Blind Lady Ale House

San Diego, California

One part beer bar, one part brewhouse, one part vegan pizza parlor.

What it is:

Since its opening seven years ago in an old drapery shop called The Blind Lady in the Normal Heights neighborhood, Blind Lady Ale House has become an iconic San Diego drinking destination. It offers Neapolitan-style pizza (some of San Diego’s finest), twenty-six beers on tap, and an array of bottles and cans. Its menu is largely focused on vegetarian and vegan options. Blind Lady Ale House is also home to Automatic Brewing Co., a 10-barrel brewery operated by Blind Lady Ale House Owner and Brewmaster Lee Chase, who formerly worked at Stone Brewing Co.

Why it’s great:

San Diego’s abundance of must-hit drinking establishments encourages beer lovers to drink a pint and keep moving along their beer tours. The ambiance at Blind Lady Ale House, however, is reason enough to stay for a while. The owners of Blind Lady Ale House combine their beer, music, and pizza-making backgrounds under one roof to create an experience beyond the typical tavern. On top of a rare beer list and a great soundtrack, this dimly lit restaurant has some serious swag on its exposed brick walls—notably the plethora of vintage beer cans and old skateboards. Go ahead, have another pint. —Emily Hutto

Details Hours: 5 p.m.–midnight, Monday–thursday; 11:30 a.m.–midnight, Friday–sunday Address: 3416 Adams Ave., San Diego, CA Web: blindlady.blogspot.com