A stellar option on the OB/Point Loma neighborhood cusp is retro style diner and cocktail bar, Royale. Catering to the happy hour (it starts at 4 p.m.), dinner, late-night (they’re open past 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday nights) and brunch crowds, folks love the gourmet burgers, whose ingredients come from Nopalito Farm in North County, and the well-crafted “farm to shaker” cocktails here. 

Italian-born executive chef Patrick Money presides over the weekly-changing menus at this indoor-outdoor trattoria also on the Point Loma–Ocean Beach border. Open daily for lunch and dinner, and brunch on the weekends, the fresh pasta (of which there are ten shapes to mix and match with sauces and toppings) are handmade to perfection. Dish highlights range from a crispy octopus antipasto and whole grilled Branzino entrée to the table side cannolis.

With its beloved flagship in South Park, owner Matteo Cattaneo opened the second Buona Forchetta location at Liberty Station in 2017. Whether it’s folks stopping by for $15 prix fixe lunch or the after work crowd coming to sip sangria and enjoy a classic wood-fired Neapolitan or fresh pasta dish followed by fan-favorite panna cotta for dessert, this popular spot is always buzzing. 

Kakawa (an Olmec word meaning cacao or chocolate) features a variety of coffee drinks, from Americanos and cortados to house, cold, and nitro brewed beverages. A series of mochas range from white to Mexican, Mayan, and Arabian. Food-wise there’s a selection of pastries and fresh sandwiches and desserts, including an affogato with gelato and Arabian mousse with cardamom.

This new boba tea spot (which boasts a Harry Potter themed bathroom) has garnered solid reviews since opening in mid-June. There are egg puff waffles on the menu and the drinks, which range from taro black milk tea to a strawberry smoothie and peach green tea with boba, can be customized to preferred sweetness levels. Stop by during happy hour (4 to 9 p.m.) for a 10% discount.

The fast-casual farm to table favorite first expanded to San Diego in 2008 with the opening of its Liberty Station location. Appealing to the ‘food-savvy and budget-conscious,’ all dishes are made with just-picked produce, naturally raised meat, and line-caught fish. Wine, kombucha, and local craft beers also feature. 

Re-named in homage to the original owners of the 1950s-era Point Loma property, The Pearl hotel’s in-house restaurant and bar hosts dinner, an ever-popular weekend brunch, killer cocktails, plus weekly Dive-In movie nights. Its seasonal menu pulls from global cuisines with char siu pork bao buns, and yaki skewers with koshihikari rice and house ponzu. 

Overlooking the Sportfishing Fleet on San Diego Bay there might not be a better spot to post up for some fish tacos and a cold one than this Point Loma institution. With photographs of local fishermen on the walls, the vibe is old-school California ‘mom and pop,’ the seafood mostly all fresh-caught in waters off San Diego and Northern Baja, and the beers locally crafted.

Owner Supannee uses vegetables and herbs grown in her own gardens across the top-rated classic Thai dishes cooked by her sister, chef Wan, at this family-friendly spot on Shelter Island. When in season, locally caught rockfish features on the menu, while Instagrammers will love the coconut seafood curry served in a whole coconut shell, and spring/summer tofu rolls that feature edible flowers.

This modern tavern from the Brigantine family has some nice harbor views from its outdoor patio. Beer-wise there’s a German-style Kölsch, Celestial Navigation IPA, and Day Cruise Extra Pale Ale, among many others. While the all-day menu of beer-friendly fare has an emphasis on seafood dishes and includes a Baja fish ceviche, sake-miso wild salmon, and Portuguese seafood stew.

Still family-owned and operated after more than 50 years, this iconic restaurant is well-loved for its potent tiki drinks and Polynesian-inspired fare. Located on the northern tip of Shelter Island, whether coming for lunch, brunch, or dinner, the San Diego bay and downtown skyline views are hard to beat. 

An only-in-San-Diego spot perched on a Shelter Island fishing pier, the locally-beloved eatery shares a wall with a bait and tackle shop and offers one of the city’s finest craft beer line-ups with an unbeatable view of the San Diego bay. Its menu includes burgers, sausages, and a popular weekend brunch.