18 splurge rooms in San Diego, editor-picked. tasting menus and the full big-night-out treatment in San Diego. All San Diego food.
Addison ★ 4.9
carmel-valley · 5200 Grand Del Mar Way, San Diego, CA 92130
Addison in San Diego is William Bradley's three-Michelin-star tasting room at Fairmont Grand Del Mar, the only three-star kitchen in Southern California.
Tip: Tasting menu only; book six weeks ahead, jacket preferred. Pair with a Grand Del Mar overnight if the budget allows it.
Soichi Sushi ★ 4.8
north-park · 2121 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
Soichi Sushi in San Diego is Soichi Kadoya's Michelin-starred (since 2022) omakase room in University Heights, an intimate counter with a six-piece omakase.
Tip: Two omakase seatings nightly; book three weeks ahead on Tock for either.
Addison ★ 4.8
5200 Grand Del Mar Way, San Diego, CA 92130
Addison in San Diego is William Bradley's three-Michelin-star tasting room at Fairmont Grand Del Mar, the only three-star kitchen in Southern California.
Tip: Jacket preferred; book six weeks ahead. Pair with an overnight at Grand Del Mar to extend the night.
Born and Raised ★ 4.7
little-italy · 1909 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Born and Raised in San Diego is Consortium Holdings' Art Deco steakhouse on India Street in Little Italy, with tableside Caesars, a martini cart.
Tip: Book the rooftop for Pacific sunsets; the martini cart only runs the main dining room downstairs.
Sushi Ota ★ 4.7
pacific-beach · 4529 Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
Sushi Ota in San Diego is Yukito Ota's Mission Bay Drive room since 1990, the strip-mall sushi counter that has trained more San Diego sushi chefs than any.
Tip: Book the counter, not the dining room. The strip-mall location is intentional; ignore the parking lot and step inside.
Soichi Sushi ★ 4.7
north-park · 2121 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
Soichi Sushi in San Diego is the one-Michelin-star University Heights omakase counter under Soichi Kadoya, serving Tokyo-style nigiri with local Pacific fish.
Tip: Counter seating only; book on Tock three weeks ahead for the 6pm or 8:30pm seatings.
The Marine Room ★ 4.6
la-jolla · 2000 Spindrift Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037
The Marine Room in La Jolla is Bernard Guillas's coastal fine-dining room at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club since 1994, with waves breaking on the glass.
Tip: Check the king-tide calendar at marineroom.com for the dramatic high-tide nights; book the window six weeks ahead.
George's at the Cove ★ 4.6
la-jolla · 1250 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
George's at the Cove in La Jolla is George Hauer's three-level Prospect Street institution since 1984: George's Level2 fine dining upstairs.
Tip: Book Ocean Terrace at sunset for the casual ocean-view version; Level2 is the fine-dining tasting menu room.
Jeune et Jolie ★ 4.6
2659 State St, Carlsbad, CA 92008
Jeune et Jolie in Carlsbad is Eric Bost's one-Michelin-star French bistro on State Street since 2018, the nouvelle-French dining room flooded in shades.
Tip: A la carte at the bar runs many of the same dishes for walk-ins; the prix fixe is the deepest experience.
Mister A's ★ 4.5
bankers-hill · 2550 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, San Diego, CA 92103
Mister A's in San Diego is the 12th-floor Bankers Hill rooftop room atop the Manchester Financial Building, with panoramic views of the bay.
Tip: Reserve a window booth at sunset; planes from the airport tip directly toward the room during the descent.
Cowboy Star ★ 4.5
east-village · 640 10th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Cowboy Star in San Diego is the East Village steakhouse and butcher shop on 10th Avenue, with an in-house dry-aging programme, an oyster bar and one.
Tip: The butcher shop sells the same cuts at retail; if the menu is booked, buy and cook at home.
A.R. Valentien ★ 4.5
11480 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037
A.R. Valentien in La Jolla is the farm-to-table dining room at The Lodge at Torrey Pines, a Michelin-Guide-listed Californian kitchen with its own herb.
Tip: Book the patio at golden hour for the Pacific-and-fairway view; Wednesday's Garden Dinner is the deepest value.
The Marine Room ★ 4.4
2000 Spindrift Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037
The Marine Room in La Jolla is Bernard Guillas's coastal fine-dining room at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club since 1994, with waves breaking.
Tip: Check the king-tide calendar at marineroom.com; book a window six weeks ahead for the most dramatic nights.
Born and Raised ★ 4.4
1909 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Born and Raised in San Diego is Consortium Holdings' Art Deco steakhouse on India Street in Little Italy, with tableside Caesars, a martini cart.
Tip: Book the rooftop for Pacific sunsets; the martini cart only runs the main dining room downstairs.
George's at the Cove ★ 4.3
1250 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
George's at the Cove in La Jolla is George Hauer's Prospect Street institution since 1984, with the Level2 fine-dining room upstairs and Ocean Terrace.
Tip: Book Level2 for the tasting menu; Ocean Terrace is the casual upstairs option for sunset and a margarita.
Juniper and Ivy ★ 4.2
2228 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Juniper and Ivy in San Diego is Top Chef alumnus Richard Blais's Little Italy modernist Californian room since 2014, a 1920s sawtooth warehouse with Anthony.
Tip: Snack menu at the bar is the cheapest way into the kitchen; book Wednesdays for the tasting-menu option.
Mille Fleurs ★ 4.1
6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe is Bertrand Hug's French-Californian dining room since 1985, with chef Martin Woesle running a market-driven menu.
Tip: The room is country-French traditional; jacket appropriate. The 11:30am Friday lunch is the value play.
Animae ★ 4.0
969 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101
Animae in San Diego is Brian Malarkey's Asian-inspired Wagyu steakhouse on Pacific Highway, a downtown waterfront room serving A5 Japanese beef and chef Tara.
Tip: Book a window for the Embarcadero view; the bar program runs an extensive Japanese whisky list.