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The Craving is ThereSanDiego’s weekly guide to what’s worth eating and drinking in San Diego right now. Every Tuesday, we surface new restaurant openings, standout happy hours, limited-time menu specials, and upcoming food events across the city – so you know what’s happening before everyone else does.
Bookmark this page, or get The Craving in your inbox every Tuesday morning.
This Week’s Feature
Kilowatt Brewing Celebrates 11 Years With a Big Convoy Block Party
Kilowatt Brewing is turning 11, and they’re teaming up with Convoy Nights for a proper celebration on Saturday, September 12.
The free, all-ages party takes over Kilowatt’s Kearny Mesa location with 40+ vendors, artisans and food trucks, plus live cultural performances, DJs, bands, featured artists, specialty anniversary beer releases, and a full cocktail bar serving exclusive AAPI-inspired drinks.
The market runs from 4 PM to 9 PM, but Kilowatt keeps the party going until midnight. Stick around for a special 9:15 PM screening of Hello Maggie! with animation legend Willie Ito, whose career included work with Disney, Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera.
Great beer and one of San Diego’s best cultural districts coming together for a party? We’re in.
📆 4 PM – 9 PM, September 12
📍 7576 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
ℹ️ Click here for more info
Insider Move
Campfire Turns 10 With Friends in the Kitchen
Ten years in, Campfire is throwing itself a birthday dinner and inviting the people who helped make it what it is to put together a special celebratory meal.
Chef Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue and Chef Saw Naing of The Dutchess are cooking a four-course, family-style menu alongside the Campfire team. Same plates for everyone, no decisions required.
Behind the bar: Leigh Lacap and Brian Eastman of CH Projects, Nick Sinutko of Chick N’ Hawk / Atelier Manna, and Brian Prugalidad of Realm of the 52 Remedies. Dinner is $125 per person, with a portion of proceeds going to No Kid Hungry.
If you’ve loved Campfire over the years (we sure have), this feels like a pretty great way to celebrate the people who helped make it what it is.
📆 Monday, September 14 | Opens 5 PM
🎟️ Reserve your spot
📍 2725 State Street, Carlsbad
San Diego Restaurant Week Starts Sunday. Book Early.
San Diego Restaurant Week runs Sunday, September 13 through Sunday, September 20. More than 120 restaurants across 30-plus neighborhoods, Oceanside down to Chula Vista, running two-course lunches and three-course dinners from $30.
There are no tickets, which is exactly why this is a booking event and not a discount event. The rooms worth going to fill their Friday and Saturday seatings first, and the people eating well next weekend are the ones jumping on reservations today.
📆 Sunday, September 13 through Sunday, September 20
📍 120-plus restaurants countywide · reservations strongly recommended
🍴 See the participating restaurants and menus
New This Week
San Diego-Born Band, San Diego Pizza, One Weekend
Prince St. Pizza‘s La Chona is a spicy vodka sauce pizza built around Pierce the Veil’s Petco Park run – pepperoni, chorizo, fresh mozzarella, jalapeños, chili oil, and Zab’s Hot Honey at the Pacific Beach and Gaslamp locations. Order one as a Rewards member and you’re in for a shot at a pair of tickets to the sold-out show. The window is short.
📆 Available through September 13 |
📍 Pacific Beach and Gaslamp locations
🎟️ Order now
One Last Seat at The Blank Table
If The Blank Table has been on your San Diego dining bucket list (it should be!), October 22 is your last chance to experience it this year.
The secret dinner series is wrapping up its seventh season, and with the September dinner already sold out, just one date remains. You buy your ticket without knowing exactly where you’re going or what you’ll be eating. The location is revealed just before the event, and each dinner is created for one night only.
Once you arrive, the mystery turns into a five-course dinner with cocktail pairings, bringing together a rotating cast of chefs, mixologists and local creatives around one communal table. For the October finale, the featured chef comes from one of Carlsbad’s most celebrated new restaurants, with the name still under wraps.
We love the idea behind these dinners: give up a little control, show up somewhere unexpected, and let San Diego surprise you. With September already spoken for, we wouldn’t wait too long on October.
📆 Thursday, October 22 | 6 PM
🎟️ $275 per person | Get your tickets
Chef Fei is Now Open at UTC – Its First U.S. Location
Chef Fei has opened its first U.S. location at Westfield UTC – a Chinese wok concept with 200-plus locations from Shanghai to Chengdu and five million stir-fries served in a single year. Dine-in only, built around high-heat wok craft with dishes seared fresh to order. The dish to know going in: Stir-Fried Beef With Pepper.
Reservations available now, walk-ins welcome on a waitlist basis.
📆 11 AM – 2: 30 PM, 430-9pm every day
📍 4301 La Jolla Village Dr, Suite 2040
🎟️ Make reservations
Sixty Minutes to Wine Country
September is the month to point the car north on the 15. Harvest is on across Temecula Valley, and nearly 50 wineries are marking California Wine Month with four weekends of events worth building a Saturday around.
Start with the SIP Passport – three tastings for $59 or five for $79, valid Monday through Friday at 30+ wineries. Add in Grape Stomps running across a half-dozen spots, The Great Taste of Europa at Europa Village (50+ European wines, plus beer, spirits, and food), a free Barrel Art Trail with 42 hand-painted barrels scattered around the valley, and a five-course winemaker dinner at Europa Village for $120.
Go on a weekday – shorter lines, more generous pours.
ℹ️ Read the full story
Wine Spectator Noticed What San Diego Already Knew
Solare Ristorante just landed a spot in Wine Spectator’s “Authentic Italy in the U.S.A.” feature – one of only five California restaurants singled out in the piece.
The pick came from Francesco Ricasoli, owner of a large winery in Italy, which makes this a different kind of honor than the usual critic’s call. It’s the kind of recognition that travels. (Osteria in Barrio Logan also made the California cut, which says something about this city’s Italian dining scene.)
📍2820 Roosevelt Rd, Liberty Station
ℹ️ See what’s on the menu
Wormwood’s La Nuit Verte Brings the Belle Époque to Life
Wormwood in North Park is turning dinner into a whole ritual with La Nuit Verte, a four-course group dining experience inspired by absinthe, French tradition, and the ritual of gathering around the table.
This one’s exclusively for groups of eight or more, with curated pairings and absinthe-inspired moments woven throughout the night.
Expect a slower, more intentional pace than a typical night out, with each table set with a printed card prompting you to share something personal with your group over the course of the meal, before the night unfolds into shared appetizers, entrees, and desserts.
Seating is limited, so if your crew is ready for something a little unexpected, this is the reservation to lock in.
📆 Fridays and Saturdays, September – October
🎟️ Book your table
ℹ️ Follow along on Instagram for updates
New Restaurants Opening in San Diego in 2026
24 new spots landed in our 2026 Openings Guide: Maranello (Little Italy), Sun Gold Point (Bird Rock), Rei do Gado (Gaslamp), Tierra y Mar (Funner), By The Sea (Coronado), CHAGEE Modern Teahouse (La Jolla), Candy Land Café (San Diego), MAKE Café (Normal Heights), Drums Beatstro Jawn (East Village), Board & Brew (Midway District), The Polished Pigeon (East Village), Moniker General (Downtown), Coffee Dose (Encinitas), SunLife Organics (Coronado), Silver Hoof Creamery (Old Town), Sugarfish (Little Italy), Anigma (Encinitas), Verise (Carlsbad), Georgette’s (North Park), Queenstown (Del Mar), An’s Gelato Gate D5 (Oceanside), Telefèric Barcelona (UTC), The Heritage Steakhouse (Santee), and Black Mizu Café (Little Italy) all got added to the running tracker.
Bookmark the post. It’s the master list of every notable opening, organized by month, updated at the start of each month so you always know what’s new and what’s coming.
ℹ️ Check out our full 2026 Openings Guide
Quick Bites & Special Offers
Garibaldi’s Dolly Parton cocktail comes with a cause. The Dirt Road Martini – Grey Goose Vodka, Earl Grey iced tea, and giardiniera brine – is at Garibaldi at InterContinental San Diego, with $1 per cocktail going to Words Alive. The lobby is also collecting book donations for kids. Reserve a table.
City Tacos brought back its squash blossom taco. The Flor de Calabaza – squash blossom over asadero cheese, baby portobello, and poblano peppers on a corn tortilla, topped with tomatoes, cilantro, and serrano aioli – is vegetarian and $4.95. Tuesdays: 10% off + $2.50 Mexican beers. Available across all six San Diego locations.
The Smoking Gun in the Gaslamp is marking its ninth anniversary with nine straight days of $9 deals – starting September 7, there’s something different every day through September 15. Nine years in the Gaslamp, and they’re making it very easy to show up.
Bao St. Buns Takes Over Waverly on Thursday, September 24, for one night only. Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski runs the full menu – Korean Cucumber Salad, Pork Belly Bao, Dan Dan Noodles, and Grilled Korean Short Ribs – plus a featured cocktail to pair. Make reservations now.
Postino‘s first brand collab lands with Grillo’s Pickles. The Hot Pickle Dip: whipped cream cheese, labneh, garlic, dill, and Grillo’s pickle brine, loaded with their Hot Dill Pickles, served with crispy chips and vegetables. Postino recommends it with orange wine or a hazy IPA. Available September 3 through October 28.
National Chocolate Day – September 13 – deserves dinner at Little Frenchie. Le Dîner au Chocolat is a savory, French-inspired menu built entirely around Valrhona chocolate – bold, unexpected, with wine pairings guided by Jana Lemersal of Roederer Estate. The evening closes with Little Frenchie’s signature Hot Cocoa Spiral. Secure your place.
The Sunday scaries don’t stand a chance here. Every week, Finca North Park does Oyster Sunday – a dozen fresh oysters and a cold bottle of bubbles for $40. It’s the kind of deal that makes a slow afternoon feel like a plan. Walk-ins are welcome at the bar, but it fills up faster than you’d expect. Reserve a good spot.
Maranello in Little Italy is pouring San Diego’s first taste of Sarti Rosa. The buzzy pink Italian aperitivo, already big in Europe, shows up here in a Sarti Spritz mixed with prosecco, soda, and lime. It’s part of an extensive cocktail program alongside the restaurant’s Northern Italian menu and Ferrari-inspired setting, and it just might be the next Aperol. Take a look at the menu.
Tea in the Garden at Estancia La Jolla has two dates left. Harvest and Herb Tea on September 27 leans into early autumn, and the Curious Mad Hatter Tea Party on October 18 is the one worth dressing for. $75 per person, per event. Make reservations now.
Mark Your Calendar & Make Reservations Now
Taste of Nobu Lands on the Paseo Lawn
Chef Nobu is bringing his celebrated cuisine to the coast for a rare evening at Hotel del Coronado.
Taste of Nobu takes over the Paseo Lawn with ocean views on one side and unlimited tastings on the other, think black cod miso, yellowtail jalapeño, wagyu dumplings, and hand rolls, plus a whole fish presentation and off-menu specialties you won’t find anywhere else.
There’s a hosted bar pouring cocktails, a live DJ, and real chances to mingle with Chef Nobu himself as the sun sets over Coronado Island. It’s a 21+ event, and with that lineup and that backdrop, unlimited Nobu tastings by the water is about as good as a Friday night gets.
📆 Friday, September 11, 2026 | 6 PM – 8 PM
📍 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado
🎟️ Get your tickets
Two Culinary Worlds Collide at Sake Bar Gaga
Sake Bar Gaga’s Chef Collaboration Series is back for round two, and this time Kettner Exchange’s Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski is taking over for one night only.
His modern American cooking, layered with global and Asian influences, makes for a natural pairing with Gaga’s sake-forward approach, and this is a rare chance to see his food reimagined through a completely different lens.
Expect a five-course prix fixe menu paired with five sake selections from Fifth Taste, think toro and caviar toast, a chawanmushi with bacon and crouton, langoustine dumplings in Cantonese butter, Flannery beef with peanut mocha, and a three milk cake to finish, all for $180 per person.
Reservations are limited, so if you’ve been wanting to try Chef Brian’s cooking somewhere completely new, this is the night.
📆 Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 5 PM – 11 PM
📍 634 14th St #110, San Diego
ℹ️ Read the full story
Six Years of Sails & Ales at Kona Kai
Sails & Ales Beer Fest is back for year six, bringing sunset views and a serious lineup of local pours to Kona Kai San Diego’s marina-front backdrop.
Unlimited tastings come from more than 25 breweries, wineries, and spirits vendors, including Karl Strauss, Mike Hess, Coronado Brewing, Cutwater, Ballast Point, and Eppig, so pace yourself if you want to make it through the whole list.
Beyond the drinks, expect chef-curated bites, on-site food trucks, a live DJ, and beachfront mini golf to fill the gaps between pours.
Tickets run $75 per person, 21 and up, and a portion of proceeds benefits the Surfrider Foundation San Diego, so every sip does a little good for the coast you’re drinking next to. Bay views, cold drinks, and a good cause, this is the kind of Saturday San Diego does best.
📆 Saturday, September 12 | 1 PM – 5 PM
📍 1551 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego
ℹ️ Read the full story
A Bite-Sized Tour Through 30 Years of Gaslamp
Taste of Gaslamp is turning 30, and this milestone year is going all out. Grab your appetite and wander the historic Gaslamp Quarter on a self-guided tasting tour, hitting more than 20 participating restaurants dishing out standout bites along the way.
This year adds a few extra reasons to celebrate: an official pre-party and check-in to kick things off, the Best Bite competition so you can vote for your favorite dish, and a VIP experience with exclusive tasting stops if you want to go all in.
Whether you’re a Gaslamp regular or exploring it for the first time, thirty years in, there’s still a new favorite spot waiting to be found, plus plenty to eat, drink, and celebrate along the way.
📆 Saturday, September 12 | 1 PM – 4 PM
📍 614 Fifth Ave, San Diego
ℹ️ Read the full story
Play Mahjong & Pull From a Champagne Vending Machine at Pendry
Provisional Kitchen inside Pendry San Diego is doing a Mahjong & Moët afternoon this September, and the setup is hard to argue with. Your $95 ticket covers a guided 90-minute mahjong session from Finest City Mahjong experts – no experience needed – plus one token for Pendry’s Moët & Chandon Champagne vending machine.
À la carte cocktails and snacks are available if you want to linger. Space is limited.
📆 Sunday, September 13 | 3 PM – 4:30 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
One Year of Christophe Rull Patisserie, and a Party to Match
A year into North City, Christophe Rull Patisserie is celebrating with a full day: live music from opera singer Helena Yip Nolen, a DJ set from FMI San Diego, giveaways with wine, chocolates, flowers, and gift cards, and guest chefs Annaluna Karkar of Après l’Étoile, Annie Benaroch of Parisien Gourmandises, Mathias Boirie of Pastry Chef Table, and Thibault Livernette.
The Michelin-trained Food Network pastry chef is also dropping a new menu – Madame Croissant, ratatouille sandwich, avocado toast, matcha and chai drinks, and new éclairs.
📆 Sunday, September 13 | 8 AM – 4 PM
📍 251 North City Dr Ste 121, San Marcos
Capital of Craft Beer Fest Takes Over Broadway Pier
Capital of Craft Beer Fest is taking over Broadway Pier for an afternoon that’s about as San Diego as it gets.
Every ticket comes with unlimited 2oz tastings from more than 70 local craft beers and a commemorative cup to take home, presented by 91X and the San Diego Brewers Guild.
The Main Stage keeps the energy going all day with live music from Agent 51 and 80s Resurrection, while local food vendors and artisan booths give you plenty to explore between pours. Want first dibs? VIP tickets get you in an hour early.
A portion of every ticket supports the San Diego Brewers Guild, so you’re backing the local beer scene just by showing up. Seventy-plus beers, live music, and San Diego pride, this is one Saturday worth clearing your calendar for.
📆 Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 12 PM – 4 PM
📍 1000 N Harbor Dr, San Diego
ℹ️ Read the full story
Bourbon by the Bonfire at Estancia La Jolla
Estancia La Jolla was a working horse ranch long before it was a resort, which is exactly the energy of its annual Whiskey & Wine Party. West Coast BBQ is the frame: Deep South smoke on the plate, Northern California wine country in the glass.
$95 covers unlimited food and beverage tastings for three hours, premium whiskey through personal-reserve bourbon, plus live music, bonfires, and valet. 21+.
Not up for the drive home? The Whiskey & Wine room package bundles two tickets with a room.
📆 Friday, September 25 | 6 PM – 9 PM
🎟️ Get your tickets
ℹ️ Read the full story
National Bunny Day at Wild Hare Bar Garden
Long before the Gaslamp Quarter had restaurants and nightlife, it was nicknamed “Rabbitville” for its bunny population, and Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter’s Wild Hare Bar Garden keeps that history alive with its mascot, Hip Hop, the unofficial mayor of Rabbitville.
This National Bunny Day (who knew?!), Wild Hare is throwing Bunnies & Brunch, an enhanced brunch experience with bunny encounters from Talia’s Tails, live music, and a pop-up charm bar and permanent jewelry station from Headed West Jewelry.
Settle in for brunch favorites from Wild Hare while you pet a bunny, browse local shopping, and pick up a keepsake to remember the day.
Beach bunnies and history buffs alike can hop into one of San Diego’s quirkiest downtown stories, right in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter.
📆 Saturday, September 26 | 11 AM – 1 PM
📍 401 K St, San Diego
🎟️ Secure your spot
Ada Limón, Dinner, and Art in Julian
The Ilan-Lael Foundation’s fourth annual Harvest Moon Dinner heads to the Julian back country, and the lineup is kind of a dream.
Ada Limón – the 24th U.S. Poet Laureate – takes the mic for a reading, then a silent auction opens on original works by the 2026 Visiting Artist Fellows. Dinner is chef-driven long-table-style with regional produce and wine pairings, and the property stays lit for wandering before we sit down.
Best part? Every ticket goes to the foundation’s artist programs. Throw a layer in the car and point east.
📆 Saturday, September 26 | 3 PM – 8 PM
📍 930 Orchard Lane, Julian
ℹ️ Read the full story
60+ Spirits Brands Pour Above the La Jolla Coast
17 years in, the San Diego Spirits Festival still books the best room in the city. The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego sits a block from the water, and the view does half the work.
Uncle Nearest, Condesa Gin, Dady’O Mezcal, Tanduay Rum, and Adictivo Tequila anchor the 2026 pour list, with boutique producers and craft distillers filling in around them. Tastings are unlimited, local restaurants handle the food, and live music runs both days.
📆 Saturday, September 26 & Sunday, September 27 | 2 PM – 5 PM
📍 700 Prospect Street, La Jolla
ℹ️ Read the full story
Ten Years and 100 Pours at the San Diego Sake Festival
The San Diego Sake Club is marking a decade by taking over JULEP Venue with more than 100 premium craft sake and shochu varieties from Japan and the U.S. Unlimited tasting is the whole premise, and the original festival cup goes home with you.
Brewers, brewery owners, and sake specialists are working the room, which is the fastest way to figure out what you like. Midway through, everyone gathers for the Kagami Biraki barrel opening and a pour of the year’s featured sake. Live performances run throughout, and food booths are on site.
General admission is $85. Nonbei ($110) opens the doors an hour earlier and adds a $10 food voucher. Only 30 VIP tickets ($350) are available, each with lounge access, premium pours, and nigiri from Soichi Sushi, San Diego’s Michelin one-star.
📆 Sunday, September 27 | 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
Ponce’s is Turning 57 – With 1969 Prices to Prove it
Ponce‘s in Kensington is celebrating 57 years with a party and something you don’t see often: original menu offerings at 1969 prices. Fifty-seven years on Adams Avenue is no small thing. More details are still on the way, but the 1969 prices alone are reason enough to save the date.
If you’re new or have been going there for years, this is the one to show up for.
📆 Sunday, September 27 | 12 PM – 4 PM
📍 4050 Adams Ave, Kensington
20 Stops Down El Cajon Boulevard
One $40 ticket buys you the length of El Cajon Boulevard. The third annual Taste of College Area turns the stretch from 55th to 73rd into a self-guided route through 20-plus restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, and cafes, with Thai, sushi, Mexican, and poke sitting a few blocks apart.
Pokedon, BarLando, and Love Letters Pizza are in for the first time this year, so build your route to hit one of them early. Old Town Trolley runs the stretch for free, which makes the pubs fair game.
📆 Sunday, September 27 | 11 AM – 3 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
Five Days of Food, Wine, and Sports Icons in Del Mar
The Del Mar Wine + Food Festival is back for year four, coming in hot after Thrillist named it one of America’s best food festivals.
Co-founded by Alex Morgan, Drew Brees, Rob Machado, and Troy Johnson, this five-day celebration blurs the line between food festival, sporting event, and beachside block party, pulling in more than 10,000 people a year.
Expect Food Network and Top Chef favorites like Aarti Sequeira, Maneet Chauhan, and Buddha Lo, plus over 100 Cali-Baja chefs bringing serious heat.
The week builds through dinners, a celebrity pickleball tournament, and Rioja Uncorked before landing at the Grand Tasting at Surf Sports Park. And every bite gives back: proceeds benefit Feeding San Diego, which has already topped $100,000 raised since launch.
📆 Wednesday, September 30 – Sunday, October 4, 2026
ℹ️ Read the full story
Breaking Bread by the Sea at Coral Del Mar
Gather, Del Mar’s seaside dining series, is settling in at Coral Del Mar for one night of breaking bread by the water.
The evening opens with a welcome cocktail, then moves into a multi-course, family-style dinner crafted by Chef Jesus Baños, with each course paired with wine as golden-hour light sets the scene.
It’s built around a communal table, so expect real conversation alongside the food, the kind of night meant to linger past the last toast. Seats are intentionally limited to keep things intimate, so this isn’t one to sleep on.
Proceeds support the Del Mar Village Association, funding year-round programming, sustainability initiatives, and efforts that keep downtown Del Mar thriving. Reserve your seat and be part of a brand-new Del Mar tradition.
📆 Thursday, October 1 | 6 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 1247 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
🎟️ Secure your spot
A Taste of Coronado is Back and Bigger Than Ever
Coronado Junior Woman’s Club is back with the 17th Annual A Taste of Coronado, and this year, every bite comes with a bigger purpose.
Grab your friends and wander the island on foot, bike, or trolley, joining 900-plus food lovers for a night of inventive dishes, drinks, live music, and local shops.
This year’s proceeds go toward Promises2Kids’ Guardian Scholars program, helping foster youth pursue college and vocational training, and the impact is real: 63% of Guardian Scholars have graduated college over the last five years, compared to just 8 to 12% nationally for former foster youth.
VIP Experience tickets are already up for grabs, with general admission dropping soon, so don’t wait too long to snag a spot.
📆 Wednesday, October 7 | 5 PM – 9 PM
📍 1201 1st St, Coronado
ℹ️ Read the full story
The San Diego Coffee Festival Takes Over Broadway Pier
Broadway Pier has hosted plenty over the years. The San Diego Coffee Festival, back for a third year, turns it into the best-smelling room in the city, and the setup is simple. Buy a ticket, walk in, and the pours are included.
Modern Times Coffee, Ryan Bros Coffee, Cafe Moto, Parakeet Café, and Klatch Coffee are pouring, alongside smaller operations like Tyne Coffee Co. and 18 Cities Coffee Roasters. Tea and other non-coffee options are on hand too.
Tickets go by session, and early admission gets you in an hour ahead of everyone else. Live music runs straight through, food trucks park outside, and the break between sessions is when the roasters have time to talk. Bring your travel mug.
📆 October 10 – 11 | 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
📍 1000 North Harbor Drive, San Diego
ℹ️ Read the full story
Busalacchi Turns 40 With a Brand-New Street Feast
Busalacchi Restaurants is turning 40, and they’re marking it with a brand-new tradition: The Feast, a massive street dinner debuting this October.
India Street closes from Fir to Grape, filling with long banquet tables and string lights for a night inspired by the Italian ritual of gathering around the table.
It celebrates 40 years of Busalacchi Restaurants shaping Little Italy. A reception hour brings grazing stations and live music, then a four-course family-style dinner by Barbusa takes over, wine included.
Want to go all in? VIP and Founder’s Table tickets add perks like an Aperol Spritz welcome, wine tastings, and reserved seating for eight. Proceeds benefit The Positive Movement Foundation, supporting San Diego youth through local schools.
📆 Sunday, October 11 | 5 PM – 10 PM
📍 1917 India St, San Diego
ℹ️ Read the full story
A New Chapter for Celebrate the Craft
Celebrate the Craft is back for year 23, and it’s not slowing down.
Set on The Lodge at Torrey Pines’ grounds overlooking the golf course and the Pacific, this outdoor festival brings together chefs, farmers, ranchers, vintners, and artisans for an afternoon built around California’s food and drink scene.
Fresh leadership from Executive Chef Eric Sakai and A.R. Valentien’s Owen Beatty headlines a lineup pulling from top Southern California and Baja restaurants, alongside pours from Chateau Montelena, DAOU, Ridge Vineyards, and more.
Storyhouse Spirits is even debuting a Torrey pines-infused gin for the occasion. New this year: a VIP add-on with wine blending, private tastings, and a floral station, plus a first-time partnership with the San Diego Food Bank, so every bite gives back too.
📆 Sunday, October 18 | 11:30 AM – 3 PM
📍 11480 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla
ℹ️ Read the full story
The Blank Table Closes Season Seven – Location Still a Secret
You won’t know where you’re going until the last minute. That’s been The Blank Table‘s whole thing for seven seasons, and the finale keeps it that way.
One night, one undisclosed space, a multi-course menu with cocktail pairings, and sound and design that keep reshaping the room as the evening goes.
Chefs, creatives, and community leaders at the same table, one more time. Tickets are $275.
📆 Thursday, October 22 | 6 PM
🎟️ Get your tickets
ℹ️ Follow their Instagram for updates
San Diego Food + Wine Festival’s Biggest Year Yet
San Diego Food + Wine Festival is turning 22, celebrating with the biggest shake-up in two decades. Grab your appetite, because this year’s Grand Weekend is going bigger than ever.
Over eight days, more than 11,000 food and wine lovers descend on a reimagined Grand Weekend presented by Southwest Airlines, complete with a new Icons + Legends opening night, fresh culinary districts like Smoke + Fire and Sweet Street, and Grand Tasting and Grand Fiesta joining forces for the first time on one waterfront weekend.
The lineup is stacked with Michelin and James Beard talent, from Suzette Gresham to Javier Plascencia, pouring alongside more than 800 wines and spirits, plus crowd favorites like “Chef of the Fest” and “Taco TKO.”
Beyond the tastings, standalone dinners honor everyone from Chef José Andrés to San Diego’s small farms, and the festival’s food recovery program keeps giving back through it all.
📆 Sunday, November 1 – Sunday, November 8 | 11 AM – 3 PM
📍 Multiple venues across San Diego
ℹ️ Read the full story
Unlimited Tacos in SDMA’s Sculpture Garden for Día de los Muertos
SDMA is turning its sculpture garden into a taco party for Día de los Muertos, and it’s a good one.
Local vendors – Blanco Cocina + Cantina, El Indio, Panama 66, La Puerta, The Craft Taco, and more – set up stations throughout the May S. Marcy Sculpture Court, with every ticket covering unlimited tastings plus a Panama 66 margarita, Mujeres Brew House beer, or agua fresca.
Both museums are free and open all day. Tickets go fast.
📆 Sunday, November 1 | 12 PM – 4 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
The Team Behind City Tacos is Opening El Punto at Liberty Station
Gerry Torres, the owner of City Tacos, is bringing a new restaurant to Liberty Station this October. El Punto takes over an 8,800-square-foot space at 2885 Perry Road – indoor dining, covered outdoor seating, an enclosed off-leash dog park, and life-size lawn games, the kind of setup made for a long afternoon.
Executive Chef Eduardo Baeza, who has been cooking alongside Torres for 25 years, is leading the kitchen with a coastal Mexican menu: ceviche, oysters, tiraditos, full entrées, and the five standout tacos from the City Tacos lineup. Bar Director Rudy Corona is running a michelada bar. Brunch and a kids menu are in the mix, too.
📆 Opening October 2026
ℹ️ Read the full story
Coffee to Cocktails Under One La Mesa Roof
Billy and Suzanna Beltz, the couple behind Oddish Wine and Lost Cause Meadery, are turning a 5,000-square-foot building between La Mesa Village and MacArthur Park into a wine and beer bar, coffee shop, all-day cafe, wine shop, and restaurant, with Bica running the restaurant and coffee program.
Coffee and light breakfast roll into lunch and dinner off a wood-fired oven and rotisserie. The bar pours Oddish and Lost Cause next to other local wines, beers, and ciders, plus aperitivo, low-ABV cocktails, and spritzes.
The 1940s building keeps its barrel-shaped wooden roof and big front windows, with outdoor seating and a kid-friendly area. No name yet. Community is the whole point.
📆 Projected to open by the end of 2027
📍 8495 La Mesa Blvd
See you there, San Diego!
Dining and Cooking