By Doug Wagner
FOR SIGNONSANDIEGO

It keeps the drones coming back. On the right night you might just find it abuzz with excitement. Its unassuming subterranean ambiance is sweet ? sweet as something approaching, say, honey. The Honey Bee Hive's moniker tends to evoke a swarm of bad puns with killer-bee relentlessness, but that doesn't make the bar anything less than the bee's knees.

The East Village underground (literally) lounge and adjacent Honey Bee Café, right across the street from San Diego City College, offer up spirits and chow amidst the most refreshing of neighborly airs.

Owned by Milos Jahudka, Czech ex-pat and member of San Diego's Buckfast Superbee (appropriately enough), the Hive features a long, polished wood bar with corrugated steel accents along the back wall. There's plenty of open space for those who want to hustle billiards and for the rock shows that go down Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

Limited black leatherette booth seating is available for the queen bees of the bunch, and the impressive sound system and ample jukebox will leave your aural senses buzzing. The bar's nightly happy hour (4 to 7 p.m.) is perfect for students looking to take the sting out of exams.

The attached Honey Bee Café offers an airy coffee shop atmosphere for perusing the paper or brushing up on, say, Shakespeare. (To 'bee' or not to 'bee?' Anyone?) The bar and cafe offer a menu of yummy steaks, fish tacos, sandwiches, wraps, burgers and more. Kitchen hours vary according to how busy the bar is and whether there's live entertainment, so call ahead if you're hungry.

-Published Dec. 1, 2004