Sycamore Den
Bar · San Diego ·
Retro 70s-style bar with artisanal cocktails & craft beer
Retro 70s-style bar with artisanal cocktails & craft beer
"The self-proclaimed “friendliest cocktail bar in Normal Heights” is a retro-designed neighborhood joint, filled with ’70s-inspired decor, rocky walls, and leather banquets. It’s the kind of laid back place with quality whiskey cocktails that will soon become your new favorite haunt. Order the Heavy Hand, a combination of Westward Whiskey, aperitif, amaro, tea, and lemon, and settle in for a night of drag bingo, trivia, or live music. There’s always something going on." - Vox Creative
"Nine years into its esteemed tenure on Adams Avenue, Sycamore Den was sold by original owner Nicholas Zanoni to cousins Chad Cline and Jason “Rocky” Nichols, with the new owners officially taking over operations on June 1. The Normal Heights hangout opened in 2013, replacing a 30-year-old dive bar, and features a handsome, 1970s-inspired space designed by Bells & Whistles; Zanoni reflected on its inception and its tumultuous pandemic years, calling the period a “bare knuckle fight,” though business has been steady since the second half of 2021. Cline and Nichols say they’ll mainly spruce up the patio, retain the Sycamore Den name and hopefully existing staff, and will take their time getting to know the bar before making any major changes." - Candice Woo
"With its late summer menu still going strong, house favorites like the Ukrainian Dance Party can be made virgin while retaining its vibrancy due to a combination of beets, buckthorn berries, lemon juice, and orange slices." - Kelly Bone
"Normal Heights’ Sycamore Den always has a few tiki drinks on its rotating menu, usually served in a special tiki mug. One example is the Nice Mangoes, which is served in a tiki mug and features a house rum blend, mango, lime, falernum, bitters and absinthe." - Jackie Bryant
"It kind of has That 70s Show basement vibes, but the clientele is twenty- and thirty-something hipsters who appreciate a solid cocktail and spirited weekly trivia night. The menu may be small, but it's solid. Spirits range from the simple (gin) to the more complex and unusual (house-made limoncello). The mix-ins are equally diverse—think passion fruit, coconut milk, and salted cashew." - Archana Ram