Every San Diego Restaurant with a View of the Ocean: From Coronado to Oceanside
- San Diego Beach Review
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
San Diego is home to some of the most scenic dining in California. Whether you’re seeking casual beachfront spots, lively boardwalk patios, or elegant cliffside dining, there’s a table with a view for every occasion. This guide covers every San Diego restaurant with ocean views, organized by neighborhood.
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Coronado
Sun Deck – Lunch & dinner. Outdoor seating with tables, couches, firepits, and bar areas at Hotel del Coronado. Full ocean views.
Serea Coastal Cuisine – Dinner only. Indoor and outdoor seating, ocean views visible in the distance.
Beach + Taco Shack – Lunch & dinner. Beachfront tables on the boardwalk with direct water views.
Ocean Beach
South Beach Bar & Grille – Lunch & dinner. Seafood and Californian cuisine with partial ocean views.
OB Surf Lodge – Breakfast, lunch, & dinner. American fare, cocktails, direct ocean views.
Wonderland Ocean Pub – Lunch & dinner. Panoramic ocean views and diverse menu.
O’Bistro Café – Breakfast & lunch. Cozy spot with limited ocean views.
Blue Water Seafood Ocean Beach – Lunch & dinner. Seafood dishes with coastal views.
Mission Beach
FIT Social – Lunch & dinner. Boardwalk location, outdoor seating with umbrellas and ocean views.
Draft – Lunch, dinner & weekend brunch. Boardwalk seating, TVs inside.
Cannonball – Lunch & dinner. Above Draft, unobstructed ocean views, Japanese cuisine, sunset spot.
Sandbar Sports Grill – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Partial ocean views from second level.
Pacific Beach
World Famous – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Oceanfront patio with clear water views.
Woody’s Breakfast and Burgers – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Boardwalk location, casual, ocean views.
Baja Beach Café – Brunch, lunch, dinner & drinks. Outdoor seating with ocean views.
Kono's Cafe - breakfast & lunch. Oceanfront patio with unobstructed views of Crystal Pier and beach.
Waterbar – Lunch & dinner. Full windows provide unobstructed views.
PB Shore Club – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Boardwalk bar & grill with ocean views.
JRDN Restaurant – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Steak & seafood with distant ocean views.
Flamingo Deck – Brunch & dinner. Patio with ocean views.
The Beverly – Lunch, dinner & late-night drinks. Mexican cuisine with partial water views.
La Jolla
George’s at the Cove – Lunch & dinner. Cliffside location, panoramic ocean views, contemporary American cuisine.
Brockton Villa – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Coastal vistas near La Jolla Cove.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood – Dinner only. Upscale seafood & steak with ocean views.
Duke’s – Lunch & dinner. Beachfront, Hawaiian-inspired cuisine.
The Mediterranean Room – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Mediterranean dishes with coastline views.
Cody’s – Breakfast & lunch. Casual dining, fresh seafood, coastal ambiance.
Blue Ocean / Harumama – Lunch & dinner. Japanese-Italian fusion with coastal vistas.
Cove House – Lunch & dinner. Waterfront seafood and California-inspired dishes.
Jose’s Courtroom – Lunch & dinner. Mexican cuisine with glimpses of the ocean.
Olive and Basil – Lunch & dinner. Italian-inspired dishes with water views.
The Shores Restaurant – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Hotel dining with panoramic ocean views.
The Marine Room – Dinner only. Waves crash against windows; high-end dining.
Caroline’s Seaside Café – Breakfast & lunch. Overlooks Scripps Pier and La Jolla Shores Beach.
Del Mar
Jake’s Del Mar – Lunch & dinner. Direct beachfront location.
Poseidon Restaurant Del Mar – Lunch & dinner. Outdoor seating directly on sand.
Monarch Ocean Pub – Lunch & dinner. Hilltop location with ocean views.
Il Fornaio Del Mar – Lunch & dinner. Italian cuisine with ocean vistas.
Shimbashi Izakaya – Lunch & dinner. Japanese cuisine with patio ocean views.
Pacifica Del Mar – Lunch & dinner. Upscale seafood with elevated water views.
Del Mar Pizza – Pizza, casual dining. Outdoor patio with ocean views.
Sbicca – Lunch & dinner. Terrace with ocean views.
Beeside Balcony – Lunch & dinner. Outdoor seating, faint ocean views.
Brigantine Oyster and Seafood Bar – Lunch & dinner. Near Del Mar Racetrack with partial water views.
Cardiff
Pacific Coast Grill – Lunch & dinner. Beachfront patio with panoramic ocean views.
Chart House – Lunch & dinner. Upscale seafood & steakhouse with waterfront views.
Encinitas
VAGA Restaurant and Bar – Dinner only, Wednesday–Sunday. Alila Marea Beach Resort, oceanfront dining.
Carlsbad
Chandlers Oceanfront Dining – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Hotel restaurant with ocean views.
Vigilucci’s Seafood and Steakhouse – Lunch & dinner. Oceanfront seafood & steak.
Tower 39 Rooftop Lounge - Lunch & dinner. Relaxed atmosphere with ocean views.
Dini’s by the Sea – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Italian-inspired dishes with ocean views.
Harbor Fish Café – Breakfast, lunch & dinner. Casual seafood with outdoor ocean views.
Park 101 – Lunch & dinner. Rooftop deck with ocean views.
264 Fresco – Lunch & dinner. Italian dining with cozy ocean-view seating.
Oceanside
The Shore Room – Lunch & dinner. Waterfront dining with ocean views.
Rooftop Bar – Drinks & small bites. Rooftop with direct coastal views.
Oside Strand Café – Breakfast & lunch. Casual café with water views.
Valle – Dinner. Upscale Mexican cuisine with ocean views.
Comparison Table: Quick Reference
Neighborhood | Restaurant | Meal Hours | View Quality | Best Time to Visit | Price Level |
Coronado | Sun Deck | Lunch & Dinner | Full ocean | Late afternoon | $$ |
Coronado | Serea Coastal Cuisine | Dinner | Distant ocean | Evening | $$$ |
Coronado | Beach + Taco Shack | Lunch & Dinner | Full ocean | Afternoon | $ |
Ocean Beach | OB Surf Lodge | B/L/D | Direct ocean | Morning to sunset | $$ |
Ocean Beach | Wonderland Ocean Pub | L/D | Panoramic ocean | Sunset | $$ |
Mission Beach | Cannonball | L/D | Unobstructed | Sunset | $$$ |
Pacific Beach | Waterbar | L/D | Unobstructed | Evening | $$ |
La Jolla | George’s at the Cove | L/D | Panoramic ocean | Sunset | $$$$ |
Del Mar | Jake’s Del Mar | L/D | Full beachfront | Lunch/Sunset | $$$ |
Carlsbad | Park 101 | L/D | Rooftop ocean | Afternoon | $$ |
Oceanside | Valle | Dinner | Ocean views | Evening | $$$ |
(Note: Table shows representative examples; all restaurants are included above.)
FAQ
Q: Which restaurant is best for a romantic dinner?
A: George’s at the Cove, The Marine Room, and Jake’s Del Mar offer sunset and high-end dining experiences.
Q: Which restaurants have direct beach access?
A: Beach + Taco Shack, Poseidon, and Jake’s Del Mar are steps from the sand.
Q: Where are the most casual spots?
A: Woody’s, Dini’s by the Sea, Harbor Fish Café, and Oside Strand Café.
Q: Which restaurants serve brunch?
A: Brockton Villa, World Famous, and Amplified Kitchen & Beer Garden.
Q: Are reservations recommended?
A: Yes, popular spots like Jake’s Del Mar, George’s at the Cove, and Poseidon often fill quickly.
Conclusion
San Diego’s waterfront restaurants offer everything from casual beachfront cafés to upscale cliffside dining. Each neighborhood has its own personality: Coronado’s classic elegance, Ocean Beach’s laid-back energy, Mission Beach’s boardwalk charm, Pacific Beach’s lively patios, La Jolla’s cliffside sophistication, Del Mar’s beachfront allure, Carlsbad’s relaxed oceanfront options, and Oceanside’s casual coastal vibe.
With proper planning, the right outfit, dining accessories, and reservation tools, these restaurants create unforgettable meals with spectacular views.
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