Best Cocktails in San Diego
1. Sovereign, San Diego
Minimalist dining room serving authentic Isaan Thai cooking, from duck curry noodles to Hat Yai fried chicken. Locally sourced ingredients are used in dishes that the kitchen will not modify.
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Minimalist dining room serving authentic Isaan Thai cooking, from duck curry noodles to Hat Yai fried chicken. Locally sourced ingredients are used in dishes that the kitchen will not modify.
Modern taqueria pressing fresh corn tortillas to order for elevated tacos: mesquite-grilled ribeye, pork belly al pastor, and cauliflower mole. The bright, airy room opens onto a patio, with a white terrazzo bar pouring agave cocktails.
Long-running neighborhood dive, pouring drinks since 1935 from behind a padded bar. The intimate back room operates as a separate, cash-only venue for ticketed shows and local bands.
Neighborhood bottle shop and bar championing small-production natural wines. Bottles are pulled from the shelves and opened on the patio alongside carnitas empanadas and other farm-to-table plates.
Lively seafood hall in a former warehouse, centered on a massive raw bar shucking fresh oysters. The quirky, nautical-themed room buzzes with energy; expect a wait even with a reservation.
Opulent steakhouse channeling mid-century glamour with its camel leather booths and book-matched walnut ceilings. A rooftop garden offers sweeping city views; a cocktail cart prepares classic drinks tableside.
Japanese noodle house serving up craft beer and cocktails. Expect a trendy crowd slurping ramen and eating buns in the neon light of this recently remodeled bar.
Lively gin bar serving Spanish and Portuguese seafood tapas in a nautical-themed room. Sidewalk tables are set up Parisian-style – chairs face the street for prime people-watching.
Huge, energetic beer hall in a converted warehouse sitting directly beneath the airport flight path. A massive split-flap board tracks planes flying low overhead – its mechanical clicks a constant soundtrack to the room.
Elevated steak and Asian fusion cuisine set in a chic, contemporary setting in San Diego's Embarcadero Marina.
Italian restaurant on the piazza where pasta is tossed tableside in hollowed-out cheese wheels. Its patios spill onto the square, offering prime people-watching over Aperol spritzes.
Family-owned seafood spot where the dining room is built around a premier fish market. A restored 1930s fish case displays the day's catch, which dictates the seasonal coastal menu.
Coastal Italian restaurant on the third floor, firing pizzas in a wood oven and making all its pasta by hand. Patio tables have unobstructed views over the Pacific – book one for sunset.
Plush dining room set inside a resort, marked by marble columns and inlaid floors. Multi-course tasting menu draws on Japanese, French, and Mexican techniques, with each plate landing in tightly choreographed sequence.
Waterfront Mexican restaurant defined by its panoramic views of the downtown skyline and bay. The massive outdoor deck is the main draw; tableside guacamole and agave-focused cocktails complete the scene.
