16 upscale rooms in San Diego, editor-picked. occasion rooms in San Diego — destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All San Diego food.
Herb and Wood ★ 4.6
little-italy · 2210 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Herb and Wood in San Diego is Brian Malarkey's Kettner Boulevard room in Little Italy, a rustic wood-fired Mediterranean kitchen with a courtyard patio and a large indoor hearth.
Tip: The covered patio is the move on warmer evenings; the bar runs full menu for walk-ins.
Juniper and Ivy ★ 4.6
little-italy · 2228 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Juniper and Ivy in San Diego is Top Chef alumnus Richard Blais's Kettner Boulevard room in a 1920s sawtooth warehouse, the modernist Californian kitchen that opened in 2014.
Tip: Anthony Wells now runs the kitchen day to day; the snack menu at the bar is the most affordable entry.
Cesarina ★ 4.6
point-loma · 4161 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107
Cesarina in San Diego is Cesarina Mezzoni's Point Loma trattoria on Voltaire Street, a glass-walled pastificio where you can watch hand-rolled eggless pasta being made through the window.
Tip: The eggless dough is unusual; ask for it explicitly if you want the canonical Cesarina experience.
Sushi Tadokoro ★ 4.6
old-town · 2244 San Diego Ave, Ste C, San Diego, CA 92110
Sushi Tadokoro in San Diego is Mitsui Tadokoro's Old Town omakase counter, the long-running Michelin Guide-listed Japanese kitchen with traditional Tokyo-style preparation.
Tip: Reservations strongly recommended; the counter seats twelve and books out a week ahead.
Ironside Fish and Oyster ★ 4.5
little-italy · 1654 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Ironside Fish and Oyster in San Diego is Consortium Holdings' India Street raw bar in Little Italy, with a piranha-skull-clad back wall and an extensive Pacific and East Coast oyster list.
Tip: Happy hour at the bar runs $2 oysters Mon-Fri 3pm-5pm; the back patio gets sun until 7pm.
Trust Restaurant ★ 4.5
hillcrest · 3752 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92103
Trust Restaurant in San Diego is Brad Wise's Hillcrest neighborhood room since 2016, the small-plates wood-fire kitchen that anchors Wise's Trust Restaurant Group.
Tip: Book counter seats for the open-fire kitchen view; the Group also runs Fort Oak and Rare Society if Trust is full.
Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens Escondido ★ 4.5
escondido · 1999 Citracado Pkwy, Escondido, CA 92029
Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens in Escondido is Stone's flagship destination brewery and restaurant since 2006, the one-acre beer garden, 36-tap room and farm-driven kitchen.
Tip: Take the brewery tour at 1pm before lunch; the back garden is the move on warm afternoons.
Kettner Exchange ★ 4.4
little-italy · 2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Kettner Exchange in San Diego is the Brian Malarkey-designed rooftop dining room on Kettner Boulevard in Little Italy, a tri-level space with a covered indoor-outdoor terrace.
Tip: Brunch on the rooftop runs Saturday and Sunday; book the terrace, not the indoor dining room.
Davanti Enoteca ★ 4.4
little-italy · 1655 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Davanti Enoteca in San Diego is the Scott Harris Hospitality Italian trattoria on India Street, a Northern Italian wine-bar room with house-made pasta and the Genoese focaccia di Recco.
Tip: Walk-ins are taken at the bar; book the patio for warmer nights and the Saturday Mercato crowd-watching.
Ironside Fish and Oyster ★ 4.4
little-italy · 1654 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Ironside Fish and Oyster in San Diego is the Little Italy raw bar from Consortium Holdings, an India Street room with a piranha-skull installation and a wide Pacific-and-East-Coast oyster list.
Tip: Happy hour at the bar runs $2 oysters Mon-Fri 3-5pm; the back patio gets sun until 7pm.
Trust Restaurant ★ 4.4
hillcrest · 3752 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92103
Trust Restaurant in San Diego is Brad Wise's Hillcrest small-plates wood-fire kitchen since 2016, the room that anchors the Trust Restaurant Group.
Tip: Book counter seats for the open-fire kitchen view; Fort Oak and Rare Society are the sister rooms.
Cesarina ★ 4.4
point-loma · 4161 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107
Cesarina in San Diego is Cesarina Mezzoni's Point Loma trattoria on Voltaire Street, a glass-walled pastificio where hand-rolled eggless pasta is made through the window.
Tip: The eggless dough is unusual; ask for it explicitly if you want the canonical Cesarina experience.
Davanti Enoteca ★ 4.3
little-italy · 1655 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
Davanti Enoteca in San Diego is Scott Harris Hospitality's Northern Italian wine bar on India Street, with house-made pasta and the rare Genoese focaccia di Recco.
Tip: Walk-ins are taken at the bar; book the patio for warmer nights and Saturday Mercato crowd-watching.
Kettner Exchange ★ 4.3
little-italy · 2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Kettner Exchange in San Diego is the Brian Malarkey-designed rooftop dining room on Kettner Boulevard, a tri-level space with a covered indoor-outdoor terrace and modern-American menu.
Tip: Brunch on the rooftop runs Saturday and Sunday; book the terrace, not the indoor room.
Bali Hai Restaurant ★ 4.2
shelter-island · 2230 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92106
Bali Hai Restaurant in San Diego is the 1955 Shelter Island Tiki institution, with a sprawling Polynesian dining room, a boat dock and the city's most famous Mai Tai pour.
Tip: Sunday brunch is the value play; book a window for sunset over the marina and Point Loma.
Bali Hai Restaurant ★ 4.0
shelter-island · 2230 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92106
Bali Hai Restaurant in San Diego is the 1955 Shelter Island Tiki institution, a sprawling Polynesian dining room with a boat dock, mai tai pour and unobstructed downtown skyline view.
Tip: Sunday brunch is the value play; book a window for sunset over the marina and Point Loma.