One Of The Best Rooftop Bars In San Diego
The Rustic Root in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter is one of the best rooftop bars in San Diego. Whether you’re trying to grab a rooftop brunch or your wanting to catch the sunset in the evening, Rustic Root has it all! They also offer dining downstairs but the two are separate so this review is only for the rooftop bar. Although I’m sure their downstairs dining area is just as fantastic!
Their rooftop is a beautiful place where they have giant lamp posts, inviting lounge chairs, topiary animals that look like Edward Scissorhands had created them himself, and of course a lovely view of downtown. We kicked things off with a couple of cocktails. I had the Caribe Colada and Jarod had his favorite the Rustic Old Fashioned.
The Caribe Colada has Bacardi rum, Whaler’s Dark rum, coconut cream, golden falernum, coconut water, angostura bitters and pineapple. Basically it tasted like a vacation in a cocktail glass!
Jarod’s pick, the Rustic Old Fashioned, had most of what you would expect, Rustic Woodford Reserve and bitters. But it also had Giffard Banana and Amaro Nonino for a unique twist on this classic cocktail.
Now let’s move on to the food menu! Because we were on the rooftop they have more of a bar menu than a fine dining menu. Don’t let that fool you though, they have some excellent options that are totally dinner worthy.
We started things out with one of the smaller dishes, the Firecracker Shrimp. It’s served with a swirl of Sriracha aioli and spicy mango sauce that will make your tastebuds dance with happiness! Plus the wrap on the outside gave it that perfect crunch.
If you’re craving something a little heartier, the options further down the menu should fit the bill! We each ordered a different entree to share because we were definitely still hungry! First let’s discuss this beautiful RR Burger. Just look at the squishy sunny side up egg! Hidden underneath is a juicy grass fed beef patty, house made bacon jam, mustard aioli, and aged cheddar cheese. If you were to only one item here, I would recommend this one because it was delicious!
French fry lover? Then I would suggest the Flat Iron Steak Frites. The steak was very tender and had a divine drizzle of chimichurri rojo to pair with a giant mountain of fries. My only complaint is that there wasn’t more chimichurri. That sauce was amazing and I wanted more! It would make a tasty fry sauce (wink wink Rustic Root).
All in all, if you’re looking for a relaxing and delicious rooftop dining experience in downtown San Diego, this is sure to be a new favorite!
📍Rustic Root: 535 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
🚗Parking: Street parking or paid lot parking.
👗Attire: Business Casual
🍽 Perfect For: Couples, Small Groups
☀️Outdoor Seating Available: Yes
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