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.
Spreckels Organ Pavilion's Special Christmas Concert
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Symphony Under the Stars at Spreckels Organ Pavilion
  • Balboa Park
The world’s largest outdoor organ is set to steal the show as the Spreckels Organ Society and San Diego Opera unite for two performances featuring...
Rooftop Cinema Club Fireside Films
Get Cozy With Fireside Films at Rooftop Cinema Club
San Diego’s most popular outdoor cinema is unveiling something special this winter. Rooftop Cinema Club Fireside Films is transforming their prime seating area with two-person...
holiday at la valencia hotel
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Enjoy the Spirit of the Season at the Iconic La Valencia
  • La Valencia Hotel
La Jolla’s La Valencia Hotel is where timeless celebrations bring coastal elegance to life. From champagne-paired teas to poolside films, these festivities capture the spirit...
Tidepooling Adventures
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Experience “King Tide” Tidepooling Adventures With Birch Aquarium
  • Birch Aquarium at Scripps
From octopuses to sea stars, hermit crabs, and sea anemones, there is no shortage of life in San Diego’s tide pools. This fall, King Tides return to...
Craft and Commerce is one of the Best Bars in San Diego for a holiday cocktail.
20 of San Diego’s Best Bars to Put on Your Holiday Cocktail Route
Cheers to the best time of the year! It’s officially Holiday Cocktail Season, which we take very seriously around the halls of ThereSanDiego! 🥃 That...
Holiday Coffee Cocktail Class
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Learn All About Coffee Mixology at Ox Coffee
Mission Valley’s coziest coffee spot is about to shake things up with a night of caffeinated cocktail magic at their Holiday Coffee Cocktail Class. Dive...
San Diego's largest free holiday festival
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Balboa Park December Nights Returns Better Than Ever
  • Balboa Park
Balboa Park December Nights, San Diego’s largest free holiday festival, is about to transform our cultural heart into the most incredible celebration of the year....
Rady Ice Rink
Festive Fun at Arts District Liberty Station
The Arts District Liberty Station December events are an explosion of creativity. Get ready for a whirlwind month where phenomenal art exhibitions collide with electrifying...
San Diego's coolest holiday tradition
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Surfin’ Santa at Seaport Village is Back
  • Seaport Village
San Diego‘s coolest holiday tradition, Surfin’ Santa at Seaport Village, is about to splash into the season with the most epic beach-meets-holiday celebration ever! Watch...
tree lighting in Julian California
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Small-Town Charm at Julian Tree Lighting
Julian Country Christmas Tree Lighting is set to light up this charming mountain town, where holiday cheer flows as freely as hot apple cider and...
East Village Tree Lighting & Holiday Market
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Ring in the Holidays With the East Village Tree Lighting & Holiday Market
  • Quartyard
Downtown San Diego is gearing up for a spectacular holiday celebration as the East Village Tree Lighting & Holiday Market prepares to transform the neighborhood...
Annual Small Business Saturday Escondido
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Shop Small and Skate On in Downtown Escondido
  • Downtown Escondido
Downtown Escondido is kicking its 9th Annual Small Business Saturday into high gear with an incredible twist. This year’s celebration combines the charm of local...
Seabreeze Craft Chocolates Holiday Open House
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Sweeth Tooth? Check Out Seabreeze Craft Chocolates Open House
The Seabreeze Craft Chocolates Holiday Open House, a Small Business Saturday event, transforms Carmel Valley into a chocolate lover’s dream! This beloved chocolatier is creating...
Invita Holiday Makers Market
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Italian Holiday Vibes at Invita Café’s Makers Market
Invita Café’s Makers Market is brewing up something special! The charming Italian coffee bar is turning Cielo Village into a haven where shopping meets la...
world-class racing
Del Mar’s Racing Season Sprints to an Epic Finale
Del Mar’s Racing Season is thundering into its spectacular finale with an incredible lineup of world-class racing that’ll have hearts racing and crowds roaring. The...
San Diego Thanksgiving Family Cruise
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A Mission Bay Thanksgiving Adventure
  • Bahia Resort Hotel
The San Diego Thanksgiving Family Cruise is shaking up holiday traditions with a splash of nautical fun! Swap the usual Thanksgiving tradition for an unforgettable...
EM Coffee House
Em Coffee House Brings Vietnamese Coffee Culture to Mira Mesa
Get ready for a coffee revolution, San Diego! Em Coffee House is bringing the magic of Vietnamese coffee culture to Mesa Town Center. This stunning...
Grand Fiesta “Taco TKO” competition
San Diego’s Taco Champions Crowned at Food + Wine Festival
The verdict is in at the San Diego Food + Wine Festival’s Grand Fiesta “Taco TKO” competition, and we’ve got our 2024 champions: Mexica Fé’s...
Nason's Beer Hall
Pendry San Diego Kicks Off a Next-Level Holiday Season
The stylish downtown San Diego hotel is transforming into a winter wonderland with everything from PJ brunches with Santa to boozy hot cocoa that’ll make...
Seahorse Hotel at Birch Aquarium
Seahorse hotels?! Yes, really!
The Seahorse Hotel at Birch Aquarium is the hottest new address under the sea! These innovative artificial habitats are turning ocean conservation into an epic...
Pop Pie Co Carlsbad
Pop Pie Co. Brings Sweet and Savory Delights to Carlsbad Village
The soon-to-be beloved pie shop in Carlsbad, Pop Pie Co., is rolling into the heart of the village this December, joining forces with Stella Jean’s...
decadent holiday feasts at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fee's festive celebrations
Celebrate the Season at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s festive celebrations are about to make this season unforgettable. From decadent holiday feasts to exclusive events, this beloved destination...
big list of things to do in san diego this weekend
The Big List of Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend
Check out this week’s Big List of Things To Do in San Diego this weekend and make your plans! From a mind-bending cocktail journey and...
On-the-Steps-at-SDMA
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Free On the Steps at SDMA Festival Celebrates Islamic Artistry
On the Steps at SDMA is about to transform the museum into the coolest celebration of the Wonders of Creation exhibition. We’re talking mind-blowing music,...
Upcoming Events
Julian Farm & Orchard Harvest Fest
Harvest Fest at Julian Farm and Orchard Brings Fall to the Backcountry
October 3, 2025
10:00 am
There’s something about driving up to Julian in the fall that immediately feels different from the rest of San Diego. The air changes, the landscape...
College Area San Diego
Taste of College Area Returns for Year Two With Trolley Rides Between Stops
September 28, 2025
11:00 am
  • College Area Business District
The College Area Business District is bringing back their Taste event for a second year, and they’ve kept the one element that made last year’s...
music festival
Same Same But Different is the Lakeside Festival Escape We Need
September 26, 2025
11:00 am
Same Same But Different 2025 is happening at Lake Perris, and we’re already counting down the days. This isn’t your typical massive festival experience—they cap...
Father Joe's Villages' Golf Classic
Father Joe’s Villages Golf Classic: Swinging for San Diego’s Veterans
September 25, 2025
10:00 am
Father Joe’s Villages’ 5th Annual Golf Classic is happening at Grand Golf Club in Del Mar, and this tournament goes way beyond just a good...
Grass Skirt Annual Tiki Luau
The Grass Skirt’s Tiki Luau Returns With All-Inclusive Island Vibes
September 21, 2025
2:00 pm
  • The Grass Skirt
The Grass Skirt in Pacific Beach is bringing back their signature summer send-off with an all-inclusive tropical celebration that’s become a local tradition. This eighth...