The Craving is all about helping you satisfy your craving for the best from San Diego’s local food scene. Come back every week for the latest menu updates, new cocktail programs, happy hours, and special offers from San Diego’s best restaurants and bars!
San Diego’s Best Holiday Pop-Up Bars to Sip, Savor, and Get Toasty
If you’re the kind of person who gets excited about themed holiday experiences rather than just tolerating them, we’ve got your guide to the biggest and best holiday pop-up bars across San Diego.
We’re talking fully themed pop-ups with immersive décor, festive menus, and limited-edition cocktails that give you multiple reasons to visit different neighborhoods throughout December. Cheers!
Click here for the complete list of the best holiday pop-up bars in San Diego.
Highly-Anticipated Fleurette Opens in La Jolla
Chef Travis Swikard’s highly anticipated French Mediterranean restaurant is open in La Jolla. The restaurant is billed as “a sun-kissed tribute to the French Mediterranean rooted in San Diego’s coastal bounty.”
The menu is said to be “lighter, brighter, and cleaner” than what you may expect from a French restaurant.
Named one of Robb Report’s 13 Most Exciting Restaurant Openings in America, reservations are sure to be hard to come by for some time…but we expect it will be worth the wait.
📆 Tuesday – Sunday, 5 PM – 10 PM | Bar until 11 PM
📍 4727 Executive Dr., Suite 100, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Don’t Feel Like Cooking for Christmas? These San Diego Restaurants Have You Covered!
Here’s our curated list of the most exciting holiday offerings around town – from pre-Christmas specials to Christmas Day feasts, with new spots being added as they announce their festivities. No cooking, no cleanup, just pure holiday magic!
Check back often for updates. Click here.
Colosseo Cucina Italiana Opens in Solana Beach With Authentic Roman-Italian Cuisine
Colosseo Cucina Italiana is opening in Solana Beach, and if you’ve been following Chef Roberto Ciacciofera’s work at R&G Salumeria Wine Bar, you already know he brings legitimacy to Italian cuisine.
The Sicilian-born chef has fully transformed the former Pizza Nova building at 945 Lomas Santa Fe Drive into an inviting space designed to offer an elevated Roman dining experience with warm hospitality.
The family-driven restaurant is serving a menu that includes classic Roman-Italian dishes – amatriciana, carbonara, and cacio e pepe – alongside fresh fish, lamb, and rotating chef’s specials. The beverage list highlights Italian wines from various regions, complemented by a full-service bar with thoughtfully crafted cocktails.
📆 Grand Opening: Thursday, December 18, 6 PM – 9 PM | Regular hours: Daily 11:30 AM – 9 PM
📍 945 Lomas Santa Fe Dr, Solana Beach
ℹ️ More info here
Seasonal Cocktails That Will Have You Feeling Festive!
Take a spirited journey through the city’s most delightful holiday sips, where each cocktail tells its own winter tale.
Here are can’t-miss seasonal cocktails from some of our favorite San Diego bars to add to your holiday season wish list!
Click here for our big list.
Oceanside’s Swell Plates Series Returns
Oceanside’s second annual Swell Plates Series is bringing together over 18 restaurants for a month-long celebration of locally sourced, chef-crafted dishes. The lineup includes Michelin-starred Valle, Bib Gourmand Dija Mara, and neighborhood favorites like Odie’s Pizza Co. and Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen.
Participating restaurants create special “swell plates” featuring harbor-fresh fish, local farm produce, and handcrafted spirits. Standouts include The Plot and Jitters Cafe’s zero-waste Banana Peel Torta, Matsu’s Sheepshead Tartare with locally caught fish, and Odie’s combining Craft Coast’s birria with sourdough crust.
New this year: Swell Plates Food Tours running Saturdays and Sundays with four tasting stops ($99 per person). Grab a passport at participating restaurants – collect three stamps for a chance to win a $50 gift card.
📆 January 14 – February 11, 2026
ℹ️ More info here
Lilo Carlsbad: A Michelin-Level Adventure With San Diego Soul
If you’ve ever wondered what a Michelin experience would feel like if it ditched the tuxedo, threw on a perfectly worn vintage tee, and queued up a vinyl playlist…welcome to Lilo in Carlsbad.
This place is special in that uniquely Southern California way. Yes, the food is world-class, and the execution is as precise as anything you’d find in the fine-dining capitals of the world, but the vibe? The vibe is ‘Michelin stars meet San Diego chill’ perfection.
Click here to read the full post on our experience at Lilo.
Cloak & Petal Launches Holiday Menu
Little Italy’s Cloak & Petal just rolled out its holiday menu, and it’s sticking around through early January – which gives us plenty of time to work our way through it.
Executive Chef Robert Cassidy is offering Pan-Seared Miso Salmon with garlic quinoa, yuzu kosho sweet peas, pickled red onion, and agedama for that perfect, crispy texture.
There’s also the Winter Wonderland Roll, loaded with salmon, chipotle tuna, shrimp tempura, cucumber, and topped with torched lemon aioli, jalapeño cream cheese, cranberry ponzu, and dehydrated orange zest.
On the drink side, the cocktail list leans festive without being over-the-top about it. Santa’s Apples mixes Averna, apple brandy, grenadine, and lemon, while the Kringle Colada blends Haku, pineapple, coconut cream, lemon, and St. Elizabeth allspice dram.
Have a Peary Christmas rounds things out with white rum, St. George spiced pear, honey, lemon, and fee foam. It’s the kind of spot where you can settle in for a full meal or just swing by for a couple of holiday cocktails.
📆 Available through January 6
📍1953 India St., Little Italy
ℹ️ More info here
Meet Carlo, Trust Restaurant Group’s New Hidden Bar in Mission Hills
Trust Restaurant Group just opened Carlo, a new hidden bar in Mission Hills, and it sounds like they’re going for something theatrical. Inspired by Roman grandeur, the space is described as an intimate gilded escape that blurs the line between fantasy and reality.
We’re curious to see how they’ve pulled this off – Trust has a track record with concepts like Serea and Lionfish, so they know how to create an atmosphere. The “hidden bar” element suggests you’re in for something more than just another cocktail spot.
Reservations are available now on Resy, which probably means you’ll want to book ahead if you’re planning to check it out soon.
📍 4033 Goldfinch Street, Mission Hills
🎟️ Reservations on Resy
ℹ️ More info here
Cellar Hand Serves Winter Event Lineup
Cellar Hand in Hillcrest is easing into winter with a string of food and wine events worth marking on your calendar. First up, they just launched Bottomless Brunch every weekend – Saturdays and Sundays with bottomless mimosas for $25 (4 juice options to choose from).
The Feast of Seven Fishes on December 20 is a 5-course prix-fixe ($85 per person) featuring hyper-local seafood like Grilled Oysters with nduja cream and caviar, Fideua Stew with saffron and preserved lemon aioli, and Swordfish with white bean stew.
On December 27, Michi Michi Baking Collective is taking over brunch with their famous cinnamon rolls (while supplies last) plus special babkas crafted by Cellar Hand baker Stu McCoy.
New Year’s Eve features a four-course prix-fixe menu ($125) with Liberty Farms duck breast, handmade tortelloni, and spiny lobster bouillabaisse, ending with a bubbly toast at 11:50 PM.
📍 1440 University Ave, San Diego
🎟️ Reservations: Feast of Seven Fishes | Michi Michi Brunch | NYE
ℹ️ More info here
Tour de Tapas Offering Free Lunch on a Roll of the Die
Tour de Tapas in La Mesa Village just started lunch service, and owner Gerry Torres is doing something pretty fun – when you finish your meal, you get one die to roll. Roll a one and your entire meal is comped (minus alcohol, tax, and gratuity). It’s a 1-in-6 chance of eating for free, which honestly makes lunch way more interesting.
The lunch menu includes crepes like Pork Ham & Gruyere, Turkey & Brie, and Strawberry Cream, plus sandwiches like Chicken Delight, Roast Beef Deluxe, Mozzarella Caprese, and Smoked Salmon. They’ve also got pastas, soups, and salads. Worth trying your luck if you’re in La Mesa during the day.
📆 Tuesday – Friday, 11 AM – 2:30 PM
📍 8323 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa
ℹ️ More info here
Holiday Boozy Tea Returns to Fifth & Rose
Fifth & Rose is bringing back its Holiday Boozy Tea service with a December-inspired twist on the Pendry classic. The menu features classic teas with festive flavors, savory and sweet bites, and seasonal style made for the holidays. It’s the kind of thing that works for a holiday catch-up with friends or a different way to spend an afternoon.
📆 December 5 – 28, Fridays – Sundays, 1 PM – 4 PM
🎟️ Make your reservations here
ℹ️ More info here
Cherryfish Brings Modern American Izakaya to Pacific Beach
Cherryfish just opened in Pacific Beach, and it’s from Chef Marcus Twilegar, the San Diego native behind the popular Dockside Fish pop-up at Tuna Harbor.
The modern American izakaya concept celebrates Japan’s casual, energetic izakaya culture – shareable plates, conversation, late-night dining – reimagined with San Diego ingredients from local farms and fishermen.
The menu features inventive sushi rolls and charcoal-grilled specialties like Kimchi Flatbread with shoyu-braised beef cheek, Spiny Lobster Gyoza with bisque ponzu, and Swordfish Belly Skewers with tangerine and beet char siu. There’s also Bison Tartare with kimchi tonnato and Short Rib Tomahawk.
The bar menu includes cocktails like the Satsuma Mandarin with tequila and yuzu, plus the Nigoreo made with Oreo-washed nigori sake and espresso.
The space features a patio with olive trees and a fire pit, plus moody interiors with a giant koi mural and floor-to-ceiling kitchen window.
📆 Now open | Tue – Thu, 5 – 10 PM | Fri – Sat, 4 – 11 PM | Sun 4 – 10 PM | Closed Mon
📍 966 Felspar St, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Marisi Serves “Girl Dinner” Prix Fixe Menu
Marisi in La Jolla just launched their own take on the “girl dinner” trend. Every Wednesday during dinner service, they’re offering a $45 prix fixe menu that takes the guesswork out of ordering with your friends.
You get Little Gem Salad with Caesar dressing and Parmigiano-Reggiano, Focaccia made with organic Tehachapi heritage grain and salsa verde, Spicy Rigatoni with pomodoro and Calabrian chilis topped with stracciatella, plus a Marisi Spritz with Rinomato Americano Bianco, Apollonia’s Limoncello, and sparkling wine.
Everything arrives on a silver tray that’s definitely getting photographed. The hearth-cooked Italian dishes in Marisi’s indoor-outdoor space make this feel more special than your typical weeknight dinner. At $45 per person for food and a cocktail, it’s priced right for a midweek splurge with friends.
📆 Wednesdays, 5 PM – 9 PM
📍 1044 Wall St, La Jolla
🎟️ Make your reservations on OpenTable
ℹ️ More info here
Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar Now Open at The Westgate Hotel
The Westgate Hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter just opened Bonne Vie Brasserie & Bar, and it’s bringing French culinary tradition together with coastal California flavors in an all-day dining format.
Executive Chef Fabrice Hardel, who’s been leading The Westgate’s culinary team since 2001, has 30+ years of international experience spanning Michelin-starred kitchens across France, Luxembourg, the UK, and the US.
The menu features modern American interpretations of classic French dishes using fresh, local ingredients from purveyors like Vesta Produce and Santa Monica Seafood.
Signature offerings include Burgundy Escargot in garlic parsley butter, French Onion Soup with slow-simmered beef broth, a banh mi-style Fried Chicken Sandwich with kimchi and sweet chili aioli, Braised Short Rib with roasted parsnip mousseline, and Icelandic Cod Meunière with brown butter sauce.
Designed by San Diego’s Jacoi Mann, the space blends subtle European influences with contemporary ease – deep blue and gold tones, velvet seating, softly glowing chandeliers, and custom Sapele tables with marble tops. The bar functions as a cozy, intimate nook. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday.
📆 Open daily: 6:30 – 10:30 AM & 11 AM – 9 PM | Happy Hour: Mon – Fri, 2 – 5 PM
📍 1055 Second Avenue, Gaslamp Quarter
🎟️ Reservations: OpenTable or (619) 238-1818
ℹ️ More info here
Fish Shop Supporting Local Kids Through Elote Taco Sales
Fish Shop is stepping up this holiday season to help local kids struggling with hunger in San Diego County.
Throughout December, all three locations (Pacific Beach, Point Loma, and Encinitas) are donating a percentage of Elote Taco sales to the It’s All About the Kids Foundation, which provides meals, diapers, and more to families in need.
Since 2019, Fish Shop has helped provide over 95,000 meals to San Diego kids, and they’re keeping that mission going.
Over 211,000 children in San Diego County struggle with hunger, and 62% of students rely on meal assistance programs, so this actually matters.
Order the Elote Taco when you visit – it’s a simple way to treat yourself to something delicious while supporting a meaningful cause. Plus, Fish Shop is dog-friendly, so bring your pup along too.
📆 Throughout December
ℹ️ More info here
Brisa’s Christmas Pop-Up Includes a Toy Drive
Brisa Restaurant & Bar just launched its Christmas pop-up, and it’s sticking around through New Year’s Eve.
The whole place got a festive transformation with holiday décor that hits that sweet spot between cozy and celebratory – the kind of setup that works whether you’re there for a date night, an after-work gathering, or just a festive night out with friends.
They’ve rolled out a lineup of limited-edition holiday cocktails inspired by seasonal flavors, which is basically what we’re all here for anyway. What makes this pop-up a little different is the toy drive running throughout the season.
Owner Jenny Reinhart, a local entrepreneur who’s built Brisa into a community-focused spot, is inviting us to bring new, unwrapped toys that will be donated to local families in need. It’s a simple way to give back while you’re already out enjoying the holidays.
The vibes are warm, the drinks are thoughtful, and you can actually make a positive impact at the same time.
📆 Now open through December 31
📍 2101 Kettner Blvd., San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Holiday High Tea at Extraordinary Desserts
Extraordinary Desserts is offering Holiday High Tea at their Little Italy location through the end of the year. The service features gourmet loose-leaf tea, hand-crafted savory toasts, and a rotating selection of seasonal sweets for $60 per person.
You can add sparkling bubbles to elevate the experience.
It’s the kind of leisurely, indulgent thing that works well when you have out-of-town visitors or just want to slow down during the holiday rush. Reservations can be requested online.
📆 Sunday – Friday, 2:30 PM – 5 PM (through December)
📍 1430 Union St, San Diego
🎟️ Request reservations here
ℹ️ More info here
The Westgate Hotel’s Three Themed Afternoon Teas This December
The Westgate Hotel is running three themed afternoon teas throughout December if you’re looking for something more special than just grabbing dinner.
Winter Wonderland Tea features live harp music, seasonal bites, and a take-home tea gift ($65 per adult, multiple dates through early January). Santa’s Teddy Bear Tea is designed for families with story time, Santa photos, and a keepsake teddy bear for kids ($65 per adult, $40 per child). Grinch’s Tea happens in the Versailles Ballroom with Whoville-worthy entertainment and themed photo moments (same pricing as Santa’s Tea).
Adults 21+ get complimentary champagne at all three events.
📆 Winter Wonderland: Dec 3 – Jan 4 | Santa’s Tea: Select dates in Dec | Grinch’s Tea: Dec 24
📍 1055 Second Ave, San Diego
🎟️ Book here
ℹ️ More info here
Table 509 Bar & Kitchen Launches Bottomless Morning Cocktails
Table 509 Bar & Kitchen at Hotel Indigo in the Gaslamp Quarter just launched bottomless mimosas, micheladas, and bloody marys. At $29 per person, the endless pours are designed to complement their breakfast and brunch menu.
You’ve got options like the Cali Omelette with bacon, roasted corn, black beans, and white cheddar ($21), Breakfast Burrito with your choice of protein and matcha crema ($19), and Croissant French Toast topped with Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and fresh berries ($22).
Lighter options include Avocado Toast with charred Fresnos and hibiscus-pickled onions ($19) and Chia Pudding with almond butter and berry compote ($18).
Solid setup if you want bottomless drinks with breakfast without waiting until traditional brunch hours.
📆 Daily, 6:30 AM – 10 AM
ℹ️ More info here
Monello Bringing ‘La Dolce Vita’ Home With Italian Picnic Packages
Monello in Little Italy is celebrating the holiday season with three Italian Picnic packages designed for sharing at home. The takeout-only packages highlight Monello’s most-loved dishes with ready-to-serve spreads, making it easy to bring their signature Italian cuisine to your holiday gatherings.
La Dolce Vita features a salumi e formaggi board, caprese salad, bread, penne with creamy beef ragù, and mini cannoli ($180 for 4-6 people, $320 for 8-12). Parma includes polpette in spicy tomato sauce, Caesar salad, bread, truffle and mushroom rigatoni, and mini cannoli ($200 for 4-6, $360 for 8-12). Bel Paese comes with meatballs in spicy tomato sauce, caprese salad, bread, pizza margherita, penne with creamy beef ragù, and mini cannoli ($225 for 4-6, $380 for 8-12).
Monello will also be open for dine-in service if you’d rather celebrate at the restaurant with reservations available.
📆 Available all month, including Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve | Dine-in: 11:30 AM – 9:30 PM on Christmas Eve & NYE
📍 750 W. Fir Street, Little Italy
ℹ️ More info here
Sobremesa: New Latin American Restaurant Opening in San Carlos
Andrea Carbonaro is opening Sobremesa, a new Latin American restaurant in San Carlos. The official grand opening features a curated prix fixe menu highlighting chef favorites and craft cocktails, plus tray-passed specialties from the new menu.
The evening includes live music, entertainment, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, with an elevated after-party later in the night.
Carbonaro has experience in San Diego’s restaurant scene, so expectations are high for what Sobremesa will bring to the neighborhood. Latin American cuisine with a clear focus on the experience – worth checking out once they’re officially open.
📍 8622 Lake Murray Blvd, San Carlos
ℹ️ More info here
Mastro’s Ocean Club’s Dry January Spirit-Free Cocktails
Mastro’s Ocean Club San Diego is getting ahead of Dry January with five zero-proof cocktails that actually sound good.
The Sea Salt N Caramel Espresso No-tini features espresso, Lyre’s Dry Gin, and sea salt caramel toffee topped with Redi Whip
French 6′ 7 is a riff on a French 75 with Lyre’s Dry London, lemon juice, and Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Sparkling.
Immunity Boost combines Lyre’s Dry London Gin with lemon, golden turmeric, ginger mule syrup, and Fever-Tree Ginger Beer.
No Side Sipping features Lyre’s Dry London Spirit with ginger mule, mint, and cucumber.
You Mango Me Hot! mixes Lyre’s Àgave Blanco Spirit with mango purée and Scrappy’s Firewater tincture.
They’re crafted with the same attention as Mastro’s classic cocktails. You can also pair your mocktail with Mastro’s legendary Signature Warm Butter Cake if you want indulgence sans alcohol.
📍 901 Bayfront Ct Suite 105, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Sammy’s at Seven Mile Casino Debuts Emilio’s Dream Sundae
Sammy’s at Seven Mile Casino is launching a new sundae that gives back to the Emilio Nares Foundation, a local nonprofit supporting children battling cancer and life-threatening illnesses.
Emilio’s Dream Sundae launches on January 6 (Emilio Nares’ birthday), honoring the life of a young boy who passed away from leukemia at five years old. His parents created the foundation in his memory.
Inspired by Emilio’s imagination and dreams, the sundae features caramel “rivers,” cake-bite “mountains,” and twinkling sugar stars. It’s available throughout January and may become a permanent menu item based on response.
Simple way to support a meaningful cause while satisfying your sweet tooth – every sundae raises awareness for ENF’s mission of supporting families during their most difficult moments.
📆 Launches January 6, available throughout January
📍 285 Bay Blvd, Chula Vista
ℹ️ More info here
Lionfish Saddling Up for San Diego Rodeo With Cowboy Feast
Lionfish Modern Coastal Cuisine at Pendry San Diego is rustling up a cowboy-inspired dinner in honor of the third-annual San Diego Rodeo at Petco Park.
Executive Chef Jose “JoJo” Ruiz created the Cowboy Steak – a hearty bone-in New York steak topped with cowboy butter and served with red-eye gravy and crispy onion rings, paired with your choice of Crown Royal Canadian whisky or Casamigos reposado cocktail for $80.
The full Lionfish menu will also be available if you want their fresh-catch seafood and prime meats alongside the rodeo-themed special. Good excuse to lean into the rodeo weekend with some elevated cowboy fare downtown.
📆 Friday, January 16 – Sunday, January 18, 2026
📍 435 Fifth Ave, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Callie Is Hosting a Dinner Party for Feeding San Diego
Tickets are now available for Feeding San Diego’s Pairings with a Purpose Dinner Party at Callie in late February, and it’s shaping up to be one of those evenings where great food meets meaningful impact.
The night kicks off with a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception, complete with a wine pull and silent auction. Then comes a specially crafted dinner with wine pairings curated by Chef Travis Swikard, Callie’s celebrated chef and owner.
All proceeds benefit Feeding San Diego’s School Pantry Program, which currently operates at 66 schools across the county and provides students and their families with access to fresh, nutritious food.
With only 120 seats available, it’s an intimate gathering for people who care about building a stronger, more nourished San Diego. If you’ve been looking for a way to support local while enjoying an exceptional meal in the East Village, this is it.
📆 Thursday, February 26, 2026, 6 PM – 9 PM
📍 1195 Island Ave., San Diego
🎟️ Reserve your seats here
ℹ️ More info here
See you there, San Diego!
Dining and Cooking