The Craving

The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of October 12, 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.
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,...
Pangaea Outpost 20th Anniversary
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Our Favorite PB Marketplace is Having an Epic Birthday Bash!
Pangaea Outpost is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary, and Pacific Beach small businesses are throwing the party of the year! This treasure trove of...
PST ART Regional Weekend workshops
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Ocean Vibes and Artistic Magic Collide at OMA
  • Oceanside Museum of Art
The Oceanside Museum of Art is hosting two incredible PST ART Regional Weekend workshops! Led by the amazing Transformative Currents artists, these sessions promise to...
Love Has No Borders: A Border Angels Documentary
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Border Angels Documentary Sets the Stage for an Evening of Moving Art
“Love Has No Borders,” Border Angels’ first-ever documentary, is about to take us on an incredible journey of hope and humanity. This powerful 20-minute film...
Upcoming Events
Boots N' Beats at Music Box San Diego
Boots ’N Beats Brings Country-EDM to San Diego for One Night Only
March 28, 2026
8:00 pm
  • Music Box
Country meets the dance floor when Boots ’N Beats takes over San Diego for a genre-blending night of live music and high-energy drops. This concert...
Blooms & Butterfly Garden Tea Party
Blooms & Butterflies: A Garden Tea Party in the Bougainvillea Courtyard
March 28, 2026
1:30 pm
  • Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
Spring calls for florals, tea, and a little bit of magic – and Blooms & Butterflies: A Garden Tea Party is bringing all three together...
Beach Bunny Festival
Beach Bunny Festival: Spring Fun at Seaport Village
March 28, 2026
1:00 pm
  • Seaport Village
Spring has a way of sneaking up on us in San Diego. Before you know it, the city is in full bloom and ready to...
Easter Eggspress 2025
Hop Aboard for Easter at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum
March 28, 2026
10:00 am
  • San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Easter weekend is getting a charming, one-of-a-kind spin at Balboa Park’s San Diego Model Railroad Museum. The Easter Eggspress is a special before-hours event designed...
North Park Easter Egg Hunt
Hop Over to the Free North Park Easter Egg Hunt at Morley Field
March 28, 2026
10:00 am
Spring in San Diego means sunshine, blooming flowers, and plenty of family-friendly fun – and the North Park Easter Egg Extravaganza is back to kick...