Moonshine Flats — Restaurant in San Diego

While in San Diego recently my partner and I wanted to find a place for dancing. Country bars come to mind because they often have large dance floors and a variety of music. We found Moonshine Flats and gave it a try. Some things were great, others, not so much. The atmosphere is fun and lively and loud and the venue really is pretty cool. We went early enough to get dinner and went with the brisket thinking a country grill would be a good place. Not such a good idea. Order a half-pound of brisket and received more than a quarter pound of fat. The taste was good but by the time we trimmed away the bulk of the fat we got much less than we paid for. Lesson learned. We moved back to the music side to use some of the dance floor. My God that was the most horrendous experience in the history of ever! The floor was half-full of people standing around drinking and half-full of the most obnoxious demolition derby type theatrics. Trying to two-step in that place was akin to dancing in a bull-riding ring. You run a real good chance of getting blind-sided by a wanna-be cowboy tossing around one of the half-dressed staff girls. Dancing usually requires some relation to the beat of the music but if your job is to knock down paying customers, I guess a beat isn’t necessary. We took a lap then shuffled off to the side for self-preservation. Had a beer and waited for the band. The band Lucas Hoge was pretty talented but zero variety. Every song had almost exactly the same rhythm. To sum up: If you’re 20-something and don’t mind getting body-slammed by the employees while you’re trying to drink your beer this place is just the ticket. If you’re 40 or 50-something and looking for a place to get decent bar food, hear some country music and maybe dance a bit… well, one out of three ain’t...

TL;DR - Someone else said it, but it was spot-on: the city version of a classic country bar. If you want good, live music on a Fri./Sat. night, you've got to stop here!

The energy is great, the bar staff is attentive to your wants/needs, and the dance floor gets full, but not overwhelming/crowded. There will be a line by about 10pm and a cover from 9pm on, so go early if you want to check it out. I highly recommend visiting at least once!

Super shoutout to Samantha, who took care of me and my buddies when we were there recently. It was greatly appreciated and won't be forgotten!

Full Review: Moonshine Flats is only open Thurs. - Sat. nights, which is unfortunate, but keeps it more unique in the Gaslamp District. It is somewhat of a traditional, country barn kind of set-up but way roomier and with barbershop chair rides. (Ask for Hannah, she's a master at it!)

The drinks are solid! I personally recommend one of the bucket options, since they're 2-in-1. I seem to always end up getting most of my drinks from Erik, but I'm not complaining because he's good at making them.

The music is primarily country, of course, but the performers keep it fresh. Also, there are line dancing lessons there for free before the late night and they know all the dances.

There is bottle service available for a few spots around the building, depending on group size, and they always seem to get filled up quickly. Lastly, if you follow the hallway just past the bathroom area, you can check out The Deck, which...

Moonshine Flats isn't just a bar; it's an experience! Located in the heart of Downtown San Diego, this place lives up to its reputation as a lively country bar and live music venue. It's my favorite spot to unwind whenever I'm in town, especially after events like Boots in the Park. They were hosting the after-party last time I was there, and though I’m not a big fan of cover charges, the $20 fee was absolutely worth it for the live band alone.The venue itself is impressive, boasting a massive wooden dance floor, world-class sound and lighting, and one of the largest LED screens in Southern California. The atmosphere is electric, perfect for live music and dancing, although they don’t have line dancing probably due to the space being packed with people enjoying the night.Adjacent to Moonshine Flats is The Deck, an open-air extension that offers a more laid-back vibe with its California BBQ menu and craft beer selection. It’s like stepping into a backyard party with games like corn hole and shuffleboard, and plenty of open space to chill. The deck area is fantastic for those who prefer an outdoorsy feel, especially with its open roof setting.Both venues exemplify excellent service with attentive and friendly bartenders, and you can expect clean facilities no matter how busy they get. Whether you're there for a major after-party or just a casual night out, Moonshine Flats and The Deck provide a fun and unforgettable night out...