Salt & Whiskey Reviews
Submitted by Mary M. on 07/18/2022
Mary M. 5 stars rating.
Great atmosphere, service, drinks and food at Salt and Whiskey! The seasonal drinks were aromatic, well-balanced and strong ????. For food, tried the pimento dip and the fresh catch of the day (halibut) which were both delicious! Can't wait to get back to San Diego for another fun and relaxing meal here!
Scooby Doo 1 stars rating.
I participated in the "Taste of San Diego Gaslamp" event. I show up to get my sample and they claim to have run out and didn't offer anything. I will definitely not be going back to that place.
Submitted by Scooby Doo on 09/18/2022
A “Cubs” M 5 stars rating.
Like the Whiskey House? Cool now imagine a place where the bartenders are nice, the atmosphere doesnt feel like an upscale dive bar and the drinks/food are better.
Absolutely loved this place. Food was great, drinks were great and service was great. Cant recommend enough.
Submitted by A “cubs” M on 07/27/2022
Justin M 5 stars rating.
Stopped here while visiting San Diego when another whiskey bar in the area was closed for a private event. We were happy we went here instead. Yes, the drinks were a little pricey, but the historic building and vibe were awesome and we had a good time.
Submitted by Justin M on 04/11/2022
Onyx Gryne 1 stars rating.
Stale coffee is not a good way to start. The cheap fruit bowl and child's portion of weird rice left me starving. The mini croissants were old. My bloody Mary came with an unlisted piece of bacon jammed in it. The three course brunch menu had 7 items on it with a single option for two of the three courses. This despite advertising a five course menu.
This was a very pitiful presentation from such a famous place. This is a waste of my $57.00 only to receive the worst brunch I have ever had on both coast or in between.
I gave the waitress what she earned.
Submitted by Onyx Gryne on 04/01/2022
Matthew Garcia 4 stars rating.
With places like this, it’s all about timing. Ended up here on a late Saturday and it was empty due to two shows nearby. Bartender was friendly and the live music was an awesome Argentine who played the sax. I can see how on other nights it would be disappointing. But the cocktails were great at this particular time!
Submitted by Matthew Garcia on 03/06/2022
Keisha Riley 1 stars rating.
Pricey menu. The food was extremely lack luster. Drinks were weak and unimpressive. Atmosphere leaves much to be desired. The dining area was completely empty on a Friday night in Gaslamp. I should have known there was a reason.. Family of 4, expensive dinner! We should have just left before being seated.... 1 star for our waitress. She was nice.
Submitted by Keisha Riley on 03/06/2022
John K Geyerman 3 stars rating.
This is a cool bar with a vintage vibe. Service was a little slow. It was loud in there too, the crowd wasn't big at all. Whiskey sour wasn't that great. I might give it another chance, eventually.
Submitted by John K Geyerman on 11/29/2021
Tab Gray 5 stars rating.
Brunch was truly amazing - great food, amazing service and incredible live music also!
Submitted by Tab Gray on 06/06/2021
Jay Keyes 5 stars rating.
Salt & Whiskey, formerly known as "Palace Bar," earns 5 stars just by virtue of maintaining an inventory of expensive, very hard-to-find scotch and other rare whiskies in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. As I've mentioned in my previous review of Palace Bar, my regular scotch bar is the more affordable Aero Club, but Aero Club lacks the ambiance, grace, and glamour of Salt & Whiskey. Sitting at a dark, oaky bar in the "haunted" Horton Grand Hotel, I can ALMOST justify the occasional $50 glass of whiskey here, whereas I probably wouldn't be as willing to splurge at Aero Club.
Also, the selection at Salt & Whiskey is outstanding. For example, they stock every Bruichladdich I've seen anywhere else in the world, and even some I've never seen before.
The one food item I've had here has been average. The "Cali Taco" consists of chunks of steak, breakfast potatoes (the lackluster soggy, non-crispy kind), chopped tomatoes and onions, sliced avocado, and crema. The only spice I taste is salt, and the tough, chewy steak doesn't seem to have been marinated for very long or it comes from a poor chop of beef. Oddly, they charge extra to substitute the steak with chicken. At first I thought this was a clever tourist tax, but then considered that perhaps their beef is of such low-quality that it truly is "sub-chicken." There's some red sauce on the side that masks the ills of the taco and makes it alright, especially after a good amount of whiskey. In other words, I don't come here for the food, and you shouldn't either.
When I'm downtown and want a drink, this is my shelter from the madness, vomit, and piss of Gaslamp. If you appreciate sipping spendy booze in a quiet, dark, well-appointed bar with an occasional pianist, this joint has you covered.
Submitted by Jay Keyes on 11/07/2019
