New nightlife in San Diego

“Be sophisticated, or don’t.” This is the tagline of the hottest new nightlife addition to Downtown San Diego: The Oxford Social Club. There has been much anticipation surrounding its opening and how it would compare to other successful nightclubs in Downtown, such as Omnia and Fluxx.

Although University of San Diego students are known to frequent Pacific and Mission Beaches, Downtown is also a destination for students 21 and over on the weekends.

Clique Hospitality, a hospitality group famous for its restaurants, lounges, and nightclubs all over the country. Clique  is the visionary behind Oxford Social Club.

Clique Hospitality partner, Andy Masi, wanted to make sure Oxford was different than any other nightlife destination in San Diego.

“Oxford Social Club will put the focus back on the experience as a whole and really emphasize the things that made bars, lounges, and nightclubs great in the first place: the environment, the drinks, the people, the conversations,” Masi said on Oxford’s website.

The Oxford Social Club has a more intimate feeling than other larger clubs, yet offers bottle service options, big name guest artists, and a large venue space. This seems to be a hit in San Diego, as we have seen the success of Omnia Nightclub.

Mason Burnett, a senior at USD, attended Oxford’s opening weekend party on Feb. 25.

“[Oxford] really feels like a Vegas club. I love it,” Burnett said.

A unique aspect of Oxford is the variety of music it plays, setting itself apart from other clubs Downtown, with its mix of hip-hop and EDM, appealing to a larger group of potential guests. On opening weekend, they had special surprise guest performances by both Rob Stone and Kiiara, emphasizing the mix of music even more.

Jennifer Stamos, a senior at USD, has been a frequent visitor to Oxford since it opened.

“I love the atmosphere in Oxford with lots of tables and couches to lounge on, but they still play great music to dance to,” Stamos said. “It’s definitely my new favorite club Downtown, [and Oxford is] so much fun. The management seems awesome so far: they are very accommodating with big groups, and the promoters definitely take care of you.”

However, a night at Oxford can have a hefty price tag, especially for college students. The cover charge to get in is $20 and drinks are on the pricier side, similar to Omnia. Though popular with students, the crowd at Oxford seems to be on the older side.

Justin Bond, a promotional host, often reaches out to students at USD to help them create fun nights at Oxford.

“Oxford is unlike any venue San Diego has seen before,” Bond said. “With the attention to detail, this boutique nightclub makes me and its visitors feel like they are partying at home. Only Rob Stone and Kiiara don’t make guest appearances [at] my home. Our team is like a family here: we all provide a level of class and our own skills to the table in order to assure each customer is met with their unique demands because we are unique ourselves.”

Oxford Social Club is located within the new Pendry Hotel, 435 5th Avenue, in the heart of the Gaslamp District in Downtown San Diego. Oxford is open Thursday through Sunday, from 10pm to 2am.

If you’re looking for a  new place to check out in San Diego, give Oxford a try–it truly is a unique experience.

Written by Alexis Fahey, Contributor