The Craving

The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of October 12, 2026

The Craving is ThereSanDiego's weekly guide to what's worth eating and drinking in San Diego right now. Every Tuesday, we surface new restaurant openings, standout happy hours, limited-time menu specials, and upcoming food events across the city - so you know what's happening before everyone else does.
A first look at the Heritage Steakhouse debut menu
Savor Prime Steaks at The Heritage Steakhouse
East County is about to get its first true five-star steakhouse. The Heritage Steakhouse opens this November in Santee, pairing a classic American steakhouse experience...
San Diego Ballet: Día de los Muertos
Watch the Galleries Turn Into a Stage at The San Diego Museum of Art
Discover the excitement of Museum as a Stage SDMA with performances from local companies at the San Diego Museum of Art starting this fall.
Grim Musical Comedy
Upcoming
Meet the Grim Reaper’s Daughter in GRIM at La Jolla Playhouse
Uncover the hilarious chaos in GRIM at La Jolla Playhouse as Diana navigates love and her new job in the family business.
Bach Collegium San Diego Salzburg Connections
Upcoming
Spend a Night in Salzburg With Bach Collegium San Diego
  • All Souls’ Episcopal Church
  • The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Experience the Bach Collegium October performances celebrating Salzburg Connections with Mozart and Haydn in the city.
San Diego Made Holiday Market
Upcoming
Spend Small Business Saturday With 150 Local Makers at Liberty Station
  • NTC Park
Experience the San Diego Made Holiday Market with local artisans, artists, and handmade goods. Shop directly from the makers!
Nature Collective fall events
Spend October Outside With Nature Collective: Free Tours, a Fall Festival & a Way to Give Back
Nature Collective has been working to protect San Diego’s wild spaces for 40 years. This October, they’re opening up a lineup of free events that...
Craft beer flowing at the Lions Tigers & Bears fundraiser
Upcoming
Raise a Pint for Lions Tigers & Bears at TapRoom
Lions Tigers & Bears is kicking off the holiday giving season and TapRoom North Park is lending a helping hand. San Diego’s only exotic animal...
San Diego’s Most Spine-Tingling Ghost Stories and Haunted Hotspots
Sure, we all know San Diego for its perfect beaches, craft beer scene, and year-round sunshine. But once the sun sets over the Pacific, our...
campland on the bay halloween events
Pitch a Tent, Carve a Pumpkin & Do Halloween Right on Mission Bay
There’s a version of Halloween that involves a campsite on Mission Bay, an RV decorating contest, and a DJ dance party after dark. Campland on...
Celebrate the Season at Bivouac: Pumpkins, Pets, Movies & a Halloween Bash
Bivouac Ciderworks is the kind of North Park spot worth making a weekly habit – craft cider, a full food menu, an adventure lodge, a...
LP and the Vinyl performing live at Hidden City Sounds
All done
Catch LP and The Vinyl at Hidden City Sounds
  • California Center for the Arts
Hidden City Sounds is hosting LP And The Vinyl for an evening that blends genre-bending music with a community jazz jam, and it’s completely free....
Galbani Bella Vita Fest
Upcoming
Watch Little Italy Turn Into a Chalk Canvas at Bella Vita Fest
  • Little Italy
Celebrate Italian culture at Bella Vita Fest with cooking demos, live music, and stunning chalk art all weekend long.
San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition
All done
Dive Into 29 Underwater Films Over Two Nights in San Diego
  • Qualcomm Hall
Celebrate marine adventure with the San Diego Undersea Film Exhibition, presenting unique films from reefs and open waters around the globe.
Upcoming
Bar Hop at the Downtown San Diego Halloween Bar Fest
  • Downtown San Diego
Halloween in Downtown San Diego just got a whole lot easier to plan. Mad City Bar Fest’s Halloween Bar Crawl gives you one wristband for...
IZOLA Bakeshop Sorrento Valley
Get Ready for IZOLA in Sorrento Valley (the East Village Favorite is Expanding!)
Jeffrey Brown and Jenny Chen had no baking experience, no professional ovens, and no storefront when they decided to start IZOLA in 2020. They’d just...
House Nouveau Riche
Step Inside House Nouveau Riche – Where the Roaring Twenties Meet What’s Next
There are fashion shows, and then there are arguments. House Nouveau Riche is the latter – a production built around a question every generation eventually...
pumpkin patch san diego
The Best Pumpkin Patches in and Around San Diego
The grocery store pumpkin bin gets the job done, but it’s no pumpkin patch. From Valley Center farms to a city lot in Del Mar,...
Six Great Destinations for a Fall Road Trip From San Diego
The start of fall means it’s time for a road trip from San Diego to one of our amazing regional destinations where you can get...
A moment of remembrance at Wings Over Big Bear
All done
Celebrate Jackie’s Legacy at Wings Over Big Bear
Following the loss of Jackie, the bald eagle whose Big Bear nest captivated millions of viewers worldwide, the Big Bear community is coming together to...
Otay Ranch Town Center Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Upcoming
Breathe, Stretch & Go Pink at Otay Ranch Town Center
  • Otay Ranch Town Center
Unite for a cause at the Breathe & Believe breast cancer awareness event. Enjoy yoga and community this October evening.
A spooky movie night at Rooftop Cinema Club Halloween
Dive into a Month of Scares at Rooftop Cinema Club
Rooftop Cinema Club, San Diego’s favorite outdoor cinema perched five stories above Columbia Street, is swapping in costumes and spooky décor for a full month...
Guests enjoying tea as part of the La Valencia Hotel October Lineup
Sip Pink Tea & Catch a Movie at La Valencia
Fall has officially arrived, and La Valencia Hotel is welcoming back two of its favorite autumn traditions: the annual Pink Tea benefiting Susan G. Komen...
things to do in san diego in october
Things to Do in San Diego in October
October is packed with reasons to get out and explore San Diego! From trick-or-treating around town and Halloween costume parties to lively Oktoberfest celebrations, there’s...
Jingle Jets Holiday Lighting Celebration
Upcoming
Board the USS Midway for a Million Lights and a Talking Christmas Tree
  • USS Midway Museum
Celebrate the season at Jingle Jets with stunning light displays, model trains, and the amusing Admiral Evergreen tree.
Upcoming Events
Will Ferrell’s Holiday Jam
Get Off the “Naughty List” at Will Ferrell’s Holiday Jam
December 5, 2026
9:00 pm
  • Music Box
Celebrate the season at Will Ferrell's Holiday Jam. Enjoy live music, surprises, and support cancer survivors heading to college.
Encinitas Chamber of Commerce
Shop, Stroll, and Celebrate at Encinitas’ First Holiday Village & Market
December 4, 2026
2:00 pm
  • Moonlight Beach
Discover the charm of the Encinitas Holiday Village & Market featuring lively vendors and festive activities in a coastal setting.
Ales N' Rails bringing craft beer and trains together
Get Ready for a Night of Beer and Trains at Ales N’ Rails
November 21, 2026
6:00 pm
  • San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Craft beer and model trains are teaming up again for Ales N’ Rails, and tickets are officially on sale. This annual evening at the San...
Spend an Evening With Edgar Allan Poe at Villa Montezuma
November 16, 2026
6:00 pm
Delve into the macabre at the Villa Montezuma PoeFest, where literature and history intertwine in a hauntingly beautiful venue.
A memorable night at Andrés Martín The Conrad performance
Catch Andrés Martín’s Solo Show at The Conrad
November 14, 2026
7:30 pm
  • The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
CAMARADA, a resident company at The Conrad, is presenting Time Traveler, an immersive solo performance from double bassist Andrés Martín that turns a night of...