Best Restaurants for People Watching in Pacific Beach

28 restaurants available nearby

1. World Famous

4.6

Exceptional(993)

Price: Moderate

• Californian • Pacific Beach

Booked 27 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.

2. The Whaling Bar

4.5

Awesome(64)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • La Jolla

Booked 14 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.

3. NINE-TEN

4.7

Exceptional(2922)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • La Jolla

Booked 13 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.

4. Brockton Villa

4.5

Awesome(2772)

Price: Moderate

• Californian • La Jolla

Booked 12 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!

5. Beaumont's

4.6

Exceptional(915)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • La Jolla

Booked 2 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!

A photo of Pacific Beach Alehouse restaurant

6. 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 Miss B's Coconut Club restaurant

7. Miss B's Coconut Club

4.6

Exceptional(116)

Price: Moderate

• Caribbean • Mission Beach

Booked 6 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 Trattoria Don Pietro restaurant

8. Trattoria Don Pietro

4.5

Awesome(794)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Old Town

Booked 10 times today

Thanks to Trattoria Don Pietro, there is finally something new and fresh happening in Old Town. After spending a lifetime of cooking Italian food and a few years in LA learning from the best restaurants in the industry, Pietro is finally ready to roll up his sleeves and show San Diego his take on traditional Italian cuisine with a trendy twist. Between our groundbreaking Italian menu, wisteria garden patio ambiance, and over-the-top cocktails, we stand alone as the most instagrammable restaurant in San Diego. Come stop by today and experience our delicate balance of tradition and trend.

A photo of Manhattan of La Jolla restaurant

9. Manhattan of La Jolla

4.8

Exceptional(1726)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • La Jolla

Booked 14 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.

10. Draft

3.9

Excellent(116)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Mission Bay

Booked 22 times today

Located directly on the Mission Beach boardwalk, Draft Restaurant is serving up 54 beers on tap pairing the surf and sand with a wide variety of craft beers. But the appeal doesn’t stop at the #brewsandviews; Come hungry and experience a fresh take on beachside dining featuring casual, handcrafted fare from Executive Chef Luis Romero.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

L
Lancevip
San Diego •16 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Great view of La Jolla Cove and seals, good food, interesting menu, casual but fun atmosphere, excellent and friendly service. Great place to take out-of-town guests. Highly recommend.
More info
Brockton VillaPrice: Moderate• Californian• La Jolla
•
4.5
H
Hamiltonvip
San Diego •11 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Man, I noticed a few bad reviews for this place but we totally disagree. This is a cool, smaller restaurant attached to the Hotel Valencia. It has a nice u-shaped bar with what seemed to be mostly locals hanging out talking with the staff. Upscale vibe but not "stuffy" La Jolla vibe. The cocktails were amazing and fairly creative. We also thought the food was excellent, contrary to what a few other folks have said. The braised short rib Mao, crispy pumpkin squash, and twinkie ceaser were the standouts. Only minor downsides were that you can smell the seals a little bit and it was a bit chilly inside, as the door was kept open. Overall we really enjoyed our experience.
More info
The Whaling BarPrice: Expensive• Californian• La Jolla
•
4.5
J
john
Atlanta Metro •58 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Tremendous dining experience in La Jolla … highly recommended!
More info
NINE-TENPrice: Expensive• Californian• La Jolla
•
4.7
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego •4 reviews
5.0
Dined on 17 Nov 2024
Delicious menu, enough diverse options without overdoing it - everything we had was amazing! Breakfast tacos yum! The Benedict (their take on it is smaller which gives you some room for potatoes or bacon!) and it is mouth watering good. I’ll be dreaming about the Coast Toast until I have it again! Excellent service! The servers and bartenders are total pros, so you feel well taken care of. It feels so easy and nicely casual, yet Beaumont’s is a well- oiled machine! And the drinks! We loved the Don’t You Judge Me (bubbly refreshing, but powerful) and the Bloody Mary. I’m going back as soon as possible 😋😍
More info
Beaumont'sPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• La Jolla
•
4.6
E
ellen
San Diego •11 reviews
5.0
Dined on 16 Nov 2024
Great food! Great view! Great service! We had a wonderful server! 👍😎
More info
World FamousPrice: Moderate• Californian• Pacific Beach
•
4.6

Best Restaurants for People Watching in Pacific Beach

Price

Cuisine

Regions

Areas

Top Rated

Dining Options

Seating Options

Award-winning

Accessibility

28 restaurants available nearby

1. World Famous

2. The Whaling Bar

3. NINE-TEN

4. Brockton Villa

5. Beaumont's

6. Pacific Beach Alehouse

7. Miss B's Coconut Club

8. Trattoria Don Pietro

9. Manhattan of La Jolla

10. Draft

See what locals rave about

Explore OpenTable