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The Prado at Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

The Prado at Balboa Park

4.6
4.6
7942 Reviews
$30 and under
Californian

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2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 53 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for outdoor dining
Located in San Diego's Balboa Park, in the Historic House of Hospitality, The Prado offers historic charm and California cuisine.
Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Sat 11:30–20:00 Sun 11:30–19:30
  • Phone number
    (619) 557-9441
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    John King
  • Catering
    Prado Catering<br />The Prado also offers full service catering at various museums and other locations within Balboa Park. Please contact our catering department for additional information.<br /><br />Experience our Award-Winning Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Menus<br />Professional Staff-Synchronized Service.<br />Full length table linens, gold chiavari chairs and porcelain china.
  • Private party facilities
    The Prado, located in the historic House of Hospitality in the center of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park is known for its world-class California cuisine, unparalleled ambiance and excellent service. From intimate gatherings to grand affairs, the Prado has it all to make your event unforgettable!
  • Private party contact
    Event Manager: (619) 557-9441
  • Area
    Downtown
  • Cross Street
    6th Avenue
  • Parking details
    Free public parking lots available throughout Balboa Park.
  • Public transit
    Visit Balboa Park using the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), with easy access from the downtown and Mission Valley areas.Review the times for route Routes 120 (Fashion Valley), Route 7 (Smart Corner) and Rapid 215 are the main bus routes through Balboa Park
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Valentine's Day Dinner

    USD 79.95 per person

    14 Feb 2025 - 15 Feb 2025
    Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy a special preset dinner at the Prado in Balboa Park. We will only be serving a 3-course meal with a sparkling wine toast for $79.95 per person. We have seating availability from 4:30-8pm inside our dining rooms or on our outdoor heated terrace. Payment is due at the restaurant.

What 7,942 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Prado at Balboa Park offers a "beautiful setting" with "excellent service" and "delicious food" that makes it a favorite for special occasions. Guests appreciate the "friendly and professional staff" and a "romantic ambiance" on the patio. While some reviews mention inconsistent food quality, the overall experience remains "highly recommended."

7,942 Reviews
  1. Maya

    VIP

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    2.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    This used to be one of our favorite restaurants but the quality of food has really gone down. The paella was clearly just thawed out with some bites still icy. Sea bass quality and presentation were very poor. The meat dishes were better than the seafood.

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  2. Victoria

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love the ambience of that restaurant very much. I think every restaurant gives people way too much food and the Prado is no different. I’m trying different things each time I go and the last one was only OK. I should’ve just ordered the crab dip because I don’t eat a lot at lunch and I love that crab dip but I thought I’d try something else. I had the chicken adobo tacos. I don’t really like chicken so I probably shouldn’t have ordered that at all. But I thought I’d try something else. I had the chicken adobo tacos. I don’t really like chicken so I probably shouldn’t of ordered that at all.

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  3. Ilana

    VIP

    San Diego

    31 reviews

    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful lunch today! The beet salad was the best thing I have eaten in a very long time! I had the steak sandwich which was also pretty darn good. We also had a wonderful server who made we had everything we needed. Overall a great experience today!

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  4. Sheldon

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Highly recommended. If you've never been here, it is one of the most beautiful restaurants in San Diego and doesn't need a view of the city or water. On top of that, the food is fantastic. We had the chef's cut (hanger) steak along with the beef short ribs and salmon. Both dishes were incredible. We finished the evening with the tres leches cake and coffee. Amazing! The only thing better than the food and ambiance was the service provided by Mehdi. He made spot on dinner and dessert recommendations for us. He was fantastic and truly an asset to the Prado. I will be back, even if it is just for dessert and/or cocktails. Oh, also dog friendly on the front patio, which tonight provided awesome music from the wedding nearby.

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  5. Shannon

    San Diego

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great service but sadly, the food was mediocre did not live up to expectations.

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  6. Maria

    VIP

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was such a great dining experience. our waiter was amazing I believe he said his name was Todd. He was super attentive and made the whole experience great overall. The food and drinks were delicious. Our group was celebrating my significant others birthday and I was able to bring a cake with me which Prado did great about holding it for us until it was time. I brought in decorations for the cake and they did an amazing job putting it all together, and even slicing it for us and making each plate an amazing presentation for each guest. Highly recommend.

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  7. Nancy

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Was a friends birthday. Really a lovely kunch and complimentary birthday flan! Great food and wonderful ambience. Love d the crab dip!

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  8. John

    VIP

    San Diego

    34 reviews

    5.0

    34 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and food. This always a go to place when we are in San Diego. The Cohn group does a fantastic job!

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  9. Barbara

    VIP

    San Diego

    113 reviews

    5.0

    113 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had filet mignon & shrimp with vegetables & potato for $25.00 per person. Delicious unbelievably deal

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  10. Jane

    Minneapolis

    25 reviews

    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We ate on the outdoor patio. Well shaded, some tables with sun if you prefer that. Service was efficient and friendly. Portions were large.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Prado at Balboa Park is rated 4.6 stars by 7942 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 53 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Prado at Balboa Park

1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    6th Avenue
  • Area
    Downtown
  • Hours of Operation
    Tue–Sat 11:30–20:00 Sun 11:30–19:30
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Free public parking lots available throughout Balboa Park.
  • Public transit
    Visit Balboa Park using the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), with easy access from the downtown and Mission Valley areas.Review the times for route Routes 120 (Fashion Valley), Route 7 (Smart Corner) and Rapid 215 are the main bus routes through Balboa Park
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    John King
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (619) 557-9441
  • Catering
    Prado Catering<br />The Prado also offers full service catering at various museums and other locations within Balboa Park. Please contact our catering department for additional information.<br /><br />Experience our Award-Winning Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Menus<br />Professional Staff-Synchronized Service.<br />Full length table linens, gold chiavari chairs and porcelain china.
  • Private party facilities
    The Prado, located in the historic House of Hospitality in the center of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park is known for its world-class California cuisine, unparalleled ambiance and excellent service. From intimate gatherings to grand affairs, the Prado has it all to make your event unforgettable!
  • Private party contact
    Event Manager: (619) 557-9441
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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