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The Turquoise Café Bar Europa, located in North Pacific Beach, gets its inspiration not from the nearby Pacific, but from another ocean, far, far away.

While the Pacific may be home to mahi-mahi and surfing, the western Mediterranean Sea (known as the Turquoise Sea to many) is home to lively music and calming siestas. The inspiration for the Turquoise comes from the atmosphere of small, local bars sprinkled throughout this area of southern Europe. At the Turquoise, it’s about taking it easy in the middle of the afternoon and living it up as the clock approaches last call.

Visit the Turquoise early, and indulge in $3 house wines and tapas—small plates of Spanish-influenced appetizers. The classic Tortilla Espanola comes in two flavors—the first with egg, potato, and caramelized onions, and another made with peppers instead of potato. The artisan cheese platter features a selection of both domestic and imported European cheeses. Other tapas include prosciutto and melon, marinated olives, and calamari.

Stay for the live music that permeates the restaurant/bar/café on most nights. The quiet intimacy of the Turquoise disappears as the café reverberates with the sound of flamenco one night, Mississippi blues on another.