san diego's new restaurants and bars
coming 2025
Some spots, of many, I’m looking forward to coming to San Diego. Whether you’re a local, or looking to plan a trip to SD this year(… nudge nudge to my Seattle pals!)
***Note: The dates are an estimate as opening a business of anysort, especially a food biz.. is a big endevor. Things go wrong and licensing is a headache, so all are subject to change… don’t hold me to it 😉
À L’ouest- North Park / University and 30th / May 2025
A French brasserie with sparkles of American roots by Trust Restaurant Group. With an image like this on their opening website… my interest is peaked.
Baby Grand Crown City Hotel Restaurants / Coronado / Orange Ave / Fall- Early Winter 2025
The iconic Consortium Holdings is taking over the old La Avenida Inn in Coronado, which has been around since 1957. Considering it’s first hotel stunner, The Lafayette, I cannot wait to see how they will completely transform the La Avenida building. But this is about restaurants… It’s said to have 3 dining concepts: ‘Fallen Empire - a champagne, oyster and caviar bar; an unnamed omakase restaurant; and a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant-bar named Nighthawk’ [SanDiegoVille].
Le Horse Continental Room / North Park / El Cajon Blvd / 2025
Speaking of Consortium Holdings, The Lafayette is opening a fine-dining, French-inspired restaurant, named Le Horse Continental Room. I’m still making my way through all the new concepts inside, but very much looking forward to this one and I hear there is a spa concept coming that’s inspired by Russian, Roman and Turkish bathhouses.. say no more.
Bar Nice / North Park / 30th / Summer 2025
Let’s continue on the French trend… Bar Nice is expected to be an Old World-style French bar (Gorge!). I hear they are inspired by Bon Georges in Paris, a spot I’ve had saved for my next France trip. I’m imaging menus on chalkboard walls or boards, a stunning wine list, and a rotating menu.. With this image and the small bit of branding I see, I also envision some Chef Renee Erickson vibes. This spot is pretty top of my list. Especially if it brings some Erickson/Sea Creatures feel, I think I’ll feel both ready to book that France flight and a little Seattle comfort.
Bock / South Park / 30th / 2025
Speaking of comfort.. both in food and in memories of past life cities to call home.. The crew of Bottlecraft is teaming up with Biersal and opening an Old-World style pup and German eatery, in the old Hamilton's Tavern space. Z and I are always looking for a solid German spot since our Berlin life, so I’m hoping this one hits the mark!
Bosforo / Normal Heights / Adams / 2025
A Turkish and Italian fusion restaurant. Chef Seckin is from Turkey and has been operating a mobile wood-fired pizza catering company. There will be wood-fired Turkish flatbreads, kebab, and mezzes, and some delicious sounding cocktails like a raki-infused negroni and pomegranate and sumac martini. The restaurant will have a communal dining and social space, honoring Turkish meyhane.
Dreamboat and Vulture / University Heights / Park Blvd / Late-Summer to Early-Fall 2025
Kory Stetina owner of Bar Kindred and Mothership are opening two restaurant concepts under the University Heights sign. Both concepts will have a complete vegan menu, just like their other two restaurants. Bais that I now live down the street (oh yeah.. we bought a home!) but I’m very, very excited about these two. Dreamboat— a casual, 10-seat micro-diner; and Vulture— a sophisticated fine-dining restaurant. "Think of dim-lit table lamps in a quiet, dark dining room, with a small bar. Think of Champagne. Think of Martinis. Think of the classic dishes with two names ending with 'Thermidor', 'Rockefeller', 'Diane', and 'Jubilee.' All of this will be presented in the unique and surreal way in which we tend to do things." [Stetina]. They posted to their IG story, earlier this week, an article from New York Times titled: ‘Why Don’t People Dress Up Anymore?’, which set the stage for what they are hoping to create: a moment to dress up, feel classy, and dine. Picturing old New York or San Francisco. Great Gatsby vibes. So grab your pearls ladies and gents!
Electric Wine / University Heights/Hillcrest / Park Blvd / Mid-2025
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Victoria O’Bryan and chatting about our love for the food and wine industry, supper clubs, and wine ed. O’Bryan is a former wine director for a three Michelin-star so her knowledge is deep, and passionate! With most wine shops opening nowadays focusing on local or natural wines, Victoria will be focusing on Old and New World wines, but also under-hyped wine regions. Her shop ideas are still running and blooming in her mind, so you’ll have to come in to find out what her space will bring!
Good News / Hillcrest / Park Blvd / Spring 2025
I grieve a lot of business I miss about moving away from Seattle, and one of them is Cheeky and Dry. But finally we have our very own first 100% non-alcoholic bar coming to San Diego! I can’t wait for this space to open.
Khachapuri / University Heights / Park Blvd / Spring 2025
Created by the folks at Kafe Sobaka, welcomes Khachapuri. I’ve been on a deep passionate love for Georgia (the country, not state) so I’m very excited about this new spot opening just a few blocks from me. Will also be including a Georgian wine list.
LILO / Carlsbad / State St /Spring 2025
Owner John Resnick and Executive Chef Eric Bosts of Jeune et Jolie, Campfire, and Wildland will have two restaurants under Wildland’s roof. Wildland is a casual neighborhood all-day cafe, and Lilo (lahy-low) will be it’s more refined and fine-dining counterpart. It will be an intimate, standalone 22-seat chef’s table experience. I’ve also heard amazing things about Wildland so far, so I see a drive up to Carlsbad in my future!
Marigold Bagels / North Park / El Cajon Blvd / Mid-2025
Mt. Bagel to Seattle is Marigold bagel to San Diego. Currently popping up at farmer’s markets and Ponyboy, Marigold is opening its first brick and mortar. I can’t wait to get my hands on these!
Nómade / Normal Heights / Adams / Early 2025
The folks at El Agave Mexican Restaurant in Old Town are opening up this tapas and vinyl bar. They’ll be serving small bites, beer, wine and low abv cocktails. San Diego loves a record bar/cafe sitch, so I’m sure this one will also be a hotspot. I also love a good tapas bar…
Odie’s Pizza / Oceanside / N. Cleveland St. / March 2025
These pizzas look so good I’d drive north to Oceanside just to experience them alone. They are Neapolitan and New York-inspired sourdough pizza. They will also have Sicilian as square pies, wings, salads, milkshakes, soft serve, and provide vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
Relic Bageri / East Village / 15th St / 2025
I’ve yet to get my hands on Relic Bageri at one of their many pop-up locations, but I’m very excited to see their official brick and mortar, and finally try a pastry (or two!) Their pastry list always sounds unreal, like a mushroom risotto croissant, Ferrero Rocher croissant, banana miso chocolate cookies, bleu cheese (you read that right) dark chocolate chip cookie, and many more. Oh.. and swedish cardamom buns that I can never resist.
Sonny’s / University Heights / Madison + Park Blvd / Early 2025
Yet another University Height’s spot I’m very eager for! Jeffrey Fink and Matt Sieve who own Madison on Park Ave and Madi on Adams, are opening a New York pizza joint with the vibes of nostalgic 1980s Brooklyn (iconic). Besides pizza, they will also have apps, entrees, and salads, all with the hope to make an Italian Nonna proud. I’m most excited for their bar which is serve a mix of amaro-based cocktails.
Tacos El Franc / Chula Vista / Plaza Bonita Rd / Early 2025
Founded as a cart in 1996 by Javier Valdez, Tacos El Franc is one of Tijuana's top taqueria's. You’ve probably heard of it from Netflix's Taco Chronicles or you’ve probably already been, but I cannot wait for this Michelin guide taqueria to hit San Diego! Expected to serve grilled tacos on handmade corn tortillas, tortas, quesadillas, mulitas, burritos, and pozole + menudo soups.
Wildflower Delicatessen / Point Loma / Liberty Station / Early 2025
San Diego native Chef Phillip Esteban (Open Gym Hospitality Group), owner of White Rice Bodega on Adams in Normal Heights, is opening up a California style delicatessen to Liberty Station. It’s inspired by The Anchovy Bar in SF (one of my faves!) and Gold Finch Modern Jewish Deli in La Jolla, so I’m excited to see that vision come together. But.. a solid deli doesn’t take much to win me over. They’ll be serving up homemade bread and pasta, sandos, as well as small and large plates. They’re also be serving Provecho coffee (another fave of mine!)!
