While areas like downtown might be better known for their music and performance scenes, don’t discount our little pocket of San Diego just yet. The neighborhoods of Clairemont, Bay Park, Linda Vista, and Kearny Mesa offer up a regular scene of live music, comedy, and theater performances.
Each week in our free newsletter, we highlight local events. However, you might not be familiar with the venues that host those events, but that’s about to change. You’ll discover intimate bars that fit smaller crowds as well as venues that seat hundreds.
Whether you have a thirst for artistic theater performances, comedy that will split your sides, gritty rock, or foot-tapping jazz, the local scene delivers.
Music Venues That Keep The Neighborhood Rocking
Dizzy’s Jazz
1717 Morena Blvd (inside Arias Hall, behind The Musicians Association)
For jazz aficionados, Dizzy’s is sacred ground. Founded by Chuck Perrin over two decades ago, the venue focuses on the music, with the decor being a distant afterthought. Dizzy’s operates as a “listening room” — intimate and focused. Its stage welcomes both San Diego’s top players and touring ensembles, all within an acoustically rich, quietly legendary setting.
There are no age requirements, and Dizzy’s does not serve food or beverages; however, you are welcome to bring non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. You must pay cash or Venmo, and there are regular discounts for students.
Tio Leo’s
5302 Napa St, Morena District
Put on your dancing shoes, because the live music at Tio Leo’s gets people on their feet. A San Diego legend since 1987, Tio Leo’s mixes its Mexican fare with live music nearly every night of the week. Most shows are inside, with the occasional band performing on their outdoor stage.
You’ll find a wide range of music, including swing, country, rock, blues, jazz, and ’80s. The dance floor fills up on weekends, and Tio Leo’s has a regular crowd of loyalists.
The Cordova Bar
1319 Morena Blvd
The Cordova Bar gives vibes of a mid-century modern Palm Springs cocktail lounge that’s swankishly casual. Its intimate setting and small stage area are perfect for live music, DJs, and karaoke, all of which The Cordova Bar regularly hosts.
Twinkly lights drape across the ceiling inside and along the patio beams outside, adding to the ambiance. Sip a to-die-for whiskey sour by the fireplace or get on your feet and dance in front of the band. Either way, it’s sure to be a good time.
Kilowatt Brewing Kearny Mesa
7576 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
You’ll be greeted by black lights, neon, and bumping energy when you step into Kilowatt Brewing for one of its musical event nights. The Kearny Mesa brewery holds weekly karaoke nights under its glowing lights, as well as tune-spinning DJs to get your body movin’.
Sip a craft beer or cocktail while you get your jam on.
The Gärten
5322 Banks St
Located in the Morena district on the edge of Bay Park, The Gärten blends an open-air beer-garden atmosphere with live music on weekends. Musicians perform on a stage surrounded by Deft Brewing, Lost Cause Meadery, Pizza Cassette, and Oddish Wine. Grab a slice and a beverage and belly up to a picnic table while you enjoy the tunes. The Gärten is family- and dog-friendly.
Brick by Brick
1130 Buenos Ave
Brick by Brick looks exactly how you’d expect a gritty, indie rock, punk, and metal nightclub to look. Black concrete block walls are offset by a massive neon red Brick by Brick sign that casts a fluorescent glow across anything in its path. This iconic club has been a mainstay of San Diego’s music underground since the mid-’90s.
Interestingly, its debut acts in 1995 were the folky Ben Folds Five band and Jewel. Brick by Brick quickly pivoted to harder-rock bands, such as System of a Down, Godsmack, and Machine Head. If you’re into sweat-on-the-walls kind of shows, you’ll find your groove here.
Fast Times Bar & Grill
3065 Clairemont Dr
Like our very own newsletter, Fast Times, the restaurant also pays homage to the retro classic movie of the same name, which is based on Clairemont High School. Fast Times leans into nostalgia, often featuring classic rock and ’80s cover bands, with the occasional booking of a country or folk band.
The open space, with a stage in the rear corner and a bar that opens onto a large patio, makes it easy to hear the music from everywhere you sit, stand, or dance. As Spicoli would say, “All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and a rad spot for live music.” Ok, I made that third one up, but I’m pretty sure Spicoli would agree that Fast Times makes for fun times.
Vinya: Vino + Vinyasa
Balboa Avenue
Part wine bar, part yoga studio, part local arts collective, Vinya also regularly features live music by local performers, often jazzy or folky. Vinya even offers an open mic night called The Spotlight, where aspiring artists can wow locals with their talent.
When you step into Vinya, it’s surprisingly expansive, and light, bright, and airy. A black grand piano sits in the corner, flanked by local art on the walls. Large picnic-style tables seat plenty, and it’s easy to see the band from anywhere you sit.
Paper Moon Music
1235 Morena Boulevard
Paper Moon is a music school that offers guitar, piano, violin, ukulele, banjo, and bass lessons. Through public recitals and events, it gives students a stage to showcase their newly honed talents. Paper Moon also regularly features talented artists from around the world who play flamenco guitar, jazz, and piano, blending music lessons with extraordinary talent.
Performing Arts: Smaller Stages, Bigger Heart
Innovation Family Community Theatre (IFCT)
5454 Ruffin Road, Kearny Mesa
With roots in community and volunteerism, the Innovation Family Community Theatre is a not-for-profit venue that celebrates local talent and the spirit of neighborhood creativity. IFCT is open to talent of all ages, and its productions range from musicals to traditional plays.
Enjoy productions like Dracula, The Diary of Anne Frank, or Alice in Wonderland for affordable prices (less than $20 per ticket, and even further discounts for military, seniors, students, and children). It seats around 100 people, making every seat in the house a decent seat.
Rap A Tap Center for the Arts
5939 Balboa Avenue, Clairemont
Rap A Tap is for dance what Paper Moon is for musical instruments. Rap A Tap offers dance instruction for all ages, in styles ranging from tap, ballet, hip hop, and jazz. Enjoy family-friendly dance recitals open to the public, like The Nutcracker.
San Diego Musical Theatre
4650 Mercury Street, Kearny Mesa
Since its launch in 2006, San Diego Musical Theatre (SDMT) has coined itself as the local way to see Broadway. It is the longest-running musical theater organization in San Diego, and its awards and accolades are too many to list in this article.
If you’re looking to enjoy an afternoon or evening of theater performed by local and national talent, you won’t be disappointed by SDMT. Past shows include Hairspray, A Christmas Story, West Side Story, Cats, and many more. The 140-seat space offers excellent stage views from everywhere.
University of San Diego (USD) Theaters
5998 Alcalá Park, Linda Vista
USD’s Shiley and Studio Theatres regularly host student and faculty concerts, chamber music, and stage productions open to the public. Polished performances, from classical recitals to modern plays, add dimension to the area’s arts scene, connecting academia with the wider community.
Shiley Theatre has a seating capacity of 532, making it ideal for large-scale productions.
CPMA Performing Arts (Creative, Performing & Media Arts Magnet School)
5050 Conrad Avenue, Clairemont
CPMA is one of San Diego Unified’s showcase magnet schools, and its student performances rival small professional productions. With programs in music, theatre, and dance, the school regularly stages musicals, recitals, and showcases open to the public. It’s a pipeline of rising local talent and a centerpiece of arts education right here in our backyard.
San Diego Mesa College Theater Company
7250 Mesa College Dr, Kearny Mesa
The theater productions at Mesa College’s Apolliad Theatre include classic productions by William Shakespeare, as well as plays written by Mesa students. Students act, design, build, and crew two shows a semester, and they are open to the public.
Comedy
Mic Drop Comedy
8878 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Kearny Mesa
Mic Drop Comedy is a sizeable space with a lux vibe for a comedy venue. Hues of purple and gold adorn the rooms. There’s a large main event room and a smaller side room, allowing for concurrent comedy events.
If you’ve been to the Comedy Store in La Jolla and felt like a sardine crammed into a can, you’ll feel more breathing room at Mic Drop. They offer nonstop comedy most days of the week, from up-and-coming comics to headliners like Margaret Cho. In addition to cocktails, they also offer a full food menu.
Quantum Brewing
5375 Kearny Villa Road, Kearny Mesa
With a typical brewery backdrop of exposed duct ceilings, concrete floors, and a wooden bar, Quantum Brewing is the stage for aspiring comics every Friday and Saturday night. Comedy or Worse is an open mic show, so feel free to test out your funnies or support those brave enough to try to make you laugh. Fortunately, they serve beer, so you can always drink until they become funny enough.
