Best Bars Near Shelter Island, Point Loma

Shelter Island is one of San Diego's prettiest stretches of waterfront — a curved spit of land lined with marinas, the Bali Hai, the Kona Kai, and a long park that fills with picnics on weekends. It's also a slightly awkward place to find a drink. Most of the spots on the island itself are inside hotels. For an actual pub, locals walk or drive five minutes back toward Rosecrans.

The short list

• Harbor Town Pub — neighborhood pub on Rosecrans, dog-friendly patio, full menu, sports on. The default local choice.
• Bali Hai — tiki classic with bay views. Touristy but iconic for a sunset mai tai.
• Humphreys Backstage Live — live music venue inside the Half Moon Inn. Concert nights only.
• Marina-area hotel bars — convenient if you're staying on the island; less so if you're not.

Why locals walk to Harbor Town

Hotel bars on Shelter Island are great for one drink with a view. After that, locals end up at Harbor Town Pub because it has what hotel bars don't: full pub food, real prices, happy hour specials, and a crowd that lives here. It's a five-minute drive from any Shelter Island marina, and the patio is dog-friendly if you walked the boardwalk first.

What's near each spot

If you're parked near Shelter Island and want food too, Rosecrans Street is the run: pubs, taquerias, seafood spots, and easy parking. Harbor Town anchors that stretch. Coming off a charter at Fisherman's Landing, the walk is even shorter.

Good to know

• Shelter Island parking is free but fills on summer weekends.
• Most island bars close earlier than Rosecrans pubs.
• For a long night, start with a sunset drink on the island and end at a neighborhood pub.

Get directions to Harbor Town Pub — we're the easiest stop after a Shelter Island walk.