Known as the San Diego’s first gay nightclub and bar, The Rail sets the bar as an iconic destination for individuals and groups who desire a truly unique venue experience. Located in an Art Deco-inspired building on the corner of 5th and Robinson in Hillcrest, its exterior and interior design reflect the freedom and revelry reminiscent of its beginnings during the Post-Prohibition era. Today, this hub for locals and visitors serves up a modern version of artisanal spirits, craft beer and a brunch, lunch and dinner menu, functioning both as a nightlife hotspot and daytime social experience.
Oversized bi-fold doors and windows open up The Rail’s interior space to the front patio, embracing San Diego’s indoor/outdoor lifestyle. Sixteen-foot-high beamed ceilings with exposed rafters reveal the building’s historic bones above a color palette rich with warm tones and bold pops of color. Warm brick, wood, corrugated metal wall treatments, custom light fixtures and furnishings with a modern twist create an atmosphere evoking the comfortable camaraderie of days gone by.
Above the bar hangs a 41-foot steel liquor rack which acts both as a display for spirits and a storage compartment. Pipe shelving behind the custom brick-backed bar finishes the space amid a 6-foot brass beer tap system and LED-backlit pierced brass screen.
Visitors will enjoy inventive libations such as the Tommy Gun made with Kraken Rum, peach bitters and ginger beer and the Mint Chip, featuring Stillhouse mint chip whiskey and Frangelico. And when it comes to their food menu, The Rail’s brunch includes classics such as Biscuits and Gravy, benedicts, waffles and out-of-the-ordinary fare including Meatball Sliders and their version of Coffee and Doughnuts, made with coffee-cured bacon bites and doughnut holes served with a vanilla latte dipping sauce. Lunch presents American bar fare at its best including Loaded Nachos, House Wings and three signature flatbreads.
The Rail is an iconic private party and special event destination complete with a series of VIP areas, custom seating and uniquely crafted steel banquet tables. The front VIP section features steel rod screens showcasing a simple Deco-inspired pattern and an elevated platform for dining and dancing. To enhance privacy, custom peek-a-boo graphics screens separate the dancefloor from restroom entrances. An extra private event space exists at the rear of the space, designed as a giant whiskey barrel with brick- and shiplap-wrapped walls and an arched, steel-strapped, barrel-edged valance spanning the ceiling.
The Rail appeals to longtime club-goers, imbibers of good spirits and foodie patrons alike, with every detail celebrating its historic past and welcoming a promising future.