The Kraken Bar & Restaurant

I went with some friends to the Kraken recently and as usual we were all having a fun time! The only disappointment was the bartender Joe who was very rude and disrespectful to several people in our group. It was such a disappointment as we really loved this place. We all agreed we won’t be back again. It just really is sad when an employee doesn’t seem to care about representing the business with good customer service.

The Kraken is a special place.
There are people of varying goals and natures. Smell the smells, feel the feels, talk the talk; you will feel welcome to do each at your leisure here. No judgement. About as good of an atmosphere as it gets. The staff also embodies this trait: quiet and silently harmonious, like a family who knows itself so well that it knows when not to mess with a good thing.
I am part of a band which plays at least once a month. I’ve done a lot of staring at the people and atmosphere, so that’s why I mention them first. On a personal note, this venue will prove to be a remembered, crucial step in my life, for a variety of sappy ways not worth mentioning. But consider that The Kraken DOES that for me. not sure why.
The drinks: cheap, effective, made quickly and right. There are a discrete number of both male and female tenders and they’re all intelligent and kind and tall and in charge. If she’s reading this: Cat, you are one terrifically awesome glass of sexy.
The smell of the inlet — get used to it — you’re by the beach. There’s a ton of nearby affluence; you’re getting the right crowd by being in the smelly part. If it were 1016 instead of 2016, you’d get the same great result by hanging with the servants of the aristocracy.
not that the aristocracy wouldn’t absolutely adore this place
The parking — let’s try to move past auto trifles slowly but surely. (but for the weak of soul, yes, the parking is unfortunately limited)
see you there

Large multi-​room casual bar with live bands (check schedule) and no cover. Decent drinks and service, but limited seating on dance band nights.
However, the Kraken is on the east side of Hwy 101 and if you’re coming from the north, you need to make a U-​turn at the next light and go back north to get there. Tight parking lot, so get there a bit early.
Band (Ramshackle) was scheduled to start at 8pm, but that’s when they arrived with their equipment and spent an hour setting and tuning up. One the music began at 9pm, the dance floor filled fast because the music was great. Crowd seemed mostly 30’s to 50’s, with a male-​female ratio of about 3-​to-​1 the night we visited.

kraken rules. great music, great crowd, cheap drinks, (havent had the food but it smells good) kind of divey, but thats what i like! :) btw if you do have kraken, be careful, they are STRONG! :) woohoo!

Kat was amazing. I was the only person in the bar, just doing a little day drinking. She made me feel at home and welcome. Now I’ve been coming here off and on for twelve years, but haven’t been back in a few years. Nonetheless, she treated me like a local and an old friend.
Great bar, usually some amazing live music. Unique view behind the bar; across the street from the beach. Check it out. Love it.
If you don’t, you stink. Get out of San Diego.

Live music, cheap drinks, pool tables and the best dive bar you can ever find. Been going to the K since I was 21 back in 89. It’s a place where you can just let down your hair and twirl. hahaha. weekend days its more a biker bar but everyone is fun and friendly. There to just have a good time and have only experienced seeing 1 fight in my whole time there.

Live music, cheapish beverages, pool tables, and grilled goods out back are the features of this dive bar. Ever since my roommate started playing gigs here I have been to enjoy the tunes and have some beers. The crowd is a bit older for me but it still is fun to hangout for a bit. The dance floor area is pretty good size if you are into cutting the rug, you will likely be joined by a flock of old birds but hey they likely don’t give a shit that you look like a wild animal on the dance floor.
I have not had the burger or any food you can get out back for that matter, but I did catch a glimpse of a burger and it looked damn good. Burger will run you $ 8 which is a pretty good size and filled up two old timers pretty good.

Love this place! First bar I went to when I moved here and I was not disappointed, new favorite bar, right here!

Such a great local bar offering live music. Can’t beat the location. Cool breeze coming in from the beach. My band loves playing here. Always a great time.

Such a cool chill
Place great bartender sweet waitress beautiful views and I even got carded which was hilarious since my kids are all over 21… But good service sweet music a great spot to stop after our clubs ride

I love this place and have since I first found t a few years ago. It’s locals spot, not a fancy bar, which is one of the reasons it’s great. It has a roadhouse vibe, if roadhouses were on an amazing beach and super chill and friendly. They make good drinks and staff and customers are nice. The food truck in the back has food, although the day we were there they only had dogs, which were good. Not sure how their menu/​schedule works anymore but they also have tri-​tip and burgers sometimes, which are great. It’s nice that they take cards now too. The parking lot is definitely small but what are you gonna do? Not a lot of real estate down there. (Honestly we should all probably be taking cabs anyways… Ha!) The views are wonderful and it’s just one of my happy places. It’s a great place to catch the sunset and they often have bands on weekends. I love their signature drink, the Kraken Krush. Cheers!

It is a fun place. They get really good bands there and so if you like dancing this place can be a lot of fun. It is a bit of a dive bar, but the crowd seems pretty mellow and everyone seems to get along. The tri tip sandwich is delicious.

We love to camp at the nearby San Elijo, and since we were just up there for one night we decided we would forgo the usual camp stove and everything and just go out for dinner. We love dive bars and since the reviews here were good we decided to walk on over.
There was a band playing cover songs as we walked in. The crowd ranged from mid 20’s to 60’s and even a little older in one or two cases. There seemed to be a pretty solid crowd of «regulars» as well as quite a few people new to the place.
We stepped through the front door and since it was crowded and a bit loud made our way into the back room. Quite a mistake, it turns out. A smell I can only describe as «pungent» or «assaulting» permeated the area. As we walked in and smelled it I half wondered if the smell was from the lagoon which sits directly behind the bar. We went outside to check and found that outside had none of the odor so we sat out there.
Not sure if that situation is a normal thing or not.
Some observations:
1. The pool playing crowd seemed friendly, not too competitive, and in good spirits.
2. Multiple signs around the place discouraging drug use make us wonder if that is a regular problem there, though we saw no indication of that.
3. The little red trailer next to the back patio serves as the kitchen. It has a limited menu but the tri-​tip sandwiches we had were pretty good. We would try other things on the menu next time, as everything the other people around us ate looked good too.
4. Parking is limited, but you can pay to park across the street in the beach lot.
5. Drinks were cheap. 2 mixed drinks and 2 beers for $ 15.50– not bargain basement, but definitely surprisingly cheap for the area.
6. People watching is phenomenal.
We would definitely return, but would hope the stench improves by the time we get back.

Not my fav spot basically because of the parking which is a small lot and sucks to find close spots nearby. You can pay across at the beach parking for 6 $ an hr. The bartenders are fast and efficient. The crowd varies. My friend had a bday there over the weekend and it was packed. The wine list is almost non existent and probably not the best choice for a real wine drinker. Best to go with a cocktail which they are good at making with very good prices. Music playing, fun atmosphere, pool tables out back and lots of people watching potential.

I love this place. What’s not to like. Great live music, great food from the red trailer that’s cheap, three pool tables, and a super vibe.
It’s located next to many good restaurants. The Chart House across the street among others very close.
The clientele is mostly 40 on up. The music is classic rock.
Take a walk on the beach across the street where you will probably have to park because their parking lot fills up quickly but that’s ok.
I have been here many times and it is one of my favorite dance venues.
It’s an institution and has been around forever.
New owners have upgraded it and it is labeled as a dive bar.
It’s really not at all that divey by my standards though.
Come to meet and greet and to have a super time!

Last night I attended the Kraken for my very first time. I went into it knowing its a dive bar with live music, and overall I had a pretty good evening.
The building itself is a nice size comfortable bar. Racing and rock decorations cover the walls. The drinks were very strong which is rare to find at a bar.
The bathrooms were a bit under par but that’s kinda expected. The live music was good and there was a pretty good crowd.
I would definitely come back again.

Typical dive bar, but in an excellent location The Kraken is footsteps away from Cardiff State Beach and makes an excellent venue for a drink or several before and/​or after a day at the beach. Recently under new management, small improvements have started to unfold. Hopefully the bathrooms are on this list because they are awful.
With live music, pool tables and a mostly friendly clientele, The Kraken is sure to provide entertainment for just about anyone– that being said, don’t expect to see Encinitas’ finest at this place. It’s cheap and grungy, just the way it should be.

Came here on a Saturday night after going to the Union. I was ready to just dance and people watch. The Kraken used to be a cash only bar and just started taking credit cards. There was live music and the band played all kinds of covers from the 70’s to current. A very eclectic crowd, but everyone was having fun, laughing, dancing, talking, drinking. It’s a dive bar so there was no A/​C which made for a lot of sweaty people, but nobody seemed bothered by it. Parking was ok. Bathrooms were typical dive bar bathrooms.
Looking forward to coming back and dancing again.

Cardiff Encinitas #1 Dive Bar
Right across from the ocean and campgrounds on Hwy 101, this place has contributed to many good times in my twenties. With that said, there are patrons of all ages, however the majority of them are older (40+).
It’s CASH ONLY, but don’t worry they have an onsite ATM for a $ 2 fee.
Live Band gets the dance floor crowded and for those who want to chill or talk, pool tables and quieter sitting areas are in the back.
Don’t mistaken this place for nice by it’s 4-​star review as it’s being reviewed as a dive bar and it is such; rowdy, dirty, terribly built/​not-​so-​clean restrooms, etc.
In a nutshell: More mature clientele, cash only, casual, affordable drinks, difficult parking, band, pool tables and lots of 70’s dance moves

Going to the Kraken is a right of passage in San Diego. You simply must go there.
If you do not expect anything fancy then you will not be disappointed. People have asked why they do not have good wine, a kitchen or have clean bathrooms. The answer is that they just don’t. Do they accept credit cards? No.
The beautiful location, live music and the patrons somehow create a magical ambiance that is beyond description.