Who Has The Best Bloody Mary In San Diego? Here’s Your Guide!
Eat + Drink We asked expert Liz McCray of Blood Mary Obsessed to point us in the right direction!Blood Mary lovers know that a good bloody mary the morning after a big night out is a life-changing experience! And just about every bar and restaurant will make one for you if you ask…but a select few places treat their bloody mary making like it truly is: a work of art!
That’s why we asked our good friend and bloody mary expert Liz McCray of Bloody Mary Obsessed to give us her new and improved list of the best bloody marys in San Diego!
She did NOT disappoint! No matter what neighborhood your recovery morning finds you in…there’s something on this list for everyone!
Here’s where you can find the best bloody mary in San Diego, straight from Liz herself:
Farmer’s Table
The Barnyard Mary at Farmer’s Table is quite literally one of the most outrageous bloody marys I’ve had, ever. The farm-to-table restaurant brings the entire farm to this bloody mary as well as some friends from the sea, served in a pitcher with a whole roasted chicken, house-made sausages, shrimp, bacon and much more!
Food Network recently featured this behemoth and you can now grab one in La Mesa, Bay Park, and Little Italy! Farmer’s Table also has four other “smaller” bloody marys, if you’re not feeling a whole chicken at 9:00 a.m.!
Small Bar
I am pleased to announce, you all were right; Small Bar does have one of the best bloody marys in San Diego. Although Small Bar is, well….small, the Bloody Mary Superior is anything but! The house-made recipe they’ve been using since they opened is bold, rich and has a tangy sweetness from the addition of Guinness.
My favorite component of the bloody mary is the garlic and chili infused vodka. I actually put in my notes, “garlic on fleek”. You won’t be disappointed with this bloody mary!
Cafe 21
Cafe 21 is still delivering not one, not two, but three incredible bloody marys, all made from the freshest ingredients and completely from scratch! That’s right, even the juice itself is made fresh and sourced from local and sustainable produce. Fresh, to death! Ol’ Yello’ Mary is my top pick but neither Prawn Star or California Greenin’ will disappoint.
Terra American Bistro
Purveyors of “house-made,” Terra Bistro is committed to bringing local, sustainable, and organic, ingredients not only to their food but to the bar as well, #farmtobar. Their bloody mary bar has you first “choose your poison” from house-made infused spirits and build your bloody with a house-made mix and house-made garnishes such as pickles. In case you didn’t get it, they like to make things in-house!
JRDN
Located beachside in the Tower 23 Hotel, JRDN has one of the very best bloody marys in Pacific Beach. The bloody mary is refined and graceful and JRDN uses cilantro and jalapeños to infuse the vodka. It’s not too spicy, light and refreshing, which is perfect for those beach days! Sit on the patio and soak up some sunshine while you sip your classy beverage. If you’re more of a beer lover, their michelada is also killer!
Davanti Enoteca
One of San Diego’s best build your own bloody mary bars is in the heart of Little Italy. Some of the toppings include an extensive amount of hot sauces, pickled veggies, hard-boiled eggs, and prosciutto wrapped asparagus. My favorite part of the experience is that you have a bloody mary assistant who builds your cocktail for you, to absolute perfection! You can also find Davanti in Del Mar and Chicago!!
Snooze: an AM Eatery
With rotating seasonal cocktails and bloody marys, the Bangkok Bloody Mary from Snooze has remained constant and a favorite of Snoozer’s country wide. The best way to describe the Bangkok Bloody Mary is herbaceous umami! Fish sauce, Siracha, basil, cilantro, and what I believe is an award-winning house-made mix! The Bangkok Bloody is my favorite but you really can’t go wrong with any of their bloody marys!
Greystone Prime Steakhouse & Seafood
Oh you fancy huh? Probably the most elegant bloody mary I’ve ever had; Greystone Steakhouse’s infamous Bloody Truffle is truly a one of a kind. Bloody Truffle is made with Gresytone’s house-made truffle mix and topped with freshly shaved truffle dust. Truly an experience in itself the Bloody Truffle will tantalize your taste buds and expand your bloody mary horizons!
Sally’s Fish House + Bar
Sally’s Fish House is sophisticated seafood with picturesque views of the Seaport Village Harbor and home of the Ultimate Bloody Mary. Apart of their “Insta-worthy” cocktail list, the Ultimate Bloody Mary is a refreshing and herbaceous bloody mary mixed with cucumber vodka and topped with a seafood lovers delight! An exquisite piece of blackened shrimp and a foot-long king crab leg make this bloody mary a sea-inspired meal in a glass! Available #alldayeveryday
Kona Kai Resort + Spa
Beach, breeze, bloody….mary bar. Vessel Restaurant + Bar nestled in the Kona Kai Resort & Spa build your own bloody mary bar has some unique garnishes that you don’t typically see such as capers, baby corn, mushrooms, and watermelon rinds. It’s nice to see some different options on a BYOBMB! The best part about the bloody mary bar is that it’s BOTTOMLESS!! Drink, season, and garnish to your heart’s desire!
C Level Lounge
Level up your bloody mary with one of the very best views of the city skyline and Coronado. C Level’s Seafood Bloody Mary is a bold and spicy number, topped with shrimp and a crab claw! It’s pretty easy to drink this bloody mary in a matter of minutes! The best part is it’s available during ALL business hours! #alldayeveryday
Campfire
One the hottest restaurants in North County, Campfire delivers a crafty and youthful bloody mary to their stellar lineup of cocktails. Gather around a fire with your closest brunch buddies for a deeply smoky, rustic bloody mary that is topped with a camping necessity, potato chips! Oh and that rim? It’s lit!
The Roxy Encinitas
If you are heading up to north county San Diego then you can’t pass up The Roxy, in Encinitas! The “Everything but the Kitchen Sink,” bloody mary has a super-secret house-made mix that is delicious and literally garnished with everything but the kitchen sink. The towering 24oz bloody mary also comes with a Miller High Life pony, a Midwestern staple for bloody marys!
The Nolen Rooftop
Do you love blue skies, unbelievable views and great food and drinks? Look no further than the 14th-floor rooftop destination bar, The Nolen, for “The Sunday Requirement.” With a diverse menu of four bloody marys with unique spins on the traditional recipe, I say choose the Sunday Morning Remedy or Penelope. Breath in the fresh air and sip away your hangover with your brunch squad, sex in the city style!
Hello Betty Fish House
Sea life’s beauty with swaying palm trees, oceans views and a savory, warm bloody mary. Every morsel of the Hello Betty Bloody Mary has a umami flavor that is rich, deep and elevates the warmth of the tomato juice. Bloody Mary oyster shooters, bloody maria’s and a michelada mary bring options galore for the bloody mary lover. The salty and acidic bloody mary options pair perfectly with Hello Betty’s fresh local seafood fare!
Cali Comfort BBQ
Bacon lovers rejoice. The Monster Mary from Cali Comfort BBQ is topped with a hot, aromatic, dripping piece of candied bacon! Need I say more? The Monster Mary is 22oz of smokey, sweet, bacon dripping, bloody mary goodness. So much time and love goes into the food at Cali Comfort BBQ and you can taste it!
Breakfast Republic
You can’t go wrong with the Jurassic Pork Bloody at Breakfast Republic. There’s nothing archaic about this bold, tangy, peppery, savory bloody mary. The thick piece of Jurassic pork on top will satisfy any carnivore and make your mouth water. Lucky for you they have several locations to choose from, with what seems like a new one every week, so you’re always close by a Breakfast Republic!
Fruitcraft – Fermentery & Distillery
Fruitcraft, where the Eau de Vies spirits are fermented from fruit and not grains! The spirits are herb-infused and the cocktail is perfectly balanced and incredibly fresh. Fruitcraft is employee owned and has a long-term goal of reinvesting in local startups. Bloody marys driven by a mission just taste better!
OB Surf Lodge
Beach, breeze, bloodys are all one needs. OB Surf Lodge looks right out into the ocean and the OB Pier. Not only are the views stunning but the Kitchen Sink Bloody Mary is 100% vegan and the garlic, horseradish, and veggies are freshly squeezed and grated daily for the mix! Yum! Add some excitement to your morning and order it with habanero vodka!
La Valencia Hotel
Find four stellar Bloody Marys at The Med restaurant situated inside the “pink lady” aka La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla. One of the best bloody marys in La Jolla combined with million dollar views of the Pacific Ocean make La Valencia’s bloody mary menu too good to pass up. My pick is the Bayou Bloody Mary with a fried oyster and jumbo shrimp on top! Feeling a little sassy? Go for the Bloody Maria with tequila!
So there you have it folks! The latest and greatest list of the best bloody marys in San Diego! I still haven’t turned into a tomato so, on we go! Thank you so much for following along this bloody good adventure with me! If you have a favorite that you think I should try out in 2019, drop me a line and let me know!
See you there!
Clearly Liz knows her blood marys, and we plan on following her advice to the ‘T’! Be sure to say ‘hi’ when you see us out crossing our bloody mary bucket list!
And be sure to check out her website and follow her on Instagram to keep up with her amazing drinking adventures around San Diego!
