The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of October 5, 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.
Mission Trails Holiday Marketplace
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Mission Trails Holiday Marketplace Goes Two Days This Year
  • Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation is expanding its Holiday Marketplace to a full weekend, and if you’ve been looking for a way to shop local...
woman surrounded by lights
Lightscape Returns to San Diego Botanic Garden With New Installations
San Diego Botanic Garden‘s Lightscape is back for its fourth year, and if you’ve been before, you already know what makes this different from your...
The Waverly five-year anniversary
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The Waverly Celebrates Five Years in Cardiff
The Waverly is hitting its five-year mark, and instead of just posting something on Instagram and calling it a day, they’re throwing a proper anniversary...
Herb & Wood Thanksgiving
The Best Places to Enjoy a Thanksgiving Feast in San Diego
Whether you’re craving a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, exploring innovative takes on classic dishes at some of San Diego’s finest restaurants, or...
Foundation for Women Warriors Unsung Heroes: The Story Of America’s Female Patriots
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Foundation for Women Warriors Hosts Free Screening of “Unsung Heroes”
  • Online Event
San Diego nonprofit Foundation for Women Warriors is hosting a free virtual screening of Unsung Heroes: The Story of America’s Female Patriots, and if you’ve...
La Jolla Playhouse working girl
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La Jolla Playhouse Debuts ‘Working Girl’ – A New Musical With Big ’80s Energy
La Jolla Playhouse is giving one of the most iconic ‘80s films a bold new twist with the world premiere of Working Girl, a fresh...
Escape to Healdsburg for a Sparkling Holiday Season
Sometimes the best way to appreciate San Diego is to leave it for a few days, and if you’re looking for a winter escape that...
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Salute to Paws 5K and Gratitude Festival Celebrates Dogs and Veterans
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to spend Sunday morning with your dog, Shelter to Soldier’s 2nd annual Salute to Paws 5K and Gratitude...
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The Artist Is Not Alone Brings San Diego’s Creative Community Together
  • Bread & Salt
There’s something special happening at Bread & Salt in Barrio Logan, and it’s exactly what the name suggests – a space where artists, makers, and...
La Jolla Symphony & Chorus 2025-26 season
La Jolla Symphony & Chorus Opens Season With French Masterworks
La Jolla Symphony & Chorus is kicking off their 2025-26 season with The French Connection, and if you’re into orchestral music that balances playful whimsy...
architecture of Irving J. Gill
OMA Celebrates Irving J. Gill’s Architectural Legacy in Oceanside
Oceanside Museum of Art is doing something that feels perfectly timed – honoring the architect behind two of the city’s most significant buildings just as...
Bing Crosby Season
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Racing Returns to Del Mar for Bing Crosby Season and Breeders’ Cup
  • Del Mar Racetrack
Fall in San Diego means racing season is back at Del Mar, and this year it’s kicking off with something huge. The Bing Crosby Season...
Blue Forest Immersive Installation
Step Into Catalina’s Kelp Forest Without Getting Wet
Catalina Museum for Art & History is opening an exhibition that does something most underwater documentaries can’t – it lets you actually walk through a...
Snapshots of San Diego exhibit
New Airport Exhibition Honors James Hubbell’s Peace Park Legacy
San Diego International Airport’s newly renovated Terminal 1 has a new exhibition that goes beyond typical airport art. The Ilan-Lael Foundation is presenting a stained-glass...
Zen Modern Asian Bistro
Three Generations of Culinary Tradition Land at Del Mar Sky Deck
Del Mar’s Sky Deck has a new anchor, and it comes with a backstory that’s pretty special. Zen Modern Asian Bistro just opened its flagship...
Station 8 Public Market La Jolla
STATION8 Public Market Will Redefine Campus Dining at UC San Diego
UC San Diego is getting a food hall that’s actually worth paying attention to. STATION8 Public Market, opening in August 2026, is being billed as...
Carte Hotel lobby
Carté Hotel Completes Major Transformation With New Canvas Café + Lounge
Little Italy’s Carté Hotel has finished a significant overhaul that goes well beyond swapping out furniture and repainting walls. The hotel has rebranded entirely, gutted...
Radenko Milak
Madison Gallery Explores Climate Change Through Art in “Four Seasons Interrupted”
Climate change is one of those topics that can feel abstract until someone finds a way to make it visible. Radenko Milak has done exactly...
Art of Marketing Conference San Diego
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The Art of Marketing Conference Returns for Its Fourth Year
If you’re in marketing, brand strategy, or anything adjacent, the Art of Marketing Conference has become one of those events that’s actually worth blocking out...
Birch Aquarium Halloween Aglow
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Halloween Aglow Returns to Birch Aquarium for Two Nights of Ocean-Themed Fun
  • Birch Aquarium
If you’re looking for a Halloween event that’s a little different from the usual haunted houses and pumpkin patches, Birch Aquarium has something worth checking...
Haunted Hangar Halloween Bash at USS MIdway
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The Goonies Turn 40 and USS Midway Is Throwing the Party
  • USS Midway Museum
The USS Midway Museum knows how to lean into a theme, and this year’s Haunted Hangar Halloween Bash is going all-in on The Goonies. With...
Daffodil Cafe
Daffodil Café Brings Fresh Energy to La Jolla’s Daytime Dining Scene
La Jolla has a new spot that’s worth knowing about, especially if you work anywhere near the UTC area or just appreciate a café that...
The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Balboa Theatre
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Time Warp Your Way to The Rocky Horror Picture Show’s 50th Anniversary
  • Balboa Theatre
Some movies you watch. Others you experience. The Rocky Horror Picture Show has always been the latter, and this 50th anniversary tour is bringing that...
Spreckels Organ Society phantom of the opera
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Experience The Phantom of the Opera Like Never Before at Spreckels Organ Pavilion
  • Spreckels Organ Pavilion
We’ve all heard The Phantom of the Opera before – but probably not like this. The Spreckels Organ Society is taking Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic...
Upcoming Events
Family enjoying Father's Day gondola cruise through the Coronado Cays
Take Dad on a Gondola Cruise Through the Coronado Cays This Father’s Day
June 21, 2026
10:00 am
The Gondola Company has a better Father’s Day plan than anything you’ll find at the mall. A Venetian-style cruise through the scenic Coronado Cays, cold...
Ritual: Solstice - Immersive Music and Art Experience
Mark the Summer Solstice With a Night of Art and Jazz at Liberty Station
June 20, 2026
8:30 pm
Immerse yourself in the magic of RITUAL SOLSTICE at Liberty Station – a captivating fusion of art, sound, and atmosphere awaits you.
Ziggy Marley performing live on the Brightside Tour 2026 in San Diego
Catch Ziggy Marley Live at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
June 20, 2026
8:00 pm
  • Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre
Ziggy Marley is bringing his Brightside Tour to San Diego for a night of live reggae at one of the city’s best outdoor venues. Supporting...
Reset and Reconnect at the Ikigai Wellness Retreat at the Japanese Friendship Garden
June 20, 2026
4:00 pm
  • Japanese Friendship Garden
If you’ve been craving a full reset that feels intentional, this one’s worth clearing your calendar for. The Ikigai Wellness Retreat is coming to the...
3rd Annual Downtown Oceanside Ace Hardware BBQ Competition
Support Rady Children’s Hospital at the 3rd Annual Downtown Oceanside BBQ Competition
June 20, 2026
10:00 am
Local pitmasters are firing up their grills for a great cause this summer. The 3rd Annual Oceanside Ace Hardware BBQ Competition transforms the Downtown Oceanside...