Part Time Lover — Restaurant in San Diego

As a San Diego local and longtime supporter of CH Projects venues, I’ve always enjoyed bringing out-of-town friends to showcase the creative drinks, atmosphere, and design your locations are known for. Unfortunately, my most recent visit to Part Time Lover on Tuesday night (around 11 PM) was extremely disappointing and far below the level of professionalism I’ve come to expect from CH Projects establishments.

Upon arriving, the crowd was typical, a little something going on but not overwhelming. I patiently waited for my turn at the bar when I heard Gabe, the manager, say something to us. I must have misunderstood, as when I asked a quick question, he abruptly cut me off, raising his voice slightly with, “I’LL BE RIGHT WITH YOU.” His tone was unnecessarily sharp, leaving me, and my guests, stunned by the lack of basic courtesy.

When a female bartender approached, she was friendly at first and answered my initial question. However, once we began describing a specialty drink we couldn’t recall by name (one we’ve ordered many times before as regulars), her demeanor shifted to irritation. She looked to Gabe for clarification, to which he dismissively responded, “Babe, I’m the manager, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but we don’t have it, so I don’t know what to tell you, babe.” Shrugging his shoulders and expressions very carelessly

Calling paying guests “babe” is unprofessional and inappropriate, especially when paired with such a dismissive attitude. At a minimum, a manager should be able to: Speak to guests respectfully and professionally. Offer recommendations or substitutions if an item is unavailable—especially in a cocktail-forward establishment like yours.

As a bartender myself, I was shocked by his response. Providing suggestions and being knowledgeable about the menu is a basic standard in this industry, particularly for a manager representing a CH Projects venue.

When we mentioned we’ve ordered this drink multiple times before, we still apologized unnecessarily, simply trying to de-escalate the uncomfortable tension. The bartender then stated, “I’m new, so I don’t know,” which, while understandable, could have been handled with more professionalism. When I asked for the manager’s name, she shouted several names across the bar in a condescending manner, then whispered Gabe’s name as though reluctant to confirm it. This happened twice as I asked her to repeat specifically his name only, and she shouted both times trying to intimidate and embarrass the group.

For the remainder of the night, the staff’s behavior continued to feel unwelcoming. My friends and I noticed both bartenders exchanging looks, whispering as they passed by, and deliberately avoiding our table. Despite this treatment, I still tipped appropriately out of respect for the industry. However, it did not go unnoticed that our table was the only one not being cleared of empty glasses, even as bartenders bussed every other table around us. Gabe passed by multiple times, making visible annoyed expressions.

The entire experience felt unprofessional, unwelcoming, and contrary to the level of hospitality CH Projects is known for. I understand that busy nights can be stressful, but guest service should never feel hostile or uncomfortable. My out-of-town friends were shocked, and as a loyal local guest who has always recommended your venues, this was genuinely disappointing.

I sincerely hope this feedback is taken seriously. Your locations have a great reputation for creative drinks and atmosphere, but service like this undermines everything else. Basic hospitality and professional guest interaction should be standard, especially...

It’s a beautifully designed bar with nice ambience and great drinks. But there are plenty of those in San Diego. What sets Part Time Lover apart is the music.

You will hear music here that I doubt you would experience in any other bar. In the early evenings they play entire sides of albums—vinyl only of course. The first time I visited, a jazz record was playing, and it was followed by a Kraftwerk album. In the later evenings they have a different guest DJ every night. It’s a treat to be able to listen to carefully curated selections, many of which I don’t think would ever get served up to you by Spotify or Amazon algorithms.

They don’t really take requests, but it’s not out of snobbery. Whoever is behind the turntables usually has a vision of how they would like the audio journey to go. Just listen and enjoy the ride :)

There’s a mini record store inside the bar which is surprisingly well stocked with both new and used titles. When they are playing a full side of an album in the bar, chances are there’s a copy for sale in the store there. More often than not I leave with a record or two, and usually it’s something I never would have thought to look for or wasn’t even aware of. That’s what keeps me coming back—every time it’s a unique...

Bottom line, Part Time Lover is a great place to go have a cocktail and get your Hi-Fi fix.

Service - Excellent service. Somehow, our bartender remembered six different drinks, all ordered in pairs at differing times without entering them. I was worried when we went to cash out that we'd have an issue, but I completely underestimated her. I'm convinced the staff here are magicians.

Noise/Sound - The music was perfect. If it weren't, I would be concerned with their business model. As with many Consortium Holdings (CH) brands, every detail has been considered. Here, you'll find curated record playlists (no requests) playing continuously on a sound system that seems like it was designed for the space. The volume was perfect and the groove is in line with every CH location, tuned to encourage comfortable conversation.

Food/Taste - We didn't order any, but I hear they're good.

Drinks - Spot on. I ordered an old fashioned and a double Balvenie Carribean Cask, neat. If you're into Japanese high balls and drinks of that variety, you'll be pleased.

Price - The cost was fair. I'd say they're right on par with what you'd expect (generally speaking) and on par with everything in the area.

Will we return to Part Time Lover in the...