One of the biggest reasons I moved to Pacific Beach was the night scene. With the rows of bars all along Garnet Avenue, wallet-friendly drink specials every night and a college crowd, I had plenty of choices to get my party on. That being said, I fell in love with JRDN (pronounced “Jordan”) for the complete opposite reason.
Located on Felspar Street and overlooking Crystal Pier and the ocean, JRDN is everything that the typical Pacific Beach nightspot is not known for. It’s no cheap bar, it’s not teeming with barely legal coeds, and besides the happy hour specials, it’s definitely not inexpensive. The first PB anomaly was the complimentary valet parking. In an area where finding a spot will give you a migraine, JRDN makes parking a cinch.
The interior is posh and modern, with glowing walls that change colors. There’s an indoor and outdoor bar, and with a killer view of the Pacific Ocean, JRDN has a unique feel. When sitting outside, guests can look to one side and see the chic interior and look to the other to see the beach boardwalk and the water. The bar is small enough to be cozy and comfortable, but big enough to have privacy and a good conversation with a date or table of friends. The service was first-rate. We sat down outside and our server,
Amanda, immediately came over with a drink menu and a smile. She came to check on us regularly and always came through with our requests quickly. The happy hour at JRDN (Monday-Friday, 4-7 p.m.) coincides perfectly with sunset this time of year.
Happy hour specials include $3 draft beers, $5 glasses of select wine, $9 specialty drinks and reasonably priced well drinks. Our server recommended her two favorites, the chili mango margarita and blueberry mojito. When she brought them to our table, she gave us each a glass of water to drink afterward, because those drinks were loaded. The blueberry mojito was a delicious mix of blueberry and mint topped with fresh berries. The complexion of the drink perfectly matched the purplish-red of the post-sunset horizon.
The chili mango margarita was a little too spicy (definitely not one you put down fast), but had a unique taste. The other drinks sounded interesting, too (whiskey bramble, ginger sidecar, cranberry sparkle). At $9, the specialty drinks were slightly expensive, but I’m glad I ordered them. My experience at JRDN was as close to perfect as you could get. Being a broke college student, the only knock was the pricey specialty drinks and appetizers. I would definitely recommend JRDN to anyone looking to impress a date or enjoy some strong, original drinks and a high-end atmosphere.
JRDN
723 Felspar St.
San Diego, 92109
858.270.5736
jrdn.com
