In vino veritas translates to “in wine, there is truth.” Basically, “If I’m drinking, I’m going to say what’s on my mind,” and yes, it’s just one line delivered by Doc Holliday in the endlessly quotable 1993 classic Western film Tombstone.
Unless you want to be irritated by my enthusiasm for reciting every line in the movie—fun fact, it’s my number one favorite movie of all time—I strongly recommend watching it when I’m not in the room. But I will accept all invitations to drink and tell truths at Doc Holliday’s in Old Town when it opens this September.
Spearheading the project is Pietro Busalacchi, his father Sal and business partner Gustavo Rios, all of whom run El Sueño, Trattoria Don Pietro, and Tako Vibrant Sushi in Old Town. Doc Holliday’s still falls under the trio’s Vibrant Project restaurant group, but this is Busalacchi’s baby—he’s building it from concept to completion as a semi-solo project. He’s had the name Doc Holliday’s in his mind for a concept for years, even naming a drink at El Sueño for the iconic Western legend.
“Honestly, the name is cool,” he says. “It just kind of stuck.”
Drawing inspiration from Holliday’s aristocrat-meets-gritty outlaw image, the saloon concept will mix leather booths and lots of wood with upscale takes on American classics like lobster mac n’ cheese, steaks, fish n’ chips, smashburgers, and plenty of cocktails. Busalacchi is particularly excited about one section of the drinks menu—signature flasks.
“We’ll probably have five or six cocktails that get served in [flasks] and then a little glass to pour it in,” he explains. But he stresses that while creative cocktails is where he shines—he learned to do craft cocktails at LA’s TomTom, made famous on Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules (which he didn’t realize was filming there until the day he showed up for his first shift). He’s designing Doc Holliday’s to be more of a neighborhood spot where people can comfortably grab a bite rather than simply a full-on bar.
The 2,400-square-foot space will seat about 70 guests, and Busalacchi promises plenty of events for different days of the week. Hours will (tentatively) run daily from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. or midnight every day, but weekday breakfast hours may come a little after opening. Regardless, Doc Holliday’s will offer lunch and dinner, plus weekend brunch and happy hours to start. But, he stresses, it won’t be your typical happy hour. In the spirit of Holliday’s well-documented love for gambling, Busalacchi says there will be some card games available where guests can win certain happy hour specials—if they’re feeling lucky.
It’s taken him a little longer than he expected to get this off the ground. But all signs point to it being meant to be. When he first presented the concept and the name to the landlord, the landlord was shocked.
“He pulled up his phone and his son had sent him a picture of Doc Holliday’s grave the day before,” he says. “That’s when I knew.”
Doc Holliday’s opens mid-September at 2547 San Diego Avenue in Old Town.
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Beth’s Bites
- Imperial Beach isn’t just getting a grocery store—they’re getting a gathering space with access to fresh, healthy food. SunCoast Market, a new community-owned market, will keep dollars in the neighborhood and provide a much-needed service in the grocery store-starved area when it opens later this fall. It’s been years in the making and sounds like an all-around awesome addition to South Bay.
- A birthday for a bread starter? Only at Secret Sister. Wish Kiefer, their hardworking sourdough starter a very happy 154th birthday on Sunday, August 31, when the bakery will also celebrate its fourth birthday. The fun starts at 8 a.m., and with cake slices available for $1.54, I plan to be in a frosting coma by 8:45.
- Spitz is back! Well, almost—the Mediterranean fast-casual concept will return to San Diego this fall, this time in Pacific Beach at 967 Garnet Avenue. I am very excited to get my hands back on some döner wraps once again.
- Congrats to Happy Medium! VinePair just named the hip North Park watering hole on the corner of 30th Street and Lincoln Avenue as a finalist for Bar Program of the Year in the 2025 Next Wave Awards. San Diego has had a decent showing recently—last year, Erick Castro of Gilly’s House of Cocktails was up for Drinks Professional of the Year and Derek Gallanosa of Goal Brewing was in the running for Brewer of the Year. Fingers crossed for the Happy Medium team to bring it home.
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