San Diego Restaurants
All the places I love and new places i want to try in San Diego and North County!
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Cool Coffee Shops in San Diego
All my top picks for cool vibes and amazing coffee in San Diego.
Better Buzz Coffee is beloved throughout San Diego, across 8 locations, for its beautifully rustic yet modern decor, delicious brews and homemade breakfast and pastry items. Each new opening is excitedly buzzed about by neighbors and becomes a hub fo...
Bump Coffee is one of the smallest shops to make this list with the biggest heart. A walk-up shop in Cardiff-by-the-Sea with a perfect pour-over, homemade empanadas on the side and a shot of CBD if you’re feeling extra fancy. If you need a post-surf ...
Steady State Roasting Co. is a small tasting room in downtown Carlsbad with a blue honeycomb coffee bar and a penchant for limited time, fancy drinks like the “cold fashioned” - made from Panama Gesha cold concentrate, sassafras & sorghum bitters...
With 30 locations in five cities across the country, the latest La Colombe to open is at the recently renovated UTC Mall in La Jolla. Like a beautiful Italian shop come to life, its floor-to-ceiling glass windows are accented by clean lines of black ...
Revolution Roasters is located in revitalized Oceanside, just north of San Diego proper, seeks to reimagine how people experience their daily coffee ritual. As their name suggests, they roast their beans in-house in small batches and made to order, g...
With a flagship store in eastern Poway and a brand new location in Mission Valley, The King’s Craft Coffee Co. is poised to be the perfect cup of coffee in San Diego with soul. Owned by a former Chargers player with a passion for roasting single orig...
My Top Breakfast Spots in San Diego
All my favorites and new up and coming spots for delicious breakfast in San Diego.
Opened in 1960 and deemed La Jolla’s oldest diner, Harry’s Coffee Shop is a quintessential mid-century dining locale every San Diegan should experience. My usual at Harry’s is an eggs Benedict topped with a velvety hollandaise, a side of their crispy...
A breakfast destination in Solana Beach for many years, the charming cottage features a menu highlighted by favorites like green scramble with spinach and zucchini, seared salmon eggs Benedict, and lemon ricotta pancakes. If the line is a little long...
Adjacent to the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, this is the perfect daytime spot to take in sweeping views of the Pacific. The Mediterranean eatery from Urban Kitchen Group serves up dishes like churro French toast, asparagus and mushroom ome...
Branching out from Madison on Park, Madi is its sister restaurant in Normal Heights with an emphasis on California-Mediterranean brunch every day of the week. Menu highlights include shareable waffle churro sticks, chilaquiles verdes, or blackberry g...
This perennial favorite is famous for its generous portions and creative combinations like the towering Andy’s Sage Fried Chicken that customers can order atop a stack of waffles or eggs Benedict. The BLT Bloody Mary is a giant cocktail garnished wit...
Best Lunch Spots in San Diego
My top picks for casual dining mid-day in San Diego.
Village Pizzeria has been the island go-to for East Coast style pizza since 2002, serving you from two locations. Our original location is located a block from the beach and the Hotel Del Coronado, on Orange Ave. Our Bayside boasts San Diego’s best v...
All you can eat sushi - yes please. This little spot in Chula Vista is amazing. A must.
The best pho ever. Period ! Love this place it's the most consistent, tasty, well served bowl of pho noodles you'll have. Great prices and fast friendly service.
Sustainable seafood is one draw at downtown Carlsbad’s Bluewater Grill. Others: the broad terrace, attentive service, and a focus on local ingredients. The menu has a few lunch specials (like fish tacos for $18 and a crab BLTA for $19), plus a range ...
The salads, bowls, and sandwiches at Urbane Cafe are fresh, light, and filling. They’re also popular with the work lunch crowd and office catering. One bowl features salmon, whole grain rice, marinated kale, roasted sweet potatoes, edamame, and a swe...
Take some of the freshest fish around, marinate and grill it, then stuff it between two fluffy buns or drop it onto a pile of greens, and you get the magic that is El Pescador. They also have poke, clam chowder, sashimi, and many other seafood dishes...
Favorite Brews & Cocktails in San Diego
Cool bars and clubs to visit around San Diego.
San Diego Brewing Co.® opened in 1993 and is one of San Diego's original breweries. Working on a 7 barrel system, our brewer creates a great selection of house brews right here on the premises, all available on tap. In addition, we offer a large sele...
Brewjeria is the swirling chemistry of ideas, language, culture, science and spirituality intertwined in wonder and community. New to the area but not to Southern California.
Gaslampligher is San Diego’s newest 21+ hot spot for sparking good times with fine cocktails, live music, and unforgettable karaoke sessions. This bar is the new school rendition of the iconic, Lamplighter, in Mission Hills and is owned and operated ...
It is a warm and comfortable place for friends and neighbors to socialize while enjoying enjoy world-class beer and delicious food.
Cervantes Magaña (San Diego Spirits Festival Top Mixologist, 2013) recently revamped Masters’ new drinks menu with four main cocktail themes: Caribbean Cocktail Refreshers, Refreshing Modern Classics, Stirred and Direct, and the low ABV Day Sippers. ...
This well-established Kensington wine bar provides a relaxed setting to explore its selection of bottles from small family-owned and operated wineries. Its long list of wines by the glass can be paired with a food menu that ranges from small bites an...
Fav Restaurants in San Diego
My favorite overall picks for restaurants you MUSt visit in San Diego.
Outdoor dining will be the soul of El Sueño. The patio almost makes you feel like you’ve stepped out of Old Town and into a hidden restaurant tucked down an alleyway in Mexico City. With solid wooden tables mingled amongst olive trees, and the twinkl...
With eight vibrant locations strategically placed throughout Southern California, they bring a unique blend of traditional flavors and SoCal vibes to every corner of San Diego. Their passionate team is dedicated to infusing each taco with a distinct ...
Nestled in the serene beach town of Encinitas, our Mexican Brasserie and Natural Wine Bar offers a fusion of traditional Mexican flavors with a modern twist, complemented by an exquisite selection of natural wines.
A luxurious experience. Menu and ingredients are inspired by coastal cuisine from Patagonia to the Mediterranean. The large 7,000-square-foot space, with an outdoor patio, will let guests see their food cooked in real-time as the chefs use a live-fir...
Chic to the max, the second Carlsbad restaurant from the team behind Campfire applies a SoCal twist to modern French fare. An enviable open kitchen is its sparkling stage, turning out a sophisticated but not-at-all stuffy four-course menu from execut...
Celebrating its milestone 40th anniversary, this La Jolla institution is comprised of three levels that each boast ocean views. Level2 serves lunch and dinner with a focus on craft cocktails while the breezy rooftop Ocean Terrace is a coveted perch f...