Restaurants, Breweries and Nightlife

LUCIEN, by Chef Elijah Arizmendi, is now open in La Jolla. After a rapid rise through New York’s most prestigious kitchens, Chef Arizmendi returns home to California with his Michelin-season team to helm this 30-seat, tasting-menu-only restaurant that blends classical French and Japanese Techniques, wood-fire cooking, and a fiercely seasonal ethos of the West Coast.

Chef Travis Swikard of MICHELIN Bib-Gourmand Callie is opening his newest culinary concept, Fleurette, in late 2025. Fleurette will be located in the La Jolla Commons near the Westfield UTC shopping center. Fleurette features French-Provençal cuisine shaped by San Diego’s seasonal produce.

Dora Ristorante, the newest concept from the team behind the Tre Forchette-recognized Cori Trattoria,[EG1]  has opens this winter near the La Jolla Playhouse Campus at UC San Diego. Named for head Chef Accursio Lota’s grandmother, Dora is a love letter to the spirit and traditional flavors of southern coastal Italy, reimagined through a contemporary California lens. The menu will feature handmade pastas, Mediterranean seafood, a house gelato program, and playful, thespian-inspired dining experiences.

LuckyBolt, a Sorrento Valley farm-to-table kitchen and bakery has recently started evening service through its new concept, The Lounge at LuckyBolt. Located just next door to the daytime bakery, The Lounge builds on LuckyBolt’s partnership with local farms and features a menu of curated natural wines, craft beers, sourdough New York-style pizza and weekly mezze nights. 

The long-awaited culinary collaboration between celebrity skateboarder Tony Hawk and Jeune et Jolie alum Andrew Bachelier, Chick & Hawk is now open in Encinitas. Described as “fast-fine” and inspired by the vibrant colors and nostalgic spirit of the 90s, Chick & Hawk embraces the gritty, artistic expression of skate culture while delivering uncompromising quality in food and drink.

Little Italy’s Kiku Room, San Diego’s newest listening bar and cocktail lounge is now open.  Inspired by Japanese jazz cafes, Kiku Room is designed to be a neighborhood bar with a strong focus on eclectic music. 

Now open in La Jolla, Pepino is a Peruvian-inspired all-day café helmed by San Diego native Chef Sebastian Becerra. Beginning as a viral local pop-up during the pandemic, Pepino’s new permanent home is a long-awaited addition to La Jolla’s food scene. 

Relic Bakery and Kitchen is the newest addition to the East Village neighborhood’s growing bakery scene. Starting as a pop-up during the pandemic, Relic’s new brick-and-mortar location operates a full-service kitchen and continues to serve the meaty and savory pastries they have become known for. 

From the team behind Palmy’s in Pacific Beach and Parq nightclub in Downtown San Diego, the long-awaited Japanese-fusion concept, Cherryfish, is now open. Led by Chef Marcus Twilegar, Cherryfish brings a new, upscale dining experience to the Pacific Beach neighborhood.