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Where to shop, dine, and explore in this coastal beach town
The small, coastal community of Solana Beach just north of Del Mar is best known for its arts scene with the Cedros Design District along with local boutiques, beautiful art galleries, and beachside restaurants all sitting along 1.7 miles of coastline. The walkable neighborhood is filled with plenty to do whether you’re interested in spending all day surfing at Fletcher Cove or are hitting up Pizza Port before a show at The Belly Up.
Here’s our guide to the best restaurants, shops, activities, and experiences in Solana Beach.
Restaurants | Things to Do | Shops

Once a chef to high-profile celebs, chef Jeffrey Strauss has been cooking up French-inspired meat and seafood dishes at Pamplemousse Grille for nearly 30 years. Located across from Del Mar Racetrack, its dining room is adorned with touches of the French countryside, where guests savor entrees like lobster ravioli and juicy steaks.
Address: 514 Via De La Valle, Suite 100
Hours: Closed Monday; Tuesday–Friday, 4:30 p.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 5 p.m.–9 p.m
Phone: (858) 792-9090
Part butcher shop, part specialty grocery store, and part counter-service restaurant, Ranch 45 is the perfect spot to order a breakfast burrito and grab some steaks and wine to enjoy at home later that night. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this casual eatery is all about the meat, with specialties like burgers, steaks, hot dogs, pastrami, carne asada, and tri-tip on the menu.
Address: 512 Via De La Valle, Suite 102
Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday–Wednesday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m
Phone: (858) 461-0092
Get your fix of California burritos, street tacos, and other Mexican staples at family-owned joint. Rudy’s Taco Shop also recently remodeled its dining area which includes a full bar for tequila and mezcal cocktails and a self-serve salsa bar.
Address: 524 Stevens Ave., Suite 1
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Phone: (858) 755-0788
No-frills homestyle restaurant T’s Cafe has been a Solana Beach fixture since 1978, known for its many egg benedict options and housemade bloody mary’s. Occasional live music draws a crowd in the evenings, where dinner is served in the form of patty melts, Reubens, and chicken & waffles.
Address: 271 S. Coast Hwy 101
Hours: Monday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.; Tuesday closed; Wednesday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.; Thursday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5 p.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
Phone: (858) 755-7642
The newest addition to Solana Beach’s dining scene, Lana has a neighborhood restaurant feel with upscale California cuisine. The region’s bounty is on full display here with locally sourced produce and proteins found in dishes like its seabass agua chile, blue mussels, and wild mushroom pasta and pizza (cooked in a wood-fired pizza oven). Lana’s recently launched brunch service has favorites like huevos rancheros, steak & eggs, and French toast.
Address: 437 S. Highway 101
Hours: Wednesday–Friday, 4 p.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5 p.m.–9 p.m.; Monday–Tuesday closed.
Phone: (858) 286-1211
Choose healthy California cuisine for breakfast and lunch at The Naked Cafe, where coconut French toast and breakfast burritos star alongside draft kombucha and turmeric lattes. Salads, bowls, tacos, and wraps dominate the lunch menu, and vegetarian options are always plentiful.
Address: 106 S. Sierra Ave.
Hours: Daily, 7:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Phone: (858) 259-7866
Seafood restaurant The Fish Market offers sandwiches, pasta dishes, fish & chips, chilled seafood, and seasonal fresh catch plates. The menu changes according to availability, but its clam chowders—both Manhattan (red) and New England (white) styles—remain best-sellers year-round. Stop by the retail counter to buy fresh seafood to go.
Address: 640 Via De La Valle
Hours: Monday–Thursday & Sunday, 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Phone: (858) 755-2277
Helmed by chef Brad Wise, modern steakhouse Rare Society’s menu features shareable meat boards with a selection of cuts like Wagyu and dry-aged steaks that are cooked on a wood-fired grill. Other specialties include oysters Rockefeller, seafood towers, and parker house rolls.
Address: 330 S. Cedros Ave.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday–Thursday & Sunday, 5 p.m.–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 5 p.m.–10 p.m.; Tuesday closed.
Phone: (858) 771-0181
Find American comfort food and cocktails in a buzzy scene at Rustic Root, reminiscent of its sister restaurant in the Gaslamp. Happy hour and other weekday deals bring upbeat energy to the bar and lounge and guests are also drawn to its patio overlooking Highway 101. Lobster pappardelle and aged ribeye are two of its signature dishes but you should definitely save room for ice cream and gelato sundaes from its roving sundae cart.
Address: 343 S. Highway 101, Suite 100
Hours: Monday, Wednesday–Friday, 4 p.m.–10 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–10 p.m.; Tuesday, 4 p.m.–10 p.m.
Phone: (858) 381-4800
Charming cafe and bakery Claire’s on Cedros is a favorite among locals for breakfast and lunch, serving up French toast, pancakes, egg benedicts, omelets, sandwiches, and salads. Be sure to join its waitlist online ahead of time to score a table faster.
Address: 246 N. Cedros Ave.
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Friday–Sunday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m.
Phone: (858) 259-8597
What started as Fidel Montanez’s barber shop serving tacos in the 1960s is now one of North County’s busiest Mexican restaurants, Fidel’s Little Mexico. This indoor/outdoor, multi-level eatery has a sizable menu of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tostadas and other specialties, but you’ll find the best value from its weekday lunch special.
Address: 607 Valley Ave.
Hours: Monday–Thursday & Sunday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; Tuesday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Phone: (858) 755-5292
Following his WWII military service in 1946, Tony Gonzales and wife Catalina opened Mexican restaurant Tony’s Jacal inside his parents’ home. The building has since been expanded but Tony’s continues to serve the same turkey tacos, chile rellenos, and other staples that keep longtime patrons returning time and again.
Address: 621 Valley Ave.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4:30–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 4:30–9:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon–8:30 p.m.; Tuesday closed.
Phone: (858) 755-2274
Order New York-style pizza by the slice or full pie at Bongiorno’s New York Pizzeria, plus stromboli, calzones, hero sandwiches, pasta, and salad. They deliver within Solana Beach, Cardiff, and Del Mar, but guests can also place carryout orders or dine in to enjoy its thin, foldable slices.
Address: 524 Stevens Ave.
Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
Phone: (858) 755-2646
Previously a North County outpost of Uncle Biff’s California Killer Cookies, Solana Sumptuous Cookies is a gourmet sweets shop with premium cookie mix-ins like fresh raspberries, toffee almonds, and roasted marshmallows. With more than 18 cookie flavors, guests can pair any treat with ice cream or an over-the-top hot chocolate drink for an even sweeter afternoon.
Address: 150 Solana Hills Drive
Hours: Monday–Tuesday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Wednesday & Tuesday, 8 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Thursday–Friday, 8 a.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Phone: (858) 925-6300
Flavorful curries, noodles, and rice dishes are at the heart of Thai restaurant Bangkok Bay. Family-owned and operated for more than 20 years, Bangkok Bay has great weekday lunch specials that include rice and soup. Go-to dishes include pad thai, drunken noodles, panang curry, and summer rolls.
Address: 731 S. Highway 101, Suite 1B1
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9:30 p.m.; Saturday, noon–3 p.m. and 5–9:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m.
Phone: (858) 792-2427
Vegan-friendly cafe serving breakfast and lunch, Sunny Side Solana is marked by bright yellow umbrellas that feel apropos for its name. While there’s plenty of traditional breakfast fare to choose from (vegan egg substitutes available), guests especially love anything with short rib here, including eggs benedict, mac and cheese, and breakfast hash. Don’t skip the bottomless mimosas.
Address: 159 S. Highway 101
Hours: Daily, 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Phone: (858) 345-1670
Catch a buzz at Seven Seas Roasting Co., a small-batch coffee roaster that sources beans from micro farms around the globe. Flavored lattes like the mango coconut, banana split, or lavender honey are prepared with housemade syrups and double espresso shots.
Address: 312 S. Cedros Ave.
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7 a.m.–4 p.m.; Friday–Sunday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m.; Tuesday, 7 a.m.–4 p.m.
Phone: (619) 800-7931
Ready your chopsticks for Hawaiian-style sushi rolls named after local beaches at Kai Ola Sushi. The Moonlight, Beacons, and Stone Steps rolls are solid choices, but you may also want to save room for a poke bowl, ramen noodles, and kombucha on tap.
Address: 112 S. Cedros Ave.
Hours: Monday–Thursday & Sunday, noon–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, noon–10 p.m.; Tuesday, noon–9 p.m.
Phone: (858) 345-1973
Solana Beach is home to the original Pizza Port location, where pizza and craft beer reign supreme in a casual, family-friendly setting. Build your own pizza or opt for one of its specialty pies like the BBQ chicken or pizza Solana, which pair well with Pizza Port’s well-loved Swami’s IPA.
Address: 135 N. Highway 101
Hours: Monday–Thursday & Sunday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Tuesday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Phone: (858) 481-7332
Sip vino made from Sonoma grapes at urban winery Carruth Cellars’ tasting room. Order sauvignon blanc and its popular Unicorn blend by the glass or bottle, or opt for a flight of five pours to choose your new favorite. Visit during weekday happy hour when a handful of wines are 30 percent off.
Address: 118 S. Cedros Ave., Suite C
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 1–9 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, noon–10 p.m.; Sunday, noon–8 p.m.; Tuesday, 1–9 p.m.
Phone: (858) 847-9463

Intimate local music venue and longtime Solana Beach icon Belly Up Tavern has played host to up-and-coming new artists as well as established groups like Black Eyed Peas, Mumford & Sons, No Doubt, The Killers, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Belly Up has maintained its reputation as North County’s most beloved live music venue since it opened in 1974. Today it holds up to 600 guests and is also used as an event space for private shows.
Address: 143 S. Cedros Ave.
Phone: (858) 481-8140
Contemporary artwork from around the world is showcased at Madison Gallery, where it focuses on internationally recognized artists in a variety of media. The gallery has rotating exhibitions throughout the year and offers free admission for all guests.
Address: 320 S. Cedros Ave., Suite 200
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sunday, closed.
Phone: (858) 523-9155
Be prepared to ooh and ahh at fine art photos by world-renowned ocean and surf photographer (and local resident) Aaron Chang. His incredible photographic prints line the walls of Aaron Chang Ocean Art Gallery alongside surfboard sculptures for an up-close look at surf, sand, and sea.
Address: 415 South Cedros Ave., Suite 110
Hours: Monday–Tuesday, noon–5 p.m.; Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Phone: (858) 345-1880
Theatrical performances come to life at North Coast Repertory Theatre, where classic and contemporary works are performed in an intimate setting with just under 200 seats. The nonprofit community theater features seven plays throughout its regular season, and is often lauded for its diverse selections.
Address: 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite D
Phone: (858) 481-1055

Browse from 60 vendors at the Solana Beach Farmers Market, held every Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. in the Design District. Find organic produce, prepared food and drinks, handmade gifts, fresh florals, and more—all while jamming to live music.
Address: 444 S. Cedros Ave.
Hours: Sunday, 12 p.m–4 p.m.
Nicknamed “Pillbox” by locals, Fletcher Cove Beach Park has it all: a playground, picnic tables, basketball courts, restrooms, outdoor showers, and some grassy areas. Flanked between sea cliffs, this tucked away cove is a great place for little ones to play in the surf, even if the sandy beach area is on the smaller side.
Address: 111 S. Sierra Ave.
Just north of Fletcher Cove, Tide Beach Park is accessed by a large staircase between sea cliffs that extends down to where smooth stones and large, flat sandstone rocks dot the landscape. Thanks to a nearby reef, tide pools fill with sea creatures that can be spotted during low tide, making for a fun place to splash around.
Address: 302 Solana Vista Drive
An alternative route to Annie’s Canyon trailhead in Cardiff, the Solana Hills trailhead lets you access this photo-worthy slot canyon from Solana Beach. It takes about an hour to complete the popular 2.3-mile loop, and the hike includes some narrow passageways and ladders.
Address: 450 Solana Hills Drive

For all gifting needs, look no further than SoLo—a collective of several shops under one roof with merchandise that’s carefully curated by eight women. Here you’ll discover new and antique furniture, books, jewelry, home decor, stationery, and other unique finds.
Address: 309 S. Cedros Ave.
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Phone: (858) 794-9016
Upscale women’s boutique Pink Lagoon sells designer clothing from brands like Citizens of Humanity, The Upside, and Perfect White Tee, alongside fine jewelry, shoes, and beauty products. The shop also offers personalized wardrobe design and styling services for those who appreciate a discerning eye for fashion.
Address: 143 S. Cedros Ave.
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Phone: (858) 792-0882
Shop from luxury designers at Tucci Boutique where women’s clothes, shoes, jewelry, bags, and other accessories all have a sophisticated SoCal style. Find clothing brands such as Apiece Apart, Mother, and Sablyn, plus a collection of home fragrances in the form of candles, room sprays, and oil diffusers.
Address: 130 S. Cedros Ave.
Hours: Monday–Thursday & Tuesday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, noon–5 p.m.
Phone: (858) 259-8589

Woodworking shop Indigenous by La Rue creates custom wood slab tables and other furniture, with a specialization in made-to-order river tables and live edge furniture. At its Design District showroom, woodworking is complemented by home goods that were handmade by indigenous people around the globe.
Address: 107 S. Cedros Ave.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday–Tuesday, closed.
Phone: (858) 333-2665
Luxury showroom Kern & Co. is a one-stop-shop for high-end furniture, along with home décor and accessories including lighting, rugs, artwork, and bedding. Inquire about residential interior design services from owner Susan Spath who can transform homes to look as perfectly styled as her showroom.
Address: 130 S. Cedros Ave., Suite 100
Hours: Monday–Thursday & Tuesday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
Phone: (858) 779-0779
Family-owned men’s and women’s clothing boutique The Lomas Brand has comfy loungewear and other casual pieces that match San Diego’s beachy lifestyle. This is the spot to go for buttery-soft tees, sweats, and outerwear that’s all designed locally.
Address: 205 N. Highway 101
Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Sunday–Tuesday, closed.
Phone: (760) 639-9645
PARTNER CONTENT
Local artisans sell their work at eclectic little shop Neiki Solana Beach, where owner Neiki Pawling carries jewelry (some made by her), clothing, home goods, and spiritual items. Browse for handmade souvenirs and gifts that show off Solana Beach’s artsy side.
Address: 301 N. Highway 101
Hours: Monday, Wednesday–Saturday, 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Tuesday, closed.
Phone: (760) 845-1269
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.
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.
San Diego’s biggest food and drink festival is back for a week-long celebration of SoCal’s best restaurants, chefs, and wineries from Sept. 30–Oct. 4
Maybe it was when Breaking Bad stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul drank mezcal with chefs from San Diego and Food Network on the cliffs over Blacks Beach. Or the dinner outside under lights with Alex Morgan, celebrating some of the country’s most badass women chefs. Or the celebrity pickleball tournament hosted by NFL Hall of Famer Drew Brees, where the star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia made thwacking sounds with locals. Or when Iron Chef winner Beau MacMillan commandeered (some say “stole”) a golf cart and delivered drinks and ice to chefs.
Whatever it is, Del Mar Wine & Food seems to have become the food and wine festival for people who don’t usually like food and wine festivals. The most San Diego thing.

Two years ago, Thrillist named it one of the best food festivals in the country. Last year, 10,000 people came out to experience it, including Guy Fieri. Afterward, the founders spent a couple days trying to put their finger on why it felt so special. They had to name it, lean into whatever that was.
“It all came back to play,” says one of those founders, SDM co-owner Troy Johnson, a longtime San Diego food writer and Food Network judge. “Making world-class bread is serious, but breaking bread shouldn’t be. We gather all these incredibly talented people who take their craft very, very seriously—work their butts off all year to make some of the best food and drink in the country—and then we all just kinda play in the grass. We believe it’s possible to create something of incredible value and make the experience of that thing a laidback, easygoing, unpretentious experience. That’s what this is, and who we are in San Diego. The whole reason we did this was to shine a national spotlight on the people who make our food and drink culture hum.”

The festival dropped its 2026 lineup today.
Headlining the fest are Food Network chefs Jet Tila, Maneet Chauhan, and Aarti Sequeira; Top Chef winner and Michelin-starred Buddha Lo; Iron Chef alum Beau MacMillan; MasterChef winner Kelsey Murphy; MasterChef Latinos winner Michelle Mathelin, chef and Guy’s Grocery Games judge Catherine McCord, chef and former Masterchef Mexico judge Benito Molina, Top Chef alum Jackson Kalb, Michelin-starred chef Drew Deckman, Michelin-starred chef Javier Plascencia, James Beard award-winning chef Brady Ishiwata Williams, and James Beard-nominated chef Mawa McQueen.
The party kicks off on Wednesday, September 30 at Monarch Ocean Pub with Signature San Diego, a walk-around tasting of the city’s greatest bites, from Baja seafood to bold Mexican flavors. From there, the energy carries into a celebrity pickleball tournament hosted by Drew Brees at Barnes Tennis Center on October 2, pairing friendly competition with an all-inclusive tasting experience in support of Feeding San Diego.
The main event is the two-day Grand Tasting at Surf Sports Park on Oct. 3 and 4. The city’s top chefs, food people from TV lands, and local tastemakers gather on the weirdly perfect grass to serve up everything from juicy Wagyu burgers and beef tallow fries to yellowtail tuna tostadas and veggies dressed up in their Sunday best. Wine and cocktail pairings are designed to round out the whole experience, including activations from Aperol Spritz, Hendrick’s Gin, Tequila Ocho, Mezcal Vago, Rioja wines, and Temecula producers.

A VIP lounge offers exclusive access to curated small plates from Michelin-level chefs and pour from some of SoCal and Napa’s finest wineries and drink makers. The Official After Party at Guesthouse La Valle on October 3, a spirited walk-around tasting just steps from the Grand Tasting, where cocktails take center stage through imaginative bites inspired by the smoky, citrus-forward, and bittersweet flavors of classic drinks.
Zones return with activations including the Big Queer Food Fest celebrating queer chefs and queer-owned businesses; the Wellness Zone led by Novo Dia offering a built-in reset with non-alcoholic mocktails, movement-driven activations, and wellness-forward moments. Coastal lifestyle and locally made brands are also integrated throughout the festival.
“We are excited for the fourth edition of the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival this fall, which has quickly become one of the largest food and wine experiences on the West Coast,” says co-founder Chris Finn. “As the festival continues to grow, we are constantly looking to add events, experiences, and partners that will resonate with our San Diego community, and embody the Southern California way of life.”
Returning as the festival’s partner is local nonprofit Feeding San Diego. To date, Del Mar Wine & Food has raised $100,000 to support their ongoing fight against hunger across the region.
Stay tuned for additional events hosted by festival partners including Rob Machado, San Diego Wave, San Diego FC, Town & Country, and San Diego Mojo.

The 2026 Del Mar Wine & Food Festival will take place September 30–October 4 throughout San Diego County.
The week culminates with the Grand Tasting at Surf Sports Park (formerly the Del Mar Polo Fields) at 14989 Via De La Valle, Del Mar.
A wide variety of exclusive dinners, drink tastings, and other lifestyle events will be announced soon and available for purchase individually on Del Mar Wine & Food Festival’s website. These festivities include chef-curated dining experiences across San Diego’s hottest restaurants, a celebrity pickleball tournament, wine tastings, and more.
The Grand Tasting takes place this year on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4.
General admission for the single-day Grand Tasting starts at $185. An Early Access option is also available at $235, which includes an extra four hours before general admission to meet, mingle, and feast. For a two-day pass, General Admission starts at $275, while Early Access is $375.
VIP tickets begin at $425 for a single day, offering access to pre-festival experiences, exclusive food vendors, a dedicated VIP area, and more. For the full weekend in VIP, passes are priced at $765.
Buy tickets today at DelMar.Wine.
Unfortunately, only service animals are allowed at the venue. All attendees must be 21 years or older.
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.
Một Bánh Mì melds Vietnamese and Mexican traditions in a new pop-up concept featuring its take on a local favorite
Is there any food more quintessentially San Diegan than the California burrito? That was a rhetorical question since the French fry-stuffed, flour tortilla-wrapped torpedo of carne asada bliss came into being in the 80s (either invented by Lolita’s or Santana’s, depending on who you ask). But now, Vietnamese-Mexican pop-up Một Bánh Mì may be giving the longtime champ a run for its money.
Một Bánh Mì’s original California banh mi takes cues from both cultures, using traditional Vietnamese baguettes from Paris Bakery filled with carne asada and garnished with cilantro-jalapeno crema, Vietnamese mayonnaise, pickled vegetables, cilantro, cucumber, jalapenos, and of course, French fries.
“It’s so San Diego—it’s so us,” says Desmond Bui, pop-up founder and owner with partner Marisol Santiago. “It really encapsulates the Vietnamese-American and Mexican-American journey and identity here.”
Both grew up in San Diego. Bui is Vietnamese. Santiago is Mexican-American. The sandwich makes utter personal sense.
Neither of them cooked professionally before launching Một Bánh Mì earlier this year, when they popped up for the first time at Convoy Rising for Lunar New Year. But after seeing the rise of the local Vietnamese coffee scene with shops like Saigon Coffee, Chance’s Coffee, and Em Coffee House, Bui knew there was an opportunity for a new generation to put a fresh spin on Vietnamese food in San Diego.
While there are plenty of places to grab a banh mi around town (K Sandwiches, Ba Le French Sandwich Shop, Lee’s Sandwiches, and so on), we’ve yet to hear of a California banh mi. Firsts are being firsted.
“Banh mi is regarded by top chefs as the best sandwich in the world,” says Bui. (Side note: I concur.) And after discovering overlap between Mexican and Vietnamese cuisines through common ingredients like cilantro, lime, jalapeno, white onion, and pickled vegetables, they began planning a menu.

Một Bánh Mì also serves Bánh Mì Đặc Biệt (Vietnamese cold cuts), Bánh Mì Thịt Nướng (grilled lemongrass pork banh mi), and Bánh Mì carnitas de hongos (mushroom pâté banh mi), along with some specials like Thịt Nướng tacos (grilled lemongrass pork) and hopefully soon, al pastor trompo banh mi (marinated pork shaved off a spit) and charcoal-grilled adobada.
Other banh mi shops Americanize names for English-speaking audiences—for example, listing “grilled chicken sandwich” instead of Bánh Mì Gà Nướng. Not Một Bánh Mì. If you’re not sure how to pronounce something, Bui says they’re happy to help. It’s an educational opportunity, he explains, as well as a chance for them to be “unapologetically Vietnamese and Mexican.”
Part of the immersive experience is playing Vietnamese tunes from the ‘60s and ‘70s.
“When you think of universal languages, what are ways when you travel or meet a different group of people that you can still find common ground and connect and feel like we’re a lot more alike than we are different?” Bui asks. “Food and music.”
The musical element is part of Một Bánh Mì’s greater vision. They’d like to evolve into a lifestyle brand and media company, with merch, jars of pickled vegetables, you name it. Eventually, they’d like to open a brick-and-mortar somewhere in Mid-City. In the meantime, they’ll continue to pop up at places like Mixed Grounds and Chance’s Coffee, or wherever they can. (Bui called Provecho Coffee their “dream collab,” hint hint.)
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Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
The annual event honors middle market companies creating jobs, scaling up, and investing in the region
San Diego is known for its startup culture and innovation economy, but what happens when the company moves beyond its early-stage years? The San Diego Business Impact Awards aim to answer that question, spotlighting the middle market businesses helping drive the region’s economy.
Hosted by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards celebration takes place on Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 executives, entrepreneurs, and business leaders are expected to attend the networking and cocktail event honoring some of San Diego County’s fastest-growing companies.
Businesses headquartered in San Diego County that have operated for at least two years are encouraged to submit their nomination by Thursday, June 18 at 4 p.m. Companies across industries—from technology and life sciences to tourism and consumer products, as well as pre-revenue startups—are eligible for recognition.
For EDC President and CEO Mark Cafferty, the event is as much about building connections as celebrating success. “We’ve had a longtime partnership with JPMorganChase; their work aligns with our efforts to support underserved communities and drive talent development,” says Cafferty. “And the networking was invaluable last year. I’m still in touch with people I met at last year’s awards.”

EDC is an independently-funded nonprofit that works directly with San Diego companies to help them grow the local economy, make the region as a whole more competitive, and attract and retain top-tier talent with quality jobs. Through EDC, companies can get help starting or expanding their business with support for things like site selection, permit navigation, and regulatory guidance, plus connections to local resources and potential business collaborators.
The San Diego Business Impact Awards began as an idea with one of EDC’s longtime strategic partners, JPMorganChase. The two organizations share a commitment to San Diego and are dedicated to bolstering middle market businesses.
“We’re blessed with a robust innovation economy and startup community,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager for JPMorgan’s Commercial and Investment Bank and vice chair of the firm’s’ San Diego Market Leadership Team. “But one of the segments of the business community we felt was overlooked was emerging middle market companies—the businesses that are no longer small but not yet large.”
Ryan says supporting those companies is critical as they scale and decide where to invest, hire, and grow.
San Diego’s high cost of living remains one of the region’s biggest business challenges, making talent recruitment and retention increasingly competitive. But local leaders point to the region’s quality of life, climate, and collaborative business community as advantages that continue to attract employers and workers.

“In order to support thriving households, there has to be enough high-quality jobs for people to be able to afford to live here,” Cafferty says. “Once a company grows and excels past that middle market point in their growth cycle, they become much more likely to pay higher wages and compete globally.”
Both Cafferty and Ryan proudly tout the unique collaboration that exists among San Diego County businesses. Bringing together top universities producing high-quality talent, cutting-edge research institutions, a robust military and defense presence, leading ocean science and environmental organizations, and a binational, cross-border identity creates a distinct business ecosystem that defines and strengthens the San Diego region.
Last year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards celebrated nearly 60 honorees from 49 industries, representing a total of 8,232 jobs across eight sectors, including: software and technology, healthcare and life sciences, consumer goods, professional services, finance, construction and manufacturing, defense, and hospitality and tourism. On average, honoree companies doubled their revenues over the previous year, employed more than 145 San Diegans each, and offered an average annual compensation of $192,415.
Top honorees included defense contractor Innoflight, environmental consulting firm Bancroft Construction Services, life sciences startup Element Biosciences, defense technology contractor GALT Aerospace, organic grocery store chain Jimbo’s, and biopharmaceutical company LENZ Therapeutics. During the event, Innoflight Founder and CEO Jeff Janicik held a fireside chat offering his insights on investing in the community and embracing San Diego culture.
This year, organizers hope to continue highlighting the middle market players driving economic impact across the region. Nominations are now open through June 18 at 4 p.m. Get your tickets to the San Diego Business Impact Awards celebration to enjoy drinks by Snake Oil Cocktail Co., light bites, live music, and networking.
Enjoy the holiday with the city’s best restaurants offering seasonal brunch buffets, prix-fixe menus, and à la carte specials
Consider this your annual reminder that Mother’s Day is not the time to improvise. What’s in: roses, peonies, and a card attempting to summarize a year’s worth of gratitude in three paragraphs or less. What’s out: pretending you “didn’t know it was this weekend.” In a city currently operating at full brunch capacity, San Diego responds as it always does—oceanfront tables, excessive buffet spreads, and sparkling wine refills. Whether it’s waffle stacks, chilled seafood displays, or carving stations doing the most, these San Diego restaurants have you covered.
Brunch Buffets | Mother’s Day Specials & Prix Fixe Menus | À La Carte Brunch

All moms deserve elegance on Mother’s Day. Celebrate a beachfront with a beautifully timeless and tasteful brunch at the Crown Room in Hotel del Coronado. Indulge in options like lemon vanilla pancakes with berry compote paired with crispy bacon, made-to-order omelets or your very own egg benedict station, shucked oysters, whole in-house smoked brisket, Peach Melba Verrine, and more. Guests over 21 can enjoy a complimentary glass of Champagne.
Price: $235 per adult | $125 per child (6 – 10) | Ages 5 and under are free
Hours: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Address: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado
Reservations: Hotel del Coronado
Mimosas, marina views, and a Mother’s Day where the only thing on the agenda is enjoying it? We’ll cheers to that. Located at the Catamaran Resort, this Mother’s Day brunch literally has it all, from sushi rolls and nigiri to a charcuterie spread stacked with salumi, prosciutto, cornichons, pepperoncini, cherry peppers, and grainy mustard, plus waffle and omelet stations, cedar-planked salmon, and panko and herb-crusted mac and cheese. Kids can also create a bouquet for Mom that’s just chaotic enough to be adorable.
Price: $120+ per adult | $60+ per child (5 – 12) | Ages 4 and under are free
Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (last seating at 2 p.m.)
Address: 3999 Mission Boulevard, San Diego
Reservations: Oceana Coastal Kitchen
Mother’s Day at Arlo transforms into an enchanted garden that’s equal parts lush and indulgent: a raw bar, fresh salads, delicate pastries, 12-hour braised short ribs, roasted prime rib, and Szechuan pepper–crusted swordfish from the Santa Maria grill. Spoil moms, grandmas, aunts, and every beloved mother figure with live music, a roaming mimosa cart, floral bouquets, and of course, a little retail therapy courtesy of the Kendra Scott trunk show—necklaces, bracelets, earrings, or, let’s be real, all of the above.
Price: $99 per adult | $40 per child (5 – 12) | Ages 4 and under are free
Hours: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Address: 500 Hotel Circle N, San Diego
Reservations: OpenTable
Forget the CVS roses (respectfully). Rumorosa’s Mother’s Day brunch is back for its third year, pairing complimentary flowers with sun-drenched marina views. It’s coastal-modern meets Baja soul, where the food is bright and very much not an afterthought. Last year’s spread leans into Carrot Cake Waffles, a made-to-order omelet station, Café de la Olla French Toast, Roasted Lamb Tostadas, and other “yes, I’ll have everything” moments.
Price: $90 per adult | $40 per child (5 – 12)
Hours: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Address: 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego
Reservations: OpenTable
A boozy brunch overlooking Mission Bay with Mom? Say less. Celebrated at Tidal with a lavish spread of cheeses and charcuterie, a seafood bar stacked with oysters, shrimp, crab legs, and ahi specialties, and chef-attended carving stations with slow-roasted prime rib. Made-to-order omelets and pancakes, maple-glazed pork belly, roasted Baja grouper, vibrant seasonal salads, and brunch classics round it out, finishing with an abundant mini dessert selection.
Price: $125 per adult | $50 per child (5–12) | Ages 5 and under are free
Hours: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Address: 1404 West Vacation Road, San Diego
Reservations: OpenTable
Mother’s Day at Animae is anything but expected. Tucked into the Marina District, this world-class steakhouse leans West Coast with a playful Asian twist. This year, treat Mom to a dim sum–style experience: a slightly more elevated, endlessly flowing take on the buffet, where indulgent small plates arrive tableside, perfectly complementing the Art Deco interiors and designed to be picked at, shared, and fully obsessed over. It’s less set menu, more choose-your-own flavor adventure.
Price: $104 per person
Hours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Address: 969 Pacific Hwy, San Diego
Reservations: OpenTable

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.
Stop by the San Diego Writers Festival, traverse the Tour de France Wine Dinner and watch the Padres play on Opening Day
Just as seasons for the Clippers and Sockers come to a close with Fan Appreciation Nights, a new set of 162 games will begin for the Padres on Opening Day. The return of Padres baseball also means the Friar faithful can check out Margaritaville Hotel’s Padres’ Kickoff Rooftop Party and the celebratory East Village Block Party. Those who prefer an outing at the theater over a day at the ballpark can see local productions of The Lehman Trilogy and Matt & Ben or the debut of works by women+ playwrights at the Lamoise New Works Festival. Plus, fans of live music can see Lang Lang, Digable Planets and fifteen San Diego County choirs in concert this week.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

A few blocks from the Padres’ home opener at Petco Park, fans can say cheers to the new season during the free Padres’ Kickoff Rooftop Party at Margaritaville Hotel. This Thursday from 3-7 p.m. at the hotel’s 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar, patrons can catch a set from DJ Chino of iHeart Radio Channel 93.3, plus enjoy photo ops, lawn games, mini golf and Padres merch for sale from The Finnish Long Drink. There will also be a themed game day menu, featuring items like the Grand Slam Philly Fries and the dragon fruit-infused Ballpark Paloma. RSVP here.
435 Sixth Avenue, Gaslamp
Take a gastronomic trek around France with Little Frenchie this Sunday at 6 p.m. during the Tour de France Wine Dinner. This four-course prix fixe meal will feature complimentary wine pairings and emphasize the unique culinary strengths of four French regions: Lyon, Provence, Burgundy and Normandy. Guests will be guided through the significance and history of the evening’s pairings by Rafael Peterson of H. Mercer Imports. Reservations are $150 per person.
1166 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Chinese pianist Lang Lang is among the world’s most well-known classical musicians, with his talents taking him everywhere from the Grammy Awards, to private shows for heads of state, to multiple Olympic opening ceremonies. His mastery of the keys, done with wonderful enthusiasm and dexterity, leaves no awe-inspiring detail behind. This Thursday (7:30 p.m.), Lang Lang will play a selection of recognizable pieces from Mozart, Liszt and Beethoven in concert at Jacobs Music Center. Tickets start at $95 for this concert.
1245 Seventh Avenue, Downtown
The melding of jazz and hip-hop has rarely sounded sweeter than on Digable Planets’ second album Blowout Comb. Though it proved to be their final project, it eternally cemented the group as one of the forebears of jazz rap, alongside acts from the Native Tongues movement like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. In celebration of Blowout Comb’s 30th anniversary, Digable Planets will perform back-to-back nights at Belly Up, where they’ll be joined by San Diego artists Ric Scales (Friday) and Blame One (Saturday). Tickets start at $60 for both concerts.
143 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach
Aspiring writers and readers ranging from casual to voracious can enjoy a day of literary panels, workshops and readings this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the 7th annual San Diego Writers Festival. Held at the Coronado Public Library and Coronado Performing Arts Center, this year’s event will feature best-selling and emerging writers of romance, mystery, historical fiction and more. The lineup includes talks covering trauma, spirituality, and artistry in the age of AI, and a keynote discussion with novelist Jodi Picoult. RSVP for the free festival here.
640 Orange Avenue & 650 D Avenue, Coronado
Fifteen San Diego County choirs will fill The Conrad with vocal harmony during this Saturday’s San Diego Sings! Festival. Organized by the Choral Consortium of San Diego, audiences can catch performances by the San Diego Women’s Chorus, Encore Vocal Ensemble and the San Diego Children’s Choir. The performers will be split into three concert performances (11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m.) inside Baker-Baum Concert Hall. Tickets are $23 for each of the three concerts.
7600 Fay Avenue, La Jolla
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.
The 53rd Annual National Philanthropy Day Takes Place on November 21. Join us from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center!
Once yearly, AFP San Diego joins with others worldwide to celebrate National Philanthropy Day (NPD), a special day set aside to recognize the great contributions of donors and nonprofits that enrich of our community and the world. San Diego’s NPD is one of the largest and most successful in the U.S., attracting nearly 900 participants, including philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, CEOs, board members, development professionals, and business, community, and civic leaders.
Sponsorship proceeds from National Philanthropy Day are reinvested in education, training, scholarships, career development, and the advancement of fundraising professionals throughout San Diego. These resources and training provide fundraising professionals with the tools necessary to support our region’s diverse array of nonprofit organizations, which rely on charitable giving for close to half of their annual revenues.
The National Philanthropy Day Honorees are selected by the NPD Honorary Committee, a group of highly respected, diverse nonprofit and business leaders. Our 2025 Honorees include:
National Philanthropy Day San Diego provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and to celebrate the selfless contributions of individuals and organizations across the region. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available. Please visit www.afpsd.org for more information.