Weekends are for brunch and we’ve got a list of the top places to try if you’re looking for the best bloody marys in the City!  Whether you want a hangover cure or just a tasty pick-me-up, this drink can be as quick to revive as it can be to put you under again!  From traditional recipes made with vodka or craft concoctions with other types of liquor it seems the bigger the garnish the better.

Grab some friends and check out our favorites in neighborhoods all over San Diego! If you’d like to put together a tasting tour of our top Brunch and ultimate bloody mary locations, contact So Diego Tours and they’ll customize a San Diego tour just for you and your friends!  

Davanti Enoteca

Located in the heart of Little Italy, this may be your hangover’s new best friend!  They offer a full brunch menu every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm and have delicious food options that are sure to cure any hangover like the Focaccia Di Recco served with Ligurian flatbread, soft cow’s cheese and honeycomb or the Pork Belly Hash & Eggs with crispy pork belly, potatoes, roasted peppers, avocado, poached eggs, piquillo peppers and hollandaise!  When food is not enough, they have the best DIY Bloody Mary Bar in the city! With “Bloody Mary Experts” standing by to guide you down the line of spicy hot sauces, horseradish, olives celery sticks, and every kind of pickled vegetable you can imagine (and then some), they’ll also help you with the hard choices like whether to keep it traditional with vodka or mix it up and use whiskey or gin! As if that weren’t enough, they’ll even provide a plate of fresh bacon to add as the final touch to your perfect bloody mary. Is your mouth watering yet?

Waterfront Bar & Grill

Established in 1933, this family owned dive bar in Little Italy is San Diego’s oldest tavern.  It is anything but pretentious and what they lack in ambiance makes up for with large portions of delicious classic and Mexican breakfast items and some of the best traditional bloody marys in the City, served to you by very friendly staff.  Their bloody marys are prepared using Absolut Pepper Vodka and a housemade mix that is the perfect combination of acidity from the tomato juice and spice and flavor from the Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, black pepper, Dijon mustard, horseradish and to even it all out a splash of sweet-n-sour mix!  They serve breakfast all day every day from 6:00 am – 2:00 am.

Garage Kitchen + Bar

Located in the historic Gaslamp Quarter this joint is housed in a historic building built in 1890 and pays tribute to local San Diego bands that have made it big!  Their menu features eclectic American food with European influence and each dish is made using scratch cooking from local sustainable ingredients. They serve weekend brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm and in addition to their traditional Proud Mary, they also offer the Twisted Sister that is an amped up version of the traditional complete with a Dijon salt rim and a pretzel & bratwurst garnish – yes breakfast truly is in your glass!

Hash House A Go Go

This Hillcrest hot spot serves up what they tout as Twisted Farm Food where midwest meets the coasts and brunch is offered 7 days a week from 7:30 am – 2:30 pm.  Unless you show-up right when they open be prepared for a wait (and yes, it’s worth it)! They have an entire brunch cocktail list but if you’re looking for a bloody mary, choose from one of their award-winning options that include the traditional, a Barbeque Bloody Mary served with a skewer of chicharrones (i.e. fried pork rinds) or our personal favorite, the Johnny’s Famous B.L.T Mary – served in a pint glass with a bacon, lettuce and tomato garnish and two slices of toasted white bread with mayo on the side!  If that isn’t enough to fill you, pair it with their famous Fried Chicken Waffle Tower – a large enough meal to share with the table or take home for leftovers!

The Great Maple

If you can imagine a 60s era Palm Springs dinette with a fancied-up French vibe that serves mouthwatering, powdered Sugar Beignets and some of the best breakfast in the City then this University Heights spot is for you.  Don’t let the nondescript exterior fool you, inside you’ll find retro-glam décor that makes you feel like the newest member of the Rat Pack! Try the Great Maple French Toast Logs served with smoked bacon maple syrup and blueberries or the Fried Goat Cheese Squash Blossom English Popovers with roasted tomato, fresh mushrooms, sautéed spinach and a strawberry balsamic drizzle!  To wash it all down, they have a full brunch cocktail list complete with your choice of 6 different bloody marys, all made with vodka, but you can substitute a liquor of your choice! Our favorite is the One Armed Mary made with Green Mark Vodka, house mary blend, spices, fresh lemon and garnished with a spicy fresh grilled octopus tentacle!

Waypoint Public

This family-friendly North Park joint serves up what they consider as Latin, Asian and European influenced California cuisine with an exceptional beer menu!  They serve only beer and wine and you might ask then how do they make the list of best bloody marys? Well, their creative bartenders have created 2 pretty awesome options – the Bloody Beer with IPA, homemade bloody mix, fresh lime and a Tajin rim or the Screaming Rooster Bloody Mary served with Platinum Spirit (a grape-based 40 proof alcohol – they use 4 oz in drinks!), homemade bloody mix, sriracha, fresh lime, Tajin rim and a garnish of bacon and house pickle!  They serve brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm and we recommend ordering their Loaded Deviled Eggs and Fried Green Tomatoes for the table while you wait for the main affair to come! Don’t forget to check out more North Park restaurants and bars and what the area has to offer.

Brockton Villa

This restaurant opened over 25 years ago in a historic beach cottage that was built in 1894 and has offered great food ever since!  It’s seaside location set into the cliffs offers a spectacular view of the La Jolla Cove. They serve breakfast daily starting at 8:00 am and take reservations.  Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, most tables have ocean views! They offer a BV Classic Bloody Mary and two variations which we have a hard time picking a favorite from – the Bloody Mariana with lemon, basil and sriracha or The Bloody Best with cilantro, lime, sambal and brown sugar!  While you’re there try their award winning Coast Toast – served in a souffle style, it’s extra rich with a hint of orange. Brockton Villa is a great place to grab brunch on the weekend, make sure to check out some of the other best brunch spots in La Jolla for delicious food and drinks.

Breakfast Republic

With a cult-like following, this joint has 7 locations across the city and while each differ in ambiance, one thing remains the same – you can find amazing bloody marys and a great brunch menu at each one!  With 5 different bloody mary choices, there’s something for every palate.  Our favorite is the Jurassic Bloody Mary made with vodka (if you like it spicy upgrade to the habanero vodka), housemade bloody mary mix, lemon juice and jurassic pork bacon (thick cut bacon marinated and baked with paprika and brown sugar)!  If vodka is not your thing, try one of their other choices – gin, aquavit, tequila or mezcal! If you’re fighting a hangover, order their Breakfast Bacon Mac ‘N’ Cheese topped with parmesan breadcrumbs, chives and 3 eggs served any style – it won’t disappoint!