"It may sit atop the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Gaslamp/Convention Center hotel, but The Nolen is a place all its own (it even has a dedicated entrance on 6th Avenue). Take the elevator to the top floor and you'll find a modern, open-air lounge with almost-panoramic city views. Hotel rooftops can feel too young, too cheesy, or both, but this is a classy space, with thoughtful drinks to match. Expect San Diego-produced spirits and a barrel-aged cocktail program that employs unique blends of hard-to-find spirits. (The Limit Two, for example, is a heady blend of overproof Jamaican rum, Aperol, amaro, Lillet Blanc, and orange bitters)." - Archana Ram