What’s New in San Diego, Spring 2025
Attractions & Events
Seaworld San Diego welcomes Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience on March 15. The long-awaited exhibit will feature a first of its kind immersive experience. Visitors will be met with an interactive underwater aquarium, featuring the tallest jellyfish tanks in the nation and will display several varieties of live jellyfish and teach about conservation. The park has also announced its first annual Fins and Flippers 5k running and walking event for families and children. The event will take place on April 13 and invites participants of all ages to run/walk a 3.1-mile course through the park and Mission Bay.
The first ever home game for the San Diego FC kicks off against Saint Louis City FC on March 1 at Snapdragon Stadium. All fans in attendance of the inaugural home opener will receive a commemorative scarf. The celebration will also include pre-match musical performances, the introduction of the club’s pre-match tradition, and special in-game moments to mark the beginning of a new era in San Diego’s sports history.
Explore the beauty of the orchid during “World of Orchids” at San Diego Botanic Garden, on display from May 3 to June 1. The exhibition will be staged in the Garden’s state-of-the-art, 8,000 square foot, glass-enclosed facility, and will feature impressive orchid specimens, locally bred hybrids, and rare species plants displayed in unique and unexpected ways.
To celebrate the start of the spring season, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa will host its second annual Garden Party on April 16. Attendees are encouraged to don their finest floral attire and join in for a whimsical afternoon filled with artful culinary creations brimming with botanical flair, colorful garden-inspired cocktails and bubbly, unique finds from beloved local vendors and much more.
Support local women makers by shopping at the Female Makers Market, held in Little Italy once a month in 2025. The market is hosted in the Piazza della Famiglia and offers goods from women-owned businesses ranging from handmade goods, trendy fashion, wellness products, and unique gifts.
The 29th annual ShamROCK Music + Beer Festival will return to the Gaslamp Quarter on March 15. Revelers are encouraged to wear their finest green apparel and can expect Celtic rock bands, Irish dance performances, traditional Irish fare and plenty of libations.
The 19th annual La Jolla Concours d’Elegance is back April 25-27. Set along the shores of La Jolla, this three-day event will highlight the legacy of automotive mascots and features exclusive soirées, private collection tours, and public displays of classic cars. The festival’s theme this year is “Mascots in Motion,” spotlighting the legacy of automotive hood mascots.
Downtown Chula Vista will host its annual Taste of Third food festival on March 20 offering a lively evening of global flavors, live music, and community connection. Attendees can experience flavorful bites from local businesses and live music all along Third Avenue at their own pace with a Taste Passport.
New Hotels & Renovations
The former Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside has announced that it has joined the Hilton portfolio and has reopened to guests as Double Tree by Hilton San Diego Bayside. In addition, the property has been transformed with a full $5 million renovation, including renovations to the lobby, guest rooms, restaurant, fitness center and exterior, and welcomes the addition of two new meetings spaces for guests.
The Fairmont Grand Del Mar has partnered with Taktika Padel to bring padel sports to its guests and the community with the addition of new paddle courts. The courts will add to the numerous outdoor activities and amenities currently available at the resort, including pickleball and tennis. Taktika’s championship coaching staff will provide private lessons, group clinics, leagues, tournaments and events.
The Bower Coronado, one of Coronado’s first new developments in decades, will open this spring. The hotel takes a unique approach to hospitality with transaction-free arrivals and offers custom-built itineraries for guests. The architecture and design embrace the Japanese wabi-sabi philosophy of perfection imperfection, emphasizing natural materials and serene aesthetics in homage to its location on the historic grounds of John D. Spreckels' Japanese tea garden. The Bower will also feature Coronado’s first and only rooftop bar and restaurant, Dive, which will offer panoramic views from Point Loma to Mexico.
The Manchester Grand Hyatt is preparing to reopen the newly renovated Sally’s waterfront restaurant this March. Designed with nautical-inspired elements, the reimagined space offers a Baja Med-inspired menu by Chef Alvaro Garcia, featuring dishes like grilled octopus, ceviche, and premium aged local beef. Guests can enjoy mezcal and tequila-based cocktails while taking in stunning views of San Diego Bay from the expanded outdoor terrace.
Arts & Culture
The San Diego Museum of Art’s Art Alive returns April 24-27, celebrating art and architecture with nearly 100 vibrant floral displays inspired by paintings, sculptures, and, for the first time, architectural designs. The event kicks off with the tenth edition of Bloom Bash, a lively celebration featuring large-scale festivities.
Oceanside Museum of Art presents In Losing Sleep, I Painted, a solo exhibition by Mary Jhun from March 15 to June 15, exploring the connection between sleep, psychology, and creativity. Jhun’s surreal works interweave plant biology, architecture, and her signature figures, The Girls, as emotional self-portraits reflecting shifting identities and perceptions of reality. A self-taught Filipino artist known for her murals across California, Jhun will also be featured in the SoCal Asian & Pacific Islander Festival on April 26, as OMA continues its mission to inspire community through art.
The San Diego Natural History Museum is set to debut The Paleo Center, a new state-of-the-art exhibition where visitors can get an up-close view of an active processing center, see interesting collections and talk to scientists on the spot. The exhibit will open to the public this Memorial Day weekend.
The Mingei International Museum is launching six new exhibitions this spring celebrating diverse cultural expressions through craft and design. Highlights include Fashioning an Icon, which explores the Virgin of Guadalupe in textile art, Historic Footprints, showcasing Native American ledger drawings, and Across the Spooniverse, featuring spoons as cultural artifacts. Other exhibitions focus on student craft, Centennial-era quilts reflecting race and gender narratives, and a playful display of armadillo-inspired folk art.
The U.S. premiere of the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder: Where Science Meets Fiction exhibit at San Diego’s Comic-Con Museum opens March 15. The exhibit features original props and set pieces, offering fans a chance to explore iconic characters and worlds from the series while delving into the real-life science behind the show’s fantastical concepts like time travel and AI. Highlights include a Time Vortex Corridor, TARDIS Tech Room, and a Monster Vault.
The La Jolla Playhouse presents its next world premiere production with 3 Summers of Lincoln showing February 18-March 23. This gripping new musical tells the inspirational story of one of the most important friendships in our nation’s history, and a divided country coming together. And on April 24-27, the annual WOW Festival, presented by The Playhouse in partnership with UC San Diego, will take art beyond traditional theater walls and into unique spaces. The festival promises four action-packed days of immersive theatre, dance, music, puppetry, spectacle events, and more by local, national, and international artists.
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) has announced their Spring programming with the debut of two moving art exhibits. In March, An Artful Life: A Tribute to Matthew C. Strauss will unveil the private modern art collection of San Diego native and philanthropist Matthew Strauss and his wife Iris, who served MCASD and the San Diego Arts Commision, respectively. In April, MCASD will present Yan Pei-Ming: A Burial in Shanghai, an epic cycle of paintings by Chinese-born artist Yan Pei-Ming.
Restaurants, Breweries & Bars
Entering its 13th year, The Lion’s Share is now led by Executive Chef Dante Romero, of Two Ducks and previously of Wormwood. With the help of Sous Chef Xavier Verdugo, Dante has reintroduced a refreshed menu applying his signature marriage of classic French techniques and Mexican/Southern Californian culinary influences, while staying true to the restaurant’s highly lauded menu of exotic fare, centered on high-quality, seasonal ingredients and wild game.
Chef Phillip Esteban, creator of White Rice and Open Gym San Diego, has now opened Wildflour Delicatessen in Liberty Station. Inspired by its namesake in the Philippines, Wildflour focuses on local ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu features house-cured meats, fresh bread, and standout dishes like steak tartare and eggs on toast and pistachio tiramisu. The restaurant also offers a curated coffee program by Jocelyn Farinas and Provecho Coffee, a full bar with natural wines, and a modern California-inspired space spanning over 4,200 square feet with multiple patios.
Westfield UTC recently welcomed Melo Melo to its growing list of offerings. The specialty cafe offers a wide array of coconut jellies with flavors from mango to avocado. Melo Melo is also committed to sourcing the freshest ingredients in all of their jellies and smoothies. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has also recently opened its doors to the public. The ice cream shop is known for crafting dairy and vegan ice creams with out-of-the-box flavors such as Hidden Valley Ranch and Kraft Mac n Cheese.
6th and G Breakfast Co. will open in Downtown San Diego in the former Fig Tree Cafe space this March. 6th & G will offer a dynamic atmosphere designed to enhance the downtown experience with a menu and vibe tailored to the neighborhood’s vibrant spirit. Menu items include Birria Benedict, Carrot Cake Pancakes, Waffle Pops available in four unique flavors, and Guava French Toast.
The team behind Madison on Park is launching three new projects this spring, bringing diverse dining experiences to San Diego. Sonny’s will introduce a 1980s Brooklyn-inspired pizza spot in University Heights, serving pastas, pizzas, and Italian-American classics alongside natural wines and amaros. A second location of their popular brunch spot Madi will open in Pacific Beach, featuring California-meets-Mediterranean dishes like Waffle Churro Sticks and White Bean Shakshuka. Meanwhile, Hillcrest will welcome a yet-to-be-named diner concept inspired by classic American diners and partner Matt Sieve’s Midwestern roots.
The recently opened Flora brings a fresh and vibrant bistro experience to North Park. Led by husband-and-wife team Nino Cusimano and Ocean Mohamadi, Flora is a passion project born from their shared love of food, travel, and community. Serving both brunch and dinner, the restaurant combines eclectic flavors with a lively ambiance, adding to the neighborhood’s dynamic culinary scene.
Little Victory Wine Bar is slated to open in Carlsbad this March. Little Victory will be a natural wine bar inspired by the modern caves and bistros of Paris and Copenhagen, serving wines made with minimal intervention from both the new and old world with a focus on emerging and exciting producers. The food program will be led by husband-and-wife duo, chefs Elliot and Kelly Townsend, previously of Long Story Short in North Park. Food offerings will consist of seasonal small plates and shareable items that highlight local farms and their farmers.
Awards and Recognitions
Roma Norte has been named a 2025 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Best New Bar, one of two in the state of California. Opened by the team behind Puesto and Marisi last July, Roma Norte blends the electric energy of Mexico City’s cocktail culture with Latin American flavors, offering expertly crafted drinks and small plates at The Headquarters at Seaport Village.
Chefs Tara Monsod, of Animae and Le Coq, and Roberto Alcocer, of the Michelin-starred Valle in Oceanside, were nominated for the James Beard Best Chef: California award. Monsod was nominated in 2024 and named a finalist for the category.
Transportation
North Park and City Heights now have a new, free transportation option with the launch of Mid-City GO! The City Heights Community Development Center, in partnership with the California Energy Commission and California Climate Investments, has introduced this program to provide community members with free on-demand shuttle rides between the two neighborhoods. Funded through the Clean Mobility Options (CMO) Voucher Pilot Program, this initiative is part of broader state efforts to reduce emissions, improve public health, and expand access to clean transportation in communities.
Porter Airlines recently debuted its first nonstop flight from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Toronto-Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Porter Airlines will offer four-weekly nonstop flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
The Department of Transportation also approved Alaska Airlines’ proposal to offer nonstop flights from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). San Diego, with its large military presence, will now have nonstop access to the closest airport to the nation's capital.
Japan Airlines has announced it will resume daily flights between San Diego (SAN) and Narita (NRT) for the Spring and Summer season, for the first time since pre pandemic. The airlines will also switch aircrafts for these flights, giving passengers the option of premium economy.
A federal grant was recently awarded to the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency to add more Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains between Los Angeles and San Diego, increasing service to 13 daily roundtrips. This expansion, which includes two new trains debuting in March and a third by November, aims to restore the service to pre-pandemic levels and improve transportation options along the busy Southern California corridor.
For more information on San Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority’s website at www.sandiego.org.
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