arrow-down arrow-left arrow-right arrow-up play-button plus tab-indicator dots close menu search facebook google-plus instagram pinterest rss twitter tiktok youtube rss-two heart Check FeaturedBadge linkedin minus apps placeholder linkedin

Dining with a View in San Diego

Restaurants Overlooking the Ocean or San Diego Bay

From the Pacific Ocean to San Diego Bay, hundreds of restaurants offer memorable meals just steps from the shore. Here are some local waterfront favorites.

By: Ann Wycoff

A Feast for All Your Senses

With its 70-plus miles of coastline, San Diego is blessed with many spectacular spots for waterfront dining. From charming Coronado to the shimmering sands of Cardiff, there's a wealth of restaurants offering outstanding meals with views to match. Here are some local favorites that are as appealing to the eye as they are to the appetite.

Dining with a view aboard the Hornblower Cruise in San Diego County

Embarcadero/Downtown

Sally's Seafood

Near Seaport Village at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, Sally's Seafood on the Water lives up to its name, with outdoor tables overlooking the marina and a menu that ranges from sushi to ceviche and beyond.

The Fish Market

Just a few blocks north of Sally's, you'll find this favorite, where the daily catch is char-grilled and oysters are served on a deck suspended above the water with a backdrop of sailboats. Or, get the ultimate view out on the water with a sunset cruise dinner aboard the City Cruises or Flagship boats.

Portside Pier

There's a wealth of gorgeous views and meal options at the Portside Pier, including delicious surf and turf entrees at the Brigantine Seafood and Oyster Bar and tasty pub fare at Ketch Grill & Taps. And there's nothing quite like taking in the glittering vistas of San Diego Bay from inside Portside Pier's distinctive, glassed-in dome, which sits right over the water.

Top of Market

Perched atop The Fish Market restaurant right at the harbor's edge, this fine-dining oasis boasts impressive views of the USS Midway Museum right next door, as well as the ebb and flow of boat traffic and the lights of Coronado beyond. The classic menu includes such favorites as Alaskan halibut, wild sea bass and a chilled seafood platter featuring lobster, prawns, crab, clams and oysters.

Carnitas Snack Shack

A casual favorite along the Embarcadero near the Broadway Pier, this takeout spot offers outdoor bench seating with prime views of the waterfront and harbor. Carnitas Snack Shack's namesake pulled-pork specialties are the go-to menu items for regulars.

Mister A's

This venerable Bankers Hill restaurant may not be right on the water, but its breathtaking 180-degree vistas of San Diego Bay and beyond have helped make it an enduring San Diego icon. Mister A's reopened in 2022 after a $2 million re-envisioning under new owner Ryan Thorsen, with a more modern look and menu but the same commanding views.

Dining with a view in San Diego County

Point Loma Peninsula

Bali Hai

On Shelter Island, the 1960s-vintage hotspot Bali Hai Restaurant still celebrates tiki culture, and its chic renovation has further elevated its appeal as a perfect spot for mai tais and such South Seas cuisine as coconut shrimp pupus, ahi poke and fresh catch. Diners can arrive in style by boat and dock right by Bali Hai.

Vessel

Vessel is the mod restaurant at Kona Kai Resort, offering views of the yacht-dotted harbor and cliffside mansions on Point Loma. The menu features fun small plates and handcrafted cocktails, and live music and underwater images on giant video screens add to the scene.

Island Prime & Coasterra

Retro cool Island Prime - C Level Lounge and sister restaurant Coasterra on Harbor Island also makes the most of their location with floor-to-ceiling windows and an over-the-water patio where it's hard not to be distracted from your spicy steak salad and lobster mac 'n cheese by all the sleek yachts and water play fun.

Humphreys

Humphreys offers inventive appetizers, fresh seafood and steaks with great views and nightly entertainment, both at the BackStage Live Music Club and Humphreys Concerts by the Bay.

Dining with a view at Oceana Coastal Kitchen in San Diego County

Mission Bay and Beaches

JRDN

Just steps from Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, JRDN offers a modern twist on waterfront dining. Here, overlooking the ocean waves, contemporary cuisine is paired with a cool vibe in a room filled with motion and music. The restaurant boasts an undulating wall highlighted by colorful spotlights, and an open-air patio (separated from the beach by panes of glass) where diners nosh on seafood and steaks while sipping colorful cocktails and watching the sun go down.

Oceana Coastal Kitchen

At Oceana Coastal Kitchen at the Catamaran Resort & Spa, alfresco dining and a seafood-centric menu await. Enjoy sushi, crab cakes, braised scallops and more, while watching stand-up paddleboarders and kayakers glide across Mission Bay.

Dining with a view at George's at the Cove in LaJolla CA

La Jolla

The Marine Room

The grande dame of San Diego waterfront dining has to be the Marine Room. Built on the sands of La Jolla Shores, this iconic dining room has been a San Diego destination since debuting in 1941. The restaurant quickly became famous for the pounding surf that creates dramatic displays outside the expansive windows. A recent update includes the addition of The Lounge, a luxury dining experience that combines oceanfront views with curated cocktails, a specially devised menu and more.

George's at the Cove

At nearby George's at the Cove, three restaurants await, all with ocean vistas. George's California Modern melds executive chef Trey Foshee's progressive coastal cuisine, which celebrates our local farms, with spectacular views of La Jolla Cove, the cliffs of Torrey Pines and the endless blue of the Pacific. Up top, Ocean Terrace boasts rooftop dining that features handcrafted cocktails and SoCal gourmet casual cuisine such as fish tacos, kale salad, pastas and more. That same menu can be found at Level 2, a lovely ocean-view spot to drink in the view and sip the Sea3 margarita with mango, lime zest and chile-infused tequila, agave and fresh lime juice, all strained over a saline ice cube with suspended seaweed.

Dukes

Named for the fabled Hawaiian waterman Duke Kahanamoku, an Olympic swimming champ and the father of modern surfing, Dukes is perched above the spectacular seascapes of La Jolla Cove. Feast your eyes on the shimmering Pacific while you enjoy contemporary interpretations of traditional island plates on the restaurant's expansive outdoor deck.

Dining with a view at Pacific Coast Grill

North Coastal

Pacific Coast Grill

Pacific Coast Grill sits right on the beach in lovely Cardiff-by-the-Sea. Grab a table on the patio or upper deck, an idyllic setting to sip blackberry margaritas, nibble on sushi rolls and watch the local surfing talent catch the last waves of the day at sunset. Dolphins frolic in the kelp beds and whales can be spotted seasonally as they migrate and feed off the coast.

Jake's Del Mar

Savor the pairing of a great meal and a gorgeous sunset at Jake’s Del Mar, perched right on the sand in one of coastal North County’s most exquisite cities. Chef Duvinh Ta presides over a menu of American favorites, from fresh seafood to premium meats, all served in a showcase space with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on the shimmering Pacific. (There’s also plenty of inviting outdoor space.)

Viewpoint Brewing

Set along the serene shores of San Dieguito Lagoon on the northern fringes of Del Mar, this expansive, 7,000 square-foot brewery and restaurant boasts sweeping views and a full-service dining experience presided over by Executive Chef Dustin Karagheusian. Also a major draw at this indoor/outdoor favorite: Viewpoint's 20 taps, offering an intriguing mix of house-brewed beers.

Dining with a view at Peohe's San Diego County

Coronado

Sheerwater

The iconic Hotel del Coronado, with its Queen Anne architecture and red roof turrets, is home to Sheerwater, a casual-yet-refined gem that serves up California coastal cuisine and stellar views of the Pacific. 

Serẽa Coastal Cuisine

Perched on Coronado's sweeping sands just a pebble's throw from the waves, Serẽa at the Hotel del Coronado features a sustainable, sea-to-table dining experience with delicious coastal cuisine to match the sumptuous ocean views from the restaurant's spacious outdoor patio.

Taco Shack

Tacos by the beach are nice, but how about tacos on the beach? That's the big draw of the Hotel Del's Beach & Taco Shack -- besides, of course, the place's menu of something-for-everybody taco specialties, from the vegan mushroom poblano taco to the chicken tinga and much more. There's nothing quite like tucking into a taco while sticking your toes in the sand.

Coronado Ferry Landing

There's also waterfront dining at the Coronado Ferry Landing, where you'll find Peohe's, known for its flavorful, Pacific island-inspired fare and umbrella drinks, and Costa Azul, with its blend of Mexican and California Fresh influences.

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert

Related Articles and Features

Deals just for you

Party Rental Supplies

Unlimited Print OFFER | San Diego Photo Booth

Luxe Booth|Photo Booth Rental San Diego
Valid: Jul 11, 2023 - ongoing

The Offer | UNLIMITED PRINTING (on all rentals)  Make every memory count with the Unlimited Printing offer from Luxe Booth, the #1 Photo Booth Company in San Diego. Designed to make your event...

Accommodation

Hotel Indigo Senior Discount

Hotel Indigo - San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
Valid: Sep 13, 2023 - ongoing

Seniors 62 years and older receive up to 15% off when booking in advance.  No additional room charge for grandchildren under 18 years of age.  No deposit of fee for your furry companions....

Kayaking

10% Off any Adventure with Everyday California

EverydayCalifornia.com
Valid: Apr 12, 2023 - ongoing

This offer allows 10% off any activity that Everyday California offers. Promotion Code: EDCA10 must be used at checkout. We look forward to having you out on the water soon.

Events to check out

Event

San Diego Crew Classic

Apr 5 - Apr 7, 2024

Regarded as the first major regatta of the year, the San Diego Crew Classic brings together thousands of athletes from more than 100 universities, clubs and high school programs across the United...

Event

Port of San Diego's Day at the Docks

Apr 7, 2024

A San Diego sportfishing tradition, The Port Of San Diego’s Day At The Docks is the West Coast’s largest public celebration of sportfishing. Signaling the official start of Southern...

Event

La Jolla Half Marathon & Shores 5K

May 18, 2024

The La Jolla Half Marathon is one of America's most picturesque and beautiful point-to-point races. Starting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the course follows a scenic coastal route before reaching the...

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive the latest news, events, and updates about San Diego. Our monthly and weekly newsletters will keep you informed about the latest and greatest happenings in the destination.

Sign Up

Partners

Explore

Plan

Stay

Follow Us

Language:

English | Change Language

Select your country or region

China
Germany
Great Britain
Japan
Mexico
Korea
Switzerland
Brazil
France
Australia
Canada
USA

Or use Google Translate

Afrikaans
Albanian
Arabic
Belarusian
Bulgarian
Croatian
Danish
Deutsch
Español
Estonian
Filipino
Finnish
Francais
Georgian
Greek
Haitian-Creole
Hebrew
Hindi
Hungarian
Icelandic
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Latvian
Lithuanian
Macedonian
Malay
Maltese
Nederlands
Norwegian
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Serbian
Slovak
Slovenian
Swahili
Swedish
Telugu
Thai
Turkish
Ukranian
Vietnamese
Yiddish