Beach House Bar and Grill Mission Beach

Cannonball does Japanese-Peruvian fusion on the calmer bay side of Mission Beach, proof that San Diego’s beach bar scene has range beyond margaritas and mai tais.

The Hawaiian theme here is the genuine article, not a costume, fresh poke and tropical cocktails on the Pacific Beach oceanfront channeling actual Lahaina energy.

Marilyn Monroe filmed Some Like It Hot here, and the Sun Deck still pours cold cocktails above the same red-turreted Victorian silhouette that has been standing since 1888.

Locals just call it the taco and expect you to already know they mean South Beach’s legendary Mahi fish taco, 22 tequilas, no Wi-Fi, and a sunset deck that has been making Ocean Beach glow orange since 1992.

Named for a 1913 amusement park with 350 monkeys that lasted exactly two summers, Wonderland Ocean Pub keeps a daily sunset toast tradition alive over the OB Pier with a rotating tap list that takes itself considerably more seriously than the monkeys did.