The Commons Bar

With a laid back vibe, creative cocktails and uncommonly good fare, the Commons Bar is anything but.

A neighborhood sports bar serving wings and beer seems pretty commonplace … but that’s exactly the point at the Commons Bar, the brainchild of Jake Pescatello and Leigh Gibson. The latest reincarnation of the corner of E Street and Fourth Avenue, the Commons is a breath of fresh, pared-down air to a tourist-focused area packed with flashy restaurants and nightclubs. Neither a dive bar nor overtly upscale, the airy, two-level, 2,800-square-foot space is straightforward and laid-back—a respite from the bustling asphalt outside. Downstairs, a flexible seating area and bar are punctuated by plenty of wide-screen TVs for prime sports viewing. Upstairs, a homey loft and second bar houses a foosball table and shuffleboard. Menu picks: Wash down the famed wings and Mac-n-Cheese Balls with a Tipsy Palmer. All are uncommonly good. 901 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter. 619.696.8888. thecommonssd.com