The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of September 28, 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.

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Bring Your Dog to Liberty Station for DogFest Southwest

Liberty Station

Join us for DogFest Southwest, a fun-filled day for you and your dog at Liberty Station with games, music, and a costume contest.

Live jazz performance under the stars at The Rady Shell

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Feel the Rhythm of Latin Jazz at The Rady Shell

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...

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Raise a Glass at San Diego’s Own Capital of Craft Beer Fest

Broadway Pier & Pavilion

San Diego’s craft beer scene gets its own festival, and it’s about as local as it gets. Capital of Craft Beer Fest is taking over...

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Celebrate Buddy Guy’s 90th Birthday at The Rady Shell

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Experience the legendary Buddy Guy live at the San Diego concert, celebrating his incredible journey through electric blues music.

Sails and Ales Beer Fest at Kona Kai San Diego

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Sip Your Way Through Sails & Ales Beer Fest at Kona Kai

Kona Kai Resort and Spa

Sails & Ales Beer Fest is back for its sixth year, and this time it’s bringing sunset views, local brews, and a whole lot more...

9/11 Memorial Stair with Rincon Fire Department

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Climb 110 Flights at Harrah’s SoCal to Honor the Fallen of 9/11

Harrah’s Resort SoCal

110 flights of stairs is not an arbitrary number. It is the height of the World Trade Center towers, and this year a group of...

Meet the Two Juvenile Red Octopuses Now on Display at Birch Aquarium

Witness the transformation of red octopuses at Birch Aquarium, a rare opportunity to see them thrive after hatching from eggs.

family-friendly and dog-friendly eatery in san diego

Liberty Station

Bring the Kids, Bring the Dog: El Punto is Coming to Liberty Station This October

City Tacos has been a San Diego staple since 2014. What Gerry Torres is building next makes it look like a warm-up. El Punto at...

Celebrate 25 Years of the San Diego International Film Festival

Discover the prestigious San Diego International Film Festival, known for highlighting Oscar-winning films and emerging talent.

Upcoming

Toast 40 Years of Busalacchi at The Feast

Little Italy

The Busalacchi family is turning 40, and they’re celebrating the way any Italian family would: with a massive dinner in the middle of the street....

Celebrate the Craft festival at The Lodge at Torrey Pines

Upcoming

Taste Southern California’s Best at Celebrate the Craft

The Lodge at Torrey Pines

Celebrate the Craft is back for its 23rd year, and honestly, it just keeps getting better. This is The Lodge at Torrey Pines’ signature culinary...

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Eat Your Way Down El Cajon Boulevard at the Taste of College Area

College Area Business District

Discover hidden gems along El Cajon Boulevard at the Taste of College Area. Enjoy a variety of cuisines all in one delightful route.

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Shop Handmade and Feed Butterflies at Jackalope

Preble Field, NTC Park

Experience the vibrant jackalope artisan fair in Liberty Station with a diverse array of makers and an interactive butterfly garden.

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Stay Late for MAKE Cafe’s First After Hours

Join us for MAKE after hours, an evening pop-up featuring Afrobeat music, dance classes, and local culture in Normal Heights.

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Kick off Your Shoes at Julian’s Grape Stomp Festa

Menghini Winery

Celebrate 28 years of the Julian Grape Stomp Festa. Enjoy grape stomping, entertainment, and activities for the kids!

San Diego Brazilian Festival at Waterfront Park

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Feel the Beat at San Diego’s Brazilian Festival

Waterfront Park

San Diego is throwing the 17th Annual Brazilian Festival, and it’s turning Waterfront Park into a full-blown carnival for the day. If you love drum...

LeucadiART Walk's 20th anniversary celebration

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Celebrate Two Decades of Art at LeucadiART Walk

LeucadiART Walk is hitting its 20th year, and this milestone edition is shaping up to be the biggest one yet. Get ready for a full...

Taste of Gaslamp 2026 celebrating its 30th anniversary

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Clear Your Afternoon for Taste of Gaslamp

Gaslamp Quarter

Taste of Gaslamp is turning 30, and this milestone year is shaping up to be the biggest one yet. Get ready to taste your way...

Watch Hotel Z Become Stellen San Diego Gaslamp in Early 2027

Get ready for Stellen San Diego Gaslamp in 2027! Enjoy its warm, modern spaces and a design that enhances the Gaslamp experience.

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Catch 75 Bands for Free at the Adams Avenue Street Fair

Normal Heights

Celebrate music and community at the Adams Avenue Street Fair. Enjoy 10 blocks of entertainment and diverse musical acts this September.

San Diego

Grab a Seat at Zuma, the Global Izakaya Brand Making Its California Debut at the Guild Hotel

Zuma has spent nearly 25 years taking over the world – Hong Kong, Istanbul, Rome, Miami, Madrid, and more. Now they’re open in San Diego,...

Explore Arts District Liberty Station’s New Season of Art and Artists

Arts District Liberty Station just dropped a whole new lineup of artists, exhibits, and public art, and this is one of the best times to...

The Lobby Bar at the LaFayette Hotel & Club

The Best Cocktail Bars in San Diego Right Now (2026 Guide)

San Diego has always had a reputation as a ‘party’ town, but it also has some of the best cocktail bars on Earth for those...

Breathe & Sea event on South Ponto State Beach

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Reset by the Sea at Breathe & Sea’s End-of-Summer Bash

Breathe & Sea is back, and this time it’s the biggest one yet. Get ready for an end-of-summer bash on the sand, brought to you...

Toast 40 Years of Busalacchi at The Feast

October 11, 2026

5:00 pm

Little Italy

The Busalacchi family is turning 40, and they’re celebrating the way any Italian family would: with a massive dinner in the middle of the street....

Little Italy

Enjoy Endless Coffee at the SD Coffee Festival on Broadway Pier

October 10, 2026

9:30 am

Broadway Pier

Explore the best coffee at the San Diego Coffee Festival. Sample brews from renowned roasters at Broadway Pier this fall.

San Diego

Take Oktoberfest Out on the Water With the Mission Bay Party Cruise

October 9, 2026

8:00 pm

Bahia Resort Hotel

Lederhosen is optional. A good attitude is not. The San Diego Oktoberfest Party Cruise is back for its fourth year, boarding the three-level William D....

San Diego

Jack Johnson performing live on the Jack Johnson SURFILMUSIC Tour

Get Your Tickets to Jack Johnson’s Chula Vista Show

October 9, 2026

7:30 pm

North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

Jack Johnson is hitting the road again with his SURFILMUSIC Tour, and Chula Vista is one of the stops. With more than 25 million albums...

Chula Vista

Spend a Sunday Evening With Tango and Opera at SDMA

October 4, 2026

6:30 pm

San Diego Museum of Art

Experience the SDMA Poetics of the Arrabal with breathtaking performances by the Camarada Tango Quartet and Tijuana's finest.

San Diego