Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar

I have been to the Marlin Bar in NYC and Naples and had high hopes for this one while visiting San Diego. Maybe I should have been more informed and then I wouldn’t have been so disappointed. I arrived at 12:30 on a Saturday and the bar was full. In order to get a table, you had to place your order at the entrance. I sat and waited and when I saw a server go by, I asked for some water. They pointed and said I had to get my own from a water station. Huh. I did and got my own napkins and salt and pepper while I was there. Eventually my lunch was brought to me but no drink. I waited and then headed to the bar thinking I was supposed to pick up my own cocktail, too, but passed a server on the way with what looked like my drink. When I asked, saying that my lunch had already been served, it turned out it was mine and she told me that the bartender was busy and got behind. It took longer to make my lunch than my cocktail??? At any rate, this is by no means a full service restaurant. Also, if you are a party of one or two, it is better to sit in the bar area. The temperature there is noticeably cooler than the tables which are under awnings with no fans (there are numerous fans in the bar). I am giving it a low 4 stars because the food and drink were good but the service (or lack thereof) took away from the experience.

Had a lovely time here! The menu matched the location for sure. We ordered Mahi Mahi tacos, jerk chicken sandwich, flat bread, cucumber smash, raspberry paloma

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar toes the line between beachy charm and mall food court vibes. The food? Squarely in the okay zone—not bad, not great, just kind of… there. My mojito, on the other hand, was a mini vacation in a glass—minty, crisp, and strong enough to make me temporarily forget I was waiting half my life to be asked if I was ready for another. Service was classic San Diego: warm smiles, relaxed pace, and a vibe that says “We’ll get to it… eventually.” It’s the kind of spot you hit when you’re not in a rush, moderately hungry, and maybe just want a good drink and a reason to people-watch.

I have been coming to Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar since it was opened in Fashion Valley and without a doubt today was the best experience I’ve ever had. The music was great, food was on point and drinks were like always superb. What really stood out today from any other day was the great service I received from Elyssa. She was very interactive with her costumers and had clear knowledge of the menu and recommended multiple things. I have truly never experienced such a great customer service and friendliness from a staff member in any location like I did today with Elyssa. I sat on the first seat by the check in so I witnessed her treating everyone with such a welcoming attitude smile, knowledge and respect. Tommy Bahama is very lucky to have her as part of the staff and hope to continue seeing her there

Loved our lunch at Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar at the Fashion Valley Mall! Such relaxing vibes, it feels like you’re on vacation. We had to get the frozen pina colada and Mai tai to match the vibe. We decided to do just appetizers and were very pleased with our choices of ahi tuna tacos, coconut shrimp, steak flatbread, and chicken tacos. Very friendly and accommodating service. Dog friendly. Recommend!

Always a wonderful spot to stop for a food, snack, or drink. They really have something for everyone. There is open self seating at the bar top with full service. The restaurant seating area requires you to order at the front of the bar at the register and then go find a seat. It's not a big deal, but it's nice to know. The staff has always been exceptional, friendly, and attentive. They make your mixed drinks in front of you and deliver them quickly. There is also a great selection of beer and wine to choose from, and their Frozen Mai Tais are the best. The food is excellent, top notch, restaurant quality. The meals are full sized, and the appetizers are generous. There is also a great happy hour menu most days. If you are a sports fan, sit at the bar. They have 4 TVs going at all times displaying sports, and they will find whatever game you ask them to if they have access. The restaurant and bar can be cold in the winter or overcast day, so bring a jacket or something to stay warm in case you are out of reach of the heaters. The staff has always been happy to turn them on when requested, and most cool days they are on already. The bar and dining areas are also wheelchair accessible and there are accessibility ramps towards the back of the bar area.

Noe and Janae (manager) were really friendly and nice. Noe had great recommendations and was attentive without being too much. Food is delicious and seating at the bar is fun with lots of people watching, but there is also patio seating for a little quieter atmosphere.

LOVE this place! Tommy Bahama | Marlin Bar & Store in San Diego is such a fun spot to hang out. The vibe is relaxed and stylish, perfect for grabbing drinks or just enjoying the atmosphere. Happy Hour is always a highlight—great deals and tasty options. The taco salad is one of my favorites here, always fresh and delicious. On top of that, the staff are super friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Definitely one of my go-to spots in the area!

LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! Amazing food and drinks, if you haven't tried it you are missing out!!

This place is a sleeper! Love what a hidden, yet not-so-hidden gem of a place Tommy Bahama's is! We came for their happy hour menu to grab a couple drinks (~$11 each). Not bad, as expected for taste. They have a decent food menu. Sliders were good, though I thought a bit pricey (a pair of tiny sliders for ~$14). Wish they had food items on their happy hour! ;) Service was superb, but we were also the few people there on a rainy day. The servers had fun personalities and checked in on us often, which was much appreciated. Absolutely LOVE the live music, which I feel is a rarity nowadays. Overall, enjoyed my time here -- a couple drinks, small bites, live music, and good vibes.

I almost had a melt down there tonight, because I asked them if they'd be able to get the Cowboys game, and for awhile, it looked like they weren't going to be able to. They did, though. The food was great. My wife liked the Ahi tacos. I loved the steak tacos and sliders. The Margaritas were great, and the guy waiting on us (I forget his name, younger blonde/brown haired dude), was terrific. It was our first time there, and we had a movie to see at 7, but it was nice to see the first half of football, hear a live band (that did Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Ben E. King, and some contemporary tunes). A good time was had by all.

After a day of shopping , this is the place to sip & relax .... Such a pleasant atmosphere . Great drinks as always most memorable & highly apreciated was the fantastic service by both bartenders ! -- Alfonso & Edward were friendly & professional , great conversation & fun personalities . A perfect fit for the atmosphere & true assets to the company . This type of customer service is what brings people back time & again ... Try the rum martini! the brownie is divine !!!!!!

This was such a cool little area for drinks and food. I loved the guy playing music. They had a decent happy hour. I would have liked a few more heat lamps near by as it was rather chilly once the sun went down. Overall, a nice spot for a drink, before or after a day of shopping.

I'm a VIP and was invited to a VIP event offering 25% off on Friday, I could not make it on Friday so I asked Guiermo to hold a couple shirts and pairs of pants for me and three items for my wife to pick up on Saturday. He refused to do it and walked away from us. We spend a lot of money and can't believe his arrogance and snobbery. We went to La Jolla and they said "No problem", "Thank you for shopping with us"

Service here was wonderful. Everyone who walked by our table asked if we needed anything. You order at the entrance and you cannot at the bar or at on the covered patio. They have heaters by the tables. You can also order more food and drinks from your table. They have appetizer type food that we shared. We tried the poke tacos, fish tacos, and beef tacos. The hot chicken sliders were delicious. The food and drinks were great! I would try to come during happy hour to save some money. We had a coupon - so that wasn't good during happy hour. Bathrooms are located inside the store and are accessible through the bar.

I feel so sad I use to come here everyday when I worked in fashion then on the weekend love the HH food was always great service WAS excellent so sad it's gone Downhill !! Sunday about 5 bar was somewhat ok 5 bartender or 6 well many it took 15min to get someone attention finally elssysa helped and she was all the way on the other side glad HH is extended but please pay attention this bar is to cool to loose because of something soooo silly.

Prices have really increased but still a solid option for happy hour. If you're sitting at the bar you take a seat and the server takes your order. If you're sitting in their back area, you order at the counter and take a seat. My friend and I got a margarita and a mojito for $11 on happy hour. Nothing amazing but tasted pretty good. We also got the blacked mahi tacos, not on hh. Really flavorful fish and a good mix of sauces and toppings to add some texture.

So we've seen this place be busy quite a bit & we have been wanting to try it. As we had extra time one evening we decided to stop by & we're so pleased with our experience! Zach was a great bartender as well as a few other staff who helped us out. Our drinks were delicious, and we decided to order the jerk wings on the menu not knowing how great they'd be!!! They were so yummy. We'd come back for all. It's fun ambiance being in the middle of the mall, a busy spot with quick service and friendly folk all around. Our dog sat below us at the bar and was welcomed :). Great opportunity to take a look at the store while having some cocktails in you, great marketing - hahah! I do recommend this spot as it's overall lovely.

Everyone was so very friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. Mahi tacos, chicken mango salad, hurricane tots, island tea, strawberry lemonade .... The key lime pie was the best I've had. It tastes like the amazing pie from the former Lahaina location. Maddy was incredible. Robert was so helpful. Mariah was great with ordering and the register. Amazing team here! The heaters were on so even the chill in the air just made it cozy on the patio.

Holy smokes... wish I had known about this place earlier. Amazing Happy Hour from 3-6pm, live music and really great food. Nick and Victor are super fun and are great barkeeps! Bathrooms are clean, parking can be annoying depending on time of day, but overall, this place is fabulous, the service is lovely and the food is just delish!

I like the bite sized fare. The sliders have perfectly sized onion, lettuce, and tomato for a great burger slider. The Ahi Tuna tacos seem weird but were very tasty, loved 'em!

After passing the Marlin Bar every time I have been at Fashion Valley Mall, we stopped in for a late lunch. The protocol is to order your food and then find a seat. Although other Tommy Bahamas in other cities have a bigger menu, this has some good choices and a good variety. The space is very nice and the seating area is covered with umbrellas to shade you from the sun. The bar is long and under the cover of the building. The service is wonderful because the good runners ask if you need anything as the are moving about. I opted to have an appetizer of the coconut shrimp. It came with a Coke slaw like salad. It was all very good and just enough for me to eat for lunch. My friend had a salad which she enjoyed as well.

The other night I went to Happy Hour with my friends at Marlin Bar in Fashion Valley Mall. The ambiance of the outdoor-dining patio, coupled with the outside bar, created a welcoming atmosphere. Cleanliness was evident, and the overall quality of both service and food was impressive. The crispy chicken wings with jerk rub and buffalo style and a couple other appetizers were all delicious and reasonably priced. The happy hour menu offered a nice selection of apéritifs and appetizers, providing excellent value. The parking structure near Macy's (structure B) was convenient, making access to the restaurant more hassle-free. Because of the bustling location the restaurant can get quite busy and they do not take reservations. The only issue I see is possible difficulty accessing the restroom for handicapped individuals due to the distance and location. Overall Marlin Bar's quality, attentive staff, inviting ambiance, reasonable prices at happy hour, and convenient parking make it a standout choice for those who appreciate both value and taste for Happy Hour.

Sooo salty!!!! What to expect from clothing store food though, right? I always wanted to try it because it looked cool with the seating and usually has an acoustic guitar player but the food was such a drag. I had the hurricane tots, ahi tuna tacos, and tried some shrimp salad. Was like ocean water. Very, very salty. If they dialed it back a bit it would be much better but hey, clothing store food in the mall. High end clothes, low end loaves.

Good vibes and sunshine here. We stopped by for lunch and sat at the bar. The roasted vegetable salad with grilled shrimp, duo of dips and faux-mojito made for a satisfying meal. The portions were more than adequate for one person. The salad was tasty and healthy. The dips consisted of salsa and guacamole and homemade chips. I really enjoyed the salsa which had a nice, but not too strong spice level. The faux mojito was refreshing and had the right amount of sweetness. Service was quick. You place your order at the bar, pay and are given a number. Customers can sit at the bar or at outdoor tables. Food is brought to you. The bar is comfortable and is a great way to take a break if you are shopping at the mall.

Found a shirt I really liked, bought it and unfortunately it had an oil stain- they put another one on hold for me and let me exchange it and were super helpful. I also love the bar upstairs, super friendly staff and the drinks were great! 10/10

Had a Sunday brunch there. We had their signature chicken salad and baby back ribs. All tastes just right. Baby back cooked with the right amount of sauce and sizzling crunch crusty meat skin while the inner meat texture was tender and juicy. The chicken salad has some unique flavor that tastes like ah ha! So it was not just boring Caesar salad. That's a plus. The ambiance was semi-formal and energetic. There were 89% of customers above 60. In my experience, when a restaurant is full of seniors, it is a good sign that the restaurant is serving the right meals.

Nice place to stop by when you're at the mall. Food feels a little fast food-ish, ahi tuna tacos were salty and the buffalo cauliflower tasted like it was microwaved. The cocktails looked good but we didn't have any. We didn't want to grab anything at the food court and wanted a nice place to sit. The tables are comfortable and the waiters are attentive. Prices are pretty high, felt like the portions were very small. Hint: check in on Yelp!

It is a lovely establishment and very Hawaiian vibes. Would definitely come back. The music is very casual and fun. Love the atmosphere.

Food is okay, not to impress, but the drink is on point - strong and kicks. Service is chilli when you order at the bar, drink and food in an open space, and you can sit anywhere you like.

Truly one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego haha. We hit it at least once a month and I hit a marlin bar wherever they have one and they have never missed. Their coconut shrimp are what dreams are made of. Only con is removing the pineapple martini from the menu. Other than that 12/10.

Shopping for my bride next door and the salesperson offered a free app to try the restaurant, how could we pass that up? Stepped up to the bar and waited a few for the staff to clean off the counter, eventually asked and it was taken care of. Happy hour had one of my fav beers, bonus! We selected the duo dips, guac, salsa, and fresh chips...all was good! I've been here several times now, and after an initial bad experience I've had great visits since. I always get the shrimp chopped salad and usually the key lime pie! Ambiance is breezy plantation, service was friendly and attentive, and happy hour prices were great! This joint makes the list!!

I have to say, I am so pleasantly surprised at how good the food is here. Stopped by here on a whim while shopping because they had an outdoor bar and buzzed shopping is fun. I ordered a Blood Orange Margarita which was delicious and then a Espresso Martini because I'm a weirdo. For food I ordered the steak tacos. They were fantastic. I was really surprised. I could eat these everyday. I'm not the best review writer and I don't do it often, but this place deserves it. Food and service (Alfonso) was fantastic.

Was going to post a bad review based on the start of the evening but the staff corrected the problem.

Popped in to listen to some lovely music with a friend. Opted for the birria style tacos, which were very nice. They weren't t the most traditional I've had, and were a tad over salted, but still very good. They make an excellent margarita, have a few a nice wine selections, and the service was great, with several waitstaff checking on all the diners regularly. I'll definitely be back.

This is my first time reviewing the marlin bar but I have been to this location at least 4 times! I wish I would have written a review sooner. My mom and I came here for happy hour. We got the Mahi tacos and the poke bowl salad. We shared a coconut cloud martini. Everything came out hot and delicious as usual. This place does not disappoint and the service is wonderful. There are some days where they have live music but I can't remember when lol the overall ambiance is relaxing and refreshing after a long day of shopping! My go to lunch spot at this mall!

Very comfy and cozy live music 4-8 pm daily. Tonight's singing solo melody with a very harmonious voice and she sang several songs while we were there enjoying our highly recommended mai Thai mock tail and ahí tuna and rose' and shrimp tocos and for dessert very delicious key lime ‍ pie to share it was almost like they bring the Bahamas to you if you can't get to the Bahamas I recommend this quaint lil spot for a light dinner or drinks and dessert

Incredible food, service, and ambiance! The staff is awesome and the live music is great.

Decent bar and food for a quick bite to eat after shopping. The staff was nice and service was fast.

Excellent. Just excellent. The poke bowl is sublime; the Nashville sliders are spice-city; the brownie is succulent. We came on a Friday and there was great live music on the patio. The service was speedy and the staff friendly. 10/10 would come back for lunch or dinner, or to grab a drink.

Patrons be aware...this is a restaurant that requires your credit card upon ordering. If you decide to pay your bill in cash then ask, because they will not give it to you, for a receipt that you paid in cash. Twice this restaurant has charged our credit card even though we paid in cash - tip and bill.

I would recommend to come here after a break from shopping, but just be advised that the service was just okay. The ambiance was casual and not loud, since there was music playing overhead. Firstly, the appetizers we ordered were good, but the hurricane tots serving portion significantly shrunk (according to my boyfriend I went with). We also got their ahi tacos, which was refreshing as well, paired with a couple of alcoholic drinks: the pineapple martini and the classic mojito. Both drinks were refreshing and gave us a good buzz after we left the bar. Secondly, the service could have definitely been better. Our waiter made it so obvious that he was trying to rush us from enjoying our food and it left a bad taste in my mouth, since we were only halfway done. Additionally, the bar wasn't even crowded when we went midday, so I was very confused why he was rushing us. Overall, I'm not sure if I would come back again, just because of the service when we sat down at the table. The waitress helping us initially when we ordered was nice and professional, but the waiter could've definitely been friendlier.

Beautiful place i love going here! The mai tais are amazing and everything is delicious!

Two stars are for the food because it was really tasty. We had the coconut shrimp, the jerk chicken wings, tater tots, Birria tacos and the blackened shrimp tacos. I would like to note, we wanted to order the chips and salsa, but they said their kitchen was out, but we saw multiple people order it afterwards, so not sure where that miscommunication was coming from. The service was extremely slow, we had someone else's order come to us and I'm not sure the staff really cared about that. The location is good it's at a bar and it was a nice breeze coming through. The food was good, but I don't think I would eat here again.

Came for happy hour and Zach was awesome!! So personable and the reason we stayed for a second round and maybe a third.. lol Thank you Zach!! Will def be back

We sat at the bar and ordered ahi tuna tacos, blackened shrimp salad, hot fried chicken sliders and a piece of Pina Colada cake. We rarely eat fried chicken at restaurants but wanted to try something different. Everything was delicious. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos but will remember to take some the next time we visit. Great service.

This is my heaven in Fashion Valley. Wife shops, I have lunch and or gin and sodas. We did come here for some food for the first time while we were both on parental leave. The quality of the food was wonderfully surprisingly fantastic. The salmon... wow, it was like sous vide and then broiled to the perfect temperature. Drinks here are pretty standard but maybe with a touch of strength. Servers here are okay. I don't think I've seen the same server here twice and I end up here once every other month. Nice spot though, will be back.

Located at the fashion valley mall, almost dead center. Drinks are fairly pricey, but that is normal for alcohol. If you sit at the bar you don't need to place your order at the register first. They have happy hour every day from 3pm-6pm and live music on some days too. I feel like they should be at seaport village and not fashion valley mall. They also have weekly specials. Alcohol is 4 stars but food is only 3 so I settled on 3 stars. Staff/service is good. Tried: Coconut cloud - more like drinking foam/whip cream than an actual drink. It was odd. Drink is fairly strong. Pineapple paradisio - recommend this! It was good. Frozen coconut mojito - tastes like a whipped cream key lime pie. Fairly similar to the cloud. Pineapple coconut mojito - just okay. Paradisio is better. Mai Tai - super strong. Filled to the brim! They don't skimp here. Food: Key lime pie - slightly disappointing as it wasn't as firm, more pudding like. Cubano - just okay. It's a ham/pulled pork panini. Nashville chicken - nicely crispy but needed way more sauce, didn't have a kick at all. Tots - good. But it's hard to mess up tator tots.

Absolutely had to take my parents here when they came to visit as my dad is the biggest fan of Tommy Bahama! He was soo surprised and happy once he realized where we were. I was a bit worried as I had never been here before, but everything turned out really good. My dad and I split the All-American Burger Sliders and the Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders. We both agreed that the burger wasn't anything special, but the hot chicken was delicious. It was crunchy and packed full of flavor! Would 1000% get it again. My mom got the Grilled Chicken and Mango Salad and she said it was one of the best salads she's had in a long time. All the ingredients were fresh and the flavors blended perfectly with one another. All in all, pretty happy with the food from here. The only downside is the price is pretty up there. Not somewhere to be a regular at, but I'd come back again.

The food and service was fantastic. The tacos had a great flavor and perfect seasoning. Our bartender was very friendly and serviceable. Our drinks were ok. Nothing special. I liked the outdoor environment of the place. Definitely going back to try other foods

Another great experience at Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar! Izzy was a great server; she was friendly and super helpful. We tried 3 new items today in an attempt to try everything on the menu. We would order the corn dip again despite the chips being too fragile to hold the dip.

Happy Hour every day from 3-6. Drink specials only, no food specials. They also have daily drink specials - Tuesday was $8 Martinis. My favorite is the Coconut Cloud. Ordering - stop at the register on the left side of the bar (before entering) and place your order. They give you a number and you find a seat - either at the bar or on the side of the building. Once you are seated, you can order more drinks/food from your seat. I don't see the point of ordering outside. I prefer to sit at the bar for two reasons - 1 = when there's live music, it can be loud on the side of the building & 2 = it's easier to order more drinks/food. We had to wave someone down each time we wanted another drink. It's true, the coconut shrimp is amazing! The ahi tacos are pretty good too. Great place to catch up with friends on a work day. During the week, they close at 8 so you won't be out too late.

Great food and drink in the middle of the mall! We got the Cuban sandwich, ahi poke bowl, and filet & carnitas tacos. All food was excellent. There's a happy hour every day for the drink menus. The coconut mojito and margarita were our favorites. Our server, Angelina, was fantastic and service was quick. Though prices are on the higher side, would stop by again.

I stumbled upon this spot after a well deserved retail therapy session in the mall. I sat at the bar alone and was pleased the bartender guided me in choosing a cocktail. I had a season cider 10/10 and the coconut martini, 11/10! That martini was so delicious, a must try!!! I ordered the jerk wings which had a nice sweet/savory sauce with crispy edges. 11/10 and I also did the mahi tacos, fire as well! I also appreciated their patience, they didn't rush me out as they were starting to close. I would love to return if I'm ever back in town! Also, check in on yelp to get a free app!!!!

Good food, great drinks, outdoor seating only I believe. Staff is wonderful. I think the kitchen may be a little slow.

Quick service and nice strong drinks for happy hour- the tots are also a nice little snack that are perfectly crisp with nice flavoring from the furikake and sriracha aioli ---Order the coconut shrimp! They are really fresh and crisp like the tater tots but also come with fresh salad/slaw in the center that is super refreshing from the fried shrimp. Very well done! I may come back for the chicken sliders after finishing our shopping!.

I'm not really a mall person but this bar was quite the surprise! I've seen this bar several times in passing but never actually stopped in until this past week when my family was visiting. Cool concept. Open air, tucked adjacent to the Tommy Bahama store and in Fashion Valley Mall, there were plenty of options on the menu for me to sneak away from a day of shopping LOL! One of the best margaritas I've had in a long time. Thursday's Happy hour was $9 margs and $7 tacos! Win! A no brainer for a return visit. Drink specials what seemed like every day of the week. Tacos were surprisingly delicious (big portions) and service was even better. Adding this to my best happy hour list asap! Will be back soon