The Merrow

Had one of my favorite experiences here in a decade of living in San Diego. Went on a Saturday night with one of my favorite people. Went on Bear Night, but there were so much more men and Dilf guys, but it was the last time I went out before leaving the States on tour. And yes, they smoke outside *big deal*, speaker systems can be updated *so is life*, doorman could have been a tad nicer *sorry* but the men and vibe in general were on point. Middle-aged mostly, nearly zero gay drama at the venue, and I would love to spin here next year if they'll have me spin sexy sounds. I would be honored if I had a tribe in the SD male scene. This would be it. Thanks for the fun energy exchangers ✨️ and my new friends.

Blue Monday: It has SO much potential. Everyone at the bar was great. Seating outside and old films amped us up. Candy bowl in the bathroom lobby was a cool touch. Crowd was awesome!!! Venue fantastic! Lasers and smoke on point. Literally the only let down was the music. Its so hard to find 80s new wave tunes to go dancing and we had such high hopes for this night. We were teased with depeche mode, joy division, etc. but the DJ never truly delivered. Enough of a song was played to get you psyched, but then it fell short. It didn't really feel like 80s all that much. More like house with some 80s samples sprinkled in. Still, much better than not going out at all. But damn, what a tease.

The staff at merrow were incredibly friendly and attentive the merrow has created an inviting and safe environment. A place where people can be themselves without judgment. The security team are always approachable and proactive, working to ensure a safe environment without disrupting the overall experience.🖤

A lot of super drunk people were in here in the middle of the day on a Sunday. I didn't like coming inside hearing drunk people arguing, but the bartender was nice, and the lighting and decor were cool. They have seating inside and outside (sadly you can smoke outside), pool tables inside, as well as a stage inside for events and karaoke (with lots of loud, bad singers). The prices were good, though. Not really my style of place, but not a bad place.

The Merrow has been through several iterations through the years, and slowly has become one of the best places to hear music and dance in San Diego. Firstly, it has some of my favorite underground events like Sabbat, Blue Monday, and Ascension. They have other regular nights that I've heard good things about but I haven't been to all of them. The bar has what I'd call an upscale-divey feel, meaning that it's not a super classy place but it's not a dump either. It's pretty dark inside typically with a cool nautical theme. Also atypical of your normal dive, it's not cramped. The dance floor is pretty large and you can always find a good place to dance, even when it's a busy night. The sound system is good too and they have some club lights for nice atmosphere. The bar area is not huge but big enough for 2-3 bartenders to get you drinks pretty quick. Pours are sturdy and they have a nice selection of craft beers and tequilas relevant to my interests. Staff and security have always been excellent. They keep an eye on things and do their best to keep everyone safe. Outside they've converted the small parking lot into a smoking patio that sometimes has another bar open where you can hang out with some fresh air, chairs, and movies projected onto the wall. I usually only come out here to cool off from dancing! It's probably not allowed due to ordinances or whatever but I always thought it'd be cool if there was a speaker somewhere playing the music from inside. Overall, if you wanna have an affordable night out of dancing and drinking with good people and vibes, the Merrow is easily one of my favorites! I'd check their calendar to see what's going on since the themes are always rotating. For the most popular nights like Sabbat you might even want to get a ticket in advance to avoid getting stuck in line.

Small bar area, nice dance area. Disco ball included lol. Bartender was extremely friendly and offered nice alternative ingredients when they don't have everything needed for cocktails you like. Really loved their pool tables. Smoothest game I've played in awhile. Also recommend their open mic karaoke. Very supportive crowd.