About us

Dobson's Bar and Restaurant is a hidden treasure in the heart of Downtown San Diego/Gaslamp Quarter. For the last 42 years, this has been the hot spot for business lunches and frequented by many local and nationwide celebrities.

Paul Dobson, the namesake for Dobson's bar and restaurant, is one of America's few professional Bullfighters. The food is California cuisine with a touch of Italian, French, Spanish and Asian cuisine. One thing that both local San Diegans and Zagat can agree on is that this is one of the top restaurants in San Diego. Due to the limited seating and popularity, reservations are highly recommended.

Learn more about our history

Perfection takes time

Specials

Come and join us for a Happy Hour!$8 House Wine $8 Well Drinks $8 Draft Beer

03:00 PM - 06:00 PM

ALL SPECIALS

HISTORY

The site where Dobson's Bar & Restaurant now stands began as the 'Theater Buffet and Bar' complementing the new Spreckels Theater which was built to commemorate the opening of the Panama Canal in 1912. The interior's Tiger oak and mahogany, brought 'around the Horn,' still remain, along with the now 'earth quaked' original tile floors.

Learn more about our history

Reservations

Enjoy a stress-free dining experience with a pre-booked reservation at our restaurant. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just looking for a delicious meal, we have the perfect table for you.

Martin san roman

Our Chef

Chef Martin San Roman brings to Dobson's a vast array of international culinary experience and creativity. Born in Mexico City, he graduated from L'Ecole Lenotre in Paris, France. His experience in Fauchon and Le Meridien Hotels in Paris, the London Hilton and the San Diego Westgate led him to his role as chef owner of Tour de France and Rincon San Roman, both in Tijuana, Mexico. His cooking show with the Televisa Network ran for eight years with a strong following on both sides of the U.S. - Mexico border.

Have a drink at the bar

A beautiful mahogany bar and the rich glow of tiger oak is the first thing you see when you enter Dobson's. They were both brought around the Horn from England to fill the bar that took care of the guests of the new
Spreckels Theater - 1913.

For 93 years the bar has been a meeting place for the movers and shakers of downtown San Diego. First as the Theater Buffet, then the Press Room when the Copley Press was across the street, and finally as Dobson's Bar & Restaurant which has carefully preserved the tradition for the last 33 years.

Today you will find the bar jammed with judges and attorneys, and packed before and after the theater. It takes a week's notice to get a reservation to eat at the bar for lunch on Fridays.

Stocked with the finest liqueurs, wines and beers, and offering a special tapa bar menu you will experience the magic of San Diego's oldest, most popular local bar.

Indulge Your Appetite, Delicious Dining

Steamed mussels garnished with parsley and lemon.

Escargot cooked in herb butter, served in shells with flowers.

BBQ wings on a wooden board served with a salad and a beer.

Elegant bar with stools, menu board, liquor bottles, and a chandelier.

Pork chop with potatoes, carrots, green beans, and an edible orchid.

Seared tuna salad with mixed greens, eggs, tomatoes, and an edible flower.

Restaurant interior with set tables and wall art.

Restaurant mezzanine with set tables and wall art.

Bar interior with a menu board, liquor bottles, and beer taps.

Restaurant interior with banquette seating, wooden walls, framed photographs, and mezzanine.

Chef drizzling dressing over a meat dish.

Tartare steak with a raw egg yolk, mixed greens, toast, and wine.

Seared tuna with mixed greens, eggs, tomatoes, and an edible flower.

Black squid ink pasta topped with fresh shrimp, mussels, clams, and shredded cheese.

Restaurant interior with a bar, tables, and Christmas decor.

Puff pastry on top of a white soup bowl.

Restaurant entrance with outdoor seating.

An open-faced burger stacked with bacon, mushrooms, and fried pickles.

A hand taking a slice of pepperoni pizza with cheese, mushrooms, and arugula.

Gourmet dish and a glass of red wine on the bar counter.

Restaurant interior with a bar, banquette seating, wooden walls, and wall art.

A bottle pours liquid onto a golden pastry-topped soup bowl.

Steamed clams in herb broth garnished with an orange flower.

Bread loaf, wine glass, crab cake, and pasta on table.

Salad with mixed greens, beets, oranges, and crispy prosciutto topping.

Elegant dining room with wooden tables, bentwood chairs, and drapes.

Pan-seared lamb chops with dark reduction sauce and roasted potatoes.

A round, golden loaf of bread sits on white cloth.

A serrated knife slices through a round loaf of bread.

A bottle of Dobson's Chardonnay next to a filled white wine glass.

Mussel Bisque served in a lion-head bowl beside a cocktail.

Slices of roasted duck breast with orange sauce and vegetables.

Golden pastry over soup on a white plate with orchid.

Steak topped with seafood, green beans, mashed potatoes, and red wine.

A bartender gestures toward glassware on a dimly lit counter.

Black pasta with mussels tomatoes and grated cheese.

Steak and mashed potatoes served with a glass of wine.

Smiling chef in a white uniform presents a plated meal.

A cocktail sits beside a charcuterie board and crab cake plate.

A cozy, dimly lit restaurant interior with wooden wall panels.

Outdoor restaurant patio with patrons dining under a large awning.

A slice of tiramisu cake on a drizzled white plate.

Mussel bisque served in a white lion-head bowl with flower.

A charcuterie board with sliced meats, cheeses, bread, and olives.

Creamy seafood pasta topped with shredded cheese and fresh chives.

Mussel Bisque en Croûte served with a cocktail drink.

Layered dessert garnished with raspberries and mint.

Dimly lit restaurant interior featuring dark wood furniture and booths.

A charcuterie board, martini, and crab cake on a table.

A bowl of mushroom stew served with bread and fresh thyme.

Plated gourmet meat dish served with broccoli and white wine.

Blue crab cake with dipping sauce beside a dirty martini.

Duck breast with orange sauce and asparagus on a white plate.

Plated gourmet meat served over mashed potatoes and broccoli.

A French onion soup sits center stage among salad, charcuterie, and cocktails.

Two plates of elegant food served alongside a red wine.

Plated gourmet meat dish served with white wine and salad.

Crowded restaurant dining room beneath ornate ceiling.

An overhead shot of five patrons dining at the restaurant.

A person pours draft beer into a glass at a bar.

A wine bottle and glass stand on a dark counter.

People dine and drink at a long table indoors.

Charcuterie board, crab cake plate, and martini on dark countertop.

Two hands gently wrap around a cocktail garnished with rosemary.

Blue crab cake topped with microgreens, served with a ramekin containing creamy sauce.

Elegant restaurant dining area with ornate curtains and chandelier.

Reviews

Review by - Yelp

five star review by Linda C:

Was seated outside and immediately got my chard and mussel bisque even tho if was comicon busy. The soup is amazing, served w sherry poured on top of a delicious flaky crust. Yum j

Review by - Yelp

five star review by Laney S:

A downtown San Diego institution. A wonderful, intimate spot. In a historic building. The food is unsurpassed. Both lunch and dinner. Attentive and friendly staff. And what a treat - Paublo is here today !!! We had an awesome experience. It was packed at lunch today. We were lucky to get seated without a reservation. We love this place.

Review by - Yelp

five star review by Gioia M:

The service was amazing! I ordered the shrimp and mushrooms in aioli and it was incredible. I highly recommend it! Also, love the revamp of the menu!

Review by - Yelp

five star review by Laura D:

Love Dobson's. Excellent food. Excellent service. Mussle Bisque is amazing. Kind of hole in the wall gem you would find in San Francisco or New York.

Review by - Yelp

five star review by Erica W:

This place is amazing.. BREAD out of this world, melt in your mouth. I was impressed by the menu and my server Michele! She was rocking the entire restaurant while an enormous smile on her face. She made me and my girlfriends feel like we have known her forever! Great Place!

Dobson's Bar & Restaurant - Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA

About us

Perfection takes time

Specials

HISTORY

Reservations