The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of September 28, 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 Magical Cirque Christmas
Upcoming
Fly Into the Holidays With A Magical Cirque Christmas in Oceanside
Join us for a Magical Cirque Christmas oceanside, where stunning performances and holiday cheer create an unforgettable night.
North Park Book Fair
Upcoming
Browse Rare Books and Enter a Costume Contest at the North Park Book Fair
  • North Park
Experience the vibrant North Park Book Fair with vendors, a costume contest, and endless bookish delights. Admission is free!
East Village Oktoberfest
All done
Grab a Seat and a Stein at the 10th Annual East Village Oktoberfest
  • Quartyard
Experience the 10th East Village Oktoberfest with a tight tap list and the best of Munich-style beer culture in San Diego.
A festive afternoon at Oishii Japanese Food & Sake Festival
Upcoming
Taste Your Way Through Oishii Japanese Food & Sake Fest
  • Japanese Friendship Garden
Spend the afternoon tasting your way through the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum at the Oishii Japanese Food & Sake Fest. From savory street food...
A Beer Lover’s Ultimate Guide To La Mesa Oktoberfest
Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest in San Diego
Dig the lederhosen and dirndl out of the closet and grab your best stein. It’s that time of year again for the most famous German...
Oktoberfest Party Cruise
Upcoming
Take Oktoberfest Out on the Water With the Mission Bay Party Cruise
  • Bahia Resort Hotel
Lederhosen is optional. A good attitude is not. The San Diego Oktoberfest Party Cruise is back for its fourth year, boarding the three-level William D....
Pirates of the Caribbean screening under the stars at Midway
Upcoming
Set Sail for Midway’s Fright Deck Halloween Party
  • USS Midway Museum
Calling all pirates, ghosts, ghouls, and creatures of the deep. This Halloween, gather your crew and step aboard the USS Midway Museum for Fright Deck:...
Live dating show chaos unfolding on stage at Love Isn't Blind San Diego
All done
Catch Love Isn’t Blind Live, Where the Men Can’t Say a Word
Tired of swiping? Check out Love Isn't Blind dating show for a hilarious night of competition and unexpected romance.
A stroll through Point Loma's new public art walk
All done
Take a Stroll Through Point Loma’s New Public Art
Point Loma Village is getting a fresh dose of color, and the whole community is invited to celebrate a bold new mural by acclaimed San...
The Dempsey's reimagined lodge exterior in Pine Hills
Meet The Dempsey, Your Stylish New Mountain Escape Near Julian
A century-old mountain lodge just outside Julian is about to feel brand new. The Dempsey opens this October in Pine Hills, transforming the historic 1912...
kids free in october
Bring the Kids to 60+ Museums Free This October – Tijuana Just Joined the Party
Sixteen years in, Kids Free in October just got its biggest upgrade yet. The San Diego Museum Council’s annual program gives kids 12 and under...
Sponsored
Justin Orr of Iron Orr Fitness
Iron Orr Fitness: The San Diego Training Philosophy Built Around Not Getting Injured
Iron Orr Fitness brings an injury-conscious approach to training, combining corrective exercise, individualized programming, and DGI philosophy to help clients make progress.
Jack White Live delivering a night of rock and roll
All done
See Jack White Bring Raw Rock Energy to The Sound
Jack White is hitting the road again, and Del Mar is getting a stop on the tour. Known for reinventing rock and roll on his...
San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival
Plan Your Four Days at the San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival
Discover the magic of the San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival, where jazz bridges cultures in a vibrant four-day celebration.
Yokai Masquerade
Upcoming
Spend Halloween Night With the Yokai at Japanese Friendship Garden
  • Japanese Friendship Garden
Celebrate Halloween at the Yokai Masquerade. Dress as your favorite Yokai and enjoy a night of fun, performances, and folklore.
Lions Tigers & Bears celebrating fall with rescued animals
Upcoming
Celebrate Spooky Season With the Animals at Lions Tigers & Bears
  • Lions Tigers & Bears
Alpine’s favorite exotic animal sanctuary is getting into the Halloween spirit with the return of its Spooky Campover and Pumpkin Bash. Back by popular demand,...
the skyline spin oceanside beach
All done
Send Off Summer at The Skyline Spin – a Free Beachside DJ Event in Oceanside
The Mushroom Cowboy has been throwing free daytime music gatherings across the country – good sound, good coffee, no cover charge. New York, New Orleans,...
nfl football specials san diego
The Best Bars and Restaurants to Watch NFL Football in San Diego
Whether your team is on the field or you’re just here for the nachos, San Diego has plenty of places to catch the game this...
Temecula Valley Barrel Art Trail
Explore Temecula Valley’s Barrel Art Trail, Where Wine Country Meets Public Art
Someone in Temecula looked at a pile of retired wine barrels and thought: art exhibit. And honestly? Correct. The Barrel Art Trail puts 42 one-of-a-kind...
goop kitchen del mar
Dine In at Goop Kitchen’s First Sit-Down Restaurant in Del Mar
Yes, that goop. Gwyneth Paltrow’s brand just opened its first-ever dine-in restaurant at One Paseo in Del Mar, and it’s a 92-seat space she personally...
Ales N' Rails bringing craft beer and trains together
Upcoming
Get Ready for a Night of Beer and Trains at Ales N’ Rails
  • 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...
hotel del holiday special
Experience Hotel del Coronado’s 2026 Holiday Season – Skating, Igloos, and a Skydiving Santa
Hotel del Coronado has been doing the holidays for over 135 years, and this season’s theme – “A Holiday Through Time” – leans into exactly...
Upcoming
Raise a Stein at OB Oktoberfest’s Y2K Weekend at the Beach
  • OB Pier Parking Lot
OB Oktoberfest has been going strong for over 20 years and somehow keeps getting more unhinged, in the best way. This year it’s leaning hard...
Sake Bar Gaga hosting its latest chef collaboration dinner
All done
Get a Taste of Kettner Exchange x Sake Bar Gaga’s Latest Collaboration
Sake Bar Gaga’s Chef Collaboration Series is back for round two, and this time it’s bringing together two very different culinary worlds under one roof....
Upcoming Events
Pirates of the Caribbean screening under the stars at Midway
Set Sail for Midway’s Fright Deck Halloween Party
October 24, 2026
6:00 pm
  • USS Midway Museum
Calling all pirates, ghosts, ghouls, and creatures of the deep. This Halloween, gather your crew and step aboard the USS Midway Museum for Fright Deck:...
Paddle Boarding SD Nightmare on the Bay
Paddle Mission Bay After Dark at Nightmare on the Bay
October 24, 2026
4:00 pm
  • Ski Beach
Dive into the Halloween spirit with Paddle Boarding SD's Nightmare on the Bay. Celebrate with costumed paddlers under the stars.
Amjad Ali Khan and sons performing together
Experience Confluence With La Jolla Symphony & Chorus
October 24, 2026
2:00 pm
  • Mandeville Auditorium, UC San Diego
La Jolla Symphony & Chorus is opening its season in a big way, welcoming legendary sarod virtuoso Amjad Ali Khan and his sons, Ayaan Ali...
Lions Tigers & Bears celebrating fall with rescued animals
Celebrate Spooky Season With the Animals at Lions Tigers & Bears
October 23, 2026
3:00 pm
  • Lions Tigers & Bears
Alpine’s favorite exotic animal sanctuary is getting into the Halloween spirit with the return of its Spooky Campover and Pumpkin Bash. Back by popular demand,...
Ghost Light Masquerade The Nocturne Theatre
You’re Part of the Story at Ghost Light Masquerade
October 22, 2026
7:30 pm
Discover the magic of the Ghost Light Masquerade, where audiences move among the performance in a unique Halloween tradition.