Photo credit: Eric Scire/Finest Collective
SAN DIEGO (JAN. 12) – A new exclusive cocktail lounge is set to open in one of the Ballpark District’s most storied landmarks. Diamond Room, developed by Patina Group and Finest Collective, will debut to the public on January 16 inside the Simon Levi Building – a restored early-20th-century warehouse at the corner of 7th Avenue and K Street, anchoring Gallagher Square at Petco Park.
With only 50 seats, Diamond Room offers an intimate and differentiated setting with a late 1970s vibe – velvet, leather, mirrors, turntables, a disco ball and dark tones – creating a retro-chic atmosphere for guests. Hours of operation will initially be 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (midnight on Friday and Saturday).
The cocktail program is steeped in classics, but with a decidedly San Diego twist. Among the highlights:
- Diamond Margarita: This clarified cocktail features Casa Dragones Tequila Blanco, lime and Grand Marnier.
- Baxter’s Old Fashioned: Green River Bourbon, Brucato orchard California amaro, demerara, R&D aromatic bitters and an orange peel. (Because “milk was a bad choice.”)
- Fluffy Garibaldi: Campari and orange juice that is nitro-infused tableside, served with a garibaldi Jello shot orange wedge.
The space was designed in conjunction with Finest Collective, the San Diego Padres’ hospitality and events division. This marks the fifth venue managed by Finest Group, in addition to Petco Park, Gallagher Square, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park and EVE at RaDD. Diamond Room will be available for private events and VIP sales through Finest.
Patina Group will bring its popular “Shaken & Stirred” mixology program to San Diego. The interactive classes, designed for groups of six to 10, offer hands-on cocktail instruction and customizable themes. Jason Hatton, a San Diego native and veteran mixologist, has been named general manager of Diamond Room. Hatton is currently training in Disney Springs with Patina Group’s culinary leadership team to ensure the same level of expertise and energy that made the program a hit at other high-profile locations.
The food menu will consist of small bites, salads, handhelds, flatbreads and a signature item that tips the cap to the neighboring Petco Park.
January 14 will serve as a soft opening for Diamond Room, and a larger media event will be held in the spring with details to follow. Guests can enjoy the space as soon as it opens to the public on January 16.
About the Location
Diamond Room’s home, the Simon Levi Building (c. 1913), is one of the Ballpark District’s earliest commercial warehouses, originally built for Simon Levi & Co., a major wholesale grocer supporting San Diego’s port and rail economy. Its brick façade and tall industrial windows reflect the district’s pre-ballpark identity as a hub for rail and maritime commerce.
Gallagher Square sits steps from the historic Gaslamp Quarter, a district rooted in Victorian-era origins and San Diego’s early commercial boom. The Gaslamp’s restored 19th-century buildings now form the cultural backbone of downtown with dining, nightlife and landmark architecture. Together with Petco Park’s Ballpark District redevelopment, Gallagher Square bridges San Diego’s past and present, connecting a storied historic district to the city’s modern urban resurgence.
Diamond Room also features a speakeasy-type door with direct access to Finest’s offices. The restaurant’s location allows guests to listen to Gallagher Square’s musical performances from afar, catch a glimpse of Padres players at the ballpark, and mingle with San Diego’s most discerning crowd. Diamond Room will also serve as an ideal location for guests to gather before or after an event at the ballpark.
“Diamond Room is about more than opening a restaurant – it’s about bringing new life to Petco Park and creating a space that feels special every day,” said John Kolaski, president of Patina Group, the premium dining and catering division of Delaware North, the San Diego Padres’ hospitality and retail partner. “We’ve been proud to serve fans at Petco Park for years, and this is a natural extension of that experience. Diamond Room gives us the chance to offer something elevated and intimate that complements the energy of the ballpark while celebrating the character of the neighborhood.”
“The addition of Diamond Room at Petco Park and Gallagher Square is a further premium amenity at Southern California’s iconic sports and entertainment venue,” said Erik Greupner, Padres CEO. “Patina is an unparalleled premium restaurant group and great partner of the Padres. We are excited to see this differentiated concept serve as the dynamic home to many memories for Padres and music fans when they visit America’s #1 Ballpark for years to come.”
About Finest Collective
Finest Collective is the Padres’ hospitality and events division. Formerly known as Petco Park Events, Finest manages events at five venues in San Diego, including all public and private events at Petco Park, Gallagher Square, Eve at RaDD and Diamond Room, as well as private events at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. Finest hosts hundreds of events of all sizes throughout the year, including Padres gameday events, full venue and general admission concerts with headlining talent, signature events such as The Links at Petco Park (a nine-hole golf experience), Holiday Wonderland, the San Diego Rodeo, major national events such as WWE’s 2025 Survivor Series: WarGames, Savannah Bananas, Comic-Con activations, and much more.