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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 (8130)
$30 and under
Californian
1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego, CA 92101

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 76 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

  • Tiki Thursday

    Multiple dates available
    Enjoy island inspired cocktails & bites with live music and beautiful views of Balboa Park from Loggia room at the Prado.
  • 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 8,130 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.
8,130 Reviews
  1. james VIP

    Montreal / Quebec2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Handsome space. Food quality was poor. Undercooked fish tacos. Drinks were small quantities, tons of ice and imperceptible alcohol. Service was friendly but inattentive.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Carol VIP

    Phoenix / Arizona111 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent as always. The food was delicious and our server, Beto, was friendly and helpful. This is our go to place every summer.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Terri

    San Diego4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our meal was delicious and the service and ambiance were excellent. We were seated outdoors in the shade, which we had requested. My only complaint was something that the restaurant had no control over. Outside of the restaurant, a person was "playing" a very loud guitar with amplifier. Unfortunately, it was just the same chord over and over. He eventually stopped, and then the music at the restaurant could be heard and it was then very nice. I do recommend the Prado restaurant any time for a nice meal in a beautiful setting.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Logan

    Denver / Colorado2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Waitress was great, Our spot on the patio was great. Drinks were pretty good. The prickly strawberry margarita was very good, but the coconut vacation tasted like a standard caribou lou. That’s not to say it was bad, but if it tasted like the stuff my roommate made in college then I don’t need to be paying that much for it. The beef sushi roll was very good and my kids really like the chicken fingers. My wife also really like the pork chop. The risotto was good in flavor, but disappointing in execution. The rice was a little too al dente, and the risotto did not spread. It very much held its shape on the plate which a great risotto should not do.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Angelica

    San Diego8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The staff was attentive and so very accommodating. We ended up having to add an extra person to our table and they were not only quick to help us; they did it with a smile. I always have a pleasant experience at this restaurant and I’m glad to see that feeling continues.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Richard

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food, the kind of service that is rarely found anymore. Beautiful outdoor setting and surprisingly reasonable!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Lisa

    San Francisco Bay Area1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful ambiance and food! The server, Scott was awesome as well!

    Is this helpful?

  8. JOSELLE

    Los Angeles17 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days 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?

  9. Jeff

    Las Vegas2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 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?

  10. Cathy

    San Diego5 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 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?

FAQs

The Prado at Balboa Park is rated 4.6 stars by 8130 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 76 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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