Part Time Lover

Part Time Lover (opened in 2022) is a dual concept listening bar and cocktail lounge featuring a custom analog high fidelity system, record store, and Japanese-inspired cocktail program. Aligning the storied lineage of its location (the former dive bar and punk music venue Bar Pink), Part Time Lover partnered with Folk Arts Rare Records, another San Diego institution for vinyl and music, to create a collaborative community-centered space that welcomes guests to relax, sip and listen closely. The space, inspired by the Prairie School Aesthetic, utilizes angular shapes characteristic of this school of design and the large custom oak chandelier which anchors the room, as well as most of the furniture, were custom-built by local craftsmen. The classic 1930’s Brunswick Art Deco triple arch back bar embraces a classic vernacular, while the furniture takes a crafted midwest approach with the bar and table lamps custom made for the space by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Additional inspiration for Part Time Lover comes from Japanese listening bar culture. Drawing from that tradition, the bar’s open layout was designed for an optimal listening experience and unobstructed sound, but to also be a space where music connoisseurs can converge.