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San Diego is an up-and-coming culinary destination, thanks to its stunning Pacific Ocean setting, proximity to Mexico, diverse population, and the area’s extraordinary farming community. Increasingly the city’s veteran top chefs are being joined by a new generation of talented chefs and restaurateurs who are adding stylish restaurants with innovative food and drink programs to the dining scene at a record pace. Yes, visitors still are drawn to the San Diego Zoo and miles of beaches, but now they come for memorable dining experiences as well.
The city’s culinary scene got a significant boost when San Diego emerged as one of the world’s top craft beer destinations, with artisan breweries and gastropubs now in almost every neighborhood. San Diego also was on the cutting edge of the farm-to-table, Slow Food movement. Local sourcing is possible for everything from seafood to just-picked produce from a host of nationally recognized producers like Chino Farms and Carlsbad Aquafarm. The city’s ethnically diverse neighborhoods with their modest eateries offering affordable authentic international cuisines add spice to the dining mix.
San Diego’s distinct neighborhoods have their own dining personalities with friendly restaurants and bistros catering to every craving in this sun-blessed city. The trendy Gaslamp Quarter delights visitors looking for a broad range of innovative and international dining and nightlife, while bustling Little Italy offers a mix of affordable Italian fare and posh new eateries. Modern restaurants and cafés thrive in East Village, amid the luxury condos near PETCO Park.
The Uptown neighborhoods centered on Hillcrest—an urbane district with San Francisco flavor—are a mix of bars and independent restaurants, many of which specialize in ethnic cuisine. North Park, in particular, has a happening restaurant and craft beer scene, with just about every kind of cuisine you can think of, and laid-back prices to boot. And scenic La Jolla offers some of the best fine dining in the city with dramatic water views as an added bonus.
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.
This outcrop of the Brigantine chain brings a modern vibe to Shelter Island with a beer-friendly menu as impressive as the harbor view. For a true San Diego dining experience, try the California tuna bowls, surf n’ turf fondue, or chili-glazed salmon with kale hash. There are plenty of gluten-free and vegan dishes to boot, including seafood salad, steamed clams, and crispy buffalo cauliflower. Weekend brunch (10–3) and daily Happy Hour (3–6), pack the house. For grab n’ go, swing by the walk-up window offering the same menu.
Perched on a rooftop in La Jolla, this café features a mindful menu of bowls, tacos, and other creative entrées that are all 100% organic, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. There's also a boutique with sustainable products and a yoga studio with aerial yoga, sound healing, and training workshops.
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