Sycamore Den — Restaurant in San Diego

This Normal Heights standout has been killing it for years, why do you think they have guns on the walls for?

Seriously the OG crew here were way ahead of the tides in the 619 bringing some big city to Americas Finest City . First off it’s got a name that will stand the test of time (because maybe 2 word names with & between them is played out in SD since 2013). Secondly it’s got more wood than a woodchuck could chuck, because we all know how woodchucks get down. That fireplace provides a sick ambiance for sealing the deal with the ladies. The guys Leigh, Kinsey and Eric Johnson set the bar high doing a lot of things really well, those rumbler’s of tins.

Saloon style windows, chill security staff and you see this multi level lodge looking place that’s warmer than apple pie. A nice 70’s yet modern décor, again with tons of wood. Twice a week they are doing live music. Friendly and hospitable bar staff have a lot to work with doing classics, tiki, prohibition drinks and modern takes. Just the right amount of each on the menu. They’ve got fresh fruits, herbs, botanicals, tinctures, garnishes and mixes to go with their wide array of spirits. These guys cut their teeth here and grew the scene with them. Now each has their own gig, so it’s still nice to see this place do really well without them. It’s dark, yet inviting. The drinks are on the affordable side for craft cocktails and they have more of the classic bar beers versus the micro/craft that is everywhere. Feel free to lounge in the back, in the front, belly up, they have something for everyone.

The bathrooms are semi communal, in that the wash area is.

The crowd is very local, lots of regulars and even people that come solely for specific drinks. Now that they’ve partner with nearby Burnside for their food offerings they also overflow there in conjunction as well as offer as a place to get more of the local craft beer scene in an also themed environment.

It’s a great neighborhood bar to grab a drink that will exceed your expectations with décor and people who will exceed where ever you were...

I just moved to Normal Heights and it was my first time trying to go out at night to see how the night life was in my new neighborhood. Other than when I went to perform at Open Mic night at Lestat's which I hope to do again tonight (every monday). It was a Sunday night at about 9PM, so I didn't expect too much to be going on, but it was Cinco de Mayo so I thought some people would still be out on a Sunday night. As I passed I heard a live band playing and decided to try the place out. It was a very cool place and the band was amazing, "The Munks." The only thing that keeps me from giving it a 5 star, is I had two drinks, a tequila sunrise and a small margarita. Both very small, but good drinks. I'm such a lightweight that I was already buzzed with the first one (and I had a hit of my medicinal herb before coming in), so after dancing to the music for a little while and stepping outside for another hit of my pipe, I decided to get a second drink, which I don't usually do at most bars, because I usually have to drive home. But being it's right down the road from my new home, I got another drink. Then when I closed out my credit card tab it was a total of about 21 dollars and some change, which is pretty expensive for most places I've been to in San Diego lately, where most mixed drinks are about 6 to 8 dollars. So I said to the bar tender, very cool guy, "I guess it's worth 10 dollars a drink when you don't change a cover charge for the great band." I just hope as a performing musician that they pay the band a good price for playing, because I wouldn't have come in the bar it it weren't for them playing. I wished I had some cash to give the band a tip, but I put a 5 dollar tip on my 20 plus dollar two drink receipt. Next time I'll ask the price of drinks before I order to see if they weren't just trying to stiff me as a person never seen at that place before and acting a little crazy as i usually do when I go...

The new owners ruined this once amazing spot. The bartenders are out of their element and clearly don’t fit the vibe of what the bar was just months ago. They’re clueless. You’ll be sitting at the bar waiting for a drink for at least 20 minutes. And then you’ll have the bartender give you either a horribly mixed drink or something you didn’t even order. Or if you’re lucky she’ll ask you again what you ordered and then you’ll get the wrong drink still. This happened both on a busy night and a quiet night while under new ownership. The music has also changed and that was my favorite part about the bar. No more Joy Division, Morrissey, etc. Oh and the new menus while nice don’t even have prices, which have gone up. Stopped by trivia for the night and the place was a ghost town, which is unheard of for Sycamore Den trivia night. All the original bartenders are gone and it seems their regular patrons as well.

This place has become a bro PB bar and I’m pretty sure that’s what the owners were going for. I also miss the skee ball and pinball machines as well, which were removed for more seating which I totally get. Two of those skee ball machines were broken anyway. But yeah, this bar has lot ALL of its soul and it is a sad time for Adams Ave and Normal...