Kitty Diamond

"Here kitty kitty...

Come closer... closer... closer...

WHOA -- not that close."

That's what I was thinking during my night at Kitty Diamond. Like a wild animal, it may seem cute from far away, but getting too close isn't a hot idea.

Kitty Diamond occupies the space previously home to the now-defunct Flame. The retro Flame sign is still up there, so be on the lookout for that, since the new signage isn't up yet.

I was here for the soft opening event. While I had high hopes, I was consistently bummed throughout the night. The RSVP promised no cover and open bar -- what I actually encountered was a 30 min wait to enter, a $7 cover upon finally getting through the door, and a hosted bar limited to Three Olives vodka drinks, most of which taste like Robitussin.

The music and DJs were great. There are two rooms -- front and back -- with trancy stuff going on in front and a more eclectic rock vibe in back. The back also has a stage for bands and fashion shows. (On the night I was there, I got to enjoy a vintage swimsuit show with lots of girls in retro pinup outfits.) One of the old lounge rooms in the Flame has been turned into a backstage prep area for performers only, so there's less square footage for exploring and mingling.

The new decor is definitely enjoyable. Less bordello-esque than the Flame -- and more spare and industrial, with giant diamond sculptures made out of 2x4's. Bartenders were consistently friendly too.

Strangely, despite the great music and happening vibe, nobody was dancing. Even at the peak of the night.

(We ended up going home early.)

All in all, there lots of potential at Kitty Diamond... and I'll be happy to try it again once more of said potential has been realized. :-)

I find it utterly amusing that this place is so desperate for attention that they PAID Yelp! to delete my unbiased opinion about this place because i gave it one star. SERIOUSLY? GET A LIFE!

My main problem with this place is that they are trying to take a space that has fit into the niche of the neighborhood and turn it into a "SCENESTER PARADISE" while they are doing nothing but regurgitating old news in the guise of "HOT AND FRESH ENTERTAINMENT!"

The fact alone they paid money to have my review removed is quite flattering. I mean I am merely a local who thinks that a club with a self-proclaimed "dive bar" is a big fat joke. Also, I've seen the inside of this place...not sure what kind of money you spent to have this place professionally decorated....but there is no cohesiveness and the messy random paint splatter on your floor just shows what kind of a mess this place IS.

If you're going to open a new place...do something NEW and interesting....stop hiding in sheep's clothing and pretending you're the newest wolf in town.

LAME NAME, LAME ENTERTAINMENT, LAME INTERIOR DESIGN, LAME CLUB! The very fact the person running this place has run multiple bars into the ground should say it all.

AND for the record...A PLACE THAT DUBS THEMSELVES A "DIVE BAR" IS TRYING WAY TOO HARD. GO DIVE INTO A SHALLOW POOL! Wow shallow...pretty sure that says it all!

PS- everytime i've investigated this place it's a bunch of people outside smoking cigarettes on the sidewalk while everyone inside stands around motionless staring at the dance floor....FAIL.

If you can't take the criticism then don't open a business.

Ignore all the bad reviews below(including the one that reviewed the place before she even went.... Seriously????).

Awesome interior design, awesome staff(security included), awesome sound and lights in the front room, and great prices on drinks.

If you're gonna get wasted and cause problems, of course the security is going to man handle you; isn't that standard everywhere?

All in all it's a great place to go, and it is my favorite new place in Hillcrest.

It's NOT closed!! STILL OPEN!! UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT AND NAME!!!!

new venue design!

I am having a halloween costume party October 20th here, come:

https://www.facebook.com/events/287121324727741/

The drinks kept coming (reasonably priced might I add), the music was amazing (Gabe Vega is the shit!), and my friends and I were tearing up the dance floor on Kitty Diamonds soft opening on the 18th. Everyone had a great time, and some of us even got some play, whats more to want?

Staff was really friendly and accommodating, place is going to be insane when its complete!

Went on a Friday at 12:30am.

No cover, thankfully as I would have been VERY disappointed if we paid a cover to get in here and we had a total of eight people.

The place was empty.....no, DEAD!

They redid the interior supposedly but it looks unfinished and we all got splinters from the pieces of exposed wood. Not too crazy about the new lay out-seems like they took away square footage and could have made better use of their space.

Not a soul on the dance floor. We tried getting the party started by dancing but people just sat around staring by the bar and in the cubbie hole to the left of the DJ booth. The DJ stunk. Would have had more fun if the music was "at least" decent. Drinks were weak.

The crowd is hipster-ish (or wanna be hipsters). I get that they're going for an LA type vibe but I don't think they're pulling it off too successfully here in "Hillcrest." Seems like they are having an image/identity crisis and need to get the word out better about this place. Very confusing- they're keeping The Flame signage but they're called Kitty Diamond?! If you search for The Flame on yelp, it says its closed but no one knows its now called Kitty Diamond. It's an empty hipster bar in Hillcrest. To get in on some nights when there's an event (ie-fashion show) you email to get on the guest list but it only means you get reduced cover. They def need a better, updated, informative website and have someone that actually replies to emails. I've emailed on several occasions and have never once received a response (there are two different email contacts on their website btw-just to make things even more confusing). Had high hopes but concept and execution failed.

Won't be back unless its free AND I'm dying of thirst on my way to someplace fun. Sorry Kitty.

If you enjoy having security verbally abuse you or watching them use excessive physical violence on other patrons, then this is for sure the new hot spot. As for me, I prefer less of an angry vibe so I will steer clear of this place in the future until I hear that they've decided to switch security companies or at least impress upon this company that as they are the first part of the club experience, that they need to put their best foot forward and treat customers with some respect.

Just got a sneak preview of the new club, Kitty Diamond, and the place is definetely going to be the new hot spot in San Diego. I go out almost every night to all the different spots around North Park, Hillcrest and Downtown and have never seen anything like what Kitty Diamond is going to be. There will be three distinct spaces within the venue...a dive bar called The 40th Door, the dance club Kitty Diamond and live music space in the back of the club. I can't wait for the soft opening on May 18th when Gabe Vega and Adam Salter bring their Nite Vision party to Kitty Diamond...followed by MayStar's Fashion Whore presents Diamond Dust on Saturday the 19th....Check it!

Dearest Erica J.,
If you you are going to critique my posting then please extend the courtesy of proper punctuation and spelling.
Your bad spelling and grammar hurt my eyes!
I stand behind my review. This place stinks and I hope it goes down in "flames" soon!
Meow!