Sway Lounge

San Diego, United States

2.4

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 619-814-5777
Website:
www.swaysd.com
Address:
The Keating 432 F St, San Diego, CA, 92101
Downtown
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.3 miCivic Center
0.3 miCounty Center/Little Italy
0.4 mi5th Avenue
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Valet, Street
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Very Loud
Music
DJ
Good For Dancing
Yes
Alcohol
Full Bar
Happy Hour
Yes
Best Nights
Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check
No
Smoking
Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating
No
Has TV
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (San Diego) 23:38 Thursday, 5 June 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Formerly Minus One Ultra Lounge, the new San Diego Sway is an ultra-​chic subterranean lounge, gleaming of elegance and accessible through a private entrance from within the Keating, outside in the bustling Gaslamp District, or from within the MerK Bistro. Opening spring 2009, Sway is both intimate and sexy, layered in rich leathers and gleaming design, offering guests an experience unlike any other in California. Relax and indulge with true VIP bottle service while enjoying different types of Mash Up, Hip Hop, Top 40, and 80’s remixes as the best females in San Diego are PerSWAYded to dance the night away. Sway Nightclub is the ideal place for an evening private party, and will set a precedent for elite patrons looking for an over-​the-​top nightlife experience.

History

Established in 2005.

Pairing Pininfarina design with the local market environment, The Keating Hotel brand creates a harmony of custom authenticity and modern innovation. The Keating Hotel brand features signature reinterpretation of space, sophisticated Italian design, exotic intrigue, dining and nightlife allure, state of the art technology and amenities, and superior personalized service.

The premier Keating Hotel destination in Downtown San Diego, California paves a clear path for the continued legacy of Pininfarina-​designed urban luxury boutique hotels worldwide. The Keating Hotel brand epitomizes a new wave of luxury hospitality.

Sway Lounge — CLOSED also recommends

The Keating Hotel

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Sway Lounge — CLOSED says,

«Historic grandeur and modern allure The Keating Hotel offers a chic retreat from the urban metropolis that redefines luxury accommodations»

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American (New)

Sway Lounge — CLOSED says,

«I don’t think I’ve been to a restaurant with such amazing service and smiles. It truly felt like family there!»

Krust Pizzeria — CLOSED

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Pizza

,

Italian

Sway Lounge — CLOSED says,

«Best Pizza in San Diego»

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20 reviews of Sway Lounge

No registration required
Place rating: 3
Los Angeles, CA
alottt of Asians and every sat night I been there it was free!!! yeeee always crowded and poppin on sat nights! i like the music its mostly hip hop which I love and just a lil bit of house, and one night they were playing 90s hip hop all my jamzz it was awesome! it’s pretty much one whole dancefloor with a bar on one side. everyone dances it is pretty fun! basically I go because it’s a fun chill place to dance to hip hop, it’s FREE, always poppin on sat, no ridiculouslyy long lines like the «fancy» clubs, and there’s alot of asians: D.
the drinks are still pretty expensive like $ 12 a drink? and more for shots, even though it’s not a full on «club» but it’s downtown so i guess it’s expensive everywhere except for star bar!
i haven’t been here in a while cuz i been there way too many times. and also there seems to be alot of youngins there and/​or jerks lolll.
Place rating: 2
San Diego, CA
Free cover, chill crowd=2 stars.
BUT seriously, were they too cheap to have the AC on?! I was there last night and I never felt so nasty and sweaty before in my life in my clubbing experience. It was too hot. and since it was really really crowded, it got really really nasty in there.
Place rating: 3
Los Angeles, CA
Sway, how come everytime I come here the night is always a blur?
It’s not Sway’s fault, I just do a really good job at pre-​partying, haha. By no means is Sway a «nice» swanky club, however, it is a good place to just hang out, drink, and dance. I’ve been here twice and both times, all I really remember is being there. There’s free cover (at least when I went) and good music to dance to. It’s a good place to go if you’re looking for a night out without the hassle of a line. It’s a very chill environment, in fact, I wouldn’t even consider it as a club. For all I know, it’s just a bar with a dance floor. I’m saying that because it doesn’t have the club feel to it. At least from what I can remember…
Place rating: 1
La Jolla, CA
This place is so bad that I was thinking about how to write this review while dancing in the sweaty-​cow-​hole. I also remember thinking to myself that I’d rather stay home and translate Latin on a Friday night than being here.
I came to Sway with roomie and two safety boys last Friday night, and thank goodness for the alcohol that I was able to pretend to be enjoying myself and to try not to disappoint roomie. But, girl, this is the last time I let you choose a place!
It really was just the crowd that spoiled my appetite. I am happy to see that even the chubbies and uglies can enjoy themselves (I’m sincerely happy for them really), but I’m so sorry that I just find them repulsive. I gagged just now, writing about it. ugh.
my precious time wasted, and a night I do not want to remember.
If you are fat and ugly, this place might be perfect for you. Fortunately, I am not one of you. It is simplely sad that there are more better-​looking boys strolling down the streets than in this club.
Place rating: 3
Escondido, CA
I came here the other night for a fundraising event for one of the mayoral candidates. It’s a nice spacious lounge. It was a good location for the event. Plenty of room and plenty of places to sit. I do agree with danny’s review, they should check the thermostat. Or maybe I can’t handle a few sips of alcohol anymore?! I was burning up! I tried to step away from one of the lights but I was still sweating!
Other than me sweating just from standing, it was a nice event. People working there were friendly and the wait staff was around the roof quick making sure people have their appetizers. I ended up having 5 of this cream bread thing with walnuts. It was delicious! It’s a nice place to check out in the future.
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
I’ve always said this place is ideal to take a mistress or a very ugly wife. It’s dark, sexy, romantic and did I mention ass pit dark?
What’s not dark are the friendly faces of the staff and the music that on any given night can be laid back hip hop, to lounge, to 80’s or disco and everything in between. It gets slightly packed on Fridays and Saturdays but never anything obnoxious.
Overall, this a great place to get yer groove on, cheap bottle service, great music, no cover, pretty chill atmosphere, and a great place to end your night when you’re hella faded!
Place rating: 1
San Diego, CA
One star for good music.
This place is an underground sweat box with red lighting and bad ventilation. I’m not quite sure if they really check ID’s here because many of the patrons that were in here looked really young. The promoters for this place probably pass out fliers around all the local high schools.
We stumbled in here really drunk so here are some fragments of what I remember
–Guys pushing and shoving anybody to get through the crowd
–Me being taller than most people in here. (I’m 5’2)
–Douche bag promoters
–A girls tampon string hanging out of her dress. Classy.
«We’re all gonna be f*cked if a natural disaster happens.»
«Oh f*ck! I don’t want to die with THESE people.»
Place rating: 5
La Jolla, CA
Haters are going to hate… but playa are going to play.
Great place, no cover, stiff drinks. What else can you ask for some great music right smack in the middle of Gaslamp.
Tuesday salsa night is pretty cool too for single guys and girls.
Sway also open until 4AM on certain nights… so if you need a spot to chill to sober up.
Place rating: 3
Chula Vista, CA
1 Star — Free cover!
1 Star — Good music! Good mix of hip hop music mixed with recent and old school jams.
1 Star — Sectioned off area for bottle service.
Came here for a «no reason» celebration and had bottle service for the night. We started out at the bar since the entire party hadn’t arrive yet. Drink prices are what you would expect from downtown so no surprise there. But since we were there early, we were able to enjoy the atmosphere and vibe. It was chill, music was poppin and everyone was mingling. Then the room started to fill up quick.
It was soooo crowded! I swear I lost half my drink to people bumping into me or trying to squeeze by.
Then the rest of the party arrived and we got our corner area, sectioned off for bottle service. I do appreciate the bouncer who stood at the rope letting specific people in.
Since we’re paying a premium for the alcohol, I expect to have our hostess check up on us repeatedly to make sure the bottle was good, mixers were full, fresh glasses and the occasional bar-​tending of our bottles. NOPE! I swear she came by 3 times that entire night! Horrible service if you ask me! There were so many instances where we kept running out of cranberry juice. You would think that 4 bottles of Vodka would motivate our server to do a decent job…
Deducted a star for poor service and deducted another star for the place just being too jam packed.
Place rating: 1
Orange County, CA
AWFUL NEW YEARS EVE EXPERIENCE!!!
Our group had reserved a table with bottle svc a few weeks ago and when we get there apparently someone screwed up the order and an another group was at our table. We got moved to another location and crammed into a smaller space than we were supposed to have.
Our waitress was HORRIBLE. She took forever to come over with our drinks, then proceeded to mix drinks in the worst possible way and they tasted horrible. Forgot the champagne so we didn’t have our champagne for the midnight toast. We asked for it 30 mins prior and she never brought it back, then brought it over around 12:30 and said she forgot. WTF???
I’m convinced she was mixing our drinks 80% vodka 20% mixer in the beginning so she could go thru our bottles so fast so they could try to upsell us on more!
At the ridiculous prices they charged for this, we were all quite unhappy with the experience. They also charged us incorrectly again at the end of the night, which took another 30 – 40 mins to resolve.
Music was not good. Crowd was not good. Bunch of d-​bag guys upstairs and the entire area upstairs reeked like smoke from all the smokers outside and doors open to the club, so all the smoke just blew right in. Downstairs where our table was was too cramped and WAY TOO HOT. F’n inferno down there and no cell service either.
NEVER GOING BACK HERE AGAIN.
Place rating: 4
Selden, NY
Walked in and notice this place is not pack at all, but at least it wasnt dead. I gave it a four star because of the music. Female DJ was bomb. she played all the greatest hip hop music. it wasn’t all new hip hop songs… it was the oldies from way back. Brings back memories.
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
Got in for free last Friday, no complaints there.
Took and while to the crowd to pick up. We got there around 11, 1130, and it was pretty empty other than the reserved area.
This club definitely had the music my friends and I liked. Just good, fun music, popular songs and popular from the last decade or so, but it was still poppin.
Drinks were good, and not as expensive as some other clubs we went to earlier.
Once the crowd picked up, it was all fun.
Place rating: 1
San Diego, CA
Fuck this place! They kicked me out because I privately threw up in the bathroom. I did not make a mess or get it on anyone — I was just doing my thing. Throwing up comes with the territory when your out drinking and having a good time.
I will not return, unless I get to throw up whenever and where ever I want to.
Place rating: 2
Millbrae, CA
I’m glad it was free… Wished they played more hip hop. The really cool thing about this place was the drummer playing along with the music the DJ was playing. The drinks were a good size and were strong. Yay! The wait for the drinks was long but well worth it. Too small and way to crowded.
Place rating: 2
Fremont, CA
Dear short, dark, Asian looking bartender girl,
Dont you dare roll your eyes and shake you head at me after asking me a question. You know darn well the music is loud and I am already too wasted to comprehend what you are asking. There is no need to be rude! You should be thankful there are patrons like me that spend money and still give a sizable tip. It’s not my fault you have to work on a Saturday night pouring drinks for people. Get a better job if you can’t do your job with a smile, you loser.
Other than that experience, the venue was cool and spacious. I would have gave it 4 stars but customer service is a big thing for me. Trust… I will tell everyone about her.
Place rating: 2
Chicago, IL
Man… I know it’s a nightclub and all but they could really use some attention to the thermostat. On a scale of 1 to warm, I’d give my visit to Sway a «hot as balls.» I wasn’t the only one who noticed either. Several people commented on how they were happy with the dim lighting so their pits weren’t visible.
I will give Sway the benefit of the doubt though. They were hosting the Stay Classy Awards after party, which I’m sure was way more patrons than they get on a normal Sunday evening. They probably just didn’t factor in the natural body heat of everyone making the tiny space a total sweatbox. Alas. it was… and I left about an hour earlier than I was planning on staying, because my swass was starting to become extremely uncomfortable.
Even though I was scorching and a bit chlosterphobic one bright spot shined though. The bartenders were actually pretty nice which was totally surprising considering at these types of places they’re usually not.
Not really my type of place to begin with, but if it’s yours you might enjoy it. Just be aware… it gets steamy.
Place rating: 1
San Diego, CA
Is it possible to give less than 1 star?
We went here on a Saturday night. From the outside the lounge looks very upscale and exclusive. It was roped off and had a smartly dressed bouncer and hostess with a clipboard. We asked them if there was a cover, and they told us there wasnt so we decided go in and check it out.
At 10:30pm we walked in and it was ABSOLUTELY EMPTY. the place is small with a majority of the seating roped off. After 5 minutes we left, and one of the security told us to come back in half and hour and the lounge will fill up.
After walking around downtown for about and hour and decided to come back to Sway. When we walked in the security was right, there were more people. FOUR more people.
Sway is a barren wasteland. Dont bother going.
Place rating: 1
San Diego, CA
Went here with the sister and some poor suckers from LA– and I have to agree with her review. Unless she gets her money back this place should definitely be avoided. WORST club I’ve been to in SD.
I think what bugged me the most was the fact that the security did absolutely NOTHING when things started heating up– people were breaking bottles and throwing down the VIP barriers but the bouncers just talked among themselves and stared at the crowd. Definitely NOT hard to get a job here– what did they do– just size up the guys at the job interview? I have never felt so unsafe at a club– and the fact that we had to pay a cover DESPITE being on the guest list added insult to injury… literally. Sorry about the caps lock– can’t help it when I’m ANGRY. There are a ton of great clubs in SD– so do yourself a favor and save yourself for something better. I don’t even think the DJ– Anthony Attalla– will be back here any time soon. Talk about losing business…
Place rating: 1
San Jose, CA
There are multiple reasons (see below) this place is getting one star from me, none of which involve the FAB house artist (Anthony Attalla) the night my friends and I went (who I would have given 4 – 5 stars if I could rate him specifically). But everything else about this club is GHETTO!
«Sorry, guest list closes at 11.» There was NOTHING on the adverts for this event or their website about guest list closing hours at all. Hey, we’ve got five chicks and one dude, the place is empty… and you still make us pay a cover? Puhleaze.
Crowd appeared shady… but I thought perhaps it was all in my mind. Then at about 1:30 am when we returned from Double Deuces down the street, things went South. Multiple fights began to break out (while the bouncers stood around watching, without throwing anyone out). Then, suddenly… the music stopped. Turns out some idiot standing next to the DJ tables either unplugged/​turned up the system so loud that it blew it out. There was complete silence.
We began to hear sounds of breaking glass, and people scattering/​yelling. The bouncers were yelling at the dude, the dude was yelling back– people knocking junk over and pushing each other. As we finally decided it was DEFINITELY time to leave, we were kicked out anyways along with the rest of the riff-​raff. Open till 4 am? Errrr… no!
Direct quote from the DJ at that point (quite angrily): «THIS IS COMPLETE CHAOS IN HERE!!!»
I certainly don’t think he will be back, and neither will me and my friends. Looks like I’ll need to scout out other house clubs. Boo on you, sway!
Place rating: 3
San Diego, CA
Sway is a cool chill lounge with good music.
Sway is located right across from the Horton Plaza parking entrance and Hard Rock Café.
Came here this past weekend on Friday for Victory Night Life event so got in for free with guestlist. GUEST LIST CLOSES AT 11PM. I believe $ 10 after 11pm. PLUS NO DRESS CODE!
As soon as you walk in they have a pretty unique set up. The DJ was playing good mix of hiphop and pop. Majority top club hip hop mixes with a few old school 80s and 90s. They have a decent sized dance floor so get your groove on! DISCO! DISCO!
Overall had a great drunken fun time here so I recommend to come here on a club promotion day. Peace Unilocal Heads!