps for the slower tunes, but thins out nicely for the final set. Nice opportunity here, especially when the 'zonies have left with the end of Summer! • November 4, 2005 note: unusually crowded restricting dance movement to the point of being uncomfortable!
• In 2006 I've been here a lot less often due to scheduling conflicts, but now and then I still show up!
• Visited again for the first time in quite a while on October 5, 2007, the "Pier Group" still playing the same great classic songs, had a lot of fun here, and as usual, a lot more space to dance during the final set, welcome back Chris!
• Visited February 18, 2010 - Where did everyone go? Pier Group still playing but just a few couples on the dance floor and empty seats at the bar. Long time regular, Audrey, says "something has to be done".

The Turquoise
873 Turquoise St., San Diego (North Pacific Beach), CA 92109 (map) (calendar)
(858) 488-4200
Latin music bar / "San Diego's only 21 and over European Coffee House"

Tropicoso
1261 Garnet Ave., San Diego (Pacific Beach) - Fanuel cross street
Jazz Friday night
Salsa Saturday evening, free lesson 8:30-9:30. Latin dancing.

WC's Wagon Wheel (Formerly Mulvaney's Wagon Wheel)
8861 N. Magnolia Ave., Santee, CA 92071
(619) 448-855
Country venue; restaurant, bar; country dancing five nights a week Wed-Sun. Live music Friday and Saturday. Big dance floor.
Bring your ten gallon hats and boots!

On November 9, 2006 I received this report: They finally got smart and have hired an Entertainment Manager who is a dancer and experienced DJ! Fridays are now focused on couples country dancing (Two-step, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Cha-Cha, and Waltz). Saturdays are already switched to danceable country music from 6 to 9 pm. For now there is a drinking, pool playing crowd on late Saturday nights (about 9 pm and on) but starting December 2006, Saturdays will also be for country dancers - couples & line mix - with DJ JP. For the most recent updates, check the myspace page for the club - the regular website will be updated but the myspace page is updated quicker.

On January 23, 2010 I received this report: They have WCS lessons on Wed., Line Dance lessons and Thursdays (well attended with Cathie Lopez), and a combination of different lessons on Fridays from Cowboy Cha Cha, Waltz, WCS, Night Club 2 Step, and Country 2 Step.