West End

San Diego, United States

3.6

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 858-488-1191
Website:
www.westendpb.com
Address:
5157 La Jolla Blvd, San Diego, CA, 92109
b/t Turquoise St & Wrelton Dr
La Jolla
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
2.4 mi30
2.5 miLine nr. 30
2.7 miBalboa Avenue
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Ambience
Divey
Noise Level
Average
Music
Juke Box
Good For Dancing
No
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
Dogs Allowed
No
Has Pool Table
Yes

Today

Today 9:45 am – 2:00 am
Closed now
Local time (San Diego) 02:11 Sunday, 1 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Tuesday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Wednesday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Thursday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Friday 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Saturday 10:00 am – 2:00 am
Sunday 9:45 am – 2:00 am

Description

Specialties

P.B.‘s Best Bar! Now serving food & craft beer on tap. Lots of TV’s to watch football & other sports. 2 pool tables, 2 dart machines. Happy hour prices all the time!

West End is a full bar in Pacific Beach, San Diego, featuring cocktails, beer and wine. Stocked with all the best liquor, our bartenders make excellent cocktails including Bloody Mary’s, Margaritas, Long Island’s, Martinis and more!

We keep your favorite whiskey on stock like Jack Daniels, Maker’s Mark, Jameson, Jim Beam, Bushmills, and Glenfiddich.

Vodka lover? We have you covered too with Tito’s, Absolut, Grey Goose, Ketel One, Stoli, and more.

Come in for some local craft beer. Sculpin IPA on tap from Ballast Point Brewery. Plus, a selection of other craft beer bottles from local San Diego breweries, such as Stone IPA.

The bar went through a complete remodel in the fall of 2013 as part of a Food Network reality show, and also debuted a brand new food menu. Featuring fresh-​pressed Panini sandwiches and hot German pretzels, you’ll never go hungry at the West End.

West End is a historic Pacific Beach bar located just a short walk from the beach!

We have an ATM on site and free WiFi. Accept all major credit cards. Great for group parties.

Please drink responsibly.

History

Established in 2006.

West End has been an iconic bar in Pacific Beach since 1979. In the 90’s the infamous Jack Macpherson became a bartender at the pub for many years. Macpherson was the Mac in the Mac Meda Destruction Company, the party-​loving «underground society» immortalized in «The Pump House Gang,» Tom Wolfe’s famous chronicle of the teenage surfers who hung out at Windansea Beach in La Jolla.

West End has been under the same ownership since 2006. It was featured on a TV show on the Food Network in December 2013. The bar has 2 pool tables, 2 darts machines, a jukebox, pinball machine, and tons of flat screens for watching football games, baseball games, soccer matches, and all other sports.

West End started serving food in June 2014 — Hot Panini Sandwiches, Fresh German Pretzels, and Giant Pickles.

Meet the Business Owner

Jennifer M.

Business Owner

Jennifer has been the proud owner of West End since 2006. She knew the previous owners, and fell in love with the bar’s history and charm. Originally from Tucson, Jenn is a happy mother of two beautiful children and currently lives in sunny San Diego with her husband and kids.

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Nearby

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Psychic Wishes by Janette
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20 reviews of West End

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Oceanside, CA
Good drink prices and a fun place. Hasher friendly :)
Place rating: 5
Costa Mesa, CA
The bartender was very friendly and kind. I went with my Mom to play pool and she made us a fresh pretzel. The drinks were strong and delicious, just how I enjoy them. The pool tables were not terribly dirty, however, they could use a little dusting. They have a bunch of TV’s playing the sports and had really affordable food. For example a $ 6 panini sandwich with chips. Def. a dive bar.
Place rating: 1
San Diego, CA
I was assaulted by a guy in this bar, in front of at least 50 people. The bartenders did not offer to call the police, I had to ask them to. The police came, the people working at the bar said they had video, would provide anything they needed. When the police called me & said no one at West End had responded to their calls, I walked down there and requested to speak to the owner (who is a female by the way). She was not available, left my information & asked her to call me back. No response… I would avoid this place like the plague… It’s not safe and if something happens to you, good luck because no one there will help you!
Place rating: 5
Chula Vista, CA
Just a great hang out! PB people without the PB pretentiousness!
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
Great prices on drinks, and the bartenders are really friendly!
Place rating: 4
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
Two pool tables, darts, jukebox, many large televisions usually playing some type of sports event. Ummmm the pool tables have stadium style seating around them, I mean come on. The bartenders are always super friendly and always keep me humor me by laughing at my shitty jokes. Free german pretzel with a check in… whhhhhahttt! Hope that doesn’t go away now, whatever at least I got one, bartender had no idea that was a thing. Basically cheap drinks and beers and good times to be had playing games and meeting new people. There are two delicious tacos joints tight down the road if you get hungry and it is perfectly acceptable to bring said delicious food into the West End and enjoy with you beverage of choice. I really enjoy coming here to shoot pool and just kick it. It never really get too too busy but it depends on what is going on locally or if its a holiday. Yes, they take cards… no they don’t have wine, i suggest you take your hot date, wife, gf across the street to the grocery store and buy a bottle and take her home if you want wine that much.
Place rating: 2
San Diego, CA
Whiskey Foxtrot Tango… no wine? I mean, this IS Califonia, Yes? Why only an 8 oz bottle of cheap chardonnay and anything else (little else) is on a buy the bottle and leave the unused when you go basis? You’ve got to be kidding me. But, NO that’s the way it is. Great bar for guys without dates, wives, or lovers. Is this a dive bar or a dump?
Place rating: 4
Westminster, MD
The bar maid Shawne is great! Cheerful, friendly… place is indeed a dive bar, but the folks are welcoming
Place rating: 1
San Diego, CA
I’ve been to the West End a few times and usually like it as a neighborhood bar. However, my last experience was enough to keep me and my friends from coming back. We ordered a few drinks and played pool for awhile and then decided to play the jukebox. I put money in and played a few songs. After the first song, the next few were skipped and when I asked the bartender, PJ, about it he said the jukebox was broken and turned off. He turned it back on and the songs were still skipped.
I work in the industry and bartended for a long time; I understand when things break. However, jukeboxes usually start back up on the song list when they’re powered back on. Additionally, the machine never actually went off. If indeed it was broken awhile like he said, he should have put a sign on it warning customers. After it was powered back on, he offered me credits and I said I was going to play the same songs in which case he turned to me and said «no.» Apparently, PJ doesn’t like country music. I was told by some regulars that if PJ doesn’t like the music playing, he skips it– apparently something they’d seen him do numerous times. I understand not everyone has the same taste in music but if you’re going to dictate the music played, then don’t have a jukebox in your establishment. Offering a service in exchange for cash and then not providing the service is stealing. Rather than a jukebox and a bartender with a bad attitude, they need to staple a cardboard box to the wall with instructions «Put your money in here, we’re going to do whatever we want either way so thanks for the free money.»
I won’t be back and will tell people to stay away from this place. I’m also going to contact TouchTunes regarding a refund and their policies surrounding their boxes.
Place rating: 3
San Diego, CA
Ehh West End is just OKAY. I went to this place about 2 years ago & it looks like they remodeled but it still lacks in some areas. Pretty much a hit or miss dive bar — pool tables, darts, TouchTones add to it, but I think their drink prices could be less expensive. $ 4 – 5 a beer is not divey. Watch out for hoards of dudes too, as this seems to be a «I just struck-​out everywhere tonight, so let’s hit West End!» 3⁄5 stars West End.
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
Games and fun locals.
Very affordable drinks.
Fun times had by all.
Place rating: 4
Rancho San Diego, CA
As dive bars go, this is a pretty good one. I came by the West End on Christmas day and enjoyed a lager and a baked pretzel with a side of honey mustard. They also had a small buffet table with chicken, chili, and tortilla chips for free with a purchase of a drink, but I stuck to my beer and pretzel.
The lager was good but I did feel it should be served a little colder than it was (
). The pretzel was okay. It tasted good and I always appreciate the rock salt on top of these, however it was not as moist and soft as others I have had (
). It was a little tough. After munching down on my pretzel I chatted with the female bar keep a bit and she was nice. Full of energy would be a good way to describe her.
The bar has pool tables, dart boards, and provide free WiFi which is a big plus. On the small but appropriate menu for a dive bar, they also make sandwiches. For now, a solid 3.5 stars or upper end because of that free WiFi, and be sure to serve colder beer!
Place rating: 5
Avenue of the Arts South, Philadelphia, PA
The West End is the best little dive bar in SD! Great bar tenders, cozy atmosphere, feels like the kind of bar where everybody knows your name. The bar food is delicious and unique… I could go on and on. This will definitely be my regular bar whenever I visit SD!
Place rating: 1
Lemon Grove, CA
This place was not my kinda dive bar. I was here St. Patty’s 2012 and what a pit. It was loaded with bros and frats who thought this place was their own personal Frat House. The place reeked. They didn’t accept cards. And there was no one where to lounge stand chill be.
I’ve heard that they received a makeover from one of those reality shows but I don’t know anyone who has been here. I’m sure not about to give it a go just to see.
I doubt with any changes made this places clientele has improved so save your money and just go to someplace in PB.
Ugh.
Place rating: 2
San Diego, CA
When searching a great place to watch the chargers game, I came across West End. I saw it was on the food network channel and had good review! And a HUGE plus there is AC!!!
But let me tell you that it feels grungy and the food is not close to good. The drinks are decent. Overall it just isn’t my style and I wouldn’t go back.
I guess they can’t all be good!
Place rating: 5
Encinitas, CA
I decided to check this place out on a random day trip to La Jolla and was not disappointed. My friends and I just wanted a beer and weren’t feeling the boring looking restaurants and cafes in Bird Rock. I’d had West End on my To-​Visit list for quite a while as it had been highly recommended by some friends. I didn’t realize how close it actually was to us and after a quick drive down the street, we found ourselves in the dark, seedy, delicious atmosphere of a good old fashioned dive. The crowd was as sparse as expected for a Sunday afternoon and as we plopped down on the bar stools, we were greeted by an attentive, friendly bartender named Mike. When the jukebox eventually stopped, he gave us a few credits, told us to pick something weird, and woke the place up again.
If I’m not mistaken, there were only two beers on tap but with one of them being Sculpin I couldn’t complain. The bathroom was clean and well stocked, the Padres game was playing, everyone looked like they were having a good time. We even made friends with a drunken cowboy who insisted his family knew Frank Sinatra and who wouldn’t stop playing «That’s Amore» on the jukebox. It was nothing I’d ever expect in a bar so dang close to La Jolla but it was definitely refreshing. I’ll be back again!
Place rating: 5
La Jolla, CA
First off, let me say that Tom Brady lovin SOB bartender can serve a hell of a martini! I know, wtf am I doing drinking that shit at a dive bar!?! I blame that Peyton Manning lovin SOB brother of mine. Anyways, West End was a regular hangout for me when I lived in SD back in the day. This isn’t the pretentious shit you get in LJ and is a little older crowd than the PB and MB daycare bars. Place smells like a bar, looks like a bar and serves up drinks like a bar. Always a great crowd looking to bullshit and maybe play some pool or darts. Great prices and bartenders make the West End a gem (rough one at that) of Bird Rock. BTW, Tom Brady may be a good QB, but what the hell with the skinny jeans and uggs?
Place rating: 3
Ambler, PA
Some people have a different view of a «dive» bar then I do. I’m from the Philly area and a dive around here is dimly lit, not too clean and has professional drinkers nestled at the bar.
We were there the weekend before Halloween and it was packed. I know this might not normally be the case. Most of the people there were young and I didn’t see any seedy characters.
Place rating: 4
San Diego, CA
If it is after midnight and you still want to grab a beer or a cocktail in North PB, this is the place. The only place. All the others are closed.
We met a group of friends on a Friday night at the West End. We walked in and found a spot at the bar on the eastern part of the bar. We soon found out why the bar stools were unoccupied, every few minutes or so the people playing pool would need you to move so they could take a shot. After a while, we just moved around the corner. What a waste of prime bar space.
By 11:00, the bar was pretty packed. They have upgraded the place in the last few months. They now take credit cards, have draft beer (Sculpin! Yum!), new carpet, new hdtvs and in general a new look.
We drank beers but friends reported drinks were strong and tasty.
Aside from the nonsensical placement of the pool table on the east side, we had a nice time. Besides, after midnight, it is the only place to go.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
People may think ambiance, amenities like pool tables or a view, or location are what make a good bar into a good bar, but the truth of the matter is the Bartender makes the bar.
A shitty bartender, a rude bartender, a slow bartender, a clueless bartender or a bartender that is just «too good» to serve you a drink and you’ve got a shitty bar.
PJ at West End rocks my socks. He was fast, he acknowledged our presence immediately and came for our order as soon as he had finished the other drinks.
He had a hustle that you don’t see in most bartenders. Yes, you should respect your bartender, but it should be a mutual respect. All too often bartenders abuse their power. Sure, the guy who is waving money around being a DB at the end of the bar has probably led most bartenders to be the way they are, but it was refreshing to see PJ work.
Keep up the good work sir, and I’ll be back.