The Alibi
Bar · San Diego
About The Alibi
At The Alibi, we're all about creating a relaxed vibe that's perfect for a night out with friends or a low-key evening with loved ones. Our casual hangout is where retro charm meets modern twists - think classic jukebox tunes and pool tables alongside expertly crafted beers and mixed drinks. We've b...
At The Alibi, we're all about creating a relaxed vibe that's perfect for a night out with friends or a low-key evening with loved ones. Our casual hangout is where retro charm meets modern twists - think classic jukebox tunes and pool tables alongside expertly crafted beers and mixed drinks. We've built a loyal following by serving up tasty bites to complement our handpicked cocktails, from comfort food classics to more adventurous fare. Regulars rave about our friendly service and cozy atmosphere, making us the go-to spot in San Diego's University Heights neighborhood for an unforgettable night out.
What Customers Say About The Alibi
The Alibi is a popular dive bar known for its friendly staff, pool tables, and chill atmosphere. Customers appreciate the good drink specials and the sense of community. Some find the cash-only policy and occasional rude behavior off-putting.
Best For
Tip: Bring cash, as it's a cash-only bar. Weekday afternoons are recommended for a more laid-back experience.
Features
What to see nearby
Data from Wikidata
Explore the area around The Alibi
The Alibi is located in San Diego, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Historical Heritage
- Teacher Training School Building-San Diego State Normal School (A 924m) — building in San Diego, California, United States Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
Religious Buildings
- All Saints Episcopal Church (A 855m)
Data from Wikidata
Frequently asked questions about The Alibi
The Alibi San Diego Reviews
I came here for the first time 2 years ago. During that first week, I met Jamie, Brian, Ron and Jason. Needless to say, I knew I would keep coming back every week. Cool vibes, great games, awesome staff and the owner Joe is cool every time I see him.
Who needs an Alibi?? Yea me too!! I love stopping in for a drink or 2 or 3 on Sunday before I stroll around the Hillcrest Farmers Market! Cold beer and friendly people!
same block as famous international hostel @TheHostelCalifornia Best Dive bar in Hillcrest! I’ve been coming here since draft beers were $2.50!
1st time visit, meeting up with friends. Hillcrest has sure grown an expanded. So many new bars, stores, etc. Alibi is a great place to play a game or two of pool or sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. Very friendly bar staff an plenty of room to sit back.
same block as famous international hostel @TheHostelCalifornia Best Dive bar in Hillcrest! I’ve been coming here since draft beers were $2.50!
I came here for the first time 2 years ago. During that first week, I met Jamie, Brian, Ron and Jason. Needless to say, I knew I would keep coming back every week. Cool vibes, great games, awesome staff and the owner Joe is cool every time I see him.
Who needs an Alibi?? Yea me too!! I love stopping in for a drink or 2 or 3 on Sunday before I stroll around the Hillcrest Farmers Market! Cold beer and friendly people!
1st time visit, meeting up with friends. Hillcrest has sure grown an expanded. So many new bars, stores, etc. Alibi is a great place to play a game or two of pool or sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. Very friendly bar staff an plenty of room to sit back.
This place is really amazing great place to kick back and chill with your spouse have a few and enjoy a nice evening. Maybe shoot some pool right in the heart of a beautiful community. Something a bit different than everything else that is offered there. The staff is really friendly and most anybody I've seen there was also very friendly. I really enjoyed the privacy of having a booth to myself just to hang out and chill and sip on some Virgin drinks. This place comes highly recommended a great small edition to the community.
Honestly was not expecting to find this kind of vibe in Hillcrest. Free pool tables, great patio, not overcrowded, good selection of divey but not biker gang music at just the right volume to have light conversation, chill patrons, great drink specials, friendly service. Went on a Sunday night and Nico is a great bartender with helpful drink recommendations. I will definitely come back when I'm the area!
Old school bar. Awesome bartenders thats all you pansies need to know. Im out
I really love this place although I don't drink much. Everyone is really friendly and I got some great pool games in with the locals.
The Alibi is my go-to neighborhood bar. Chill vibe, a good jukebox, and a perfect spot to kick back and relax. I’m mostly into IPAs, and they have good ones like Stone Delicious and Space Dust on tap. I prefer coming during the day when it’s more laid-back, but even at night when it gets busier, the service is always solid. Friendly staff, cool regulars, and just an all-around good spot to hang. Definitely one of my favorites in San Diego.
First time here. It’s your typical dive, don’t expect anymore, don’t expect any less. Quarter machine was out of order so could play some of the games we wanted to but the bartender was pretty nice which is always great when it comes to drive bars
I really love this place although I don't drink much. Everyone is really friendly and I got some great pool games in with the locals.
Old school bar. Awesome bartenders thats all you pansies need to know. Im out
First time here. It’s your typical dive, don’t expect anymore, don’t expect any less. Quarter machine was out of order so could play some of the games we wanted to but the bartender was pretty nice which is always great when it comes to drive bars
The Alibi is my go-to neighborhood bar. Chill vibe, a good jukebox, and a perfect spot to kick back and relax. I’m mostly into IPAs, and they have good ones like Stone Delicious and Space Dust on tap. I prefer coming during the day when it’s more laid-back, but even at night when it gets busier, the service is always solid. Friendly staff, cool regulars, and just an all-around good spot to hang. Definitely one of my favorites in San Diego.
Honestly was not expecting to find this kind of vibe in Hillcrest. Free pool tables, great patio, not overcrowded, good selection of divey but not biker gang music at just the right volume to have light conversation, chill patrons, great drink specials, friendly service. Went on a Sunday night and Nico is a great bartender with helpful drink recommendations. I will definitely come back when I'm the area!
This place is really amazing great place to kick back and chill with your spouse have a few and enjoy a nice evening. Maybe shoot some pool right in the heart of a beautiful community. Something a bit different than everything else that is offered there. The staff is really friendly and most anybody I've seen there was also very friendly. I really enjoyed the privacy of having a booth to myself just to hang out and chill and sip on some Virgin drinks. This place comes highly recommended a great small edition to the community.
An oldie but goodie. They only accept cash, but they have an ATM inside. I like coming here to play pool and drink pear cider 😆 they have a few games to play, a long bar, a couple booths inside, and now an outside patio space. Not much to look at. This is where you bring old friends you actually like to hang out with.
Great place for billiards and average drinks with a good atmosphere. Outdoor and open garage air in the bar was cool, reminds me of going out to your friends basement in high school. Bartender was not the nicest about drink selection recommendations. Cash only, not sure why but would have some ideas. Will only come here again if other friends pick it as there’s better and more friendly neighborhood dive bars.
It's everything you want out of a dive and more. It's a friendly bar with a great chalk board in the back patio to scribble on and an impressive ship model on one of the walls, which was pretty neat.
An oldie but goodie. They only accept cash, but they have an ATM inside. I like coming here to play pool and drink pear cider 😆 they have a few games to play, a long bar, a couple booths inside, and now an outside patio space. Not much to look at. This is where you bring old friends you actually like to hang out with.
Great place for billiards and average drinks with a good atmosphere. Outdoor and open garage air in the bar was cool, reminds me of going out to your friends basement in high school. Bartender was not the nicest about drink selection recommendations. Cash only, not sure why but would have some ideas. Will only come here again if other friends pick it as there’s better and more friendly neighborhood dive bars.
It's everything you want out of a dive and more. It's a friendly bar with a great chalk board in the back patio to scribble on and an impressive ship model on one of the walls, which was pretty neat.
Love the pool tables! outdoor space for vaping/smoking, full bar, but it’s cash only and the door to the one of the bathrooms doesn’t lock properly so got walked in on
This is a dark place, even during the day. That's not a criticism, just letting you know, it's a BAR! Two pool tables and the pool is free which is nice. They have a few video games too. I was there on a Sunday about noon so crowd was small of course but looks like they have dancing at night. There's a DJ booth set up so I'm assuming so. Bartender was super nice and the patrons we're mostly regulars as far as I could tell. The drinks are serious business here folks. They don't hold back, you get your money's worth in this place! Just a note:. Cash only though. They have an ATM inside for your convenience though. Keep the overhead down this way which explains the killer pours!
It's a bar. The drinks are good and the people are nice.
This is a great local bar. It's not the fanciest, but it's not a dive either.
Love the pool tables! outdoor space for vaping/smoking, full bar, but it’s cash only and the door to the one of the bathrooms doesn’t lock properly so got walked in on
Very local, very dark inside. Low key. Bartender poured good drinks, but she was not attentive. She was friendly enough though.
Very local, very dark inside. Low key. Bartender poured good drinks, but she was not attentive. She was friendly enough though.
This place seems to think it is a straight bar and always have been. My card got hacked while using it here. I had to cancel the card. Trashy.
Bartender and patrons were extremely rude and violent for no reason.
This is second time that I was refused service at this dive bar. Jason wanted to double down about the way we “stubbled” to the bar. I had to ask if he was refusing service to us. The most unprofessional response that I’ve heard from a bartender. This is the first bar that i took to show a tourist and you ruined it. I understand a refusal for service at a bar but there is way to articulate that.
A blackout drunk woman threw her drink all over my friend. Then, she lied about what happened causing my whole group to be kicked out somehow. I don’t even know how this could happen at any other bar. Needless to say we won’t be coming back.
A blackout drunk woman threw her drink all over my friend. Then, she lied about what happened causing my whole group to be kicked out somehow. I don’t even know how this could happen at any other bar. Needless to say we won’t be coming back.
Bartender and patrons were extremely rude and violent for no reason.
This place sucks. Little dinghy bar smells like cigarettes and vomit. Not to mention it’s cash only like this isn’t 2024. The staff are complete jerks. They served my table drinks at 1:45 am and demanded everyone to chug them at 1:55 screaming that they are closed and everyone needs to get out. They couldn’t even wait for people to grab their belongings before rudely pushing them to the door. All patrons were very respectful. Just the two old bar tenders were cranky. I suggest management hire younger people who can stay up past midnight without getting cranky.
Sign in to leave a review
Sign inRemove ads and manage your menu
Explore Your Area
Roots Bowls
Gossip Grill
Loving Hut
Ichiban
Flicks
Parma Cucina Italiana
InsideOut
Arrivederci
Phở Fifth Avenue
Huapangos Mexican Cuisine
2 Photos
Explore The Alibi's photos
About The Alibi
How to get there
1403 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Highlights
Services
Dining Options
Restaurant Info
Amenities
The Neighborhood
Location
1403 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
📍 Explore the Neighborhood
Upcoming Events
Snapdragon Stadium Tours
14 Jul. 2026, 00:00
Snapdragon Stadium
Jack Botts w/ Alex Bergan
14 Jul. 2026, 20:00
Casbah-San Diego
Eric Roberson
14 Jul. 2026, 21:00
Music Box
Snapdragon Stadium Tours
15 Jul. 2026, 00:00
Snapdragon Stadium
building in San Diego, California, United States
Gaming
🎮 Earn Points While You Explore!
Play Find Me and redeem points for discounts at The Alibi and other restaurants
Earn Points at The Alibi!
Play Find Me and redeem rewards here
Earn extra points and redeem them for rewards at The Alibi
🏆 Rewards at The Alibi
10% Discount
At The Alibi
Free Appetizer
On your next visit
VIP Table
Premium experience
to redeem rewards and earn points
📋 How Do Rewards Work?
Play Find Me
Every 100 score points = 1 reward point
Collect Points
Workers earn 2x points per game
Redeem Rewards
Discounts, free food and VIP experiences
Is it yours? Claim it FREE!
Remove ads and manage your menu