The north end of Ocean Beach has always played second fiddle to Newport Avenue. The tourists go to the pier. The regulars go to Newport. But Voltaire Street, the stretch that runs down toward Dog Beach, has been quietly building its own identity for the past few years. And The Jetty, a new bar and restaurant at 4934 Voltaire Street, might be the thing that tips it.
Kyle Jaworski and Sebastian Widman are the two names behind the project. Jaworski spent roughly 14 years running things for the NZ Eats Group, the company behind Raglan Public House on Newport Avenue. He's also been on the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association board for close to nine years. Widman managed the bar at OB spots like The Joint and The Bowl, and he's part-owner of Ocelot Brewing Company in Virginia. Between the two of them, they've poured more pints in this zip code than most people have ordered.
What the Space Looks Like Now
The building used to be Voltaire Beach House, which opened in 2017 and closed abruptly in September 2024 after a string of employee complaints and allegations. The closure left a visible gap on the block. Jaworski jumped on the lease.
The renovation adds up to 148 seats, split between a bar area with high-tops, a garden patio with heaters, and a more traditional dining section. There's room for private events, too. "There are not many spots in OB where you can do a party of 20 to 40 and have your own separate space," Jaworski told the Times of San Diego. The patio is dog-friendly, which makes sense given the proximity to Dog Beach.
He calls it a neighborhood spot, not a gastropub and not a sports bar. But there will be enough TVs to catch any game from any seat. The food menu is still being called "eclectic," with dishes Jaworski and Widman feel OB currently lacks. The bar leans on craft beer and cocktails, which tracks with Widman's background.
The Voltaire Street Block
The Jetty doesn't exist in a vacuum. It sits next to Hungry Lu's bakery. Across the street, City Tacos and Mike Hess Brewing are already drawing crowds. Dog Beach Dog Wash and Ocean Beach Tattoo & Piercing sit directly across Voltaire. Down on the corner, there's Lucy's. And around the corner on Cable, you can find martial arts studios and yoga spots. It's becoming a real corridor.
"This end of town is really starting to pick up," Jaworski said. "I hope that we can help to become an anchor for that in the middle of this block."
What It Means for OB Dining
Ocean Beach restaurants have always punched above their weight. Hodad's is a national name. Pizza Port has nearly 4,000 Google reviews. South Beach Bar & Grille and Wonderland Ocean Pub draw the sunset crowd. But most of the action stays concentrated on Newport Avenue and the OB Pier area. The Jetty could shift some of that gravity north, toward Dog Beach and the Voltaire corridor.
The Jetty is at 4934 Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach, San Diego. Follow their progress on social media for the grand opening date.
