Best Live Music Restaurants in Kensington

58 restaurants available nearby

1. Madison

4.5

Price: Expensive

• Mediterranean • University Heights

Booked 46 times today

With their stunning design, classic cocktails & highly acclaimed fare, Madison finds itself among San Diego's can't miss restaurants! Serving many of Michelin recognized Chef Mario Cassineri classic dishes, perfect for Date Night of celebrating with friends. ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʜᴏᴜʀ - ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴅᴀʏ 4-6ᴘᴍᴛᴜᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 7-9ᴘᴍᴡᴇᴅɴᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅɪɴɴᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴏɢꜱᴛʜᴜʀꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅᴊ ꜱᴘɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏʟᴅ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴠɪɴʏʟꜰʀɪᴅᴀʏ & ꜱᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ᴡᴇᴇᴋᴇɴᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴢʏ ʙʀᴜɴᴄʜ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴊꜱꜱᴜɴᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ʟᴀᴛɪɴ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 6-8ᴘᴍ

2. Mister A's

4.8

Exceptional(8676)

Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary French / American • Downtown

Booked 60 times today

Mister A's is the penthouse, fine-dining destination of San Diego, and has been for over 50 years. Located just a few minutes from downtown, you will take the elevator to the top floor and look back out over jetliners sweeping past at eye level, the San Diego skyline, bay and Pacific, while enjoying Modern American cuisine, hand-crafted cocktails, and one of Wine Spectator's top-rated wine lists in the country. The culinary staff hand-selects local farm produce and the highest quality ingredients in every category to offer you selections that are made from scratch in house for brunch, lunch, dinner.. or simply the finest rooftop drinks and appetizers in town.Please visit our website for specific dress code guidelines: https://www.asrestaurant.com/contact/(Guests not in dress code will be turned away)

3. Wormwood

4.8

Exceptional(806)

Price: Very Expensive

• French • North Park

Booked 36 times today

Wormwood invites you to explore a bygone era when poets, writers, and painters found inspiration in the Green Fairy. Discover fine Absinthes as we share stories of its golden age and guide your palate on a unique journey.Our restaurant blends French elegance with bohemian charm, creating a cozy haven for food lovers. Each dish, from wagyu tartare to fresh oysters, celebrates local flavors and craftsmanship. Experience curated tastes of our coastal region with passion and finesse.We offer French wines and unique cocktails with a twist on classics. Every meal and drink promises adventure and cherished memories. Discover the fusion of past and present where dining is an unparalleled experience.Enjoy our three dining areas: a cozy indoor space with an open kitchen, an enchanting patio for serene outdoor dining, and the Secret Garden, a speakeasy bar with a unique cocktail menu and Green Hour. We also host private events, from dinners to weddings, ensuring every occasion is memorable.

4. Kettner Exchange

4.7

Exceptional(1362)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Little Italy

Booked 36 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.

5. The Red Door

4.7

Exceptional(2979)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Mission Hills

Booked 20 times today

The Red Door San Diego is committed to offering our guests sustainable and responsibly sourced farm-to-fork dishes. We proudly serve contemporary Italian and modern European cuisine with the freshest locally grown and handcrafted products available. We also feature delicious and unique ingredients from around the world. Chef/Owner Luciano Cibelli shops daily, personally selecting every item we serve. He bakes fresh breads, rolls, desserts and all of the pasta in house (including a special Gluten Free Bucatini) and he develops his menus in rhythm with the seasonal San Diego harvest. Enjoy nightly special offerings or a house favorite, Beef Wellington. Join us for the highly rated cuisine and return for the charming ambiance and excellent service behind the Red Door.

A photo of Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego restaurant

6. Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego

4.6

Exceptional(965)

Price: Expensive

• American • Downtown

Booked 26 times today

Provisional Kitchen, Café & Mercantile, open for daily for brunch and select evenings for dinner. Provisional is a sprawling, sunlit communal dining space featuring a Vittoria Coffee espresso bar, bistro tables, and a retail space set within a greenhouse, where guests can shop a curated collection of homeware, ceramics, apothecary items, pantry staples, and jewelry.Provisional serves some of the best cuisine in the city, featuring favorites such as housemade pasta, woodfire-oven baked pizza and Italian-inspired entrées; our lively brunch features bottomless mimosas and seasonal creations.

7. Books + Records

4.7

Exceptional(379)

Price: Expensive

• American • Banker's Hill

Booked 31 times today

Global inspired American cuisine, craft cocktails, and weekend brunch in an upbeat atmosphere, with live music.Chef Ryan Stickel is serving up San Diego's freshest food takes in an art deco meets mid-century mod warehouse space. With a tenured run on both Eater's Heat Map and list of San Diego's Hottest Cocktail Bars, the food and drinks are both guaranteed to delight your senses.

A photo of Zama Restaurant & Bar restaurant

8. Zama Restaurant & Bar

4.0

Excellent(295)

Price: Expensive

• Sushi • Downtown

Booked 21 times today

Located in San Diego’s vibrant downtown, Zama brings Latin American cuisine with an Asian infusion in a captivating space inspired by the Amazonian jungle. Zama will focus on Latin American cuisine with the addition of Peruvian and Mexican dishes like Carpaccio, Agua Chile and Tartar and a Japanese-inspired sushi bar created by Chef Tayuka Kudo (formerly of Nobu and Lumi) against the extravagant backdrop of the lush jungle-inspired space.

9. ARLO San Diego

4.2

Awesome(766)

Price: Moderate

• American • Mission Valley

Booked 10 times today

ARLO is an award-winning restaurant known for its scratch-made dishes, crafted from fresh local ingredients. Serving breakfast, weekend DJ brunch, and dinner, ARLO offers a fun and quirky environment. Highlights include a sweeping outdoor patio, swaying palm trees, and a giant outdoor fireplace. The experience is rounded out by an inventive cocktail program, an extensive wine list, and local craft beers on tap. Recently, ARLO won Best Hotel Restaurant and Best Restaurant for Big Groups in the San Diego Magazine Best of 2024 awards. Free parking is available.

A photo of Water Grill - San Diego restaurant

10. Water Grill - San Diego

4.7

Exceptional(3602)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Downtown

Booked 63 times today

Located steps away from Petco Park and the San Diego Convention Center in the heart of Gaslamp District in downtown San Diego, Water Grill San Diego is an iconic seafood destination to enjoy the first catch of the season and a deep variety of fish, lobsters, crabs, oysters and shellfish on a robust menu that changes daily. New product arrives from boat-to-table in a matter of hours from our exclusive seafood distribution company and our chef’s preparations allow the high-quality product to shine. Consistently rated as one of San Diego’s top seafood restaurants, Water Grill San Diego also offers multiple, customizable private dining options for business meetings and special events.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

D
Dena
Washington, D.C. Area •4 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
What a wonderful place to be on Christmas day( Fantastic fixed menu, fantastic drinks and what a very attentive staff from front desk to service. I want to thank Bill, my server for the evening and all the wonderful team members who worked on Christmas day to make someone else s day special. The view from any point of view is breathtaking. The chef and team should take a bow for the menu and the bartender for a wonderful mango Durango cocktail. What a gem of a restaurant, so classy, so chic so special. Keep up the great 5 Star service. I also appreciate the many times the manager and staff checked on a single woman. I felt so special.
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Mister A'sPrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary French / American• Downtown
•
4.8
D
Dawn
Denver / Colorado •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
We enjoyed a delicious Christmas Eve dinner! The Beef Wellington was excellent. Banana Cream pie was fantastic! My only suggestion would be to have non-alcoholic drink options. Dry Secco is perfect or some of the great beers . It would just be nice and make it special.
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The Red DoorPrice: Moderate• Italian• Mission Hills
•
4.7
J
jim
San Diego •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 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
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Kettner ExchangePrice: Expensive• Contemporary American• Little Italy
•
4.7
B
Brooke
Seattle / Eastern Washington •1 review
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
A perfect experience. From the ambiance on the back patio, the great service from Joe, Eduardo, the sommelier and the busser to the amazing food! Everything was amazing. Truly a treat to dine here. Thank you to the whole staff
More info
WormwoodPrice: Very Expensive• French• North Park
•
4.8
J
Jim
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
We were so pleased that Madison has brought back their delicious jambalaya! Having grown up in New Orleans, I can say that Madison‘s jambalaya is some of the best around! Also loved the live jazz, friendly staff, and good vibe of the place!
More info
MadisonPrice: Expensive• Mediterranean• University Heights
•
4.5

Best Live Music Restaurants in Kensington

Price

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Top Rated

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Award-winning

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58 restaurants available nearby

1. Madison

2. Mister A's

3. Wormwood

4. Kettner Exchange

5. The Red Door

6. Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego

7. Books + Records

8. Zama Restaurant & Bar

9. ARLO San Diego

10. Water Grill - San Diego

See what locals rave about

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