Belly Up Tavern

I finally got to Belly Up and for a "first timer" it didn't disappoint! I'm grateful to my friend, who had been before, for knowing how to get the best seats. There are only a few seats available, and if you're not quick, you may end up standing. The band was good, George Throrogood & the Destroyers, the food was good, the service was very good and the drinks were OK, but expensive. Parking is free but minimal. Overall, I was impressed and would not hesitate to return.

Okay. I'm gonna get letters. If I could, I would give this venue 2 1/2 stars. This is for General Admission, by the way. The parking was easy enough when I got there an hour early. Say just over 100 yards to the back of the line. The line, eventually, was longer in back than I was to the front, so fine. Getting in, I quickly found that the, "No guarantee of a seat", on my ticket was prophetically true. VIP members get first dibs on seating, so, maybe, two hours early? Also, don't expect that eating next door will be your gateway to an early admission; not on a sellout. Expect to be standing for the entire show. I was grateful for my spot against a pillar and some row seating. I had AC at that spot as well. Hey, viewing is good from everywhere, so there is that. About the show in relation to the venue; here's where it falls apart for me. I need to remember IT'S A CLUB. Full bar, and it looks like food can be ordered as well (seat specific, I'm sure). The talking around me was distracting at times when quiet was called for and the music loses out sometimes. It does sound okay otherwise. There it is. Hey, I'm glad the Belly Up has been here as long as it has. Goodness. It was there when I lived nearby almost 50 years ago. Kudos to them. The most important things to know are to wear comfortable shoes, and pick shows that work well in a club-like setting.

We always have a great time going to the Belly Up. Venue is a good size and fun aesthetic. Big floor in front of the band and seating on the outside too.

It was my 1st time here. I found street parking no problem. I saw Sister Nancy and she was amazing!! I would definitely return. Bathrooms were clean. Security were courteous. The crowd around me were friendly. I had a great time!!

The Belly Up is a jewel of North County San Diego. It offers an intimate environment to see bands and comedy shows that typically play at much larger venues. The staff is always friendly and the bartenders are fantastic. If you haven't been yet, what are you waiting for?!

Come here if you're visiting North County. One of the best sound systems for a live venue I've ever heard. If the artists on stage are good, it literally sounds like youre in the studio while they are recording. Absolutely stellar venue. Great service. Always good musicians. And the table service is fast and on point.

I've been here for 3x and it's one of my favorites. As a ska fan this place is iconic and seeing Save Ferris there was something truly heart warming. I can't believe as a MN punk I get to experience awesome music like that and Idles in a fun venue.

I love this place. What a great venue. The drinks are generous, the service is great, and... what more do you want. Just check this place out. FYI - No open tabs at the bar. It's a pay as you go situation. I think it generates more tips for the bar tenders. 😉

Throwback night at the Belly Up! Haven't been to the Belly Up in about 20 years! The vibe is still the same, just with some nice upgrades to the venue. The opening band, Hot Lava (@hot_lava_band), kicked things off with major B-52s energy it super fun and energetic. Then The Spazmatics came on and WOW GODDARN they were GREAT! So many fun hits from the '80s, it honestly felt like a total time warp in the best way. There was a mix of standing room on the floor and some seating available. I believe there's also an upper section for an additional cost if you want a different view. All in all, the Belly Up is still as awesome as I remember. Can't wait to go back again soon!

This place is a LOT nicer than I expected! It's very clean, spacious, has excellent AC, nice decor, lots of free seating, serves pretty good food and drink, and is well staffed with friendly and attentive staff. It's a really nice venue to watch live music! If you have a chance to go, you will certainly not be disappointed by the venue. We saw an 80s cover band there and it was a lot of fun!

"So needless to say I'm odds and ends But I'll be stumblin' away Slowly learnin' that life is okay Say after me It's no better to be safe than sorry" - a-ha A fellow Yelper (thank you, Klariza F.!) hooked us up with comp tix to see 80s cover band The Spazmatics on a Friday night. Arriving just before doors opened at 8:30 for a 9 pm concert, we lucked into a prime street parking spot right in front - somehow no one had taken it despite a fair number of patrons already waiting in line to enter the venue who had presumably parked farther away! Tickets, IDs, and bags were efficiently inspected once inside. The venue was much larger than I anticipated, with two bars and multiple seating options, as well as a spacious dance floor. We easily found seating together for our party of 5 (which later became 7) with a good view of the stage. Having had dinner before the concert, I declined to order food but it was nice to know it was available. Opening act Hot Lava played for 45 minutes (I thought they were just ok), and then there was a 45 minute break - too long in my opinion, and the primary reason for this review being 4 stars rather than 5 - before the main act which I loved. From a-ha's "Take on Me" to Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer," every song The Spazmatics covered during their 1 hour set was so much fun!

The Belly Up Tavern is one of the best venues in my opinion. It's been a main staple of Solana Beach for so many years. I've been here for concerts, comedy shows, and parties and highly recommend finding something that you'd like to hear or see here. The place is well oiled and runs smoothly from being near the Coaster Station, waiting in line before doors open, getting inside with bag checks, grabbing a drink or seat. There's usually a big open area for those who like to dance as well as seating on the sides and back area while still having a good view of the stage. There's usually security does a great job of blending in but are definitely aware when things need attention. The bartenders are very cool and they keep a variety of distilled beverages as well as wines and beers.

BELLY UP TAVERN @ Encinitas Came here during Saint Patrick's Weekend for an Irish Band! The place itself was very close to all the small shops, and we walked just from Pizza Port! It's also right by the beach, so location is great and parking was available. The place had a whole merch table, ended up buying a Belly Up shirt for $35, and they were quite sold out of so many things that night. I got a shirley temple for just $6, pretty good price and was great! The place had great AC, so I didn't feel like it was too hot or steamy. Bathrooms were available and were clean! Highly recommend stopping by this place, or even for a concert or performance. Great area and spot. Service was great as well!

I simply LOVE coming to the Belly Up, they book good musicians and handle the ticket sales themselves. Save on fees by picking up your tickets at their Box Office or sign up for e-tickets to be sent to you. This really makes a difference on your wallet! I appreciate that they have not sold out to a large corporation that raises the prices for everyone. The layout is very well thought out. It's a medium-size concert venue, the General Admission has limited seating on the first level, large bar and a dance floor. The second level loft has four rows of seating for slightly higher price. Through the years, I've seen The English Beat, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Coco Montoya and Tommy Castro, plus others I canot remember at the moment. The food and drink menu is good and the prices are very reasonable. Your experience will be memorable, they are organized, provide good service. Pro Tip: If you make reservations at the Tavern Restaurant next door, show your receipt to the security guard for early admission to the venue. Buy your tickets on their website, arrive early and don't forget to tell'em that Rosemary sent ya!!

Belly up is a great little venue for local and national bands/artists. I came during st Patrick's day weekend to see an Irish band. The building is super cool with a huge shark hanging from the ceiling of the bar and a good sized stage and standing room. Seating is first come first serve unless you pay extra in advanced for balcony seating to the top right of the stage if you're looking at the stage. Bathrooms are nearby and clean. They share it with another business next door but not a bad thing. Bar is real nice and had a lot of good options. They did run out of Guinness on st Patrick's day weekend which was odd as they should have expected to be selling more of those for the holiday, but that's a niche area where it wouldn't affect me coming back or not. I'd recommend coming here if there's an artist or band that peaks your interest. It has all the room you need and optional seating if needed/ preferred. Great location being near the beach too and other restaurants and bars to visit before coming here for your concert. It does get crowded but that's expected at big events. I'd give it five stars if they had more beer options.

This place is such crap. Are you a real player? If so? Get your own website and sell tickets. I went to this place 4 times to buy tickets to Hollow Coves. I mean if you are such a front for all these Bands, why do you have no employees? No Box Office? Closed every single day! You cannot buy tickets from this place! It looks like a homeless shelter, with nobody around to help, just a bunch of transient weirdos hanging outside. What a joke, you go to a website, that these whores share with like 5 other venues! Go there, and try to figure out the hours they are open, for any or all five! All of them are different. Again, 4 times to this abyss, which is in the middle of a metro, so there is zero parking, I parked in their lot and almost got towed, because, guess what? THEY WERE NOT OPEN! So how could I be parking at Belly up? Which was my excuse, and the NK Towing guy called BS on me, because even he knows this place is never Open! This venue is closed 23/7! Now the concert we wanted to attend, is sold out, of course! That is how they make their money! Every lazy piece of excrement that makes up this new Gen X Y And Z are more than willing to pay the $15 fee to reserve tickets online. I am old skool, I want to go get paper tickets and check the scene. There is no scene there, just an ugly metal shed type rust bucket building. Not even enough wood to set the place on fire! Oh well, guess I need to go when they actually have a band that demands they have employees to sell their tickets. Complete joke, I will be there on the night of the concert, phone in hand, calling in overpopulation and maximum seating complaints to the Solana Beach Fire Dept. Inconvenience me, shame on you. do it twice, shame on me. Payback is a bitch.

Belly Up has been around for ages. In a previous life, I remember coming here with some coworkers in the Spring of 2000....and nothing has changed...which is a great thing! It's an intimate venue, but can somehow pack a full house without feeling like you're shoulder to shoulder with everyone. Security is visible and they keep people from standing in the no standing zone, without being rude! My partner and I went to see BetaMaxx- they always put on a great show! Tickets were reasonably prices. Drink prices are appropriate venue priced...what do I mean by that? Are they higher than most places? Yes...but they aren't outrageously high. There's a small parking lot to the side of the venue. Love this venue! 5 stars!

One of my favorite concert venues in San Diego! I'm not a huge concern goer these days and have only been to Belly Up two or three times now, but boy does this place run a well-oiled-machine. I recently attended a concert here with my fiancée and a couple friends for a Tab Benoit concert and was very impressed with great this place is. We arrived about half an hour before the show started and while parking here is somewhat limited, there's plenty of free parking in the surrounding blocks and we ended up only parking about a block away. We approached the venue and one of the first things I noticed was that there was no crazy line out front, no chaos, nothing that would normally raise my anxiety when in large crowds. The security officers at the front were very friendly and welcoming and were extremely professional from what I saw while waiting for our friends. Once they arrived we all proceeded in where our tickets were scanned, our wrists stamped and we were wanted for weapons. For such a small entryway they kept everything moving in a very fluid manner. Once inside we proceeded to the bar, grabbed a couple drinks and headed to the front near the stage. I hate buying drinks at most concert venues because everything is low-shelf and overpriced, but Belly Up has a very good beer selection as well as a bottle selection and I would say is one of the better assortments compared to other venues I've been to. The prices also weren't nearly as bad as other concert venues. Once the incredibly awesome show was over with, the crowd made its way out of the venue and there was no rushing or bottlenecking at the exit. Once we were out the venue dispersed the crowd quickly and getting out of there was very smooth and easy going. I really enjoy this venue. From the professional employees, the intimate setting of the venue and how inexpensive it is to get there and park, I'm a huge fan. I don't always do well in large crowds, but I found Belly Up to be quite delightful. One final thing, Tab was my first blues concert and it was amazing! I don't think any other venue could have hosted his concert better.

I WILL NEVER GO BACK AND SPEND A DIME AFTER BEING AT A PATO SHOW SATURDAY TO BE HARRASSED BY THIS EMPLOYEE.. I was trying to enjoy show and this employee harassed everyone to the point people were leaving. It wasn't that packed lots of room to sit and chill and he was making people sit when noone wanted to sit. Who Cares. Anyways I ended up leaving and will be aeeing a refund. I am a SD native never endured so much hate from this person. Wow. I am shook.​ Belly Up do Better! You lost me and my group as customers.

I feel like my experience at the Belly Up is not typical of most but here it is. We arrived early so that we could check out the place. It was our first time at BU and we wanted to take it all in. Upon arriving we went to go scan our tickets. One person had them all on their phone. The guy at the door gave us attitude and said we "wouldn't have to wait so long if everyone had their own ticket". We look around and not one other person is in line on either side of us. We go in after that, get our drinks and forget about that douchebag. There's an area by the front where you can buy BU themed shirts and hats, then the bar and a large dance floor leading up to the stage. It got really crowded and these girls were doing some wild dancing even though the space could not accommodate that. We moved several times to stay clear of them but the only path away from them was to go completely to the back. It was frustrating but I guess that's what you get sometimes. The music & acoustics were great. I just wish we didn't have to deal with that large group of inconsiderate dancers that wanted to take over the dance floor.

Love this place! My work party had dinner at the restaurant, nice front patio area to eat and stay warm with the overhead heater. Food was delicious... I enjoyed the many appetizer options. We made our way over to see the Atomic Groove Band and had a blast. The room for sitting was around the stage and big dance floor is great! Get there early to get a table if you want to sit because it fills up fast. First time seeing the Band and it was so fun.

In the loft seats watching one of my favorite bands, WAR!! Always try to get reserved seats as standing g whole concert can get to you. If you get here early enough you can find unreserved seats. Eat next door and you get in early to venue.

My partner and I came to this venue for an Aaron Frazer concert on a Tuesday evening and it was an experience. First, upon buying VIP tickets for the show, my spouse had trouble securing a table. The ticketing site claims you must call the venue directly. He called the venue several times with no answer. Finally, closer to the concert date, he emailed, and they said all tables were claimed. Arriving at the venue, there is the smallest parking lot I have ever seen for a venue. Maybe 10 cars fit there? It's not that big of a deal because there is street parking and other lots, but it is peculiar to me, even for a bar. Next, the employees and their dynamic were quite interesting, unorganized is the nicest way I can put it. They were unprepared for the VIP crowd, some employees hadn't shown up on time (that was obvious). An employee/security had us lined up half in and out of the bar and was highlighting our names on a list as checking us in. His manager was sitting nearby and asked if all our tickets had been scanned, they hadn't. So they went through each of us again to scan our tickets. The employee said it would go much faster if that man helped out and the man said he didn't have to because he's the manager (that's how I know who he was). Eventually we got into our meet and greet at the stage; the bar is beautiful when empty. Looking around, there are several circular high tops against the walls and beneath that longer bench-like seating with chairs and stools. I really liked that aspect of the venue because so little places have seating. Some tables had "reserved" signs, so these seats are what you would call and reserve for an additional price, yet the rest of them were first come first serve. It really only makes sense to spend out for that if you plan on arriving late! One thing we noticed as well is that the standing crowd is allowed to stand in the walkways and stairways, I asked to be sure and the server confirmed. Even though it blocked the view of people seated and of course made serving drinks more difficult. Before the kitchen closed, my husband and I had their chicken tenders (3) with fries. They were mediocre as expected, but a good snack nonetheless. Finally, on our way out, we tried to pick up our things from the check in desk with our ticket. For some reason, the employees shouted at us to come to the exit door, and we complied. They asked if we're picking up our switchblade! We said no, obviously, because we are holding a ticket for which we checked our bag. They said oh never mind then you were in the right spot. Just completely careless and profiling people. This is obviously a locals type bar that occasionally holds concert, that's the overall vibe I got.

Impossible to even get through the automated phone robot and speak to an actual human being. I will skip the event altogether. You just lost a customer thanks to your garbage customer service. Quit asking for people's phone and personal info just to get some basic info!

Such a cool venue. Lots of space and a distinct layout. Drinks are served quickly and there's plenty of room to dance along to the music. The vibes are always high and the crowd is always fun and there for a good time. I would have given it five stars but finding parking is a challenge.

This is a nice venue. In a very nice area. Lots of other places to explore if you have time or it's early enough. Good walking area. Everyone working here was nice. I didn't have food on my visit this time but I'll have to try something next time. I will say it does get extremely crowded thats the small downfall here. Not too spacious inside. It gets overly crowded and seats that are available on the main floor are first come first serve. Or if you pay more I believe you can get some reserved seating somewhere. I would say the bartenders are very active on the scene. Not once did I have to look for the one serving our table or was ever short of water. So I would say good service!

Try to call to ask questions. I get please read the faqs. To which I still ask and get hung up on. 1/3 of the steering is blocked by the zeppelin building they are in.

We came for a concert and since this venue was new to us we arrived early and found close parking. We waited in line and were pleasantly surprised at the size of this concert hall once we got in, it had plenty of available seating also bench seating in tiers on the sides and back with plenty of standing/dancing area. Our bar service was excellent as well. Can't wait to come back and see more artists h

Restaurant We shared a chicken Cesar salad & Barbaque chicken pizza. Food was great & so was service. Nice wine list & we were able to line up inside for doors to open for the show. Great place for dinner before one of their great shows. We went to Steve Poltz tonight

As a concert junkie I was pretty stoked to visit this spot for the first time :) The venue is great! I didn't get any food but everything smelled so good! Plenty of seating and standing room. I would recommend this venue. The bathrooms were pretty clean and there are plenty of stalls available. The inside looked pretty cool too with a huge shark above the bar.

Not good sound lately. Very hard to hear vocalist at a recent show, especially from side of stage, but front wasn't much better. Loft seats were bad also.

It was a last minute invite and my first time to Belly Up last Friday. Didn't know what to expect, at all. All I know Fan Halen was playing and Rock Garden opened up. Such a chill vibe, as one would expect from Solana Beach. Entry line flowed and entire staff was great. Venue size was perfect. We snagged some seats with enough room to stretch. Only thing, beans were kinda obstructing our view a bit. And that's okay! Get your butts to the floor for a better view! The waitress did an amazing job (wish I knew her name to give her a shout out!). She frequently checked her tables w/ ease! Between our drink orders and the basket of Parmesan garlic fries (which was enough to share)- I had a great time! As much as a few of us made MULTIPLE trips to the bathroom (LOL)- there was no line whatsoever to get into the restroom or wait for toilets as expected. We grabbed off street parking which wasn't an issue. I would definitely check out another show!

Classic place to see a show, they get some really good acts, & it's one of the best sounding venues in San Diego.

This venue is awesome! It is beautiful inside. The service is phenomenal. The staff members are friendly. It's just a small, unique spot that holds some great concerts. I came here to see Better Than Ezra, which did not disappoint.

What a night!!! The Belly Up venue is a class act!! The service was right on and the food delicious! Gene Moran rocked the house playing some of my favorites: In A Flash and Dead Man's Guitar!! Such a great opening act for The White Buffalo who did not disappoint!! Come see your favorites in this great setting!!!

Great local bar and great music venue. Every seat feels intimate, and you can be front and center at any show on the floor. The decor is great with surfboards and sharks and a good bar with generous pours.

At 51 years old, the decor is most certainly dated (classic beat up night club, but what room wouldn't be considering the docket of shows that's come through across five decades?!), but not showing any signs of shutting down, this club literally rocks. Broad roster of acts that come through including local/regulars. Depending on day of week, parking typically is ok. It may take a few passes, but hey no charge. Can't be that. Easy access from the 5, the rail (stops a couple blocks from venue ) and PCH. Check it out.

I've seen shows here at least a couple dozen times over the past 20 years or so. It's still a decent venue to catch the occasional sells-out-quick national act, your favorite 80's and 90's tours, and some local talent too. There are some seated areas with weird sightlines. Most of the place is general admission standing room, provided that you do not violate the floor markings indicating no-standing areas. Sound system is quality -- not extremely loud, but very good, especially given the acoustic design of a repurposed quonset hut. Decent drink selection, and remember that the nicer you are to the bartenders, the stronger your drinks become. Lately the Atomic Groove, and occasional other bands, have been rocking out happy hour shows, which typically go from about 5:30-7:30 on Fridays.

Great intimate venue with great bands. Having free parking is a bonus. I love how the stage is a little raised, but low enough that when you make your way to the front, you are right there with the band. I have seen a number of bands here and have only ever done the GA standing room floor area, but there are seats as an option for those who want to plan ahead and spend a little extra. Those seats also afford the ability to order some food, but not having eaten there, I am not commenting on the options, quality or price of that. The location and the line-up keeps me coming back. The bar tenders and door people are friendly and nice. The bathrooms are what you would expect for a venue like this.

Great venue, super time. Johnny Cash tribute was fun. First time here and the super service started with Casey at the door before the doors opened. What a helpful and informative person. General admission seating gave a direct line of sight of the full stage for the evening. Larissa was the absolute very attentive perfect waitress. Drinks were checked on frequently even as she covered a wide swathe of customers. Did not have any nibbles, but from the reviews will need to come back for samplers and another fun event.

So, I've been here a few times. Once for The Tubes. The most recent, earlier this week to see Foghat. Each time, great experiences. First off - yes, it's a concert venue or hall. So, you're probably wondering about parking. It'll all depend on who is performing. Street parking. Lots (marked). At least it's all free. As for public, lots, no idea. Read the signs and you should be ok. Service. Staff will serve drinks and small bites. Each time, service was great. Being able to sit back, listen the music and sip on adult beverages is a wonderful thing. Last time I had some food. This time, just drinks. Prices were ok. Nothing too outrageous. As for the set up - if you get in early, you might find seating. Seating on each side, raised so you can sit and see. Front of the stage is standing room only. No seats. First come first serve if you wanna stand front and center. Acoustics sound good to me. For me, this means I can hear it without going deaf but also feel it in my bones because it's not just loud and tinny. Been here a few times, and I'm sure I'll be back again.

I can't comment on the bar or food. But this is a very intimate and relaxing venue for music events. Recommend highly

I have been to Belly Up twice and both times have had the best experience! Most recently I tried to buy tickets for a show online but the website was showing it was sold out. I gave the box office a call to see if they had any more because I figured it couldn't hurt to try and they did! The woman who helped me was so nice and made it so easy. The venue is a great size. Plenty of street parking available. They have a VIP section that is separated and a fair distance from the stage. Everywhere else is open. There are a few seats with waiters and waitresses and standing room. The bar is pretty big and not priced as bad as many places out there. They have two bars, a big one in the front by the shark and a smaller one in the seated section. I have only had positive experiences here and look forward to going back for more shows!

I've been to this venue many times, I have never once had a bad experience. Every band I've seen at the belly up was amazing. I'm looking very forward to hitting the belly up again February 13 for a great concert. I am so excited again.

Great venue for live music since 1974! I've never eaten there since I prefer to "stand for my band," but food looks pretty good as it's being served to diners within view of the stage. Acoustics are fantastic! The room was built for the great sound system. Staff is friendly, venue is intimate and BellyUp is a special place to see your favorite musicians perform. Parking is street and FREE! SOME of the surrounding businesses IF THEY ARE CLOSED allow BellyUp visitors to park in their lots. READ SIGNS BEFORE PARKING IN ADJACENT BUSINESS PARKING LOTS. Do NOT be rude and take parking away from the patrons of surrounding business just because it accommodates YOUR needs. If people start doing that, parking will become more restrictive, probably start charging and the convenience will be lost. It's a lovely Main Street business district. The furthest we've ever had to park was about .25 miles to the north of BellyUp on the main drag and we did some window shopping on the way to/from the venue. Lots of things to see.

Great venue for music!! Had a burger and beer at their restaurant next door thats connected and it was all delicious!!

April and the Funk Junkies were so good! What a great way to start the New Year. We had the best time at this show. I love coming here with my friends when I am in town visiting. Friday nights with Atomic Groove is what we normally attend. They are the best! Thanks Belly Up for always giving us terrific shows at reasonable prices!

Half of the employees we dealt with were pretty rude...however our server was great and checked in often - despite it being busy...honestly the only person preventing a 3 star rating. I wish I had gotten her name. The venue itself was nice enough. Drinks were ok. We didn't try the food, but we might if we end up there again for any reason.

How to explain this place... Awesome venue. Great interior; deceptively large inside. Parking is "get in where you can" situation. Literally, park in any designated location--mostly street and some lots. No pay requirement. Drinks and some tapas items. I will say, I felt uncomfortable here. I should have known because of the location. (If you want further insight to this comment, direct message me and ask.) Is it a good venue? Super! Will I be back? Hard pass. Not my vibe.

I went to see Orianthi on 4/20. I had VIP for after show and these clowns kicked me out of the building. They said there's no VIP which was a lie because I was in contact with the organizer all evening. If people tell you they are there waiting it's for a reason. No need to strong arm paying customers out especially when they have spent money eating, drinking, and for an expensive vip package. This is not the first time the service has sucked here. In fact this is probably the third or fourth time I've had an incident here with security. Whoever owns this place needs to sell it since they refuse to train their staff how to treat concert goers who drop money in their business. If you still choose to give this place any business consider yourself warned!

Location of the venue is good, close to the beach, shows are usually fun, you can dance and it's packed, if you are into that energy. The average age of customers depends on the line up. The reason this is a 2, it's because the bartenders are awful. They are rude. I had two different bartenders interactions and both were really bad. Like excuse me for ordering call brands you don't carry and the other was rude when I asked him for water? WTH? In case a manager reads this; the first bartender was tall and blonde at the entrance bar and the other bartender had dark semi long hair with facial hair near the bathrooms end of the bar. Not "Cheers"

In my opinion if Belly Up Tavern is no longer encouraging their patrons to give their unused tickets to an independent ticket seller person across the street on South Cedros, they need to tell their patrons. Suggestion - Put a sign up! As a frequent customer and neighbor I have Belly Up for over forty years. Tonight they failed a loyal Belly Up supporter because they saw me hand the ticket seller 4 tickets. Something I have done repeatedly with their knowledge in the past. I was completely sober yet my penalty was to be kicked out of the Belly Up Tavern and separated from a longtime out of State friend that I invited to enjoy this iconic bar and music venue. In my opinion Belly Up needs solve this issue.

Great historical local venue with classic ambiance and good service. Came with friends on a Friday night and was not disappointed!

Belly Up looks deceptively small from the outside. Once you step in, you'll see the stage front and center, with standing room in front of the stage. Plenty of seating throughout the venue, with an upstairs area that isn't general admissions/seating. The food was surprisingly fresh and good! We got the following: - Chicken tenders & Truffle Fries ($12.50): the least dry chicken tenders I've had in recent memory! Crispy on the outside but still moist on the inside. Fries were cooked perfectly as well. - 1/2 lb Sterling Beef Burger ($14.00): also surprisingly good (for a venue/bar). Everything tasted fresh and prepared to order. Standard burger with bacon and guac; nothing to write home about. - Diet cokes: tasted weird... not sure if the syrups were out, or what... but initial sips of our diet cokes had us thinking we were accidentally given diet cokes mixed with alcohol! The most surprising thing was that all our food came out hot, and tastier than expected. One typically doesn't have (high) expectations for food at a concert venue/bar. Overall, we had a good time and would totally be back to see more bands!

Good food and service. Super convenient to the musical venue. Really disappointed by the "service charge" 4% fee tacked on to our bill. Apparently this is something added due to Covid?

For those of you tired of navigating huge music venues, the iconic Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach is well worth a try. Established in 1974, the Belly Up has hosted a broad platform of artists ranging from well known to pretty obscure. Virtually every genre is featured from time to time. We have seen performers as divergent as Kenny Wayne Shepard, Tower of Power and Steven Marley. All great. But last night's show with Keb Mo (R & B) bordered on the fabulous. This show was "seated", which basically means chairs for everyone and no one standing in front of you. Keb Mo played a range of newer releases and big hits to a crowd so ready for a rockin good time. His presence was a comfort-smooth, happy and satisfying, with the overlay of a truly great band for backup. An electric Mandolin? What a concept. My advice? Get on the VIP email list and watch for someone in your lane to roll through. You will enjoy the vibe of a venue with a true sense of its own presence and history.

Great food, excellent customer service. Reasonable prices for the area, and there's an option for quick entry to the venue when doors open! Highly recommend the Tavern