DISCOVER: La Jolla Nightlife

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San Diego's lavish neighborhood by the sea, La Jolla, is sprouting a chic nightlife scene — without many bars or clubs in sight. But don't be fooled by the lack of strobe lights and long lines parading Prospect Street. The club scene by the cove is going off indoors at La Jolla's top restaurants: Jack's La Jolla, Cendio, Koi Lounge, Pasquale on Prospect, Excelsior Brasserie, and the restaurant formerly known as Top of the Cove.

In the San Diego nightlife scene, upscale restaurants serve more than just cuisine. As more fine dining restaurants reconstruct and launch with late night appeal, a particularly posh 20 and 30-something crowd follows steadily in toe. Staying in trend, San Diego's young, hip professionals are converting to a new nocturnal vibe.  

So, why are 20 and 30-somethings eschewing the Pacific Beach nightlife scene and flocking to upscale restaurants in La Jolla for weekend relaxation? As the bank accounts grow up, so does desire. San Diego young professionals now covet upscale creative cuisine with their cocktails, leaving greasy buffalo wings and dollar pints for Superbowl Sunday.   

Jack's La Jolla is no secret to a young crowd; however, the constant flow of elder La Jolla locals often creates a wait for the main dining room. Thankfully, Jack's provides multiple atmospheres to accommodate all guests. You'll find an upscale happy hour crowd in Jack's The Ocean Room, The Wall Street Bar, The Beach Bar, and the Sidewalk Café, enjoying live music and entertainment many nights a week.       

Fresh on the La Jolla market is Cendio, a sizzling Spanish fusion restaurant making a big buzz on the cove. Cendio heats up the La Jolla scene with an all-inclusive venue with distinct restaurant, bar, and lounge atmospheres, in addition to private rooms and an outdoor terrace. Cendio hosts many social networking events and always packs in an after-work crowd that lasts all evening.

Zenbu Sushi's latest addition to the La Jolla nightlife scene, KoiLounge, is an alluring lounge that hosts a sleek crowd seeking lighter dinner alternatives. An intimate setting accommodates a small crowd to the ambient backdrop of a large koi fish mural and stark black walls. Mellow beats, Asian-inspired cocktails, caviar, oysters, and ceviche create a hip tone.

Pasquale on Prospect rolls out the red carpet for patron celebrities and emerging local stars alike. Pasquale is an acclaimed La Jolla locale for long, luxurious evenings of flowing fine wine and unparalleled Italian cuisine. An unpretentious comfort welcomes guests to the bar to invite friends and stay all night.

La Jolla's Belgian-inspired restaurant and club, Excelsior Brasserie, was one of the first nightlife staples to spark in La Jolla. Excelsior attracts an international silhouette of San Diego's young and hip, offering bottle service, dancing, and an ocean view in an intimate setting.

Top of the Cove, currently in hush-hush remodel mode, was one of La Jolla's most respected traditional fine dining restaurants. What will become of the restaurant formerly known as Top of the Cove? It's all in the hands of James Brennan, who is completely reconstructing the building to match the value of the venue with the value of the sunset. Keep an eye out this summer for a new La Jolla hotspot.

If you're a young professional in San Diego who still frequents happy hour mayhem in Pacific Beach, travel north for a taste of sophistication at La Jolla's revamped nightlife scene.