A weekly column dedicated to sharing the best sights and activities in San Diego at the best price – free! We have a great city and you don’t need to break the bank to experience it.
By John P Anderson
Address: Many locations across the city
Date and Time: Varies but generally either 8 AM – 8 PM or 12 PM – 8 PM
Best For: Beer drinkers, coping son-in-laws, well-behaved college students, responsible citizens and visitors of all stripes
San Diego is known for many things. Some prominent ones are sun, surf, an ideal climate, and beer. (If you enjoy reading about beer, read this article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that is the best list of top U.S. beer cities I’ve read.)
Once upon a time you could enjoy all of these things together but today we inhabit a safer, tamer, lamer, more responsible world and despite the love many San Diegans have for our local (and non-local) breweries it is not advised to consume their offerings whilst lounging on the golden sand of the Pacific. A ban on beach drinking was passed in San Diego a few years ago.
However, there do remain many public locations in the the city where you can enjoy both the sunshine and an IPA, hefeweizen, imperial chocolate espresso stout, russian imperial double stout, or other adult beverage of your choice. You can also do so without paying $4, $6, $8, or more per beverage. Score for those ballin’ on a budget or doing some mad thrift shopping!
Let’s start with Balboa Park – a popular destination for both locals and visitors. Drinking of alcohol is allowed in certain areas of the park:
- Botanical Building East Lawn and West Lawn
- House of Pacific Relations Lawn
- International Lawn
- Mall Lawn
- Moreton Bay Fig Lawn
- Pan American Plaza Lawn
- Recital Hall Lawn
In these areas alcohol is permitted from 12 PM to 8 PM. Note also that glass is prohibited and that groups of more than 49 persons “must obtain a permit to hold or participate in any celebration, parade or special event”. Per the map included in the Municipal Code it appears that the Federal Building Lawn is also alcohol-friendly but the Balboa Park website does not include that location.
In addition to these sections of Balboa Park, consumption of alcoholic beverages is also allowed from 8 AM to 8 PM in the following locations per Appendix 56.54B of the San Diego Municipal Code.
- Cabrillo Heights Neighborhood Park
- Carmel Creek Neighborhood Park
- Carmel Del Mar Neighborhood Park
- Bill Cleator Neighborhood Park
- Collier Neighborhood Park
- East Clairemont Athletic Area
- Gershwin Neighborhood Park
- Lake Murray Community Park
- Montezuma Neighborhood Park
- Mount Acadia Neighborhood Park
- Murray Ridge Neighborhood Park
- Ocean Beach Rec Center Park
- Olive Grove Community Park
- Pioneer Park (Mission Hills)
- Presidio Park
- Rancho Bernardo Community Park
- San Carlos Community Park
- Serra Mesa Community Park
- Solana Highland Neighborhood Park
- Tecolote Community Park
Luckily for fans of San Diego beer, local breweries have recently started to embrace the aluminum side of packaging, making it much easier to enjoy a local beer at the above listed locations. Local breweries offering (or soon to offer) beer in cans include: Ballast Point, Hess, and Modern Times. Monkey Paw did a one-off canning experiment and may re-enter that scene again. Non-San Diego breweries that offer canned product available here include Oskar Blues (Colorado) and Maui Brewing (Hawai’i), among others.
If you enjoy beer, I hope you and your friends, family, and enemies find this information helpful and enjoy a sunny day this summer with one of your favorite ales or lagers. If you do, please remember to not be a jack-ass. Jack-assery, along with East and North City voters, make it no longer possible to enjoy a beer on the beach. Please respect those around you and yourself and enjoy your beer responsibly. Your loved ones will thank you for it.
John P. Anderson
Latest posts by John P. Anderson (see all)
- Plaza De Panama – A Host of People-First Changes Make a Big Impact in Balboa Park - March 17, 2016
- Some Market Thoughts on Short-Term Rentals in San Diego - February 2, 2016
- San Diego County Spends $36 Million for Free Employee Parking - November 6, 2015
What about Kate O. Sessions Memorial Park, please?
Kate Sessions Park was formerly on the above list, but now has a 24 hour alcohol ban in place. The city council voted unanimously in December 2010 to make this change.
For more information on the vote:
Thanks so much. How sad.
I used to live in San Diego, and KSMP was one of my favorite places for a Sunset Picnic as the view is killer from up there.
I agree. After the beach ban Kate Sessions became the primary outdoor drinking option and complaints started to mount after the amount of people, noise, etc. increased.
Definitely a great place to enjoy the views and outdoors, as are the beaches and so many areas of town. Don’t have to have a beer to enjoy it, but can be nice on occasion.
Hope life is treating you well and thanks for reading.
One of my favorite places to enjoy a brew is the Sculpture Garden between the MOMA, Museum of Man, and the Old Globe. It’s not listed on your map, however the grab-n-go cart in the courtyard at MOMA has sold Stone + other bottles for a while now, and they’ve recently added a few taps. The cafe at the Old Globe sells beer/wine as well.
jsnod – Great call. Thanks for sharing!
Extremely useful article. Thanks!
Danny – thank you and thanks for reading! Have a great weekend.
Here are all the places listed pointed out on Google maps
Adam – awesome! Thanks for putting the map together and sharing.
Great article! I’m a native San Diegan, and have seen it all unfold over time…a-hole owners concerned over their property value vs. a-hole students who have no respect for public peace…and they’ve both ruined this once-paradise for everyone. I believe SD’s alcohol consumption laws and the jerks that enforce them are a huge stain on our culture (at least what little culture we have left). I’ve been looking…do you know of groups pushing for reform?
Andy’O – FreePB (http://www.freepb.org/) is the organization I have seen most referenced in opposition to the alcohol beach ban. Perhaps at some point in the future it will be revisited by the City Council and/or a public vote. I’d like to see the decision made by the individual communities, where the local residents are affected, instead of a city-wide ban.
Great article, is this list still current today?
Jeremy – I believe this list is still valid. Enjoy the weekend ahead!