stephen, tells us where you're from and what 'bar district' is your style and perhaps we can offer a recommendation.

personally you couldn't pay me to spend a weekend evening in the gaslamp or on garnet ave. more kooks per square mile in the whole city!!

We just hit Martini Ranch in the Gaslamp and met some of the nicest people. We wound up talking to some men who were in So Cal making a movie for the Discovery Chanel. They were very interesting and told us some funny stories about their two weeks shooting the film.

There are cooks everywhere, but Garnet area, Mission Beach and the Gaslamp have lots of out of towners that are so interesting to visit with. They also like to talk and ask questions about San Diego which we think is fun. Many of the people at these places are colorful and not maybe people you would associate with in regular life. That is what makes it fun. Various points of view sitting at a bar. Can't get much better than that, IMO.

PS, we liked the Martini Ranch. Very lively place at 6:30. Barely got a place at the bar. All around us were very nice and made great effort to get us two seats together. We always make new friends when we travel.