The Ould Sod

Our absolute favorite! I have been coming here since I just turned 21. Best Guinness in San Diego, owners and bartenders are all amazing. It's just the kind of place that feels like home as soon as you walk in the door.

Authentic, friendly local Irish Pub with huge open air patio in back. In the heart of Normal Heights neighborhood on Adams Ave , San Diego.

Saturday night Karaoke mix in front bar...take your chances..back bar younger crowd . Bartenders mix bunch..one in particular unable to smile and barely communicates! They can pull a good pint of Guinness..no rush folks.

The service is great! Each time I've been there, the bartender has been attentive. Drinks are well made, and the prices are decent. And on Tuesdays there is an Irish band that practices. Nice friendly neighborhood bar. Outdoor patio.

I've been coming to the Ould Sod since 2002 and it has always been a great experience. The addition of a back bar area really opens the place up from its 1970s style dive bar schematic to incorporate more types of activities that bar customers expect these days. Also it hands down has the best Guinness in San Diego.

Loved the pictures and signs on the wall. The traditional music was fun to hear. Bar service was slow and people seemed cliquey. Guinness was good, Sprite was very sugary. Went back a month later and woman bar tender was super nice and fast! Tuesday nights have traditional music and it was still going on when we arrived a bit before 10pm!

This place is quiet on a weeknight, lots of locals and standard beverages, killer 80's tunes and just a laid back vibe. People know each other here. Vibe fits the name and that's all you need. Prices are reasonable. 0 pretention.

Livley bar withe a large back room w another bar in back. Bartenders are attentive and friendly. Prices are fair.

San Diego's best kept secret. Friendly staff, reasonable prices - absolutely love coming here!

Service is so ass. Went once with my boyfriend and we were never helped. Bartender never came by to ask what we wanted. However, she did make sure to help the two gentlemen that came in after us... then proceeded to act as if we weren't there. After multiple attempts to get her attention, we left. Definitely one of those places where they make sure you don't feel welcomed. If you know, you know. Just gonna leave my little review and move on.

I actually have come to like this bar. Gets really packed. They also have Karoake which is fun. People here a generally nice including the bartenders. Good vibes here overall. I would say parking is as it would be expected; can be hard to find. But if you do manage to find parking you also have the option to go to other local spots on the same street so you can just walk.

Heard karaoke from outside. Had Guinness on tap and the bartender was cool. Would recommend coming here for a pint of Guinness!

Sometimes you just want to go to a bar. Not interested in food or dancing, just a good bar but not a fancy bar. You want a stool and some booze. The Ould Sod is that kind of bar! It's a good bar because it's well stocked for the classics, not pretentious, the bartenders are friendly, and (most importantly in the summer heat) they have a/c. Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows it's not cool to have swamp ass and maybe, if you're here frequently enough, they'll know your name. Is The Ould Sod a dive bar? Sure, techincally, but it's a nice dive because as you can see it's an Irish pub which makes it at least 50% nicer than your standard American dive. Might be the accents. I met some friendly regulars, even took one with us to another stop later in the evening on our hunt for post-drink eats. There are plenty of tasty joints around the neighborhood so you can make a whole night of it. Happy hour (M-F 4-6) saves you a couple bucks per drink. Since I'm still touring around all the dives in SD- I was here for an old fashioned, or three to be honest, the spacious patio that's out back if my group needed to spread out, and a bit of that aforementioned a/c. Important bar note- the bathrooms are clean and they even have a spacious handicap accessible bathroom my fat ass appreciates. If you're looking for some weekend fun- Saturday nights (after 9 pm) they have karaoke. As with any bar the later it gets the rowdier it'll be. As for me? I'll be back on another chill Thursday night, early, sipping a house old fashioned, and being happy my friends like this bar as much as I do. Hopefully yours feel the same way. Invite them and find out!

Old bartender was rude and rascist. Most unbecoming old sod himself. Also smells like piss once entering.

The bartender today. An older woman with dark hair. Didn't card others. And checks me for my ID. Which is an interim license, and asks me to leave.

Dingy decorations and terrible service. It's an Irish pub that has bar and booth seating. They have a large patio area in the back. However I did not appreciate the bartenders treatment to our party. They were not attentive and dismissed us quickly without listening to our concerns. The bartender had poor customer service skills through the way she looked at us and attitude when talking to us. There is limited food options and no clear menu for the drinks.

If you need a neighborhood hangout, this is the place to be. Great staff behind the bar who are friendly and great on the service. The back area is a great addition and expands the space to for a great experience. The music and karaoke nights are fun and usually bring in a great crowd. As an Irish pub , the owners are very involved in the Irish community, hosting fundraisers throughout the year and supporting the St Patrick's Day parade and festival. Pricing is great for the beer and drinks and a variety of excellent food options nearby. Parking not easy so expect up to a few blocks or best to get a ride in.

Friendly neighborhood pub with the charm of a small, Irish-owned business. The best Guinness on tap in San Diego. I've made great friends here. It's a great place to become a regular.

Whenever we're in Normal Heights, this is a regular stop for us at some point in the night. It looks small from the bar front but is actually very spacious in the back bar and patio. You won't find fancy cocktails here which really isn't the vibe anyway. High recommended for a casual night out with friends.

All right, this dive bar is super cool! It looks very small when you enter but it is actually very long. If you keep on walking, there is a back area with heat lamps. & then an outdoor area. They have several bar games all throughout. Fun bartenders & drinks are cheap!

Best pint of Guinness in San Diego. Friendly service and incredible live music. Love the history and incredible tribute to the past. The proprietors make everyone feel welcome.

Play play some Tuesday nights for pick up and Irish song whiskey here except etc. Schecher

Very lively, but laid back. Perfect place to relax or interact with others. Street parking can be a challenge.

Perfect place to enjoy a Guinness with friends. Inside or out. The weather was beautiful that day.

I had heard about this place for a long time and finally got the chance to go- and the stories are true... it's amazing. It has a very cozy and comfortable feel to it and everyone there was laid back and having a good time. Everyone that works there were pleasant and helpful. The atmosphere is top notch and the bar itself is fantastic. If you're looking for a great place to go with your friends and have a great time - this is the place to go.

I love this spot, friendly staff. And karaoke on Saturday's are so much fun. Every now and again you'll get some knuckleheads that gets so belligerent and acts like a fool, but what bar doesn't? All In all ould sod is one of my favorite dive bar in North Park area.

Lively atmosphere on a Saturday night with live music and great drinks

The best pub in California! Go see Warren, get to know Normal Heights and enjoy what a pub should be.

We closed this place down last weekend and it was a lot of fun. The drinks are reasonably priced and the vibe is pretty chill. The one thing I noticed was they overserved a few customers to the point where they fell off their chairs and had to be carried out, so definitely something the bartenders need to keep an eye on

People of color beware! There is one woman bartender who has the most hideous personality. She's about 5'5, appears to be in her 40s, with badly dyed black hair, generally dirty/unkempt appearance, large mid-section, with yellowing teeth... If you're a person of color or woman, especially a good-looking one, expect her to have a bad attitude with you. I've noticed this the last several times there. There are also no black or brown people employed here. She clearly hates her job; terrible manners, drinks shots all night, and is very slow to attend to customers. This week as we were leaving at the end of the night, she gave my friend a credit card belonging to a different patron. And by gave, she practically threw it at him, and said "byeeee!" No regard for the financial security of the customers and no class. Miserable people shouldn't work in the service industry. What a buzz kill! There are several other bars in the area that have great, fun, amazing staff members. I'd recommend any of them over this waste of space.

I've worked in the business before, and I know the "you've had enough" conversation is awkward and difficult to have, but when you have a ridiculously drunk customer touching and harassing other customers right next to you, its time to tell them to go home. My girlfriend and I just wanted to have a couple drinks, and some lady who was absolutely plastered would not leave us alone while the bartender was standing right there watching the whole thing. Putting her hands on us, cursing at us, etc, while the bartender ignored the entire situation from 3 feet away. I had to yell "hey I need you to close us out right now" for him to even acknowledge the situation, and the acknowledgment was "sorry about that, she's not here ALL the time." He wasn't even busy either, there were only a couple other people in the place. Definitely a location to avoid if you're not one of the 10-12 local alcoholics that keep the place in business.

I miss this place. Eric makes you feel at home and is best bartender. Best Irish pub. Tell'em lil fisty sent ya. ;)

A very authentic neighborhood irish pub. Divey with smithwicks on tap and as much Irish whiskey as you can handle. Love it.

Went here to watch the Warriors game tonight. 3rd time here. Sera behind the bar was super rude. Did not want to serve me. I had to ask for drinks, water, napkins at least 3 times. The other patrons felt so bad for me that one, Cathy offered to get me paper towel from the bathroom. I will obviously not go back again. At least not when Sera is working.

This is a great neighborhood bar. The patrons are super friendly and the staff is efficient and chill. They have a huge back patio that I didn't even know existed. We happened to come in here during one of the festivals on Adam's Avenue. It was PACKED inside. No one could even move. We saw a sign for a patio in the back so we pushed and squeezed and finally made our way back there. Whoa!!! Lots of wide open space...a full bar, places to sit, lawn games...it's great! We've been here the last two weekends to watch the World Cup. They are nice enough to open early so everyone can watch the Mexico team play. They have plenty of TV's and they let you bring in coffee from outside. I even ran into Brad here this morning. Thank you Warren for coming in early!!!! If you're looking for a nice friendly neighborhood bar...give this place a try.

This is my old college stomping grounds so it's a bit nostalgic. I came in here Saturday night before St Paddy's Day. Place was packed of course. But the doorman was nice. That's one thing about the Ould Sod- they definitely have the nicest doormen! Drinks are stiff and cheap just as I remembered. People are still queueing for karaoke. And the crowd of people are always friendly. Parking is tricky around here. No parking lots around. I suggest ridesharing Overall a Great Irish bar any day of the week with nice people. Sláinte!

Not bad local spot. Full of wanna be hipster locals .....good service nice bartender. Probably won't go back since I don't live in the area.

Saturday night karaoke, starts at 9:30. We arrived about 9 and easily found seats, it got pretty crowded once karaoke started. Ould Sod is a pretty narrow bar, squeeze your way to the more spacious outdoor patio with its own bar. I loved the mixed crowd & good drinks. I came for a drink or two and stayed all night, glad my cousins brought me!!

Not much to say but take it at face value... old, divey, Irish themed, karaoke nights. It is what it is. Went last night with a friend for karaoke and was quickly annoyed by amount of drunk douchebags bothering us including one who told me I had "nasty side bitch eye"... um, thanks? ‍ Not really the bars fault, I suppose, but in light of the #metoo movement really wishing I could grab a drink with a girlfriend and watch/ sing karaoke in peace.

W.A.R.R.E.N. One word. If he isn't here I'm not coming in. Best bartender E-V-E-R! I seriously would come here and ask if he's bartending. Wednesdays are the best night. Come here with friends. Easy peezy night. There's also juke so you can jam out to your songs of choice. And there's a full bar.

Ahhh... the Ould Sod... the beginning of so, so many adventures for me... with just a few misadventures sprinkled in to spice it up. WHY oh WHY can't I ever have a normal, boring night here? Maybe it's something to do with the stiff pours at affordable prices. Maybe it's because of the comfortable and inviting atmosphere and warm and welcoming bar staff that make you never want to leave. Maybe it's just a magnet for kindred spirits who love mischief and shenanigans as much as I do. Maybe it's some sort of Ould Irish Magic (or Leprechauns!) Maybe it's all of those things combined, but regardless of the reasons, I've got more than enough "One night at Ould Sod..." stories to make up for all the "One Night in Band Camp" stories I missed out on by having chosen choir in high school. I love the fact that it's one of the oldest bars in San Diego and has decades' worth of character and stories etched into it... I love that it's an authentic Irish Pub with a huge selection of Whiskeys and Scotches I love that every time I come in, I recognize the faces behind the bar as those that have been serving here for years... I love their new back patio with games and a second bar - it feel like it brought a nice update to the place without affecting any of the inside atmosphere. I love the neighborhood bar feeling and being able to go somewhere humble and honest and homely while the rest of the neighborhood around it keeps pushing toward trendy and craft. But most of all, I just love how comfortable this bar is and how much fun we have every single time we come. Please don't ever change Ould Sod, we love you just the way you are.

This place is quite... interesting! Street parking. You ought to try your luck at the nearby neighborhoods though! A friend of mine is a regular here. I like that the community seems close and people often know each other. The drinks are reasonably priced. The bartenders I've encountered here are mostly nice as well! Their back patio is gorgeous though! I've played scrabble and ping pong with my friend a few times. Nowadays I've been coming here when it isn't usually crowded but when it is, I end up singing their live karaoke with my friend. Their karaoke nights are heaps of fun too! The crowd will appreciate the awesome 80's music! I like that this place isn't the typical "young college" hub-- but it is mostly for career men and women who just want to chill after work on a random night. I like crowds like that! Hardly any wild people. Keep it up!

This pub is by far the best one in San Diego. We have been going here for many years. The atmosphere is always casual and welcoming. The staff is always polite. And they have really spruced up the place in the last couple years. I love that you can bring your own food in there if you want. It was nice and cool on this hot day! I know they have entertainment occasionally like karaoke. I have seen a lot of group parties. Like bachelorette parties and 40th birthday parties. So it's a good place to gather a lot of people especially since they extended the back. The drinks are reasonably priced. All in all it's a great place to go. I highly recommend coming here anytime. And I highly recommend this being your watering hole.

New back patio same fun crowd! I can't believe I haven't written a review of one of my favorite bars in SD! This little Irish Pub was in serious need of a new patio and I have to admit the new space is gorgeous! They really outdid themselves and I can't wait to come back and enjoy the new outdoor space! Bartenders are always friendly and attentive and if you are looking for live music or karaoke this is your spot! Prices are reasonable and the crowd is always fun and friendly! Just a well run bar that will always be a hometown favorite!

Yup, definitely an Irish karaoke bar. Some decent locals singing who clearly have done this before so be ready to step up your game. And word to the wise, please don't sing a slow song because that's just a buzz kill for all. As you stand in the front part of the bar, you wonder why they keep packing more people in, but there's a much bigger bar area in the back, just past the narrow seating if you need to spread out or get away from the karaoke part.

[tune to: I Will Survive] "... At first I was afraid... I was terrified.... Just kept thinking how I could not sing up there before those eyes... But then I took a deep breathe.. thinking what could go wrong.. and I grew strong.. and oh~ i got the crowd to sing along..." After a delicious dinner in North Park, a group of 15 folks sought a cheap bar close by that we could close out of Saturday night. Apparently it's unheard of to find a bar that does Kareoke on a Saturday but thanks to yelp.. our group landed at Ould Sod around 9pm. Apparently it was the perfect time because we managed to snag a couple of the booth seats next to the bar and it was just minutes before kareoke launched into full gear. The bar is cute. It's not very big by any means but it's cozy and once the crowd gets a singing, it's like your giant family crammed into the living room for a drunken sing-a-long. The drinks were so cheap and tasty. The gals running the line at the bar were quick and efficient. They even had free little samples of shock top to warm the vocal chords before kareoke launched in full effect. Plenty of screens around the bar to see lyrics and sing along with whoever is on the stage.. The Asian guy running the kareoke machine -- amazing!! He sings soo well!! He was also quick and efficient gathering all the song requests from the "very cheerful" guests. The machine had TONS.. I mean TONS of songs!! Everything from your old school soul.. snoop dog.. and yes- FROZEN. My handsome man put balls to the wall and sang Frozen and a bar full of folks sang along. It was fucking AMAZING. "Let it gooooo... Let it goooo!!!" I mean like the whole daymn bar was singing frozen like it was a traditional irish drinking song.. I loved the crowd.. no judgment.. you can sing well like the kareoke host.. or horrible like me.. and everyone will still keep the vibe alive and warm to give you all the courage to get on the stage. It was definitely my first kareoke dive bar experience and it was FANTASTIC. Highly recommended. You gotta come early especially on kareoke nights cuz it will fill up quick. Great service, kind people, and a whole lot of fun!!

My first instinct is to say it can't be explained. Or maybe it's my little secret why it's so awesome. I'll try my best at helping you understand. It's small and unassuming. It's kind of dark inside but in the right way. You might pass it if you drove or walked by because it's a wallflower. It doesn't ask for attention and it doesn't mind if you're not interested. It's confident because it's special. I love an Irish Pub. I especially love this one. It's intimate and lively. The bartenders are always the same and do a great job at mingling with their patrons. You walk in and there's a big long bar on your left and a row of cool booths on your right. You'll find some tables toward the back. I've been here so many times. I've started the night there, ended the night there, watched sports from the booths, taken shots at the bar, and always have beers. It's a place I miss when I haven't been in a while. It's cozy and makes me happy. Its got an energy that I love.

Didn't bother leaving a bad review after my first bad experience, my friends like this place. BUT, after visit number two, I will not be going back. Don't bother trying to sign up for karaoke if you are not a regular or going to pay off the guy running the thing. Not a great place to sing anyway, super packed and the sound sucks. Also, they have a jukebox. Save your money. They pick what they want to play and they WILL come shut it off mid song if God forbid you play anything other than Irish or country music. Bartender was SUPER rude to me when I asked him why he changed it. Don't put a jukebox in your establishment (that people are paying to use) if you're going to dictate what gets played. Also, it's not the best kept place to begin with and needs some cleanup for sure.

They have a Guinness on tap!! Boyfriend and I stopped here to enjoy our food from Alaskan Seafood because the bar was nice enough to let us.. obviously after ordering a drink. We enjoyed our food in their beer garden while watching Sunday football.. the outside which is so cute and chill has a ping pong table as well as foosball table. Very tiny but spacious. Since this bar is down the street from us we will literally be here probably every other two days LOL no lie. Boyfriend is a fan of the Guinness especially while it being on tap

Really cool vibe here. Old school, had some Live pub music, kinda made me feel like I was back in Europe. Went here on a mini after date pub run. Grabbed a couple of their house brews which were nice. 6.00 pints aren't bad at all. Staff was chill and friendly. A place I wouldn't mind grabbing a brew now and again.

For the love of all things Holy can someone please discontinue Free Jukebox Wednesdays? Every Hipster within a 5-mile radius has continued to descend on the jukebox like seagulls on McNugget, playing the most utterly bum-out suicide inducing sounds ever committed to tape. I think the poor jukebox has tried to kill itself already. 1 or 2 songs? Cool. But I don't need 3 hours of Arcade Fire every Wednesday to get how misunderstood you are. This is an F'ing Irish pub, not a poetry slam. Gimme some Al Green, Stones, hell I'll take NKOTB over your Elliott Smith any day...Let capitalism and the free market rule over the invaders. All that said, the SOD remains San Diego's PROPER irish pub. Great service, a victorious pint of Guinness, wild karaoke, and epic live irish music make up for so many sins.

I'm actually pretty upset that I didn't know about this place sooner ! I mean how could you go wrong with a hole in the wall karaoke bar ? I was out with a friend , who apparently is a regular at this place . There is a large bar when you first walk in . You can sit right at the bar , or sit at big old school booth like tables . The small stage is right up front by the door . There is also a seating area in the back . They had a full bar , with great bartenders and strong drinks . The bathroom was towards the back of the restaurant . It was extremely small , two people can barley walk by each other in there . They have this enormous book of songs that you could choose from for your karaoke . I'm not sure if they do karaoke every day , or just Thursday nights , but it was amazing ! Everyone in the bar was participating. It wasn't super packed in the bar , but there was a good amount of people . Many singers went up twice , and some even three times . It was the funniest thing I've ever seen ! I wish I could post video on here ! Location : 3 Service :5 Atmosphere :5

Decent Irish bar. But name the 10 most basic boring beers you could put on tap and they put 7 of those tap. Plus 3 beers you really don't want. Full bar so if you want a cocktail, great. The bartenders are good and the bar is cozy. But I get why it be lived in area for 3 years and never been here before.

If you like affordable stiff drinks with an actual smoking patio this is your spot. Best bar in normal heights. Not for beginners.

Great little bar. Often gets very busy, and last night was no exception being st pattys day! Line to get in was too long so we didn't go in, but I've been here before and have been meaning to give a report. If you want a fun, funky bar, this will do nicely. Very efficient bartenders. For the amount of drinks they have to keep up with they do an incredible job. Adorable old fashioned feeling inside. They play great Irish music sometimes and often have live bands. Very festive and a great place to hang out. Note: do yourself a favor and avoid Rosie O'Gradys across the street. Horrible bitch servers, nasty dirty, and total drunk creeps. I think the bathroom may be a portal to hell.

Sometimes you wanna go... Where they pour the best pint of Guinness in town! Where you might run into your ex and his basic new girlfriend being basic af! Where Warren will have NONE of your sass! Where the beautiful Sarah graces us with both her lovely vocal chords and stiff whiskeys Where Roman WILL physically force you to sing karaoke whether you like it or not! Where the music and cocktails are of the highest caliber when Rudy's on shift! Where Tommy will treat your kickball team to a round (or 3?!) Where the bouncers have your back when the creepers be creepin! Where you can always find a friend! Where everybody....some, anyway...sort of remember your name! :)

What a great dive bar. Very clean, nice staff, great Guinness beer. It's a great place to hang out and talk. There is a back side to the spot now with a pretty spacious area with foosball. I enjoyed my evening here with a friend.

I have to give this place 5 stars because they had Widmer, a rocking freaking fun band and the clientele were nice as hell. I was already 3 sheets to the wind when I arrived and I was feeling a little droopy. But not for long. The Dateless Losers started playing and my energy level shot through the roof. This band is fantastic. Can't rave enough about it. As for the bar, the service was great, they had my favorite beer on tap and everyone was really friendly. And I wasn't even flashing. My kind of place!!!!