The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink – Week of May 18, 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.
True Irish celebration
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Shake Your Clovers at the San Diego ShamROCK Music + Beer Festival
  • Gaslamp Quarter
The Annual ShamROCK St. Paddy’s Day Music + Beer Festival is back and ready to transform the Gaslamp Quarter into a sea of green! Enjoy...
contemporary painting
MCASD Unveils a Vibrant Spring 2025 Exhibition Lineup
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) 2025 Spring Programming is set to highlight the vibrancy and evolution of contemporary painting, featuring two standout...
False Idol new cocktail menu
False Idol Unveils a Bold New Cocktail Menu
False Idol’s new cocktail menu has arrived, bringing a fresh wave of inventive tiki creations to San Diego’s tiki temple. After more than a year...
Wilsey Asset Management event
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Rev Your Engines for the Shifting Gears Rally
The Shifting Gears Rally, presented by Wilsey Asset Management, brings together car enthusiasts for a scenic rally, poker run, and car show to benefit the...
Goitse at The Conrad
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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day With Goitse at The Conrad
  • The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
We’re in for an unforgettable St. Patrick’s Day celebration as Goitse, one of today’s most exciting Irish traditional bands, takes the stage at The Conrad...
Lion’s Share bar takeover
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The Lion’s Share Bar Takeover Brings a One-Night-Only Collaboration to Herb & Wood
  • Herb and Wood
Two of San Diego’s favorite culinary spots are coming together for a Lion’s Share bar takeover at Herb & Wood. This one-night-only event kicks off...
history, culture, and artistic expression
The San Diego Museum of Art Unveils an Exciting Winter-Spring Season
The San Diego Museum of Art’s (SDMA) new exhibitions are set to bring an inspiring mix of history, culture, and artistic expression to Balboa Park...
Wynston's Blue Ribbons
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Wynston’s Ice Cream Scores Big at the National Ice Cream Awards—Celebrate With Free Scoops!
  • Wynston’s Ice Cream Co.
Wynston’s Blue Ribbons just made San Diego proud! At this year’s National Ice Cream Association Awards, Wynston’s took home 1st place (Blue Ribbon honors!) for...
Wicked-themed afternoon tea experience
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A Wicked-Themed Afternoon Tea Experience Returns to The Westgate Hotel
  • Westgate Hotel
Step into the enchanting world of Oz as The Westgate Hotel transforms its Grand Lobby into an immersive Wicked-themed afternoon tea experience in honor of...
Inaugural Match Watch Party
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San Diego FC’s Inaugural Match Watch Party
  • Mavericks Beach Club
San Diego, the wait is over! San Diego FC’s first-ever match is here, and we’re celebrating with an epic Inaugural Match Watch Party at Mavericks...
Strauss Salome
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Strauss’s Salome Brings Scandal and Seduction to San Diego
  • San Diego Civic Theatre
Prepare for an evening of passion, power, and provocation as Strauss’s Salome takes center stage. Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s scandalous play, this gripping opera tells...
Mainly Mozart Culinary Concerto
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Mainly Mozart’s 2nd Annual Culinary Concerto: A Night of Food, Wine & Music
Mainly Mozart is bringing back its Culinary Concerto, a one-of-a-kind evening where 25 award-winning chefs and 25 world-class winemakers come together for an unforgettable four-course...
Matt Devine: Walk with Me
Matt Devine Brings an Immersive Sculpture Exhibition to OMA
Matt Devine: Walk with Me, an immersive sculpture exhibition, is set to debut at Oceanside Museum of Art from March 1 to July 6, 2025....
OCEANS AT NIGHT: OCEANS OF LOVE
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Oceans of Love at Birch Aquarium
  • Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego is adding a splash of romance to its popular after-dark series with Oceans at...
Coffee & Beer at AleSmith Brewing Company
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Coffee & Beer at AleSmith Brewing Company
  • AleSmith Brewing Company
Coffee lovers and craft beer enthusiasts, get ready! Coffee & Beer at AleSmith Brewing Company is back for its second year, bringing together the best...
Broadway San Diego WICKED
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Wicked Casts its Spell on San Diego
  • Civic Theater
Broadway San Diego presents Wicked, the spellbinding musical that reimagines the story of Oz from a whole new perspective. Before Dorothy ever arrived, there was...
All the Places We Belong
New Gallery 201 Exhibit Spotlights Emerging Artists
A fresh wave of creativity is taking over Gallery 201 with the debut of All the Places We Belong, a compelling exhibition featuring Emerging Artists...
The 10 Best Karaoke Bars in San Diego
When the typical bar-going experience just won’t do and you need a little something extra (you know, some nostalgic tunes to take you back to...
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Celebrate Love in Style, San Diego
  • Jacobs Music Center
Let romance take center stage this Valentine’s Day at Jacobs Music Center, where renowned music director and pianist Rob Fisher will lead a special evening...
Robert Xavier Burden
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Robert Xavier Burden Unveils The Alien Painting at Oceanside Museum of Art
  • Oceanside Museum of Art
After two years in the making, The Alien Painting at Oceanside Museum of Art is finally complete! Renowned artist Robert Xavier Burden returns to OMA...
intersection of art and science
Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series Returns to Birch Aquarium
The 2025 Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture Series is back at Birch Aquarium, offering a fascinating look at the intersection of art and science. This...
Sports Bars in San Diego from Downtown to North County
The Best Sports Bars in San Diego From Downtown to North County
Listen up, San Diego sports fans! If you’re tired of being a spectator from your couch while the real fans are livin’ it up at...
The Kook Run
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Kick Off Super Bowl Sunday With The Kook Run 2025
  • Downtown Encinitas
Kick off Super Bowl Sunday with The Kook Run, the ultimate 5K & 10K race and costume party along the stunning Coast Hwy 101 in...
The Menta Bar's February events
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Sip, Paint, Shop & Vibe: The Mental Bar’s Must-Attend Events This February
The Mental Bar in Encanto, the cherished destination in the heart of the Black Arts & Culture District of San Diego, has announced a packed event calendar...
Upcoming Events
Salute to Paws 5K and Gratitude Festival Celebrates Dogs and Veterans
November 9, 2025
8:00 am
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...
The Capital of Craft Beer Festival Kicks Off San Diego Beer Week
November 8, 2025
1:00 pm
San Diego Beer Week is back, and it’s kicking off in the best way possible – with unlimited craft beer tastings, live music, and that...
The Artist Is Not Alone Brings San Diego’s Creative Community Together
November 7, 2025
7:00 pm
  • 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...
Margaritaville halloween rooftop party
Nautical Nightmares Brings a Pirate-Themed Halloween Party to Margaritaville’s Rooftop
October 31, 2025
7:00 pm
Halloween night usually means choosing between bar-hopping downtown or hitting up a house party, but Margaritaville Hotel San Diego is offering a third option that’s...
La Jolla Playhouse working girl
La Jolla Playhouse Debuts ‘Working Girl’ – A New Musical With Big ’80s Energy
October 28, 2025
8:00 pm
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...