La Jolla · Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego
Upper East Bar Review
Last updatedRanked #2 of 10 in Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego
La Jolla's best rooftop for a coastal view. Upscale, polished, and perfect for a sunset drink above the village.
Score breakdown
- View94/100
- Cocktails & Drinks88/100
- Atmosphere & Design92/100
- Service88/100
- Food82/100
The verdict on Upper East Bar
Ranked #2 of 10 — 90/100 in our Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego coverage
Upper East Bar sits atop a hotel in La Jolla and offers the best coastal rooftop view in the neighborhood. The design is upscale and polished, with comfortable seating and a layout that feels intimate rather than crowded. The cocktail list leans toward sparkling wines and light, refreshing drinks that match the coastal setting. The view looks out over the village toward the ocean, and the sunset light is beautiful. The crowd is older and more dressed up than downtown rooftop bars. It is the best rooftop bar for a romantic sunset drink in La Jolla.
What to drink at Upper East Bar
Across our coverage the recommendation is consistent: Champagne cocktail or wine.
When to go
Bars and breweries in La Jolla typically fill up on Friday and Saturday nights; a weeknight or early-evening visit is the easier way to get a seat without a wait.
Is Upper East Bar worth the price?
Upper East Bar sits at $16–24 — the budget band for this category. Nothing else we ranked in this category lands in the same price bracket, so the comparison is against cheaper or pricier alternatives rather than a like-for-like rival.
Upper East Bar FAQ
Is Upper East Bar expensive?
Upper East Bar is priced at $16–24, which puts it in the budget band for this category. There is no other option at the exact same price point on the same list, so treat it as its own bracket.
Is Upper East Bar worth it?
It scores 90/100, 4.3 points above the 85.7 average for its list. That's a solid recommendation within the category.
What should I get at Upper East Bar?
We recommend the Champagne cocktail or wine.
What else is nearby Upper East Bar?
Windansea Beach (93/100 in our best sunset spots in san diego list) and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (93/100 in our best hikes in san diego list) are also ranked in the same neighborhood, so it's easy to pair a visit.
What works
- Strong view — scored 94/100 in our ranking
- Strong atmosphere & design — scored 92/100 in our ranking
- Strong cocktails & drinks — scored 88/100 in our ranking
- Top-2 finish out of 10 spots we scored in this category
Know before you go
The full review
Upper East Bar sits atop a hotel in La Jolla and offers the best coastal rooftop view in the neighborhood. The design is upscale and polished, with comfortable seating and a layout that feels intimate rather than crowded. The cocktail list leans toward sparkling wines and light, refreshing drinks that match the coastal setting. The view looks out over the village toward the ocean, and the sunset light is beautiful. The crowd is older and more dressed up than downtown rooftop bars. It is the best rooftop bar for a romantic sunset drink in La Jolla.
On our weighted scale it earns 90/100 — good for #2 of 10 places we evaluated for best rooftop bars in san diego. We drink at the places we rank, pay our own tab, and re-score when a bar changes hands, moves or reworks its list.
What to drink at Upper East Bar
Champagne cocktail or wine
Typical spend: $16–24
How we scored Upper East Bar
Every score on this page comes from the same editorial rubric we apply to the whole category: view, cocktails & drinks, atmosphere & design, service, food. The criteria are weighted toward what matters most in the category, compared against every other place we ranked in the same list rather than against an abstract ideal. We drink at the places we rank, pay our own tab, and re-score when a bar changes hands, moves or reworks its list. Scores are editorial judgments rather than aggregated user ratings.