The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of August 31, 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.
Gipsy Kings
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Spend a Bayfront Sunday With the Gipsy Kings at The Rady Shell
  • The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Get ready for an amazing night at the Gipsy Kings Rady Shell Concert and enjoy timeless hits that resonate with everyone.
CityFest Hillcrest
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Spend the Day in Hillcrest at San Diego’s Biggest Free Street Festival
  • Hillcrest Sign
Celebrate San Diego's LGBTQ+ community at Hillcrest CityFest, a memorable summer event filled with music, food, and joy.
Tedeschi Trucks Band performing live on stage
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Come Feel the Soul at Tedeschi Trucks Band’s Rady Shell Show
  • The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Tedeschi Trucks Band is bringing its Future Soul 2026 Tour to The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, with special guest Lukas Nelson along for the...
Curebound Cancer Challenge
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Ride, Run, or Walk for Cancer Research at the Curebound Cancer Challenge
San Diego comes together for a lot of great events, but this one carries a different kind of weight. The Curebound Cancer Challenge – formerly...
Turf and Surf Festival Del Mar
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Crack Into Fresh Maine Lobster Trackside at Del Mar’s Inaugural Turf & Surf Festival
  • Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
Lobster at the racetrack? Yes, that’s actually happening. The Turf & Surf Festival is coming to the Seaside Cabana at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, and...
Annual SDJG Pier Jump
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Take the Leap at San Diego’s 35th Annual Scripps Pier Jump
There are bucket list items, and then there’s jumping off Scripps Pier. The 35th Annual SDJG Pier Jump is one of San Diego’s most unique...
Cabrillo Under the Stars at Cabrillo National Monument
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Party Under the Stars at Cabrillo National Monument
  • Cabrillo National Monument
This one is special. Cabrillo Under the Stars is back for its 70th anniversary, and it’s an after-hours evening at Cabrillo National Monument – one...
Loma Club Summer Classic Tournament
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Compete for the Summer Classic Trophy at The Loma Club
  • The Loma Club
There’s something about a shotgun tournament that just hits different – everyone teeing off at once, the whole course alive at the same time, and...
AfterDark cabaret
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See What Happens AfterDark at San Diego’s Adults-Only Cabaret Experience
Okay, this one is genuinely unlike anything else happening in San Diego right now. AfterDark is an adults-only cabaret running at Adams Theatre on Adams...
Benson Boone performing live on the Wanted Man Tour
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Don’t Miss Benson Boone Live on His Wanted Man Tour
  • Pechanga Arena San Diego
Benson Boone is bringing his 2026 U.S. Wanted Man Tour to San Diego, and honestly, the timing could not be better. This guy has been...
Cast performing in Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen on Broadway
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Feel the Fire of Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen at San Diego Civic Theatre
  • San Diego Civic Theatre
Alicia Keys is bringing her story to the stage, and honestly, this is a big one. Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen is making its way to San...
Stone Garden Market escondido
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Spend a Summer Evening at the Stone Garden Market in Escondido
  • Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido
Stone Brewing’s gardens are one of those spots that already feel like an event on their own, and this summer, they’re turning the space into...
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Pull Up for Backgammon and Chess at BAC Club’s Night at Sonny’s Pizza
BAC Club is back, and this is a great excuse to finally show up. The beloved board game meetup returns to Sonny’s Pizza for an...
Sponsored
Elements Design & Build founders
Elements Design & Build: The San Diego Remodeler That Treats Communication Like Craft
Before Jordan Zloof and Ben Sharon started Elements Design & Build, they worked through every stage of residential construction from the ground up.
Step Into Baja Glamour at Tierra y Mar, Harrah’s Newest Restaurant
Harrah’s just did something really cool. Tierra y Mar is their brand-new $10.7 million Baja-inspired restaurant, and it’s the kind of opening that makes the...
Hamadryas baboon infant Makeda at San Diego Zoo
Come Meet Makeda – San Diego Zoo’s Newest Hamadryas Baboon
San Diego Zoo has a new addition, and she already has a name with some serious weight behind it. Meet Makeda, a hamadryas baboon infant...
Sarah McLachlan Better Broken Tour
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Spend a Summer Night With Sarah McLachlan at The Rady Shell
  • The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Experience the magic of Sarah McLachlan's Better Broken Tour and enjoy her beautiful voice in picturesque venues across the country.
Maranello restaurant little italy san diego
Take a Gran Turismo Through Northern Italy at Maranello in Little Italy
Little Italy has a new dinner spot, and it’s one that makes the whole evening feel like an occasion. Maranello just opened at 2101 Kettner...
La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest 2026 at The Conrad
Celebrate 40 Years of SummerFest With Two Weeks Full of Music
La Jolla Music Society is celebrating 40 years of SummerFest, its annual chamber music festival that brings top classical musicians from around the world to...
The Music of John Williams With The San Diego Symphony Orchestra
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Hear the Music That Made Movies Legendary at the Rady Shell
  • The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Uncover the magic of The Music of John Williams as we revisit the unforgettable themes that defined classic film moments.
The Animal Pad Rescue Dogs`
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Meet Rescue Dogs and Strawberry Shortcake at This Free Seaport Village Pop-Up
Discover the joy of pet adoption at the Strawberry Shortcake Pet Adoption Event. Find your perfect match this Comic-Con weekend.
Summer Concerts in the Park series in University Heights
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Dance Your Way Into Summer’s Last Concert in the Park
It’s the last Friday of the season, and it’s a big one. Head to Trolley Barn Park this Friday for the grand finale of the...
Dorothea Laub Balboa Park Carousel
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Ride a Piece of San Diego History at Balboa Park’s National Carousel Day
  • Balboa Park Carousel
Experience the magic of National Carousel Day Balboa Park featuring the Dorothea Laub carousel and free entertainment.
Vinyl at the Market Liberty Station
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Dig Through Thousands of Records at Vinyl at the Market
  • Liberty Public Market
If your record collection has been feeling a little thin lately, this Sunday is the one to fix that. Vinyl at the Market is back...
Upcoming Events
Fourth annual Punches in the Piazza at Piazza della Famiglia
Honor, Remember, and Give Back at Punches in the Piazza in Little Italy
September 11, 2026
6:00 pm
  • Piazza della Famiglia
The fourth annual Punches in the Piazza returns to Little Italy’s Piazza della Famiglia for an evening that blends amateur boxing, community connection, and meaningful...
Live jazz performance under the stars at The Rady Shell
Feel the Rhythm of Latin Jazz at The Rady Shell
September 5, 2026
7:30 pm
  • The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Dizzy Gillespie are getting the tribute they deserve, and it’s happening right on the water at The Rady Shell at...
Soft Power exhibition at Oceanside Museum of Art
Explore Identity and Power at OMA’s Newest Exhibition
September 5, 2026
11:00 am
  • Oceanside Museum of Art
Oceanside Museum of Art is hosting the 2026 San Diego Art Prize exhibition for the first time ever, and this one’s a must-see. Soft Power:...
Rooftop crowd at Margaritaville's Day of Service celebration
Give Back and Get Tropical at Margaritaville’s Day of Service
September 4, 2026
5:00 pm
Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter is turning good vibes into a great cause with its annual Day of Service, a celebration honoring the legacy...
The 54th Annual Barona Powwow celebration
Watch Tradition Come Alive at the Barona Powwow
September 4, 2026
7:00 am
The Barona Band of Mission Indians is hosting the 54th Annual Barona Powwow over Labor Day Weekend, and this is one celebration you won’t want...