Diners' Choice: Great for outdoor dining restaurants in San Diego

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are great for outdoor dining in San Diego? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Pali Wine Co. Little Italy Tasting Room

4.9

4.9 (136)

$30 and under

Wine Bar

Little Italy

About the restaurant

Pali Wine Co. is located in famous Little Italy, San Diego, steps from the main strip. The family-owned winery highlights the diversity and nuanced qualities of the California Central Coast wine-growing area. From our Pali Pinot Noirs & Chardonnays, to our Tower 15 bold, nuanced wines, and Neighborhood zippy, natural cuvées, our three wine labels are sure to please any pallet.

Stop in for a tasting flight where you can sample wines from our portfolio, step up to the bar for a customized guided tasting or grab a bottle to-go. Our menu features small and sharable plates with locally sourced ingredients ideal for sharing and sipping, including our best-selling burger, charcuterie boards, and seasonal specials.

Join our wine club to enjoy complimentary tastings, receive 20% off all wine, & more exciting benefits!

Weekly events include Comedy Night on Wednesdays, Trivia on Thursdays, as well as live music Friday and Saturday nights. Plus, happy hour deals weekdays 4-6pm!

Top review

Lyndsayvip

Dined on Sep 2, 2024

Service was poor at this location. Both servers had bad attitudes. Wine is great.

Discover more

Fine Wine & Good Times Happy Hour @ Pali Wine Co.

Sushi Mori

4.8

4.8 (36)

$31 to $50

Japanese

La Jolla

About the restaurant

If you’re in the La Jolla area, be sure you visit Sushi Mori Restaurant located near La Jolla Shores Park. Experience cuisine that delights your palate and defines the art of dining in La Jolla, San Diego.

As one of La Jolla’s premier dining spots, Sushi Mori offers a contemporary atmosphere imbued with the kind of ambiance that is just right for a romantic dinner. If you’re looking for a quick meal, the Sushi Mori menu offers great specials. Our sushi chef's dishes are created with fresh, seasonal ingredients and prepared with great attention to detail, making the end result a meal to truly relish in

Top review

Regina

Dined 4 days ago

Very good sushi and sashimi Very comfortable Kindness

The Kitchen at MCASD

4.8

4.8 (21)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

La Jolla

About the restaurant

The Kitchen @ MCASD
Ocean view dining in the heart of La Jolla.
Menu draws inspiration from the regions of southern Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East. Including Italy, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Israel, Morocco, and others

located at the newly renovated Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Top review

Nellievip

Dined 4 days ago

Excellent! Great food and ambiance. Unbeatable location.

Discover more

Experience

The Study of Brassicas- October 2024

Barbarella

4.7

4.7 (733)

$30 and under

European

La Jolla

About the restaurant

Barbarella is a restaurant and full bar located on Avenida De La Playa in La Jolla Shores. Adorned with an eclectic mix of art and boasting plenty of outdoor seating, Barbarella a one-of-a-kind culinary gem with executive Chef Lynn Crawford!

Top review

Krisvip

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

It’s a wonderful neighborhood restaurant. The staff is so nice and friendly, the atmosphere is clean and fresh and the food is delicious!! We go frequently and are always glad that we ate there.

Discover more

Ketch Grill & Taps - Portside Pier

4.7

4.7 (133)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

Ketch Tasting Deck offers a full-service dining experience on the 2nd floor at Portside Pier with stunning views overlooking San Diego Bay!
Brought to you by the Brigantine Family of Restaurants. For generations our family has created unforgettable experiences true to the San Diego lifestyle at our Brigantine & Miguel’s restaurants. We’ve hosted countless celebrations and poured many a round for the happiest of hours.
WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT MAKES FOR THE BEST MEMORIES AND THE BEERS THAT CAPTURE THE FEELING. IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE WE CRAFTED OUR OWN AND PUT THEM ON TAP.
From beer aficionados to casual drinkers, we’ve got everyone covered with our easy-to-love (and drink) brews made for making memories!

Top review

Brendavip

Dined 4 days ago

Awesome views and great happy hour from 3-5pm. Dustin was great.

Ambrogio by Acquerello

4.6

4.6 (82)

$50 and over

Contemporary Italian

La Jolla

About the restaurant

Experience Michelin Star Chef Silvio Salmoiraghi’s Iconic 8 Course Tasting Menus in our charming La Jolla restaurant.

Signature Tasting Menu - $159 per person
Vegetarian Tasting Menu - $139 per person

* Have a glance at Chef Salmoiraghi's cuisine by enjoying a shorter version of his famous Tasting Menu. For $99, available only Tue through Thu, you will be able to experience our cuisine on your busy weekday with our 4 Course Dinner. *

We seek to operate within the frame of a New Italian Cuisine. Italy, France, Korea, Japan and California: the five places that define our cuisine and allow us to create a unique set of masterpieces where the traditional flavors of Milan typical foods meet the exoticism of Pacific Asian influences.

Recently included in the Michelin Guide.

Reservations require a $20 per person deposit fully refundable up to 24h in advance.
We gently require a 48h notice for allergies and dietary restrictions. A full Vegan Menu available only upon request.

Top review

Chrisvip

Dined on Aug 28, 2024

Incredible all around. Hostess was great and did a wonderful job explaining each course and the wine

Queenstown Bistro - UTC

4.5

4.5 (183)

$30 and under

New Zealand

University City/Golden Triangle

About the restaurant

We are the lil sis of Queenstown Public House located in the Little Italy district of San Diego. Slightly smaller, but with the same basic ingredients.

A beautiful, comfortable, unique, fun setting. A friendly, smiling, courteous staff we hope you get to know. Guests enjoying the moment, sharing a laugh, whom we hope we get to know. Freshly made dishes; locally sourced, passionately created, many unique…and all delicious. A beer list changing daily, proudly from our award winning local craft SD brewers, and a wine list chosen with care from select vineyards and varietals.

With a kiwi inspired lineage, and the spirit, love and good nature from the land of the Maori, we hope you will join us. And if we are so fortunate, then, we hope you will have a little too much of a good time, have a few too many laughs, stay a while, and return again soon to see us.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Jul 19, 2024

Amazing food! Great and quick service! Highly recommended!

Miguel's Cocina - Old Town

4.5

4.5 (14)

$30 and under

Mexican

Old Town

About the restaurant

The Freshest, Best-Tasting, Cali-Inspired Mexican Food. Our full-service, sit-down restaurant is the best spot to bring the whole family to savor handmade tortillas, mouthwatering salsas, and our famous creamy jalapeno white sauce.

Top review

Blayne

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

Food and service is always good at this location. Drinks were delicious and the outside seating area is great for conversation. Will return.

Quarterdeck Restaurant- Bay Club Hotel And Marina

4.2

4.2 (100)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Shelter Island / San Diego Bay

About the restaurant

Enjoy delicious food, craft beers and sweeping views of San Diego Bay and the Point Loma hillside without ever leaving our Shelter Island hotel at the Quarterdeck Restaurant & Bar. From our award-winning chili to our famous coconut jumbo fried shrimp, we have something for every palate. We also offer a tempting selection of flavorful wines and cocktails. In addition to our fabulous food and drinks, the Quarterdeck Bar on Shelter Island has several HD TVs so you can watch all of your favorite sporting events’ and enjoy special bar offerings throughout the year.

Top review

Sharron

Dined 6 days ago

The service was exceptional from the moment we arrived until we left. The receptionist was professional, friendly, and a beautiful smile. Caesar, our waiter, was wonderful and friendly. He even provided us with a fried shrimp appetizer. The filet was perfectly cooked and the salmon was delicious. Our window seat allowed us to have a beautiful view of the harbor with a lovely sunset. We will definitely return again.

Miguel's Cocina - 4S Ranch

4.2

4.2 (7)

$30 and under

Mexican

Chula Vista / Bonita

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Marshavip

Dined on Sep 6, 2024

Waiter was “the man!” Food came out in a timely manner and everyone enjoyed what they ordered.