Belly Up Tavern   

Sure, Solana Beach calls the Belly Up a tavern, but that doesn't mean it's a broken-down watering hole with only Van Halen's 'Panama' playing on the jukebox. Far from it: The Belly-Up Tavern is a full-fledged entertainment juggernaut that has won local and international acclaim from publications as diverse as Rolling Stone and the San Diego Union-Tribune. Although it still retains the home-grown flavor of its WWII-era wooden design, the Belly has metamorphosed from humble roadhouse bar into the choice performance location for artists as diverse as George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic, PJ Harvey, Cowboy Junkies and many more. But the Belly isn't just about music; their next-door neighbors at the Wild Note Cafe make sure to keep listeners' own bellies filled with bistro favorites like Baja fish tacos and Thai stir-fry for reasonable prices. Meanwhile, weekend warriors ready to turn it loose gather for a Friday happy hour that knocks prices down to $5 while providing some great local music; in fact, if you're into local acts, the Belly puts them onstage weekly. North County doesn't have anything that comes close to the Belly for its brand of nightlife.