Attractions & Events
Bay to Park Paseo, a visionary project in San Diego endorsed by World Design Capital 2024, started with a celebration walk on April 13. Envisioned by urban planner John Nolen, it enhances the connection between San Diego Bay and Balboa Park. The project features engaging installations from 13 design teams along the 1.7-mile stretch of Park Boulevard. Bay to Park Paseo aims to generate more walking and enjoyment in public spaces. Free public guided tours start May 4, continuing the first and third Saturday through November, while self-guided tours are available anytime using the public sidewalk along Park Boulevard.
Belmont Park, San Diego’s historic beachfront amusement park, is gearing up to celebrate its 99th anniversary this summer by adding Shipwreck Cove, a new ride and play area in the park. The pirate-themed play area, set to open this summer, will have a sunken ship to play on, featuring a slide, telescopes and other kid-friendly features. The Park’s new tower ride offers thrill seekers beautiful views of the ocean and Mission Beach boardwalk.
The 21st annual Gator by the Bay, the largest and most authentic Louisiana-themed music and food festival, will return to Spanish Landing Park on May 9-12. The four-day event will feature more than 100 live musical acts and special performances on seven stages, shaded wooden dance floors, artist presentations and delicious cuisine.
Taste of Little Italy, a renowned food event in San Diego, returns on June 18-19, promising two nights of gastronomic delight across 48 blocks of the neighborhood. With over 20 participating restaurants offering diverse cuisines like pizza, pasta, burgers, and sushi, attendees can explore a range of flavors. Guests will receive a Taste Passport upon arrival, allowing them to sample culinary delights as they roam, while live music adds to the vibrant atmosphere at Piazza della Famiglia and Piazza Basilone.
The Port of San Diego Big Bay Boom July 4th Fireworks Show is back this year, promising another spectacular display over San Diego Bay. Fireworks will be discharged simultaneously from barges placed strategically around the Bay off Shelter Island, Harbor Island, Embarcadero North, Marina District and the Coronado Ferry Landing. The impeccably choreographed display will last approximately 18 minutes, starting at 9 p.m.
Summer Nights at San Diego Botanic Garden will take place on select Thursdays in July and August, where guests can enjoy extended Garden hours until 8 p.m., concerts, special events, along with specialty food and drink packages. Live performances range from children’s group Hullabaloo to jazz guitarist Peter Sprague. The popular Wine in the Garden event will also return with wine tastings and presentations by Certified Sommelier Dane Kuta.
The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will return for its 85th summer racing season this July. The upcoming 2024 season promises substantial prize money for participants and an extensive schedule of trackside events. Opening Day kicks off on Saturday, July 20, marking the start of a weekend filled with Southern California-style celebrations. Track goers can look forward to the fanfare that Opening Day brings to carry through the entire Opening Weekend – with the Opening Day Hats Contest, Opening Day Party, Del Mar Beer Fest on Sunday, July 21 and more. The summer racing season will run through September 8.
From August 2-4, visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant spirit of Latin America at the Bazaar del Mundo's Latin American Festival, where artists showcase authentic folk art. Attendees can explore traditional crafts like woodcarving, painting, and weaving while enjoying live demonstrations by skilled artisans. Latin American cuisine and drinks from Casa Guadalajara will be available for visitors to savor as they immerse themselves in the rich culture and heritage of the region.
San Diego Bayfair's World Series of Powerboat Racing returns to Mission Bay Park from September 13-15. It features the longest and fastest racecourse on the H1 Unlimited hydroplane circuit, attracting over 5 million spectators over the years. From its beginnings in 1964 as a hydroplane race, Bayfair has evolved into a multi-event extravaganza with drag boats, international competitors, live music, and aerial demonstrations. Various boat-racing tours, including Formula One tunnel boats, Grand Prix West, P1 USA, and more, compete at Bayfair.
As a part of World Design Capital 2024, the World Design Experience, powered by the Design Forward Alliance and San Diego Design Week in collaboration with Mingei International Museum, spans seven days from September 18-25, celebrating design across the San Diego Tijuana region. It features a range of programs, including live community discussions, design studio tours, workshops, lectures, exhibitions, films, and podcasts from all design disciplines. Alongside these events, internationally recognized visual artist Daniel Ruanova from Tijuana and full-service architecture and design agency Heleo have been selected to create the temporary art installation "EXCHANGE Pavilion" in Balboa Park's Plaza de Panama, set to debut at the end of July. This immersive installation invites visitors to engage with its physical and conceptual presence, contributing to its public memory and sharing experiences with others.
New Hotels & Renovations
In March, Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection by Hilton, a city landmark in the picturesque seaside community of La Jolla Shores, finished a multi-million-dollar property renovation encompassing 110 guestrooms and suites and 1,600 square feet of meetings and events space. The extensive revitalization introduces a sophisticated, modern beach-inspired aesthetic to the property, as well as an all-new penthouse level restaurant concept, Sea & Sky, which promises to bring La Jolla’s dining scene to new heights from its perch on the property’s 11th floor.
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa completed its property-wide, $26M renovation and redevelopment in April as it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. A nod to its heritage with historic touches masterfully blended with modern design, Estancia La Jolla’s refreshed experience includes elevated guest rooms and suites, a new lobby and pool complex and upgraded meeting and group spaces.
Arts & Culture
San Diego International Airport (SAN) presented Espacios & Lines, a temporary art exhibition that showcases the culture of our shared binational region of 7.1 million people. This exhibition, premiered in March, explores the border of art and design follows the World Design Organization’s (WDO) joint designation of San Diego and Tijuana as the World Design Capital 2024 (WDC). Espacios & Lines features the work of 16 local artists, half of whom work binationally, five who fully reside in Baja California. Their work addresses the region’s shared symbolism, unseen vantage points, reimagined lines, design as necessity, design as reconstruction, and more.
The Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA) welcomed three new exhibitions this spring. Picture This: Recent Acquisitions, open now through August 4, showcases a variety of important themes and genres, including Portraiture, Abstraction/Manipulation, and Modernism. Storyteller: Work by Holly Roberts, open now through August 18, is a symbolic reflection of Robert’s life and the imperfections in the world around her. The Artist Speaks: Cara Romero, open April 27 – October 20, features the work of Cara Romero, an enrolled citizen of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, who was raised between the contrasting settings of the reservation in the Mojave Desert, California, and the urban sprawl of Houston, Texas. She draws inspiration from her individual identity and employs a distinct approach to representing cultural memory, history, and lived experiences.
Comic-Con Museum will open three upcoming exhibits featuring the famous Betty Boop, award-winning comic creator and Afrofuturist John Jennings, and a bi-national exhibition as a participating World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 community initiative. Scheduled to open to the public in May and June, these exhibits are all world premieres and original to the Museum. Exhibits include “Becoming Betty Boop,” an exclusive exhibit showcasing the history and evolution of the iconic cartoon character, “Border Blitz: Artistas del Cómic de Tijuana,” featuring the art of Charles Glaubitz, Alejandra Yépiz Portillo, and Urbano Mata, the exhibit will highlight the diverse stories and perspectives of these border artists as told through their art and “Collaboration(s)! A Journey with John Jennings,” that will explore the many graphic novel and comic art collaborations in the world of John Jennings.
The 2024 Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival returns June 20-29 to two La Jolla venues where it first held performances in 2023: the UC San Diego Epstein Family Amphitheater and The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. The festival is the largest gathering of concertmasters and principal players from the nation’s top orchestras, who come together in San Diego every summer to form one remarkable orchestra for a limited six-concert series. Featuring musicians from top U.S. orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra, Mainly Mozart’s All-Star Orchestra is the only orchestra of its kind in the country.
La Jolla Music Society (LJMS)’ annual SummerFest will return to The Conrad from July 26 to August 24, bringing the finest musicians in the world to La Jolla for four weeks of exciting concerts. Music Director Inon Barnatan, returning in his sixth year, has created an exciting program titled “Inside Stories.” La Jolla will host some of the finest musicians and performance artists from around the globe, including the much-anticipated debuts of the sensational vocal group VOCES8, guitarist Sean Shibe, and conductor Ludovic Morlot. Guests will also see the return of beloved artists like Augustin Hadelich, Tessa Lark, Alisa Weilerstein, Anthony McGill, Paul Watkins, and James Ehnes.
The Navy SEAL Museum San Diego will open in late 2024 in Downtown San Diego to build a museum to honor the history and heritage of the U.S. Navy SEALs. This showcase museum will engage visitors of all ages through immersive storytelling and galleries, activated artifacts, engaging digital media and interactive exhibits.
Restaurants, Breweries & Bars
Union Kitchen and Tap opened its third location in the heart of Pacific Beach in April. Menu highlights include Shrimp & Grits, Union Gumbo, Watermelon Salad, Prime Steaks, and decadent desserts. Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays with bottomless mimosas. The beverage program features draft beers, wines, and craft cocktails like Purple Haze and California Soul.
This spring, Postino, the all-day restaurant and wine-café known for its cult-like following, is doubling down in San Diego, debuting two flagship locations, in Little Italy and Del Mar’s One Paseo urban village. The wine-cafés will serve an ever-changing selection of boutique wines and a decked-out menu of bruschetta, paninis, salads and a lineup of crave-worthy charcuterie boards and shareables will be served daily, for lunch and dinner, plus brunch on weekends.
In June, Chef Drew Deckman, owner of Deckman’s en el Mogor in Baja’s Valle de Guadalupe, will debut his family’s very first U.S. restaurant in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood called 31THIRTYONE. At 31THIRTYONE, Deckman's earth-to-table mission will be centered on preserving the watershed of Southern California and northern Baja while creating an inspiring restaurant that redefines the future of sustainable dining. The cause-based concept will fund regenerative farming projects—pledging 1% of monthly revenue to help farmers implement carbon farming projects through various grants—and the restaurant will advocate for sustainability at every level of operation.
Expanding from Moniker Group’s flagship in Liberty Station, Moniker General Outpost in North Park opening early summer, will combine Moniker Coffee Co. and Shop Moniker. It will offer a curated selection of apparel, personal care items, and home goods. Guests can enjoy pour-overs alongside shopping, creating a community-centric experience where coffee complements fashion and cold brews pair with home decor.
Following the success of its first expansion, The Cottage will open its third San Diego location in June at Del Mar Plaza, adding to the center's dining options. Emphasizing coastal charm like its La Jolla and Encinitas counterparts, the Del Mar spot will feature SoCal cuisine and brunch staples for both locals and tourists.
Award-winning chef Phillip Esteban is adding to his growing list of fast-casual restaurant concepts with the opening of the long-awaited Wildflour in Liberty Station in June. Influenced by minimalist bakeries, hustling and bustling deli services from around the world, and integrating a mix of Southern California vibes, Wildflour will offer an all-day menu for a casual sit-down or takeout experience. From its namesake in the Philippines, the restaurant will focus on local ingredients, seafood and provisions.
Spill the Beans will open its fourth location in Ocean Beach at the end of June. Like the other locations, Ocean Beach will offer a handful of hearty breakfast sandwiches, including the popular “San Dieggo” made with two over-medium fried eggs, peppered bacon, American and pepper jack cheese, and cayenne aioli. It will also serve Chia Berry Bowls and loaded oatmeal. Spill the Beans serves coffee classics like the Americano, Cortado, drip coffee, and flavored lattes.
Panthera, a brand-new speakeasy, is opening above El Sueño, the vibrant jungle-themed Mexican restaurant and cocktail lounge in Old Town. The restaurant and cocktail lounge will boast an entirely unique sushi and sashimi-forward food menu that will change daily, in order to source the freshest ingredients possible. The specialty cocktail menu will feature eight cocktail options along with a custom “Three Cocktail Tasting Experience” option which will be tailored to the guest’s preferences of flavors and spirits.
Opening in Summer 2024, Cellar Hand is the latest project from the creators of Pali Wine Co. It's their first full-service restaurant located in Hillcrest. The menu offers farm-to-table dining with a Mediterranean twist, featuring dishes made with fresh ingredients sourced from the nearby Hillcrest Farmers Market. The wine selection includes options from Pali Wine Co. and other producers, emphasizing tradition, terroir, and sustainability. Designed by San Diego-based firm Tecscape Design, the restaurant seats 63 indoors and 64 on the outdoor patio.
Opening in late summer 2024, Roma Norte is a new cocktail bar concept adjacent to Puesto at the Headquarters. Led by Vice President of Bar and Spirits, Beau du Bois, the bar offers a curated selection of 10-12 immersive cocktails inspired by Mexico City's Roma Norte district. Guests can expect unique flavor combinations and herbal fusions paired with small plates and late-night bites by Chef Erik Aronow.
Merenda, a Southern European-inspired wine bar and bottle shop, is set to open in Oceanside in mid-2024. The wine bar will sell and serve a selection of international wines sourced from sustainable, low-intervention wineries. The restaurant will also have a wine club, tasting events and wine education classes. An artisanal charcuterie program with imported salumi and cheeses will complement an array of delectable Southern European-style small plates.
Awards and Recognitions
Tara Monsod, the executive chef at the upscale Asian fusion restaurant Animae in downtown San Diego, has become the first San Diego chef in 34 years to be named a final nominee for a 2024 James Beard Award in the category of Best Chef: California.
The Lafayette Hotel & Swim Club, which reopened in July 2023, has been inducted into Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States. The $31 million renovation and redesign was the first proper restoration of the property and designed by CH Projects and Brooklyn-based Post Company, including seven new food and beverage outlets, a signature pool originally designed by Johnny Weissmuller and a recently opened jazz club and music venue which has hosted iconic performers to immortalized movie scenes, including the serenade in “Top Gun”.
Esquire, a popular men’s lifestyle magazine, named The Lafayette Hotel & Swim Club its 2024 New Hotel of the Year. The Lafayette leads Esquire’s top 41 new hotels in North America and Europe, surpassing Rosewood Resort on Hawaii’s Big Island and Rome’s opulent Bulgari hotel.
USA Today Blueprint named San Diego the sixth most dog-friendly vacation destination in the U.S. The report analyzed six data points, such as the number of dog-friendly accommodations, restaurants and bars, as well as dog-friendly beaches and trails.
Transportation
San Diego International Airport (SAN) will welcome Breeze Airways this spring and will offer five new flight options in and out of San Diego. Starting in late April, Breeze Airways will offer nonstop flights to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, followed by Jacksonville, Florida; Norfolk, Virginia; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
San Diego International Airport (SAN) increased its nonstop service with a second daily flight to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) on British Airways on April 20, 2024. The flights arrive in San Diego from London at 6:10 p.m. and depart San Diego for London at 8 p.m.; and arrive in San Diego at 3:25 p.m. and depart for London at 5:15 p.m.
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