Salt & Whiskey

Katy Culver

Julian was our server and he did great! We asked questions, he got answers; and had a great vibe about him. You couldn't even tell it was his first day. He was attentive and handled it with flawlessly. We will be back!

Josh Cadieux

The spot is just relaxing. Old world feels with great service from the bartender. Everyone i talked to enjoyed their drinks, and the menu is simple, but well made. I really enjoy stopping here as my first stop downtown for a quiet drink and a snack. The whiskey selection is solid. 8 beers on tap. The bar can make an exceptional cocktail, I highly recommend taking the time to try some of them.

Examiner 007

We stayed at the Horton so naturally when it was raining outside we stayed in and wow I’m so glad we did. The wood work and trim and paintings on the walls are exquisite. The service was good and she was happy and friendly. The humans and warm pita bread made you warm and cozy inside. Seasoned perfectly. The Old Fashioned and whiskey sour were perfect. The Caesar salad was fresh and the tenderloin was Spectacular! So tender and juicy with a Demi glaze that was a perfect complement to the meat. Finished with a brandy and dancing. You never know when a good time will turn into a memorable night. Thank you to the chef the server and the entertainer. C😊

Marcel Dekker

Gotta love this place. Restaurant is part of the hotel, and has a very nice interior. The service was superfriendly but also superslow. There was an event on, which may have impacted the speed of service though. Apart from that all was perfect: from the whisky-sours to the food.

Christy Chadwick

The food was great! The steak had a lot of flavor and was tender. Our only gripe was the service. There's really no place to check in so we had to flag someone down at the bar since the waitresses just kept walking past us not even asking if we needed anything. Then our waitress must have been new because the bartender kept coming to our table to check on us. I had asked for a refill on my coke as my meal was brought to the table and I didn't get it until I was done with my dinner and only because a bar tender asked if we needed anything. But we will definitely dine here again.

Neil Thompsett

I had the honor of eating their New York serloin steak and was simply blown away. Its delicate balance of tenderness, salt, and flavor brought a sensual sensation that opened a door to pleasures and tastes that I fear I will never experience ever again. Its thick one inch size and soft almost melted texture brought exttasy to every bite. Eating their steak was such an intense and pleasurable experience that I fear I can never eat another steak again as nothing would ever compare to the whole flash flood of endorphins that were released once my tongue touched that steaky beefy flesh. I may have to run away to a vegan convent after the shameful thought of ever finding a steak that good again. The steak now haunts my dreams and may have even dulled my senses as I will never understand pleasure like that so long as I ever live. That steak made me question the existence of god and evolution at the same time since no devine being nor force of nature could ever have crafted such a beautiful piece of meat like that again. Every bight made me convinced that the cow that was slaughtered must have been a virtuoso in happiness as well as being made of gold only allowing itself to be slaughtered but defiling itself for allowing such a worm like me to taste it. Only the fates know of the delights I felt the night o ate this steak….and hopefully the tip we gave the waitress can only show a fraction of the awe I felt this night for the steak….all in all, it’s pretty good for the price.

Carol Post

The drinks at Salt & Whiskey was very inventive and delicious. But, what made the place special were Mick and Tyler. They understand hospitality and good customer service. A bar can be a quiet, solitary place. Or it can be fun and lively. The two of them were very personable and worked well together. They made everyone feel welcome. The Penicillian was nice and light, but flavorful. The Old Fashioned was on point. The fun drink, Better Together, blended chocolate and peanut butter into a yummy treat with just a hint of espresso. I would say it is worth a visit to this bar for sure! It is an enjoyable place to have a fun drink. Cheers!

Spent the night in downtown and had to come by since I’d heard it was rumored to be haunted?? We had perfect drinks, Grand 75 for me and my friend had what he said was an amazing whiskey flight. Our server Julian took great care of us for our apps and dinner. He was super attentive and gave good recs for the area. Even if you live here you should totally stop by! We’ll be coming back for a night out again.

Tyler the bartender and Victor the security guard are incredible. The service is outstanding and the Atmosphere is impeccable. Chill vibes and outside patio are very relaxing. 10/10 would recommend.

Such a nice space! Erica and Chris are awesome. Great drinks and vibes especially if you want to have a conversation with someone or for a drink before an event

Popped in over the weekend before a dinner reservation, and the service did not disappoint! Bailey and Tyler gave us great service (and a stellar Old Fashioned) that will definitely keep us coming back. Since we were at the bar we didn't need a server, but Erika was also going around giving good energy. Would love to come by again for some food and a longer visit. If you're looking for a cozy bar/restaurant that's not not as crazy as the neighboring ones downtown, you will not be disappointed!

We visit regularly. love this place. Great atmosphere. Erika greeted us upon arrival. She is so friendly and professional. Chris made us great drinks. Long Islands. He is a great addition to the restaurant. He is very friendly and professional. We ordered the burger & fries. Delicious. We always have a nice time at Salt & Whiskey.

LOVE this place! The bartenders are amazing! Especially Chris, Tyler, Bailey, and Erika. They are all so welcoming and helpful. They are always on top of making sure we have a full drink. Plus they are super personable and sociable. Honestly, my friends and I come back for the bartenders! The food is good too. Especially the new menu. And especially the FRIES! So good.

If you're into an old fahsion Victorian Era step inside the Horton Grand Hotel. Chris one of the bartenders introduced me to an amazing drink "I like Whiskey". This place is wonderful for date nights ...their menu looks absolutely amazing. Try the Prime NY Strip Sirlon which is absolutely divine.

The staff are all super friendly and the bar is great! We were served by Bailey, Chris, and Ty, all of whom were very professional and made VERY GOOD drinks. Overall ten out of ten definitely a great spot to come have drink. The hotel is also STUNNING and a super cool place to look check out

Chris at the bar takes pride in his work. Very knowledgeable on bourbons and different whiskeys. Burger was great along with the fries. Bailey and Erica were very friendly and felt like you were at a friends house for drinks. Great spot!

I stopped by while waiting on my dinner reservation, so so glad I did. I was waiting to meet a date and he told me he’d be an hour late, so I decided to grab a drink. Julian my sever was so knowledgeable and helped me pick out a cocktail I liked. I don’t even usually drink alcohol but he made me the yummiest drink. I later got stood up but Julian honestly turned my night around!

This entire bar crew is absolutely amazing, they go above and beyond to make everyone feel welcome. Bailey, Chris, Tyler, and Erika all blew it away with their mixology skills and even managed to get me a soup made when they were out already for the night! All around amazing experience and conversation as well! This bar is awesome 💯😎

This place is amazing guys! I was walking down the street and the exterior called to me. Once I walked in the vibe was everything I was looking for. Chill, welcoming and kind. Chris and Alisa were extremely attentive and informative. Especially over the drink selection. Chris is a great bartender, I would definitely come back tomorrow to say what’s up. Alisa, invited me again for a tour of the place because they offer a venue, if you’re planning an amazing party. The location is great and a landmark I recommend you all to visit.

Every time I come here the people are so welcoming and kind. Everyone is treated as a local coming here. Definitely come back over and over for the food, drinks, and service. Chris and Tyler always behind the bar with the greatest personalities and best drinks. Bailey and Erika are equally as amazing. Love the people here and the food and drinks just make it even better. Highly recommend.

Stephanie Beach

Tyler the bartender and Victor the security guard are incredible. The service is outstanding and the Atmosphere is impeccable. Chill vibes and outside patio are very relaxing. 10/10 would recommend.

Daevionne Beasley

Popped in over the weekend before a dinner reservation, and the service did not disappoint! Bailey and Tyler gave us great service (and a stellar Old Fashioned) that will definitely keep us coming back. Since we were at the bar we didn't need a server, but Erika was also going around giving good energy. Would love to come by again for some food and a longer visit. If you're looking for a cozy bar/restaurant that's not not as crazy as the neighboring ones downtown, you will not be disappointed!

America turndownforwhat

This entire bar crew is absolutely amazing, they go above and beyond to make everyone feel welcome. Bailey, Chris, Tyler, and Erika all blew it away with their mixology skills and even managed to get me a soup made when they were out already for the night! All around amazing experience and conversation as well! This bar is awesome 💯😎

Elena Jacoby

Spent the night in downtown and had to come by since I’d heard it was rumored to be haunted?? We had perfect drinks, Grand 75 for me and my friend had what he said was an amazing whiskey flight. Our server Julian took great care of us for our apps and dinner. He was super attentive and gave good recs for the area. Even if you live here you should totally stop by! We’ll be coming back for a night out again.

Levi Renninger

Greta cocktails and local brews! A bit pricey and atmosphere of a hotel bar. Staff was very welcoming and service was slow but considerate and enjoyable, wouldn’t not hesitate to come here again before a concert or a Padres game to avoid the crowds and catch up with some friends.

Julie

The place atmosphere was very nice. I ordered fish dish and it was sea bass on that day. The taste was okay. My coworker was ordering the pork chop and it looked really good and the taste was great. so I wish I was ordering that one.

I am currently on a Scotch kick so I've scouted out this place for a while and it was nice to finally go. We got a table and ordered the Clynelish 14 and the GlenGarry. The GlenGarry sucked but nice price, would definitely go for the Clynelish 14 more tho. The service was immpecable. Amazing service, the server was well informed of inventory and super attentive to all customers. Overall solid place, unfortunately the selection of Whisky is a bit smaller but the service definitely makes up for it.

Josh Baltazar

I am currently on a Scotch kick so I've scouted out this place for a while and it was nice to finally go. We got a table and ordered the Clynelish 14 and the GlenGarry. The GlenGarry sucked but nice price, would definitely go for the Clynelish 14 more tho. The service was immpecable. Amazing service, the server was well informed of inventory and super attentive to all customers. Overall solid place, unfortunately the selection of Whisky is a bit smaller but the service definitely makes up for it.

Steven Clifford

This makes me sad to leave a review like this. It seem like this used to be a San Diego institution that fell on hard times at some point. From the time I walked in to the time I left, it felt like there was a discombobulated flow to everything. I didn't know if I should wait to be seated or seat myself. A nice guy under the staircase did let me know that I should go find a seat and that a server would be with me shortly. I found my seat and waited for a few minutes. I was greeted by someone who let me know that she would be my server. She asked me if I would like anything to drink or if I needed time with the menu. I had checked it out ahead of time online and I saw that the Whiskey Sour was popular. I asked for it, but was not asked for any preference of whiskey, which I thought was strange. She left and put my order in. I waited a while for the drink and another server came over and asked if I had been taken care of. Not knowing if I should wait for my drink or not, I just decided to order a Caesar Salad, which I thought was a side Caesar, and the burger cooked medium. She took my order and left. A while later, my drink arrived and it looked odd for a Whiskey Sour. I could smell the egg whites which I also though was abnormal. It also had a somewhat salty flavor which was off putting. I got a crunch of what I'm assuming was eggshell as well. Meanwhile, I waited and waited, assuming the salad would come first. About 20 minutes later, a giant Caesar and my burger came out together, which was surprising. I thought I would get my salad first which is normal in any dinner service. When the server delivered the meal, she just said, "Enjoy!" and left. I was going to order a different drink, but didn't get the opportunity. The Caesar was mediocre at best. It was dripping in, what I'm sure was, bottled dressing. Most salad preparations will divide the Romaine lettuce down the rib in the middle and then cut across to create bite-sized pieces of lettuce. It was obvious that an entire head had been cut into long strips with the rib still in the middle creating a very difficult and cumbersome eating experience. The burger was, however, very good, which is why this restaurant got 2 stars and not just 1. I requested a medium preparation, and that's exactly what I got. It was juicy, the Brioche bun was toasted well, and the caramelized onions were perfect. The fries were very obviously frozen-to-fryer, but were done well with a salt and pepper seasoning. My water glass was empty for quite some time. It frustrated me to see that the bartender was seated at a table under the staircase and the other server was chatting with her. When I tried getting their attention for service, I couldn't. I wasn't going to go out of my way to wave my hands or anything, but as a former member of the service industry, I felt as though they should have been more attentive. I always was. I was finally checked on about 10 minutes into my meal's arrival to the table. This check in was basically done to refill an empty water glass and see if I needed my bill. I have not felt so disregarded as a customer in a restaurant in quite some time. I did not take my leftovers with me, as I did not feel the overall quality deserved a second experience. If you're in San Diego, I wouldn't spend my money here. There are so many other places to go in the Gas Lamp Quarter. I'd take a ride share to this place and walk a block in any direction away from the front door and find better service and food. 1/10 recommend.

JK Buckler

Stopped in for our complimentary drinks (old fashions) at happy hour and the bartender welcomed us and made great drinks. So we went back for happy hour the next day and it was a disaster. The waitress was sitting at the bar taking up 2 of the 5 bar stools. So we sat at a high top and waited. When she finally got to us she didn't know what was in the Tuesday drink of the day even though she claimed that she wrote the drink menu. When our 2 drinks finally arrived the waitress disappeared for a very long time and I had to pay my tab at the bar. Also while all this waiting was going on a couple walked in with their dog to chat with the bartender.