Downtown San Diego plays host to a series of diverse attractions, including the San Diego Civic Theatre, the famed USS Midway Aircraft Carrier, the shop and restaurant-filled Seaport Village, the beach and Petco Park, home stadium for Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres. After a day of exploring, visitors are bound to be hungry. Fortunately, the bustling region also features its fair share of high-end restaurants complete with full bars, as well as casual, family-friendly eateries.
Located in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, Taka serves 40 different types of sushi rolls, various sashimi and teriyaki-covered meats such as chicken and salmon. The upscale setting features hardwood floors, candlelight dining and outdoor patio seating.
Just 1 block from Petco Park, Jsix’s high-end interior includes sheer drapes, oversized windows, ornately detailed ceilings and stone slab floors. The menu features hearty items like bacon-wrapped pork tenderloins and wild mushroom ravioli. The restaurant also offers weekend brunch and kid’s menu.
Steps from Balboa Theatre and Horton Plaza mall, Dobson's Bar & Restaurant serves such typical California cuisine dishes as mushroom risotto and oven roasted salmon. The old-fashioned, yet chic setting includes French cabaret chairs, white linen covered tables, coat racks and chandeliers.
Cowboy Star is in downtown’s East Village neighborhood. The restaurant offers an upscale Old West setting, complete with full bar, fireplace, exposed wood beam ceilings, landscape photography and an attached butcher shop. Steakhouse fare includes lamb, pan seared sea bass and 12 oz. New York strips.
Based in Little Italy, Filippi’s Pizza Grotto opened its doors back in 1950. The Italian restaurant and deli features red and white checkered tablecloths, candlelight and Chianti bottles, hand decorated by past customers, hanging from the ceiling. While the restaurant just serves wine and beer, the menu includes a variety of pizzas, pastas and hot and cold sandwiches.
Top of the Market is located right upon the shores of the San Diego Bay. The seafood restaurant serves up such offerings as oysters Rockefeller, Maine lobster tail and linguini with spicy garlic tiger shrimp. The two-story setting features wood furnishings, patio dining and oversized windows which provide sweeping views of the water.
Located in downtown La Jolla, this restaurant is famous for its scratch cooking, home style food. As such, it sources its ingredients from local farms. The menu reflects this as it is ever changing with the seasons by serving the freshest foods.
Nobu, just two blocks from Petco Park, features an upscale setting complete with earth-tone colored silks, stone tiles and modern light fixtures, as well as dark leather booths and stools. Japanese cuisine includes such items as lobster with wasabi, eggplant miso and various sushi rolls.
Situated between the train station and Little Italy, Anthology offers an upscale setting complete with three levels, white leather booths and chairs, dark wood furnishings and sheer white curtains. The menu includes signature cocktails, small plate items and epicurean delights including grilled pork chops and mushroom pot pie.
Many of the best restaurants in San Diego can actually be found in hotels. It is both a local favorite as well as a favorite of chefs for its technically created creations. However, it manages to bring a uniquely California style and flavor at the same time.
Rendon, Leah. "The Top 10 Restaurants in Downtown San Diego." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/top-10-restaurants-downtown-san-diego-58059.html. 26 January 2018.