The Best San Diego Restaurants With a View to Add to Your Foodie Bucket List
After a day of sun and fun working and living in San Diego, you’ve probably worked up an appetite. Well, you’re in luck because San Diego plays host to hundreds of different dining options across an array of different cuisine types. This includes four 1-star and one 3-star Michelin-rated restaurants.
But if you’re looking to really elevate your dining experience, you’ll want to find the best San Diego restaurants with a view. These restaurants are ideal for everything from date nights to special occasions.
Ready to find out where to dine in San Diego? Keep reading below for more info.
Catania
In the mood for Italian food with a view? Then this Italian-inspired eatery located in the scenic La Jolla community is worth checking out. Catania is one of the best San Diego restaurants with a view because it sits atop the third floor of the La Plaza shopping center, giving you panoramic ocean views while you dine.
Come to Catania for lunch, dinner, dessert, and drinks. Try signature menu items like Whole Roasted Branzino, Grilled Swordfish Puttanesca, Wood-Grilled Lamb Rack Chops, and a selection of handmade pasta. Or go for one of 7 different wood-fired pizza options cooked in a 5,000-pound wood-burning oven for an authentic Italian taste.
Catania is also a prime special occasion restaurant in San Diego. Throw intimate cocktail parties in the bar or book the full restaurant for up to 125 people.
The Marine Room
The aptly named Marine Room restaurant in La Jolla is one of the best San Diego restaurants with a view for good reason. Their use of large picture windows puts guests front and center for dinner and a show. They can experience watching massive waves crash into the windows during High Tide dinners.
Guests can enjoy fine dining with signature seafood dishes in the main dining room, such as King Salmon and Alaskan Halibut. Or splurge on Surf and Turf Center-Cut Filet Mignon and Main Lobster Tail and Japanse A5 Waygu Ribeye from the Chef’s Specials.
Meanwhile, The Longue area offers a more laid-back dining experience with cocktails and small plate menu items like dry-aged Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio, Spanish Octopus, and Morrocan Lamb Lollipops.
Valle Restaurant
San Diego is known for its plethora of Mexican food options, Valle Restaurant in the Oceanside area is the only Mexican restaurant in San Diego to be awarded a Michelin star. Although it’s on the pricier side, Valle offers an 8-course seasonal prix-fixe menu for guests to enjoy paired with a selection of expertly chosen wines.
Book the Chef’s Table on Friday and Saturday evenings to get an in-depth experience with acclaimed Chef Roberto Alcocer in the kitchen. Valle sits across the street from the Oceanside Pier, making it one of the best San Diego restaurants with a view. This makes it particularly well-suited for taking in some stunning San Diego sunsets.
Sun Deck Bar and Grill
The Sun Deck Bar and Grill is located in San Diego’s famed Hotel Del Coronado. It’s one of the best-kept secrets for San Diego restaurants with a view you need to see for yourself firsthand. Sip on a variety of cocktails, wine, and beer as you take in spectacular beach views and sunsets.
Dine on Baja Striped Seabass, the San Diego Fish Sandwich, and the Truffle and More Truffle Short Rib Burger. Finish up with a Triple Berry Tart or an Ibarra Molten Chocolate Cake for dessert. The Sun Deck also offers fire pits and live music for memorable date nights for couples.
Oceana Coastal Kitchen
Oceana Coastal Kitchen is located within the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa. It features beachfront dining with exceptional views of Mission Bay, along with chef-driven cuisines, coastal Californian dishes, and local seafood options. Oceana is open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner daily with Brunch served from 10 am til 2 pm on Sundays.
Oceana has both indoor and outdoor seating options with their new covered and heated patio. This allows you to fully experience one of the best San Diego restaurants with a view in style and comfort. A Cold Bar offers a selection of sushi, small plates, and main dishes like fresh fish and seafood.
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Vessel Restaurant and Bar at Kona Kai Resort
If waterfront marina dining is your thing, then Vessel Restaurant and Bar is the place to go. You can find Vessel Restaurant in the Kona Kai San Diego Resort. While dining, you’ll be able to see the scenic marina of the Shelter Island area. A 360º bar at the center of the restaurant serves wines, ciders, and cocktails, as well as a selection of craft, domestic, and imported beers,
Vessel is open for Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner daily with a vast menu of small plates, sandwiches, soups and salads, desserts, and other coastal fare. The upstairs Point Loma Ballroom serves as the perfect setting for wedding receptions and other special occasion needs.
Dockside 1953
Dockside definitely lives up to its name. This is easily one of the best San Diego restaurants with a view because it is just steps away from the surrounding beach and marina area in Mission Bay.
Guests are treated to cozy fire pits, a covered trellis area, and spacious outdoor patio areas offering an unobstructed view of Mission Bay while they dine. On Thursdays from 5 pm to 8 pm, guests at Dockside can hear live music. This nautical-themed restaurant is open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner daily.
Some menu items of note are the Shrimp Arrabbiata, Fish Tacos, and the Pan-Seared Seabass Meuniere. Add on a craft cocktail and a sweet dessert to finish.
Cannonball Sushi
Located in Mission Beach, San Diego, Cannonball Sushi knows how to make a big splash. This beach-side rooftop sushi place is one of the coolest San Diego restaurants with a view. Enjoy the best sushi in San Diego and Japanese small plates in style while overlooking the ocean.
Take part in Acoustic Sunsets on Thursdays from 4-8 p.m. to hear local San Diego artists play as the sun sets. It’s a must-add to your list of San Diego date night restaurants.
Not a fan of sushi? Don’t worry. You can also find menu items like Steak and Fries, Seared Salmon, and The Cannonball Burger. Cannonball is open for Lunch and Dinner.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
Eddie V’s isn’t just one of the best places to go for amazing seafood, it’s also one of the best San Diego restaurants with a view. There are two locations of Eddie V’s in San Diego, but the best view is in La Jolla.
Take on the Shellfish Tower or tackle The Big Eddie. Indulge in Filet Mignon and South African Lobster. Then, top it all off with a Bananas Foster Cake or a Crème Brûlée.
While Eddie V’s Prime Seafood does come with a higher price tag, the views and the food combined may make you forget about this. Eddie V’s offers an unobstructed ocean view. You may even be able to hear sea lions barking.
Coasterra
Craving the best tacos in San Diego and a great view? Coasterra is the place for you. Coasterra combines modern Mexican cuisine and gorgeous skyline views for an unforgettable dining experience for Lunch and Dinner.
Try culinary creations like Cilantro Marinated Grilled Swordfish Tacos, Esquites Crispy Shrimp Tacos, and Blood Orange Beer Battered Fish Tacos. Sample the Mexican Paella for Two or the Surf and Turf Quesadilla.
While you’re dining, enjoy views of the San Diego Bay, the Coronado Bridge, and the downtown skyline from the dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows or on the heated patio.
Top of the Market
Top of the Market gets its name from its location above another seafood restaurant called The Fish Market. From Top of the Market, you can take in expansive views from Point Loma to Coronado. A rooftop deck for cocktails helps further the experience as one of the best San Diego restaurants with a view.
Find fresh from the sea-to-table options like Alaskan King Crab, Local Swordfish, and East Coast Scallops. Save room for dessert with housemade selections like Brown Butter Almond Cake and a S’More Pie.
C Level Lounge
The C Level Lounge provides diners with captivating views of the Coronado Bridge, the San Diego Bay, and the downtown skyline for Lunch and Dinner daily. At night, the lights from the city reflecting on the water make for an even more spectacular view.
The upscale lounge setting encompasses expansive outdoor patio dining with canopy shades, outdoor fireplaces, and overhead heaters so you can fully experience the San Diego views. Some menu items of note are the Lobster Mac n’ Cheese, the Crab and Avacado Stack, the Seafood Pasta, and the Everything Crusted Ahi.
Explore San Diego Restaurants With a View and More on Blue Life San Diego Today
This is just a small handful of the best San Diego restaurants with a view. But that’s the beauty of visiting or living in San Diego. You have so many great options for restaurants in San Diego to choose from.
Blue Life San Diego can help you navigate the process of living in San Diego. We work with military families to help them buy, sell, and invest in home properties. We also specialize in helping seniors find the retirement property of their dreams.
Contact Blue Life for more information about buying, selling, and investing today.
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