7 romantic restaurants in San Diego for the best date night
Although San Diego is popular with traveling families due to all its child-friendly attractions, it also has over 70 miles of scenic sandy coastline, a perfect climate, and an explore-worthy historic Old Town area. Whether you're traveling here as a couple or as a family, hopefully, you'll carve out a little time between visiting all the city's main attractions to have at least one romantic date night.
Romantic restaurants aren't hard to find in the city. You can pick and choose between just about any cuisine style you feel like having and whatever setting you enjoy, whether it be in the city or near the water. From Valentine's Day plans to the desire to have a cozy evening with someone you love, you can't go wrong with these romantic restaurants in San Diego. Fresh seafood and classic French dishes seem to scream romance; luckily, you can find both in San Diego.
One thing that doesn't help romance is carrying your suitcases all over town. So, make sure you're in the right mindset for a romantic evening and not schlepping bags all over the place. Drop by one of Bounce's San Diego luggage storage facilities to let someone else worry about your stuff.
In short, San Diego's romantic restaurants will offer you everything you have been dreaming of. Here are our recommendations of a few places to start your tour of California gastronomy through the best romantic restaurants in San Diego:
Starlite
This swanky gastropub is in Midtown San Diego. You will love the retro interior design here and the immediate sense that you have entered a place where you will be spoiled and cared for with attention to detail. This is one of the most romantic restaurants in San Diego for many reasons, and the intimate atmosphere is one of the key reasons it tops this list.
The menu is actually comfort food here, which can surprise some, but this is one of the most charming aspects of this romantic restaurant. You can get mac and cheese, a burger, and a fine wine in the same order. This really fun location offers a sense of whimsy, and the service is second to none.
Our recommendation
Make sure you try their signature mules to drink, and the mac and cheese is one of the stars on the menu here. The bone marrow is also excellent, and you will find that the seasonal dishes on offer are frequently delightful as well. Be sure to get a reservation and plan to walk a little bit from your parking spot as well if you have rented a car. The area in and around this restaurant is quite busy.
Location
3175 India Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Price level
$$
SẼREA Coastal Cuisine
This amazing location will require that you hop over to Coronado, but the gorgeous views are worth this little bit of added travel. You will not find a more beautiful place to dine in all of San Diego. The cleverly raised floor allows you to see the ocean in all its beauty as you dine. There is no more romantic restaurant in all of San Diego, and if you love seafood, you will be completely at home here.
The food here is sustainably sourced, which is a key factor in this location's success among the city's romantic restaurants. You should plan to get a multi-course meal and a wine pairing or cocktail to go with your choice.
Our recommendation
This location is best enjoyed when the sun is setting, and you should call ahead to get a table reserved with this timing in mind. There are so many romantic restaurants in the city that allow you to see the sunset, but most of them are not this close to the water and cannot boast this view. Also, be prepared to shell out (pun intended) some cash here. The fish and seafood are often at market price, so ask in advance before ordering if you have a limited budget.
Location
1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Price level
$$$
Addison Restaurant
Located by the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, you can count on a delicious meal at Addison Restaurant, with a great view of the city and the San Diego skyline spread out before you as you eat. This multi-course meal location offers up a fully curated, nine-course meal with wine pairings hand-selected by the chef. You will be pampered in the way you would expect from romantic restaurants at this price point.
This is a truly upscale restaurant, and Chef William Bradley really knows how to make an evening special. Contemporary French cuisine is dressed up here with fun fusion notes, which is a great break from the usual steak frites and foie gras that are so common in French cuisine.
Our recommendation
There is nothing to pick out here, but you should be sure to get a reservation well in advance of the day you plan to enjoy this location. They are always fully booked, and there are limited tables due to the multi-course dining experience. Your meal won't be over in an hour at Addison. Plan to relax into the revolving door of food that will keep showing up in front of you.
Location
5200 Grand Del Mar Way, San Diego, CA 92130
Price level
$$$$
Lumi
If you happen to be in town around February 14th, this lovely restaurant has one of the most romantic Valentine's Day menus, and they are also considered one of the most romantic restaurants in San Diego year-round. This is a spot for Peruvian and Japanese-inspired dishes, and you will also love the wine bar in the building. Sometimes French cuisine is not what you are looking for, and this spot will break you out of the cycle of the same steakhouse and French cuisine routine that you might have fallen into.
The surprise dessert option here is a solid choice, and there is a lot of seafood on the menu for those who love fish. Lumi also has lovely craft cocktails and a great wine list.
Our recommendation
All of the "surprise" food options are the most exciting on the menu, and you should consider at least one course that is not something you picked out yourself. The Love Royale cocktail is also amazing and can be paired with almost anything.
Location
366 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Price level
$$
Anime
The name of this lovely location is a little misleading if you thought there would be cartoons from your favorite anime classics on the walls or included in the décor. The location is art deco, and the dining here is always tasty and definitely swanky. This is another curated, multi-course dining option, and you have the choice to add caviar service for $100 on top of the usual meal offerings.
Come here for delicious and inspired meals that are carefully curated by the chef and served at a leisurely pace. You will be hard-pressed to find a more amazing dining experience anywhere, which is why this is one of the best romantic restaurants in San Diego. The cost reflects all the courses that you'll be served, but each course will be better than the last.
Our recommendation
This is one of the most romantic restaurants in the city, and dressing up is a must. You will also want to make sure that you are prepared to enjoy your time at a leisurely pace here. You will never be rushed through a meal at Anime. Be sure to get a reservation, or you will miss out on this charming location and all it has to offer you and your date.
Location
969 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101
Price level
$$$$
The Desmond Restaurant
One of the dining options in the Kimpton Alma San Diego hotel, the Desmond Restaurant is a moody and dark little dining location that is both cozy and romantic. The dessert menu is famous here due to the cheesecake with pomegranate and sparkling rosé gelee on the menu. The chef serves a curated and special prix fixe menu for Valentine's Day. Even if you are not going to be visiting on Valentine's Day, you can opt for curated dining or a la carte.
There is a lot of seafood on the menu, but there are plenty of options for those who are not that into eating fish. You will also enjoy access to an extensive cocktail menu and excellent starters and sides.
Our recommendation
You have to save room for the cheesecake, but you might also want to let Chef Jason Neroni surprise you with a hand-selected menu. There is no wrong way to dine here; you will love everything about this special spot.
Location
1047 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Price level
$$
Seneca Trattoria
Sometimes Italian food is the only way to go, and this is one of the best places to head for old-world Italian charm and amazing dining. They have pasta, pizza, and everything in between on the menu here to enjoy when you choose this spot for your date night meal. You will be pampered with excellent service, and the flavors are so traditional that you will think that you have been transported to another place, namely Italy.
Be sure that you don't miss out on the lovely wine menu here and check out their specials which are usually locally sourced and at the peak of freshness. You can also easily share plates here if you want to try nibbling on sides and then have a decadent dessert.
Our recommendation
One of the best things about heading here is their unique tasting experiences. The pours are based on the following categories: spritz, long, fix, gin down, whiskey, and agave. You can try a whole bunch of different drinks and alcohol in one flight, and you will probably discover a new drink you didn't know that you loved. The environment is cozy at Seneca Trattoria, which is why the tables book up fast. Be sure that you have a reservation, or you will probably miss out on this delightful spot for your dinner plans.
Location
901 Bayfront Ct Level 19, San Diego, CA 92101
Price level
$$$
Conclusion
If fancy dining is not what you had in mind for your romantic date night in San Diego, there are many other ways to plan a romantic dinner. You will be able to choose from a variety of really good street food if you would rather eat and wander through the city streets. You can also opt to check out the amazing view from the many San Diego rooftop bars scattered throughout the city. There is no wrong way to plan your San Diego date night. Planning your evening your way should be given; you can dress up the evening or dress it down as much as you want.
And don't forget to drop all your bags off at a convenient luggage storage spot before you head out for a night on the town. As much as you don't want to look at your bags anymore, neither do the romantic restaurants you'll be heading to.
