Icon

Kettner Exchange

Name: Kettner Exchange
Address: 2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA, United States, 92101
Telephone: (619) 255-2001
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.7

Visa Dining Collection

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 20, 2025

11:30 PM

Booked 40 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Great for creative cocktails
Lively

Kettner Exchange boasts two levels of indoor/outdoor drinking and dining and Little Italy’s only rooftop patio with spanning harbor views. We feature Progressive American cuisine from critically acclaimed Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski. In 2019, Kettner Exchange was named to Michelin Guide's prestigious Bib Gourmand list. Kettner Exchange has proudly maintained this award every year thereafter. Originally introduced in 1997, the Bib Gourmand category highlights restaurants that serve high-quality meals which include two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Brian Redzikowski

MICHELIN Bib Gourmand2023
MICHELIN Bib Gourmand2022
MICHELIN Bib Gourmand2021

From the OpenTable editors: Anchored by a striking 20-foot eucalyptus sculpture, this two-story, indoor-outdoor showstopper has been a Little Italy hotspot since opening in 2014. Snag a seat on the rooftop patio with swinging daybeds, a roaring fireplace, and bookable private cabanas for sweeping harbor views and inventive American dishes with Asian twists like Szechuan frog legs and spicy tuna and crispy rice with eel sauce from James Beard Award-winning chef Brian Redzikowski.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Asian, Californian
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Bar Mon–Wed, Sun 5:00 pm–12:00 am Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–1:00 am
Phone number
(619) 255-2001
Website
http://www.kettnerexchange.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual

Location
2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2023
2. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
3. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2021
Neighborhood
Little Italy
Cross street
Grape St
Parking details
Valet is available for $10.00 Cash or $12.00 Credit Card.
Entertainment
Live Djs Thursday-Saturday + occasional live bands (call venue for nightly entertainment)
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

Small Cabana Reservation
$100.00 per party
Prepaid
Multiple dates available
THIS IS NOT A STANDARD RESERVATION, please read below: *Mon-Wed evening Small Cabana Reservations have no F&B minimum but tax and 22% service charge will be applied. *Thurs-Sun evening Small Cabana Reservations have a $400 F&B minimum + tax and 22% service charge. *Sun Brunch Cabanas have a $200 F&B minimum + tax and 22% service charge. The Small Cabanas offers a space where groups of up to (6) guests are able to enjoy Kettner Exchange’s elevated cuisine and unique beverage program in a casual lounge style VIP setting. Guests may dine from the Lounge Menu till 10pm while being seated at the core of a lively open-air rooftop. Everything ordered will go onto one bill. Each reservation is for (3) hours maximum.
Fortaleza x Kettner Exchange Chef's Dinner
$195.00 per person
Prepaid
Jul 31, 2025 only
6:00 PM
Join us for an unforgettable five-course culinary journey created by executive Chef Brian Redzikowski, expertly paired with five expressions of Fortaleza Tequila. Each course will highlight seasonal ingredients and regional inspirations, designed to compliment the unique character of Fortaleza's Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and other special expressions. You won't want to miss this evening of flavor, storytelling & spirit.
Samsara August Chef's Table
$260.00 per person
Prepaid
Aug 13, 2025 only
6:00 PM
Join us for a specially curated dinner by Chef Brian Redzikowski, showcasing his seasonal cuisine alongside a selection of Samsara wines featuring winemaker Matt Brady. This collaborative evening brings together expressive food and site-driven wines for a dynamic and intimate tasting experience.

What 1,504 people are saying

Kettner Exchange reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Diego
Contemporary American
San Diego
Contemporary American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Kettner Exchange offers an "unforgettable dining experience" with inventive American cuisine, vibrant rooftop ambiance, and "exceptional service." The "fabulous food" includes standout dishes like the spicy tuna crispy rice and duck meatball. Despite occasional noise and small portions, the restaurant's "upscale yet relaxed" vibe, "friendly staff," and "creative cocktails" make it a must-visit in San Diego.

1,504 Reviews

m
merab
San Francisco Bay Area1 review
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The bomb! You won’t be disappointed. Yum!! We had perfect seating too! It was in a corner with a big window.
Is this helpful?
P
Paul VIP
Orange County15 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We had a wonderful dinner at Kettner Exchange. The food was outstanding and the service on point and personable. Foodwise, the entrees are mostly small plates to be shared around the table, which gives everyone a wonderful opportunity to sample all the excellent food choices. Service-wise, our waiter (and manager) Alejandro was extremely attentive and very personable, elevating the dining experience to another level. Overall, we were extremely impressed. That said, there were a couple of drawbacks: the noise level in the restaurant was very loud, making conversation at times difficult. And there was one disappointment in all the great dishes we were served: the duck meatball. We looked forward to this unique signature dish that got the Michelin Guide’s attention. Unfortunately the meatball didn’t have much, if at all, duck taste; it seemed much more like a traditional beef/pork meatball. The duck flavor had been lost.
Is this helpful?
D
David
Charlotte3 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Ate at the bar. Staff was courteous and attentive even with a large crowd. Food was fabulous.
Is this helpful?
J
Jacqueline VIP
San Diego1 review
5.0
Dined on July 13, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had the most amazing dinner at the chef's table. Chef Brian, Nikki and the whole staff were fabulous!
Is this helpful?
a
anastasiia
San Diego3 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
This is my third time coming here and they never disappoint! The food is so delicious, I think I’ve probably tried the whole menu now and definitely the spicy tuna crispy rice is my favorite! it does get pretty loud closer to 10 so if that’s not your vibe, it might not be the best option for you to come in later.
Is this helpful?
R
Raquel
San Diego2 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I chose Kettner Exchange to treat my bff to her birthday dinner. She is a foodie and she enjoyed everything from the drinks to the food and the lovely complimentary birthday dessert they brought her. We will definitely come back.
Is this helpful?
K
Kelli
Tampa / Central Florida West4 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Kettner Exchange is by far my favorite restaurant in the San Diego area. The food and drinks are truly second to none. The Post Water-Malone cocktail is to die for—refreshing, creative, and perfectly balanced. And the Duck Meatball? Absolutely delicious—rich, flavorful, and memorable. Every visit feels like a treat. The vibe is upscale yet relaxed, and the service is consistently top-notch. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough!
Is this helpful?
S
Sean
Atlanta6 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 6, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We’ve eaten at some of the top rated restaurants across the entire world… amd this may be recency bias but, Kettner Exchange just blew them ALL out of the water. This is probably the best restaurant I’ve ever eaten. Every single plate was phenomenal. What a treasure!
Is this helpful?
D
Darryl VIP
San Diego38 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Ketteer Exchange is easily on my list of top 10 restaurants in San Diego. The food is consistently good, they have a great craft cocktail program, service is outstanding, and both the indoor and outdoor dining areas have great vibes. If you've not dined here before, I'd highly recommend it.
Is this helpful?
J
Jennifer
San Francisco Bay Area1 review
2.0
Dined on July 2, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Not enough gluten friendly options were offered. Additionally, we were told it was small plates and order two plates per person. This ended up being an excessive amount of food, and a waste of money since we are traveling and could not take food home.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Kettner Exchange offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (619) 255-2001.

Kettner Exchange is rated 4.7 stars by 1504 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 20, 2025

11:30 PM

Booked 40 times today

Experiences are available.

2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2023
2. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2022
3. MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2021
Cross street
Grape St
Neighborhood
Little Italy
Hours of operation
Brunch Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Bar Mon–Wed, Sun 5:00 pm–12:00 am Thu–Sat 5:00 pm–1:00 am
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Contemporary American, Asian, Californian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Valet is available for $10.00 Cash or $12.00 Credit Card.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Entertainment
Live Djs Thursday-Saturday + occasional live bands (call venue for nightly entertainment)
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.kettnerexchange.com/
Phone number
(619) 255-2001

Kettner Exchange

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Why they're an Icon

Additional information

Featured in

50 San Diego Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

West Coast Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Experiences

Small Cabana Reservation

Fortaleza x Kettner Exchange Chef's Dinner

Samsara August Chef's Table

Menu

What 1,504 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Kettner Exchange offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Kettner Exchange restaurant rated?

Is Kettner Exchange currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

50 San Diego Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

West Coast Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day