Blog

Notes from building Jellyfish.

Founder essays, technical deep-dives on real-time occupancy, and local guides to the San Diego neighborhoods we serve. Every post human-reviewed.

Best Sports Bars in San Diego to Watch the Game

Find the best sports bars in San Diego for watching games. Top venues in Gaslamp Quarter, Pacific Beach, and more with great food and atmosphere.

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Where to Drink During Comic-Con 2026

Comic-Con 2026 runs July 22-26. Using our occupancy data: the Gaslamp is typically 81% full by 6PM - which is exactly when happy hour ends. Here's how to beat it.

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Gaslamp Quarter Happy Hours Worth Knowing

Gaslamp happy hours end at 6PM. Our occupancy data says the neighborhood hits 81% at 6PM. That is not a coincidence - here's how to use it.

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Best Happy Hours in San Diego by Neighborhood

We crossed San Diego's happy hours with our occupancy data. The finding: the deal almost always ends exactly when the room fills - except in one neighborhood.

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Pacific Beach Happy Hours Locals Actually Use

PB happy hours run longer than downtown's - and our occupancy data shows why that matters. The neighborhood is 56% full at 4PM and 86% by 8PM.

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Hillcrest Happy Hours: A Local Guide

Hillcrest has the longest happy hours in San Diego and - per our occupancy data - the emptiest rooms during them. It doesn't fill up until 10PM.

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Best 21st Birthday Bars in San Diego You Need to Know

Top San Diego bars perfect for 21st birthday celebrations. Find great venues in Gaslamp Quarter, Pacific Beach, and more with real-time crowd info.

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North Park Brewery Crawl Guide: Local Favorites

Hit the best breweries in North Park, San Diego. Local guide to craft beer, neighborhoods, and how to plan your brewery crawl.

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Best Bachelorette Party Bars in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter

Top bachelorette party venues in Gaslamp Quarter. Find the best bars for groups, dancing, and nightlife in downtown San Diego.

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Best Gaslamp Quarter Bars to Watch Padres Games

Watch Padres games at top Gaslamp Quarter sports bars. Find the best rooftops, dive bars, and packed venues for San Diego baseball.

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Best Quiet Bars for First Dates in San Diego

Find the perfect quiet San Diego bars for a first date. Real venues where you can actually hear each other talk.

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Best College Bars Near SDSU: Where Aztecs Actually Go

Top SDSU college bars in College Area & nearby neighborhoods. Live spots where students actually hang, from dive bars to dance venues.

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Best Margaritas in Old Town San Diego | Local Guide

Find the best margaritas in Old Town San Diego. Local favorites, classic recipes, and where to go for the perfect drink.

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Best Beach Bars in Mission Beach, San Diego

Mission Beach's top beach bars for sunset drinks, live music, and oceanfront vibes. Find where locals actually go.

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Best Date Night Cocktail Bars in San Diego's Little Italy

Find the perfect cocktail bar for your date in Little Italy. Discover craft drinks, intimate vibes, and great atmospheres in San Diego's trendiest neighborhood.

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Where to Find Least Crowded Bars in San Diego Tonight

Skip the packed venues. Find quiet bars in San Diego with tips on timing, neighborhoods, and how to check live occupancy before you go.

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Best Bars Near Petco Park Before a Padres Game

Pre-game bars near Petco Park in Downtown San Diego. Find the best spots to grab a drink before Padres games.

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Is Gaslamp Quarter Worth It on Saturday Night?

Real talk about Saturday nights in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. Best spots, crowds, and what to actually expect.

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Best Breweries to Bar-Hop in San Diego's East Village

Hit the best breweries in East Village with this local guide. Discover where to bar-hop for IPAs, lagers, and killer vibes in downtown SD.

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Best Rooftop Bars for Sunset Views in San Diego

Watch the sunset from San Diego's best rooftop bars. Find top spots in Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, and more with real-time busy data.

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San Diego Live Music Bars This Weekend: Where to Catch Local Acts

Find the best San Diego bars with live music this weekend. Real venues, real bands, real energy across Gaslamp, Pacific Beach, and beyond.

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Best Birthday Spots in San Diego by Neighborhood

Find the perfect San Diego birthday venue—from Gaslamp Quarter clubs to beach bars in Pacific Beach. Real neighborhoods, real bars.

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Best Dive Bars in Pacific Beach: Local Spots Worth Finding

Dive bars in Pacific Beach with character, cheap drinks, and real regulars. Where locals actually hang in PB.

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Best Bars to Watch Padres Games in San Diego

Watch the Padres with an energetic crowd at San Diego sports bars. Find the best spots in Gaslamp Quarter, Pacific Beach, and beyond.

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Late-Night Food in Gaslamp Quarter: Where to Eat After Bars Close

Hungry after bar-hopping Gaslamp Quarter? Find the best late-night eats open till 2-3am: tacos, pizza, burgers, and more real spots.

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Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego Right Now

Check out San Diego's top rooftop bars with views of the bay, city skyline, and sunsets. Find the best spots in Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, and more.

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Why we built Jellyfish.

The story behind the bet — a napkin at a State College bar in 2017, nine years of compounding patience, and the moment 'where should we go tonight?' stopped being a question anyone should answer with a group chat.

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Building for San Diego first.

Why every category-defining live-data product starts in a single city. The 19 SD neighborhoods on the Jellyfish map — from Pacific Beach to Carlsbad, Gaslamp to Coronado, Encinitas to Point Loma — and why we'll get this one city right before opening the next.

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How we measure "live" busyness.

Three signals fused into a 5-band scale. Pulse reports, anonymized presence, live forecasting. Why 'popular times' averages aren't enough — and why a grey pin is more honest than a guessed one.

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