Party Like a Movie Star: San Diego’s Best Upscale Nightlife Destinations

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    As San Diego’s nightlife grows and prospers, exclusive nightclubs keep popping up to segregate the more affluent folk from the rest of the ruffians. These are places where Ketel One is a discount drink, where diamond jewelry winks under the dance floor strobes, and where the only seating for sale.

Whether you’re looking for a lifestyle or just a one-time splurge, check out our selection of San Diego’s best upscale nightlife destinations.

    Before there was Stingaree, there was Side Bar. Owned by the same team of powerhouses, the Gaslamp club is a smaller version of its prodigious son, yet in many ways it’s just as swanky. Because of Side Bar’s limited size, you don’t feel as if you’re lost in the entire designer-garbed population of New York City, as you do with Stingaree and other massive establishments. You have the chance to skim around, check out the big spenders, and possibly find one to latch on to for the extent of the evening.

    Let’s face it--Confidential hardly lives up to its name anymore. The word has been out for ages, and yet the small, exclusive Gaslamp nightclub and tapas bar still attracts San Diego’s most attractive, each who stands out appealingly against the club’s sleekly minimalistic backdrop. Some nights are more crowded than others, so stop by for some appetizers and decide whether or not to migrate.

    Excelsior is La Jolla’s lovely little club with the lovely big views, which is why it’s worth forgoing making an entrance to arrive before sunset. Besides, the top-quality Belgian cuisine Excelsior serves is perfect for a pre-party dinner. When the lights go down, the party rages, drawing in the moneyed local crowds and the people who adore them. Be prepared to spend a pretty penny-but that’s what nightlife with this distinct a flavor is all about.

    Airport Lounge has its style factor turned up excruciatingly high, which is why well-heeled San Diegans adore it. Because the lounge is located in a far-from-glamorous, deserted Little Italy neighborhood, stepping through the dingy countenance into the super-fab, airplane-themed interior is all the more exciting. On weekends, tables are reserved quickly, so make a call earlier in the week if you’re interested in bottle service.

    No list would be complete without San Diego’s legendary event supercenter, Stingaree. The gleaming mega-club is the number one place San Diego’s sought-after go to be seen, specifically to be seen spending gobs of money. Two drinks and a tip costs nearly what a bottle of the same poison would. But of course, you’re not paying for the cocktail--you’re paying for the ambiance, and what an ambiance this is.