Mentioned by Fodor’s Travel
Top Restaurants in San Diego
"Visit Bertrand at Mister A’s primarily for the panoramic view of Hillcrest, Midtown, and Downtown. Sip your drink and become one with the city of San Diego. They serve lip-smacking American cuisine with French and Mediterranean influence."
"2550 Fifth Ave 12th floor, San Diego, CA 92103 (619)-239-1377. Mister A’s has a lovely view of the city and the bay view. The view gets even better close to sunset."
"Top Chef alum Richard Blais has crafted a menu of ethically sourced free-range chicken and egg dishes, so—even though you're not tucking into the healthiest meal—you can at least feel good about what you're eating. There are veggie-dense salads and power bowls packed with quinoa, but that's not what you're here for: Crack Shack is all about the fried chicken, both in sandwich and standalone form. There are also fried chicken adjacent items like deviled eggs and chicken fat fries."
"With an all-star chef at the helm, nearly every menu item features free-range, organic chicken marinated to juicy perfection. You’ll also find sides like deviled eggs, Schmaltz fries, and mini biscuits. If you have time, you can hang out and play a game of bocce ball, or pull up to the bar for a craft beer."
"The Crack Shack is my most favorite place to go with the kids. They have a sandbox with toys, a chalk board easel, giant connect four and plenty of outdoor space for kids to run around. Not to mention, the food is excellent and their craft cocktails are a real treat."
"San Diego's culinary scene reached new heights with the opening of Juniper & Ivy. Led by "Top Chef: All-Stars" winner Richard Blais and the team at Juniper Hospitality, the popular modern American restaurant sits in a converted 1920s sawtooth warehouse in the Little Italy neighborhood. Blais' innovative approach to cooking and cuisine is a hit with locals."
"What is it: This lively upscale restaurant is the centerpiece of San Diego’s food and drink-obsessed Little Italy. Why go: The airy dining room here continues to be packed out by locals, thanks to chef Anthony Wells' continually shifting, inventive menu. We're talking delicious small plates and culinary-inspired cocktails."
"With headphones for little aviators to listen to the air traffic control and pilots communicate and plenty of room for a large party, land at this iconic San Diego restaurant for a celebration meal. Let the crew watch the planes and helicopters take-off while you eat up fare from prime rib to shrimp and scallop fettuccine. There's a Little Pilot's menu with mini cheeseburgers and mac n' cheese."
"With a vintage aviation theme and home inside a replica WWI French farmhouse overlooking Montgomery Field Airport, 94th Aero Squadron is a unique space for brunch."
"The creative French-American bistro serving goat meatballs and braised short ribs draws a dedicated following to this casually elegant neighbourhood spot in North Park. The reasonable prices, including select bottles of wine offered at half-price on Wednesdays, and warm service helps to make it worth the trek from further afield. The Smoking Goat has an upscale farmhouse vibe with exposed-brick walls and a seasonal menu."
"Although the Smoking Goat is credited with pioneering a culinary renaissance in a once-sleepy corner of North Park, nothing else about chef Fred Piehl’s flagship restaurant screams “culinary vanguard”—and that’s..."
"Everything from the scallops, octopus, and steak were so delicious, but the real surprise was how amazing the swordfish was."
"Heading up most of San Diego’s “New Best of” lists, Spill the Beans Coffee and Bagels is a simple, yet delicious coffee concept sharing a space downtown with Smoking Gun, a neighborhood restaurant and bar. Pouring fresh cups of Dark Horse coffee in a sleek and modern setting, it’s also serving made from scratch bagels in flavors like pear, vanilla and cinnamon with artisan-compounded butter or house-made cream cheeses. Photo:Adam Szafranski"
"The best bagel in San Diego & I have tried A LOT OF BAGELS IN SD. I have an obsession with bagels, so trust me when I tell you- this is the spot. They have tons of different bagel sandwiches, SO many interesting cream cheese flavors, & the drinks are also amazing. My go to order is Lox, Stock, & Bagel sandwich but I replace the wasabi ginger cream cheese for caramelized shallot & chive & then I get the lavendar chai w/ macadamia nut milk."
"This parakeet wall-covered cafe is located in the seaside town of La Jolla. It's a cute little cafe with an all-day breakfast menu and a ton of healthy food options. We really enjoyed their turmeric latte and gluten-free matcha waffles."
"There seems to be a trend in San Diego to have cute tropical shops decorated in pink and green!. The Parakeet seems to follow this trend, but they have added parakeets into their decor!. Again, this is a super cute spot!"
"Parakeet Cafe has a few different locations, each with a slightly different aesthetic. Another vegan-friendly location, there is something for everyone to eat here."
"You will find grassy greenfields, attractive architecture plus columns. There is also a wooded hilltop overlooking the San Diego Bay from that perfect angle where you can catch the sun setting about everything. What a gorgeous place to have your landscape photography!"
"This historic park overlooks Old Town San Diego and is the location of the original mission Presidio. None of the original buildings remain, but the 40-acre park is home to panoramic views over the city, walking trails, and many places to picnic. (Location: Old Town)"
"A historical fort established on May 14, 1769, the Presidio was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Coast."
"Tide Beach Park is located approximately 1/2 mile north of Fletcher Cove at Solana Vista and Highway 101. The beach itself is primarily known for its large reef, or “Table Tops,” and its San Diego tide pools. Lifeguards are on duty there during the summer months."