A Review Guide To Coronado’s Top 5 Places To Get Cocktails Beer & Wine 

#1. The Tavern, Coronado: Craft Cocktails, Local Legends, and Unexpected Friendships.

Tucked just a block from Coronado’s South Beach and practically neighbors with the Hotel Del, The Tavern has quietly earned a reputation that might best be described as “world famous”—at least among locals. Step inside, and it’s easy to see why. The craft cocktails are, without exaggeration, some of the finest on the island, each drink carefully balanced with flair and a wink of style that only seasoned bartenders can deliver.

The staff here walk that rare line between professional and personable. They mix, shake, and pour with the kind of energy that makes it feel less like service and more like choreography. And while the cocktails often steal the spotlight, the food is no mere supporting act. The menu, broad enough to satisfy a range of tastes, includes several true standouts: the Tavern Grilled Bacon & Shishito Pepper Burger, crowned with aged cheddar and the house-famous Tavern sauce, also served with crisp fries is one of the Islands Best Burgers. The Grilled Norwegian Salmon with a delicate lemon reduction, which somehow manages to taste as fresh as it sounds is served with fresh seasonal sides. Beyond the drinks and dishes, The Tavern thrives on its atmosphere. Handpicked tunes set the mood, and the crowd—a mix of locals and visitors—lends a genuine, unforced energy to the room. It’s the kind of place where lifelong friendships are formed over shared tables, and where one woman swears the bartenders got her through her divorce.

The Tavern is not just a bar, nor merely a restaurant. It is, as locals jokingly—and not so jokingly—call it, “The World Famous Coronado Tavern,” a place where stories are exchanged, cocktails are perfected, and memories are made one pint, plate, and smile at a time.

#2. The Little Club is Coronado’s legendary old-school dive bar — emphasis on old. Imagine carpet that has witnessed more decades than some of its patrons, 1970s faux-wood paneling that gave up pretending long ago, and black-and-white Navy photos that look like they were hung back when Eisenhower still had job security. The lighting ranges from “dim” to “is this a corner or a void?” while a jukebox blasts a chaotic mix of classics, modern tracks, and, mysteriously, an almost aggressive amount of country music. At times, you’d swear someone parachuted part of rural Alabama straight onto the island.

Locals and Navy regulars gather around the pool table, praying everyone behaves while drinking the island’s most affordable booze. The stakes are clear: “Whoever loses buys the next pitcher of Coors Light — and grab me a bag of Funyuns while you’re up.”

The bartenders are wonderfully down-to-earth, though they often end up playing recess monitor when a drunk local and a drunk sailor start arguing over who really won that last game or which woman is allegedly going home with whom. And after midnight, the bar becomes a sanctuary for restaurant and service workers coming off shift, seeking cheap drinks and cheaper therapy. Their conversations tend to revolve around surviving the day’s tourists — including the kind who announce, “You will never be as rich as I am, now get me my $20 avocado toast right now, and if the toast is burned I’ll destroy you.”

Why is The Little Club ranked #2 on the Best Bars in Coronado list? Easy. First: it actually stays open like a real bar. In the post-COVID era, when countless bars have decided that 10 p.m. on a Friday is the perfect time to shout “Last call! Wrap it up! Drink the thing you bought five minutes ago and get out so I can go home, inhale pizza with ranch dressing, crack open a sad gas-station beer, and watch SportsCenter reruns,” The Little Club remains open until around 1:30 a.m. Revolutionary, I know.

Second: it’s affordable — a shocking novelty in this economy. Meanwhile, other casual, slightly rundown bars on the island have suddenly decided that because the high-end spot near the Hotel del Coronado sells excellent craft cocktails for $14 to $20, they can do the same. Never mind that their drinks aren’t good, their service isn’t good, and they behave as though they’re doing you a favor by slinging you a rushed, tragic Bloody Mary topped with olives that taste like they’ve been marinating in regret.

So yes — The Little Club earns its spot. In a world where many “bars” have forgotten what a bar is supposed to be, this dive keeps doing the job. And doing it, blessedly, late. We just don’t know for how much longer. 

#3. The Brigantine, Coronado: A “Town Square Bar” With Decades of Salt, Charm, and Cold Beer.

The Brigantine has held court across from the Hotel del Coronado since the early 1970s, weathering decades of island evolution with the resilience of a seasoned local. Though modernized with bright, open windows and breezy light, its bones remain unmistakably Brigantine. Gone is the dim, ship-hull interior that once felt like drinking inside a nautical time capsule—some still miss that old Brig charm—but the refresh has left it feeling airy, approachable, and unmistakably Coronado.

This is a bar that knows what it does well and keeps doing it: ice-cold beer on tap, classic cocktails mixed with precision, and Margaritas that are dangerously effective. The regulars—some kindly, some delightfully gruff—carry the comfortable weathering of blue-collar life and seem almost as historic as the Hotel Del itself. Pull up a seat and you may find yourself chatting with someone who has been drinking at The Brig longer than you’ve been alive.

The kitchen turns out food that pairs exactly the way bar food should. The Marinated Skirt Steak Taco Plate, served with house-made coleslaw and kettle chips, is a satisfying companion to a cold beer or a respectable glass of red wine. The Marinated Mahi Mahi Sandwich—with tomato, avocado, lettuce, and cilantro aioli—has earned near-legend status among locals, and deservedly so.

But the Brigantine’s endurance is its true marvel. Decades of business in a coastal town where restaurants appear and vanish like tides is no small feat. The bartenders remain a highlight—professional, personable, and funny in the way only longtime service veterans can be.

If anything keeps it from ranking higher, it’s the hours. Once upon a time, the Brig stayed open until 1:30 a.m.—a beacon for locals seeking a late-night drink and a familiar face. These days, closing time drifts much closer to 10 p.m., a reminder that even iconic bars eventually follow the rhythm of an aging community.

Still, the Brigantine remains a reliably enjoyable lunch or early-evening hangout—a place where the beer is cold, the food dependable, and the stories long. Times may have changed, but The Brig is still, proudly, The Brig.

#4. The Henry, Coronado: Where Upscale Meets “I Could Be in the Hamptons”

The Henry arrived in Coronado a few years ago like an East Coast import, as if someone had air-dropped a Fox Concept restaurant straight from a neighborhood where the only thing richer than the accents are the watches. Picture Bermuda shorts, Topsiders, and Rolexes—real or convincingly fake—mingling with a hint of political gravitas.

Step inside (or linger on the patio), and it’s immediately clear: the ambiance is very, very nice. Tasteful, sunlit, and slightly aspirational, The Henry has found a way to fit neatly into modern Coronado without feeling like it overstayed its welcome. The cocktails are crafted with care and flair; the wine is competent, if on the pricey side for the pour; and the beers on tap are reliable.

Appetizers are delectable, though modest in size, and a smidge heavy on the wallet. Most diners walk away pleased but whispering a quiet wish: “Could we get just a little more for what we paid?” The music—safe, unchallenging, Hamptons-country-club-appropriate—keeps conversation uninterrupted. Bartenders, on the other hand, are mostly sharply professional, the kind of service you might expect in a boutique hotel where every pour is measured intentional for the old corporate bottom line.  

Prices, much like the décor and clientele, lean upscale. But for those who enjoy a little spectacle with their spritzers—a flashy red Ferrari parked outside, for example—it’s hard not to be charmed. The Henry is, in short, a stylish spot to sip, nibble, and enjoy the Coronado vibe…with just enough pretension to feel glamorous without tipping into absurdity.

#5 McP’s Irish-Style Pub In Coronado.

McP’s Irish-Style Pub is beloved by our Secret Eaters & Drinkers — but let’s also be honest: we have notes. McP’s is, without question, legendary. That must be said upfront. But here’s the thing about Irish pubs: the real ones stay open late. Especially on weekends. Especially until at least 1:30 a.m. The last time we checked, it’s basically an international law.

Yet over the years — particularly after COVID — McP’s older bartenders and management have developed the peculiar habit of shutting the place down around 10:30 to 11:15 p.m. And they don’t exactly ease into it. Instead, the room suddenly gets hit with a loud, stern chorus of:
“LAST CALL! COME ON NOW! NO MORE! GO HOME! GO DOWN THE STREET TO DANNY’S OR THE LITTLE CLUB! OUT! EVERYONE OUT, OUT NOW!”

This, mind you, is on Friday and Saturday nights.

We’ve overheard more than a dozen stunned patrons asking, “What? I just got here, it’s only 10:30 on a Friday. I wanted to unwind. Why are they closing?” And honestly, fair question. Coronado has only a handful of places that stay open late on weekends and holidays. McP’s used to be top of that list.

The irony? McP’s is cool — legitimately cool. It has one of the best patios in town and is essentially the last surviving spot on the island with consistent live music. People love the atmosphere, but just as the night gets going… boom: “Move along, closing time.”

Now that we’ve addressed the elephant wearing a shamrock in the room, let’s get into the good stuff.

McP’s lands the #5 spot on the Best Drinks/Bars in Coronado list because that patio and live music are unbeatable. The beer selection is solid and mostly up-to-date. Yes, the beers could absolutely be colder — every Secret Drinker agrees — but they do the job. The cocktails? Fine. Okay. Nothing to write home about, and priced a little higher than necessary considering this is a simple Irish-style pub, not a Michelin-star bar disguised as a pint house.

If you’ve just flown in from the East Coast expecting a delicate, $27 martini garnished with blue-cheese olives and accompanied by a sidecar of caviar, please don’t embarrass yourself. Despite its proximity to the Hotel del Coronado, McP’s will not indulge your fantasy. In fact, the bartenders will laugh, and maybe not quietly. This is “Irish-Style Pub Service”: they don’t care how rich you think you are or what special treatment you believe you’re owed. Be rude and you’ll be 86’d before you finish your first complaint. If you want coddling, go upstairs to Stake’s bar and enjoy the “fancy dancy” service you’re craving.

Music-wise, McP’s delivers: classic rock, 1980s new-wave covers, funk, ’90s grunge, and the occasional night with a sprinkle of country. And the bar food? Shockingly good. Reminder: this is BAR FOOD, not the Hotel Del’s fine dining. Still, the portions are big, the quality is solid, and though prices are high, at least you get a plate large enough to share or take home.

The patio fire pits are a major perk on cold nights — cozy, warm, and honestly one of the best atmospheres on the island when they’re lit.

So yes: we Secret Eaters & Drinkers LOVE McP’s. We simply wish they’d stay open later on the weekends like a true Irish pub. If they tweaked just a few things, McP’s could easily climb much higher on our Best Drinks/Bars in Coronado list.