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San Diego's best romantic dining, drinks, getaways, and more
Choose from 608’s farm-fresh, from-scratch daily menu or a three-course menu. Fixed menu includes two glasses of wine, and is available for lunch or dinner.
Pricing: $40
Location: 608 Mission Avenue, Oceanside
Date: February 14
Phone: (760) 291-1040
Celebrate this special day of romance at Southern California’s only five-star and Five Diamond restaurant. The nine-course tasting menu includes oysters and caviar, with the option to add wine pairings for an additional fee.
Pricing: $275 per person
Location: 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Del Mar
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 314-1900
Experience Amaya’s four-course tasting menu, which includes one glass of Veuve Clicquot “Rich.” Beautiful views of Fairmont Grand Del Mar will transport you to the Italian coast alongside Californian cuisine.
Pricing: $165 per person
Location: 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Del Mar
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 314-2727
Backyard celebrates a Lovebirds Valentine’s Day Dinner that includes blackened shrimp, butternut and goat cheese ravioli, and chocolate-covered strawberries, plusd live music by Joanna Gerolaga.
Pricing: $59.95 per couple
Location: 832 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 859-2593
Feast on Bencotto’s Italian cuisine, a constantly updated wine list, and à la carte menu items for a customized meal.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 750 West Fir Street, Little Italy
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 450-4786
Be transported to Paris with Bleu Bohème’s Saint Valentin dinner. The menu features indulgent choices such as fresh King salmon, New York steak au poivre, crème brulée, and gateau au chocolat.
Pricing: $75 per person
Location: 4090 Adams Avenue, Kensington
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 255-4167
This luxurious two-story Little Italy restaurant is the perfect setting for your most romantic evening of the year. Decadent dry-aged ribeye and tableside omelets are only topped by the dessert—a seven-layer carrot cake. The décor—price tag $6.5 million—will serve as eye candy.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 1909 India Street, Little Italy
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 202-4577
Do good this Valentine’s by visiting Café 21, which uses locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. This three-course menu includes a complimentary glass of sangria.
Pricing: $55 per person
Location: 802 5th Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter; 2736 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 795-0721
Get an early start on your Valentine’s Day dining with Cafe 222’s Some Like It Hotcakes breakfast. The stack of dark chocolate pancakes is drizzled with cream cheese frosting, chocolate sauce, and topped off with fresh strawberries.
Pricing: $12.50 per person
Location: 222 Island Avenue, East Village
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 236-9902
Head into this high-end, outdoors-themed restaurant for family-style dining. Guests will enjoy a multi-course meal with exclusive cocktail and wine pairings.
Price: $65
Date: February 14
Location: 2725 State Street, Carlsbad
Phone: (760) 637 5121
Visit The Forum in Carlsbad for a cozy and romantic dinner that includes dishes like Pollo Valentino. Add a Margarita Valentina, made with a sweet and sour blend of tequila, triple sec, and passion fruit puree for an extra fee.
Pricing: $29.95 per person
Location: 1901 Calle Barcelona, Carlsbad
Date: February 14
Phone: (760) 634-3443
Mariachis will serenade you and your loved ones while you enjoy Casa Guadalajara’s famous Bird Bath margaritas and tequila lime shrimp. End your evening with a delicious flan.
Price: $28 per person
Location: 4105 Taylor Street, Old Town
Date: February 9-14
Phone: (619) 295-5111
Celebrate your love with a three-course Valentine’s meal featuring concha de guacamole, sizzling fajitas, and caramel flan. Add a house margarita to round out the night.
Price: $45 per couple
Location: 12865 El Camino Real, Del Mar
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 792-4100
Delight in farm-to-table, handcrafted cuisine at Chandler’s at the Cape Rey Carlsbad resort—all with an ocean view. Choose from dishes like braised short rib flatbread, or lobster-crusted butterfish as you tuck in a delicious three-course meal.
Pricing: $74 per person
Location: 1 Ponto Road, Carlsbad
Date: February 14
Phone: (760) 683-5500
This new Little Italy spot from the team behind ramen house Tajima is serving elevated Japanese fare for a four-course dinner. Pair it with a craft cocktail.
Pricing: $95 per person
Location: 1953 India Street, Little Italy
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 501-5505
Let Chef Jason Winton of The Clubhouse Grill is preparing a three-course tasting menu of grand oysters, beer-braised veal short rib, and a dark chocolate skillet brownie.
Pricing: $45 per person
Location: 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Del Mar
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 314-1950
A special four-course dinner is being offered—think butternut squash ravioli with orange ginger cream sauce or slow roasted pork oso bucco with truffle mashed potatoes.
Pricing: $119 per couple
Location: 5800 The Crossings Drive, Carlsbad
Date: February 14
Phone: (760) 444-1882
Cucina Sorella & Cucina Enoteca
Visit either the Kensington or Del Mar eatery to experience a special à la carte menu featuring red-themed dishes.
Pricing: a la carte
Locations: Kensington and Del Mar
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 281-4014; (858) 704-4500
This Mexican kitchen will be serving its regular dinner options in its vibrant and playful dining room. Try sharable dishes like grilled prime carne asada and churros.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 1047 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 515-3003
From the 11th floor of Hotel La Jolla, Executive Chef Ingrid Funes will be serving delicious specials in addition to their regular menu offerings. Feast on roasted lamb loin or Scottish salmon and finish your meal with two glasses of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 7995 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 551-3620
This three-course romantic dinner includes a shared appetizer, two entrees (think carnitas or enchiladas), and two margaritas or sangrias. Feast on a plate of delicious churros before you continue your evening of love.
Pricing: $55 per couple
Location: 2310 30th Street, South Park
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 501-0643
An aphrodisiac-inspired menu at El Chingon will set the mood for you and your date. Feast on surf and turf and specialty cocktails and finish the evening with blueberry cheesecake chimichangas.
Pricing: $79 per couple
Location: 560 5th Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 501-1919
At this farm-themed restaurant with a farm-to-table ethos, chefs will prepare selections lobster salad, bison filet, and a special dessert.
Pricing: $49 per person; $15 for wine pairing
Location: 8141 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 724-6465
Create a romantic evening with a candlelit dinner at Fiore Steakhouse at Harrah’s Resort Southern California. Feast on a special menu of lobster cocktails, smoke porterhouse steak, and a decadent chocolate mousse.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Funner
Date: February 14
Phone: (760) 751-3100
After you dine on the sustainably sourced, fresh-caught seafood dishes, share a complimentary couples’ dessert and glasses of champagnes at the Fishmonger’s Market.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 1735 Hancock Street, Mission Hills
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 756-7345
This iconic Seaport Village waterfront restaurant will serve a three-course menu. Choose from lobster bisque, flat iron steak with blue cheese butter, or crab-crusted salmon.
Pricing: $48 per person
Location: 831 West Harbor Drive, Marina District
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 232-1141
Share a traditional Cuban three-course dinner at Havana 1920. The prix-fixe menu includes a jibarito sandwich, Havana salmon with chimichurri, and a dessert empanada filled with guava and cream cheese.
Pricing: $38 per person
Location: 548 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 13 & 14
Phone: (619) 369-1920
Share a three-course meal that includes a house bottle of red or white wine, and specialty pizzas.
Pricing: $50 per couple
Location: 4051 Adams Avenue, Kensington
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 281-1904
Cozy up to Herb & Wood’s fireplace while indulging in oxtail gnocchi, lobster crepe, or prime filet mignon. A decadent dessert, like tiramisu or pavlova, will finish the night.
Pricing: $89.95
Location: 2210 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 955-8495
Elegant coastal cuisine is served up at Herringbone La Jolla, with a focus on line-caught seafood and high-quality meats. Executive Chef Jessie Glessner and Pastry Chef Becky Kastelz have crafted a four-course menu for the occasion.
Pricing: $88 per person
Location: 7837 Herschel Avenue, La Jolla
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 459-0221
Enjoy a black-tie evening of fine dining, dancing, and entertainment at the Hotel del Coronado, one of San Diego’s most luxurious and iconic locations. The evening will include a dinner collaboration from five Master French chefs.
Pricing: $250 per person
Location: 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Date: February 17
Phone: (800) 468-3533
This buzzy new Lemon Grove eatery is serving a three-course menu with options like a strawberry salad, special lobster ravioli in vodka cream sauce and champagne with chocolate-covered strawberries.
Pricing: $45 per person
Location: 8131 Broadway, Lemon Grove
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 825-7112
In the iconic US Grant Hotel, The Grant Grill is serving up a tasting dinner for two that includes Shigoku oysters and California spiny lobster. Deconstructed red velvet cake is on the menu for dessert.
Pricing: $105 per person
Location: 326 Broadway, Downtown
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 744-2077
Little Italy’s “Left Coast” eatery is celebrating with a four-course meal crafted by Executive Chef Anthony Wells. Wine pairings are also available à la carte.
Pricing: $105
Location: 2228 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 269-9036
Executive Chef Anthony Sinsay will be serving a shared meal that includes a complimentary glass of champagne.
Pricing: $100 per couple
Location: 616 J Street, East Village
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 531-8744
Escape the city and enjoy Lake San Marcos’s Perfect Pair Valentine’s Day special, which includes two appetizers, prime chateaubriand and lobster tail, and dessert. Stay overnight at Lakehouse Hotel & Resort for a full Valentine’s celebration.
Pricing: $225 per couple
Location: 1025 La Bonita Drive, San Marcos
Date: February 14
Phone: (760) 744-0120
Looking for a low pressure date night? Wander the halls of Liberty Public Market with a glass of wine or a craft beer in hand and choose from 30 artisan booths with dinner, dessert, and drink options.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 2820 Historic Decatur Road, Point Loma
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 487-9346
Book an oceanview table at this iconic La Jolla restaurant where they’re serving a decadent menu of Norwegian halibut, Sansho butter-basted lobster tail, Midwestern black angus filet mignon, and more. Dessert ranges from a gold dust Valrhona chocolate pyramid to the lilikoi coconut blanc manger.
Pricing: $150 per person
Location: 2000 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla
Date: February 14
Phone: (866) 644-2351
Meze Greek Restaurant in the Gaslamp will be showcasing a four-course dinner with optional Greek wine pairings. Enjoy innovative dishes like chicken souvlaki, fettucine à la Greca, and flourless chocolate cake.
Pricing: From $45 per person
Location: 345 Sixth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 550-1600
This Rancho Santa Fe dining destination will be serving a specialty lunch this Valentine’s Day in addition to a lavish four-course dinner.
Pricing: Lunch a la carte; dinner $135
Location: 6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 756-3085
Get an early start on your Valentine’s Day feasting with Mister A’s three-course lunch or exclusive dinner of upscale American cuisine with French influences.
Pricing: Lunch $65; Dinner $135
Location: 2550 Fifth Avenue, Bankers Hill
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 239-1377
The first restaurant in San Diego to serve a cheese wheel, Monello is also one of Little Italy’s most authentic Italian dining experiences. Stop by this Valentine’s for special Risotto Valentino or Tagliolini Agli Scampi.
Pricing: $35 per person
Location: 750 West Fir Street, Little Italy
Dates: February 14-18
Phone: (619) 501-0030
The modern Chinese restaurant in the Gaslamp is serving a menu of Cantonese shrimp, banana spring rolls, and chocolate-covered strawberries with Chinese five spice whipped cream.
Price: $60 per couple
Location: 467 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 359-8897
Looking for a casual dinner with luxurious views? Look no further than OB Surf Lodge’s Valentine’s dinner with fresh seafood and a creative cocktail menu.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 5083 Santa Monica Avenue, Ocean Beach
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 955-5475
Feast on a three-course Valentine’s Day dinner under a vintage canvas tent in this outdoors-themed restaurant. Dishes from the three-course menu include a Caprese Salad with crispy prosciutto, heirloom tomatoes, and balsamic caviar, as well as a grilled local sea bass served alongside roasted Brussels sprouts.
Pricing: $45 per person
Location: 3422 30th Street, North Park
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 618-1285
Osetra has created a delicious and upscale three-course, prix-fixe menu that includes creamy lobster ravioli, grilled Chilean sea bass, and prime filet mignon. Sip on a glass of complimentary bubbly at the end of your dinner.
Pricing: TBD
Location: 904 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 239-1800
Pick from Pacifica Del Mar’s delicious à la carte menu and enjoy a soup or salad with every entrée. Sip a signature chocolate martini while soaking up the amazing ocean view.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 792-0476
Coronado’s Primavera will be offering a three-course menu di San Valentino. Choose from classic Italian entrees including lobster-stuffed ravioli, filet mignon with a port wine glaze, or seared scallops with tomato thyme fondue.
Pricing: $69.95 per person
Location: 932 Orange Ave, Coronado
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 435-0454
A Feast for Lovers dinner will include a red velvet soup, garden ravioli, and dark chocolate truffles.
Pricing: $70 per person
Location: 714 West Washington Street, Mission Hills
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 295-6000
Sally’s Fish House and Bar is waterfront dining at its finest—feast on a three-course dinner in the dining room, bar, or outside by the cozy fire pits. Toast the end of the meal with a complimentary glass of champagne.
Pricing: $75 per person
Location: 1 Market Place, Marina
Dates: February 14
Phone: (619) 358-6740
Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza & Grill
All six location of this local pizza chain are selling heart-shaped, make-at-home pizza kits with housemade pizza dough (gluten-free available!), mozzarella, basil, and tomato sauce, with the option of pepperoni. For every kit sold, $1 will benefit the American Heart Association.
Pricing: From $7
Locations: Del Mar, La Jolla, La Mesa, Mission Valley, San Marcos, and Scripps Ranch
Dates: All February long
Visit one of Searsucker’s locations this Valentine’s Day to experience a four-course menu of short rib with roasted mushrooms, scallops with preserved lemon, and braised pork shank.
Pricing: $75-$85 per person
Locations: Gaslamp Quarter; Del Mar
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 233-7327; (858) 369-5700
A classic French dinner will transport you to the City of Love. Their three-course menu includes foie gras paired with blueberries and blue cheese and veal topped with lobster and petite hollaindaise.
Pricing: $70 per person
Location: 3408 30th Street, North Park
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 955-5295
Visit one of Tajima’s San Diego locations to enjoy a cozy ramen dinner. Options include the spicy sesame, creamy chicken, or vegan bowls. End the night with a mochi ice cream.
Pricing: $30 per couple
Locations: Convoy Street, Mercury Street, Hillcrest, East Village or North Park
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 431-5820
Indulge in Tidal’s three-course menu of Paradise oysters, pink peppercorn New York strip steak, and truffle tremor raviolo.
Pricing: $65 per person
Locations: 1404 Vacation Road, Mission Bay
Date: February 14-17
Phone: (858) 240-4913
Known for their small plates approach, Trust’s dishes are perfect for sharing. Try the wood-grilled cauliflower, lamb meatballs with tzatziki, and pillow-soft profiteroles.
Location: 3752 Park Boulevard, Hillcrest
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 795-6901
Union’s festivities include a three-course menu with an optional wine pairing, live music starring K. Emeline, and karaoke starting at 10 p.m.
Pricing: $95 per couple; $150 per couple for wine pairings
Location: 333 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 795-9463
This five-course dinner and wine pairing features wines from the small-lot Robert Craig Wineries, located in the mountains of Napa. Adam Glatt, a representative from the vineyard, will share his first-hand experiences before the delicious meal. And on Valentine’s Day, choose from two dinner options. The MED is serving a four-course dinner in the hotel’s Great Room, featuring lobster rillette or diver scallops. Café la Rue is also serving a special dinner for two, where couples can enjoy duo oysters and surf and turf.
Pricing: $125 per person; Valentine’s Day dinner à la carte
Location: 1132 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Dates: various dates in February; February 14
Phone: (858) 454-0771
Vigilucci’s is offering a Sweetly Savory San Valentino prix-fixe menu, which includes a complimentary glass of Italian Prosecco. Options for your meal include an 18oz grilled NY steak bone-in or one of Vigilucci’s from-scratch fresh pastas.
Pricing: $85 per person
Location: 2943 State Street, Carlsbad
Date: February 14
Phone: (760) 434-2500
This seaside destination has a special love day menu to accompany their ocean views. Highlights include a rose panna cotta.
Pricing: $70 per couple
Location: 4325 Ocean Boulevard, Pacific Beach
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 888-4343
Executive Chef Fabrice Hardel will create a four-course French wine pairing dinner. Post-meal, enjoy the extraordinary jazz music of Julia Vari at The Plaza Bar.
Pricing: $89 per person
Location: 1055 Second Avenue, Downtown
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 238-1818
Dine on elevated Japanese cuisine in this quirky eatery, with specialty pink and red cocktails and house beers at happy hour prices all night. Choose an appetizer to share, and two bowls of ramen.
Pricing: $30 per couple
Location: 5965 Village Way, Carmel Valley
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 779-2620
Give your special someone a pizza your heart this Valentine’s Day at Woodstock’s Pizza. Request their special heart-shaped pizza and enjoy a fun themed meal.
Pricing: à la carte
Locations: 1221 Garnet Avenue, Pacific Beach; 6145 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 642-6900; (619) 265-0999
Enjoy churro cannolis created by pastry chef, Jessica Scott, who recently competed and won Food Network’s Dessert Games. Churro cannoli flavors include chocolate chip, chocolate almond, and strawberry guava.
Pricing: $15 for 8
Locations: San Diego and La Jolla
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 233-8880
Celebrate your favorite ladies at this ‘Modern Love: Ladies Night’ cocktail party that includes appetizers, a nail bar, and braid bar.
Pricing: $35-$50
Location: 2875 Dewey Road, Point Loma
Date: February 9
Frustrated with the world of online dating? Come drink your worries away at Barefoot Bar & Grill with their themed Left Swipe, Ghosted, and Catfish cocktails.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 1404 Vacation Road, Mission Bay
Date: February 14
Phone: (858) 581-5960
Dance the night away at a stoplight party at Barleymash, no matter your relationship status. Wear read if you’re taken, yellow if it’s complicated, or green if you’re single.
Pricing: Free
Location: 600 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 255-7373
Skip the clichés this Valentine’s Day, and head down to Carnitas’ Snack Shack on the Embarcadero for a perfect love potion. Try the The Lady in Red or Cupid’s Cocktail, or go get Drunk in Love.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 1004 North Harbor Drive, Core-Columbia
Dates: February 1-18
Phone: (619) 696-7675
The North Park cafe has created a brand-new beverage of love that features rose water and maca, a natural supplement proven to improve libido and mental clarity.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 3118 University Avenue, North Park
Date: February 14
Morton’s will be crafting The Blushing Lady cocktail, a blend of Evan Williams Black Bourbon, PAMA pomegranate liqueur, cranberry and lime juices, and simple syrup, topped with La Marca Prosessco and served with a cinnamon sugar rim.
Pricing: $17
Location: 285 J Street, Gaslamp Quarter
Dates: Through February 18
Phone: (619) 696-3369
Located on the rooftop of the Courtyard Marriot, sip on a variety of pink beverages and enjoy perfect views of San Diego at The Nolen. Indulge in a romantic Fondue for Two.
Pricing: $10 per cocktail
Location: 453 Sixth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 796-6536
Sip on Oceanaire’s Peach Passion cocktail—a unique blend of Belvedere Peach Nectar vodka, Chambrod, fresh lime juice and Maschio Prosecco.
Pricing: $16
Location: 400 J Street, Gaslamp Quarter
Dates: February 12-18
Phone: (619) 858-2277
Celebrate being single and your romantic freedom at Prohibition’s “I Got The Blues” party. Numb your romantic trials with a selection of craft cocktails, such as the Old Fashioned Heartbreak or You Were the Bee’s Knees, and live music. Bring in a photo of your ex to shred for a free shot of whiskey!
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 548 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 501-1919
Snap a flawless Instagram shot with Cupid at The Rabbit Hole. Enjoy bar bites and cocktails.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 3377 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 255-4653
Paint the town with your fellow single-and-ready-to-mingle friends at The Smoking Gun. Try a game of Ping-Pong at this retro cocktail bar and restaurant.
Pricing: Free
Location: 555 Market Street, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 233-3836
True Food Kitchen’s Fashion Valley and UTC locations are both celebrating Valentine’s all week long with a “Sip with Someone Special” cocktail menu, featuring love-themed beverages and non-alcoholic options.
Pricing: à la carte
Locations: 7007 Friars Rd, Fashion Valley; 4303 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla
Dates: February 9-18
Phone: (619) 810-2929; (858) 431-4384
Coronado’s elegant restaurant is serving a one-night-only menu this Valentine’s day, featuring premium cuts and fresh seafood. Finish the meal with a caramelized “blackout” cake.
Pricing: $120 per person
Location: 1309 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 522-0077
Be transported to the 1970s in this groovy cocktail den in Normal Heights. Try one of Sycamore Den’s special Valentine’s Day cocktails, such as Velvet Crush or Bitter Lip.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 3391 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 563-9019
Sip in style this Valentine’s Day at the Top of the Hyatt. Enjoy views from 40 stories above the city while indulging in sweet and sparkling beverages, such as Love Potion #9 and My Cherry Amour.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 1 Market Place, Marina District
Dates: February 9-14
Phone: (619) 232-1234
Watch the clock this Valentine’s Day at Upper East Bar, which is offering glasses of Veuve Clicquot champagne by the glass, starting at $5 at 5 p.m., and going up $1 every hour.
Pricing: From $5
Location: 435 6th Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 531-8744
Bottomless champagne and sweet and savory snacks are the perfect start to an evening of jazz at The Abbey, a 1910 historic building. Live entertainment from local performer David Patrone will serenade you at your private reserved table.
Pricing: $55 per person
Location: 2825 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 686-8715
Appreciate the musical stylings of Ramon Ayala and Lorenzo de Montecarlo at the House of Blues San Diego. This romantic night of music is the perfect start to your celebrations.
Pricing: $50-$85 plus fees
Location: 1055 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 14 & 15
Phone: (619) 299-2583
Come to Bub’s fourth Annual Valentine’s Day Doggie Brunch—there will be a special doggie menu, a Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar, and rescue dogs available for adoption. This event benefits Second Chance Dog Rescue.
Price: Free
Location: 715 J Street, Gaslamp Quarter
Date: February 11
Phone: (619) 546-0815
Try a creative date night at Café 21’s couples cocktail class. Channel your inner mixologist and learn how to make three unique drinks in an intimate class setting.
Pricing: $100 per couple
Location: 802 5th Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Dates: February 5-9
Phone: (619) 795-0721
The 1939 classic Bonnie & Clyde is the perfect movie to snuggle up to at The Headquarters for this free outdoor date night. Before the film starts, pick up snacks and drinks from one of the many surrounding restaurants and settle into your lawn chair for the flick.
Pricing: Free
Location: 789 West Harbor Drive, Marina District
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 696-0025
Stunning bay views pair with a Valentine’s Day menu and dancing on Hornblower’s brunch and dinner cruises.
Pricing: Brunch cruises from $65.95, dinner cruises from $114.95
Location: 1800 North Harbor Drive, Marina
Date: February 10, 11, 14, 17, and 18
Phone: (619) 725-8839
The Maritime Museum of San Diego
Experience sailing on the beautiful bay aboard a historic vessel, such as the San Salvador or the Californian. The three-hour tour will include views of marine life and other local landmarks.
Pricing: $70-$90 for adults, $48-$58 for children
Location: 1492 North Harbor Drive, Marina
Date: February 10 and 11
Phone: (619) 234-9153
The Old Globe presents an AXIS event, Give Love San Diego, to encourage love and kindness to all. Enjoy fun events, crafts and live music, as well as meaningful discussions about love.
Pricing: Free
Location: 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park
Date: February 10
Phone: (619) 234-5623
Enchant your special someone with an after-hours art tour and garden picnic. The docent-led museum tour will showcase the museum’s most romantic works of art. After the tour, feast on a gourmet picnic basket in the museum’s sculpture garden.
Pricing: $125 per couple
Location: 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park
Date: February 14
Phone: (619) 232-7931
Learn how to buy, taste, temper, and decorate with chocolate at this hands-on class led by Solare chef Accursio Lota. You’ll incorporate chocolate into cold and baked pastries and learn to use it as a sweet and savory component in main dishes. Classes limited to 10 people.
Pricing: $85 per person
Location: 2820 Roosevelt Road, Liberty Station
Date: February 3
Guided by world-renowned psychologist Dr. Robert Holden, the three-day workshop “Love Beyond Limits” focuses on the transformative power of love, passion, and purpose.
Pricing: $1,685
Location: 2013 Costa Del Mar Road, La Costa
Dates: February 16-18
Phone: (760) 494-1639
Indulge in San Diego’s five-star spa with Fairmont Grand Del Mar’s Romance Ritual or Rose Petal Pedicure. Or, sip champagne poolside with the Love Afloat at the Pool Valentine’s event.
Pricing: Prices vary
Location: 5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Del Mar
Date: Various dates in February
Phone: (858) 314-2020
Treat yourself to a Bulgarian Rose Body Wrap, consisting of the oil from 3,000 rose petals, or a couples’ Vino-Therapy Experience, complete with a merlot bubble bath.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 1 Ponto Road, Carlsbad
Date: Various dates in February
Phone: (760) 683-5555
An advanced 1000 Roses Beauty Elixir 1 facial treatment will transform your skin, complete with aromatherapy and ocean-inspired rhythmic movements, a partnership with Kypris.
Pricing: $175 per person
Location: 2100 Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad
Date: Valentine’s weekend
Phone: (800) 854-5000
Escape your day-to-day with indulgent spa treatments. Try a chocolate and roses replenishing facial, couples in harmony package, or loving oil massage.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 1404 Vacation Road, Mission Bay
Date: various dates in February
Phone: (858) 240-4913
Gift or try romantic spa packages, such as the chocolate lovers treatment that includes a glass of sparkling wine, or get a luxe chocolate rose pedicure.
Pricing: à la carte
Location: 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo
Date: various dates in February
Phone: (844) 338-9282
San Diego Valentine’s Day Guide 2018
Explore restaurants, activities, and shops within this affluent North County community
The inland North County community of Rancho Santa Fe is often associated with wealth. It’s one of San Diego’s most expensive residential markets and is consistently ranked one of the highest-income zip codes in California and the U.S. Rancho Santa Fe is known for its large equestrian community including riding facilities and horse trails, as well as its country club lifestyle and associated golf courses.
At the center of this luxury master-planned community is a small, walkable downtown area referred to as the “village,” with The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe acting as both a landmark and social hub. Much of the community, including the historic Inn, was designed by acclaimed architect Lilian Rice, one of California’s earliest female architects. The Spanish Colonial-style architecture she brought to the village is still one of its defining characteristics today.
Whether you’re coming to Rancho Santa Fe for golf, horseback riding, or pampering at a resort spa, be sure to start with a short walk around the village to take in the neighborhood’s charm. Plan your next visit here with our neighborhood guide to the area’s best restaurants, things to do, and shopping.
Jump To: Restaurants | Things to Do | Shopping

Families congregate at The Pony Room for elevated California ranch-style cuisine. Lamb lollipops, carne asada tacos, burgers, and weekly dinner specials are offered here, alongside an extensive collection of wine and spirits (especially tequila) and sizeable kids menus. As the signature restaurant of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, this all-day eatery is a lively centerpiece of the local social scene.
5921 Valencia Circle
The piano bar at Mille Fleurs is the buzziest spot to be on Friday and Saturday nights in Rancho Santa Fe. French classics like escargot, lobster bisque, duck confit, and steak frites are the main dinner attractions at this local institution that has been around for more than 40 years. Spring for the four-course prix fixe menu before nabbing a coveted bar seat near the piano entertainer.
6009 Paseo Delicias
Nick & G’s is one of the most prominent restaurants in the village, with an outdoor patio that overlooks the main thoroughfare. Enjoy modern Italian food, steaks, and seafood dishes here, including homemade pasta, pizza, wagyu beef, and oysters. Be sure to check their live music schedule and events calendar for the latest happenings.
6106 Paseo Delicias
Named after renowned architect and planner Lilian Rice, Lilian’s is The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s flagship restaurant. Their upscale menus feature sustainable seafood, grass-fed meats, local produce, and even sushi rolls during dinner. Outdoor seating provides a bird’s-eye view of the village and an elegant backdrop for weekend brunch. Stop by Bing’s Bar (a nod to Bing Crosby) for craft cocktails, beer, wine, and light bites in a refined setting.
5951 Linea Del Cielo
Quaint cafe and bakery Thyme in the Ranch serves a small selection of breakfast and lunch items (don’t miss the tarragon chicken salad), but is perhaps best known for its pastries and baked goods. Cakes, pies, muffins, scones, and cookies fly off the shelves here, where locals come for special occasions, parties, and group catering orders.
16905 Avenida De Acacias
Located inside a historic building once home to Rancho Santa Fe’s original schoolhouse, Paseo RSF is one of the village’s newest dining options. The charming American bistro has pasta, salads, burgers, meat and seafood entrees, plus a thoughtfully selected California wine list and new sushi and omakase program. Kids and dogs are both welcome here.
6024 Paseo Delicias, Suite C
Grab a quick coffee to go from this walk-up window in the same shopping center as the post office. Cinnamon roll lattes, cold brew, spiced chai, smoothies, protein bowls, and more can be found at Rancho Roasters, where they brew beans from Dark Horse Coffee.
16950 Via De Santa Fe
Casual pizzeria and martini bar Goli is a popular spot for catching the latest sports games. Order one of their unique specialty pizzas like the Casbah with hummus and veggies, build your own pizza or burger, or go with one of their hearty wraps that’s made with an extra thin version of pizza dough.
18021 Calle Ambiente, Suite 403
Find generous portions of Mexican food at Cocina del Rancho, run by the same owners as Carlsbad’s Cicciotti’s Trattoria Italiana and Village Kabob. Get classic dishes like burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, plus their specialty items including pulpo, carne asada, and fajitas with lobster tail. Don’t skip the margaritas.
16089 San Dieguito Road
Kai Oliver-Kurtin is a San Diego-based writer who covers travel, dining, events, and culture. Her writing has been published in USA Today, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor's Travel, Marie Claire, and HuffPost, among others.
We found a handful of inspiring people who live in, and truly know, these 'hoods and asked them how they’d spend their time out and about
Growing up in Carlsbad, I never quite understood why people vacationed there. What, so you want to check out the field where I have soccer practice? Pay my orthodontist a visit? Carlsbad just felt like a town by the beach, no better or worse than any other in the country. It took going to college out of state for me to actually understand just how rare a place like Carlsbad is.
Thanksgiving break my freshman year, my first time coming home after three months in the Midwest, my shoulders dropped. I rolled down the windows and drove to lifeguard tower 37—the hangout magnet for Carlsbad’s youths (and, in the summer, tourists)—and the smells of the ocean woke me right up like smelling salts do. I finally got it.
Carlsbad isn’t just a stopover town on your way to something better. It is the destination. Travel + Leisure named Carlsbad one of the top 50 places around the world to travel in 2026. From the whole globe, the travel magazine picked my home. Sure, we’ve got the Flower Fields and Legoland—but now it’s the smaller ships and indier dreams that are giving it street-level character.
It’s not just Carlsbad, either. People have talked about the “North County bubble” for decades—a force field that prevents its residents from traveling south of the 56. It’s often used derogatorily, and it’s a fairly accurate burn.
For decades, living up in North County meant giving up on culture, or at least culture within close proximity. But now, the main expansion of San Diego culture is happening up north. Central San Diego restaurants have started taking notice and are expanding into the area—spurred no doubt by Oceanside’s food boom and the Jeune et Jolie–Campfire–Wildland–Lilo constellation in Carlsbad. City Heights burger joint Key & Cleaver opened a new spot in Oceanside; the owners of Parc Bistro-Brasserie in Bankers Hill opened Parc Lounge in Rancho Santa Fe. Possibly the strongest market indicator is that Sam Fox—one of the most successful restaurateurs west of the Rockies—has started focusing on North County for his concepts. In 2025, he opened both The Henry in Carlsbad and Culinary Dropout in Del Mar.
For the ultimate insider guide, we found a handful of inspiring people who live and create and truly know six North County neighborhoods—San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, and Vista—and asked them how they’d spend a dream day out and about in their town.

San Marcos is in full renaissance mode. The biggest story is that the grand North City vision is starting to peek through the scaffolding. It’s essentially the North County Downtown that’s been written in the tea leaves and discussed whenever someone gets stuck in traffic at the 5/805 merge: a 200-acre, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use face-changer that’s slated for 2,600 homes, 350,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 250 hotel rooms, and about a million square feet of offices and labs. Its most recent manifestation is 222 North City—a 12-story residential tower with over 450 residences, rooftop garden, pool cabanas, art installations, and almost 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail (Necessity Coffee, Buona Forchetta, Draft Republic, Milonga Empanadas, and a grocery store anchor on its way).
Which means Restaurant Row is no longer burdened with being the primary caregiver for the hungry or the socially inclined. Patricia Prado-Olmos has watched the city morph during her nearly three-decade tenure at CSUSM, having spent the past six years as the school’s chief community engagement officer. She also just announced her forthcoming retirement at the end of the 2026–2027 school year, so she’ll have even more time to haunt local haunts.
Those in the know call the university “Cal State StairMaster” from the Sisyphean amount of stairs on the hillside campus. So, any day at or around CSUSM should start with a homestyle carbo-load (biscuits and gravy) from Mama Kat’s.

“There’s something about this breakfast spot that immediately puts me in a good mood,” she says. Mama Kat’s is also known for its pie (strawberry-rhubarb), which is breakfast if you change your perspective.
After a few hours on campus—with a break to pet the university’s official therapy goldendoodle, Frank, who helps ease finals tremors or apprehension of on-campus stairs—Prado-Olmos will wander into North City, just steps away. She says the almond croissant and coffee at Christophe Rull Patisserie rival Parisian cafés: “It feels like the kind of place you’d stumble across in a much bigger city.”
Rull, a Michelin-trained pastry chef who’s done stints on Netflix (Bake Squad) and Food Network (Super Mega Cakes, Halloween Wars), opened his patisserie last fall. The hype hasn’t cooled off yet: Get there early because the crowds do.
Emma Veidt is an editor at San Diego Magazine. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She loves running, hiking, and rock climbing, but really, she mostly loves encounters with the street cats around North Park.
Discover eateries, outings, and shops within this inland North County community
Just south of Lake Hodges near 4S Ranch and Poway, Rancho Bernardo is a suburban community that blends residential neighborhoods with industrial pockets, elevated by a decidedly diverse food scene.
Over 60 years ago, this North County neighborhood was once part of a family ranch. Since that time, big tech companies have taken up residence here, including Amazon, Sony Electronics, Oura Ring, HP, Teradata, and ASML. Rancho Bernardo Inn serves as a community hub, with locals frequently meeting at the hotel’s restaurants, golf course, and spa.
Whether it’s work or a round of golf that brings you to Rancho Bernardo, we’ve taken care of the agenda planning with our guide to the area’s best restaurants, activities, and shops.

Sample ingredients plucked straight from Rancho Bernardo Inn’s onsite garden and served at their signature restaurant Avant. One of the neighborhood’s most upscale dining options, they serve a French-inspired menu with nods to California, including many seafood options. Don’t miss their more casual sister restaurant Veranda for al fresco dining.
17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive
Wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas are standouts at The Kitchen, Bernardo Winery’s counter-service restaurant specializing in Sicilian flavors. Charcuterie boards and bruschetta make for great starters or snacks while wine tasting.
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte
Fast-casual and family-owned eatery Bushfire Kitchen recently opened a location in Rancho Bernardo, serving sandwiches, bowls, salads, burgers, protein plates, and housemade empanadas. Bushfire prepares comfort food with healthy ingredients, and offers plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
11962 Bernardo Plaza Drive, Suite 110
Some might call The Cork & Craft an overachiever. This gastropub has an in-house craft brewery and winery: Abnormal Beer and Wine. The more, the merrier. Their sushi menu is definitely worth exploring, but don’t miss other specialties like garlic noodles, chicken wings, and pork belly.
16990 Via Tazon

You don’t have to leave Rancho Bernardo to get a white tablecloth steakhouse experience. Carvers Steaks & Chops has prime rib (their best seller), filet, ribeye, porterhouse, New York strip, and other cuts, served alongside crab-stuffed mushrooms, wedge salad, French onion soup, potato skins, and other steakhouse specialties.
1940 Bernardo Plaza Drive
This no-frills Burmese restaurant is known for its traditional tea leaf salad that’s topped with sesame and sunflower seeds, garlic chips, peanuts, tomatoes, jalapeños, fried yellow beans, and fermented green tea leaf dressing. Tucked into a nondescript strip mall, Burma Place is a great takeout option when you want to eat garlic noodles, fried rice, chicken curry, and samosas from the comfort of your couch.
16719 Bernardo Center Drive, Suite A
Find authentic Vietnamese cuisine at Phở Ca Dao, including favorites like phở noodle soup, vermicelli noodles, broken rice dishes, and spring rolls. One of eight locations throughout San Diego, this family-owned chain uses robot servers for food delivery.
11808 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 100
It’s all about the sauce at fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant The Kebab Shop. Smothering your chicken shawarma, gyro, or falafels in garlic yogurt, cilantro jalapeno, fire chili, and dill yogurt sauce is practically a rite of passage. The hardest part is deciding whether to order a wrap, bowl, or salad.
11980 Bernardo Plaza Drive
Get a taste of South Asian flavors at Casa Lahori, a Pakistani restaurant noted for its grilled meat kabobs. Other best-selling dishes include beef nihari, chicken biryani, and shahi paneer— best enjoyed with naan bread.
11975 Bernardo Plaza Drive
Grill your own meat on the tabletop at Kangnam Korean BBQ, an interactive, all-you-can-eat experience that’s well-suited for large groups. Marinated beef bulgogi, grilled galbi short ribs, and spicy pork are served alongside traditional banchan dishes like kimchi, japchae glass noodles, and flavorful stews. Weekday lunch specials provide a nice discount on these filling meals.
11828 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 117–119

Dig in to your favorite curries and kebabs at Curry & More Indian Bistro. Most entrees are served with a choice of two side dishes, including basmati rice, potatoes with cumin, daal, naan, or mixed greens. Help offset the spice with one of their sweet mango or strawberry lassi drinks.
11808 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 123
Kai Oliver-Kurtin is a San Diego-based writer who covers travel, dining, events, and culture. Her writing has been published in USA Today, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor's Travel, Marie Claire, and HuffPost, among others.
This month, the 2026 San Diego Business Impact Awards recognized local businesses making an impact in clean energy, biotech, hospitality, and beyond
Renewable energy companies building hundreds of power plants. Biotech startups using artificial intelligence to create personalized medicine for children with rare diseases. Hospitality companies quietly powering thousands of local events. Consumer brands growing from beach-town startups into national businesses. These are the kinds of companies driving San Diego’s economy today, and the businesses recognized at this year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards offer a snapshot of where the region is headed.
Hosted July 23 by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards event honored four local companies for innovation, growth, and economic impact. More than 100 nominations from San Diego’s middle-market businesses were reviewed by a 10-person judging committee, with winners selected across four categories: startup, early-stage innovator, rising star, and established heavyweight.
Two-time honoree Jimbo Someck, founder of Jimbo’s organic grocery stores, also joined the event for a fireside chat on buying local, supporting emerging brands, and giving back to the community.
“San Diego’s strength comes from its makers and builders—the resilient people who endure great risks and overcome obstacles to build and scale a company,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager and Middle Market Banking at JPMorganChase & Co. “These awards aren’t just recognition; they spotlight the talent, grit, and innovation shaping our region’s future. By celebrating those who create and build, we foster connections and fuel the growth that keeps San Diego thriving.”

Heavyweight honoree SOLV Energy has grown alongside the country’s rapid investment in renewable power. “It’s an exciting time for SOLV Energy as we are experiencing significant growth,” says CEO George Hershman. “The business has doubled over the last year and has almost double-digit growth since its inception.”
The Rancho Bernardo-based company designs, builds, operates, and maintains utility-scale solar and energy storage facilities. Since its founding in 2008, SOLV Energy has built more than 500 power plants.
Growth has translated directly into hiring. About 200 employees work from the company’s local headquarters, including roughly 20 interns. “Our intern program is a big part of the way that we grow our workforce,” Hershman says. “Last year, 43 percent of our interns became full-time employees. We believe San Diego is a great community to build and grow a high-tech infrastructure and technology company because of the incredible workforce—the ability to attract top talent and draw from world-class universities.”

Startup honoree La Jolla Labs is tackling one of medicine’s biggest challenges by developing personalized RNA therapeutics for patients with rare diseases—many of them children with neurological disorders like ALS. Using proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, the biotech company develops treatments tailored to each patient’s specific genetic mutation.
CEO Tamar Grossman says the recognition reflects how far the company has come despite limited resources. “We’re honored to be recognized for our ability to change and save patients’ lives and turn our lean startup into a clinical company with very minimal resources,” she says.
Grossman credits San Diego’s concentration of research institutions—including UC San Diego, the Salk Institute, and Scripps Research—with creating a pipeline of talent and collaboration. “San Diego is one of the world-leading centers for technology, genomics, and RNA therapeutics,” she says. “We have over 30 RNA therapeutics companies here, and we support each other and help with anything related to drug discovery.”
She says that collaborative spirit extends beyond formal partnerships. “You can walk around Torrey Pines, go into a café, and find colleagues from the industry and have an ad hoc conversation,” Grossman says. “That’s something very unique to San Diego.”

While Snake Oil Venue Company may not be a household name, chances are many San Diegans have attended one of its events. The early-stage innovator honoree has expanded from beverage catering and mixology consulting into venue management, operating Julep Venue in Mission Hills, Bramble Bay Venue in Imperial Beach, Vesper Venue, the Chapel at Liberty Station, and five outdoor venues throughout Liberty Station—more than 500,000 square feet of event space altogether.
“We do a lot of launch parties for corporations and new products,” says CEO Mike Esposito. “I really like working on the entrepreneur side of things, where new businesses are entering the San Diego market and looking to make a splash.”
Snake Oil has executed more than 16,000 events, employed more than 1,000 people, and partnered with more than 900 local vendors, including caterers, florists, photographers, entertainers, and other hospitality businesses. The company also works with many of San Diego’s nonprofits, museums, and cultural institutions. “We get to celebrate people’s most important moments,” Esposito says. “Whether that’s a wedding, celebration of life, or quinceañera, we’re fortunate to be involved in the community in so many different ways.”

Rising star honoree ALOHA Collection is proof that a simple idea can grow into a thriving company. Founded by two roommates who wanted a better way to carry wet swimsuits after a day at the beach, the lifestyle brand has grown into a business while maintaining strong year-over-year growth.
Now headquartered in Carlsbad, ALOHA Collection employs more than 100 people and operates its California flagship store in Encinitas, which is slated for a remodel. With roots in Hawaii, the company is known for its lightweight, splash-proof travel bags that have become a familiar sight on beaches in San Diego and beyond.
“‘Aloha’ is part of our name, but it’s also how we move through the world,” says CEO Lynna Barnard. “It’s how we show up for people, the way we travel, the way we give back.” Since day one, the company has maintained a 5 percent giveback to Hawaii conservation efforts, contributing millions of dollars over the years.
“I think what’s so inspiring about ALOHA Collection, and the founders in particular, is when you dream big, those dreams can come true when you work hard and trust in the universe,” Barnard says. “It’s inspiring to be a role model for other people wanting to start businesses from humble beginnings. Start small and watch it grow.”
Together, businesses like these form a cornerstone of San Diego’s economy—not only through the jobs and revenue they generate—but through the local workers they hire, vendors they support, and investments they make in the region. Their growth doesn’t happen in isolation; it ripples outward, strengthening the broader business community and the people who call San Diego home.

From San Diego’s coastline to Los Angeles stadium and fan zones across the region, here’s how to experience soccer’s biggest event
When three nations and 16 cities come together to host the FIFA World Cup 2026, the scale stops feeling like a tournament and starts feeling like geography. A continent becomes the stage as borders soften into corridors. And Southern California—shaped by migration, sport, entertainment, and constant movement—sits inside that landscape with all eyes on it.
San Diego and Los Angeles have always felt connected. Hop on the Pacific Surfliner, and the trip unfolds in one continuous stretch of coastline, passing beach towns, neighborhoods, and city centers.
Traveling from San Diego, everything still feels slightly suspended as the Pacific Surfliner follows the coast north with ocean on one side and a slow suburban blur on the other. San Diego stays in exhale. Los Angeles is already building toward something louder.
This summer, Los Angeles will host eight matches of the FIFA World Cup at Los Angeles Stadium, including the US Men’s National Team opener on June 11, while the region stretches into 39 days of programming across stadiums, parks, transit hubs, beaches, and neighborhoods. Instead of one massive fan hub, Los Angeles is embracing a citywide celebration, with fan zones spread across its entirety.
But this pattern has been rehearsed here for decades. In 1994, Southern California became one of the defining stages of the World Cup, when matches at the Rose Bowl placed global attention on the region and turned local stadiums into international landmarks, confirming its ability to hold the world at scale.
What distinguishes Southern California is not just infrastructure, but cultural permeability. Fashion, music, film, art, and sport constantly overlap here, creating an environment where identity is flexible and always in motion. From the Venice boardwalk, where skate culture shaped modern street style, to global soccer stars rubbing shoulders with Hollywood celebs, to authentic Spanish cuisine moving up and down the I-5 corridor, everything circulates.
The World Cup is not introducing anything new here, it’s showing up for the summer and showing out, revealing what this city has always known about itself. What follows is a look at the fan zones and how Los Angeles turns itself into a city-wide stage for the tournament, one neighborhood at a time.

As the heart of Los Angeles, Union Station is an official Fan Zone June 25-28 during the World Cup, but in practice it never really stops being one.
It is the city’s circulation point, its meeting ground, its pressure valve. Commuters, travelers, match-day crowds, and everyday Angelenos all move through the same space, and everything mixes, overlaps, and scales in real time. In a way, this is where the World Cup stops arriving in Los Angeles and starts moving through it.
The Pacific Surfliner from San Diego to Los Angeles makes that shift feel almost too easy. No stress or gridlock anxiety, just a straight line up the coastline with ocean on one side and everything slowly becoming more built on the other. It’s one of the rare ways into LA that doesn’t feel like arrival as friction. You can sit with a laptop, watch the Pacific drift past, grab coffee from the café car, and let the city come to you in pieces.
That’s the beauty of arriving at Union Station. Instead of feeling like you’re on the edge of the city, you’re immediately surrounded by it. And, inside, the station already reads like a World Cup nerve center: banners, movement, multilingual energy, the sense that something global is about to funnel through this exact point. The Heart of the City Fan Zone only sharpens that feeling, with simultaneous match screens, DJ sets, meet and greets, and immersive activations built around marquee games like USA vs. Türkiye.
From there, the city splits outward.
ROW DTLA feels like the first exhale after arrival. A converted industrial campus turned creative district where restaurants, retail, and open-air courtyards form a self-contained ecosystem. If you’re looking for the perfect first meal in LA, make it lunch at Pizzeria Bianco. The thin-crust pizza is reason enough to go, but the space leaves just as much of an impression.
What I liked most about ROW DTLA is how quickly it resets you after the train. One minute you are stepping off at Union Station, and the next you are in a space that feels like its own version of LA, a city inside a city with some of the most curated shopping I’ve ever seen.
Bodega hides itself behind a convenience-store front, a sneaker and streetwear space disguised as something ordinary, like LA refusing to make anything feel too obvious. The whole campus moves like that, part retail, part gallery, part neighborhood you are only temporarily inside.
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
We rounded up the city’s best events, activities, and restaurants to celebrate Dad on June 21
Father’s Day is often the overlooked summer holiday that doesn’t quite get the extravagant brunch treatment or overflowing bouquets that Mother’s Day does. Sure, there’s the annual pair of socks, Padres hat you’re convinced he doesn’t already own, beer subscriptions, phone case doubling as a wallet, plus the classic “Best Dad” keepsakes. But this year, let’s flip the narrative with events, activities, and specials made with Dad in mind.
Whether he wants a quiet dinner, a big screen full of San Diego sports and wings, or a weekend that somehow includes NASCAR, a jazz festival, and a Broadway reimagining, there is something for every dad. Here’s your guide to a memorable Father’s Day in San Diego.
Jump To: Activities | Bars & Drinks | Dining Specials

Nothing says “Happy Father’s Day” like the sound of engines ripping across Naval Base Coronado. NASCAR is turning this into a historic race weekend that feels less like a casual outing and more like a full-scale San Diego moment people will be talking about long after June is over. This is the first time a NASCAR Cup Series race has ever taken place on an active military base, which instantly puts it in “you had to be there” territory.
It’s fast, loud, and very on-brand for a Father’s Day where Dad suddenly becomes an expert on tire strategy, pit stops, and track positions. The bar might be set unreasonably high for every Father’s Day that follows, but that’s a next-year problem, right?
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Dates: June 19–21 | Weekend Schedule
Address: Naval Base Coronado
At Humphreys, Father’s Day gets a little more sophisticated. Roger Friend and an all-star lineup of jazz musicians bring decades of international experience to the bay, where dads can lean into their musical side with head nods and shoe taps. It’s smooth, layered, and exactly the amount of jazz you didn’t realize your playlists were missing.
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Time: 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Address: 241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego
Belmont Park is rolling out a Father’s Day lineup that basically turns Mission Beach into a living garage scene, with a free car show featuring everything from polished 1960s Camaros to classic Bel Airs and lowriders. If he has a ride of his own, vintage car owners can join the lineup for $35 per vehicle. After the chrome tour, it’s straight into a Mission Beach classic: boardwalk strolls, fish tacos on the sand, and rides at Belmont Park.
Price: Free to attend | Register vehicle here
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Address: Belmont Park, 3146 Mission Boulevard, San Diego
I think it’s an unspoken rule that dads love Bob Dylan. Mine is already figuring out how he’s getting to San Diego for this. But this isn’t just a Father’s Day activity, it’s a cultural event that happens to land on Father’s Day weekend and immediately becomes the plan. Bob Dylan at The Rady Shell means you’ll be surrounded by city lights sparkling across the harbor, legacy music, and at least one moment where Dad leans over and whispers, “You know, this guy wrote everything.” And honestly? He’s not wrong.
Price: Tickets available on Ticketmaster
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Address: 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego
The San Diego County Fair returns with fried everything, questionable decisions, rides that definitely looked safer in the 2000s, and Dad’s very confident plan to “just walk around for an hour” that somehow turns into an entire day. It’s also the biggest, longest-running community event in San Diego County, running Wednesday, June 10 through Sunday, July 5, with a “Once Upon a Fair” theme. It basically becomes part of the Father’s Day season whether you planned it or not. So, consider this your annual reminder that “happily ever after” can, in fact, involve Cajun honey dogs, cinnamon rolls, a Ferris wheel you swore you wouldn’t go on, and Dad somehow knowing exactly which booth has the best Spam wonton tacos.
Price: Tickets available here: website
Date & Time: June 10 – July 5 (closed Mondays & Tuesdays) | 11 a.m.
Address: 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar
Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.
Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death in women
It’s estimated that 44% of women in the U.S. have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, but many don’t know it. The disease often has no symptoms, and when symptoms do present, they can appear similar to many other conditions. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, so it’s critical that it’s detected and treated early. And for women at risk of developing high blood pressure, prevention is key. Click here for the basics of high blood pressure and how Scripps physicians at Scripps use screenings not just as a diagnostic tool, but as part of routine preventive care.
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