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SHELTER is an Open-Air Dining Experience with a full service cocktail lounge, bar and restaurant in the heart of Downtown Encinitas. SHELTER features a unique and eclectic style with a retractable ceiling that allows the air to flow freely and the moon and stars to illuminate the ultra-comfortable elevated and comfy booths. There is also an open-air patio area featuring a large fire pit. SHELTER offers a wide array of menu items and specialty cocktails with everything from Mules in copper mugs to VIP Bottle Service in a private booth. To accentuate the experience, we have installed a state of the art audio and video system to feature our select DJ’s and performers.
Trendy hangout offering craft cocktails, live DJs, a patio with a fire pit & a retractable roof.
Hours
| Friday | 8 PM–2 AM |
| Saturday | 8 PM–2 AM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 8 PM–2 AM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 540 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Website: https://shelterencinitas.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: shelterencinitas.com
Photo Gallery
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Shelter: Bottle Service and Craft Cocktails
SHELTER is an Open-Air Dining Experience with a full service cocktail lounge and bar in the heart of Downtown Encinitas.
Bar | Lounge – About Shelter Encinitas
SHELTER is a full service cocktail lounge and bar in the heart of Downtown Encinitas featuring a unique and eclectic style.
SHELTER – Encinitas, CA | OpenTable
Open- air cocktail lounge and nightclub in the heart of downtown Encinitas. DJ’s nightly curating sexy house vibes. Reservations for bottle service are highly …
Reviews
Grace Kalinowski
Manager Don’s Behavior Was Completely Unacceptable –
My friends and I tried to go to Shelter last night and were denied entry because one of us had a service dog, which is illegal under the ADA. When we calmly explained that the dog was a trained service animal, the manager, Don, became defensive instead of correcting the mistake.
Then things got even stranger. Don looked at our friend (who is Black and has never been kicked out of a bar in his life) and randomly claimed he’d kicked him out “four times.” He started laughing and speaking in an extremely demeaning immature way. When we pushed back and asked why he would say that, Don immediately got confrontational.
When I questioned him on it, Don suddenly started yelling “white privilege! white privilege!” at me–completely out of nowhere because I defended my boyfriend . Nobody brought up race except Don. The comment didn’t make sense, didn’t relate to the situation, and felt aggressive and out of line. At that point it honestly seemed like he might’ve been intoxicated or unstable. Nothing else could explain his embarrassing behavior especially because he had just come back from drinking at Sago while on the clock.
Overall, it was one of the most unprofessional experiences I’ve ever had at a bar. I hope ownership looks at the cameras and addresses Don’s behavior.
To summarize, the situation involved:
* A clear ADA violation (denying entry due to a service animal)
* Dishonest statements about our friend being kicked out previously
* Racially charged comments that Don himself initiated
… moreMy friends and I tried to go to Shelter last night and were denied entry because one of us had a service dog, which is illegal under the ADA. When we calmly explained that the dog was a trained service animal, the manager, Don, became defensive instead of correcting the mistake.
Then things got even stranger. Don looked at our friend (who is Black and has never been kicked out of a bar in his life) and randomly claimed he’d kicked him out “four times.” He started laughing and speaking in an extremely demeaning immature way. When we pushed back and asked why he would say that, Don immediately got confrontational.
When I questioned him on it, Don suddenly started yelling “white privilege! white privilege!” at me–completely out of nowhere because I defended my boyfriend . Nobody brought up race except Don. The comment didn’t make sense, didn’t relate to the situation, and felt aggressive and out of line. At that point it honestly seemed like he might’ve been intoxicated or unstable. Nothing else could explain his embarrassing behavior especially because he had just come back from drinking at Sago while on the clock.
Overall, it was one of the most unprofessional experiences I’ve ever had at a bar. I hope ownership looks at the cameras and addresses Don’s behavior.
To summarize, the situation involved:
* A clear ADA violation (denying entry due to a service animal)
* Dishonest statements about our friend being kicked out previously
* Racially charged comments that Don himself initiated
Regen Elkins
Very in crowd has great layout can host many age groups all enjoying the different areas and gaining popularity so fun for all adults def check out a weekday first you’ll have plenty of people to socialize and good drinks
… moreSusanna Lowe
Traveled to San Diego for the first to visit my friends from across the country and was in the bar for 2+ hours not doing anything (completely sober) and was standing on the back patio next to my friend and a manager walked up to me to check my ID and said it was fake and took it to the GM who checked it and said it was fake when it is my government ID and only way to get back onto a plane. I proceeded to show my setting personal info with my birthday and name along with my birth certificate, credit card matching, and a photo of my passport. They then tried to take my ID and kick me out and I finally got it back and they kicked me out into the back alley as a 21 year old girl completely alone behind the bar until my friends found me. They were so rude and need to do better about checking IDs because multiple people there were underage with fake IDs and clearly they can’t check an ID. Worst experience ever 0/10 and a miserable night for me being my first time in the city in general. Do better
… moreSam Nejad
Shelter Bar is Back and Better Than Ever! Huge shoutout to Don Angelo for completely turning this place around, his leadership brought the soul back to Shelter. The entire staff is hands-down the best crew you could ask for. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely fun to be around. The energy here is unmatched. Good people, great music, and an immaculate vibe from the moment you walk in. Whether it’s a chill night or a full send, Shelter is the go to bar in Encinitas.
… moreSydney Eikel
The rudest management any bar/restaurant I have ever been to. Bouncers also cannot do their jobs. If you’re of age, be prepared to be turned away. If all of the bouncers & management at SHELTER can’t recognize real IDs from fake IDs, get anothet job. Or get this place an ID scanner. Ridiculous. First time in California, would never return here.
… moreDylan Kriegman
I was dancing hanging out with my friend and some random agressive dude who had nothing to do with anything at all (maybe it was a bouncer it was unclear at the time given lack of uniforms) and his affiliates grabbed him (by the neck) and myself and attacked us pushing us outside. I am very confused as to why. Maybe I was mistakenly affilated with another situation. Perhaps because i’m about 5’ 8” and my friend is 5’ 6”, we looked easy to pick on. Although we paid 20+ dollars for drinks and tipped, the bouncers (who we didn’t realize were the instigators at the time) and the police in Encinitas were no help at all
. Dom, one of SHELTER Encinitas’ bouncers blamed my friend (I think inappropriately) for the situation claiming he was “Drunk” and therefore it was his fault for being assaulted?Dom works at a bar which sells alcohol to increases people’s BAC leading to drunkeness and my friend didn’t even exhibit any innapropriate behaviors so I don’t this characterization was fair and maybe was just a means to “shelter” him from responsibility. Dom was confused when I asked him as to why I was grabbed and pushed out of the bar. I would recommend avoiding SHELTER Encinitas at all costs. This occured Friday April 19, 2025, 1 – 2 am PST. I’ve never had an experience like this in my life. It’s an unbelievable scenario from my perspective as I expect better from humanity. I am writing this after the fact and we are extremely disappointed/frustrated with the situation. I am hoping for at the minimum, an apology from SHELTER Encinitas as would be expected from a business whose customers are being physically assaulted without reason.
… more. Dom, one of SHELTER Encinitas’ bouncers blamed my friend (I think inappropriately) for the situation claiming he was “Drunk” and therefore it was his fault for being assaulted?Dom works at a bar which sells alcohol to increases people’s BAC leading to drunkeness and my friend didn’t even exhibit any innapropriate behaviors so I don’t this characterization was fair and maybe was just a means to “shelter” him from responsibility. Dom was confused when I asked him as to why I was grabbed and pushed out of the bar. I would recommend avoiding SHELTER Encinitas at all costs. This occured Friday April 19, 2025, 1 – 2 am PST. I’ve never had an experience like this in my life. It’s an unbelievable scenario from my perspective as I expect better from humanity. I am writing this after the fact and we are extremely disappointed/frustrated with the situation. I am hoping for at the minimum, an apology from SHELTER Encinitas as would be expected from a business whose customers are being physically assaulted without reason.
Jaci Huckaby
I normally do not write reviews but I just moved here and had a friend visiting for a few days! We decided to go out and started with shelter, which quickly turned into a nightmare, the bouncers took both mine AND my friends ID, refused to give them back and proceeded to interrogate my roommate over her ID as well. We had to call the cops to get them back, the worst experience I have ever had at any business. If you read prior reviews it sounds like this bar is notorious for being awful and taking people’s things, honestly it’s just so frustrating that I had to waste the cops time because these bouncers do not know what they are doing and all claim that they are the manager!
… moreBen Mack
I’ve been getting tables her for a few years now. The music is great bc the DJs are there to put on a show (especially fun when they have the lasers)!
I’ve worked closely with Don, Ali, Ashley, Matt and others. They have always gone the extra mile to ensure my table has a great experience and gets the table we want with the bottles we want. Planning ahead or last minute fun, they’ve accommodated me and the people I’ve brought right away! And no waiting in the long line to get in Have fun there!
… moreI’ve worked closely with Don, Ali, Ashley, Matt and others. They have always gone the extra mile to ensure my table has a great experience and gets the table we want with the bottles we want. Planning ahead or last minute fun, they’ve accommodated me and the people I’ve brought right away! And no waiting in the long line to get in Have fun there!
Jessica Jade
Very rude door man security. Unprofessional behavior i asked if I could order a orange juice. And they said no get oj at a gas station. Very rude attitude. This was at 8:15pm.
… moreJourdyn Aiken
The bouncers attacked innocent patrons who were not a part of a fight and then allowed random other guy jump them. Meanwhile they didn’t even stop the correct guys who started the whole thing. Shortly after they jumped on another patron who they apparently thought was causing trouble. Unfortunately, after looking at other reviews it does not seem like this is an isolated incident for the bouncers that work there.Clearly these men need education on the correct way to deescalate situations instead of adding to the violence.
… more