The Lincoln Room, San Diego
San Diego
92101
Tel: 619 696 8888
www.thelincolnroomsd.com
Concierge.com's insider take:
A cozy log cabin–like boîte in downtown's Gaslamp District, The Lincoln Room has a penny-laid bar, Montana wood walls, and a tasty seasonal menu influenced by San Diego's produce (the chipotle-seasoned smoked wings are worth the trip alone). The cocktail menu is a modern nod to old-fashioned favorites like the Peach Julep and The Mary Todd (Grey Goose pear vodka and pear purée). An impressive whiskey selection runs the gamut from small-batch bourbons to rare Irish single malts, and there's a good mix of familiar and unknown labels. But this is definitely not a swanky sipping lounge. Since Honest Abe's face graces the $5 bill, there's an unbeatable daily happy hour (3 to 7 pm) with $5 wines, cocktails, and nibbles. It's gimmicky, but it works.—Audrey Davidow
Open daily 5 pm to midnight.