9 Del Mar Restaurants We Really Love in December 2024
Del Mar offers an abundance of opportunity and adventure for all walks of life. Ocean lover or water sports enthusiast? Del Mar has some incredible surf and swim spots, as well as stunning white sand beaches to lounge and soak up the sun. Horse fanatic? Del Mar has polo fields, horse parks, and an entire arena to watch horses race! Wine lover? There are quite a few charming wine bars in the area that feature products from tons of local wineries. Major foodie? We love that for you! So much, in fact, that we dedicated this entire article to sharing all the top restaurants in Del Mar that you must try when you’re in the area.
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Exploring the Best of Del Mar’s Dining Scene
Whether you’re a local and looking for a staycation in your favorite city, or a tourist wanting to sponge up all of San Diego’s goodness, you’ll want to ensure that after the day of adventures is done, you have a proper place to rest your head at night. Thankfully, there are a slew of gorgeous and affordable hotels in the area, and we’ve narrowed in on the best ones so you don’t have to!
Now that we’ve gotten accommodations taken care of, let’s scope the top Del Mar restaurants to get a feel for our options, shall we?
Ambrogio15 Del Mar
Experience fabulous dining in an elegant yet friendly environment at one of the best restaurants in Del Mar. If you’re craving a truly authentic Italian experience with dishes that literally look like art, Ambrogio15 is arguably the most superior Italian restaurant Del Mar has! But seriously, among the Del Mar Italian restaurants, Ambrogio15’s passion for pizza shows. Transport yourself to the city of Milan, Italy, through their utterly delightful paper thin-crust gourmet pizza, or opt for another popular dish, such as the seafood risotto, or Italian ramen. Don’t forget to try the orange wine, we promise you won’t regret it!
- Address: 12841 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130
- Phone: (858) 925-7036
- Hours: Sun – Thurs: 12 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Jake’s Del Mar
This classy seaside eatery is among the coolest Del Mar restaurants, known for its picturesque views. Jake’s has the whole nine yards–brunch, lunch, late lunch, dinner, and dessert, and just one taste of their famous dessert hula pie will have you in pure pie heaven! Some of their most-loved dishes include the mixed seafood pot, burrata and citrus salad, and passion fruit braised short rib. We’re serious about that hula pie though–don’t sleep on it!
- Address: 1660 Coast Highway, Del Mar, CA 92014
- Phone: (858) 755-2002
- Hours: Mon – Thurs: 11:30 a.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 11:30 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Sun: 10 a.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Pacifica Del Mar
Taco Tuesdays just got a whole lot better at Pacifica Del Mar! Their $5 tacos all night long on Tuesdays, and half off bottles of wine deal on their “Wine Thursdays” are just two of the many reasons why you need to make a visit to this upscale ocean view spot ASAP! Pacifica specializes in crafting spectacular seafood dishes, as well as steak and pasta dishes, and for the vodka lovers, they have a huge selection of vodka–over 200 varieties to be exact!
- Address: 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
- Phone: (858) 792-0476
- Hours: Mon – Fri: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat – Sun: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Poseidon Restaurant
By the name, you’ve likely guessed that this restaurant’s dishes are very much inspired by the sea! With menu items like scallops, Maine lobster, and citrusy mussels, it’s safe to say this is a seafood lover’s paradise. But don’t worry! They have some non-seafood cuisine too, such as A5 Wagyu, steak tartare toast, and guava tres leches. Poseidon is perched up right on the water, and for the single folks who want to catch a vibe solo to sip on a glass of wine or enjoy a nice cocktail by the water, this Del Mar restaurant features an indoor-outdoor wrap-around bar.
- Address: 1670 Coast Blvd., Del Mar
- Phone: (858) 755-9345
- Hours: Mon: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Tues – Fri: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat – Sun: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sbicca Del Mar
Sbicca is one of those Del Mar restaurants where you can breathe in the sea breeze and relish the views of the ocean as you enjoy delicious, culturally rich dishes. This New American bistro’s inviting atmosphere is the perfect setting to sip on fine Italian wine, sprinkle lemon on crab cakes, and munch on Italian flatbread that are all sure to be a flavor party in your mouth! If you like fresh seafood, outdoor dining and views of the ocean, we highly recommend you try out Sbicca during one of San Diego’s killer sunsets.
- Address: 215 15th Street, Del Mar
- Phone: (858) 481-1001
- Hours: Mon – Thurs: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat: 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Sun: 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Beeside Balcony
Beeside Balcony is a global Mediterranean Del Mar restaurant on the corner of Camino Del Mar and 12th–a hop skip and jump away from the beach. This casual New American eatery is a trendy outing for brunch, lunch, and dinner dates. With indoor and outdoor seat availability in a relatively quiet setting, you can relish all the delectable flavors of the Mediterranean in this coastal chic oasis. Oh, and did we mention they sell natural, raw wildflower honey rescued from beehives in San Diego–that you can purchase at the restaurant?! A+!
- Address: 1201 Camino Del Mar #200, Del Mar, CA 92014
- Phone: (858) 481-9889
- Hours: Mon – Fri 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat – Sun: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Coya Peruvian Secret
This sophisticated seafood restaurant is in a prime location off Camino Del Mar and 12th–just two blocks from the beach. They offer authentic Peruvian plates with a Cali twist, with menu favorites including homemade empanadas and chimichurri sauce, insanely juicy fish ceviche, yuquitas, lomita saltado, and slightly sweet. Maybe it’s the overhead arch of entangled vines and flowers above the exterior of the restaurant’s patio seating, or maybe it’s the cutesy location that makes this place so romantic, but whatever the case, it is a must-try spot for Peruvian-Cali cuisine!
- Address: 1140 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014
- Phone: (858) 792-0821
- Hours: Mon – Thurs 1 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Fri: 12 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Sat: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sun: 8 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Market Restaurant and Bar
This white tablecloth restaurant might rack up the bill pretty quickly, but it’s easy to see why. Their menu items are off the charts, offering hyper-seasonal fare inspired from many cultures around the world. Some of their exquisite plates include tasty bite-sized Osetra caviar tarts that offer the perfect combination of textures, Cabernet braised prime beef short ribs doused in sauce, tomato gazpacho and marinated shrimp to enjoy on a warm San Diego day, and flourless chocolate cake and bittersweet mousse–because everyone has a separate stomach for dessert.
- Address: 3702 via De La Valle, Del Mar, CA 92014
- Phone: (858) 523-0007
- Hours: Tues – Thurs 5:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Fri – Sat: 5:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m
Closed Sundays & Mondays
Del Mar Rendezvous
Del Mar Rendezvous offers a delicious array of traditional Chinese eats that are truly mouth-water worthy. From chow mein to woo wonton Soup, congee bowl shrimp and xiao long bao, this Del Mar restaurant is sure to leave you satiated and ready to roll into bed. They offer some shaded outdoor seating on their front patio to give you front row access to the sun’s warmth as you sip on your hot and sour soup.
- Address: 1555 Camino Del Mar/ 102, Del Mar, CA 92014
- Phone: (858) 225-8380
- Hours: Mon – Sat 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sun: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays
Whether a fish filet, a meaty, juicy steak, or a saucy plate of pasta is what you’re feeling, Del Mar has no shortage of options to choose from when it comes to restaurants and eateries. From Italian to Chinese eats, New American fare and all that in between, if you’re looking for a new place to enjoy a delicious meal with a friend, coworker, family member, or lover–now you have plenty of options to choose from!
Are you an out-of-towner? Why not treat yourself to a little vacation in the heart of La Jolla–just a short drive from all of these impeccable restaurants!
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