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Delicious food inspired by daring nostalgia - Books + Records, San Diego, CA

Books + Records

4.8 (465)
$31 to $50
American
2202 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 25 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Neighborhood gem
Global inspired American cuisine, craft cocktails, and weekend brunch in an upbeat atmosphere, with live music.

Chef Ryan Stickel is serving up San Diego's freshest food takes in an art deco meets mid-century mod warehouse space. With a tenured run on both Eater's Heat Map and list of San Diego's Hottest Cocktail Bars, the food and drinks are both guaranteed to delight your senses.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Cocktail Bar, Californian
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (619) 795-1000
  • Website
    http://booksandrecordsbar.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Sam Deckman
  • Catering
    For information regarding PRIVATE EVENTS & CATERING visit BooksAndRecordsBar.com and select the "Private Dining" Tab.
  • Private party facilities
    For information regarding PRIVATE EVENTS & CATERING visit BooksAndRecordsBar.com and select the "Private Dining" Tab.
  • Location
    2202 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Neighborhood
    Banker's Hill
  • Cross street
    Ivy St & Fourth Ave in Bankers Hill
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 465 people are saying

Books + Records reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Books + Records offers a vibrant dining experience with "amazing food and cocktails" and "super cozy and fun" ambiance. The live music is a delightful addition, creating a lively atmosphere. Service is consistently praised for being "friendly and attentive," making every visit enjoyable. A must-try for those who love a dynamic vibe!
465 Reviews

  1. Janet VIP

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved everything the food the people the vibe. I did think that there was a shelf Mother’s Day. It did say that on the website, but we still had a great time me and my son. Thank you. Definitely be back.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Austin

    Cincinnati1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and simple drinks on happy hour. Cool space with friendly service.

    Is this helpful?

  3. MIchael

    San Diego12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great spot for tasty craft drinks, cool ambiance, great food, and cool atmosphere

    Is this helpful?

  4. Luz

    San Francisco8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The french toast and hashbrown dish were so good! Would definitely come back with my husband for a date.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Lisa

    San Diego3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, nice selection. Fantastic service. Go. You will enjoy it!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Naivi

    Los Angeles2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server was very attentive & food was excellent Poema, sparkling Rosé, top tier.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Devon

    Pittsburgh1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved the live music, very fun lively atmosphere and the drinks and food were all incredible! The Tom Ka-Lins drink was fab, and we loved the brussel sprouts and chicken bao buns!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Sidd

    San Diego5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food and cocktails! Very friendly and attentive service! Will definitely be back.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Madonna

    San Diego3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The ambiance and music was great. It is my neighbor .

    Is this helpful?

  10. Paul

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Bree our server was fantastic, it was our first time there. Happy hour is a great deal, live music and vibes are out of this world. We’re already planning on coming back.

    1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Books + Records is rated 4.8 stars by 465 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. San Diego
  5. Banker's Hill

Make a reservation

Booked 25 times today
Google Map for Books + Records

2202 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Ivy St & Fourth Ave in Bankers Hill
  • Neighborhood
    Banker's Hill
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Wed, Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Cocktail Bar, Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Sam Deckman
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://booksandrecordsbar.com/
  • Phone number
    (619) 795-1000
  • Catering
    For information regarding PRIVATE EVENTS & CATERING visit BooksAndRecordsBar.com and select the "Private Dining" Tab.
  • Private party facilities
    For information regarding PRIVATE EVENTS & CATERING visit BooksAndRecordsBar.com and select the "Private Dining" Tab.
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