Eat
Marine Room
If your heart desires a breathtaking ocean view, there’s no better place than the Marine Room. This 83-year-old La Jolla mainstay is popular with locals and tourists alike. At high tide the waves often splash against the windows, creating an unforgettable display of what San Diego does best. Diners can enjoy a four-course prix fixe menu, live music and sunset toast, with an option to add on wine or cocktail pairings. In addition to High Tide Dinners, visitors can also try the traditional dinner menu with fresh, seasonal dishes and chef specials, or sip and savor the view in the Marine Room’s 30-seat lounge.
Where: 1950 Spindrift Drive., 1950 Spindrift Drive
George’s at the Cove
A certified La Jolla institution, George’s is practically synonymous with fine dining in La Jolla. The place is beloved not only for the food but for the stunning views from high above La Jolla Cove. Nationally renowned Executive Chef and partner Trey Foshee has been ensconced at the three-level restaurant for more than two decades; his culinary artistry is showcased mainly in George’s fine-dining room, California Modern. But make sure to venture up to the rooftop Ocean Terrace for fish tacos and amazing vistas of the glittering Pacific.
Where: 1250 Prospect St., La Jolla, CA 92037
Ambrogio by Acquerello
This La Jolla restaurant offers four- and eight-course tasting menus, featuring “new Italian” dishes infused with the diverse flavors of French, Asian and Californian cuisine. Led by chef Silvio Salmoiraghi (whose Ristorante Acquerello in Northern Italy has a Michelin star), Ambrogio offers traditional meat and vegetarian or vegan options. Guests can dine al fresco on the charming, heated patio or reserve a seat at the chef’s table in the restaurant’s private-kitchen living room.
Where: 7556 Fay Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037
Whaling Bar
After being shuttered for more than a decade, the Whaling Bar is back and better than ever. On any given night, you’ll find a buzzy scene at this iconic spot in La Valencia Hotel that serves lunch, happy hour, dinner and nightcaps. The bar’s dark, rich tones and moody lighting evoke the glamour and elegance of its storied past, while keeping original design details like Wing Howard’s beloved mural, “The Whaler’s Last Stand.” Must-trys include “the Whaler,” the bar’s signature cocktail, which was introduced in 1965 and is made with cognac, coffee Liqueur, Shanky’s Whip and homemade ice cream. Also noteworthy: the Caesar, made with executive chef Brian Redzikowski’s trademark “Twinkie” croutons stuffed with mascarpone cheese.
Where: 1132 Prospect St., La Jolla, CA 92037
Marisi
A San Diego Magazine pick for Best New Restaurant, Marisi serves up authentic Italian fare with a focus on woodfired-hearth cooking, expertly crafted cocktails, and the finest wines. Its space is exquisitely designed and delightfully romantic, featuring touches of pink throughout, an open-air patio with trailing vines, sweeping ceilings with arched walkways, and custom-branded wallpaper. Menu standouts include the daily handmade pastas, little gem Caesar, zucchini blossoms, prosciutto and pineapple, and focaccia, among many others. Marisi also serves a lemon drop martini mixed with traditional, housemade limoncello that takes six months to create. Saluti!
Where: 1044 Wall St., La Jolla, CA 92037
Nine-Ten
This La Jolla staple has been churning out some of the city’s best cuisine since it opened in 2001. Helmed by nationally recognized chef Jason Knibb, Nine-Ten (named after its address on Prospect Street) has consistently been voted Best Hotel Restaurant by San Diego Magazine and earned several nods from the team at Michelin Guide. Trusted classics on the rotating, seasonal menu include the Jamaican jerk pork belly and artfully plated hamachi sashimi. Guests also love the “Mercy of the Chef” six-course tasting menu, offered Wednesday–Sunday evenings. Nine-Ten is also open for breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. (No food service on Mondays and Tuesdays.)
Where: 910 Prospect St., La Jolla, CA 92037
Dodo Bird Donuts
Architectural Digest voted this sustainably focused Bird Rock café one of the Top 29 Most Beautifully Designed Coffee Shops in the World, and rest assured, there is no more stylish place to grab a latté and sweet treat. Set next door to its sister property, the upscale eatery Paradisea, Dodo dishes up delicious breakfast items like its breakfast burrito and avocado toast, as well as a savory lunch menu that includes favorites such as the Chinese chicken salad and a ridiculously good cheeseburger.
Where: 369 Bird Rock Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037
Paradisea
Il Buco Vita glassware, Baccarat votives, letterpress menus, engraved steak knives, tiki drinks named after beautiful birds, tropical florals overnighted from the Big Island … Paradisea is quite simply paradise and redefining what a luxury restaurant looks like. The Bird Rock hotspot earned a Michelin nod as a “New Discovery,” cementing its place among San Diego’s elite restaurants. Menu standouts include the market oysters, dry-aged crudo, grass-fed beef tartare, heirloom chicken ballotine, roasted carrots and other seasonal sides. But most guests opt for the five-course chef’s tasting menu. Enjoy live piano music every Wednesday and Sunday night —an ode to Paradisea’s past life as a piano showroom.
Where: 5680 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla, CA 92037
