The Ould Sod

Dive bar with smoking patio! Don’t expect fine dining because it aint. get a drink, get drunk and sit down!

one of my favorites, friendly people, good music, totally old school

As their sign says, I was «dying to try out the new patio and beer garden», which I guess should have been my first clue to not even try to order a martini. If you are going to have a full bar, be willing to serve it and not make the customer feel like it’s an imposition to get what the CUSTOMER wants. If you just want to server beer, then just serve beer.
To be fair, the new addition (beer garden /​patio) is a HUGE, much needed outdoor space in the area… however, many tables were not cleaned and it looked more like someone’s back deck after a party.
Maybe we went on an understaffed night? I hope this isn’t «normal». We were really hoping for a regular spot to call «home».

Love this place and with the new back patio, It is great. Never have to wait to long for a drink, even when I am alone.

The new patio in the back is super impressive, the staff is the best, and the music is always on point!

Drinks are good, atmosphere is great! Every time I come to This little dive bar I feel welcomed and it never takes long to get a drink no matter if it’s packed, or on a slow night.

Nice Irish pub with a great whiskey selection and friendly bartenders.
The bar looks like it is tiny but there is a lot of space at the back, this might have been a recent upgrade since the other times I have been here I don’t recall seeing it. There are comfy couches and a Foosball table (where I got my butt kicked).

My first instinct is to say it can’t be explained. Or maybe it’s my little secret why it’s so awesome. I’ll try my best at helping you understand. It’s small and unassuming. It’s kind of dark inside but in the right way. You might pass it if you drove or walked by because it’s a wallflower. It doesn’t ask for attention and it doesn’t mind if you’re not interested. It’s confident because it’s special.
I love an Irish Pub. I especially love this one. It’s intimate and lively. The bartenders are always the same and do a great job at mingling with their patrons. You walk in and there’s a big long bar on your left and a row of cool booths on your right. You’ll find some tables toward the back. I’ve been here so many times. I’ve started the night there, ended the night there, watched sports from the booths, taken shots at the bar, and always have beers.
It’s a place I miss when I haven’t been in a while. It’s cozy and makes me happy. Its got an energy that I love.

You can’t find a cheaper or friendlier bar in San Diego. Cozy atmosphere, with karaōke and trivia nights. Lots of fun.

Didn’t bother leaving a bad review after my first bad experience, my friends like this place. BUT, after visit number two, I will not be going back.
Don’t bother trying to sign up for karaōke if you are not a regular or going to pay off the guy running the thing. Not a great place to sing anyway, super packed and the sound sucks.
Also, they have a jukebox. Save your money. They pick what they want to play and they WILL come shut it off mid song if God forbid you play anything other than Irish or country music. Bartender was SUPER rude to me when I asked him why he changed it. Don’t put a jukebox in your establishment (that people are paying to use) if you’re going to dictate what gets played.
Also, it’s not the best kept place to begin with and needs some cleanup for sure.

Really cool vibe here. Old school, had some Live pub music, kinda made me feel like I was back in Europe.
Went here on a mini after date pub run. Grabbed a couple of their house brews which were nice. 6.00 pints aren’t bad at all.
Staff was chill and friendly. A place I wouldn’t mind grabbing a brew now and again.

I spent a lot of time in Ireland last year, and honestly this place would fit in.
It’s what you want in a pub… good patrons, a friendly barkeep (who notices your empty glass), and some creativity swirling in a corner, be it a poet or drummer in a band. The first time I came here was on a Friday night and I couldn’t move. But hey, I’m getting old.
This time I came on a Tuesday and the vibe was perfect.

Do you like Irish music? Do you like it so loud it makes your ears bleed?
Maybe it was a bad day but I went to an event put on by the Irish Outreach centre and it was so loud — I mean «oh my god my hearing is going to be damaged within 30 seconds» loud — I left within five minutes. When the most crowded part of the bar is the part the farthest away from the band THE BAND IS TOO DAMN LOUD.
(Annoying when people shout, isn’t it?)

Classic bar to go with lots of friends and wreck havoc.
I used to live in the area and was in a first name basis with many of the good people there.
I recommend this bar if you appreciate old school vibes.

This is the best Guinness pour I have had outside of Ireland, bar none.
(As an aside, I’m amazed anyone orders anything else but Guinness. It’s the best POUR OF GUINNESS I’VE HAD OUTSIDE OF IRELAND.)
Also, trad music on Tuesdays is $#(* brilliant. We love this place.

W.A.R.R.E.N.
One word. If he isn’t here I’m not coming in. Best bartender E-​V-​E-​R!
I seriously would come here and ask if he’s bartending. Wednesdays are the best night.
Come here with friends. Easy peezy night. There’s also juke so you can jam out to your songs of choice. And there’s a full bar.

Visited some people I know having fun here on a Saturday night. Seemed like a great little neighborhood bar with a fun and lively crowd. Saturday night was karaōke night (although I don’t partake in that) it provided some good entertainment. Drinks were good too. Def a must stop and check it out bar in the Adams area scene.

I don’t think I went back to The Ould Sod after writing my initial review of this place over six years ago. My bad.
We continued on with Rianne D’s birthday celebrations here after finishing up happy hour at The Rabbit Hole. I think there were only four other patrons there when we arrived, but that was fine with us. Julie S. filled up the jukebox with some fun song selections as we enjoyed the next hour here.
The Monday night special where your third drink is a whopping $ 0.25 cents was a hit with my husband (who was already in his happy place, lol). That’s right my friends, a whole quarter. You can’t buy two drinks for others and pay a quarter for the third person. You consume two drinks, then your third drink is a quarter.
My hubby loved this deal, so much that after dropping Julie off to her car two blocks away, he stayed in the back seat like he we were re-​enacting the movie, Driving Miss Daisy as I safely drove us home. Oh well, we don’t go out as much as we did, but we (and I mean he since he drank all my drinks for me along with his) had a great time living it up.
I swear this place has the best bathroom fairy. They have the cleanest restroom for the ladies!

[tune to: I Will Survive]
«…At first I was afraid… I was terrified…
Just kept thinking how I could not sing up there before those eyes…
But then I took a deep breathe. thinking what could go wrong.
and I grew strong. and oh~ i got the crowd to sing along…»
After a delicious dinner in North Park, a group of 15 folks sought a cheap bar close by that we could close out of Saturday night. Apparently it’s unheard of to find a bar that does Kareoke on a Saturday but thanks to Unilocal.our group landed at Ould Sod around 9pm. Apparently it was the perfect time because we managed to snag a couple of the booth seats next to the bar and it was just minutes before kareoke launched into full gear.
The bar is cute. It’s not very big by any means but it’s cozy and once the crowd gets a singing, it’s like your giant family crammed into the living room for a drunken sing-​a-​long. The drinks were so cheap and tasty. The gals running the line at the bar were quick and efficient. They even had free little samples of shock top to warm the vocal chords before kareoke launched in full effect. Plenty of screens around the bar to see lyrics and sing along with whoever is on the stage.
The Asian guy running the kareoke machine — amazing! He sings soo well! He was also quick and efficient gathering all the song requests from the «very cheerful» guests. The machine had TONS. I mean TONS of songs! Everything from your old school soul. snoop dog. and yes– FROZEN. My handsome man put balls to the wall and sang Frozen and a bar full of folks sang along. It was fucking AMAZING. «Let it gooooo… Let it goooo!!!» I mean like the whole daymn bar was singing frozen like it was a traditional irish drinking song.
I loved the crowd. no judgment. you can sing well like the kareoke host. or horrible like me. and everyone will still keep the vibe alive and warm to give you all the courage to get on the stage. It was definitely my first kareoke dive bar experience and it was FANTASTIC.
Highly recommended. You gotta come early especially on kareoke nights cuz it will fill up quick. Great service, kind people, and a whole lot of fun!

Great little bar. Often gets very busy, and last night was no exception being st pattys day! Line to get in was too long so we didn’t go in, but I’ve been here before and have been meaning to give a report. If you want a fun, funky bar, this will do nicely.
Very efficient bartenders. For the amount of drinks they have to keep up with they do an incredible job.
Adorable old fashioned feeling inside. They play great Irish music sometimes and often have live bands. Very festive and a great place to hang out.
Note: do yourself a favor and avoid Rosie O’Gradys across the street. Horrible bitch servers, nasty dirty, and total drunk creeps. I think the bathroom may be a portal to hell.