Downtown San Diego Restaurants
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Top restaurants this week
Explore what's popular with other diners with these lists, updated weekly.
Explore what's popular with other diners with these lists, updated weekly.
Top booked
- 1
Duke's La Jolla
Price: Moderate•Hawaii Regional Cuisine•4.6(6,861)La Jolla - 2
Javier's - La Jolla
Price: Moderate•Mexican•4.6(3,883)La Jolla - 3
The Henry - Coronado
Price: Moderate•American•4.8(2,819)Coronado - 4
Cesarina
Price: Moderate•Italian•4.9(6,002)Ocean Beach - 5
Brigantine at Portside Pier
Price: Expensive•Seafood•4.7(4,574)Downtown
Top viewed
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LEILA
Price: Expensive•Middle Eastern•4.8(1,306)North Park - 2
STK- San Diego
Price: Expensive•Steakhouse•4.3(3,531)Downtown - 3
The Marine Room
Price: Very Expensive•Seafood•4.7(8,505)La Jolla - 4
Callie Restaurant
Price: Very Expensive•Mediterranean•4.8(546)Downtown - 5
insideOUT
Price: Expensive•Californian•4.7(2,631)Hillcrest
Top saved
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Herb & Wood
Price: Expensive•Californian•4.7(6,748)Little Italy - 2
Coasterra
Price: Moderate•Mexican•4.6(7,896)Harbor Island - 3
Kettner Exchange
Price: Expensive•Contemporary American•4.7(1,493)Little Italy - 4
Great Maple San Diego
Price: Moderate•American•4.8(4,559)Hillcrest - 5
MOTHERSHIP
Price: Moderate•Tapas / Small Plates•4.8(489)North Park
New restaurants to OpenTable in San Diego
Award winning restaurants in San Diego
Check out diners' favorite restaurants in Downtown San Diego
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Vinarius
Price: Moderate•Italian•4.9(443)Vinarius is an Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar in Little Italy San Diego. We offer an extensive wine list with wines coming from different regions of the world; the best meat and cheese board with Italian cured meats and different cheeses to pair with our wines. Our chef Alex makes homemade pasta enriched with our homemade sauces, entrees, pizza, different appetizers to choose from, and desserts that pair well with our port wines and after-dinner drinks. You definitely have to try our daily specials!
Our cozy full bar is also the perfect place to enjoy your drink and food while watching some sports!Tapas & Beers
Price: Moderate•French•4.9(547)Located in Downtown San Diego's historic Spreckels building, Tapas & Beers is a French and Spanish Restaurant.
We offer a large selection of Tapas plates to share between friends & family
but also normal size dishes if you don't want to share !
Our beers on tap selection highlights breweries from San Diego County and our wine selection from all around the world will make any wine lover happy too !
Everything you will eat at Tapas & Beers will be made from scratch to order with fresh and mostly organic ingredients !
Discover why our place isso highly rated !
Cheers!
Cowboy Star
Price: Very Expensive•Steakhouse•4.9(4,995)Located in the heart of the East Village neighborhood of San Diego, Cowboy Star is dedicated to providing an unmatched attention to detail and a level of service that immediately sets us apart. Cowboy Star guests are the number one priority and guest satisfaction is the base upon which our entire concept is built.
Our level of service is only matched by our celebration of regional American heirloom recipes offered with genuine neighborly hospitality. We are committed to supporting local and regional farmers, fishers and producers by cooking food that recaptures the simple and pure tastes found in locally grown, natural and organic ingredients. We strive to raise awareness of a more sustainable food future, while helping to restore a sense of community that brings us back to a more homegrown time.
The Cowboy Star Menu features the finest in select natural products including Niman Ranch all natural beef from the nation's leading Certified Humane Angus herd.Eddie V's - Seaport District
Price: Very Expensive•Seafood•4.8(4,071)Eddie V's Prime Seafood is a luxury dining destination known for the seafood flown in from pristine waters around the world, as well as its premium hand-carved steaks. Dishes are artistically prepared and feature an ever-changing array of seasonal seafood, along with critically acclaimed prime center-cut steaks broiled to perfection. The restaurant's award-wining wine list, which has been recognized by Wine Spectator, has more than 300 wines curated by Eddie V's very own Advanced Sommelier. In the V Lounge, guests can sip classic and creative cocktails, and enjoy signature appetizers against a backdrop of live music trios.
Youngblood
Price: Very Expensive•Speakeasy•4.8(1,164)Youngblood experience: an elevated three-course beverage tasting, with a few delightful surprises, priced at $85 plus tax and gratuity. We’re thrilled to unveil what we’ve been working on!
Come find us.Craft Bar Kamon
Price: Expensive•Japanese•4.9(241)"Taisho Roman craft cocktail bar in the heart of East Village San Diego that reflects the period in Japan when traditionalism and modernism first converged. We are committed to offer the unique and best craft cocktails!
**To make a reservation for a party of 6 or more, please contact us through email at info@barkamon.com
Please refrain from booking multiple tables as we most likely won't be able to accommodate to seat together.
**Please be aware that table or bar seating selection is just a request and it is not a confirmation. We will try our best to accommodate but due to limited seating availability, you may be seated to a different section from what you have requested at the reservation.
Topsail at Portside Pier
Price: Expensive•Seafood•4.8(163)San Diego's most iconic waterfront property features Topsail, a luxury lounge on the rooftop at Portside Pier! Indulge in fresh seafood, craft cocktails, and small plates while relaxing fireside above the water!Seneca
Price: Expensive•Italian•4.7(4,664)Roman trattorias are a timeless expression of simplicity. Immune to the lure of gastronomic experimentation and ego. In Rome, no chef can cook better than the mothers and grandmothers before them. Our goal is to merge the dogmatic approach of Roman cooking with the amazing abundance of ingredients available to us in San Diego. A True Roman Holiday In SD.
A 4% surcharge is added to all guest checks.
Ruth's Chris Steak House - San Diego
Price: Very Expensive•Steakhouse•4.8(5,164)Now Open: We look forward to serving you soon.
Ruth's Chris Steak House in San Diego, CA serves the finest USDA Prime beef available, broiled at 1,800° and served on 500° plates, so your steak stays hot, juicy and delicious from first bite to last. Enjoy our New Orleans-inspired appetizers, USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, signature side dishes and homemade desserts. All this while you enjoy our warm, inviting atmosphere and Ruth’s Chris’ genuine hospitality. So whether you’re a regular or have just been wondering what all the buzz is about, Ruth's Chris is the perfect excuse to enjoy the perfect night out. Dinner is served nightly, reservations are suggested and private dining and offsite catering may be arranged.Smokin J's BBQ - Gaslamp
Price: Moderate•Barbecue•4.9(45)Grab your partner and hitch up that wagon, Smokin J's BBQ is now open in the Gaslamp Quarter! Located 5 minutes from the Convention Center, and a mere 10 minutes from Petco Park or the Rady Shell by foot, we are your new favorite spot for slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and craft beer. Smokin J's BBQ won Reader Magazine's poll for Best BBQ in San Diego in 2022 and at our spot in the Gaslamp Quarter we strive to create a warm and inviting atmosphere perfect for date nights, family outings, Sunday football, weekend brunch, or for anytime you want eat a great meal with great people. Open for lunch, dinner, and breakfast on the weekends, we offer plenty of indoor seating, a spacious bar, and patio seating.
Outdoor dining in San Diego
See what locals rave about in Downtown San Diego
From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
- JJohnSan Francisco Bay Area •1 review5.0Dined 1 day agoExcellent service. Excellent dinner, cocktails, wine and dessert. Staff is very attentive and bar service is a big plus prior to dinner.More infoCowboy StarPrice: Very Expensive• Steakhouse• Downtown•4.9
- DDanielleSan Diego •1 review5.0Dined 1 day agoIt was a small speakeasy with a lot of thought put into it! The drinks were so yummy and everything you would want!!More infoYoungbloodPrice: Very Expensive• Speakeasy• Downtown•4.8
- RRhondaMiami - Dade •5 reviews4.0Dined 3 days agoAttentive Staff, fast service, delicious food, just a little pricey.More infoRustic Root - GaslampPrice: Expensive• Contemporary American• Downtown•4.3
- EEvansSan Francisco Bay Area •7 reviews4.0Dined 3 days agoService and food were great (considering). Only two servers on staff and we were there for the pre show rush. Servers and support staff did great (Sat6/28), but made the environment a little frenetic. Cocktails were all pretty solid and were balanced on the drier side. The milk punch with pineapple and brandy was on the thinner side and lacked the viscosity/richness expected, but flavors were still good. We had a nice meal and made it to our show on time.More infoSaint James French DinerPrice: Expensive• French American• Downtown•4.4
- MMikeSan Francisco Bay Area •7 reviews4.0Dined on Jun 20, 2025date night special was a great value, and the steak was deliciousMore infoProvisional Restaurant at Pendry San DiegoPrice: Expensive• American• Downtown•4.6
Trending dishes in Downtown San Diego
Explore dishes that diners are raving about
Restaurant experiences trending in San Diego
Discover Gaslamp Quarter
The Gaslamp Quarter near San Diego’s historic downtown has some of the best nightlife in the city. The district is a great place to shop during the day, and it plays host to several of San Diego's largest festivals each year. Along with large nightclubs, this district hosts some of the city's best restaurants and features an array of dining options. New American cuisine based on foods grown in California is offered in many restaurants in this 16-block area. The neighborhood's Victorian architecture also houses establishments serving everything from fresh seafood and steakhouse fare to excellent sushi, Italian dishes, and Mexican favorites. In addition to an array food options, diners in the Gaslamp Quarter can enjoy some of the most expansive wine lists in California.
Frequently asked questions
Dog friendly restaurants in Downtown San Diego include The Prado at Balboa Park, Puesto at the Headquarters and Greystone Prime Steakhouse & Seafood
Child friendly restaurants in Downtown San Diego include Brigantine at Portside Pier, C-Level and Tom Hams Lighthouse