If you’re a night owl or an early bird, you will appreciate Brian’s 24 Bar & Grill – the restaurant that never sleeps. Open 24-hours a day, this newly renovated, family-run diner serves New American comfort food, specializing in breakfast that is served all day. Father and son restaurateurs began their labor of love in 2008 in an effort to fill a void in the Gaslamp Quarter for an all-hours eatery providing satisfying home-cooking in a warm, family-friendly environment. The restaurant is located on the Gaslamp Quarter’s popular 6th Avenue in the Ramada St. James Hotel.
Brian’s 24 Ambiance
Brian’s 24 achieves the warm feeling they were going for by designing the restaurant around original historic features like a European hand-crafted mahogany bar purchased from Joan Crawford’s estate. If you look closely, you can still see imprints in the mahogany where Crawford danced atop the bar in her stilettos during private parties. A 1913 crystal chandelier, tin ceiling, beveled glass window wall, and copper kitchen all add to the restaurant’s personality. Grey walls, white pedestal tables with chocolate bistro chairs, pops of orange and blue, and framed photos are the result of a recent renovation. Brian’s 24 has a cozy patio out front for sidewalk dining and people watching.
Brian’s 24 Food
The menu at Brian’s 24 is crowded with choices, catering to niches throughout the day and night – breakfast, sandwiches, entrees, lunch specials, appetizers, pizzas, light eaters, happy hour, greens and soups, burgers and burritos, desserts, and late night eats. With so many choices, making a selection can be daunting. One sure bet is the restaurant’s signature chicken and waffles breakfast entrée served 24 hours a day.
If you’re looking for something to eat after a night on the town, join a host of diners who appreciate the Late Night menu. You’ll find everything from Jalapeño Poppers, to a pound of Chili Cheese Fries, to the Monte Cristo – ham, turkey, melted Swiss cheese between two slices of thick French toast, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and served with Brian’s Big Breakfast French fries and warm syrup.
Other menu items that are popular with patrons are the stuffed French toast with bananas and strawberries, and the corned beef hash piled high on a split English muffin with two poached eggs and hollandaise. Try fish tacos, BBQ chicken pizza, a cheeseburger basket, carne asada fries, or any number of breakfast entrées.
With names like “Massive Breakfast Burrito” and “Pancake Monster,” you can get the idea that the restaurant serves ridiculously generous portions, and you’d be right. Some diners have even mentioned being unable to finish a meal from the Light Eaters menu, so if you aren’t into gigantic portions, you may want to start with there.
Food tip:
There is often a wait for this popular Gaslamp Quarter restaurant during peak times. Security checks IDs after midnight, as the restaurant has a full bar.
Brian’s 24 Details
The casual diner is ADA accessible. Parking is limited to street parking, and there is bike parking out front. They don’t take reservations, and are open 24 hours making it an easy choice any time of day or night. Kids are always welcome. The restaurant has a TV, and offers patrons free Wi-Fi.
Brian’s 24 Neighborhood
The historic Gaslamp Quarter is a popular San Diego hub for dining, entertainment, and boutique hotels. Brian’s 24 Bar & Grill is among approximately 90 neighborhood restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining, although few are open 24 hours. A right out the door and another right at the end of the block on F Street takes you to Westfield Horton Plaza, a significant outdoor mall that is home to department stores, chain retailers, boutiques, bistros, entertainment venues, a movie theater, and a grocery store.
If you’re in town during baseball season, Petco Park is five blocks down 6th Avenue to K Street where a left will land you a block from the stadium. You can also catch the action from “Park at the Park” between J and K Streets for an old time baseball experience. Level 9 Rooftop Bar & Lounge atop Hotel Indigo in East Village overlooks the field, if your interest leans toward epic views over baseball.
The Gaslamp Quarter offers several venues to enjoy the arts during your stay – comedy shows, musical and theatre performances, orchestral events, and several museums. Take in performances at Copley Symphony Hall, Spreckels Theatre, Fourth and B, House of Blues, or the Civic Center Theatre, among others. Peruse 54 eclectic shops and 13 eateries nestled on the charming 14-acre Seaport Village, within a few blocks of the San Diego Convention Center. It is a great option for finding San Diego gifts and souvenirs.
Brian’s 24 Bar & Grill is located at the Ramada Gaslamp, also known as the Ramada St. James, which makes it a logical choice for accommodations. The Victorian era hotel, built in 1913, was the first high-rise luxury hotel in San Diego; today it offers the modern amenities you love, and keeps its historical charm. The US Grant Hotel at 4th and Broadway is the grande dame of downtown historic hotels. Other neighborhood choices for accommodations are the Horton Grand Hotel, Sophia Hotel, The Keating, Andaz, and Hotel Solamar.