Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty StationStone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station
Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty StationStone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station
Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

2816 Historic Decatur Rd
Ste 116
San Diego, California, 92106-6164
United States

(619) 269-2100 | map
stonelibertystation.com

Beers are listed under main entry Stone Brewing:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/147/
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.51
Reviews:
53
Ratings:
196
pDev:
7.54%
View: Place Reviews
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Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev -8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Really cool layout in historic Liberty Station. Plenty of seating available. One long table has a plexiglass cover in the middle of the table with a stone stream underneath, leading to a water rock garden. The bar isn't the largest, but there's enough room.

In addition to a variety of Stone taps, they feature a handful of guest taps, which is nice. Some classics make the cut, along with some of the more modern beers they've been pushing as of late, and a much smaller of rarer (not rare) taps like Enjoy By and BA IRS.

Menu is fairly small, and most sections have annoyingly silly and alliterative names that seem more in line with a TGI Fridays - or Office Space's Chotchkie's (Brazen Burgers? Tempting Tacos? Come on ... ). However, there's a little something for just about anyone.

Definitely worth a visit.
Mar 08, 2024
Photo of DoubleJ
Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin

4.16/5  rDev -7.8%
vibe: 2.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.25
Much can change over the course of nearly 17 years; I have matured a great deal as a beer drinker since my first visit to the original Stone Brewing World Bistro in Escondido back in 2007. Reading my original review of the place here on BeerAdvocate takes me to a different lifetime. As it turns out, breweries can change over time as well. Stone has changed considerably over that time for the beers which they brew, but I won't discuss those changes here. Let's focus on the task at hand; Stone World Bistro at Liberty Station.

I don't like the layout here; the bar is isolated in a separate room from the rest of the dining room. The stone theme on the walls feels half-assed compared to the Escondido location. However there was just enough natural light coming through those large windows to keep it from feeling like a dungeon. Not a large rush of people dining during lunch, although in the bar area I witnessed more activity.

The beer selection is impressive with variety, nearly all of it Stone beer, and not all of it was the same-y high hopped ales I grew up with. Some of the selection was even brewed on site at Liberty Station. I ordered a delicious Hop C2C, a taste which reminded me of their strength (big hoppy beers). Pint Knight was a pleasant small stout to drink. The staff was giving away tasters of a peppermint stout they brewed. My 10 ounce pours looked healthy and were poured into tulip glasses. I will continue to love seeing elegant glassware carrying the beer.

I chose tomato bisque and grilled cheese for my entree; a splendid way to nourish myself which I wished came in a bigger portion. Luckily, I was happy to see the legendary Arrogant Bastard onion rings available, and you bet I got some to fill me up some more, and.....I'm just kidding, those haven't existed in well over a decade.

Great beer place; good food stop, place setup I'm not a big fan of.
Jan 31, 2024
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev -13.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.75
Very cool taproom. Came right when it opened about 10 years ago. Beautiful indoor seating. A little loud. Bar is average. Beautiful garden and dining area outside. Classic Stone Beer selection.
Nov 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.68 by macshark from Virginia

Oct 07, 2023
Photo of snaotheus
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

3.83/5  rDev -15.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4
Visited for dinner on a Thursday night with my wife. It strikes me more as a restaurant with Stone beer than a actual brewery.

Service was friendly (combination of order on your phone or talk to your server), they had some opinions about the beer, service was quick. Big, interesting space, kind of dark and loud on the inside (didn't visit their outdoor seating, but it existed).

Pretty good selection of beer available, but nothing really shocking.

Food was good, but not great. Overall, certainly a worthwhile stop, but not a destination in my mind.
May 21, 2023
Photo of Darren53
Rated by Darren53 from Connecticut

4.48/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Very impressive
Mar 03, 2022
Photo of highdesertdrinker
Reviewed by highdesertdrinker from Arizona

4.45/5  rDev -1.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I came here a few times to play 9 holes in 2011 and 2012 while the construction was going on but didn't imagine this was going to be the new Stone gastropub. A huge complex, almost catacomb like, and they were very busy when we first got there. They sat us back in the tables on the other side of the bar so we wouldn't have to wait. The bar was busy but a little quiet where my daughter and I were but that was OK after a long drive in from Arizona. We both ordered brisket flatbreads which were very good and I had two Blind Pigs on tap as I hadn't tried any Russian River IPA's other than Pliny to date. The unisex wash rooms were trippy where you could see the opposite sex on the other side, especially after the aforementioned two beers, and the gift shop was right their next to the bar and bathrooms and I was able to buy a couple of nice tulips to take back home with me. The area also has the wonderful indoor/outdoor Liberty Public Market where we returned for lunch the next day, and it's pretty easy getting a Lyft into the area from any of the locations close to downtown and Mission Bay though I think my baby girl is also good at setting those rides up and having a female with you seems to put the drivers at ease. Two thumbs way up for beer lovers and even non beer lovers, and they have wine on tap as well. Cheers!
Dec 21, 2021
 
Rated: 4.35 by craigbelly from Iowa

Jun 13, 2021
Photo of Timcrowley77
Rated by Timcrowley77

4.94/5  rDev +9.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 5
This is my absolute favorite. The garden seating is awesome, but the inside is unique too.
Apr 30, 2020
Photo of jjboesen
Reviewed by jjboesen from Maryland

4.41/5  rDev -2.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
Welcome to the Disney World of beer! Located in Point Loma (on the other side of the harbor), Stone Brewing World Bistro is part of the Liberty Station retail complex. It was once a naval base; now, it is a destination all in itself (even without the illustrious Stone presence). Upon entry, you have a decision to make, since this venue is a massive sprawl. Do I sit outside on the patio and enjoy the beautiful San Diego sun? Do I grab a table in the immense dining area? I chose to make my way into the rustic indoor bar area. At the tie of my (lunchtime) visit, they had about 18 Stone crafts on tap. You can never go wrong with Stone. The menu is very eclectic and goes above and beyond the pub grub scene. I tried a hearty dish of yakisoba, a Japanese version of stir fry. Delicious!

The bathrooms are unique in that they have a unisex wash basin area. (Good to know in advance and avoid a surprise.) Across from the bathrooms is the store. where you can purchase a wide variety of Stone swag or fill a growler.

BTW: There are several other Stone Tap rooms throughout the immediate San Diego area - including one at the airport.
Mar 20, 2020
 
Rated: 4.28 by REVZEB from Illinois

Feb 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.61 by Blcookies from Nevada

Oct 06, 2019
 
Rated: 4.1 by Jaszucs from Indiana

Sep 26, 2019
 
Rated: 4.28 by qcghost from North Carolina

Jun 21, 2019
 
Rated: 4.59 by clager from Michigan

Apr 23, 2019
Photo of NCSapiens
Reviewed by NCSapiens from Indiana

4.84/5  rDev +7.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5
For my money one of the best beer places I’ve ever been. Very nice, upscale atmosphere in a great location near shops and restaurants. The weather is perfect, the aroma of hops and barley permeates, tons of taps with limited, reserve, and specialty offerings. Great quality of beers. Every beer was incredibly fresh- I’m not sure how that’s possible with 40 or so taps. An afternoon here is my idea of paradise on vacation.
Apr 11, 2019
Photo of slee196
Reviewed by slee196 from Illinois

4.74/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 5 | food: 4.25
LOVE this place so much. So worth the travel for a revisit. At the entrance, there's a small gift shop followed by the bar area with thousands of tap handles. I went there solo, had an impossible burger and a flight + two more drafts. Really, really enjoyed everything I ordered. I'm slightly picky with my beer and I'm pretty sure I had the best brew ever here. One of the best taprooms in the world (not an exaggeration).
Mar 28, 2019
Photo of JackDempsy
Reviewed by JackDempsy from Arizona

4.74/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4
This is a destination brewery, thus, there are a lot of tourists in the building, so it takes the vibe down a bit. With that said, the food and service were better than expected for a tourist destination (typically these type of places are designed for the masses). The service was great, the selection was the best I have ever seen and quality of beer was so far above what you get in the bottle - Stone IPA draft is probably the best.
Feb 11, 2019
 
Rated: 4.19 by morebeergood from Massachusetts

Oct 13, 2018
Photo of damndirtyape
Reviewed by damndirtyape from Ohio

4.39/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
Visited on a Wednesday evening around 6PM. Plenty of seating initially, but then filled up quickly

Vibe: I ate outside in the courtyard. Sunny and cool San Diego outside for a beer and dinner - what's not to love? Just enough rough around the edges, but not skimping for comfort and quality is what I can say about the vibe. If I had more time maybe I would have strolled through the grounds and seen what else the place had to offer - but otherwise I'll say classy but laid back and a good place to relax with a beer.

Quality: No complaints here across the board - good food, good beer selection (on tap and bottles - all sorts of rare stuff in bottles if you had the money).

Service: I got seen quickly both for a table and once I got to the table. Not amazing service, but attentive just enough without being pushy.

Selection: Lots available for hopheads as you would expect from Stone, with some other choice styles as well on tap. The real selection which you have to ask for is the bottle menu. I wanted on draft, but I looked at the bottle menu while I was having my dinner and there were some unique choices I would not have minded buying and taking home (if I wasn't on travel).

Food: Very good - a bit on the high end price wise, but very good food for the portion size I got. Just right cooked salmon and really tasty sides as well. Good dessert also.

Definitely a place to come back to. I'll have to come in the afternoon and stroll the place a bit rather than just tell the server I'm just there for dinner.
Jun 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.2 by TheBhutanYeti from Oregon

Jun 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.64 by deereless from Colorado

May 31, 2018
Photo of BeanBump
Reviewed by BeanBump from California

4.19/5  rDev -7.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25
This is my preferred Stone to visit. Although it can get crowded like the main location in Escondido, this one seems to be less crowded and is a little better spread out. Top notch service, tasty (albeit pricey) food and Ive actually had far better luck finding hidden gems on the beer menu here than their home base but maybe thats just my tastes. The y offer both indoor and outdoor seating options and being that its SD, there's a plethora of outdoor, night time events in the warmer months.
May 30, 2018
 
Rated: 4.2 by cryptichead from Illinois

May 19, 2018
Photo of Oconomowocian
Reviewed by Oconomowocian from Wisconsin

4.31/5  rDev -4.4%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
As far as taprooms go this is one of the best that I have been to anywhere. Their outdoor area is killer. Good selection of beers and helpful service. Kind of tough to find its kind of tucked away in an a commercial area, uber guy had to go around the block a few times. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
Apr 27, 2018
 
Rated: 4.31 by spointon from Illinois

Apr 16, 2018
 
Rated: 4.36 by DVMin98 from North Carolina

Mar 11, 2018
Photo of chrisjws
Reviewed by chrisjws from California

4.6/5  rDev +2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75
Great food, good beer and some great variety. If you're looking for hazy IPAs keep going, that's not their thing. Food is high quality and delicious. The bartenders are very helpful.
Mar 10, 2018
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.25
This is a huge place - multiple big rooms with tables for dining, the large bar room with rectangular bar, and then the outdoor garden seating. It was fairly quiet at lunch time. 40 beers on tap - mix of beers brewed at this location, at the main brewery, and then some guest taps as well. Also wine. Food is upscale casual food - including some vegetarian options. I had the chickenfried pork sandwhich which came with an arugula salad. good stuff.
Feb 27, 2018
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
We had the chance to visit in February of 2018 on a trip to San Diego. The experience was entirely worth it. It's a sprawling complex in the Liberty Station area with indoor/outdoor bar and seating. Pretty crowded when we got there but manageable. The beer selection is stellar (30-40 taps plus more bottled), and a mix of Stone, Stone's 'Liberty Station' exclusives, and a few local micros and like a kid in a candy store I didn't do more than a 5 ounce pour of any of the offerings. The food menu is small but the food's of great quality... tasty and interesting. The vibe is busy... and a lot to take in, and I'm sure there's a depth to the place that you can't get with a single visit. Service was decent... beer was great... food was tasty. A beer Mecca for a reason. Will go back again at the earliest opportunity.
Feb 20, 2018
 
Rated: 3.89 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Jan 18, 2018
Photo of WillieThreebiers
Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

4.21/5  rDev -6.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
Huge sprawling southwestern styled facility. Indoor outdoor bar and seating... pleasantly landscaped courtyard... A facility appropriate for a craft beer Mecca. 30 to 40 beers on tap, depending on where you've sat. Friendly efficient service. Unfortunately in the flight path... but great place to hang out.
Jan 02, 2018
 
Rated: 4.2 by Nrod from Argentina

Nov 29, 2017
 
Rated: 5 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Aug 15, 2017
Photo of BrusselsBeerBox
Reviewed by BrusselsBeerBox from Belgium

4.53/5  rDev +0.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 5
Stone Brewing olrd Bistro and Grdens is simply huge
A great place to enjoy both delicious food and Stone beers
Probably not the best place to meet people but I've seen (including myself) several people on their own at the bar
Mar 25, 2017
Photo of WickedBeer
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama

4.69/5  rDev +4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
We had a fantastic time at Liberty Station! Great selection of both exclusive Liberty Station beers and Stone brewing beer, and all enjoyed at a beautiful outdoor patio section. Food was great, service was attentive, and I'd definitely recommend stopping by whether you're a craft beer fanatic or not! Liberty Station also has an amazing selection of wines and soda both made on site if beer isn't your preference!
Mar 03, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by DreDay from California

Feb 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.28 by Red5StandingBy from Maryland

Feb 05, 2017
Photo of neil2me
Reviewed by neil2me from Connecticut

4.81/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.75
This place was tremendous. In town from the East Coast with family and my niece decided to go to Stone Liberty Station and it was wonderful. We went during the day on a Tuesday so it was not crowded at all, but the service was outstanding and the beer and food were both really, really good. Highly recommend this place for anyone.
Jan 23, 2017
 
Rated: 4.29 by Avatar113 from California

Sep 10, 2016
Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station in San Diego, CA
Place rating: 4.51 out of 5 with 196 ratings