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$$ | Balboa Park |
Innovative restauranteur Tracy Borkum raised the bar of in-park dining with the unveiling of Artifact, located in the Mingei commons and courtyard. Taking culinary inspirations from around the globe, flavors and spices from Morocco to Peru are on display in lunch and dinner menus billed as "craft cooking inspired by ancient methods, spices and botanicals." Several vegan and gluten-free options are available. Breakfast and quick-serve options are available daily at the adjacent Craft Cafe.
1439 El Prado, San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- Sophisticated menu
- Weekend happy hour
- Gluten-free and vegan offerings
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Tues. and Wed.
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For Paris-perfect cakes and tarts embellished California-style with fresh flowers, head to this sleek, serene branch of Karen Krasne’s pastry shop and café. The space with soaring ceilings hosts breakfasts, lunches, and light dinners, accompanied by a wide selection of teas, coffee, organic wines, and craft beers. For those who don’t want to start with dessert, there are sandwiches, soups, salads, and artisanal cheeses, plus a kids' menu of grilled cheese or free-range turkey served on local bread. When it’s time to satisfy your sweet tooth, try a slice of passion fruit ricotta cake, a mini-banana cream pie, or helping of croissant bread pudding. The original shop near Balboa Park, at 2870 4th Avenue, serves only desserts, coffees, and teas.
1430 Union St., San Diego, California, 92101, USA
Known For
- Blueberry coffee cake for breakfast
- Chocolate dulce de leche cake
- House-made dips including onion dip and Parmesan pesto
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$ | Liberty Station |
The city's former Naval Training Center is home to more than 30 vendors so even the pickiest of diners will be pleased. Options include tacos and quesadillas at Cecilia's Taqueria; fried rice, pad Thai, and curries at Mama Made Thai; lavender lattes from Westbean Coffee Roasters; fried chicken and fries from Fluster Cluck; sweet and savory crepes from Olala; more than a dozen Argentinean empanadas at Paraná; and croissants, éclairs, and macarons at Le Parfait Paris. There are a few communal tables indoors, but the best seating is the kid- and dog-friendly outdoor patio, outfitted with Adirondack chairs and market lights. Not all vendors are open for breakfast.
2820 Historic Decatur Rd., San Diego, California, 92106, USA
Known For
- Cuisines from around the world
- Lively kid- and dog-friendly patio
- The best regional foods under one roof
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$$ | Ocean Beach |
Amid surf shacks and hippie beach bars, this restaurant perched on stunning Sunset Cliffs feels like a hidden European bistro. The sisters who run the show come from a long line of successful local restaurateurs and have brought their passed-down expertise to the thoughtful service and simple, healthy menu that features entrées like plant-based tacos, quinoa bowls, and the Bistro Burger with Hatch Chile cheddar on a brioche bun. The morning menu features chia seed puddings and baked eggs, which are a welcome contrast to the typical indulgent brunch fare.
1424 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., San Diego, California, 92107, USA
Known For
- Eggs Benedict
- Cozy bistro setting
- Chocolate hazelnut scone
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No dinner
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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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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | North Park |
The doughnuts at Nomad are big, fluffy, colorful, and would make Homer Simpson drool. Its rotating menu of internationally inspired doughnut flavors is made with natural ingredients, like real fruit, and almost all of them have a vegan counterpart as well. Just make sure to show up early—doughnuts this good don't stick around for long.
3102 University Ave., San Diego, California, 92104, USA
Known For
- Cinnamon-sugar cruller
- Pomegranate with Meyer lemon drizzle doughnut
- Panther milk breve, iced with sweetened condensed milk
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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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The line that inevitably wraps around the building is indicative of the quality of the tacos and the large selection of local craft beers on tap. Indeed, these are some of the best tacos in all of San Diego, ranging from the classic carne asada and Baja fish tacos to fried-shell beef tacos and Califas, which features French fries inside the tortilla.
2196 Logan Ave., San Diego, California, 92113, USA
Known For
- Baja-style street tacos
- Pruno de Piña (beer and fermented pineapple)
- Churros and ice cream
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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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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$ | Ocean Beach |
For a taste of Cuba in San Diego, head to this Ocean Beach bakery where owner Vivian Hernandez Jackson combines her Cuban heritage, Miami childhood, and London culinary training in breakfast and lunch offerings. Morning specialties like raspberry scones with passion fruit icing, a traditional guava-and-cheese puff pastry, and ham-and-Manchego quiche can be savored with café con leche, a sweet Cuban espresso with hot milk. For lunch, try the Cubano slow-roasted pork sandwich with plantain chips, followed by a classic flan or the mango cheesecake. The salsa music and photos of Cuban street life will transport you to the colorful country.
4820 Newport Ave., San Diego, California, 92107, USA
Known For
- Tangy, citrus-centric desserts
- Traditional Cuban pastries
- A quick bite before shopping or hitting the beach
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
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$ | University Heights |
Employing the motto "If your grandmother wouldn't bake with it, we won't either," Blackmarket Bakery emphasizes that all its creations are made from scratch, and the proof is in the tasting. Its pastry case is full of buttercream-frosted cakes, drop cookies, and other fresh-baked goodies, in addition to breakfast sandwiches and vegan pastries.
4686 30th St., San Diego, California, 92116, USA
Known For
- Vegan cookies
- Cookie Monster bread pudding
- Handmade marshmallows
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$ | Hillcrest |
San Diego’s love affair with artisanal bread began when Charles Kaufman, a former New Yorker and a filmmaker, opened this artsy urban bakery and café two decades ago. Ovens imported from France produce irresistible aromas as you choose among classic baguettes and focaccia, delicious assorted pastries and Vienoisserie, and a wide selection of breakfast and lunch specialties. Be prepared for lines and limited parking at peak hours.
350 University Ave., San Diego, California, 92103, USA
Known For
- Crusty black olive bread
- Traditional afternoon tea
- Creamy tomato soup
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 $30.
1235 Coast Blvd., La Jolla, California, 92037, USA
Known For
- Prime ocean views
- Orange-scented Coast French Toast
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$ | North Park |
This long-standing North Park coffee roaster and café expands its evening offerings to include local beer, wine, and Italian-style cocktails.
3933 30th St., San Diego, California, 92104, USA
Known For
- Neapolitan pizzas
- House-roasted espresso
- Campari cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. evening
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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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$ | North Park |
The exterior of Communal Coffee reads "Coffee + Flowers," and though that's not the name of the café, it's also not inaccurate—you actually can pick up a bouquet while you're there. But while there's plenty to keep patrons occupied—including a curated selection of housewares, books, and chocolates—the main attraction is still the fresh-brewed coffee and flaky, buttery pastries.
2335 University Ave., San Diego, California, 92104, USA
Known For
- French press coffee
- Buttery chocolate croissants
- Fresh-cut flowers
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$ | Liberty Station |
The scent of fresh-baked bread whets the appetite of customers at this Liberty Station bakery and café seeking rustic scones or raisin brioche cinnamon rolls for breakfast, or one of the hearty lunch sandwiches like almost-grilled cheese with melted Brie and Gorgonzola on warm rosemary--olive oil bread. All can be enjoyed inside or on the sunny patio with hot or cold drinks including the house-made lemonade. The bakery turns out 21 different loaves; among them are the popular Pt. Loma sourdough, Gruyère and chive, and the Pane Cioccolata with Belgium and Swiss chocolate (only available weekends). Box lunches with a sandwich, chips, and cookie, perfect for picnics or other outings, are $14 to $19 each.
2750 Dewey Rd., San Diego, California, 92106, USA
Known For
- Fluffy raisin brioche cinnamon rolls
- Sandwiches served in half portions
- Box lunches to go
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Wed.
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$ | 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.
