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The Prado at Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

The Prado at Balboa Park

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Visa Dining Collection

4.6 (8121)
$30 and under
Californian
1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego, CA 92101

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 54 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
Located in San Diego's Balboa Park, in the Historic House of Hospitality, The Prado offers historic charm and California cuisine.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 11:30 am–8:00 pm Sun 11:30 am–7:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    John King
  • Catering
    Prado Catering<br />The Prado also offers full service catering at various museums and other locations within Balboa Park. Please contact our catering department for additional information.<br /><br />Experience our Award-Winning Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Menus<br />Professional Staff-Synchronized Service.<br />Full length table linens, gold chiavari chairs and porcelain china.
  • Private party facilities
    The Prado, located in the historic House of Hospitality in the center of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park is known for its world-class California cuisine, unparalleled ambiance and excellent service. From intimate gatherings to grand affairs, the Prado has it all to make your event unforgettable!
  • Private party contact
    Event Manager: (619) 557-9441
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    6th Avenue
  • Parking details
    Free public parking lots available throughout Balboa Park.
  • Public transit
    Visit Balboa Park using the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), with easy access from the downtown and Mission Valley areas.Review the times for route Routes 120 (Fashion Valley), Route 7 (Smart Corner) and Rapid 215 are the main bus routes through Balboa Park
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Sunday Garden Brunch

    $70.00 per person

    Jul 27, 2025 - Aug 31, 2025
    Sunday brunch at The Prado on the Casa Rey Moro Garden Terrace with bottomless mimosas sounds like the perfect way to unwind and enjoy the day. The ambiance of the historic garden terrace paired with the refreshing taste of mimosas and delicious food sounds like an experience not to be missed. Limited experiences available book early on Open Table July 27th, and August 31st from 10 am - 2:30 pm. $70 for adults, $19.95 for children under 12 yrs. Final payment will be due at the end of the experience. We look forward to seeing you there!!

Private dining

What 8,121 people are saying

The Prado at Balboa Park 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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.1Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Prado at Balboa Park offers a delightful dining experience with "excellent service" and a "beautiful outdoor space." Guests love the "great food," including standout dishes like mahi mahi tacos and short ribs. The patio's lovely views enhance the ambiance, making it a "wonderful place for lunch" or a pre-theater meal.
8,122 Reviews
  1. JOSELLE

    Los Angeles17 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Very convenient for an Old Globe pre-show meal. Food was good. Scott, our waiter, was outstanding.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Jeff

    Las Vegas2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a great time. Only note is the loyalty program postcard on the table made it feel like we were at a Rubio’s and not a fine dining establishment.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Cathy

    San Diego5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    I had the chicken and it was good. But it was a lot of chicken with no sides. Got a little boring. They need a lower price beef choice. They also need a smaller, cheaper dessert choice.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Robert

    Hawaii1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, excellent service and a beautiful outdoor space in Balboa Park make this a wonderful place to have lunch. Mahi mahi tacos were a great choice!

    Is this helpful?

  5. April

    Austin17 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The Prado was a delicious surprise. The views on the patio were lovely and the food was very good. Sometimes in a touristy area, the food is less but not here. And the service was great too!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Roberto VIP

    San Diego133 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My wife and I had dinner prior to a performance at the Old Globe Theatre this past Wednesday. The Prado is so conveniently located and has reliably good food. We started by splitting a Caesare salad which was delicious with the perfect amount of dressing. My wife had the Spring Roll with shrimp while I had the roasted Sea Bass. Both were perfectly prepared and delightful. We had time for desert and opted for the Flan and Carrot Cake. Both were delicious, but the Flan took the prize. Looking forward to our next visit.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Lori VIP

    San Diego13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service were excellent! We had the salmon and short rib entree and both were prepared perfectly. We enjoyed our dinner with margaritas - yum! Highly recommend this place for ambiance, good food and drinks.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Thomas

    San Diego10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Prado restaurant in beautiful Balboa Park is the ideal spot for a relaxing dinner. Especially on Tuesday evenings with Date Night available to provide all that is great about the restaurant and with lovely meal for two: a shared salad, choice of 4 entree selections and, even better, a choice of one of four bottles of wine to top off the meal. The price is $68.95 plus tax, gratuity and a 5% supplemental fee. Our dinner last evening came to a total of just over $81.00 plus tip. Our server, Kara, was charming and very attentive. The meal was excellent and even more enjoyable served on the patio/terrace on another beautiful San Diego evening. My wife and I recommend this special evening's meal whether it is just for fun or a special occasion for the two of you.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Bob

    Tahoe / Reno Area31 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and great food...We will definately be back

    Is this helpful?

  10. Micio VIP

    Houston68 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Sat outside on the main patio and it was lovely! Steak sandwich and hamburger were delicious. Service was outstanding and can’t wait to go back again

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Prado at Balboa Park is rated 4.6 stars by 8121 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. San Diego
  5. Downtown

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 54 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Prado at Balboa Park

1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

  • Cross street
    6th Avenue
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 11:30 am–8:00 pm Sun 11:30 am–7:30 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Free public parking lots available throughout Balboa Park.
  • Public transit
    Visit Balboa Park using the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), with easy access from the downtown and Mission Valley areas.Review the times for route Routes 120 (Fashion Valley), Route 7 (Smart Corner) and Rapid 215 are the main bus routes through Balboa Park
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    John King
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Prado Catering<br />The Prado also offers full service catering at various museums and other locations within Balboa Park. Please contact our catering department for additional information.<br /><br />Experience our Award-Winning Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Menus<br />Professional Staff-Synchronized Service.<br />Full length table linens, gold chiavari chairs and porcelain china.
  • Private party facilities
    The Prado, located in the historic House of Hospitality in the center of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park is known for its world-class California cuisine, unparalleled ambiance and excellent service. From intimate gatherings to grand affairs, the Prado has it all to make your event unforgettable!
  • Private party contact
    Event Manager: (619) 557-9441
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