
Featured articles
Food & Drink
Food & Drink
Food News
Featured articles
Features
Everything SD
Everything SD
Featured articles
Things to Do
Everything SD
Everything SD
Featured articles
podcast-ep
podcast-ep
video
Featured articles
Features
Everything SD
Everything SD
Featured articles
Partner content
Features
Things to Do
Ready to know more about San Diego?
SubscribeReady to know more about San Diego?
Let these 20 local spots do all the cooking (and cleanup!)
Herb & Wood
James Tran
Give thanks with family at the Grand this Thanksgiving. At Amaya, they’ll be serving a three-course tasting menu inspired by fall’s most iconic flavors and holiday classics. Reservations required. $175 per person
5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Carmel Valley
Give your Thanksgiving meal a French twist at this Kensington mainstay. Available from noon to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving, the three-course menu includes roasted turkey, salmon, beef short rib, duck confit, or mushroom ravioli for main entrée selections, each served with their own set of sides. Be sure to save room for one of four desserts, including crème brûlée, brioche bread pudding, and chocolate mousse. An exclusive pumpkin cocktail will also be on the menu to toast to this fall holiday. $69 for adults, $25 for children under 12
4090 Adams Avenue, Kensington
Caramel Apple Pie cocktail at Breakfast Republic
Make breakfast the main meal this year at Breakfast Republic. They’re offering fall specials on Thanksgiving, including the almond and fig French toast and their Caramel Apple Pie cocktail, made with caramel vodka, butterscotch schnapps, apple cider, and caramel apple butter syrup. French toast $13, cocktail $10
Multiple locations
Travis Swikard’s Thanksgiving spread includes family-style dishes with a Callie twist, including turkey with Tuscan sage sausage and brown-butter-cranberry sauce, pumpkin ravioli, lamb shank, and slow-baked salmon. And since leftovers are one of the best parts of the holiday, guests will also receive a leftover turkey sandwich to take home. Reservations are required for the family-style dinner served from noon to 6:30 p.m., and an à la carte menu will be available at the bar for walk-ins. $80 for adults with an optional $50 wine pairing; $35 for children 10 and under
1195 Island Avenue, East Village
Cardellino
James Tran
Wow your guests this year with a feast made up of dishes from each of Brad Wise’s Trust Restaurant Group restaurants. The roasted red beet salad comes from Fort Oak, The Wise Ox is serving up an Italian sausage stuffing, and from Trust itself, a cauliflower casserole—and that’s only a few of the dishes on the menu. Don’t worry, your meal also includes a 20-pound turkey sourced locally and ready for the oven. The feast serves six to eight people and must be ordered ahead of time to be picked up on November 24. $325
4033 Goldfinch Street, Mission Hills
Take your pick from a Thanksgiving brunch or dinner at Estancia’s two restaurants: Greenfinch and Mustangs and Burros. Brunch is offered at Greenfinch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with mimosas, bloody marys, a French toast station, eggs made to order, and more. Beginning at 4 p.m., Mustangs and Burros is serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings. Reservations are encouraged. Brunch is $85 for adults, free for children under five
9700 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla
This Mission Hills restaurant is offering a three-course set menu from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving featuring braised lamb shank, short rib, and a traditional roasted turkey plate served with all the classic sides. Save room for a slice of apple or pecan pie topped with homemade cinnamon whipped cream. $70 for adults, $25 for kids 10 and under
860 West Washington Street, Mission Hills
At Herb & Sea, Thanksgiving dinner main stars include herb-and-citrus-marinated turkey and red-wine-braised short rib. Pair that with family-style sides and starters like whipped butter mashed potatoes and kuri pumpkin soup, before digging into apple or pumpkin pie with chai spiced ice cream. The dinner is offered from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving and will also be available at Herb & Wood in Little Italy. Reservations required. $85 for adults, $35 for children
131 West D Street, Encinitas; 2210 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
Juniper & Ivy
Take the taste of Juniper and Ivy home with you this year with their no-fuss Thanksgiving pickup meal. The Holiday Feast menu comes with turkey (raw but fully brined, trussed, and complete with baking instructions), sides like chestnut stuffing and sweet potato casserole, Parker House rolls, and Brussels sprouts with glazed carrots. Additional options like miso pumpkin pie, cocktail mixes, and a four-pack of sommelier-selected wines are available to round out your meal. Only 25 feasts are available and must be reserved to be picked up from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on November 24. $330 for the Holiday Feast (serves 6–8), $35 for pumpkin pie (serves 8–10), $100–$150 for wine pairings, $45–$68 for cocktail mixes
2228 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
Pumpkin lobster bisque and braised pork belly accompany traditional Thanksgiving dishes on Jrdn’s three-course menu. You can also add desserts and wine pairings to toast to another holiday spent beside the beach. Available on Thanksgiving Day from noon to 8 p.m. Entrées start at $45
723 Felspar Street, Pacific Beach
The Pink Lady’s on-site restaurant is offering a three-course prix fixe menu this Thanksgiving. On chef Timothy Ralphs’s menu you’ll find festive dishes including curried kabocha squash soup, cornbread stuffing, beef tenderloin, and of course, turkey. Reservations are required. $95 for adults, $20–$36 for kids under 12
1132 Prospect Street, La Jolla
At this French-Californian fine dining restaurant, take your pick from a roasted turkey or pepper-crusted prime beef fillet for your main and pair it with classic veggie sides. Other Mille Fleurs staples will remain on the menu, including their wienerschnitzel and smoked sturgeon. Save room for one of their sweet treats, like pumpkin cheesecake or ginger-spiced crème brûlée. Starting at $89 per person, additional sides are $10 each
6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe
Enjoy your Thanksgiving meal with an impressive skyline backdrop at Mister A’s. The fine dining mainstay is serving a prix fixe menu with classics like roasted turkey and prime rib served alongside creative twists on traditional sides, including butternut squash agnolotti, beet salad, and mushroom risotto. There will also be wine pairings, and be sure to save room for some fall desserts (pumpkin crème brûlée, apple almond tart) to complete your holiday meal. Starting at $89 per person
2550 Fifth Avenue, Bankers Hill
Go for an Italian twist on Thanksgiving at Operacaffe. Their Italian-Style Turkey Plate comes with bacon-wrapped turkey filled with a lamb-beef blended stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. $26 per person
835 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
Ranch 45
Ranch 45’s pick-up feast comes with main course choices of herb-crusted prime rib, smoked turkey legs, or smoked Cornish hen. Once you’ve made your pick, select your favorite sides (smashed potatoes, rainbow carrots, and green beans all accounted for) and sweet treats to complete your Thanksgiving meal. Orders are accepted online now through November 21 at 4 p.m.
512 Via de la Valle, Solana Beach
Blackberry Nostalgia cocktail at Rancho Bernardo Inn
At Avant, guests can indulge in a four-course Thanksgiving dinner from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. with highlights like duck confit, squash lasagna, and a wagyu strip loin. At Veranda, their Thanksgiving specials include garden herb and apple stuffing and ginger-orange carrots, available from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Avant: $115 for adults, $55 for children under 12; Veranda: $45 per person
17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo
Rancho Valencia is celebrating Thanksgiving the Southern California way with a festive outdoor lawn setup. Enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, and a full buffet with delicious offerings like slow-roasted turkey, Faroe Islands salmon, short ribs, sides, and a selection of desserts. Reservations required. $165 for adults, $55 for children (no charge for kids under three)
5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe
This La Mesa restaurant is offering both on-site and to-go options for Thanksgiving this year. Their smoked turkey is served alongside mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Preorder your takeout feast by November 18; the on-site meal will be served on November 25 while supplies last. Takeout options: $120 for 4–6 people or $230 for 8–12 people. On-site: $35 per person.
5465 Lake Murray Boulevard, La Mesa
Head to The Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa for a filling Thanksgiving spread from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. with dishes like a harvest vegetable coconut curry, pan-seared bass, and braised short rib. Classics are accounted for, too, like slow-roasted turkey, whipped potatoes, candied yams, and chocolate pecan pie. Reservations are encouraged. $98 for adults, $35 for children 12 and under
5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad
For the nontraditionalists, Valentina will be serving their classic menu of oysters, steak tartare, and steak frites for Thanksgiving, along with an extensive wine list featuring vinos from around the world. For those who still love a Thanksgiving feast, the restaurant will be offering a plate with mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, acorn squash, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Preorder on OpenTable; reservations are encouraged. $58 per person
810 North Coast Highway 101, Leucadia
This restaurant at the InterContinental San Diego is serving up bayfront views to pair with their Thanksgiving prix fixe feast. The three-course meal includes all the classics (pickle-brined turkey, autumn squash, sweet corn risotto), and dessert options like their pumpkin cheesecake. Reservations are encouraged. $75 for adults, $35 for children 12 and under, $35 per person wine pairings
901 Bayfront Court, Embarcadero
Choose from more than 30 local restaurants offering holiday feasts for a sit-down or take-out meal with friends and family
It’s nearly Thanksgiving, and this year’s selection of prix-fixe, to-go, and specialty menus from restaurants in San Diego will satisfy any craving. Between mouthwatering turkey buffets, oven-ready prepared meals, and desserts you’ll be dreaming about for months, everyone can enjoy the only thing better than a home-cooked meal: One you don’t have to make yourself. Here are 30 San Diego restaurants—including some of the city’s best—that are serving Thanksgiving dinner this year.
Dinner Specials | Buffets | Take-Home Meals

Named after The Inn’s designer and architect, Lilian Rice, Lilian’s is serving a four-course dinner for $125 this Thanksgiving. The Rancho Santa Fe restaurant is offering options for each course, including perfectly fried and crispy squash blossoms, slow-roasted beets with creamy burrata, and a fall-off-the-bone 24-hour brandt beef short rib plate. Complement your meal with the restaurant’s iconic specialty drinks. Reservations are now available.
Cafe Champagne at Thornton Winery in Temecula will host an all-day Thanksgiving affair, during which attendees should expect a memorable experience where they can indulge in a choose-your-own three-course meal alongside award-winning wines. Classic entrees will include butter truffle roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, or butternut squash ravioli and focaccia bread. The meal will run from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and reservations are required via Opentable.
In Barrio Logan, the food-truck-turned-brick-and-mortar Lia’s Lumpia is renowned for its mouth-watering Filipino menu. Owner Spencer Hunter and his mother—the eponymous Lia—will be offering preorders for Thanksgiving Day to-go boxes until November 26. Will you get the pork belly deviled eggs or turkey holiday lumpia? The mango-glazed ham or cornish game hen adobo? Just make sure you save room for the pan de sal stuffing and persimmon green beans, maybe with a side of the toasted rice vanilla ice cream.

Founded by award-winning restaurateur and San Diego native Johnny Rivera, this Hillcrest, Michelin-guide darling will be open for brunch from 8:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., serving a special of fried turkey, eggs, and pumpkin pecan caramel pancakes. Those who prefer a later Turkey day meal can join them for dinner starting at 11:30 a.m., or pick up one of Great Maple’s dinner boxes for two or four that includes a starter, salad, entree, and sweet from 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. the same day. This year, there will also be a special pie pickup—key lime or pumpkin with gingersnap crust—on both Wednesday, November 27, and Thursday, November 28. For reservations and pickup information, visit here.
On November 14, from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., some of San Diego’s most decorated and respected chefs will join together to prepare a meal of their favorite Thanksgiving dishes, alongside carefully-selected wine pairings from The Prisoner Wine Company. Taste some of the city’s best of the best: duck carnitas from executive chef Roberto Alcocer of Valle Oceanside, dynamite lobster mac and cheese from executive chef Steven Ruiz at Lionfish, juicy turkey meatball with soy glaze from executive chef Brandon Sloan at Pendry San Diego, and pumpkin bars or a dark chocolate truffle torte for dessert. A portion of the proceeds will go to the San Diego Food Bank.
Julie Bogen is an experienced writer and digital strategist whose work has been featured in The Atlantic, The 19th News, Cosmopolitan Magazine, and more. She is passionate about storytelling that centers women and marginalized communities, and when not working she's either with her family or in a barre studio.
Give thanks to San Diego chefs putting a gourmet spin on your holiday meal
If you’re looking for a little extra something to be thankful for, San Diego’s only Michelin-starred restaurant is offering an eight-course dining experience, featuring holiday classics reimagined through the lens of California gastronomy prepared by chef William Bradley. The menu experience is $295 per person, with optional wine pairings available for $275. Service is from 5 to 8 p.m., and reservations for the terrace can be made via OpenTable.
5200 Grand Del Mar Way, Del Mar | 858-314-1900
Enjoy a family-style three-course prix fixe menu at the Bahia Resort Hotel. Choose from three Thanksgiving dinner entrée options: traditional carved turkey dinner, slow-roasted prime rib, or winter vegetable hash. If you prefer to dine at home, take your Thanksgiving meal to go. The cost is $49 per adult, $28 per child. Preorder by Tuesday, November 24 at 11 a.m.
998 West Mission Bay Drive, Mission Bay | 858-539-7635
No turkeys will be harmed for this restaurant’s vegan-friendly à la carte Thanksgiving menu, which is available throughout November. Items include cranberry roasted butternut squash and garnet yams, maple miso brussels sprouts, and a persimmon and pomegranate salad. Holiday pies are also available for pickup through online preorders.
1980 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy | 619-736-5077
Enjoy a three-course prix fixe menu at Oceana Coastal Kitchen. For $59 per person, each dinner includes a Champagne toast as well as entrée options like oak-smoked turkey breast or Harris Ranch rib eye. Leave room for a dessert of classic pumpkin pie, baked-to-order brownie, or Grand Marnier crème brûlée. They also offer a family-style takeout option for parties of four or eight for $45 per person. Preorder by Tuesday, November 24 at 11 a.m.
3999 Mission Boulevard, Mission Bay | 858-539-8635
Celebrate Thanksgiving the San Diegan way, with ocean views, alfresco dining, and a four-course feast. The special will be offered on Thursday, November 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at $95 per person. The menu includes spins on Thanksgiving classics like heritage-breed roasted turkey with whipped potatoes, green beans, and white pepper gravy, in addition to decadent offerings like an 1855 Beef prime rib and chocolate miso budino.
1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar | 858-793-6467
Whether you are hosting for two or for 12, Gelson’s Simply Delicious Dinners are precooked and ready to heat, serve, and enjoy at home. This year’s offerings include small, medium, and large whole roasted turkeys, half and whole spiral glazed hams, whole slow-roasted brisket, prime rib, and plant-based roast options. Order by November 24 and pick up November 20–December 1 at any of Gelson’s San Diego locations. Gelson’s will close early Thanksgiving Day, and all pickups that day should be completed by 1 p.m.
Multiple locations | 818-377-6494
The Lemon Grove eatery will be open for its first Thanksgiving, offering an all-day menu from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Giardino’s family-style menu features à la carte items meant for sharing. Choose from entrées like prime rib or butternut squash ravioli, and holiday sides and salads. And don’t forget wine to pair with your meal! Want to keep things traditional? The eatery is also offering a classic turkey dinner which you can enjoy there or take to go.
8131 Broadway, Lemon Grove | 619-825-7112
If someone with food allergies is joining you this Thanksgiving, don’t fret! This North Park bakery is all gluten free, offering everything from traditional pumpkin pie and pecan pie to other gluten-free items like pasta, multigrain dinner rolls, quiche, mini banana-bread loaves, and more. If you want to bake your own pie at home, the bakery is also selling an allergen-free vegan pie crust dry mix and vegan frozen pie crust (bottom crust only). Order online at least three days in advance.
4594 30th Street, North Park | 858-270-9863
Available for curbside pickup, this decadent family-style Thanksgiving feast includes chimney-roasted turkey with duck-fat-braised thighs, cornbread pecan stuffing, cranberry relish, pumpkin mousse, and more. The cost is $85 per person with a two-person minimum. Preorder by 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 19.
11480 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla |858-453-4420
Ramen lovers can still get in on the celebrations with one of Menya Ultra’s Thanksgiving home kit specials. Preorder a home kit, complete with broth, noodles, turkey, and classic ramen toppings, through their Google form by November 22.
8199 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Clairemont | 858-571-2010
8141 Mira Mesa Boulevard, Mira Mesa | 858-397-2247
Make a reservation at this ocean-view eatery to enjoy their popular Thanksgiving menu. For $65, the multicourse menu will include a choice of a starter and an entrée, such as oven-roasted free-range turkey with the fixings, slow-cooked Angus prime rib, zinfandel-braised beef short ribs, or Pacifica’s seafood classics. End on a sweet note with your choice of dessert. Kids 12 and under can select from the kids’ menu for $20.
1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar | 858-792-0476
This Bankers Hill bistro will be offering Thanksgiving packages for takeout, which will include roasted butternut squash soup, roasted organic turkey, beef bourguignon, an assortment of sides, and two desserts. Prices range from $80 to $320 and can feed up to eight people.
Pickup times are from 12 to 3 p.m.
760 Fifth Avenue, Bankers Hill | 619-795-1501
Herb & Wood, Herb & Sea, and Animae are joining forces to offer a to-go meal combining all of chef Brian Malarkey’s Thanksgiving favorites, including herb- and citrus-marinated turkey, crème fraîche mashed potatoes and whipped butter, house country wheat stuffing, apple and pear pie, and more. The cost is $59 per person and is available for preorder at herbandwood.com. Pickup is at Herb & Wood.
2210 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy | 610-955-8495
Ranch 45’s à la carte Thanksgiving pickup menu is perfect for those picky eaters in the family. Customize your Thanksgiving feast with choices from herb-crusted prime rib and smoked turkey leg to smoked Cornish game hens, olive oil smashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and more. The butcher shop and eatery will be accepting orders up to 48 hours in advance.
512 Via de la Valle, Solana Beach | 858-461-0092
Enjoy a four-course ice cream feast with flavors inspired by classic American Thanksgiving dishes, with a twist. The offerings include cranberry juniper sorbet, sweet potato casserole with maple pecans, roasted peach and sage cornbread stuffing, and salted caramel Thanksgiving turkey. Flavors are available by the scoop or pint at Salt & Straw shops, as well as online. Guests visiting Salt & Straw locations can also preorder in advance for either pickup or local delivery.
1670 India Street, Little Italy | 619-542-9394
3705 Caminito Court, Del Mar | 858-345-1792
For outdoor dining, delivery, or pickup, STK Steakhouse will be offering a menu with classic Thanksgiving dishes from November 26 through November 29, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Enjoy a roasted turkey special with all the fixings for $49 per adult or $29 per child 12 and under. For $100, they are also offering “Takeout Dinner for Two”: two prepared meals that come with pumpkin pie.
600 F Street, East Village | 619-354-5988
Chef Brad Wise’s Thanksgiving to-go features some of his family’s favorites, along with holiday classics. Feast on oven-roasted turkey, Italian sausage stuffing, and truffled macaroni and cheese. The meal also includes a 12-ounce bag of Cardellino’s house blend coffee beans and a recipe for a cranberry-infused cocktail. The meal is $295 and feeds two to eight people. Orders must be placed by November 19 and picked up on November 26 at Cardellino from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
4033 Goldfinch Street, Mission Hills | 619-600-5311
STK Steakhouse
They'll do the dishes, too.
Just one more thing to be thankful for: a meal cooked by someone else. Forget slicing, dicing, basting, and clean-up thanks to these San Diego restaurants offering multi-course meals, prix fixe menus, and even buffets. They can’t guarantee an entirely stress-free turkey day, but at least someone else will do the dishes.
Guests will walk away stuffed from this three-course meal including a choice of a winter harvest salad or roasted butternut squash soup; a choice of top sirloin, herb crusted turkey breast and thigh, or wild salmon; and a third course of either pumpkin pie or rustic fall apple tart. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Price: $49 for adults | $20 for children ages 3 to 11
Address: 2223 El Cajon Boulevard
Want to kick off the holiday early? Spend time with friends at Louisiana Purchase’s Friendsgiving Chef’s Table enjoying Chef Quinnton “Q” Austin’s take on Thanksgiving from the south.
Date: November 19
Time: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Price: $100 per person
Address: 2305 University Avenue
Truck the whole family to this chic American eatery, where the following are on the menu: Spiced lobster bisque, marinated heirloom tomatoes, mini lump crab cakes, fresh roasted turkey, rosemary roasted prime rib, forest mushroom risotto, and sweet yams with toasted marshmallow. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: Brunch from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Dinner from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $49 for adults | $15 for children 13 and under | $25 optional wine pairing
Address: 1451 Washington Street
Options à la carte are endless at The Marine Room. Pick and choose appetizers, entrées, and sweets, including red walnut-crusted blue crab cake, Maine lobster bisque, ale-brined turkey breast, center cut filet mignon, heirloom carrot ginger risotto, gluten-free three-layered Callebaut chocolate mousse, salted caramel cheesecake, and espresso and vanilla bean cobblestone pie.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Price: Varies
Address: 2000 Spindrift Drive
Thanksgiving at Eddie V’s promises a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Got a picky eater who’s not in the mood for turkey? Their full dinner menu will be available as well. Reservations required.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $43 for adults | $15 for children
Address: 1270 Prospect Street
where to have thanksgiving in San Diego acqua
Photo by Walter Wilson/Crave Imagery
All the fall flavors are found in this four-course meal: Spiced pumpkin soup, mushroom ravioli, butternut squash risotto, and of course roasted turkey. Reservations required.
Date: November 28
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Price: $63 for adults | $19 for children
Address: Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa, 1775 East Mission Bay Drive
Spend Thanksgiving at the Bahia, accompanied by live piano, views of Mission Bay, and festive fare—including two carving stations, salmon, pork loin, butternut squash ravioli, and seasonal desserts. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: $56 for adults | $25 for children ages 5 to 11 | Free for children under 5
Address: 998 W Mission Bay Drive
The Duck Dive’s traditional turkey dinner is served all day until supplies run out. Call to learn more about their holiday partnerships with Foster Kids of San Diego, the Polinsky Center, and San Diego Foster Angels.
Date: November 22
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Price: $15 for traditional turkey dinner
Address: 4650 Mission Boulevard
Enjoy stunning views of Mission Bay and live acoustic guitar at the Catamaran’s annual Thanksgiving brunch buffet. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: $62 for adults | $25 for children ages 5 to 11 | Free for children under 5
Address: 3999 Mission Boulevard
Del Frisco’s will showcase a premium three-course menu with favorites such as slow roasted turkey breast with apple-sausage stuffing and all the trimmings, plus seasonal dessert options like pecan pie à la mode. Reservations required.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Price: $59 per person
Address: 901 Bayfront Court, Suite 105
Head down to the Gaslamp for a delicious three-courser. Pick your starter and dessert, then enjoy a main course of andouille-stuffed turkey roulade with garlic mashed potatoes, brown ale biscuit stuffing, Brussels sprout casserole and roasted baby carrots.
Date: November 28
Time: Begins at 2 p.m., call for availability
Price: $45 per person
Address: 600 Fifth Avenue
Take a three-hour cruise around San Diego Bay with a Thanksgiving dinner buffet, plus champagne, wine, cocktails and a DJ.
Date: November 28
Time: Boarding at 2:30 p.m.
Prince: $104 per person
Address: Board at 1800 N. Harbor Drive
Put an Italian spin on Thanksgiving with both Cesarina’s specialty and regular menus. They’ll be serving two Thanksgiving-inspired pastas including Lasagna Zucca e Tacchino and Ravioli Patate e Taccino. Or, go traditional with Arrosto di Taccino, thinly sliced roasted turkey with homemade demi, sweet potato mash, fagiolini all’agro and cranberry sauce. By the end, you’ll be saying “grazie“—guaranteed. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: Dinner served from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Price: Varies
Address: 4161 Voltaire Street
Vessel Restaurant + Bar will offer a family style buffet. Highlights include both traditional and non-traditional dishes from butternut squash bisque and whipped Yukon Gold potatoes to heritage roast turkey, stuffing, crispy BBQ baby back ribs, lobster rolls, and 1855 Black Angus prime rib roasts. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $75 for adults | $25 for children 12 and under
Address: 1551 Shelter Island Drive
The French bistro guarantees something for everyone: adults, kids, wine lovers, and even those hard-to-please-around-the-holidays vegetarians. This three-course prix fixe dinner includes Thanksgiving classics as well as French dishes. For dessert, enjoy almond Tuile, raspberry coulis, pecan and cranberry tart, brown butter apple mousseline or cinnamon orange sorbet. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $42 for adults | $19 for children | $18 optional wine pairing
Address: 3015 Adams Avenue
How about Thanksgiving en Français? All meals come with a starter, entrée, and dessert of choice. Indulge in classic wines or indulge in the special cocktail, The Pumpkin Pie Martini, crafted with Absolut vanilla vodka, pumpkin spice liqueur, Kahlua, butterscotch schnapps, and a crushed graham cracker rim. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $65 for adults | $19.95 for children 12 and under
Address: 4090 Adams Avenue
where to have thanksgiving dinner in San Diego Bobeau
BoBeauOB | Photo courtesy of Cohn Restaurant Group
From smoked turkey breast to shrimp and bacon mac and cheese, Cohn Restaurant Group owns and operates over 20 restaurants participating in Thanksgiving fun, including: Coasterra, Island Prime C-Level, The Prado, Vintana, Indigo Grill, and BO-beau kitchen + bar. Check out Cohn Restaurant Group for more details. Reservations recommended.
Where to Have Thanksgiving Dinner in San Diego
Thanksgiving brunch at the Catamaran | Photo courtesy of Evans Hotels
Earlier this year, Fit quietly dropped "athletic" from its brand, from Fit Athletic Clubs to simply Fit, and started calling itself something new: a social wellness club.
There’s a version of San Diego that lives in two extremes. On one side, the 5 a.m. crowd: biohackers, marathoners, people who’ve already logged a cold plunge before your alarm goes off. On the other, the after-dark crowd, the ones chasing sunset happy hours and late dinners with friends. Everyone seems to be either optimizing or unwinding, and most of us feel like we’re failing at both.
Fit, San Diego’s reigning Best Gym for the third year running, has built its entire identity around erasing that divide.
Walk into one of Fit’s three San Diego locations on a Tuesday afternoon and the lines blur fast. Someone’s mid-set on the squat rack. Someone else has a laptop open at a café table a few feet away, half-working, half-people-watching. A group is trading plans for the weekend’s event by the recovery lounge. Nobody’s in a rush to leave.
“We’re not competing for the same people,” says Emily Waybright, Public Relations Manager at Fit, addressing the arrival of a national luxury gym chain in San Diego this year. “We don’t really feel like we’re in the gym category. It’s this unique thing.”
That unique thing has a name now. Earlier this year, Fit quietly dropped “athletic” from its brand, from Fit Athletic Clubs to simply Fit, and started calling itself something new: a social wellness club.
It’s a small wording change with a bigger idea behind it. Fit was never built around escaping the workday. It was built around the people who genuinely like what they do, and who want workouts, work, and friendships to happen in the same place instead of three separate ones. Because sometimes red light therapy with a stranger turns into weekend plans.
Fit’s philosophy traces back to its founder, who started the brand nearly two decades ago after failing to find a gym he actually wanted to belong to. He looked instead to the old-school country club, where people came for a shared interest and stayed for the community. His version was made for a younger generation, minus the golf, plus the loud music.
Which makes it a little ironic that the very award putting Fit back in the spotlight this year is Best Gym.
What does the best traditional gym look like when the definition of a gym is becoming less traditional? It’s a fair question, and Fit’s answer is that the fitness industry itself is shifting. The 45-minutes-in, 45-minutes-out model is giving way to something closer to a genuine third space, the kind of role the office and the bar used to play before remote work and changing nightlife habits rearranged how people spend their time
For Fit, community isn’t a marketing add-on to fitness. It’s the through-line. Members aren’t just paying for a treadmill; they’re paying for an entire day of social wellness that’s built on performance, recovery, connection, and a plan for the next event on the calendar. That’s a much harder membership to walk away from.
Ambition and ease aren’t opposites here, they exist side by side, where passion and play share the same morning. On September 12, Fit is hosting Sol, a full day wellness festival at Fit Social. The morning focuses on wellness classes and vendors and then the evening is a full party with multiple DJ sets and an open bar. Think of it as a kick-off to locals’ summer in San Diego.
Ready to see what a social wellness club actually looks like? Visit fitclubs.com, or follow along at @thefitclubs on Instagram.
See The Phantom of the Opera, enjoy smooth tunes at the Pacific Soul Jazz Festival, and kick off your shoes for the Julian Grape Stomp Festa
And just like that … we’ve entered the final third of 2026, where concerts, musicals—both new and old—and several special events await. This week’s live music lineup includes a Guns N’ Roses concert at Snapdragon Stadium and the two-day Pacific Soul Jazz Festival, headlined by Robert Glasper and Kenny Lattimore. For fans of musical theater, the nationwide touring production of The Phantom of the Opera will begin its two-week stay at the Civic Theatre and the world premiere production of Begin Again will debut at The Old Globe. As for other opportunities to go out, there’s the first-ever Anime San Diego convention, Amor y Magia’s bar takeover at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, and the annual Julian Grape Stomp Festa.
JUMP TO: Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Work for your wine in the centuries-old winemaking tradition—in the vein of “I Love Lucy”—during the 29th annual Julian Grape Stomp Festa at Menghini Winery. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., guests can squish grapes, hang out in the shade and sample tastings or buy bottles and full glass pours from 11 local beverage purveyors. The festivities also include a jumper and games for kids and a Lucy Ricardo look-alike contest with a $100 grand prize. Ticket options include regular admission ($25), which comes with a wine glass and one tasting, and child admission for ages 6-20 ($8); additional tastings are $2 each.
1150 Julian Orchards Drive, Julian
Ahead of Amor y Magia’s upcoming opening in Carlsbad, from the makers of Same Same and Good Enough Cocktail Bar, enjoy a night of curated cocktails in the Lobby Lounge of the Fairmont Grand Del Mar during the Amor y Magia Bar Takeover. This Saturday at 7 p.m., guests can get a sip (or several sips) of what’s to come as bartenders Mike Mayaudon and Shawn Seaman lead a night of love and magic. No reservations are necessary for this event.
5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Del Mar
As their debut album Appetite for Destruction approaches its 40th birthday, Guns N’ Roses remain trailblazers, both for their immense popularity and enduring influence on the hard rock genre. Though the mayhem-filled excitement of a Guns N’ Roses record may be difficult to match in theory, the band’s live performances reach for the stratosphere. This Wednesday (6:25 p.m.) at Snapdragon Stadium, fans can head down to “Paradise City” with Axl Rose and company and special guests the Black Crowes. Tickets start at $49 for this concert.
2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley
Take a trip through the genre-defying collaborations of jazz titans Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins during A Night in Tunisia this Saturday (7:30 p.m.) at The Rady Shell. Named for Gillespie’s famed famed jazz standard, this concert will feature a soundtrack chock full of jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms played by the 17-piece KSDS Orchestra, helmed by local trumpet aficionado Gilbert Castellanos. Before the main event, there will be a performance by the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory All-Stars at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $47-$103 for this concert.
222 Marina Park Way, Embarcadero
The House of Ukraine will kick off a weekend of free activities with Saturday’s Ukrainian Festival. The festival showcases traditional music and dance performances (2-4:30 p.m.), plus an international food court (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.), featuring Ukrainian dishes like varenyky and kovbasa, as well as classic sweets like cookies, ice cream, and cotton candy. The following morning at 9:30 a.m., there will be a free 5K run and walk, beginning and ending at the Green Flash installation by the Mission Beach boardwalk; participants are encouraged to dress in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Festival: 667 Pan American Road West, Balboa Park | 5K: 3450 Ocean Front Walk, Mission Beach
Spend your Labor Day weekend swaying to jazz, soul, gospel, and R&B during the Pacific Soul Jazz Festival at Epstein Family Amphitheater. This two-day event, put on annually by Mandate Project Impact and the Urban League of San Diego County, starts at noon daily, and will include a vendor village with local businesses. Audiences can expect sets from artists like violinist Karen Briggs, bassist Darryl Williams and saxophonist Mini Abair in addition to headliners Robert Glasper (Saturday) and Kenny Lattimore (Sunday). Single-day tickets range from $40-$250.
9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla
![]()
About Ryan Hardison
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Joe Dreamz built a local following by asking strangers about their ambitions and turning their answers into songs
People remember the first time they see Joe Dreamz.
Mine was a mile into the 2023 Carlsbad Half Marathon. He was standing on a speaker in the middle of the course, singing: “Hey you with the shoes, are you living Joe Dreamz?” Clearly not. I’m running uphill at 7 in the morning, I thought.
Months later, walking out of The Rady Shell, there he was again—parting the crowd of concertleavers Moses and the Red Sea style, singing the same song: “Hey you with the purse, are you living Joe Dreamz?”
Who’s this man at every public spectacle, singing metaphysical questions in a hand-altered, color-coordinating suit that would make James Brown proud and standing on a Soundboks speaker with a microphone and tip bucket?
A few years ago, San Carlos–born, El Cajon–based Joe Dreamz wasn’t exactly living Joe Dreamz—making $5 footlongs at Subway, dealing with croissant coworkers at Costco’s bakery, and selling life insurance. After he got let go from the life insurance gig and his car broke down in the middle of a 2020 road trip in Seattle, he used his emergency savings to buy a microphone and a speaker; a self-taught musician, he pulled from the only skillset he knew to monetize. He’d set up at Seattle’s Pier 55 and ask people what their dreams were. Then, for $5, create a freestyle rap to commemorate (and hopefully activate) those dreams.
“The goal is that someone listens to a Joe Dreamz song, and they don’t have to wait until metaphorically their car breaks down before they chase their dreams,” he says.

A chance encounter with an airport worker led to a free flight back to San Diego, and Joe Dreamz came home “transformed,” he says. He started busking at the Mission Beach boardwalk, Kate Sessions Park, outside Gaslamp bars; then Padres games, farmers markets, marathons. He also hit the mic outside of Coachella this year (“Joe-chella,” he says).
It’s not a get-viral-quick gimmick; people’s lives are changing. One fan finished writing her book after a dose of Joe Dreamzpiration. Another named his own daughter Joy Dreams.
Now, he’s working on the upstart “Tell Me Your Dream” podcast and DREAM Week in local schools, where each day represents a step toward achievement (D is destination day, R is reason day…). He doesn’t want inspiration to reach you only after hearing a song or watching a video: He believes in this message so much that he literally got DREAM tattooed onto his forehead.
“It’s on my face, so people have no choice [but to see it],” he says. “I’m a local celebrity here, so everywhere I go, people ask me for pictures. In every selfie, the message goes along for the ride too.”
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.
Laika Nur, MD, takes her love of volleyball from the court to the clinic as team physician for the San Diego Mojo
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.