Food at Addison, San Diego, California

Addison

The elegant setting, cuisine and 37,000-bottle wine list at the Addison make a meal here a truly special affair. Gusts will be treated to a culinary journey highlighting seasonal, local ingredients mixed with French influences. The menu changes frequently at this outstanding restaurant at Fairmont Del Mar, and ranges from “carte-blanche” to the lavish 10-course chef’s tasting menu —past dishes have included coffee-roasted canard with koshihikari rice, candied peanuts and albufera sauce and langoustine with caviar, parsley and vermouth.

Editors' Picks
Bar at Blind Lady Alehouse, San Diego, California

Blind Lady Alehouse

This modern-day tavern in Normal Heights has a cult following for its craft beers and wood-fired pizzas. Guests will appreciate the attention to detail and high-quality ingredients, including farmers market produce, cured meats from Italy and pint glasses engineered to keep beer cool until the last sip.

Born & Raised

Walking into this glamorous steakhouse is much like stepping into the Roaring Twenties, serving delicious cuts of steak.

Buona Forchetta

Buona Forchetta is an indisputable favorite of tourists and locals alike (and for good reason), serving wood-fired pizza and fresh pasta.

Donna Jean

This plant-based gourmet restaurant has been on the rise recently. Donna Jean hammers in that it is certainly not a health food restaurant.

El Pescador Fish Market

This San Diego landmark has a relaxed yet refined atmosphere and has been serving fresh fish from local fishermen for decades.
Food at Galaxy Taco, San Diego, California

Galaxy Taco

It’s easy to overlook Galaxy Taco as you drive down Avenida de la Playa; despite its bright exterior, the little Mexican restaurant is hidden behind a building—out of sight, just the way the locals want it. As La Jolla Beach’s well-kept secret, Galaxy Taco serves some of the best tacos in the city that’s known for its superb Mexican food. The eatery prides itself on its high-quality ingredients, from its fresh-pressed tortillas to its mouthwatering salsa, and is perfect for a low-key lunch during a day at the nearby La Jolla Beaches.

George's at the Cove

This three-floor restaurant with ocean views offers a casual rooftop terrace, a craft cocktail-focused gastrobar and a fine-dining restaurant.

Herb & Wood

The whimsical decoration complements the drama of the meals here, making Herb & Wood a cool first stop for a night on the town.
Dinning Area at Ironside Fish & Oyster Bar, San Diego, California - Courtesy Roxanne Edwards

Ironside Fish & Oyster Bar

Fresh, delicious seafood and inventive cocktails are only part of the draw of Ironside Fish & Oyster Bar. The quirky and imaginative interior of this renovated 1920s warehouse, with its 14-foot copper bar, silver octopus bowl of chilled Champagne and piranha skull wall, make this a unique dining experience. The menu changes frequently but is guaranteed not to disappoint—guests can choose from dishes like fried oyster sliders, beer-braised mussels, and one-pound lobster rolls or the raw bar, which offers fresh oysters, crabs, mussels and more.

Food at Juniper & Ivy, San Diego, California - Courtesy CeCe Canton

Juniper & Ivy

This modern warehouse with a rustic twist is an ideal setting for acclaimed chef Richard Blais’s “refined American fare with a left coast edge.” Highlights of the frequently changing diverse menu include black mission fig toast, pork and prawn rigatoni, white shrimp with papaya and fresno chili and the off-menu “In-n-Haute” burger, a play on the iconic California In-n-Out fast food chain’s burger.

Little Lion Cafe

This small cafe in Ocean Beach is one of the city's best brunch spots. An easy-to-miss building, the only people here are those in-the-know.

Noble Experiment

The name is a reference to 1920s Prohibition, but there is no shortage of spirits or hospitality at this speakeasy. Entry must be stealthily made from inside of Neighborhood, an upscale burger joint. Once the secret door has been uncovered (next to the restroom), guests enter the pint-sized space where they can enjoy such cocktails as the Duke & Duchess, made with sherry, allspice bitters and muddled citrus, the Rattlesnake, made with absinthe, egg whites, and lemon, and Penicillin, made with Laphroaig Scotch, honey and ginger. Tip: Reservations must be made in advance by text. Noble Experiment is typically booked more than a week in advance.

Food at Nomad Donuts, San Diego, California

Nomad Donuts

The rotating roster of donuts at this North Park bakery includes tiramisu, passionfruit malasada, raspberry lavender, Thai peanut butter lemongrass as well as standards like vanilla bean-glazed and chocolate-glazed. The global palate represented is a nod to the three owners’ backgrounds having roots in South Africa, Europe and the Philippines between them. The coffee is excellent, too.

Editors' Picks

Oscar’s Mexican Seafood

A must-try for Mexican is Oscars Mexican Seafood in Pacific Beach. The seafood tacos and ceviche are perfect after a long day at the beach.
Interiors at Polite Provisions, San Diego, California

Polite Provisions

This neighborhood bar is an ode to the corner soda fountains of yester-year. The expansive menu includes spirited cocktails such as the Kentucky Buck (bourbon, lemon, strawberry and housemade ginger beer) and Pine Street Sour (rye whiskey, lemon, grapefruit, pineapple and Campari) as well as wines on draft and local beers.

Editors' Picks
Bar at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens,  San Diego, California

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens

One of the largest breweries in the country, the World Bistro and Gardens led the way in the craft beer revolution of the 1990’s by refusing to join the ‘Macro-brew’ trend. The craft brewery feels like a German biergarten (with lots of outdoor space and even bocce ball), and the menu boasts world-class IPAs as well as tasty bar fare. With a prime location near the airport and downtown, this is the perfect first taste of the city that pioneered craft beer.

Sushi Ota

This low-key sushi spot is owned by celebrated Japanese Chef Ota, who worked in some of the best restaurants in Kobe, Tokyo and Osaka before moving to San Diego in 1982 to open his own. Impressed by the quality of the local uni (the Japanese word for sea urchin), Ota has perfected the dish, which has remained one of the restaurant’s best for nearly three decades. While Sushi Ota’s location is hardly a draw—the store is in an unassuming strip mall just off the interstate of Mission Bay—the food itself is well worth the jaunt. There’s a great deal of ornamentality to the preparation, as the prawns are pulled apart in view of the sushi bar, and dishes come adorned with a deep fried shrimp head (or even an entire sea urchin).

The Godfather

Hidden by a name that sounds cliché, this family-owned, romantic eatery is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Reminiscent of 1950’s Sicily, the Godfather’s dining room is dark and velvety, and the ambiance is complete with formally-dressed waiters and live piano music. The menu boasts recipes steeped in family tradition, making the restaurant ideal for those craving a classic (and utterly delicious) Italian meal.

Food at The Red Door, San Diego, California

The Red Door

Committed to sustainability, owners Tom and Trish Watlington take farm-to-table to new heights in this cozy neighborhood restaurant and wine bar. Their own garden produces more than 6,000 pounds of veggies each year for this Mission Hills restaurant, which has a serene aura about it. The menu changes seasonally based on what’s growing in the garden, but favorites include vegan nachos, roasted beet and squash blossom salad and lamb meatballs with pistachio and chimichurri.

Bar at The Tipsy Crow, San Diego, California

The Tipsy Crow

Located in one of the oldest buildings in the city,  San Diego’s longest-standing beverage dispensary is complete with a bar, library lounge and underground comedy club. Its prime location in the Gaslamp Quarter (also its unmistakable yellow-painted exterior) make the Tipsy Crow a must for those in search of a lively happy hour. The main bar features a ‘Drink Exchange,’ a play on the Stock Exchange, which sets drink prices according to which ones are popular at that time (meaning you can try some of San Diego’s world-famous craft beers for the price of a Bud Light). It’s great fun, even if you don’t care about the small difference in cost.

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Wayfarer Bread & Pastry

Located in the quiet coastal community of Bird Rock, Wayfarer serves up some incredible pastries (don't miss the cinnamon rolls).

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