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.
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...
Birch Aquarium Red Octopus
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
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...
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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...
Taste of College Area San Diego
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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.
Jackalope Art Fair
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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.
MAKE After Hours
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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.
Julian Grape Stomp Festa
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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...
Stellen San Diego Gaslamp
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.
Annual Adams Avenue Street Fair
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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.
Zuma 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...
Easy San Diego road trips that should be put on your calendar.
19 Amazing Road Trips From San Diego
One of the best things about living in San Diego is that it’s always good road trip weather! Lucky for us, there is no shortage...
Showing
Do Fall Beachside at Belmont Park Fall Fest
  • Belmont Park
Forget changing leaves and crisp weather, San Diego does fall its own way, and Belmont Park’s Fall Fest is proving you don’t have to leave...
San Diego Symphony's Midday Music series
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Spend Your Lunch Break With Free Chamber Music at the Top of the Central Library
  • San Diego Central Library
Free chamber music, city views from the top floor, and a standing invitation to bring your lunch. The San Diego Symphony’s Midday Music series is...
valley mission valley new openings
Explore The Valley’s New Wave of Openings – From Vietnamese Coffee to Milanese Gelato
Remember when Mission Valley Mall was just… there? Those days are gone. The Valley has already brought in Kura Sushi and Box Lunch this summer,...
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa Whiskey & Wine Party
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Sip Bourbon By the Bonfire at Estancia La Jolla’s Whiskey & Wine Party
  • Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Savor the Whiskey & Wine Estancia La Jolla experience with delicious food, exceptional drinks, and a vibrant atmosphere this fall.
By the Sea Coronado
Eat Like You’re on the Amalfi Coast at By The Sea in Coronado
Doug and Lara Hamm spent years traveling through the French Riviera, Greek Isles, and Amalfi Coast. By The Sea is what happened when they decided...
Upcoming Events
Otay Ranch Town Center Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breathe, Stretch & Go Pink at Otay Ranch Town Center
October 20, 2026
5:00 pm
  • Otay Ranch Town Center
Unite for a cause at the Breathe & Believe breast cancer awareness event. Enjoy yoga and community this October evening.
Celebrate the Craft festival at The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Taste Southern California’s Best at Celebrate the Craft
October 18, 2026
11:30 am
  • 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...
Families enjoying Harvest on the Promenade Liberty Station
Wander Through The Glowing Hollow at Harvest on the Promenade
October 18, 2026
10:00 am
  • North Promenade
A new fall tradition is coming to Liberty Station’s North Promenade with Harvest on the Promenade, a two-day festival built around five immersive family experiences,...
Bach Collegium San Diego Salzburg Connections
Spend a Night in Salzburg With Bach Collegium San Diego
October 17, 2026
7:00 pm
  • All Souls’ Episcopal Church
  • The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Experience the Bach Collegium October performances celebrating Salzburg Connections with Mozart and Haydn in the city.
The Bonnie Raitt San Diego concert brings slide guitar and soulful vocals to the bayfront
Catch Bonnie Raitt Live Under the Stars at The Rady Shell
October 17, 2026
7:00 pm
  • The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Slide guitar, soulful vocals, and a bayfront setting: that’s the recipe for a great night out. Bonnie Raitt is bringing her Live 2026 tour to...