Founded in 2008 by Newcastle, England native Brian Buirds, Phileas Fogg’s brought a distinctly British sensibility to San Diego’s suburban dining scene. Named after the adventuring protagonist of Jules Verne’s classic novel Around the World in Eighty Days, the restaurant was designed as a nod to old-world travel and English pub culture, complete with a massive hand-painted mural depicting Fogg’s global journey. Inside, the dark wood bar, etched with hot air balloons, offered a welcoming perch for conversation, football matches, and pints pulled with care.
Buirds, who was known for his down-to-earth hospitality and deep Newcastle pride, curated an experience that married authenticity with comfort. The menu featured hearty pub staples like fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and Irish stew, alongside steaks, curries, and vegetarian fare - dishes that embodied what Buirds once called “comfort food done the right way.” The pub’s extensive drink selection included more than 100 international and domestic beers and 50 wines, earning it a loyal following among beer lovers across North County.
“Brian brought a piece of home to San Diego,” said one longtime patron on Yelp. “He always made it feel like you were walking into your neighborhood pub — even if you’d never been before.”
Phileas Fogg’s quickly established itself as a Poway favorite not just for its food and drink but for its community atmosphere. The restaurant regularly hosted live music, soccer watch parties, and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations that drew crowds from across the region. Local artist John Wismont, who painted the pub’s signature mural back in 2008, once described it as “a place where people could take a trip around the world without ever leaving Poway Road.”
The closure comes amid shifting tides in the local restaurant landscape, where rising costs and post-pandemic challenges have forced many longtime establishments to call it quits. Buirds, who has remained hands-on throughout the restaurant’s tenure, has not announced any plans for a new venture.
As Poway loses one of its most character-rich eateries, regulars are taking time to savor one last pint, one last order of fish and chips, and one last night under the mural that captured a spirit of adventure now fading into local history.
Phileas Fogg’s Bar & Restaurant will close permanently after dinner service on Friday, October 24, at 11385 Poway Road, Suite 100, in San Diego’s Poway neighborhood. For more information, visit phileasfoggs.com.
Originally published on October 23, 2025.
