The Pennant: Mission Beach's 1962 Bar and the Deck That Made It

Overview

The Pennant opened in 1962 and has been at 2893 Mission Boulevard ever since — their own words are that it was one of the first businesses in Mission Beach, and the math backs them up. It arrived a year after the Beachcomber went in across Gabriel Place, down near the south end of the isthmus, back when the clientele was locals, tourists and sailors and the beer list was Schlitz, Olympia and Pabst.

The rooftop deck came in 1980, and that's the thing. Sixty-four years into its run, what the Pennant has that newer places on this street don't is a second story with open air on it and nothing in the way.

Here's the one thing to understand before you go, because it changes how you use the place: the bar and the kitchen keep different hours.

The food is run by Teo's Kitchen, operating inside the bar, and it works on a fixed schedule: lunch and dinner every day, 1 to 8 p.m., and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday only, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bar keeps going after the kitchen stops. So if you're coming for an evening on the deck and you want to eat, get your order in before eight — after that it's a bar, full stop.

The other thing worth knowing is the prices. A California burger is $11.95. A bacon-wrapped hot dog is $7.50. A tuna melt is $10. That's a block from the Pacific, in 2026, and it's the clearest evidence that the Pennant is still running as a neighborhood bar rather than a beachfront concept.

What to Order at The Pennant

Lunch and dinner, every day 1–8 p.m.:

• California Burger ($11.95). Bacon, fresh guacamole, tomato, onion, lettuce, served with fries. The order, and the price that makes the point.
• Grilled Mahi-Mahi ($13). Blackened, on toasted sourdough, with fries or salad. The best thing on the menu if you want to eat like you're at the beach.
• Tuna Melt ($10). On sourdough parmesan bread with American cheese. A properly old-fashioned bar sandwich.
• BLTA ($10.95) — bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, with fries.
• Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dog ($7.50). Comes with fries. The cheapest full plate on this stretch of Mission Boulevard.
• Peach Habanero Wings ($12). Bone-in, glazed in their own hot peach habanero sauce. The one dish here that isn't a classic.
• Shrimp and Ceviche ($11) with tortilla chips, or Nachos ($7) if you just want something on the table.
• Chicken Quesadilla ($9.95) with grilled onions, peppers and pico.
• If you want it lighter: Mahi-Mahi Salad ($13) with chilled romaine, parmesan, avocado and tomato, Grilled Chicken and Goat Cheese Salad ($13) with caramelized walnuts in balsamic, or the Stuffed Avocado Salad ($11.95).

Breakfast, Saturday and Sunday only, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.:

• Breakfast Sandwich ($7). Eggs, American cheese, and your choice of chorizo, ham or bacon. Seven dollars.
• Special Burrito ($8.50). Eggs, jalapeños, onions, American cheese, hash browns and your protein.
• All American Breakfast ($10). Two eggs, hash browns, bacon, ham or chorizo, toast.
• Corned Beef and Hash ($10) or Brioche French Toast ($10) with bananas, strawberries and maple syrup.
• Veggie Scramble ($8) with bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and cheese.

How to Visit The Pennant in Mission Beach

• Address: 2893 Mission Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92109 — east side of Mission Blvd, in South Mission Beach
• Phone: (858) 488-1671
• Kitchen hours: Lunch and dinner daily 1–8 p.m. · Breakfast Saturday and Sunday only, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Bar hours: Not published on their site. The bar runs past the kitchen's 8 p.m. close — call to confirm how late.
• It's a bar. Expect to be 21+ with ID.
• Go upstairs. The rooftop deck is the entire reason this place beats the newer competition, and it has been there since 1980. Sitting inside is a wasted trip.
• Eat before 8 or don't plan on eating. This is the single most useful thing in this article.
• Weekend mornings are underrated. Breakfast only runs Saturday and Sunday, 9 to 3, and a $7 breakfast sandwich on a rooftop deck is a better start to a beach day than almost anything else in the neighborhood.
• It's right next to everything. Belmont Park and the boardwalk are a short walk, and Sara's Mexican Food is essentially next door at 2907 Mission Blvd if the Pennant's kitchen has closed.
• Private events: They host them, and there's a contact form on their site.

The Takeaway

Go up to the deck on a Saturday morning, order a seven-dollar breakfast sandwich, and stay until the kitchen closes.

What makes the Pennant worth writing about is that it hasn't been renovated into something else. A bar that opened in 1962 on a beachfront block in San Diego has had sixty-four years of chances to become a concept — to put in a DJ booth, to reprice the burger at nineteen dollars, to rename itself something with "coastal" in it. Instead it added a deck in 1980 and has mostly left things alone since. The menu is short, the prices are from a different decade, and the view is the same one people have been drinking in front of since the Schlitz years.

For more San Diego spots worth knowing, browse our Local Picks — and if you're weighing the beach neighborhoods, Mission Beach vs. Pacific Beach breaks them down. Our Mission Beach neighborhood guide covers living here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is The Pennant in Mission Beach? At 2893 Mission Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92109, on the east side of Mission Blvd in South Mission Beach. The phone number is (858) 488-1671.

How old is The Pennant? It opened in 1962 and describes itself as one of the first businesses in Mission Beach. The rooftop deck was added in 1980.

What are The Pennant's kitchen hours? Lunch and dinner are served every day from 1 to 8 p.m. Breakfast runs Saturday and Sunday only, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bar stays open later than the kitchen.

Who makes the food at The Pennant? Teo's Kitchen, which operates inside the bar.

Does The Pennant have a rooftop deck? Yes, added in 1980, and it's the main reason to go.

What should I order at The Pennant? The California burger ($11.95) or the grilled mahi-mahi sandwich ($13). On a weekend morning, the $7 breakfast sandwich.

Is The Pennant 21+? It's a bar, so plan on bringing ID.

Can I host an event at The Pennant? Yes — they take private event bookings through their website.