Bankers Hill

Am I really, really giving a gate adjacent food/morning pre-flight booze dispensary 5 stars?! Yes. I NEVER thought I’d see the day. Such a pleasant surprise on an unpleasant travel day. A small, local draft beer selection, the cocktails listed looked divine but I stuck to beer and wasn’t disappointed. The boss lady that opened at 6am super sharp was ready for the staggering, post beach vacation and business trip masses demanding hot food and strong drink. She also made sure my taco got out before I had to board my flight. She and the gentleman on duty this morning made my morning so much easier with their great attitudes and superb hospitality. Angels exist.

Located in an older terminal, and an airside concourse no longer than a car wash, options are limited. Seating is extremely limited, but if you can manage to rest your buns for a bit, I think you’ll be pleased with the food—it’s freshly prepared and includes a boarding pass to flavor-town. Everyone in my party loved their entrees and it was a great break in a crazy travel day.

Terminal 1 is crowded and limited places to grab food but Banker Hill is great for grabbing a sandwich that is already prepared.. just grab and go. I had the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich and chased it down with a California Honey Blonde Ale. Instead of waiting for a beer around the corner at the bar, stop here for little to no wait for local IPA, Lager, and Ale beers plus they have vodka and other alcoholic drinks available.....awesome....skip the lines!

Great bartenders-very knowledgeable and on the ball. Decent food, and local beers. Mostly ultra-hoppy West Coast IPAs. It’s also packed. Be prepared to stand or wait a while for a bar stool.

Grilled cheese was amazing! Salad was excellent and service was on the spot even with it being a very busy time!

Horrible service. The sign says the place is open until 10:30pm. Sat down at 8:42pm to have a drink before my 9:50pm flight. Was then told they are closed. According to the unpleasant bartender, they close 15 minutes prior to the departure time of the last flight. She said that was 8:55pm, so the last call was at 8:40pm. I said to her the last flight is at 9:50pm and they argued back to me but I am clearly on a later nondelayed flight which is a regular scheduled flight for Southwest as i take that flight all the time. They still argued with me snd told me the 9:50 pm flight is not common but I have flown it 30-35 times in the past few years and fly it again in 2 weeks so I left and saved my money ($22 for my whiskey drink). I saw one of the bartenders go look at the departure schedule, and obviously, she saw the 9:50 pm. flight as she whispered something to the other bartender. Horrible service !!!! The company just lost $44 in revenue, and the bartenders lost probably $10 -$12 in tips. Management needs to do better as this is the only place to get a drink on this terminal.

When you got that almost 5 hr lay over due to fog, here in the angst of waiting was this gem. It was a going and coming with people but alas if you're lucky and get a seat at the bar, you feel like a winner. The lovely bartenders kept my beverage full and kind conversation. The food was meh but the service was what kept me happy! Thank you to the staff for making my long wait less miserable. Stop on by for a good beverage!

The airport terminal is already noisy with people chatting. To have this place blaring additional loud rap music into the waiting area at the gates is really annoying.

For airport food it was pretty solid! No a free seat in the whole place, yet the service was knocking it out of the park! They were absolutely dominating it and staying calm through the chaos. It was actually really impressive to see how they never changed to a panic or got frustrated. It's an airport bar & grill so the ambiance is what you would expect at a tiny tiny airport terminal. I had the fish tacos and it was honestly far better than I ever expected, so I'm gonna give em the win. Check em out the next time you are stuck in this tiny airport of San Diego.

... we can't expect much when it comes to airport food and it sucks! The Caesar Salad was so bland y'all .... I didn't even know a salad could taste so blah ! The only reason for two stars is because the people working were nice and working hard to serve everyone. However, at this airport terminal you really don't have many options

Great service strong drinks Delicious truffle fries ! And Paloma Thanks Jillian for awesome service d

I dislike how small and limited the food selection they have here at SAN (terminal 1). After realizing we only have two choices for hot food and both places were packed, my coworker picked Banker Hill and I am so glad he did because the burger and fries we ordered were delicious! The fries were hot and fresh and I loved the generous seasoning. The burger could have been a little bit more moist but the generous amount of veggies and crunchy pickles made up for it. If I'm ever at SAN again, I would order the burger again!

Great food, had the garlic fries and they were yummy. Very fresh. Also had an old fashioned and it was SOLID! The service was great. Amazing bartenders. The Ambiance is chill, great music. I was just passing through but I stopped again leaving out of San Diego.

Had fish tacos and margaritas. I like that they had this grilled option instead of fried. Thought tacos were good but chips bland and only 1-2 tablespoons of salsa. Full plate servings here, no a la carte. Fish tasted nice and fresh and I will definitely try something else next visit. Margaritas were perfect. Chuy/ Chewy my Bartender was on top of it. Taking lots of orders and making cocktails quickly. There was a lady working on the other side that was just as quick. Two guys came in later and drank a couple of small glasses of beer. Discussing taste and quality; they seemed in the way. Felt kind of bad as the other two didn't get any break. No other choice of bar in this section but the bartenders made nice cocktails and super friendly.

Terminal 1 (gates 3-10) at SAN has a bit of a captive audience. When I tried to look around, it seemed like I needed to go back through security if I left this section. Might be because the airport is undergoing construction. There are four food places in this section (Bankers, Ciao, The Counter, and Einstein Bros). Looked at reviews and decided on fish tacos at Bankers. With two patrons in front of me, it took about 3 minutes to order. Ordered at 12:07 and sat down to take this food photo at 12:18. In case you're in a time crunch, you probably want 25-30 minutes if you're playing it safe. Got an order of fish tacos to go and they were ok. Presentation was nice. It's the non-fried version of fish tacos. Fish was a bit over salted, would've liked some more other non-salt flavor. Corn taco shell was also quite thick and a bit tougher than I'd like. Tortilla chips seemed freshly fried.

I have fond memories of this place- Enjoying a celebratory beer after getting the last two spots on a direct flight to Portland and after a cancellation, ensuring we made it in time to ring in the New Year. I've seen the crowd go wild over games on the big screen and bachelorette parties pre gaming in excitement over an upcoming trip. As far as airport bars go, this is a fun one. The only bummer is that the Southwest wings of Terminal One can get CROWDED so sometimes the lack of breathing room pushing and sloshing your beer isn't ideal. But it's not a bad place to kill some time before departure.

When you got that almost 5 hr lay over due to fog, here in the angst of waiting was this gem. It was a going and coming with people but alas if you're lucky and get a seat at the bar, you feel like a winner. The lovely bartenders kept my beverage full and kind conversation. The food was meh but the service was what kept me happy! Thank you to the staff for making my long wait less miserable. Stop on by for a good beverage!

Finally, I found good food in San Diego! Too bad it was at the airport. I was greeted by Terrance (?). He was friendly, professional and prompt. The ambiance was a small, bar like setting but it was cool. They had outlets to charge my phone and I was able to grab a seat to do just that. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with a salad and it was pleasantly delicious. Simple yet appeasing!

A great little place to stop before/between flights! The service is hella friendly, the drinks and the food are wonderful. Yes, it's a tad expensive, but it's way better-than-average airport food/drink. So I'll happily pay, eat, drink, and smile about it. If you're there for breakfast: get the breakfasts burrito-you'll not be disappointed!

Happy Taco Tuesday. Great breakfast Tacos in the San Diego Airport. What a pleasant surprise to find quality tacos, strong dark roast coffee with a super happy and efficient staff. Looks like a bar, because it is a bar. Bar seating, large TV's, beer on tap. This is your go-to breakfast taco stop when your in-between flights at San Diego Airport, Terminal A, Gate 8.

They charge a 2% surcharge for "employee retention". I asked if they would remove it as I know some restaurant will remove it and they said they could not. These service charges are just an attempt to hide the fact that your $14 meal is actually a $16 meal. Just raise your prices to $16, I pay the same either way and it's less deceptive. That being said, the staff was friendly and the food was good. If I was asked to just rate the service alone, it would be five stars.

Great to go sandwiches! Twice recently flying out of San Diego I purchased prepackaged sandwiches from Baker's Hill. The sandwiches are very good and fresh. Sandwich with a Perrier to go costs about $19 with tax.

A safe spot for great and familiar flavors! Aside from having a fully stocked bar, their staff is super kind and helpful. Their food are great flavors and textures and I found myself watching sports in an enjoyable environment. Definitely a great place to make friends and talk to strangers comfortably!

3.5 stars if I could. Service was very prompt and friendly despite a busy Saturday morning. I had the breakfast tacos. They had good flavor but way too much avocado cream! Maybe I should have ordered some bacon in them like the employee suggested. The blood Mary here was legit!! Very fresh, flavorful, and spicy! It was the best part.

Perfect bar for an airport. It faces gates 7 to 10. It is a great bar with fantastuc service. The bartenders are well aware of your quick visit and attend you quickly and courteously. Love stopping here on my way out of San Diego. Prices are pretty fair considering the location. Food was prepared hot and served quickly . Good place to start your trip.

There are limited options in the Southwest departure area of Terminal 1 at SAN. Bankers is the best of the rest. They have a full bar, including some fun local beers on tap. The food is typical pub fair at typical airport prices. I got the pulled pork sandwich with fries and washed it down with a Thorn Hazy IPA. They are small but the service was prompt and the environment had a good vibe

First off staff, drinks and food was wonderful! Owners chose to tack on a 2% charge to all food orders to offset cooks lack of pay. The front of house still are tipping out the back of house on top of this 2% but they management has not increased the pay in the back of house. There is no notification the the public of this additional charge. I think it's I had a Bloody Mary and fish tacos. They were both delicious and the staff was super friendly

Excellent service from an airport bar! Super busy as they are the only bar on this side.

Can't go wrong with a quick bite or drink while waiting for a flight. This spot is clean and convenient. Prices are reasonable and the staff are friendly. I'll drop by here again for sure when flying out of town.

There are not many options for food at the airport. The only reason I paid $12.50 for this sandwich is because someone recommended it. Each to go sandwich has a color dot on the bottom of the container. Check to make sure to pick a blue sticker. That indicates fresher. Brown dot is older sandwich. When I noticed the dots, I asked the young ladies working the register and that is what they told me. Once on the plane with my drink, I opened it and the smell was very good. The container makes eating sandwich easy. I had a fold down tray table, but my husband had a pull out. He was able to put this on his lap and enjoy his sandwich. Each half is packed full of turkey. The bread was very soft and moist and nice rye flavor that complimented the turkey. The turkey was plentiful and nice fresh flavor. I asked for a mustard pack and that complimented the sandwich. This sandwich was worth the price. I would buy this again if I was in the San Diego airport.

Am I questioning my sanity as I give 5 stars for airport bar food? Yes. But do these tacos deserve 5 stars and are they absolutely memorable? Yes. While I frequent the atrocious terminal 1 monthly, it's been a minute since I've ordered the tacos at Bankers Hill. I remember I used to enjoy them, but I think they made some changes because these were quite elevated from what my memory could recall. The chicken was so fresh, filling and perfectly cooked. The avocado cream added great flavor and prevented any dry sadness. The cabbage slaw added a great crunch and the tortillas tasted house made and super fresh too. I genuinely loved every bite and no longer fear heading out of SD terminal 1 because now I've got a go-to meal. The chips were even pretty fresh, thin and crispy which is a shock because, again, I'm in an airport bar. I surely hope BH and this menu / quality food makes it into the future terminal (post- renovation plans!)

This was a really great airport food spot - quick and friendly service and great food! Can't ask for more than that when at an airport. The chicken tacos and guacamole were excellent.

Definitely good food, served fresh and hot. The servers are "Johnny on the spot", helpful, polite and ready to help. If you're an "adult", this is the best place to hand out before your flight. Extra bonus, great music!

Just going to say that their breakfast burrito rocked. I was was pleasantly surprised.

This bar and grill is located inside the Southwest Airline gates. The day I visited was the day a lot of the Southwest Airline flights were delayed, including mine and I didn't want to keep going in and out of the airport so I hung out at this place for drink! I'm actually glad I did, because I've met some pretty amazing people for the several hours I I was there! I've enjoyed their screwball on the rocks! Their Chardonnay, and some fries to go with my lightweight consumption. The gentleman behind the bar, who had taken my orders every time I walked up was awesome! He remembered my name, my order, and offered some other menu items I might enjoyed. He was friendly, fast, and was great at his work as I sat back and observed interactions with the other customers. Many of us were waiting to fly out to our destinations. We shared our stories, got to know each other a bit, and laughed over drinks the entire time! It was a fun time! If you're ever on your way out of San Diego via Southwest airlines, check this place out! I'm glad I did!

Not many choices in this terminal, so they really have the monopoly, which is unfortunate. Ordered 2 champagnes and an order of fries, 50.00, plus tip. The fries tasted like they were sitting there for a while and they put them back in the fryer and sat for a bit again and finally brought out. They had a lump of Parmesan on top, which would have been fine if it was consistent over the fries and not in a clump. Took 25+ minutes to get the fries and we didn't have time to wait for a new batch, so didn't say anything to the staff. The saving grace was the staff, super friendly.

Awful burrito. Way too much guacamole and salsa inside. Bacon was over cooked. Sausage patty bland and undercooked. Mimosa was good though

What to do when you arrive at the airport 2 hours early?! Grab an adult beverage of course! Heck it's my birthday, I am allowed to get saucy. They are still following social distancing rules and you are not allowed to sit at the bar BUT you can drink anywhere around the gates. They pour the drinks into plastic cups. Prices are what you would expect from an airport bar but it's the only one around. Great way to kick off our trip!

It's so packed here !! But the bartender was so quick and kind ! She noticed us standing behind others and offered to get us drinks . Yes it's hella expensive for draft beer and red wine (I think $24 for both after tip) . The Malbec was an alright pour and tastes fine . The draft Belching beaver IPA was crisp and delicious ! Standing room only now but it's not that bad if you have the right travel companion . Now we got seats at bar ! Patrons are so nice today :)

The Avocado Toast is the best I've ever had, ANYWHERE. Whenever I'm flying out of Southwest terminal 1, I buy one when i arrive and when I return, I buy 2 to go to eat at home. The combinations of flavors is exquisite. B. Sutton

We visited this bar before our flight and our bartender Rich was so friendly and efficient! He made great recommendations and did everything he could to help us feel comfortable and well attended. Thank you Rich! Great way to start our vacation!

I had missed my flight due to really bad traffic on Halloween. Fortunately, there was another flight in 2 hours. Since I had time, I decided to get a drink. The bar was crowded but I found a little area in the right corner. Ordered a Tanqueray tonic. Jillian made it strong with an extra twist as requested. It was perfect! She was very attentive to me and everyone in my section. Time flew as I had my drink and chatted with other travelers. It was a pleasant experience and I will definitely be stopping here before my next flight.

Great place with an awesome vibe. The bartenders were top notch and the food was incredible! Jillian and Sharde made our crazy airport morning such a blast. Thank you so much!

On a recent work trip that had a layover in San Diego, the only option at the terminal I was at was Bankers. I was very surprised at the good quality of food and drinks that were served here. Here are my ratings based on different criteria: Quality of food: Pretty good. For food I had the pacific cod tacos. The tacos were perfectly seasoned and the fish was nice and flaky. With just a squeeze of lime juice, it kicked up the taste to another level. I also liked that it came with a small side of tortilla chips. For drink I had the "Ginger Kiss" that had Ginger rum, vanilla syrup, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, and orange bitters. The drink was spot on and refreshing. I also had a tall glass of beer from Stone Brewing. Decor: nothing fancy. It really looked like a small bar like place. Cleanliness: meh. I did not see anybody cleaning the tables. Service: chaotic. This place gets super packed if any of the flights in the terminal gets delayed. Since this is the only option for drinks and food at this terminal, everybody jam packs into this tiny place. With a $13.50 price tag for a cocktail...at an airport, I shouldn't have to get in a long line and shout over people like it's a nightclub. Price: expensive. Prices were high as expected from an airport restaurant. My two tacos were around $20. Tall beer was around $12. My cocktail was $13.50 You really don't have any other choice for food and drinks if you're in this terminal. Having said that, they did a decent job with filling me up.

Bankers checked off all the boxes with Burger's to order, Brioche Bun and Fries done right. Leaving on Southwest from San Diego grab a seat, watch the games and present a credit card with ID - You are all set for departure. All the wayward travelers are talkative and friendly-a great leaving for somewhere else soon experience.

For a quick grab and go before boarding a cross country flight, their sandwiches are more unique than other vendors in the area. We downed a quick Peppered Turkey and Sun Dried Tomato on Foccacia. Nice, but nothing spectacular (which I dont ever expect at airport stands). The line can be long and depending on whether your fellow travelers have fully made up their minds on selections (lots of impulse buy options in line to the register) it can be a slower than expected process. But all things considered, it was a better choice than the Einstein Bagel across the aisle.

Help!! I was recently stuck at the airport (delayed flight due to weather). What do I do when I've got 2 hours to kill? Grab a drink!! I stopped by Banker's Hill Bar & Restaurant (in the airport terminal) and tried their Grapefruit Collins (but with vodka instead). The rest of the ingredients include grapefruit and lemon juices, Peychaud's Bitters, and soda. Delicious cocktail!! *Licks Lips* I'll have to make my way to the actual restaurant in the Banker's Hill location to try the food one day!! ENJOY!!

If the Blonde Guy behind the bar would stop hitting on the underage patrons maybe the line would move faster.

Beverage was good and unique. Food was okay. Service was hopping and stellar. They manage the extreme flux of patrons through airports well.

I'm winning so hard. I had a drink served to me by a bartender who ID'ed me (and ladies, you know...once you hit 40, that doesn't really happen!), and I have a seat. You better have eagle eyes to snag or seat or prepare to stand forever. It's a small spot. Overpriced. Yes. Full bar. Yes. Music. Yes. People watching. Yes. Easy access to gate 9 and 10. Grab a drink and wait for your flight. Hit the easy button.

Delicious food! I had the fried chicken sandwich and everything about it was yum! Bartender was a sweet gal, she provided great service, and they are fully stocked with a variety of alcohol, depending on your preference. I had Ketel One and Cranberry... that never disappoints. Only reason I can't give a 5 is that seating sucks (it sucks in this whole Southwest terminal) so can't necessarily blame the restaurant... but it's so awkward trying to eat standing up at an angle to get a piece of the counter... All in all, I'd go back

Not much food places option in this terminal. Crowded at most times, as people are getting quick bites when waiting for next flight, prices are high as seen in most airport places. Food quality is so-so.

Exactly what an airport bar should be! Best bartenders! Good food and drink. Never thought I would put in a review for an airport bar, but this place deserves it. My new place when flying in/out of San Diego!

This is a fairly nice and cute place to grab a beer or two before your flight if you have to, but the beers are much too expensive for what they are in my opinion... and they serve them in a plastic cup, too! Other than that, the people who were working there were nice. I cannot say anything about the food, because I think the food was too pricey, and I did not have much time to eat anyway. This place is small and gets overcrowded at times, so I was lucky to find a seat.

There are hardly any tables but it's the airport. They made a pretty good bloody mary and didn't skimp on the alcohol....or maybe it went to my head because I was drinking at 1030 after being on a plane, deplaning for a delay and then finally discovering via texts (not the flight attendants) that our flight was fully cancelled. Imagine 300 passengers racing to get off a plane to quickly try and get on the next flight. Reason for the background info is that a good majority of these people ended up at Bankers Hill bar and we were all drinking Bloody Mary's after our ordeal. It turned into an impromptu party with strangers and made it fun. Even though we had to drink while standing up! We were a throng of people so it was hard to not find yourself standing outside the boundary line of the bar. Hence the picture below!

While waiting for my 6:45 am exciting trip back to DC from fabulous San Diego and knowing that my B55 Southwest status will most likely afford me that envious middle seat, I knew I wanted something more substantial than an empty bagel or M&Ms (although I never turn those down). It was sheer good fortune that I saw Bankers Hill right by my gate! The avocado toast called my name. Casey took my order and he was incredible. They sell Casa Noble tequila and although I love margaritas with the Casa Noble Reposado, even I knew it was a tad too early. Boarded the plane, got a window seat and waited until we took off to unwrap this present. Let me tell you...when I opened the eco-friendly packaging, it was more than i could have expected. There was also a side of dressed arugula too! ...this was one of the best avocado toasts I've ever had too....that bread...I tried to take my time savoring every bite. Now I know where to go every time I fly SWA out of San Diego. What a treat!! Best $13.95 ever spent - and remember to tip!

This little gem in the Southwest terminal of the San Diego airport offers great service and the most delicious avocado toast! The service is efficient yet friendly. They'll serve you quick if you're on the run, or you can enjoy lingering over a drink (or two) until your flight boards. I love good food, and was shocked to find the avocado toast is the most delicious combination of fresh, crunchy ingredients topped with savory crumbles of cotija cheese, thinly sliced Fresno Chile's and a lemon aioli drizzle. Wow! One of the best things I've ever eaten, and it's at the airport! I fly once a month and this will be my motivation to arrive early for every flight. This avocado toast is magically delicious! And the friendly service can't be beat. Thanks for making my

I've flown out of a lot of airports, which means that tend to review a lot of airport bars. I like to get there early, through security and get to a place to enjoy a nice beer or cocktail and some food before I fly out. We found two seats at the bar and found our server to be nice, knowledgeable about local beer and service was pretty quick. San Diego has a lot of great breweries and the taps here represent some of the local spots. We were allowed to sample a few and went with our favorites. To go with our beers, we ordered the carnitas nachos and a bratwurst that came with fries. Both were better than anything you would find in an airport bar and we were pretty impressed. The carnitas were very good; crispy chips, savory carnitas and topped with sour cream and pico - delish. The bratwurst was very good as well and we both were so full we could not finish our food. I can imagine that some of the reviews were frustrated with lack of service or it being crowded, but as the only airport bar in this concourse, everyone is flocking to it. Next time sit at the bar!