New Year’s Eve in San Diego is a blast, but it’s not a bang.
The only fireworks are at Sea World but there’s a lot going on throughout the city. One of the most happening places is the Gaslamp Quarter, which is pretty much like New Year’s Eve every weekend anyway. On NYE it’s even more intense and every bar and restaurant/bar has something going on for New Year’s Eve, which this year is on a Wednesday.
Here’s a rundown of what’s happening this year at the bars, clubs and party events in San Diego for New Year’s Eve 2026. It includes cover charges, entertainment such as DJs or bands, drink specials (if any) champagne toasts and more. Also included here are events at Gaslamp hotels and a two-day concert at Petco Park.
San Diego Bars & Clubs New Year’s Eve Parties
Borrego Rooftop Kitchen + Cocktailsat Hotel Indigo San Diego – Gaslamp Quarter has a sunset champagne toast for all guests from 4 to 10 p.m.
El Chingon has two VIP table packages for NYE. The $1,500 package includes entry for eight guests and three bottles from a selection of premium options. The $800 package includes entry for four guests, one bottle of champagne and one additional bottle from the selected offerings.
Prohibition in the Gaslamp Quarter, has , live entertainment and a jazzy countdown to 2026. Tickets include VIP entrance and an exclusive gift bag featuring a bottle of its newest Prohibition Single Barrel Whiskey and a limited-edition VIP Entrance Coin, which grants lifetime weekend VIP access for the holder and a guest, priced at $150. They are available online here.
Temaki Bar in Encinitas has will can all-you-can-drink package featuring well spirits, beer and wine, for $50. It does from 4 to Midnight and there’s also a DJ. On New Year’s Day it has bottomless mimosas and Aperol sprit from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., on New Year’s Day. You’ll need food to go with that, of course and Temaki has sushi and handrolls, including the Moonlight, an eight-piece cut roll with spicy tuna, shiso and bubu arare, priced at $12; Mama’s Roll, shrimp tempura, blue crab, ooba and cucumber wrapped in soy paper and topped with seared salmon, sweet soy, sesame seeds, negi and lemon, priced at $24; various handrolls featuring salmon, yellowtail, albacore, toro, blue crab and more, priced starting at $6.50; and more.
San Diego New Year’s Eve Dinners
Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine in the Pendry is serving a four-course prix-fixe menu from 5-11 p.m. This elevated dining experience is $170 with a final seating at 10 p.m. It includes: Amuse-bouche: shrimp, toast and caviar “Uncrustable” with salmon roe caviar, milk bread and chives. First course: Tartare “Animal Style” with toasted sourdough, pickled mustard seed, soy-cured egg yolk, black garlic and smoked Maldon salt; or a kampachi and papaya salad with frisée, passionfruit leche de tigre, crispy sweet potato, cucumber ribbon and dill oil. Second course: lobster rigatoni with Meyer lemon lobster bisque sauce and lobster tempura with tarragon and chives; or duck confit drunken pappardelle with brown butter duck jus, pickled shallots, and radish sprouts. Entrée: New York strip with truffle and marrow, black truffle bordelaise, charred broccolini and beef-fat truffle potatoes; or roasted lubina with a white miso glaze, Chinese broccoli, yuzu kosho and toasted sesame crumble. Dessert: Moonlit Pavlova with black sesame mousse, yuzu curd, a white chocolate shell, lemon boba and micro dill.
San Diego New Year’s Eve Hotel Parties
The Levinson Group is having a very inexpensive hotel party for NYE party. It’s at the downstairs Fins bar and the rooftop It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere bar at Margaritaville. Tickets are less than $25 and can be purchased here.
The Glitz & Glam Hard Rock Cafe New Year’s Eve party at the Hard Rock Hotel’s 10,000 sq ft. Legends ballroom and rooftop. The ballroom is transformed into Sapphire Ballroom, the rooftop is blended experience of NYE House Music and The Edge Ballroom has a lineup from San Diego’s rich pool of local DJ talent playing house, deep house, tech house, afro house, tribal house and techno. Tickets increase closer to the event and range in price from $70 * up. Tickets: Hard Rock NYE Glitz & Glam Tickets
Big Night San Diego Hilton Bayfront
Multi-room party featuring an open bar – that’s right, an open bar – at the hotel overlooking San Diego Bay across from the Gaslamp Quarter. Prices are $100-135. Tickets: Big Night San Diego New Years Eve in San Diego, CA
Petco Park New Year’s Eve Concert
FNGRS CRSSD presents PROPER NYE/NYD 2026
This is a two-day multi-stage concert at Petco Park. It runs from 3 p.m.-12:30 a.m., on NYE and from 1-10 on New Year’s Day. Admission is $145-259. Tickets.
New Year’s Eve San Diego Gaslamp Pub Crawl
As you might expect, there is a pub crawl in the Gaslamp Quarter for New Year’s Eve. Among the bars it goes to are American Junkie, Smoking Gun and a PubClub.com favorite, Trailer Park After Dark. It also goes to several restaurants. The check in place and time is Bloom Nightclub (919 Fourth Ave.), 8-9:30 p.m. The price is $30; $35 on site. Tickets & lineup: NYE 2026 San Diego Bar Crawl
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