Downtown Johnny Brown's (Permanently Closed)
1220 Third Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Claiming to be the first craft-beer bar in town (and the first to carry Arrogant Bastard), this hidden Civic Center pub has a lot to live up to. The lovechild of a sports bar and an Irish dive, Johnny Brown’s walls are spackled with old license plates, football photos, and flatscreens streaming sports to a mixed salad of professionals, Civic Theatre crowds, sports fans, and tap hounds. Living up to the legend, the bar’s 17 rotating taps host pilsners, wheats, IPAs, and other microbrews, which go for $3 as the featured Pint of the Day. Try the spicy grilled breast of chicken burger with soup of the day or fries. Soup’s bobbing with fresh-cut vegetables. Also salads: taco or Southwest chicken. Inexpensive.