Whaling Bar & Grill

Used to go to the Whaling Bar for special occasions for many years, since the 1980s. The last time we were there, we were shocked and felt like crying. What have they done? This lovely, elegant, room, with fine cuisine and service has been replaced by what another reviewer calls Holiday Inn. We agree, but maybe worse than the average Holiday Inn. Maybe more like Cocos. This is such a shame. Is there no more market for elegance and dignity?

Nothing too special. It is a bar that has an old school feel, old school smell, and old and slow service. The bar tender was very nice, but everything was extremely slow (It was me and one other couple there).
I had the calamari. I could taste the flour they used to fry it.
I can’t give a complete review just yet because I only had an appetizer. So I will update when I have eaten dinner there.
I am writing my experience off as an anomaly because I would be amazed if such a nice hotel in such a nice area did not have a bar to follow suit.

The owners are closing this beautiful historic bar for a rendering that looks like something that belongs in the holiday inn!
Are they crazy?

Great ambience. You can feel the history. So sad they are closing this down to make another ugly modern bistro.

The Whaling Bar will be murdered by the ignorant current owners on February 2^nd, 2013 and its body will be hidden forever in the memories of those who treasure beauty, grace, history, elegance and taste. Ray Chandler is rolling in his grave.

Did Xmas breakfast here. Was okay. Nothing to die for. Just call ahead for reservation. Not sure why they kept making it seem like they were extra busy when the place was empty. No view here. Just 4 walls. Visit the ladies. Very beautiful room. You can walk out to balcony in the ladies room.

Whaling Bar is an upscale hotel-​attached restaurant mainly serving visitors to La Jolla. However, it’s a good spot to hit up for ½-​off happy hour drinks between 4 to 6. It’s a perfect time to relax in their posh ambiance and have some drinks. They only have a few beers on tap, but the bartenders make some top notch mixed drinks.

The La Valencia has been in La Jolla since God created dirt.
Raymond Chandler wrote about it, thinly described; during the war, folks volunteered to spot Japanese subs in the waters offshore; it is a large neo-​Spanish style pink building with very expensive rooms. And the Whaling Bar and Grill occupies pride of place, front and center, as you enter. This is a real bar with access to a very good kitchen. But it is the bar that attracts.
Dark and cool on a summer day, dark and cozy in winter. Booths to sit at or sit at the bar. Generous drinks made right. The food is perfect to go with the ambiance. Eat several starters and you are full or have a meal.
The filet has always been superb, although the fish can be sketchily prepared at times. Personally, I stick with several starters and Manhattans or Old Fashioneds, made properly with rye. A great place to eat alone, people watching is fun at the 5 – 7 time or so, or with friends or with someone special. It is quiet, the service is on time and helpful.
I have had no complaints over the years and recommend it highly. First class dining? No. But comfortable old style American ambiance, absolutely yes.
Check it out!

We were staying at the hotel, so ate at the Whaling Bar on our last night. The room is intimate, think an older style bar with cozy booths. We loved the atmosphere, but it got a little loud. Which, in such a small area, was enhanced. Decent wine/​beer list with some good local selections. My wife started with the scallops in a cauliflower and mushroom sauce. VERY good. The mushrooms alone were worth devoting an entire dish. Tender and flavorful, perfectly cooked. Went well with seared scallops. I had the shrimp cocktail, which was good, but the sauce needed more horseradish. To eat, my wife had the petite (5 oz.) filet. This was fine, came with whipped potatoes and green beans. I had the Whaler, a burger that was good but huge. It was simply too much at ¾ of a pound. The truffle fries were fine, although I would have liked more truffle flavor. The fontina cheese polenta was not a pleaser. For dessert, we had the apple donuts, which were accompanied by 3 dipping sauces. They were good, would get them again.
Overall, this is a fun classic bar atmosphere that I love. The food was good, and we will likely return as we like the hotel and will probably stay there again.

Great food, service could use some work. Chef Lance is amazing.

This place is is simply wonderful and a solid classic steak house. The martinis are perfect along with the service. I have no idea why this place is not packed out. The view, the historic hotel, the great waiters, food and service always make this a memorable place to go… and I’m a local.

Situated in a hotel listed on CondeNast Traveller’s Top 100 list, this old school bar is great. It’s menu, overstuffed leather booths, dark hand carved wooden bar, and old schmarmy bartenders all remind me of The Plaza Hotel’s old Oak Room.
It’s nice and brassy, dark, and the sweet paintings on the wall of old ships, old crews of ships, captains, and of course of whales round out the feel of the room.
The best part was the 60 year old, over-​tan, salt and pepper topped, cheesy white grin man doing his very best to steal away my girl with his old moves. Sadly Miami Vice struck out there.
A tip here… they don’t validate the valet parking. Which is cool, cause that’s only like 6 bucks anyway.

Very good/​fresh-​tasting spaghetti with clams. Warm, friendly service. The dark décor and lack of view seems out of place in La Jolla.

I was spending the week in the adjacent La Valencia Hotel and it happened to coincide with San Diego Restaurant Week. I’ve stayed at the hotel many times, but never actually ate in the hotel restaurant until this latest visit. I was not disappointed! The food was superb, the waiter (David) was charming and very attentive, and we thoroughly enjoyed our meals — we ate there 2 of the 4 nights we were in town.

I hate to say it but I concur with some of the other reviewers. The bartender is a total wanker. Maybe he’s jaded from working there for the last 50 years but he could at least acknowledge the customers waiting at the bar. Even when it is quiet and there are no other customers he’ll look through you like you’re not there. Maybe this is part of the allure, I dunno.
…and don’t think that I was being punished for not tipping, this happens on your first round.

It almost — almost – makes me miss smoking in bars.
Dark, old-​man bar feel. Wooden paneling, lots of private booths. The color green comes to mind. .. a little New York. Definitely not a typical La Jolla restaurant.
Met a friend here and drank too much and had a pretty damn good hamburger. He goes there quite a bit and they definitely took good care of us. Wine was liberally poured. What’s wrong with that?
I would write more, but honestly, I just don’t remember much. Yes, it was that good of a time, I think. ..

it kills me to do this because i LOVE the whaling bar, adore their staff who are beyond kind to me and my family and i have been going there my entire life… but I recently dined there on a Friday night and was disappointed for the very first time.
The restaurant has changed it menu, so maybe that can account for the subpar service and 2.5 hour dinner length (i went with my grandparents… they like to get in and get out).
they’ve changed the cheesey bread… sigh. My meal was a delicious field greens salad with humboldt fog (my favorite from the bay area) goat cheese, walnuts and citrus… and then i ordered the tuna tartare with a side of risotto. weird order, i know but oh well. The tartare was good but the risotto was completely underwhelming. under every actually. under cooked, under seasoned, under presented, etc.
and we waited… around…forever…usually the service is so prompt and cordial… maybe they’re just adjusting tot he new menu or had someone call in sick.
this won’t stop me from going back… hopefully the usual level of service and food will be back.

Whaling bar = a dark hotel bar. We were hoping the Sky Room was open, but they’re doing some work on it, so the Whaling Room was the only one open. Eh. :|
Bar with a view or a dark viewless bar. Oh, no choice at all, apparently.

The Whaling Bar has a great upscale, seaside eatery that has a lot of maritime decorations. I can’t really afford to dine here on a regular basis, but I do recommend coming her for their Thursday night, 6 dollar, you-​call-​it martini specials. It is a great way to enjoy a expensive, swanky restaurant without maxing out your visa.
Good deals like this are hard to come by in La Jolla, so I suggest you take advantage of it, even if you are not a martini person.

The Whaling Bar and Grill is just a classic lunch rendezvous or late afternoon cocktails meeting place. The bar is nice, and its «tenders» know their job very well. Great place to indulge in a rocking cocktail and a debonair downtime with friends. This spot is classy chic with a glow of timelessness.