The Lamplighter

Very disappointed with this place! We were a large group of 13 people who had traveled across the country from Miami to compete in the USTA national championships. We all had dinner at the KC BBQ place and they recommended the Lamplighter for us to go Karaoke. Parking was easy enough. When we got inside I was shocked at how loud the music was. You couldn’t hear anyone singing over the music. We got some drinks from the bar. We went up to the DJ stand where there’s a QR code to signup to sing a song. So I choose one and go back to my drink and cheer for everyone who’s doing karaoke before me. Three or four of my friends also sign up to sing something. After at least an hour, and the same people singing multiple times, including the security guard and DJ himself!!! I go up to the DJ and ask him if he knows where I’m at in the line up to sing. He gets on his computer and scrolls down a fake list of names and tells me that my name isn’t on the list. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Playing dumb with me. So I get on the app again and sign up AGAIN. And then I wait, and wait… The DJ sings AGAIN?!? I’m like WTAF??? So I ask this guy who’s gone up multiple times, “Do I have to tip the DJ in order to be able to sing?” He says to give the DJ a tip, but make sure that he sees me tipping him. Sure enough, he IMMEDIATELY calls my name!!! Seriously? So I sing and I tell all of my friends what went down. We left around 12:30am. My friends stayed and waited for their names to be called, which obviously never happened. My friend went up to the DJ and asked him about it and he motioned towards his giant tip jar and shrugged his shoulders. So my friends told him “You shouldn’t call this a karaoke bar. This is a pay to sing bar.” So, why even have a QR code up for people to sign up if you’re never going to let them sing unless they tip you? Like we didn’t spend hundreds of dollars at the bar?!? Or have a $5 cover charge and split it with the DJ and security guard since they both like to sing so much that they’ll put themselves before your customers! We were in town for 4 days. We each spent thousands of dollars on food and drinks and bars and entertainment in those four days. We’ll be back again soon. We will NEVER go to the Lamplighter again. When I googled karaoke, 8 places came up within a half mile radius of my hotel! There’s plenty of places to go. They’ll probably treat you with a lot more dignity and respect than this place.

The most incredible bar I’ve ever been to. The Lamplighter’s ability to evolve while keeping traditions alive is uncanny. It somehow has the vibes of both your favorite local dive bar AND the dance club you made the memory of “that one time” at. Karaoke has all the bells and whistles- you’re the star when you’re on stage. Everyone encourages your performance and sings along. Strong pours. Friendly staff. Cash only.

The Lamplighter is a classic dive bar with a no-frills vibe. It’s got that old-school charm that makes it a decent spot for a low-key night out. The drinks are reasonably priced, and the staff is friendly, but heads up—they only accept cash. Luckily, there’s an ATM on-site, though it’s not ideal if you prefer to avoid fees. The atmosphere is what you’d expect from a dive bar: a little rough around the edges but comfortable if you're into that scene. It’s not the fanciest place, but if you’re looking for a casual, laid-back spot to grab a drink, it gets the job done.

I’ve been to this bar a couple of times and I’ve had a great experience every time! It’s always a fun crowd on the weekends and if you come during the weekdays, you can really get some practice in on stage. The DJs are always really nice and the drinks are very reasonably priced. I thought parking would be difficult my first few times but you can always find a spot on the street in front of the bar or on the corner. They have lots of familiar faces and I almost always see at least one or two people who I’ve met before that frequent the bar as well. They have a pool table inside that has a good view of the dance stage and a patio outside where it’s quieter and you can take a breather, I’m looking forward to coming back!

If you are looking for a great little gem in the Hillcrest area, this is the place!! the coldest beer - a safe place to have fun sing a little karaoke!! FYI, it’s a cash bar only Thanks for showing this Texan (don’t hold it against me )a great place to party !!

The door man was very nice. He helped me parallel park by guiding me in. He even used my correct pronouns, saying, "You can do it, baby girl!" That made me so happy. 😊 I also appreciated the KJ. She helped me navigate the app to sign up and explain the rotation. I couldn't hear her from the patio where I was sitting so I had to ask several times where I was in the rotation and she was very patient every time. Unfortunately, these issues couldn't make up for the overall experience. The bar was ridiculously crowded, to the point I couldn't even move through the place or get close enough to the bar to put in an order. The patio was the only place with some space but it was very smoky. I waited there for three-and-a-half hours to try and sing one song. I was about to leave near the end but the KJ told me I was only three songs away so I stayed. Two songs later, they closed the bar. The KJ was very apologetic and I understood but... yeah. I would never go here again. It was too much hassle for literally nothing. I'm glad it was only a $5 door charge.

This place is a go to spot on a Saturday. Bar is very clean and welcoming to all ages. Could not recommend this bar anymore to all locals. This place continuously pops and don’t see it changing anytime soon.

Second time at Lamp Lighter and I’m really enjoying it! The vibe is great—super chill and fun. The employees are so nice and professional, which makes the experience even better. Definitely a spot I’d recommend if you’re looking for good energy and good service.

Bartenders are easy to talk to, drinks are cheap, atmosphere is great. What else could you want from a local dive?

Great ambiance! Service was friendly & fast Gr8 service! would recommend! Visited with a friend from out of town and it was exactly what we were looking for. Karaoke nights are a plus!

This place is the real deal. Cheap beers and karaoke. Will definitely be back to the gaslighter. 10/10

We were hosting a friend out of town and wanted an evening place to vibe out. This seemed like a good place to hop to other spots so we checked it out. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking that's metered but free after certain times. However Hillcrest can get crowded so come and plan accordingly Seating: A good amount of seating but it gets crowded during popular nights. Vibes: In the neighborhood of Hillcrest, it's an eventful spot with a lot of activities. Eateries, shopping, and events here and there. The place itself is pretty neat. Friendly spot for the most part. We were here for Saturday karaoke which was a pretty cool. A singer friendly place from first timers, hidden stars, to people that generally just want to have a good time. FOOD: Moscow Mule (Recommend) A simple yet pretty strong drink. A nice mix that has a good sparkling kick and a bite from the ginger. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Great! The DJ knew how to create a fun vibe and the servers were hard working. TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Awesome! Good drinks and good/fun energy. My friend visiting enjoyed his time and we all enjoyed our time. For a fun night in San Diego outside of the popular Gaslight District, look into Hillcrest! Be respectful, be yourself, and have fun! TIPS: * $5 CASH cover to get in. * They do karaoke and play a song in between.

Nice cool place good amateur comedy Only went once Mature crowd Did not eat there did not know they served food

Love this place! Awesome vibe with the karaoke. JJ is the best bartender- made delicious cocktails.

The karaoke is such a vibe!!! Definitely recommend this place! The bouncer and bartender are so friendly and the drinks are affordable. Great place.

I have never had a good time there. It should be my neighborhood dice bar but i rather uber to redwings than to go to this place. Is the floor still sticky? Cause it was every single time i went. Terrible service! The bartenders ignored me the last time i was there. The kdj has never called my name to sing. One time, i asked him when I would be up, when i saw a dude walk up and give him $20 bucks. So u had to tip $20 dollars to be called!? What!??? Oh and there is a cover charge. The place is a joke!

Me and my housemates came here during the week for some fun karaoke and we loved it! It was very chill and the workers were very kind! Will be back for sure.

Great vibes. Love a cash only bar. Come for the Karaoke, stay for the friendly bar tenders.

Love coming to lamplighter for Thursday night karaoke. Came here a couple times to celebrate birthday's and we always have a good time. The bartenders are very nice and the bouncers greet us kindly as we walk in. Highly recommend coming and bringing your friends.

Great bartenders! Perfect place for karaoke. Came here for my bday and had the best time. Will definitely be back!

Cash only bar with great crowd and awesome hospitality. The people are friendly, the dress code is casual, and the drinks are premium. They have karaoke here....all the time! and Its amazing! Its such a mom and pop/ dive-y vibe that makes me come back every time. I don't care how crappy I suck at karaoke, but I will still step on stage and have the crowd sing with me! I am unaware of a cover, but I do know that this bar is cash only. I definitely will be coming back to celebrate with friends!

$10 cover to be treated like 2nd class cattle on a Sunday mornin' - new Karoake guy doesn't get it. But to butt and he's playing 2020's trash in between every song. Place is a little rapey.

omg security who checked us in was so nice. very fun. the environment is lively not too crowded.

TERRIBLE BARTENDER JESSICA. I decided to check this place out last night for the first time since I live in the area. Walked in, typical dive bar vibes with karaoke going on; so far, so good. Grabbed a beer after having to use their expensive ATM since the bar is cash only. Sat at a booth to enjoy the karaoke vibes. Eventually, I decided to play some pool ($2 a game, meh) with another patron. After one game, I bought another beer. Shortly after, last-call was announced; fine/cool, I was working on my last beer. Moments later, the bartender yells, "If I don't know you, you need to leave!" I thought that was pretty rude and exclusionary. Brushed it off as her just trying to close soon, though I'm sure most got the message when the DJ announced last-call. The bar wasn't very busy from the beginning of my visit, as it was late on a Sunday night, so I don't understand why she had to take such a stance. As me and the other guy were wrapping up our last game, the same bartender, Jessica (I believe was her name), yells the same line yet again, "If I don't know you, you need to leave!" Again, very rude and exclusionary. As I'm deciding which of the last couple of pool shots to take, she bends around the bar, looks right at me and says that she doesn't know me and that the others left there are her friends, so I was the one that needed to leave. I asked her if I could just finish the game with her friend. No response. I had enough of her rudeness at that point. I set my pool stick down on the table and marched out. Her "friend" told me not to worry about it and let's finish the game; "No thanks." I have never experienced such rudeness and entitlement from a bartender. Very unnecessary. Reading other reviews, I'm far from being the only one with a bad experience here lately. At this point, I wouldn't go back or recommend this place; especially with all the other options within a couple of miles.

Love this place. Amazing service and great drinks. Bartender is very nice. They also have trivia nights coming back next week. almost made the leader board, maybe next week. Anways, about to go sing karaoke gotta go. ttylxox.

Love this place! Always such an amazing ambiance. Especially loved my bartender Frances. She was so sweet and thoughtful and makes me wanna come back every week!

Great neighborhood pub - easy spot to stop for a night cap following dinner down the street. Don't forget cash. Karaoke every night of the week!!!!

First time here! Love the atmosphere and fun karaoke spot:) Great prices and wonderful customer service.

Karaoke 7 days a week. My current fave watering hole in San Diego. Of course I have only been to a small handful... but come sing. Friendly peeps... cash only!

"I LAMP" - is a phrase one never imagines saying or taking a picture of for entertainment purposes. I am rewriting this review with smile & a whopping amount of cheesiness because it's a place that's hard to leave without a huge smile. No doubt Lamplighter is the go to spot for 7 days a week Karaoke spots for almost 30 years but is one of the established oldest bar in San Diego. Karaoke starts after 9 pm to 2 am, the DJ's intertwine dance music in between. Depending on what day of the week it is there's a digital jukebox to play your choice of songs from 6 am to 9 pm. A couple of notable nights to check out are Mondays & Tuesdays. On "Uncle Rick" Mondays - one can sign up to spew out their very own terrible jokes for the price of a drink or two between 7 pm to 9 pm. If anything it's the spot for comedy lovers on Monday & your choice of alcohol beverage served to you by "Uncle Rick" himself. Tuesdays aren't only for Tacos but they are for Trivia at the Lamp between 7 pm to 9 pm with DJ HokieNick as the game master of ceremonies. Of course depending what time of the year it is you can check out "the game" on their several TV screens around the bar & patio. One of the best features to me thanks to COVID is the covered patio that you can smoke or vape. One can have a special event or occasion you can with "bottle service" or time slot for a venue rental. The bar itself has a large selection of beer on tap or bottled. Not a huge wine drinker but it is available. You can try one of their signature cocktails, your own favorite or a shot to be made from the wide range of liquor on-site. All the bartenders will serve your choice of poison with a swiftness, warm smile & occasionally a dash of sarcasm. Of course all of this is available for only "CASH CASH BABY" - so bring your $$$ green or use the 2 ATMs on site. The crew is definitely the standout of the Lamplighter. Family run with a tight knit team that is like a family. I stand by what I wrote before - no matter what you identify with or what you're into Lamp is a chill place to go. Especially if you like people watching, singing bad Karaoke or catching a moment to yourself to unwind Lamplighter is all encompassing.

Super fun atmosphere friendly servers...... yummy drinks and fun decor We had a Bday Celebration that was a blast

This is a pretty cool bar hidden in the fairly quiet neighborhood of mission hills. It's a CASH ONLY dive bar so make sure you have it on hand if you are planning on drinking. I think the best part of this place is the karaoke. It was so much fun to listen to people belt out the songs of my youth (definitely a lot to 30 somethings in this place). If you're lucky, snag a table in the back corner and sit back and enjoy. The drinks aren't anything to write home about but hey you aren't coming here for quality cocktails, are you? The bartenders are always nice and efficient even if you are the sober driver only drinking water. Pro tip: Do NOT stand under the fog machines/lights they will spray you directly in the head with fog and it's not the business. Besides that, go have fun and get on up there and sing your little heart out.

Honestly I have been coming here as long as I can remember. Not sure why I haven't ever written a review. The Lamplighter is the best bar in San Diego. It is a great bar to bring people to who are visiting from out of town. Best Karaoke bar in San Diego for sure. Super fun to go for a girls night out or even after a family party. The bartenders are all busy, but make really strong drinks. The lamplighter has the best drinks in san diego. They also have an outdoor patio for smoking which is nice. There is a dance floor and karaoke stage. My server was Joe and he was really helpful. Simple strong drinks. Ask for Joe next time you end up at the lamplighter. I loved it so much I am going to have my company party here. they do private events which is cool.

One of the best bars in San Diego and my go to place! From the drinks being on point to the incredible vibe, its always the absolute best time there. There's also always so much to do; Karaoke, play pool, dance or socialize and make friends (dope places only attract dope people). I've made some of my best friends there, including the best bartender I know, JJ! I never leave The Lamplighter having had a bad time. A highly recommend when in San Diego (if you can hang!)

I've been coming to this place for over a decade and it's always been a blast, it's always been a great spot, and it just keeps getting better and better every time I go back! The DJ Stephanie there is always on it and plays amazing tunes between singers and really knows how to handle a toasted karaoke crowd with a fun attitude and professionalism. The bar staff rocks, always a pleasure, always kind and friendly. One warning tho, they do pour them stiff... So def Uber out of here instead of driving lol. Not just the best karaoke bar in San Diego, it's literally just the best BAR. Much love to the LL owners and crew!

This used to be our favorite karaoke bar. For almost 20 years. The sound was always good and they had a little stage. The people they hired knew how to adjust the singers so they sounded good. We would come here and sing 2-5 songs each time. It was so fun TO SING! We'd do duets with our friends. Strangers in the audience would sing along. Etc. Now you can't sing karaoke here anymore. Not really. Not on weekends. It's more like a downtown bro ho club :( SUPER LOUD CRAZY CLUB MUSIC I used to throw actual clubs and this music was louder than my real club. LOL But this is a dive bar trying to sound like a megaclub or something????? Want to sing karaoke? Forget it. Go somewhere else. They play 3-5 of these clubby songs like a wanna be rave and then FINALLY one person on the list sings karaoke I could barely even hear the singers. The sound isn't adjusted correctly. It's got a chaotic intense vibe. Not fun :( Literally I think if hell exists, it would be better than here. I never want to go back here :( Even though we got there early to sign up for a song, after 2 hours we weren't anywhere close to being called to sing. And in that 2 hours only maybe 4 people even sang a song at all. We were there 9-11pm There's also a $5 cover now and you have to enter through the back. It's sooooo weird. It's too bad they got rid of 70% of the karaoke to try to make money. Some things are more important than making money.... Like cool you're making tons of money now, but this is no longer a karaoke bar. It was miserable feeling. If I wanted to go to sidebar I would go to sidebar... Lamplighter used to be its own vibe. A karaoke bar!!!! Now it's just a hybrid mega club dive bar monstrosity I'm so sad. Please bring back the karaoke bar! Leave the downtown music in downtown PLEASE! We are looking for a new place for karaoke now I guess :( PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE play karaoke songs at the karaoke bar whyyyyy is this happening :(

This spot has turned into one of my favorite bars to go to with friends any night of the week! This is a cash only bar so I try to remember in advance to have some cash on me but that doesn't always happen, thankfully there is an ATM. On the weekends there is a small cover, I want to say it was $5 on a Friday night so not bad at all. The bar itself is a karaoke bar which is always a blast with big screens and new people singing all the time. The have a full bar and even wine which is a plus for me and they also have a back patio which is always nice when you need to take a break from the loud and crowded area inside and the inside of the bar itself is pretty small. But I love this spot I can't wait to go again very soon because we always have a great time!

Pretty cool cash-only dive bar where the drink prices are reasonable. We came looking for some fun vibes and some karaoke, pleased to say we got both. At first, it's really mellow but when the karaoke gets started it turns into a party on the dance floor! There are TVs all over so you can watch the stage wherever you are. Fun for a night out with friends.

Love this place. It's divey & cozy. Strong drinks - great crowd - right by mission hills so it's an awesome location. I've been coming here about 25 years.

Frances is a wonderful bartender that treats every guest with warmth and positivity! Not only do my bestie and I come here for great karaoke, but we love the vibes that Frances gives! Highly recommend for everyone :)

An awesome dive bar with old school 1980's vibes and karaoke. Great drink options, local craft beer, wine and cocktails. Just make sure you bring cash because ITS ONLY CASH , NO CREDIT or Debit cards accepted. There is an atm, so it really does pull of the 80's vibe

The prices were clearly listed on the menu the bartender handed to us. Did not in any way feel like the prices were a surprise, as I've seen in other reviews. Felt safe during karaoke, we enjoyed our time here. Had a couple of beers, watched a half dozen karaoke performers from the bar, and had a good time.

The Tuesday night KJ Raya and bartender Spider are off the charts great. The Wednesday night KJ's Heven is great but the bartender Joe is not!

i think this place is so cool i like how there is karaoke and that the vibes are good. it is cash only but it is still fun

It's clear there are a bunch of new fake reviews on this account. Panic reviews were obviously created due to all the one star HONEST reviews prior to. Don't be fooled!

Drinks were good but the service was non existent. Old Hispanic lady forgot about me and my friend then talked shit about us to other customers then to our face. She was rude, bitter, and she needs to cover them saggy girls. It's not fun to look at & im a lesbian.

We had a blast doing karaoke! I would say the drinks are a bit pricey but 10/10 for ambiance. It was also inconvenient that they only took cash.

I have never had such a terrible experience at the lamplighter before until today. Did not get her name, but an older hispanic bartender working the day shift talked shit with other customers about how me and my friend were apparently laughing too much. Me and my friend were sitting at the bar having some drinks, talking and laughing, absolutely nothing excessive. Then she complained about how we did not tip her fairly. She took over 30 minutes to close us out and talked about us to other customers, and still we tipped her very fairly when she didnt deserve it and had the nerve to be rude to us about it. The lamplighter is all around a great bar with one terribly rude bartender.

Back bartender his name is Joe with the pretty eyes! He's very accommodating and friendly Also Harrison and James are the dopest security guards I've experienced def will come here always and you should

Sad shadow of what it used to be. Recently moved back to the area after 2 decades away. This was the place to be - Rick was the best bartender here back in the 90s. I was served beer in a plastic glass. Last time that happened was at Disneyland. I also showed up on open-mic/comic night. I didnt know misogyny was back in style. Not sure if it is worth seeing if this was a fluke or it status quo for this place now.

Such vibes here. Great spot for some drinks and amazing karaoke! The bartenders are always great with their service!

My absolute, hands down, favorite place to party! And everyone is welcome! Joe goes above and beyond every single time we visit!

I Love this place--everything from the drinks to the ambiance. One of the employees, Harrison went above and beyond to make sure our crew had a good night. This is a great neighborhood feel. 100% coming back.

lit asf Thats to put it simply. The overall atmosphere of this bar is unbeatable. Great service, great drinks, and great company. Definitely the spot to spend a weekend night with friends. Love singing Alanis Morisette on stage too! - s & s

Cool atmosphere, low key and a good place to play pool! Yummy drinks as well! Will definitely bring friends for a night out.

I ordered a Moscow mule with Tito's, $10. Went back and ordered the exact same thing 15 mins later, was told $11. Asked why it wasn't $10, bartender said fine whatever, $10. Super weird, never had something like that happen. Cash bar with no receipts definitely is sketchy.

Great place great music great time I Was here Friday to celebrate we had the best time Just FYI to all who attended 4out of 8 tested positive for COVID

The Lamplighter is a San Diego gem -- the place to go for karaoke and a guaranteed fun night! Whether you're in the mood to sing your favorite tunes, dance, or just chill out with a drink, this is one of my favorite spots to frequent. Shoutout to JJ and Steph, the best bartenders in town! Bring good vibes, tip well, and leave happily intoxicated.