4 Best Bars in Little Italy, San Diego

A walk-in refrigerator harbors the secret entrance to this tiki-theme speakeasy, which is attached to the full-service restaurant Craft & Commerce. Beneath fishing nets full of puffer-fish lights and elaborate tiki-head wall carvings, the knowledgeable staff serves up creative takes on tropical classics with the best selection of rums in town.  The bar fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Make a reservation online a week or more in advance.

This small club near the airport, the unofficial headquarters of the city's indie music scene, has a national reputation for showcasing up-and-coming acts of all genres. Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and the White Stripes all played here on the way to stardom.

It isn't really on the waterfront, but San Diego's oldest bar was once the hangout of Italian fishermen. Most of the collars are now white, and patrons enjoy an excellent selection of beers, along with chili, burgers, fish-and-chips, and other great-tasting grub, including fish tacos. Get here early, as there's almost always a crowd.

Inspired by 18th-century carousel design and with a nod to New Orleans' famed Carousel Bar, Wolfie's is an actual, operational rotating bar that makes a full 360-degree turn every 10 minutes or so, which along with its vibrant decorative motif, gives it the feel of an adult indoor amusement park. The spectacle itself is the major attraction, but the menu is no slouch either, offering new interpretations of classic cocktails as well as French bistro fare and Sunday brunch. Order a glass of bubbly or a Madame Curie cocktail (featuring bourbon and burnt sugar) and hop on for a few spins.