Outdoor Dining in San Diego: Al Fresco with Flair!

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There’s something undeniably swanky about eating your meal outdoors. Perhaps it’s the sun warming your skin, or the cool night breeze making your wine even more crisp. In the name of summer, we’ve narrowed down the top al fresco dining spots in San Diego—whether you like your meal to be accompanied with waves crashing, people-watching, or lights glistening around you.

Poseidon, Del Mar

At Poseidon, you’re not so much dining by the beach as dining on the beach. The restaurant’s beachfront patio is right up against the boardwalk, with the tempting Del Mar surf just a hop, skip, and jump away. For an unforgettable evening, reserve a table twenty minutes before sunset, so you can peruse the menu while watching the sun slip below the horizon.

Trattoria Acqua, La Jolla

Leave the busy La Jolla Village bustle behind as you descend the stairs to captivating, Mediterranean-influenced Trattoria Acqua. The restaurant’s private courtyard is inviting with plants and flowers adorning the pathways and twinkling white lights dancing overhead. The piercing blue Pacific Ocean makes for a gorgeous backdrop to Acqua’s already spectacular scene.

Café 976, Pacific Beach

Outdoor dining needn’t be expensive to be enjoyable. The garden patio at Pacific Beach’s Café 976 does al fresco in a casual, approachable way. Trees provide a shady canopy to casually protect you from the beach’s rays, while the garden nooks provide ample opportunities to watch locals journey westward on their beach cruisers.

JRDN, Pacific Beach

JRDN has redefined Pacific Beach cuisine, and the best seats in the restaurant are on the outdoor patio. Grab a seat behind the glass walls, and watch waves crash while enjoying a gourmet meal under the Pacific sun. At night or in the winter, cozy up by the space heaters, which protect you from the chilly ocean breezes.

1500 Ocean, Coronado

For the ultimate in outdoor luxury, look no further than 1500 Ocean—the address of the historically renowned Hotel Del, as well as the name of its equally buzz-worthy restaurant. With Chef Jason Shaeffer at the helm, your meal is guaranteed to be as divine as the view from the restaurant’s patio.

Casa Guadalajara, Old Town

Old Town’s famous Bazaar del Mundo is home to the Casa Guadalajara restaurant, a festive taste of Mexico – with bright colors, a kicking feel-good vibe, and mouth-watering and diet-breaking dishes. Visit during their famous happy hour and indulge in complimentary hors d’ouevres and chilled margaritas while relaxing on the restaurant’s colorful garden patio.

Mister A’s, Downtown

It may be a special occasion kind of place already, but dining on the wrap-around patio atop Mister A’s will make any occasion even more special. From this 13^th floor restaurant, you’re treated with sweeping vistas of the Coronado Bridge, the San Diego Bay, and the glistening lights of the Gaslamp Quarter.