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.
newest culinary destination in Carlsbad Village
Lilo Brings Fine Dining With Global Coastal Soul to Carlsbad Village
Meet Lilo, the newest culinary destination in Carlsbad Village, from the creative team behind Michelin-starred Jeune et Jolie, Campfire, and Wildland. Officially opening its doors...
Light Made Visible exhibition
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Light, Shadow, and the Art of Perception: “Light Made Visible” Opens at The 3rd Space
Light Made Visible, the latest 3rd Space Gallery exhibition, brings together two of San Diego’s most compelling multidisciplinary artists for a poetic exploration of light,...
April events at La Jolla Music Society
Your Guide to April Events at La Jolla Music Society
If you’re looking to pack your month with something a little more soulful (and a lot more fun), the April events at La Jolla Music...
Library Giving Day
April is a Big Month for San Diego Public Libraries—Here’s How to Support Them
April is a huge month for San Diego Public Libraries, with opportunities to give back, advocate, and celebrate everything they bring to the community! It...
Escondido’s Arts, Culture & Creativity Month
Escondido’s Arts, Culture & Creativity Month Brings a Full Month of Free Events
April is officially Escondido’s Arts Culture & Creativity Month, and the city is celebrating with a packed lineup of free events, exhibits, performances, and hands-on...
socal taco fest
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SoCal Taco Fest Joins Viva La Música at SeaWorld San Diego
  • SeaWorld San Diego
SoCal Taco Fest is back and bigger than ever, teaming up with SeaWorld’s Viva La Música for an epic celebration of tacos, music, and the...
SeaWorld San Diego’s Summer Spectacular Concert Series
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An Ultimate Throwback Party at SeaWorld San Diego’s Summer Spectacular Concert Series
  • SeaWorld San Diego
Get ready for the ultimate summer soundtrack—SeaWorld San Diego’s Summer Spectacular Concert Series is back, delivering an epic lineup of iconic artists from the ‘90s...
Pastry Chef Charlotte Almayrac
Park Hyatt Aviara Welcomes New Executive Pastry Chef
Park Hyatt Aviara is about to get even sweeter! The luxury resort in Carlsbad has welcomed Charlotte Almayrac as its new Executive Pastry Chef, bringing...
family-focused playground
Where Celeb Parents Take Their Kids: The North County Playground That’s Changing the Game
San Diego’s North County has a new hotspot that’s drawing everyone from soccer stars to reality TV favorites—but it’s not the latest cocktail bar or...
The Great Poetic Baggage Exchange
San Diego International Airport’s Live Poetry Experience Turns Travel Stories Into Art
Next time you pass through San Diego International Airport (SAN), your journey might become a poem! The airport’s Spring 2025 Performing Arts Resident, Poets Underground,...
San Diego French Film Festival
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The San Diego French Film Festival Celebrates Love Through Cinema
  • THE LOT La Jolla
The San Diego French Film Festival is back for its fifth edition, bringing the best of French and francophone cinema to THE LOT La Jolla....
La Valencia's Spring Tea
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La Valencia Hotel’s Award-Winning Spring Tea Returns
  • La Valencia Hotel
The arrival of spring means the return of La Valencia’s Spring Tea, an elegant seasonal tradition set against the stunning Pacific Ocean views of the...
El Chingon’s Foolish Feast
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El Chingon’s Foolish Feast: An April Fools’ Day Challenge Like No Other
  • El Chingon
Think you have what it takes to conquer El Chingon’s Foolish Feast? San Diego’s “Bad Ass Mexican” hotspot is serving up an outrageous platter of...
Write Out Loud The Valley of Shadows
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Step Into the Past With The Valley of Shadows at Villa Montezuma
Experience history, literature, and music come to life inside Villa Montezuma, San Diego’s grand Victorian “Palace of the Arts.” Write Out Loud presents The Valley...
Wellness Weekend at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
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Wellness Weekend at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
  • The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, A Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa
Escape the noise and reconnect with yourself at Wellness Weekend, a transformative retreat at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. Designed to nurture the mind,...
Camino Books
Camino Books Finds a New Home at Del Mar Plaza
Exciting news for book lovers—Camino Books, a beloved independent bookstore in Del Mar, is moving to a brand-new home at Del Mar Plaza. Known for...
Starlite San Diego
Starlite Returns: A Reimagined Icon in San Diego
After nearly two decades as an iconic bar and restaurant in San Diego, Starlite is back with a refreshed design, expanded kitchen, and the same...
The Bower Coronado
The Bower Brings a New Era of Luxury to Coronado Island
Now open, The Bower Coronado is a refined boutique retreat in San Diego County, offering an intimate 39-room escape where wabi-sabi minimalism meets California coastal...
native plants on San Diego’s ecosystems
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Join The Nat’s Spring Planting Party and Support Local Ecosystems
  • San Diego Natural History Museum
Join The Nat’s Spring Planting Party and be part of a hands-on effort to restore native plants in San Diego’s ecosystems. This community event invites...
Mission Trails Regional Park expansion
Mission Trails Regional Park Expands With 53-Acre Land Donation
Mission Trails Regional Park is growing once again! Thanks to a major land donation from the Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Foundation, the park has...
Mountain Yellow-legged Frog
Birch Aquarium Joins the Fight to Save the Endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frog
Birch Aquarium is taking a leap forward in frog conservation, working to protect the endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frog, a species with fewer than 200 adults...
Reasons to Visit Liberty Station
17 Things to Explore at Liberty Station
Ah, don’t you just love it when the #perfectday itinerary falls right into your lap? Whether you’re with your ride-or-die, going solo, or with kids...
Veranda at Hotel del Coronado
Veranda at Hotel del Coronado Brings a Fresh Take on Oceanfront Dining
Hotel del Coronado is introducing a stunning new oceanfront dining experience with Veranda, set to open in April 2025. Taking over the space formerly known...
The Kitchen at MCASD in La Jolla
Urban Kitchen Group Introduces New Chefs and Seasonal Dinner at The Kitchen at MCASD
The Kitchen at MCASD in La Jolla is ushering in a fresh chapter with the addition of two powerhouse chefs and the return of its...
Upcoming Events
Starlight Swing Fundraiser
Swing Into Nostalgia at “A Starlight Swing” Fundraiser in Balboa Park
April 26, 2026
3:00 pm
  • Balboa Park Club
Step back in time and spend a joyful afternoon filled with music, dancing, and community at A Starlight Swing, a special fundraiser supporting the restoration...
San Diego Mountain Biking Association Riders at Los Penasquitos Gardens
Saddle Up for the SDMBA Archipelago Ride – San Diego’s Biggest MTB Event is Back
April 25, 2026
6:30 am
Spring in San Diego means one thing for the mountain biking community: the Archipelago Ride is on. SDMBA’s signature fundraising event returns, bringing riders of...
panda fest san diego
Panda Fest Makes Its San Diego Debut This Spring
April 25, 2026
10:00 am
  • Waterfront Park
San Diego is getting its first Panda Fest this spring, and if you’ve been following this festival’s growth across the country, you know it’s a...
Ballislife Basketball Game
Ballislife Meets SeaWorld: Elite High School Hoops is Coming to San Diego This April
April 24, 2026
8:00 am
  • SeaWorld San Diego
San Diego is about to become the backdrop for one of high school basketball’s most exciting showcases. It’s happening somewhere you might not expect. SeaWorld...
La Jolla Concours VIP Opening Soirée
La Jolla Concours Kicks Off 20 Years With a Luxe “Motorvault” Soirée by the Sea
April 24, 2026
6:00 pm
  • Ellen Browning Scripps Park
If there’s one spring event that always delivers on style, it’s the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance. And for its 20th anniversary, the Friday VIP party...