From soaking up sun-kissed beaches to donning superhero capes for Comic-Con International, summertime activities in San Diego draw visitors from throughout Canada and around the world. Yet the summer season shines just as brightly after dark thanks to a burgeoning nightlife scene that is quickly making the city one of the hottest nightlife destinations on America’s West Coast.

The following are seven reasons why summer in San Diego gets even hotter after the sun sets.

• Downtown is the place to raise the roof: With numerous rooftop bars, taking advantage of warm summer temps (averaging 24°C) and views of the downtown skyline, Petco Park, San Diego Bay and the Coronado Bridge are as much a part of the nightlife experience as a perfectly crafted cocktail. A few notable standouts include The Nolen, Altitude Sky Lounge and RoofTop600.
• Toast the town without breaking the bank: Canadian visitors can make their loonie go further thanks to San Diego bar specials: $4 pints on Fridays until 4 p.m. at Blind Lady Ale House and Tiger! Tiger!; ½ off drinks and appetizers Monday-Friday, 3-7 p.m. at Tin Roof; $6 beer and a shot during happy hour, Monday-Friday at The Hideout, and ½ off beer pitchers on Mondays at The Haven.
• Big name DJs spin here: With the biggest names in electronic music making regular tour stops in San Diego, the clubs of downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter and East Village neighborhoods are some of the city’s most popular nighttime attractions. Recently, DJ superstars Skrillex, Steve Aoki, Tiësto and more have played San Diego’s club circuit.
• Ke$ha headlines Pride 2016: San Diego’s annual LGBT Pride celebration is the second largest on the U.S. West Coast, including a parade on the morning of July 16, but things will really heat up when daylight fades and Kesha takes the stage as the headlining performer at the Annual LGBT Pride Music Festival in Balboa Park.
• Nightlife takes all forms in San Diego: The hidden speakeasy Noble Experiment is known as much for its gilded décor and wall of golden skulls as it is for its top notch cocktail program. Partygoers can also head underground to an Alice in Wonderland-themed club experience at Vin de Syrah, dance with a robot at Parq Restaurant and Nightclub or say aloha to the fab new False Idol tiki bar (opening Aug. 2016).
• Rock ‘n’ roll at a ship shape venue: A relative newcomer on San Diego’s nightlife scene, QUARTYARD transformed a dirt lot and a few shipping containers into one of the city’s hottest nightlife spots. The East Village venue features a craft beer and cocktail bar as well as regular live music on an intimate, outdoor stage. Past performers have included artists like Gorgon City, Bonobo and more.
• Night(life) at the Museum: After dark, San Diego museums become some of the hottest nightlife venues in town. Every third Thursday, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego presents “Downtown at Sundown,” a night of visual and performing arts mixed with music, drink specials and more. In Balboa Park, several museums offer extended admission hours for “Park After Dark” during the summer months, and the San Diego Museum of Art’s “Culture & Cocktails” after-hours art event series is one of the hottest tickets for trendy locals.

For an insider’s look at San Diego’s nightlife, join DJs Schoeny and Ayla Simone for a video tour of their favorite spots. Happiness is calling in downtown San Diego. For information on San Diego’s nightlife offerings and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website.