Minus 1 @ The Keating Hotel

I came here on a weds… or thurs… i dont recall. BUT! It was my friends birthday, and the last day she was spending in San Diego. We were on our way home, and were convinced to go in by some promo guy. The lounge was… empty. The DJ was super nice, and we got free drinks the whole night. From what I could see, it would be a nice place to go again, but from what everyone is saying… maybe not so much with it usually being so crowded.

I’m a bit mixed about my review of this place and here’s why: the Unilocaler in me wants to sh** all over this place and just reemphasize what everyone else has said (silicone town, cocaine stained couches, overpriced drinks, etc) but the other part of me wants to honestly review this place from the eyes of those who this place was established for. So I’ll do both.
For a typical Unilocaler this place is horrible. The music is horrible — the dj tries to spin techno but every hour throws in a hip hop song and just when everyone start enjoying that song he’ll throw the techno beat back and everyone is back to disappointment (this is the Friday dj). The place is crawling with douchers who apparently have nowhere else to spend daddy’s money. As a 22 year old kid popping bottles on your daddy’s credit card is not balling… its called mooching. And the girls who were brought in by your skeezy promoter friend are wasted and still don’t know your name. For those select few who were not behind the velvet ropes I felt sorry watching you attempt to fit in with the rest of the money-​spending douchebags. You have one agenda and one agenda only — try to get in and fit in with people who’s friendship you’d buy if only you could afford it. Instead of acting classy… you got trashy and thought your dance moves were hot and you were bound to land an investment bankers… or at least his son. Instead you got to drunk, couldn’t tell that the guy dancing with you was broke, and you probably woke up the next day regretting what you did.
For the LA-​types who this place was established for it does the job. It gives them a playground where they can sit behind the velvet rope (mind you 75% of the club is behind velvet rope so you’re NOT THAT SPECIAL) and spend ridiculous money on liquor. The champagne bottle that you just dropped $ 500 on is $ 7 at the store. It also provides a venue where coke snorting is just another item on the menu and no one will stop you from your dirty habits. The cocktail waitresses and bouncers are working till 4AM to make sure you have an enjoyable night of spending Gs on bottles that other people are probably drinking and to make sure that the 25% of the people in the club who are not behind the velvet rope stay on the other side. The other reason the LA wannabes love this place is because no matter what bottle you purchase they bring it out with lights. Just a little fyi señor LA douchebag — in a real baller place only Crystal comes out like that. Glad they made you feel special for a simple bottle of Goose dontchya?
The one thing that I’d like to mention is that I have no idea where people are getting $ 15 per drink??? A mixed drink is $ 9 and beer is $ 6 so not the cheapest but not too outrageous.
Bottom line is if you’re a Unilocaler — stay away. If you’re an LA-​wannabe douchebag that somehow accidentally ended up here you’ll love this place.

Doorman is unnecessarily rude and obnoxious. Dude, you work across from Horton Plaza, not in frickin’ Hollywood. Get over it!

Went last night. Seriously awesome! The place was smokin’ hot. It’s obvious its an upscale lounge, yet very very comfortable. Only the real deal can appreciate it.
Seriously, the place is super chic, intimate, interesting, great service from very fine looking servers and the people there were pretty much high class and everyone there was in a good mood and smiling (That’s my main indicator of how objectively good a place is). Drinks were generous and reasonably priced, DJ was on fire, and it stayed open till 4 (which is nice not to have the lights glare on at 1:30).
I parked at Horton Plaza across the street so I didn’t even have to bother with paying the valet. Even the door guys were cool and classy.

First, this is a review only for the Minus 1 lounge, NOT for the Keating Hotel.
The ONLY reason I’m even giving one star, is because you have to give a star, and for Darren; one of the VIP security. He was incredibly nice, and actually did his job. No chip on his shoulder, which was a refreshing change from the rest of the staff.
This place is NOT the chic it describes itsself as.
There was no parking available through valet; not even at the hotel, though the sign outside stated otherwise.
We had prepurchased a VIP table for New Year’s Eve. They had absolute disorder at the door. The bouncers were absolute jerks to just about everyone, cursing them out, stating things like, «F you.» There was no separate entrance for people who had already paid. One of the doormen was saying he had been doing this for 14 years in reply to someone pointing out that it was ridiculous they had bought a table and couldn’t get in. That had no merit, and his so-​called 14 years of experience sure wasn’t showing.
Perhaps being a native of Miami, I’m used to the way the doormen run things there, and I told the guy so. Then he told me I’d have to wait in line at Vegas. Well, I don’t wait in lines there either, and uh, in case you haven’t noticed this ain’t Vegas, buddy. He literally sat and argued with me, until I started talking to him in Spanish. Then he actually shook my hand? Somehow because I’m ½ Colombian all of a sudden I get a little respect? Ridiculous.
Inside, the place was nothing special. The ceiling tiles were cheap, and when it came time to do the champagne toast, rather than giving us the Moet which was listed as part of the package, they delivered to all of the tables, a $ 6 bottle of sparkling wine. One sip, and it was awful. We pointed out this discrepancy and one of the staff brought us a bottle of Dom, exclaimed, «Are you happy now?!» and slammed the bottle down on our table. Somehow that didn’t right their wrong.
The Playboy party taking place upstairs? Well, there was no sign of any sort of «Playboy party.»
No bathroom attendant on New Year’s Eve? Additionally, one stall was filthy and out of order, leaving three stalls for a line of women on New Year’s Eve? And if anyone has seen those lines, they understand.
Honestly, between the rude staff, not delivering on what they promise and the utter disorder, stay away from this basement bar. There are MUCH better places in San Diego to have a good time, and to spend your money.

Pro: Easy to get into. Con: It’s like walking down into hell… literally. Red 70’s lighting, heating and ventilation problems and overpriced drinks. The crowd that frequents Minus 1 isn’t quite my thing either. Sorry.

First of all I will say I can see where the reviewers who gave this place low stars are coming from… HOWEVER, I have had good experiences with this place. Here is why I gave the place 4 stars:
We got two bottles here once and three of us split the bill on our credit cards. The night was great and we had a good time. NOTE: This is really more of a late night place, if you get in it won’t start to get crowded (at least the times I have been there until 1130 or midnight)…they also have a late night deal where you can party in one of their suites with a bunch of other people but I think you have to know somebody to do that… and be willing to throw down some serious coin.
Anyway, the next morning two of us checked our cards and we had three separate charges for the amount for which we signed!!!
NOTE TO READER: Don’t put bottles on a sharecheck card (where its linked to your checking account) EVER. If you get overcharged or there is a mistake, you are out of luck till it gets fixed. And you have no recourse whereas if its on your credit card you can take up the issue with your credit card company to get it fixed.
The long story short is that I contacted their accounting department and their VIP host and he fixed the charges, personally spoke to our waitress who had screwed it up, gave me a FREE bottle on my next visit AND they sent me a $ 50 gift certificate to use there.
Now these charges shouldn’t have been screwed up in the first place, BUT I appreciate the sincerity of the reparations they made. I am by no means a big spender there and it was nice to see them go out of their way to apologize.

OTHER:
–Much like sweetwater, I would categorize this place as better your internal groups… in other words, a place you go with your group of friends… NOT to meet other new people.
# TIMES VISITED: 5
And I have had a good time everytime.

I came here one friday and had the most horrible experience of my life. Not only was it packed (even with a guestlist) but it was a million degrees, with only one fan going and no a/​c. The drinks are almost $ 20 dollars a piece so don’t plan on coming here as your first stop of the night. The DJ was even worse, he played the same songs at least twice while I was there, and he even paused and left the dance floor in awe for able 5 seconds.
Sure there is seating area that is usually empty, but the VIP sections are a little overdone with your own personal bouncer.
Never will go back to this place.

Ok I have been to Minus 1 a couple of times now so let me keep this short. ONLY go there if…
1. You are already hammered
2. You dont care how expensive the drinks are
3. You are not picky about the music
4. You like sitting in a sauna with your clothes on…
Really, $ 14 drinks and they cant afford AC or F’ing fans???
So you might wonder why I rated3 stars. Well if you want after-​hours, then rock out with your cock out or jam out with your clam out… lol

Oh Mother Mary save me from this hellacious place. Talk about a gawd damn horrific scene. We only went to Minus 1 b/​c it was attached to our hotel and we got in for free without having to wait in line. If I had paid a cover for this place, I’d be suicidal.
Recently some magazine labeled Los Angeles as the most unfriendly and least intelligent city in the USA. Did the author of the piece ever go to San Diego? I think I officially hate San Diego. Thank Minus 1 for ruining a beautiful city.
So of course this place was hosting an event for the San Diego Seduction. The San Diego Seduction is an all-​women football team that plays in lingerie. I imagined girls just running around rubbing themselves against one another and moaning while they writhe around in the dirt.
Minus One is in the basement or bottom floor. I hated it. I hated the people. I hated the music. I hated the scene. I hated it all. Everyone was smashed up against one another. A large area was roped off by the kind of ropes used at the airport. Tres chic!
I was expecting laid back beachie types. DEAD WRONG. Let me describe the people here — «Look at me! Look at me! I want to be seen at this scene. I’m cool, don’t ya know it? I like to wear the tightest clothes humanly possible. Don’t you just love my ghetto ass Gucci?» *Giggle* Fake tits boucning, asses shaking… Sigh. This was not my kind of place. But this is how they roll in SD.
My friend couldn’t deal. I don’t blame the poor dear. I was having a very difficult time coping. She decided to escape the sardine can atmosphere by ordering a bottle DP (Dom Perignon). The bottle of DP gave us entry to the Airport version of a VIP area. We were still surrounded by fools; at least we had elbow room and could sit down. The bottle of DP was such a production. The waitstaff brought it out with fire crackers. Of course they did. Most people order bottles here so OTHERS know that the bottle was ordered. Like I said this is a scene. «Look at me, look at me, I just ordered a bottle. Aren’t I special?»
The three of us Angelinas sat and bitched. Where were the real people? The salt of the earth people? Where were my peeps? Clearly not at Minus 1.
The dude at the table next to us was the definition of a douche bag. He wore tight high-​water pants. And of course went sock-​less in Gucci loafers. I kept thinking about his smelly feet. The douche repeatedly tried to grab my friend’s hat. I was so close to punching him hard in the face. I hoped he would do it one more time so I could take a swing. He stopped after the second time b/​c I went off on his sorry ass (verbally speaking that is).
When Bay Area beats came on, only the three of us danced. The rest of the lame ducks stood there and stared in wonder. When the crappy music came on and we sat down, they started to dance or attempted to dance.
I will give a shout out to the bouncer and the waitresses. They were awesome, cool cats. I feel horrid that they have to be surrounded by such losers (the effing loser patrons) on a daily basis.

If your staying in the hotel getting on the elevator will surely direct you towards this underground sea of red, as one of your buttons will be to push –1.
Just the name in itself is very clever.
The ambiance is a tad bit on the red side, so if your sunburnt from the incredible San Diego sun, I’d suggest not going to Minus 1. But for us whiter complected people, it actually makes us look a little tanned!
While the awesome house mashups are blaring, it really made me want to dance, and since there was no ecstacy in sight (just kidding) I had to get my drink on… Boy did I! Let me tell you, there has never been a time where I haven’t left there trashed. Little bit steep on the drinks but tip the bartenders they’ll definitely heavy pour you. :-) Anyways, back to my dancing, I just can’t stop the beats keep going, 1 o’clock 2 o’clock Hey where did all these new people come from? Oh the clubs must’ve gotten out 3o’clock… God I love after hours!
Advice: Good luck getting in if you don’t go before 1:30am, because since them and Belo (which I hate) are the only two after hours, people line up like crazy to try and get in.

There was a table of guys trying to see up our dresses while we danced.
Look, let’s get something straight: Don’t do that unless you’re prepared to throw dollar bills. We’re classy, okay?
Four shots of Jäger = $ 58. No joke. FIFTY EIGHT DOLLARS.
For that price, Star Bar around the corner will give you 19 bottles of Corona and not eye-​grope your booty.
No contest.

I love everything about this place. I like to go during the week when it’s not very busy.
Great drinks and a beautiful classy chill place.
The manager and bartender are awesome.
I hate downtown but i love going to this place
Great trance music

This was my fourth visit in the last six months and it will probably stay at that count for a very long time.
When my friend heard about this new hotel with a bar/​lounge back in September, we decided to check it out. The lounge is very red, a bit too much red. Drinks are anywhere between $ 11 to $ 15 dollars each, I almost thought I was in New York paying these outrageous prices.
The last few times were equally disappointing. I have yet to go there where it’s packed and the music is great. It’s kinda dumb how a majority of the seating is roped off for bottle service. If you want to sit down, you can in the area on the other side of the petite wine cellar which divides up the room from having a full view of who else is there.
I heard this place is open after-​hours, I guess it’s ideal for the crackheads that need a place to come down from their roll when they stumble out of the other clubs at two in the morning. This place is pretty, but not inviting. They need to hire someone to provide better P.R. for this place and maybe create a specialty drink menu if they haven’t done so already. I don’t see this place lasting too long if it’s going to continue operating the way it does, but I wish Minus 1 well. =)

Do not come here if you’re allergic to silicon…
Anyway, the club is small and the predominant color is red. It’s kind of cool but kind of creepy too. I almost expected the bartenders to be dressed like Satan or something.
My friend had mentioned to me that there were some drink specials that night, so I asked the sexy bartender if there were any special martinis and she haughtily replied «NO.» But then she added that she knows over 300 recipes and could make whatever I wanted. Do you want a cookie, girl? Isn’t that, like, a requirement of being a bartender? I ended up getting a caramel apple martini and it was really good, but not $ 14 good.
The music was okay at first but it got annoying pretty quickly. That night the DJ played only dance/​techno music with a really heavy beat. She was really into it. The people in the club weren’t though. Not that many people were dancing even though the club was fairly crowded (but not packed).
One plus is that the sinks in the bathroom are cool because they’re attached to the men’s bathroom (It’s hard to explain) and the bathroom attendant is really sweet.
Bottom line: there’s better clubs in San Diego. The only reason to go here is because it’s open until 4, I guess it could be a good place to post-​party at.

Hmm. Let’s be honest here folks and folk-​ettes.
Eurotrash clientele + red lighting/​low ceiling + odd house DJ mixes + afterhours = the most clearly drugged out place I’ve had the displeasure of stepping foot into. I could practically SMELL the drugs floating around in this place. (I did not sniff too hard I promise.)
Barf. Talk about an afterschool PSA in there.

A friend of mine invited me to come with him here for his friend’s birthday party. Now I can say I went there, I guess, because it’ll never happen again!
The door guy can get over himself, first of all. He made my friend change out of his Converse before he let him in (luckily he had a pair of nicer shoes in his car). Then he made us wait behind the rope for no reason at all. He must have let in about 30 people to the right and left of us before letting us through. What a complete bag of douche.
The music was mostly techno and reggaeton, neither of which I’m a huge fan. Plus all the girls were in dresses and heels, and there’s me in jeans and flats. Ooops! After getting a mean look from the bartender when I ordered a Bud Light (THE HORROR!!! What was I thinking???) I settled on a $ 7 Corona instead.
You know in «Mean Girls» when Janice tells Katy that she smells like a baby prostitute? That’s exactly how I would describe the smell in Minus 1. Lots of heavy cologne and perfume, lots of gelled hair (on the guys), and lots of ridiculous cleavage and heels on the girls.
My favorite part were the flat screens lining the walls, asking the soul-​searching question: «Are you hot enough to be a Keating girl?» If by «hot» they mean «vapid and plastic» then no, no I’m not.

When I heard that Pininfarina had designed a Hotel + Lounge in the Gaslamp, I was excited to see what would come of it.
The truth is that I have been dissapointed both times. But I will not talk about the hotel because I’m here to tell you about Minus 1. First of all horrible décor. Cheap looking furniture and tacky use of Red Lights throughout. The place just feels non-​sequitor. Bartender made quite possible one of the worst drinks I have ever paid for. 2 zombies for $ 22, quite expensive. Minus 1 could really step up the game if they provided a True lounge experience. Change music, change lighting, get an actual drink menu, show films or something thats amusing to the eye on their LCD flatscreens, not BET. How did they ever want to make this place a members only lounge???
Pros =
— Nice Bathrooms
— Very good looking female cocktail servers
— Stays open till 4am on weekends

Ultra-​modern, absolutely minimalist (I likey) and very chic atmosphere. The entire place has a dimly lit red hue which is pretty cool.
Why 2 stars? This place just isn’t happening. The place was about ¹⁄₃ full.
Looks like they need to hire a marketing director or fire the current one and get a new one that can do the job of attracting people. The place is below ground so it’s hard to see in the first place.
And their dress code is dumb: t-​shirts and white sneakers are okay but no sandals for guys. Very dumb.
$ 9 Heine’s as Kristen said and also the skinniest Asian security guard I’ve ever seen in my life (the hotel must have went to North Korea during a famine and pulled him out). I know that’s mean but you should have seen the guy, he probably weighed about 110 lbs. and he had all the high-​tech security stuff like the ear piece pretending like he was with the US Secret Service.

Just like any other nice bar/​lounge downtown. Good ambiance, although how creative is the whole swanky «red» theme… It is kind of small. Played super mellow music, that was lulling me to sleep. It was also a very odd crowd, wannabe-​guido-​type guys with their designer t shirts and Gucci loafers mixed with obvious tourists. But it was pretty early too. My male friends seemed impressed by the female staff.
My friends and I went here recently pretty early (10pm) on a Saturday night. We got in, no line, it was just starting to fill up. They have half the restaurant blocked off for table service (lame). We sat down on the one couch that wasn’t reserved for «high rollers», very posh and comfy, but within minutes of ordering drinks we were informed by the same scrawny ‘security guard’ that we had to leave because my male friend was wearing flip flops. I understand enforcing a dress code, but shouldn’t you enforce it at the door, not after allowing patrons to enter? I guess that is too logical. So we drank our $ 9 Heinekens and hit the road.