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Design lovers will fall for celebrity chef Brian Malarkey's sprawling restaurant, a former art store that has been refashioned into four luxe spaces in one—an entryway lounge, outdoor lounge, fireplace-dotted patio, and the main dining room, which is flanked by beaded chandeliers, lush banquettes, and paintings in rich jewel tones. The menu is heavy on wood-roasted dishes, many of which are apt for sharing, like the roasted baby carrots or hiramasa with crispy quinoa. There are also larger options like an oxtail gnocchi and pizzas with toppings from mushrooms to bone marrow.
2210 Kettner Blvd., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- Roasted baby carrots with cashew sesame dukkah
- Pillow-soft oxtail gnocchi
- The secret menu Parker House rolls topped with Maldon sea salt
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.--Sat.
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Among the plentiful and popular brunch options in Little Italy, Morning Glory stands out for not just elevating its breakfast options but making breakfast and brunch its only concern. The dazzling, pink-hue brunch palace is a luxurious sight to behold, with plush seating, a vending machine full of champagne, and a giant metal flower-shape lamp at the center of its outdoor dining area. Yet the menu is where visitors will find its most appealing delights, from its many variations on hot cocoa, to its internationally inspired egg dishes and extra indulgent flapjacks, French toast, and soufflé pancakes.
Make sure to show up early—the restaurant doesn't take reservations and the waitlist fills up fast.
550 W. Date St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- Fluffy and light soufflé pancakes
- Fried chicken and waffle
- Hot chocolate flights
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch or dinner, Restaurant doesn\'t take reservations
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$$ | Little Italy | Modern American
Urbanites craving a hip casual setting and gourmet menu pack architectural salvage–styled Prep Kitchen Little Italy, tucked upstairs above a busy corner in this thriving neighborhood. With first-date cocktails, after-work brews, or birthday champagne, diners relish familiar choices like meatball sandwiches, chops, and pork belly with kimchi Brussels. Generously sized dishes like spicy Carlsbad mussels or fusilli Bolognese could serve as dinner for two. Farmers’ market flatbreads, changed daily, are made for sharing, too, while the hefty WNL Burger topped with bacon and egg is a staple lunch, brunch, and dinner. There are also locations in Del Mar and La Jolla.
1660 India St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- Weekend brunch featuring popular chilaquiles dish
- Bacon-wrapped dates
- $6 tapas during the daily happy hour
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekends
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Next to his successful fine-dining restaurant, Juniper and Ivy, celebrity chef Richard Blais has opened this more casual eatery complete with a walk-up counter, picnic-style tables, a bocce court, and a giant rooster—a nod to the egg- and chicken-theme menu. Ingredients are sourced from high-quality vendors and used for sandwiches, of which the fried chicken varieties shine, as well as salads and sides like fluffy minibiscuits with a miso-maple butter and a Mexican spin on poutine. The all-outdoor space feels like a cool playground for foodies, and there's even a slick bar that doles out craft cocktails.
2266 Kettner Blvd., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- Señor Croque fried chicken sandwich with smoked pork belly
- Biscuits with miso-maple butter
- All-outdoor seating with bocce court
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$$$$ | La Jolla |
Champions of in-season, fresh-today produce, the chefs at this cozy room in the luxurious, Craftsman-style Lodge at Torrey Pines have made A.R. Valentien one of San Diego’s top fine dining destinations. Be prepared for food combinations that are simultaneously simple and delightfully inventive—crispy skin sablefish; duck confit; prime rib with bordelaise, and an impressive collection of California wines.
11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd., San Diego, California, 92037, USA
Known For
- Charcuterie platter
- Roasted duck
- 280 wine selections
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | |
Until recently, you had to head to the Miramar/Scripps Ranch area for a tasting at Ballast Point, but now there's a spacious (and popular) local taproom in Little Italy. The Sculpin IPA is outstanding, as are the blue cheese duck nachos.
2215 India St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- Duck nachos
- Truffalo wings
- More than three-dozen beers on tap
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$ | La Jolla |
For coffee with a view, the La Jolla branch of Bird Rock is the best spot to kickstart your day with fresh brewed artisan coffees and summer specials like the dirty Horchata iced coffee. Grab a table on the patio with the beach in the distance and take your pick from a comprehensive selection of morning brews and pastries. With locations around San Diego and North County, you're sure to find a spot to grab a cup of this delicious, San Diego--roasted coffee. There's no better place to recharge after a hike at nearby Torrey Pines.
5627 La Jolla Blvd., San Diego, California, 92037, USA
Known For
- Great ambience with friendly staff
- Pull-apart cinnamon rolls
- Ethically sourced coffee
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$ | |
Just because it's the most important meal of the day doesn't mean it can't also be flashy or innovative. Breakfast Republic adds some hipster flair to typical brunch fare with a menu that combines hearty Southern staples (grits, jambalaya), Mexican food (chilaquiles, breakfast burritos), and over-the-top treats such as Oreo pancakes and s'mores French toast. Come hungry, but come early; the restaurant doesn't accept reservations and the wait can be a bit long.
707 G St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- Rich, gooey pancakes and French toast
- Kombucha flights
- Kitschy decor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$ | Ocean Beach |
Creeping toward 20 locations, this breakfast chain is spreading like wildfire thanks to the owner, Johan Engman’s obsession with the first meal for the day. Served out of an Airstream kitchen, hot breakfast plates hit your table within 20 minutes and nearly every dish puts a spin on a standard like the tres leches vegan pancakes, the gouda shrimp and grits, and the breakfast burrito with Jurassic pork. No one leaves hungry, or unhappy for that matter, especially with drinks like the lychee mimosa and the house-made bloody Marys. The warehouse-style decor and dog-friendly patio meld perfectly with the Ocean Beach vibe.
4839 Newport Ave., San Diego, California, 92107, USA
Known For
- Fluffy pancakes
- Unique coffee creations and morning cocktails
- Both classic and innovative breakfast dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$$ | | American
One of the few restaurants with a view that's also worth eating at, Brockton Villa is tucked in an historic cottage on a hillside above La Jolla Cove. Food is served all day, but this dining spot excels at brunch and lunch when ocean views are best. Snag a seat by the fireplace and start the day with their famous soufflé-like orange-scented Coast Toast, breakfast tacos, or the popular blue crab–cake eggs Benedict. For lunch enjoy the curry chicken salad wrap, a lobster roll, or chopped Mediterranean salad. During the late-afternoon social hour, a bottle of wine and artisanal cheese board are only $30.
1235 Coast Blvd., La Jolla, California, 92037, USA
Known For
- Prime ocean views
- Orange-scented Coast French Toast
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Carnitas Snack Shack got a start further inland in North Park, but eventually brought their signature pork tacos westward to provide a side of bay-front views with their modern Mexican cuisine. Indulge in some carnitas tacos, a BLT, or the "Triple Threat" pork sandwich at the Embarcadero outpost of this popular swine-heavy dining spot.
1004 N. Harbor Dr., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- The "Triple Threat" pork sandwich
- Amazing tacos
- Crispy golden French fries
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$ | |
A classic diner with bar seating in a circle, Clayton's is a great lunch or breakfast spot with a menu that ranges from classic American fare to Mexican-inspired dishes like the popular breakfast burrito. Just don't forget dessert!
979 Orange Ave., San Diego, California, 92118, USA
Known For
- Bottomless coffee
- Breakfast burrito
- Gooey cinnamon roll sundae
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$ | |
Perfect for beer lovers with kids, this popular, laid-back Coronado brewpub offers a menu that features large portions of basic bar food like burgers, sandwiches, pizza, and salads. Enjoy a brew at a pair of sidewalk terraces or belly up to the bar and a new batch being made such as the Islander Pale Ale (IPA) or Mermaid's Red Ale.
170 Orange Ave., San Diego, California, 92118, USA
Known For
- A good selection of house-crafted beers
- Kids' menu
- More strollers than bar stools
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The redesigned Little Italy restaurant-bar oozes slightly surreal cool. Crammed bookshelves line the walls, banquettes and mirrors are scrawled with sayings, and taxidermy appears in odd settings like a lion preying on a hog above the bar. The management’s no-fear mind-set extends to the menu—ketchup and vodka have been outlawed here—but young fans and neighborhood residents who gather here after work find plenty to savor. Dinner features gastropub fare like Korean barbecue wings, thick burgers, and wood-fire dishes that include bone marrow, roasted carrots, and rib eye. Save energy for the potent rum drinks at False Idol, the in-house tiki bar accessible only through the walk-in cooler.
675 W. Beech St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired cuisine including grilled oysters and fire-roasted eggplant dip
- Refreshing craft cocktails infused with cucumber, grapefruit, or apple
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$ | Balboa Park |
Enjoy views of the Bea Evenson Fountain from the patio of this quick lunch option outside the Fleet Science Center. The menu offers everything from flatbreads, sandwiches, and soups to smoothies, specialty coffees, and soft-serve ice cream.
1875 El Prado, San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- Fountain views
- Smoothies and specialty coffees
- Color-changing ice-cream spoons
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$ | South Park |
There are six spots across San Diego including this one on the corner of Juniper and Fern in the heart of South Park. Open daily, this is the place to come for coffee, hot or iced, and a special treat---a scoop of one of the innovative flavors from Mutual Friend Ice Cream like lemon almond cake with a raspberry swirl or haupia haole pie.
3004 Juniper St., San Diego, California, 92104, USA
Known For
- Full coffee service until 5:30 pm daily
- Mutual Friend Ice Cream
- Vegan mini-doughnuts
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$ | Mission Beach |
Patrons can have expansive seaside views and choose from over 68 craft beer selections, too, at this spacious Belmont Park bar and restaurant. The relaxed, boardwalk atmosphere—and giant wall-size television screen—makes it a perfect spot for lounging after riding some waves at Mission Beach, or to cool down after soaking in some sun.
3105 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego, California, 92109, USA
Known For
- All-day dining with Sunday brunch
- Huge draft beer selection
- People-watching on the boardwalk
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$ | South Park |
This local bistro and chocolatier sells flavored bars, truffles, cupcakes, and many other confections, as well as breakfast favorites (buttermilk pancakes or avocado Benedict) and mains that are good at any point in the day—pulled pork and grits or mascarpone-stuffed meatballs—plus beer and wine. The owner of this popular brunch spot won a special chocolate episode of Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games in 2017.
2145 Fern St., San Diego, California, 92104, USA
Known For
- Build-your-own chocolate bar nights
- There's a little bit of vanilla, caramel, or cacao worked into every dish
- Add a chocolate pairing to your glass of wine for $1
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
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$ | Old Town |
If traveling back in time has left you tired and hungry, Old Town's Fiesta de Reyes has several options for a quick recharge. Old Town Jerky and Root Beer offers a good selection of snacks, fresh lemonade, and, of course, jerky and root beer. If you're with kids, consider Barra Barra Saloon where the tequila flows and kids eat free with a matching adult, and if you're visiting between Friday and Sunday, look for the booth marked Street Tacos for a quick meal.
4016 Wallace St., San Diego, California, 92110, USA
Known For
- Good place to grab a quick bite
- Kid-friendly
- Fun shopping options
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$$$ | Mission Hills |
Housed inside a converted Ford dealership that dates back to the '40s, Fort Oak is a haven for sophisticated carnivores and pescatarians alike. Chef Brad Wise's menu leans heavily on wood-fired fish, like the whole branzino, as well as aged steaks, Duroc pork, and fried chicken. Fort Oak leans into the building's unique history, with remnants of the former car dealer and garage touched up on the outside wall, but inside is a chic and modern bistro with a sleek, u-shape bar at the center where patrons can sample their menu of cocktails named for vintage cars.
1011 Ft. Stockton Dr., San Diego, California, 92103, USA
Known For
- 40-day aged rib-eye steak
- Hearth grilled branzino
- Elegant yet kitschy classic automotive design elements
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
