The new brewery and restaurant comes from the team behind Orange County’s rapidly growing Smoke & Fire hospitality group. Villains Brewing has earned a cult following up north for its unapologetically bold beer, decadent comfort food, and cinematic villain-themed aesthetic - elements that will now be introduced, with a local twist, to San Diego's downtown core.
Inside the historic two-story house once known for its cozy Irish pub charm, big changes have already taken place. The building has been painted black, and the walls are now adorned with moody oil portraits and murals paying homage to horror movie icons like Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Chucky. But while the visual overhaul is dramatic, Villains says the goal is not to totally replicate Anaheim's villainous lair, but rather to adapt the concept for San Diego’s tastes - complete with nods to Padres fandom and downtown history.
The San Diego location will offer a food menu rooted in the Anaheim flagship’s success - smash burgers, loaded nachos, tacos, wings, and sandwiches - but scaled slightly to fit the smaller kitchen. Villains also promises a rotating selection of local and seasonal additions, along with a cocktail program that blends classic mixology with Southern California flair. Some cocktails will even feature the brewery’s own beers and hard seltzers.
On the brewing side, Villains will operate on-site using the 10-barrel brewhouse inherited from Half Door. Head brewer Brad Kominek, whose resume includes Noble Ale Works and Green Cheek Beer Co., plans to recreate Villains’ core lineup in San Diego. Favorites include the West Coast IPA "Fire," hazy IPA "We’re Goin’ in Circles!," Irish-style red ale, and the Great American Beer Festival bronze-winning Mexican lager "Saca La Bolsita" - served with a packet of limon salt clipped to the rim. Kominek also intends to experiment with one-off beers exclusive to the San Diego location.
The East Village taproom will also double as a community gathering space. Plans are underway to host Padres watch parties on the upper patio, plus themed events like karaoke, trivia nights, and beer pairing dinners featuring spirits from their sister company, Broken Spirits Distillery.
Villains Brewing Company is expected to soft open at some point this June 20–22 at 903 Island Avenue in San Diego’s East Village. For more information, visit villainsbrewingcompany.com.
Originally published on June 18, 2025.
