Best Restaurants for People Watching in San Diego

24 restaurants available nearby

1. Kettner Exchange

4.7

Exceptional(1362)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Little Italy

Booked 58 times today

Kettner Exchange boasts two levels of indoor/outdoor drinking and dining and Little Italy’s only rooftop patio with spanning harbor views. We feature Progressive American cuisine from critically acclaimed Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski. In 2019, Kettner Exchange was named to Michelin Guide's prestigious Bib Gourmand list. Kettner Exchange has proudly maintained this award every year thereafter. Originally introduced in 1997, the Bib Gourmand category highlights restaurants that serve high-quality meals which include two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less.

A photo of Trattoria Don Pietro restaurant

2. Trattoria Don Pietro

4.5

Awesome(797)

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 ARTIFACT at Mingei restaurant

3. ARTIFACT at Mingei

4.8

Exceptional(862)

Price: Expensive

• International • Downtown

Booked 30 times today

ARTIFACT is a full-service restaurant featuring craft cooking inspired by ancient methods, spices and botanicals located inside the beautiful Mingei Museum at Balboa Park . Offering indoor, outdoor courtyard, and bar seating for lunch Tuesday-Saturday.Crafted by Tim Kolanko, Executive Chef, Urban Kitchen Group, and Tony Coito, ARTIFACT’s Chef de Cuisine, will be a nod to Mingei’s changing international exhibitions in an environment filled with functional, innovative art and design by Jennifer Luce, Founder and Principal of LUCE et studio, who led the design and renovation project. ARTIFACT and CRAFT CAFE at Mingei-the latest additions to restaurateur Tracy Borkum and Executive Chef Tim Kolanko’s CUCINA family of restaurants. An Urban Kitchen Group Concept. CUCINA urbana, enoteca, sorella, UKG Catering, Urban Kitchen at The Ready Shell at Jacobs ParkFollow the journey on social media @Dine.Mingei

4. Bleu Boheme

4.8

Exceptional(3549)

Price: Expensive

• French • Kensington

Booked 22 times today

"World travel and its pleasures; items brought back from different places for décors; great stories shared with others; and very importantly, simple, yet delicious recipes from different cultures. Our mission is humble. It is simply for people coming to our restaurant to be transported around the world, and to travel with us for an evening, to a place of well-being and happiness."Bleu Bohème is designed to create a feeling of France's past generations. It mixes the Bohemian and artistic free spirited left bank of Paris with the roots and tradition of the rural areas. Bleu Bohème is a neighborhood restaurant that serves accessible, affordable and comforting French cuisine.

5. World Famous

4.6

Exceptional(1006)

Price: Moderate

• Californian • Pacific Beach

Booked 49 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.

6. Draft

3.9

Excellent(124)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Mission Bay

Booked 18 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.

A photo of Miss B's Coconut Club restaurant

7. Miss B's Coconut Club

4.7

Exceptional(119)

Price: Moderate

• Caribbean • Mission Beach

Booked 10 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 5 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.

9. Barbusa

4.6

Exceptional(4312)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Little Italy

Booked 92 times today

Barbusa Local Modern Sicilian Restaurant.Lively atmosphere with our craft cocktails, handmade pastas, freshest seafood, delicate pizza, and our famous Sicilian Ribeye.Pizza Served from our stone fired oven.Gluten free and Vegan Items AvailableWHILE WE VALUE THE TIME OF ALL OUR LOYAL GUEST AND SMILING FACES, WE KINDLY REQUEST YOU LIMIT THE TIME SPENT AT YOUR TABLE TO 1 HOUR AND 30 MIN DUE TO MANDATED REDUCTION IN CAPACITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT, WE COULDNT BE MORE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU DINE WITH US!

A photo of The Henry - Coronado restaurant

10. The Henry - Coronado

4.8

Exceptional(2470)

Price: Moderate

• American • Coronado

Booked 175 times today

Welcome to the greatest neighborhood restaurant, a place where you can always count on a warm welcome from baristas, servers and bartenders who know your order by heart. A fusion of industrial and classical influences, our open dining spaces are bursting with charm and energy. Come and go with ease for your morning coffee, enjoy lunch with a colleague, gather the family together for dinner, or treat yourself to a post-work drink at the bar. For craveable eats and downright delicious cocktails, look no further than a place where you'll always be among friends, a place that feels like home: The Henry.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

A
AnaVIP
Los Angeles •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
I loved what I had! Delicious food & wonderful wines. Bringing my boyfriend tomorrow for the pre fixe dinner!
More info
ARTIFACT at MingeiPrice: Expensive• International• Downtown
•
4.8
J
Jaime
Cincinnati / Dayton •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
So happy we found our favorite restaurant to celebrate Christmas since our family is away. The buffet is the best. We had great service. It didn’t feel packed. Great they have outside eating. Prime rib was delicious:-)
More info
World FamousPrice: Moderate• Californian• Pacific Beach
•
4.6
S
ScottVIP
San Diego •176 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
I returned to Bleu Boheme for another year of their Joyeux Noël dinner. I so truly enjoy everything about it, choosing to sit at the bar and enjoy the staff and fellow diners as we feast on a variety of C'est incroyable dishes. I love that the bartender GG was able to precisely pair good French wine with each item I chose from the menu, though for each course he let me sample a couple from which to choose. I truly can't say enough about the experience!!!!!!!!!!
More info
Bleu BohemePrice: Expensive• French• Kensington
•
4.8
J
jim
San Diego •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
The small plates are entirely original, owing more to Asian and other fusion than to Spanish tapas. The cocktails were original and enhanced the meal. Ambience was great
More info
Kettner ExchangePrice: Expensive• Contemporary American• Little Italy
•
4.7
C
ChristineVIP
San Diego •13 reviews
4.0
Dined on 14 Dec 2024
Great food....service was excellent. Mylie our server was awesome. Friendly, very attentive, very welcoming.
More info
Trattoria Don PietroPrice: Moderate• Italian• Old Town
•
4.5

Best Restaurants for People Watching in San Diego

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24 restaurants available nearby

1. Kettner Exchange

2. Trattoria Don Pietro

3. ARTIFACT at Mingei

4. Bleu Boheme

5. World Famous

6. Draft

7. Miss B's Coconut Club

8. Pacific Beach Alehouse

9. Barbusa

10. The Henry - Coronado

See what locals rave about

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