About Dobson's Dobson's is a power central at lunchtime -- downtown lawyers, politicos and other Eminent Type Personages have done business here since the early '80s while breaking through the pastry crust on the famously delicious Mussel Bisque. If you think you have no place here, polish your shoes, show up and be proven wrong: Dobson's is renowned for being an exceptionally comfortable place to hang out. Wood-paneled walls and stained glass lend dignity to the rather narrow room, lending the atmosphere of an old fashioned men's club. (Don't for a minute think that women aren't a presence, too). Within a block of the Civic Theatre, Balboa Theatre and the Lyceum, Dobson's also draws theater-bound patrons at dinnertime, when the menu includes pan-roasted Chilean sea bass or a chicken breast stuffed with ripe olive tapenade. Be sure to make reservations as table seating is limited -- at lunchtime you'll find plenty of people eating at the bar. Between lunch and dinner, you can choose from a "small menu" of appetizers and sandwiches, from 3 to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Dobson's History The site where Dobson’s Bar & Restaurant now stands began as the "Theater Buffet and Bar" complementing the new Spreckels Theater which was built to commemorate the opening of the Panama Canal in 1912. The interior’s Tiger oak and mahogany, brought “around the Horn,” still remain, along with the now “earth quaked” original tile floors. When the Union-Tribune moved in across the street, the bar was renamed "The Press Room" and became filled with cigarette and cigar smoke and hard-drinking reporters for many years. However, when the Union-Tribune moved its offices to Mission Valley, business declined. In 1983, Paul Dobson and some lawyer friends decided to capitalize on the absence of good restaurants available for downtown San Diego’s bustling business community and decided to open a San Francisco-style business lunch restaurant with a good happy hour. During the renovation, builders discovered a secret passageway that had connected the Spreckel’s Theater men’s lounge to the Press Room bar. One can only speculate how many theater-goers took advantage of that intermission perk! Dobson’s officially opened in 1984, starting off with a heavily French-inspired menu, including our world famous, and still delicious, Mussel Bisque (over a million served). Dobson’s became an instant success with the legal and business communities, the "movers and shakers" of San Diego, as well as the theater crowd. Over three decades later, Dobson’s continues to please. Chef Martin San Roman, born in Mexico City and trained in Paris, France, has brought an innovative touch to the menu with his unique combination of French-American-Baja cuisine while still preserving the essence of Dobson’s. While you’re here, be sure to check out the enigmatic clock on the wall opposite the bar. Can you figure it out? Finally, if you have a penchant for the supernatural, you should know that, from time to time, both employees and patrons have reported some bizarre occurrences and actual ghost sightings, especially in the late-night hours …
our chef martin san roman Chef Martin San Roman brings to Dobson's a vast array of international culinary experience and creativity. Born in Mexico City, he graduated from L'Ecole Lenôtre in Paris, France. His experience in Fauchon and Le Meridien Hotels in Paris, the London Hilton and the San Diego Westgate led him to his role as chef owner of Tour de France and Rincon San Roman, both in Tijuana, Mexico. His cooking show with the Televisa Network ran for eight years with a strong following on both sides of the U.S. - Mexico border.
Have a drink at the bar A beautiful mahogany bar and the rich glow of tiger oak is the first thing you see when you enter Dobson's. They were both brought around the Horn from England to fill the bar that took care of the guests of the new Spreckels Theater - 1913. For 93 years the bar has been a meeting place for the movers and shakers of downtown San Diego. First as the Theater Buffet, then the Press Room when the Copley Press was across the street, and finally as Dobson's Bar & Restaurant which has carefully preserved the tradition for the last 33 years. Today you will find the bar jammed with judges and attorneys, and packed before and after the theater. It takes a week's notice to get a reservation to eat at the bar for lunch on Fridays. Stocked with the finest liqueurs, wines and beers, and offering a special tapa bar menu you will experience the magic of San Diego's oldest, most popular local bar.
Location 956 Broadway Circle San Diego, 92101, CA
Hours Sat 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, Fri 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM Sunday : Closed/Opened on Special Occasions