El Dorado Cocktail Lounge in the East Village neighborhood of Downtown San Diego isn’t just a bar; it’s an institution.
Those in the industry will remember El Dorado Cocktail Lounge as the place to hangout, and newbies will be introduced to a bar that is actually what a bar should be. Reopened in March, El Dorado is now owned by Pouring With Heart, a hospitality group focused on preserving bars while simultaneously supporting industry careers.
When you walk into El Dorado Cocktail Lounge, you can saunter over to its grand bar, cozy up in its over-tufted leather booths or rack ‘em at the pool table. Wherever you end up, there is something you will not miss: a massive stuffed buffalo above the jukebox. His name is Otis, and he is an essential element to the effortlessly cool atmosphere that is El Dorado. The lounge achieves a vibe that is situated in the sweet spot between highbrow and lowbrow.
The cocktails at El Dorado aren’t just cocktails; they’re carefully crafted and deliciously convivial. For a lightly spiced and refreshing drink, try the El Diablo (said with swagger), which is made with tequila, ginger, lime, black currant and soda. Choose the East Village Ricky, made with mint cucumber, fresh lime, mezcal, soda and finished with a tajin rim for a bright and smoky combo. Our favorite drink, the Kentucky Buck, pays respect to the industry and San Diego’s cocktail scene. Pioneered by Polite Provisions, El Dorado Cocktail Lounge took the OG Kentucky Buck recipe, ginger beer, strawberry, bourbon and simple syrup, and froze it.
Many of El Dorado’s previous employees joined the new team, with several of El Dorado’s barbacks being promoted to bartenders. General Manager Josh Judd is the poster child for the type of career growth Pouring With Heart seeks to inspire. In 2012, Judd started as a barback at Pouring with Heart’s Seven Grand in North Park. Over the years, he worked his way up to eventually become its general manager and head of Whiskey Society.
El Dorado Cocktail Lounge is open every day from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Happy hour from 4 to 8 p.m. with discounted Old Fashioneds, daiquiris crafted with fresh juices and Miller High Lifes. Plus, El Dorado is continuing its reopening celebrations every Sunday through May with special parties, like a “Chopped”-style cocktail competition and a staff arm-wrestling tournament.
For more information about El Dorado Cocktail Lounge, visit www.eldoradobar.com.
1030 Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101