Best Restaurants for People Watching in La Jolla

16 restaurants available nearby

1. The Whaling Bar

4.5

Awesome(74)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • La Jolla

Booked 26 times today

Rediscover The Whaling Bar in La Jolla, blending historic charm and modern luxury. Once beloved in the La Valencia hotel, it's back after ten years, mixing its rich legacy with today's elegance. Known for its cozy atmosphere and top-notch service, it's been updated for contemporary tastes without losing its heritage essence. Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski, with a background in America's top kitchens and Iron Chef America, leads the culinary journey, offering a menu that combines classic and innovative approaches. The Whaling Bar invites both old fans and new to enjoy luxury and become part of La Jolla's ongoing story.

2. NINE-TEN

4.7

Exceptional(2933)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • La Jolla

Booked 10 times today

Led by award-winning, nationally-recognized chef Jason Knibb, NINE-TEN offers the perfect combination of sophistication and casual elegance and an ideal location along lively Prospect Street in the Village of La Jolla. Recognized with MICHELIN distinction, NINE-TEN’s globally-inspired, locally-sourced cuisine features the best of the harvest from local artisans where products are selected daily for the restaurant’s seasonal menus. Dine indoors or al fresco on our sidewalk patio or back terrace with peek views of the Pacific Ocean. Heaters and blankets are available during the colder weather. Private dining rooms are also available for groups of 8 or more. Breakfast is served Wednesday through Friday, 7 am to 11 am. Brunch is served Saturday & Sunday, 7 am to 2 pm. and features $6 mimosas and $8 Bloody Marys. Lunch is served Wednesday through Friday, 11:30 am to 2 pm. And dinner service is available Wednesday through Sunday, 5 pm to 9 pm. We look forward to seeing you soon.

3. Brockton Villa

4.5

Awesome(2777)

Price: Moderate

• Californian • La Jolla

Booked 19 times today

Great Food * Epic SunsetsBrockton Villa is a beautiful historic home converted into a restaurant located directly across from the ocean. Our seaside location offers a spectacular view of the world-famous La Jolla Cove, and has become a favorite "show off" spot for locals and visitors alike. We are known for our breakfasts, including our famous Coast Toast. Our chef creates many other wonderful dishes seasonally for lunch and our dinner service.Our house is the perfect place for you to host your next party. Whether it be a wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, baptism, bridal shower, baby shower, or any special occasion.Brockton Villa loves families! Please don't forget to include your little ones in your reservation count!

A photo of Manhattan of La Jolla restaurant

4. Manhattan of La Jolla

4.8

Exceptional(1739)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • La Jolla

Booked 15 times today

Manhattan of La Jolla transports you to the best of New York via the cozy, upscale village of La Jolla. Located in the Empress Hotel on Fay Avenue, it is an elegant, casual and classy place where you would expect to see Old Blue Eyes or Danny Ocean romancing a beautiful woman while she sips her Cosmo over dinner. With quality Italian charm, Manhattan offers classic cocktails that get you into that New York swing--and the entrees are as good as it gets. Liberal olive oil, garlic, lemon and pepper complement the Zagat Award winning veal chop, steaks and seafood. Signature scampi, classic cannelloni, pasta al dente, and other succulent dishes, plus professional service and decor make this a terrific spot for a romantic dinner or mixing business and pleasure. Manhattan in La Jolla gets you the best of both worlds. Manhattan is an award winning La Jolla favorite, celebrating its 36th year.

5. Beaumont's

4.6

Exceptional(917)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • La Jolla

Booked 7 times today

Established in the heart of La Jolla’s Bird Rock seaside community in 2005, Beaumont’s Neighborhood Eatery has been a central meeting spot for locals to gather for fabulous food, hand-made cocktails, and top-rated entertainment in a casual, yet contemporary atmosphere earning its title as the “heart and soul of Bird Rock”. Nightly happy hour and a fantastic dinner menu are just the beginning, because a full bar and live local music add to the great vibe. You’ll find Beaumont’s weekends a need to be at event for brunch!

6. World Famous

4.6

Exceptional(1000)

Price: Moderate

• Californian • Pacific Beach

Booked 35 times today

Specializing in surfside dining featuring Southern California Coastal cuisine, market fresh pacific seafood, hand carved prime rib, & grilled to order steaks. Menus are written daily and inspired by sustainable California harvests.

A photo of Miss B's Coconut Club restaurant

7. Miss B's Coconut Club

4.7

Exceptional(118)

Price: Moderate

• Caribbean • Mission Beach

Booked 2 times today

What you’ll find here is classic, Caribbean-inspired American food with tiki flair. Cubano Roasted Pork, Jerk Chicken and Coconut Shrimp are in synch with the mambo rhythm of your appetite, and our house-ground burger is one like you won’t find anywhere in town. Jumbo Coconut Shrimp and a list of Street Cart items will have you coming back to try them all, whether you order something “to go” from our walk-up counter, stay to eat on our spacious outdoor patio, or take a seat inside.Coconut Club’s décor evokes a celebration of Mission Beach’s nautical and maritime past, which takes form as an inspired interpretation of a 30’s-style sailor tiki club. Rum is the star here, and has a leading role in our creative list of grownup cocktails, which includes shareable, tiki-inspired punches and bowls to drum up conversations and generate a buzz. Coconut Club is also a purveyor of fuel that fires the craft beer frenzy, with 20 local and microbrew tap handles.

A photo of Pacific Beach Alehouse restaurant

8. Pacific Beach Alehouse

4.4

Awesome(263)

Price: Moderate

• American • Pacific Beach

Booked 3 times today

With handcrafted beer, eclectic menu, friendly service, and a lodge-like ambiance, Pacific Beach Alehouse is anything but ordinary. Dining Out magazine calls us "a world class microbrewery and restaurant," and "a destination for beer aficionados, tourists, and locals. We offer a wide variety of savory handcrafted burgers, flatbreads, and signature dishes. We feature four separate dining areas, each with its own unique atmosphere. You can sip a cold refreshing beer on our Sky Deck while enjoying the unparalleled views of Crystal Pier and the Pacific Ocean, or you can cozy up to the fire pit on our patio. Inside you can relax with your friends at our tables adjacent to our microbrewery. We offer free Wifi. We accept online reservations for groups of 6-12 guests. Reservations for 12+ people, please call the restaurant to book. We do not guarantee seating on the Sky Deck, but may request it as a preference.

A photo of California English restaurant

9. California English

4.4

Awesome(487)

Price: Expensive

• American • Sorrento Mesa

Booked 5 times today

Located in the Sorrento Valley, California English is the newest culinary creation from celebrity chef, Richard Blais. Blais is creating an all-day menu for California English that’ll interpret classic British dishes through the lens of Southern California ingredients.The idea is a fusion of sorts: the laid-back California lifestyle that makes San Diego so unique, mixed with a cozy pub convivial atmosphere where you can meet friends (or mates) for a pint after work, set up a client lunch with fresh oysters on the menu or have a cozy family dinner over a Sunday roast. Everything on the menu is made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients that make for fresh and flavorful dishes. The effortless vibe of casual yet stylish makes for the perfect place to celebrate the joy of the unexpected coming together to make the perfect culinary match.

A photo of Brigantine Del Mar restaurant

10. Brigantine Del Mar

4.6

Exceptional(2751)

Price: Moderate

• Seafood • Del Mar

Booked 25 times today

A San Diego tradition since 1969, the Brigantine has received many accolades in our 40+ year history. "BEST SEAFOOD", "BEST CASUAL SEAFOOD", "BEST HAPPY HOUR", and even "BEST SWORDFISH IN THE WORLD", according to USA Today.Well-known for our signature Clam Chowder, Grilled Swordfish, and Crème Brûlée, the Brigantine is a favorite among locals for consistently fresh seafood, succulent steaks and grilled meats. Perched between the spectacular Pacific Ocean and the hills of Rancho Santa Fe, the Del Mar Brigantine sits high above the action of the Del Mar racetrack.A lushly landscaped garden offers an unparalleled setting for weddings and outdoor-themed events. Indoors, a formal dining room looks out to the garden through floor-to-ceiling french doors. For more casual dining, the glass-enclosed deck is a year-round favorite.The Del Mar Brigantine serves dinner 7 nights a week, lunch Monday-Saturday, and brunch each Sunday.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

M
MichaelVIP
San Diego •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
May be my new #1. Glad I finally tried it. Every dish was fantastic and the service was top notch. The duck was the best duck dish I’ve ever had. The Cacio E Pepe was phenomenal.
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NINE-TENPrice: Expensive• Californian• La Jolla
•
4.7
K
Kelsey
San Francisco Bay Area •5 reviews
4.0
Dined 1 day ago
Great spot to pop in for drinks/appetizers. More of a tapas style dining experience than a full dinner entree spot, but the quality of the food and the atmosphere is worth it! Our server was extremely attentive, welcoming, and friendly. The caesar "twinkie" salad and kale salad were to die for--probably some of the best salads I've ever had. The potato gnocchi and the whipped ricotta were also incredible. For the portion size, the price is on the high end, but great spot to visit during the holidays as it's connected to La Valencia Hotel, which is magical at Christmas!
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The Whaling BarPrice: Expensive• Californian• La Jolla
•
4.5
M
MichelleVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •8 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
We have been coming to Manhattans for years, we always sit at the same two tables, and usually have exceptional service .Our waitress this time seemed as though she didn’t want to be at work. When we asked questions about the entrees she responded with sarcasm as if we were stupid and didn’t offer suggestions of any kind. It was a very special birthday that we were celebrating which made the service even more of a disappointment.
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Manhattan of La JollaPrice: Expensive• Italian• La Jolla
•
4.8
S
S
Washington, D.C. Area •8 reviews
4.0
Dined on 11 Dec 2024
Came in on a Taco and Tequila Tuesday with a great special featured tequila from Dobel. This was a great night for quieter dining -- no big crowd or music -- but still great food and service, plus got to try the new Crystalino from Dobel that is very smooth and got deals on cocktails made with it too. We could easily converse at our table and enjoy ourselves with good food and drink. What is not to like about that ?
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Beaumont'sPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• La Jolla
•
4.6
C
Carin
Philadelphia County •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 10 Dec 2024
Fabulous brunch place, beautiful location and delicious food!
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Brockton VillaPrice: Moderate• Californian• La Jolla
•
4.5

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Best Restaurants for People Watching in La Jolla

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16 restaurants available nearby

1. The Whaling Bar

2. NINE-TEN

3. Brockton Villa

4. Manhattan of La Jolla

5. Beaumont's

6. World Famous

7. Miss B's Coconut Club

8. Pacific Beach Alehouse

9. California English

10. Brigantine Del Mar

See what locals rave about

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