The Best La Jolla Fine Dining Restaurants in 2023
Experience innovative and high-quality cuisine, sophisticated atmosphere and excellent service at a variety of fine dining restaurants in La Jolla. La Jolla fine dining has been praised by Zagat and awarded high honors, both at a local San Diego and national level, for serving some of the finest hand-crafted meals in the most elegant, coastal environment in America.
Table of Contents
Best Fine Dining in La Jolla
It’s no secret that La Jolla has some of the most innovative and exciting dishes in SoCal. But when you add our deliciously breathtaking views at our La Jolla ocean view restaurants and factor in the unbelievably fresh seafood, produce, and locally grown ingredients – you have a perfect storm of sensational dining experiences. Don’t believe us? You don’t have to. Simply sample the menus at any one of these La Jolla fine dining establishments, and you’ll quickly become a believer!
Ambrogio by Acquerello
Prepare to settle into a satisfying, savory fine dining in La Jolla, CA, when you go to Ambrogio by Acquerello. This establishment boasts a Michelin star-winning owner, chef, and staff. The restaurant’s highly creative menu features unique offerings based on North Italian cuisines with nuances of Asian and French influences. Of course, Ambrogio leans heavily on Californian freshness, style, and taste too. Make your meal a masterpiece by adding wine pairing for an intense experience of Italian wines matched with memorable cuisine.
Guests can elope to Ambrogio for an 8-course food and wine experience of Chef Salmoiraghi’s signature tasting menu or for those who are short on time, a 4-course version of the tasting menu is available for $99 on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Their vegetarian menu is always available and a vegan-tasting menu requires 48-hour notice.
- Address: 7556 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Phone: (858) 412-3432
- Hours: Tues – Thurs 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri – Sat 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Sundays
The Marine Room
Fine dining in La Jolla, San Diego, comes alive when you witness dancing dolphins while delighting in decadent dishes. That’s what The Marine Room promises. Be sure to reserve your dining adventure here during high tide for dinner – a special thrill you won’t soon forget. But what to order? That’s easy. With over 80 years in business, The Marine Room serves up amazing dishes such as lobster, steak, and more.
- Address: 2000 Spindrift Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Phone: (858) 459-7222
- Hours: Wed – Sun 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Nine-Ten Restaurant
With its impeccable customer service and tasteful culinary offerings, the Nine-Ten Restaurant has quickly become counted as a favorite among fine dining restaurants in La Jolla, CA. They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. They also cater to seasonal and holiday events. Their cuisine is globally inspired yet locally sourced, and their culinary team boasts impressive credentials.
- Address: 910 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Phone: (858) 964-5400
- Hours: Wed – Sun 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Eddie V’s
Fine dining in La Jolla is epitomized at Eddie V’s. This is a classic La Jolla spot, and its location has been a magnet to locals since the restaurant chain was founded in 2000. They are hailed for their mouth-watering seafood but also have buttery steaks, chicken, and more. Eddie V’s features a live music lounge and happy hour specials, and they cater to special events. In terms of nice restaurants in La Jolla, Eddie V’s ticks all the boxes.
- Address: 1270 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Phone: (858) 459-5500
- Hours: Mon – Thur 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Sat – Sun 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Duke’s La Jolla
This restaurant is a well-known spot for locals and is appreciated for its stunning surf & wood-themed decor and marvelous balcony view. Among La Jolla fine dining establishments, Duke’s has earned a reputation for fresh, thoughtfully-crafted dishes and down-to-earth setting. Check out their barefoot bar to enjoy California wines and carefully created cocktails. The menu at Duke’s is focused on fresh-caught seafood, but they also serve up buttery burgers, ribs, chicken, and more.
- Address: 1216 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Phone: (858) 454-5888
- Hours: Mon – Fri 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sat – Sun 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Conclusion
Undoubtedly, fine dining in La Jolla is the “it” thing to do whether you’re a local or a tourist. Gifted with the most extraordinary coastal views and ingredients from the Pacific, combined with conscientious chefs and restaurateurs – there’s no denying that La Jolla has the best hits in sophisticated dining in its playbook. And while this close-knit beach village might seem laid back, La Jolla fine dining is as upper-crust, complex, thoughtful, and artful as any you might find in Milan or NYC.
FAQs About La Jolla Fine Dining
Now that we’ve shared some of our top picks for fine dining in La Jolla, we realize you might still have a few burning questions. As always, we’ve got you covered. Here are some FAQs to round up your fine dining experience in La Jolla.
The spectacular climate, smashing beaches, and stunning views are one reason that makes La Jolla a dynamic spot for fine dining. But the real lynchpin is the ocean, farm-to-table fresh ingredients, and masterful culinary professionals who create exceptional dishes.
Absolutely! This area of San Diego, CA is known for its health-conscious communities. Therefore, our La Jolla fine dining restaurants offer plenty of vegan and vegetarian options. Moreover, as this area boasts some of the most incredible produce on the West Coast, you can enjoy a wealth of plant-based dishes.
All of the fine dining restaurants in La Jolla, CA we’ve listed here have online reservation services, so you can quickly make a reservation from your phone, tablet or computer. Just about all upscale restaurants in the area will also take a phone reservation.
You’ll have to check with the restaurant to confirm that because every fine dining establishment in LJ is different. That said, most upscale restaurants in La Jolla expect their diners to dress for the occasion and the restaurant. So, you can dine in fine dress wear with a casual look – but absolutely no cut-offs or flip-flops.
That depends on what you get, but a fair average is anywhere between $25 – $45 per dish. Of course, if you get a prime rib with extra sides and a few cocktails, you can obviously expect that price to increase.
Yes! All of the La Jolla fine dining restaurants we’ve mentioned here offer gluten-free options. We encourage you to check out online menus at other locations to confirm they offer gluten-free meal choices.
The banner image in this article is courtesy of Abrogio by Acquerello