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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 (8114)
$30 and under
Californian
1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego, CA 92101

Make a reservation

2 people
9:00 PM
Booked 89 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 8,114 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 "fabulous setting" with "excellent food, service, and ambience." Diners enjoy the "beautiful view from the patio" and recommend it for pre-theater meals. The "outstanding service" is consistently praised, and the restaurant remains a "San Diego staple" despite some mixed reviews on specific dishes.
8,114 Reviews
  1. kellyw

    Orange County3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 1, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A magical evening start to finish. Sitting outside under the stars is stunning. Food and service great as always.

    Is this helpful?

  2. CBeach

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was excellent, the food is fantastic. We were visiting San Diego for the first time in 10 years after leaving town, and this was the one restaurant my wife “had” to have while we were in town. The Prado is a perfect cap to a day or evening at Balboa Park. It’s a little spendy, but you do get what you pay for.

    Is this helpful?

  3. OpenTable Diner VIP

    San Diego154 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Pre theater dinner; excellent service, short but wide choice menu. Food quality above average but pork prime rib was over cooked to medium well so came out somewhat dry and chewy. Other cons are the additional service charge and the crackers and humus now a priced starter rather than a nice free item to enjoy with cocktails before dinner.

    Is this helpful?

  4. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We greatly enjoyed our outdoor table and beautiful setting. The menu has a nice variety so something for everyone. Service was outstanding. We were warmly welcomed, seated promptly, and our waiter was knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. Each person on the service team was friendly and efficient. We greatly enjoyed spending time with our friends over a wonderful meal at a place where we felt welcomed and valued.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Mrbentley

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a corner table with some privacy. Our waiter was very experienced and anticipated our needs and was very personable. The food was outstanding! The crab dip, the skirt steak and mussels were so fresh. The cocktails were also excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  6. SanDiegoGirl VIP

    San Diego24 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great dinner for restaurant week. Eating outside is always a treat - the weather was stellar, great service, delicious margaritas and we even got to see a wedding! So fun!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Foodie VIP

    San Francisco Bay Area124 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The Prado is our favorite place for lunch while at Balboa Park. Everything on the menu is great. I had excellent black bean soup. Wife had fish tacos. Both were excellent. Blood orange margaritas were excellent.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Jeremy

    San Diego4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I think it is long past your need to add the 4% to each bill.

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  9. Sandy

    San Diego16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed the beautiful view of the distant planes and a lovely garden while sitting outside. Our table was positioned to the side, providing a sense of privacy. The server was highly knowledgeable and accommodating. All of our entrees were served hot and tasted delicious. With theater tickets in hand, we had ample time to savor our drinks and dinner.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Cinderella VIP

    San Diego4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on September 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service. Attentive waitress. Best meal we have had at the Prado.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Prado at Balboa Park is rated 4.6 stars by 8114 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
9:00 PM
Booked 89 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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