lounge

It stopped me mid-scroll. In an Instagram reel, one DJ was mixing an upbeat track in a dark, packed room while another danced on a stage behind her, twerking perfectly on beat. Above them, a message flashed on a massive screen: “Love. Dance. And F— Ice.”

The crowd went wild, matching the energy of the two Los Angeles-based DJs who go by Mango and Ginger. The night looked so electric that I could feel the FOMO traveling through my body.

When I tapped the location tag, I assumed I was looking at an underground warehouse party in downtown L.A. or a venue in Hollywood. Instead, the party — known as If You See Me You See Me — was happening 120 miles south in San Diego. As a DJ and music lover, I knew I needed to get down there ASAP.

For many Angelenos, San Diego is the place to go for a peaceful weekend getaway — think scenic cliffs, serene beaches, fresh fish tacos and visits to Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. But it’s easy to sleep on its vibrant nightlife scene — and I don’t just mean the bars crowding the Gaslamp Quarter. The city is home to some of the most exciting late-night spaces, from hi-fi listening lounges to a cinematic Middle Eastern restaurant that feels straight out of Disneyland.

“People just aren’t aware,” says San Diego native Mo Perez, who as DJ Dopemo regularly packs out parties at North Park’s Bluefoot Bar and Lounge. “Then they come here and they’re like, ‘Wow, San Diego is really fun.’”

This is part of the reason why Sasha Marie, a longtime DJ and former member of the Soulection music collective, decided to continue hosting her event If You See Me You See Me, in partnership with Future Is Color, in her hometown of San Diego, even amid invitations to bring it to other cities. She invites DJs from around the globe, many of whom wouldn’t typically play in San Diego, to spin at the party.

“I feel like it’s important to show that something can be successful here,” she says.

Consider this your wake-up call to tap into San Diego’s nightlife scene, whether you want to go dancing or vibe to diverse sounds or have a cocktail in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. These nine great spots are a sampling of how the city comes alive after dark.

DITCH the rock-hard plastic airport seats and those wildly overpriced soggy meal deals – you don’t need to spend thousands on a first class plane ticket to kick off your next holiday in style.

Instead of stressing over departure boards and trying to find a seat in a packed terminal, you could be stretching out on a plush sofa in a private lounge before your next flight.

Save 20% on Priority Pass across 1,900+ airport lounges

Here you can tuck into a complimentary buffet, sip on free alcoholic beverages or even have a quick nap in a private sleep pod.

The secret to this pre-flight luxury is bagging a Priority Pass. Right now, Sun readers can slash 20% off the annual membership fee by clicking here.

Priority Pass members get access to over 1,900 airport lounges across the globe, including those in popular UK airports like London Heathrow, Gatwick, East Midlands, Manchester and Birmingham.

Lounges available depend on which airport you are flying from, but they include the luxurious Aspire Lounge with complimentary food and alcoholic drinks, as well as No. 1 Lounges, Skylife Lounge, Escape Lounges and more.

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Airport hack like ‘First Class on the cheap’ with FREE food & drink has 20% off now

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A standard membership normally costs £69 a year, but our discount for Sun readers drops the price to just £55.

Once you have your pass, you simply pay £24 each time you want to visit a lounge.

And with all the complimentary food and free-flowing drink inside, you can easily make your money back with all your savings from skipping pricey terminal restaurants and bars.

Beyond the free food, the lounges offer high-speed Wi-Fi, plenty of charging points, comfy sofas and quiet zones.

Depending on the airport, you can even find dedicated workspaces, hot showers, and sleep pods to refresh yourself.

The VIP perks also extend beyond the lounge doors. Priority Pass members get access to Be Relax spa treatments, meaning you can treat yourself to a pre-flight massage or manicure at participating airports.

Save 20% on Priority Pass across 1,900+ airport lounges

You also get a brilliant freebie to use at home: complimentary access to the WithU Fitness app, which is normally worth £79.99.

The app creates you a personalised exercise program for the gym or home, complete with guided audio workouts coached by professionals.

So not only are you travelling well-fed and well-rested, but you’ve now got a fresh manicure to show off on holiday and a free workout program to take home and on your travels.

Does travelling in style get any better than this?

Save 20% on Priority Pass across 1,900+ airport lounges

Prices correct at the time of publication.