Gaslamp restaurants create Comic Con-coction cocktails for cosplayers

It’s that time of year again when San Diego Comic-Con transforms the Gaslamp Quarter into the center of the pop culture universe from Thursday, July 25 through Sunday, July 28. Here is a guide to some of downtown’s top drinking and dining destinations for the hungry hordes looking for a break from Comic-Con after a long day of cosplaying, collectible collecting, or scooping up the latest hype from Hall H.

Centrally located at Pendry San Diego in the center of the Comic-Con orbit, the celebrity-friendly culinary destination, Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine, will feature a drink menu of specialty Comic Con-coctions, each priced at $18. They include the Regeneration Refresher, a twist on the Dirty Shirley made with Grey Goose Vodka, grenadine, and Sprite (fun fact: groundbreaking BBC vision mixer Shirley Coward created the first regeneration effect in “Doctor Who”); the Cowabunga Cooler, a green TMNT-inspired cocktail featuring Sipsmith Gin, Midori, cucumber, honeydew, lemon, and simple syrup; the Joker’s Jive, a villainous espresso martini crafted with Belvedere Vodka, espresso, St. George Espresso Liqueur, Baileys Irish Cream and simple syrup; and the Elven Elixir, an energizing mixture of St-Germain Elderflower liqueur, rosé wine, and Fever-Tree pink grapefruit soda.

The award-winning Lionfish features fresh-catch cooking and seasonal ingredients, all prepared with innovative twists by executive chef and James Beard Smart Catch leader JoJo Ruiz. Located at 435 Fifth Ave., Lionfish is mere blocks away from the Convention Center and offers an exquisite dining experience after a long day of Comic-Con adventures. More information can be found at LionfishSD.com.

Sequestered discreetly behind a clandestine entrance amid Gaslamp’s “Gotham” Quarter, the secret hideaway Prohibition is where you’ll find the Penguin-inspired Gentleman of Crime, a nefarious yet sophisticated cocktail blend of whiskey, lemon and ube, priced at $18. The Penguin’s League of Extraordinary libations also offers a collection of special edition cocktails all priced at $18, including the handcrafted Hanzo Sword, forged with Umiki Japanese Whisky, Yellow Chartreuse, Cointreau, and lemon; the Sisyphus, a mythical mixture of Castle and Key Gin, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, lime, lemongrass and cucumber; the portentous All My Heroes are Dead, made with Old Forester Bourbon, Lo-Fi Hibiscus Amaro, lemon, hibiscus and R&C Citrus Bitters; and more. Comic-Con attendees and henchmen wanna-be’s can find the lowkey cocktail lair’s secret entrance behind the Fifth Avenue door inconspicuously marked as “Law Office – Eddie O’Hare, ESQ.” More information can be found at ProhibitionSD.com.

For those seeking a more rambunctious vibe for a night of roguish Comic-Con revelry, El Chingon is a “badass” Mexican cantina filled with vibrant decor and dynamic main character energy. Located at 560 Fifth Ave., El Chingon will offer a Joker-inspired cocktail priced at $13, Madness Like Gravity, featuring tequila, lime, melon liqueur, agave, and Tajín that’s sure to put a smile on any face…no joke. The restaurant also features a regular rogues gallery of wanted cocktails including the Pancho Villa, made with El Jimador tequila, lime, salt, and a choice of Jarritos (grapefruit, pineapple, tamarindo, or mandarin), priced at $13; the Bad Hombre with choice of tequila or mezcal, orange curacao, lime juice, ginger beer and Tropical Red Bull, priced at $14; margarita flights for $18; and more. More information can be found at ElChingon.com.

Located at 548 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter’s Cuban escape, Havana 1920, will pay homage to Batman’s sinister super-foe, Bane, with a cocktail as dark and treacherous as the archvillain’s tortuous origin story in a Caribbean prison. The restaurant’s Bane-inspired Comic-Con cocktail, I Broke The Bat, looks as sinister as a moonless Havana night and is built with coconut rum, lime, Demerara, and activated charcoal, priced at $15. Havana features authentic Cuban cuisine, lively music, and a vibrant bar scene boasting an assemblage of rum and colorful cocktails ideal for a break from the madness of Con. More information can be found at www.Havana1920.com.

As the sun sets over the Convention Center, Gaslamp Quarter’s premier nightlife destination, Oxford Social Club, will shine a spotlight on the iconic artwork of Comic-Con. On Friday, July 26 from 7-10 p.m., the swanky boutique club will host a Comic-Con art showcase featuring legendary artist Ryan Benjamin and many other top comic book artists. Beginning at 10 p.m., guests can enjoy a dark night of entertainment, drinks, and dancing to the high-energy sounds of DJ Shift. Located at Pendry San Diego, the celebrated San Diego nightclub will be at the center of the nightly after-Con party scene throughout the weekend, filling the downtown district with electrifying energy, unmatched entertainment, and exquisite hospitality. More information can be found at TheOxfordSD.com.

After days spent exploring strange new halls and seeking out new lines and new exhibitions, weary fans can trek to The Pool House for a relaxing escape high above the bustling crowds on Fifth Avenue. Boasting incredible views and an elevated lounge setting, the sunny rooftop oasis at Pendry San Diego will host one final epilogue to an epic Comic-Con weekend. Guests can battle the onset of P.C.D. (‘Post-Con Depression’…it’s a thing. Look it up!) while getting rid of any lingering cosplay costume tan lines with a sun-soaked pool party featuring exclusive Comic Con-coction cocktails, dance tunes spun by top DJs, and Lgndry entertainment on Sunday, July 28 from noon to sundown. For more information, visit www.PoolHouseSD.com.