The Casbah

A fun place and worth the price which is very reasonable. Its a small place, very cozy with great entertainment. You won’t be disappointed.

they don’t need more great reviews but i’ll contribute. some great memories here. a little music oasis in the heart of san diego. some of the best shows have been ones that I have no idea who is playing and just paid the $ 12 or whatever to check out who they have curated for the night.

The Casbah. I’ve enjoyed many great groups here, and look forward to seeing many more in the next coming months. It is a foundation of the music scene here in San Diego, and there’s a reason for that. The atmosphere/​layout is great, they have some really fun arcades, the bar is cheap, and the sound is good. The real catch is the caliber of great artists that come through this place make it really shine.

Great place to live music, reasonable price.
It’s always a fun to get back there.
As a musician and as a customer.

Seeing my favorite band play at the Casbah again was a dream. I first came here about 4 years ago to see The Hush Sound jam and the Casbah has once again captivated me. Walking through the venu door there’s no reason to not sigh. String lights and a dim hallway with familiar songs blasting, what more could you want for! They have a full bar and a few tables you need to snag as soon as you get in. I recommend not doing «will call» if you want actual ticket stub, but it’s pretty convenient if you’re okay with no stub. I love the intimacy you can get with your band or singer being so close. You’re body can’t help but surrender to the music and you’ll feel everyone do the same.

I would describe this place as «charmingly divey.»
We went to see the record release show for Taken By Canadians (who killed it, btw), and I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere. It’s a small venue, unique, eclectic, and undoubtably divey, but it’s comfortable and I enjoyed being there.
I was slightly annoyed that my ticket said doors at 8:00pm when they didn’t open until 8:30pm and the first band didn’t go on until 9:30pm. But once the music started they were quick to transition between sets by toggling between two stages, which I really enjoyed.
In the end, A $ 5.00 show on a Thursday that featured a really fantastic band, is considered an epic win. I will definitely be going back!
P. S. The bathrooms could use some work.

I’ve seen a couple shows here and it’s always been so much fun. The staff is wonderful and polite. I love the enclosed patio. And even though it’s on India street parking hasn’t been a problem for me.

Dirty little hole in the wall that still kicks ass. Service and ambience go hand in hand here. Even as a much older guy coming here still feels like home, after 20 years. Hope it’s open for another 20 so I can go again. Seriously great place to see small bands, on the edge on downtown, Little Italy area.

I went here recently for an Oh Wonder concert and I seriously loved it. This venue is awesome and small and intimate, but not overly small. You still have space to breathe and really move around and enjoy the music. The vibe here is awesome too and I can see why it’s considered one of the most popular music venues in San Diego.
We were able to see Oh Wonder pretty close up and I can tell that even if I were in the back of the room rather than closer to the stage, I’d still get a great view of them. Their backdrop and the sound system was definitely on point. The security here is really nice and understanding too. My friends are the type that really like to stay after and wait for the artists to come out, but the security guard was really nice rather than impatient about it.
The only thing about this place is that at the bar, there was only one bartender during the concert. This caused people to have to wait pretty long for a drink and although he did a great job keeping his composure, I would only imagine it to be rather overwhelming as the only one with people crowding around. This location is also located near Little Italy, so parking can be tough.
Overall though, probably one of my favorite music venues and during the concert, Josephine even smiled and waved directly at me, so a part of my soul will forever be part of the Casbah now! I would love to see more of my favorite artists here in the future.

I like this venue. Very intimate. Small but not too crowded. Nice sound system (bass could be better but it’s mostly live shows so whatever…)
–1 for men’s bathroom (smells bad)

This venue is incredibly small, the size of a dive bar or so I would say. Definitely intimate, and depending on who you see here it could be a cool experience. I came for Oh Wonder on their first North American tour, and first show in SD and as they were amazing artists, it was so crowded there was nowhere I could stand where I could really see. The sound system was not amazing, but pretty decent for such a small venue. But because it is a small venue, you wouldn’t expect there too be a top notch sound system. I had gotten a couple beers, and they weren’t very cold which I was kind of caught off guard by. The prices were okay though, as it was $ 6.50 for a Stella.
Maybe I’ll have a better experience if I came for a different show, which is possible because they do host a lot of up and coming artists which I think is awesome !
But if it is one of the shows that are sold out, expect it to be really crowded and plan on coming earlier so you can find a good spot to watch your favorite artist !

Came here for a local artist concert and was a little disappointed. The size of the place is pretty small and there were no chairs. Standing room only. It was extremely crowded and they were still packing people in like sardines. I think Id only come again if I had absolutely nothing to do. The drinks weren’t bad, a little on the strong side, but the atmosphere is just okay.

Went to see Little Hurricane with a group and what an amazing duo! They are on their way to stardom I hope. The venue is a local landmark and was ok. Sound system was being overloaded so the speakers were cracking and painful. There were 3 warm up bands that were very average and it was so late by the time Little Hurricane went on that half my group left. The audience was full at 9pm and by 11:30pm when they finally went on they had also started to thin out. By the 4^th song 30% of the main floor had left. I did not plan on spending the entire night there trapped and waiting.
They also are violating the non-​smoking laws. People were allowed to smoke right outside the door in the enclosed patio. I though we were over this smoky bar thing… It was impossible to get fresh air outside because the whole patio was filled with smoke.
Drinks were good but varied in price, my 1^st was $ 7, 2^nd was $ 8 and 3^rd was $ 9, does the price go up as it gets later?

I went here a few years back and must have forgotten to review. When I was visiting San Diego, looking for an apartment before I moved, a friend took me me here to see Craig Finn. I loved the small venue. Everyone as chill. Finn was bomb. Drinks were easy to get and not too expensive.
I really, really need to go back. Soon.

Went to this venue for the turquoise concert. I will say that as a music venue it is on point. It’s quaint with easy access to the bar. The crowd and the atmosphere leave very little to be desired. Only thing keeping this place from getting the 5^th star is the unbalanced table and a little bit of a attitude from the bar tender. The bar also didn’t have lemonade for my bombay lemonade. Either way this place will give you a wonderful experience.

the casbah rocks my world and i cant believe i have yet to review it.
so, i was just at this local gem last nite to see, quite possibly, one of the best shows ive ever seen (IAMX). the casbah books amazing talent –some super well known, some niche, some yet to be truly discovered — but they all have this in common: reasonable price tags in a super intimate setting that even at the worst spot… you are still pretty damn close compared to other venue locations. and though it is a small space, they are able to accommodate quite a lot of people and you can get away from the chaos if you need to, via the smoking patio or back room.
the casbah is where i have some of my most special memories… seeing gold panda for the first time after years of gushing over his music — but not before being blown away by his (fairly) unknown opener, Slow Magic, who pretty much stole the show! so much so, he was booked as a headliner a few months later. my memory is terrible on what else ive caught, but those nights, along with last night for IAMX (solo musical project of Chris Corner, formerly of the band Sneaker Pimps).go down as some of the most awesome live music experiences Ive ever had. though talent on its own can create a magical night… a good venue only adds to it. if a band you love is playing at the casbah, you are in for an amazing and special treat… as you can literally be front and center with little effort. or as in the case of last night, ON STAGE with the band rocking out during their last song of the night. its just so unique and hands down, one of the best venues in San Diego.
I also feel the sound is pretty fantastic for being as small as it is. and everything i recorded on my phone inches from the stage actually came out amazingly well! In case you are interested… this is my favorite IAMX song I recorded the first ½ of:
if you havent heard of the band hopefully that peek gets to you explore further!

This is a legendary venue! This place has stood the test of time. We were here for man man last night and they absolutely killed it! Awesome concert at an awesome venue. The bartenders are super quick and mellow, the vocals on stage are monstrous and the concert had a really fun vibe. I love going here for shows because all artists have a great time and are super into their music!

An institution, the days of live music venues like this are dead and gone. If you live in Little Italy and you don’t catch shows here, you are missing out. It’s not so much that huge bands have played here. It’s that you could catch a band here before they get huge. There is a brain behind this business and they load the schedule with talent as much as possible.
There’s not much to say about the casbah that hasn’t been said, the place is a total institution and without a doubt a place that has identity way beyond it’s years, not that it’s a spring-​chicken.
Great little venue, decent little bar, however I DETEST the plastic fake– glasses. It is nice when the back bar opens too. Video games, pool table and a stage that can at times erupt in a nutty air-​guitar championship, a free-​flow of hip-​hop or a drum or guitar solo that will rock your face off.
Support this institution. It’s a rare breed. Great live music venue!

We went here on Wednesday to see some live music. Cover was $ 15. We were there until midnight and nobody came on to perform! so weird.
The place is super crowded and smokey inside. My clothes and hair smelled like an ashtray when we left.
I ordered a red bull with gray goose and it tasted so bad, none of our friends was able to help me drink it. I’m not sure if it’s because they used well vodka instead of Goose or of it’s because they didn’t put enough ice and the glass hot. Bartending 101, lots of ice and cold glass would make your drink so much better.
I don’t think we’d be back, even if someone we really liked performed there as the layout just left much to be desired. I felt ripped off as we paid $ 15 for live music and saw none.

What a great venue! Went to see GBH with some friends and they tore it up! several bars inside to get drinks so there isn’t much of a wait. This is an awesome venue to sera punk band, can’t wait to see some more great artists here

The Casbah is a great dive bar that features really great artists. It’s small so you can always see the stage and the sound system is awesome. The sound guys really know what they’re doing and are always on point. There’s also a second bar in the back to play pool, pinball, video games, or to have a drink which is cool.
It can get hot in there since it is a small space that can fit a lot of people so keep that in mind when going. They don’t have a parking lot but there’s plenty of street parking and its next to a couple of parking lots.
All in all I love this place. The bands they bring in are always good, sounds system rocks, the drinks are reasonably priced, and tickets are cheap.

Very intimate venue but pretty awesome to see someone play. The place is divey but has a certain charm to it. The staff is very nice. One long bar inside and one smaller bar outside. The patio has a pool table, places to sit, and vintage arcade games. It had been a long day and I needed some caffeine. They had a self serve complimentary drip coffee area which I thought was the greater thing ever at the time. I parked in the airport lot across the street for $ 9 which was a deal considering some of the parking prices I’ve seen elsewhere in sd. Not going to lie I wanted to shout Rock the Casbah the entire time.

Ahh, I’m going to have The Clash stuck in my head all day because of this review. Anyway, The Casbah reminds me of the venues I used to see shows at when I was 15. It’s small, dark, and awesome. The staff is super nice, the bar is never overly crowded, and the bartenders are very attentive (and generous with their pours… if you get what I’m sayin’).
One drawback is the sound quality and there isn’t much raised floor space so it can be hard to see if you are on the shorter side (#thestruggleisreal). I love the intimate feel of this place. It isn’t flashy, but the outdoor area is really cute and an awesome place to grab some air when it gets too hot inside.
I would definitely recommend going here to catch a show!

This historical dive bar has hosted some of the best bands of all time-​and I’m so proud to have something like this in SD. A friend of mine (Jake Loban and The Bender Band) played last week and it was my first visit! I know I know, long overdue.
Parking was easy across the street (about 9 $) and the doors opened on time. The entry is narrow and then opens up to a courtyard type area. The whole venue is this hodgepodge of a building with the main venue leading into hallways and out again into the back open air sections. Smoking is allowed, so the fresh air was über welcome.
The sound was great, and the venue is intimate near the main stage. The bar pours the basics. (Warning: their ginger ale claim is false, sprite mixed with a smidge of coke is not the real thing my dear Mr. Bartender)
The bouncers and staff were super friendly and handled the crowd with ease-​Get into SD’s best known live music venue when you have a chance-​the line up is always awesome.

Ah… the Casbah. Small and divey, reminds me of Santa Cruz. A great place to catch a show! Theres not a bad view of the stage at all and if someone tall gets in front of you just look to the right and you can see it all in the wall mirror!
Drinks arent pricey and service was fast and friendly.
There is an outside patio, smoking allowed, a pool table and the back bar has a tv with the show playing too!
The only downfall is the smell of hipster B. O due to no air conditioning so I wouldnt recommend coming here on a hot day in the summer lol.
Excited to see more shows here. This place is a win win!

The Casbah seriously — dare I say it — rocks. I can’t imagine a better place to see a show or a more fitting name for a venue.
I turned 21 two years ago but finally went to my first 21+ show here last week. Came for Ben Kweller and I was so shocked to see that I would be so close to him, without a barrier of any kind. What an amazing thing. The Casbah made my middle school dreams come true! Ben also had fond memories of performing here when he was 15 and couldn’t come in until showtime — great little tidbit that contributes to making this place special. I’ve been to tons of shows but the setup of this venue is ideal, your favorite artists performing close enough to touch (not that you should, not without consent at least). The crowd is cool and everyone is there to just have a good time. The bands even chill outside after the show and it’s almost guaranteed you’ll be able to meet your favorites and snap a photo with them.
The Casbah is casually situated on a corner close to the airport. Parking is pretty easy on the nearby streets since there isn’t much else in the area and most spots are free by the time doors open. You enter through the second door for «will call» if you ordered the tickets ahead of time. This leads to an outdoor patio where the merch booth is set up and smokers can do their thing. If you keep moving forward past the merch booth, there’s a back room with pool tables and old school arcade games to hang out before the show which is nice since doors typically open about an hour before showtime. If you head inside to the right before the merch booth, you’ll find a bar, a floor, and the one-​foot high stage.
Let’s talk about the bar. They’ve got a full bar including some craft beers on tap for $ 6.50 and PBR tall boys even cheaper. My one gripe about the bar is that the draft beer was served in a warm glass. –_​– That just didn’t feel right, personally. They do have a few local beers on hand; I got a Coronado stout, so that was nice.
Tickets are decently priced. The only thing I was iffy about was the ~$ 4 service charge tacked on per ticket and how you can only purchase them online (you can’t just come to a box office and buy them sans service fees). I figure it’s a small price to pay considering how intimate the venue is and I’m sure that extra money goes into some TLC for the old club, so I can’t complain too much.
Overall awesome venue, awesome shows, awesome crowd, awesome vibes. Don’t hesitate to come see a show here — you’ll have an absolute blast and remember it for some time after.

The Troubadour in LA has always been one of my favorite venues because it has a separate room (with a separate bar) where you can hang out if you’re not digging the bands you didn’t come to see. I was super amped that The Casbah has the same, it’s just outdoors.
From other reviews on here, it sounds like their ticket buying process can be a little hairy. I won my tickets for this particular show so I thankfully didn’t have to experience any of that. The bouncer at the door was one of the friendliest I’ve ever met at a club (I wish I could say the same about the bartender at the outdoor bar). They have a pool table if you feel like killing some time doing that before the show starts, or after and some old school arcade games.
One of my favorite things about this place though is there are places to sit, inside and out. I can’t stand for long periods of time so it was a god send that they had tables (and another bar inside).
It’s for sure a dive bar/​nightclub type place so don’t expect the Ritz when you’re coming here but these types of places are the best for seeing smaller bands and being a nice intimate environment. Much better than a big flashy arena show. Definitely a fan.