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.
Union Kitchen and Tap Pacific Beach
Union Kitchen and Tap Opens Third Location in Pacific Beach
OMG Hospitality is bringing elevated dining to the heart of Pacific Beach with the opening of its third location of Union Kitchen and Tap, which...
The Lafayette Hotel
The Lafayette Hotel is Esquire Magazine’s New Hotel of the Year
The Lafayette Hotel & Club has been named the 2024 New Hotel of the Year by Esquire Magazine! The recognition underscores its commitment to excellence...
Wild Child Ice Cream window in Mission Hills
Welcome to Wild Child Ice Cream: Where the Fun Never Melts!
The ice cream window in Mission Hills is back open and serving scoops! Wild Child Ice Cream serves ice cream and experiences inspired by the...
Bivouac Ciderworks’s weekend brunch
Bivouac Ciderworks Adventure Lodge & General Store Now Serving Weekend Brunch
Bivouac Ciderworks’ new Adventure Lodge & General Store has expanded its food offerings, launching weekend brunch and a snack menu. This rounds out its Café...
Jobapalooza hiring festival at Belmont Park
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Job-Seekers Unite at the Jobapalooza Hiring Festival in Belmont Park
  • Belmont Park
Summer is right around the corner and Belmont Park, San Diego’s only beachfront amusement and entertainment center, will host its third annual park-wide hiring festival,...
Encinitas Spring Street Fair
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Celebrate the Season at Encinitas Spring Street Fair
  • Downtown Encinitas
The Encinitas Spring Street Fair is a celebration marking the arrival of spring, turning the historic Highway 101 into a bustling promenade of festivities. Typically...
Brickmans Restaurant & Bar
Lakehouse Resort Unveils Reimagined Golfside Dining at Brickmans Restaurant & Bar
Nestled amidst the serene beauty of Lake San Marcos, Lakehouse Resort proudly introduces Brickmans Restaurant & Bar, the reimagined dining experience at The Links golf...
Vincenzo Little Italy
Cheese Wheel Dreams Do Come True at Little Italy’s Newest Spot, Vincenzo
San Diego’s vibrant dining scene welcomes an innovative new Italian gem, Vincenzo—just when you thought the timeless cuisine couldn’t evolve further! Visionary founder Vincenzo Loverso...
Martin Short new mayor Funner CA
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Iconic Comedian and Actor Martin Short to Become Funner’s Newest Mayor
  • Harrah’s Resort SoCal
Harrah’s Resort Southern California has announced that iconic comedian and actor, Martin Short, will be sworn in as Funner’s next mayor on Monday, May 13, 2024....
San Diego Cocktail Championship
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21 Restaurants and Bars to Compete in Inaugural San Diego Cocktail Championship
A group of 21 San Diego County restaurants and bars will take part in the inaugural San Diego Cocktail Championship at a downtown San Diego...
World-Renowned Belgian Waffle Ride Set To Return To North City
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World-Renowned Belgian Waffle Ride Returns To North City
  • North City
Thousands of world-class cyclists are set to roll into North City as they prepare to compete in the European-inspired Belgian Waffle Ride—one of the most...
Enchanted Forest Sound Bath at San Diego Botanic Garden
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An Enchanted Forest Sound Bath Experience at the San Diego Botanic Garden
  • San Diego Botanic Garden
Step into a realm of magic at The Enchanted Forest Sound Bath Experience with San Diego-based Sound Healer Jazmine Amelia and the Sound Bath Ceremony...
Spring Winemaker Night at Pali Wine Co.
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Join Pali Wine Co. for Spring Winemaker Night
If you’re interested in wine and the process of making it, this is the night for you! Join Pali Wine Co.’s talented winemaker, Aaron Walker,...
clothing swap on earth day
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Clothing Swap for Earth Day: Promoting Sustainable Fashion
On Earth Day, the nonprofit Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation will host a clothing swap at the MTRP Visitor Center. Each year, 66% of discarded...
Vinyl Disco Brunch Party at Beeside Balcony
Check Out the New Vinyl Disco Brunch Party at Beeside Balcony!
Beeside Balcony in La Jolla is kicking off springtime with a new Vinyl Disco Brunch Party! The Vinyl Disco Brunch Party is happening every Sunday from...
Spring Succulent Arrangement workshop at San Diego Botanic Garden
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Get Creative With the Botanic Garden’s Succulent Workshop
  • San Diego Botanic Garden
Learn how to make a stunning succulent arrangement with local designer Ileana Canada of Ily the Plant Lady. During the Spring Succulent Arrangement workshop, you’ll...
Willie Nelson & Family Live at The Rady Shell
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Catch Willie Nelson & Family Live at The Rady Shell: A Musical Legacy Under the Stars
  • The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Mark your calendars and get ready for a musical journey with the legendary Willie Nelson & Family, gracing The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. The...
man selling avocados at the fallbrook avocado festival
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Join Fallbrook Avocado Festival As It Celebrates California’s Most Beloved Fruit
Spring is just around the corner and so is the Fallbrook Avocado Festival! Over 450 vendors will line Main Avenue and cross streets from East...
Kountry Wayne
May’s Talented Performers at The Magnolia: Shows You Won’t Want to Miss!
Setting the stage for another month of outstanding and talented performers, The Magnolia is prepared for a great month of May—inviting you in to relax,...
Spring Soirée at Spa Alila
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Spring Soirée: An Evening With Spa Alila + Skin Authority
Spring is the perfect time to refresh not just your closet, but your skin too! Now is the time to join Spa Alila for an...
Springtime Carnival at WNDR Museum
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Springtime Carnival & Vibrant Art at WNDR Museum
  • WNDR Museum
From sky-high stilt walkers to vibrant art and music, WNDR Museum is embracing the springtime season with two exciting events to enjoy this month: Springtime...
Annual Pitch Slam by Naturally San Diego
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Naturally San Diego Announces Emerging Brand Finalists For 4th Annual Pitch Slam
  • Liberty Station
Naturally San Diego, a nonprofit organization dedicated to stimulating growth and entrepreneurship amongst environmentally and socially-conscious consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies in San Diego County,...
Common Theory Otay Ranch
Common Theory Public House Opens Second Location in Otay Ranch
Common Theory Public House, known for its diverse, ever-evolving draft beer list and Asian-influenced gastropub menu in the Convoy District, has opened a second location...
Allied Craftsmen: Hands On Design
Explore Contemporary Craft Art at ‘Allied Craftsmen: Hands On Design’ at OMA
Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) is proud to announce Allied Craftsmen: Hands On Design, an exhibition that redefines the boundaries of contemporary craft. The juried...
Upcoming Events
Naturally Rising Competition
Naturally Rising: San Diego’s Spotlight on Sustainable Startups
April 24, 2025
4:30 pm
  • Building 177
The Naturally Rising Competition returns for its fifth year, and it’s shaping up to be a can’t-miss event for anyone passionate about San Diego’s natural...
BIG NIGHT at Ponyboy
Big Night at Ponyboy Brings an Iconic Culinary Cinema Experience to Point Loma
April 23, 2025
6:30 pm
Big Night at Ponyboy is coming to The Pearl Hotel—and it’s bringing a five-course feast to match its cinematic namesake. This Culinary Cinema Experience with...
Omni La Costa’s Easter Extravaganza
Hop to the City’s Largest Egg Hunt & Best Brunch at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
April 20, 2025
10:00 am
  • Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
Spring’s most egg-citing holiday is just around the corner, and Omni La Costa’s Easter Extravaganza is pulling out all the stops. This festive celebration features...
San Diego EarthFest
Celebrate San Diego EarthFest—The City’s Biggest Earth Day Bash
April 19, 2025
11:00 am
San Diego EarthFest, the city’s biggest Earth Day bash, is back to take over Balboa Park—a free, all-ages festival celebrating sustainability, community, and the planet...
Earth Month at Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Earth Month at Fairmont Grand Del Mar: Luxury, Sustainability, and Local Impact
April 17, 2025
8:00 am
  • Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Earth Month at Fairmont Grand Del Mar is in full bloom, inviting you to take part in a thoughtful lineup of experiences that celebrate nature,...