The Craving: San Diego Food + Drink News – Week of June 1, 2026
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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.
Bookmark this page, or get The Craving in your inbox every Tuesday morning.
This Week’s Feature
SD’s Hottest New Brunch: Eggs, Za’atar Fries, and Cocktails in Coronado
CH Projects just opened The Baby Grand in Coronado, and the hotel’s restaurant, Night Hawk, is already running weekend brunch. The setup is open-air and open-fire, which sounds exactly as good as it is.

The menu leans Greek-inflected without being theme-y about it. Think Lobster Omelette with chives and crème fraîche, Classic Benedict, and a Bagel & Lox Tower built to share (or not). On the sweeter side, NH French Toast comes with mascarpone and huckleberries, and the Buckwheat Pancake Stack goes with Vermont maple.
But the real flex is the Tomahawk Steak & Eggs with za’atar fries and five eggs your way. Cocktails and Greek wines round things out, and the pace here seems designed for the kind of morning that turns into an afternoon without you really noticing.
📆 Saturday, June 6 – Sunday, June 7 | 10 AM – 3 PM
🎟️ Book your table
Insider Move
A New Tasting Menu at Bosforo
Normal Heights’ Bosforo is turning one, and the team is marking the occasion with a four-course chef’s tasting menu.
Executive Chef Seckin Sage Anlasbay and Sous Chef Ibrahim Ozdemir put it together, and the progression feels intentional – cold starters like sun-dried eggplant dolma on yogurt sauce, beef manti dumplings with garlic and tomato, a pistachio-beef-lamb skewer with ala nazik, and oven-baked rice pudding with hazelnuts to finish.

At $88 per person – with an optional Turkish and Italian wine pairing for $45 more – it’s a great opportunity to explore their menu. Reserve on OpenTable or just opt in when you arrive.
Get Your KEX Fest Tickets Before They are Gone
Kettner Exchange’s annual food and beverage festival returns to Little Italy for its eighth edition, and the 2026 lineup is the most expansive one yet. This event is always great, so don’t dilly-dally on getting a ticket.
Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski leads the culinary side alongside guest chefs, restaurant pop-ups from The Waverly Cardiff, The Whaling Bar, and Devil’s Dozen Donut Bar, plus a full pig roast and whole fish breakdown on-site.

The drinks program covers just as much ground. Wine, beer, and spirits tastings, sommelier-led pairings, a Condesa Gin Bar Takeover, Hendrick’s Lemonade Stand, Bombay Sapphire martini masterclass, and a Tiki Speakeasy, among others.
Live music, an aura photo booth, tarot readings, and a glitter bar fill out the rest of the afternoon. New this year, VIP tickets include early entry, a welcome cocktail, chef’s amuse-bouche, and access to a dedicated Sake Chef’s Table.
📆 Sunday, June 7, 2026 | 1 PM – 7 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
New This Week
An’s Dry Cleaning Has a New Ube Collection and a Title to Defend
An’s Dry Cleaning is currently sitting in first place for Best Ice Cream Shop in America on USA Today’s 10Best – and every vote helps keep them there.
On top of that, they just launched a limited two-week ube gelato collection inspired by traditional Filipino textiles and garments. Co-founder Kris Warren is half Filipino, and the collection reflects that. Each flavor is named after a Filipino textile and built in-house using real ube, house-made swirls, and thoughtful add-ins.


The lineup includes Malong (vegan coconut-based ube with ube halaya jam), Tubaw (ube with Vietnamese coffee whipped cream), T’nalak (ube with chocolate-coated honeycomb toffee), Jusi (ube with black sesame swirl and cocoa butter shards), and Sagada (ube with coconut caramel and toasted coconut). Available across An’s locations while it lasts.
📆 Voting ends on Monday, June 8
ℹ️ Cast your vote now
Half and Half (and All Delicious) at Cesarina & Elvira
Cesarina in Point Loma and sister spot Elvira in Ocean Beach just rebuilt their drink menus to run 50/50 – equal parts alcoholic and zero-proof – designed around how people are actually drinking these days: bouncing between both throughout the night without making it a whole thing.
Bar lead Sydnee West pulled from the same Italian-leaning toolkit on both sides of the menu – house infusions, amari, aperitivo-style builds – so nothing on the NA side feels like a consolation prize. Think porcini-infused rye with fig demerara at Cesarina, prosciutto fat-washed rum at Elvira, and a zero-proof tiramisu riff that holds up.
Both menus are live now at each location.
ℹ️ Check out the full menu: Cesarina | Elvira
The Crack Shack PB Just Got a New Reason to Stay Longer
The Pacific Beach Crack Shack added a walk-up indoor bar with garage-style roll-up windows that open straight onto a reimagined patio – tropical plants out front, TVs lining the perimeter, seating for 50.
The new happy hour runs Monday through Friday, with bar bites starting at $3 – Jidori chicken wings, Nashville Biscuit Sliders, and Sweet Heat Chicken Oysters – plus half-off draft and canned beers, wine, and cocktails.
Culinary Director Jon Sloan put the menu together, and it’s the kind of spread that makes it hard to leave after just one round.
📆 Monday – Friday | 2 PM – 6 PM
ℹ️ Check out the full menu
Harland Brewing Just Took Over the Clubhouse at Mission Bay Golf Course
Harland Brewing is now running the food and beverage program at Mission Bay Golf Course, and the new Harland Clubhouse is exactly the kind of place you’d hope to find at the end of a round.
The newly built space has 2,000 square feet of indoor dining, an outdoor patio with a large island, and a midcentury-modern design that feels right at home with Harland’s vibe – accordion doors, light wood, and a slatted wood back bar.
The menu is counter service and built for golfers: smashburgers, breakfast burritos, tacos, deli sandwiches, and the Bodega Breakfast Sandwich for morning rounds. Harland’s full tap lineup is on, including the Hazy IPA, West Coast IPA, and Japanese Lager.
📆 Grand Opening: June 5 – 7 | 4 PM – 7 PM | Regular hours: Daily, 7 AM – 10 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
Tiki Gets a Clarity Check at The Grass Skirt
The Grass Skirt is dropping a new cocktail menu. The focus is clarified tiki – drinks that are crystal-clear and filtered to a smoother texture, lighter on sugar, but still packing the bold tropical complexity the Pacific Beach spot is known for.

RSVP and show up between 6 and 7 PM, and you’ll get one of the new cocktails on the house. After that, everything stays at $10 all night.
📆 Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 6 PM – 1:30 AM
📍 910 Grand Ave, San Diego
🎟️ RSVP for a complimentary cocktail
Lana in Solana Beach Has New Music-Themed Cocktails to Go With Your Summer Concerts
Sitting right on South Highway 101, minutes from the Belly Up, The Sound, and the Del Mar Fairgrounds, Lana is already a natural pre- and post-concert stop. A new music-inspired cocktail menu from Bar Lead Brandon Curry makes it an even easier call.
The lineup leans into classic tracks and icons: the Raspberry Beret (gin, raspberry, house orgeat, lemon, and mint), Instant Crush (rum, guava, lemongrass, and lime), and the Renegade Master (mezcal, banana, cacao, and demerara).


On the food side, spring highlights include a jumbo lump crab cake with basil aioli and a Frecker Farms baby beet salad with burrata and blood orange.
📆 Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday | 4 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 437 S Hwy 101, Solana Beach
New Reasons to Pull Up a Chair at North Italia
North Italia just refreshed their San Diego menus with a lineup that covers a lot of ground.
New dishes include a kale and goat cheese salad with strawberry and poppyseed vinaigrette, a grilled steak panzanella with charred ciabatta and heirloom tomato, agnolotti al pomodoro with ricotta and basil, a chef’s board with stracciatella, truffle honey, prosciutto di Parma, and speck, and limoncello bombolini with lemon curd and blueberry compote.



New cocktails include the Donatella (gunpowder fig gin, grapefruit, honey, lemon) and the Don Giorgio (Stranahan’s whiskey, mango, Italian orange, ginger).
There’s also a two-course prix fixe lunch and brunch for $25 – a solid deal for the quality. And if you’re heading to a Padres home game, bring your ticket: present it with a $50 minimum dinner spend and you’ll get a complimentary plate – crispy eggplant parmesan, grilled artichoke, cacio e pepe arancini, or house-made focaccia.
📆 Prix fixe: Daily until 4 PM through May 31 | Padres perk: Through June 28
ℹ️ View the full menu
Summer Drinking at Culinary Dropout
Culinary Dropout Del Mar dropped a new summer menu, and the drinks are the headline. The Summer Tan Sangria blends watermelon pineapple rum, strawberry, kiwi, brandy, lemon, and white wine. And the Endless Summer Margarita goes smashed watermelon with blanco tequila, lime, and a summer salt rim.

On the food side, the Whipped Feta & Tahini Dip got a seasonal remix with grilled strawberry, apricot preserve, and pistachio crunch. The Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice comes topped with Fresno chili, cilantro, and yuzu soy caramel – and the Crunchy Chicken Tacos are loaded with queso Oaxaca, refried black beans, roasted corn slaw, and salsa borracha (aka drunk salsa).
Whiskey Night Just Got a Standing Date at Huntress
Huntress started doing Wednesday Neat Nights, and it’s a pretty solid setup for getting out mid-week without committing to a full event. Locals get 20% off the dinner menu, plus rotating whiskey flights across three tiers.



The flights run $10 for Limited (crowd-favorite pours), $20 for Rare, and $30 for Exceptional. It’s built to work for whiskey novices and enthusiasts alike.
📆 Wednesdays, ongoing
ℹ️ Find out more
Better Buzz’s Summer Lineup Has Officially Arrived
Better Buzz dropped five new items for the season, and a few are worth going out of your way for. The Coconut Macadamia Best Drink Ever and its matcha counterpart both lean on blue spirulina cold cream and toasted coconut – tropical, refreshing, and a little extra in the best way.




If you’re keeping it simple, the Vanilla Bean Oat Milk Iced Espresso delivers without overcomplicating things. And the carnitas breakfast tacos – roasted poblano, eggs, Mexican cheese, spicy salsa verde, and cilantro yogurt sauce – are pulling more weight than your average coffee shop food order.
All five are available now through summer at all 32 Southern California locations.
📆 Available now through summer
📍 All 32 Southern California locations
ℹ️ Check out the full menu
Get Up to the Communion Rooftop – New Cocktails Just Landed
Communion‘s rooftop bar program in Mission Hills just got a seasonal refresh.
Bar Lead Eliza Woodman’s new lineup includes the Golden Tempo, a grilled peach and Japanese citrus margarita; Green Thumb, a garden-inspired gin sour with savory notes; and Eternal Path 4.0, the latest take on Communion’s cult-favorite Boulevardier with bittersweet complexity and a surprising lightness. La Vista is a low-ABV aperitivo built for golden hour, and Bitter Ritual is a citrus-forward amaro drink designed to linger.


The through-line across all five: unexpected ingredients, precise technique, and a real focus on balance.
Two San Diego Icons, One Can
Ballast Point‘s first official craft beer with the Padres skips the usual ballpark lager playbook. Súper Lager (5.6% ABV) uses West Coast hops – Citra, Amarillo, and Chinook – for a citrusy, piney brightness you won’t find in a typical stadium pour, while staying crisp enough to drink through nine innings.

The can ties directly to the Padres’ City Connect 2.0 jerseys – La Catrina, said to be the first female figure on an MLB uniform, takes center stage alongside papel picado, marigold flowers, and ofrenda candles against an aqua Pacific backdrop.
Find it at Petco Park, the Little Italy taproom, and at retailers across California year-round.
New Restaurants Opening in San Diego in 2026
7 new restaurants just landed on our 2026 Openings list: Verise (Carlsbad), Georgette’s (North Park), Queenstown (Del Mar), An’s Gelato Gate D5 (Oceanside), Telefèric Barcelona (UTC), The Heritage Steakhouse (Santee), and Black Mizu Café (Little Italy) all just got added to the running tracker.

Bookmark the post – it’s the master list of every notable opening, organized by month, updated at the start of each month so you always know what’s new and what’s coming.
Quick Bites & Special Offers
Dora in La Jolla is Handwriting Your Cocktail Into a Living Recipe Book
Rather than ordering off a menu at Dora Ristorante in La Jolla, guests tell Bar Lead Francesca Proietti Semproni’s team what they’re in the mood for and get a custom cocktail built on the spot. Love it? The recipe gets handwritten into “Nonna’s Recipe Book” under your name for future visits.
SunLife Organics Just Parked an Airstream on Del Beach
SunLife Organics has landed on Coronado Island in a sleek custom Airstream parked directly on Del Beach, open to resort guests and the public alike. The full lineup is on, plus two location exclusives – The Victorian, built on mango and pineapple juice with acai, blueberries, and beet powder, and the Hotel Del Bowl.
📆 Open daily |11 AM – 8 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
Puesto is Serving World Cup Tacos – and Giving Some Back
Puesto is marking the World Cup with Tacos del Mundo – globally-inspired tacos made with local culinary friends: a wagyu smash burger taco, a grilled octopus taco with caramelized manchego and piri piri sauce, and a pork belly taco with kimchi and furikake tortilla. A portion of proceeds goes to Surf Soccer, supporting youth soccer programs in California.
📆 June 11 – 19
ℹ️ View the full menu
Silver Hoof Creamery is Bringing Fairytale Soft Serve to Old Town
Owner Daria Kim is opening Silver Hoof Creamery in Old Town, a woman-owned soft serve parlor built around a childhood fairytale and sourcing 100% all-natural California dairy milk from a family-owned dairy dating back to 1913. Flavors run from Vanilla and Chocolate to Ube, Matcha, and dairy-free options, served in cups, waffle cones, waffle bowls, or waffle tacos.
📆 Opening Thursday, June 19
ℹ️ Read the full story
barleymash Just Dropped a Summer Cocktail Menu Worth the Stop
barleymash in the Gaslamp has a new seasonal cocktail lineup built for this time of year. The All About that Bas-il mixes Cutwater Vodka with fresh basil, peach, and Red Bull White Peach Edition; the Mango Tree pairs Pendleton Whisky with mango and chile de arbol bitters; No Shrubs keeps it clean with Teremana Blanco, strawberry shrub, and lime; and the Sour Flower layers bourbon with hibiscus-ginger syrup and foam bitters.
📍 600 Fifth Ave #6916, San Diego
ℹ️ Find the full menu
Mark Your Calendar & Make Reservations Now
Tokyo Gangster: A Seven-Course Izakaya Dinner at Cloak & Petal
MICHELIN-recognized Cloak & Petal‘s Executive Chef Robert Cassidy is hosting a one-night-only “Tokyo Gangster” izakaya dinner that does exactly what the name suggests – Japanese technique and Chicano flavor in the same bowl.
The seven-course menu runs through negihama crispy rice with guajillo shio and lime crema, pozole kimchi jjigae, chicken bulgogi flautas, carnitas empanadas, gochugaru carne asada, and kakuni pork belly chicharron finished with mole and elote riblets. It’s $75 per person and prepaid at time of reservation.
📆 Tuesday, June 2 | 7 PM
🎟️ Book your table now
Gather’s Seaside Pop-Up Dinner Series is Back in Del Mar
Gather is returning to Del Mar Village for another season of intimate, ocean-view dinners, and the first one is at Monarch Ocean Pub. The evening opens with a welcome cocktail before moving into a multi-course, family-style dinner curated by Chef Todd Nash, with wine pairings throughout and sweeping Pacific views as the backdrop.
Seating is intentionally limited to keep things personal and unhurried. Proceeds go directly to the Del Mar Village Association, supporting local programming and the broader community. So it’s a great meal that does a little good, too.
📆 Wednesday, June 3, 6 PM – 8:30 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
A Southern Italian Wine Journey at Cori Pastificio
Cori Pastificio Trattoria in North Park is hosting an evening dedicated to the wines of Campania and Puglia, guided by Italian wine expert and sommelier Petra Belliti.
The night moves through the volcanic heights of Sannio down to the limestone plateaus of the Mediterranean coast – two distinct regions, one very good reason to clear your Thursday.
📆 Thursday, June 4 | 5 PM – 7:30 PM
🎟️ Book your table now
A Retro Dinner Series at Mister A’s
For two nights only, Mister A’s is going full mid-1960s supper club. The Red Tablecloth Dinner Series lands Thursday, June 4 and Friday, June 5. Red tablecloths, passed canapés and prosecco on arrival, and a $125 prix fixe moving through shrimp cocktail and lobster bisque before landing on beef Wellington, steak Diane, and cherries jubilee.

Upscale chic dress is preferred. Availability limited. A portion of proceeds from June 4 supports Liberty Station Arts District; June 5 supports Forever Balboa Park.
🎟️ Reserve your spot on OpenTable
ℹ️ See the Red Tablecloth menu
The Balboa Park Inaugural Garden Party
Held inside the Botanical Building and the new Central Gardens, inspired by a 1915 garden party. Herb-infused cocktails, garden-driven seasonal bites, live music through golden hour, a DJ into the night.

Every ticket supports the park, which is more important than ever given the Mayor’s proposed budget. The inaugural edition is the one to be at.
📆 Saturday, June 6, 5-10 PM
🎟️ Get your tickets now
ℹ️ Read the full story
KEX Fest is Back for its 8th Year and the Lineup is the Best Yet
Kettner Exchange’s annual food and beverage festival returns to Little Italy for its eighth edition, and the 2026 lineup is the most expansive one yet.
Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski leads the culinary side alongside guest chefs, restaurant pop-ups from The Waverly Cardiff, The Whaling Bar, and Devil’s Dozen Donut Bar, plus a full pig roast and whole fish breakdown on-site.

The drinks program covers just as much ground. Wine, beer, and spirits tastings, sommelier-led pairings, a Condesa Gin Bar Takeover, Hendrick’s Lemonade Stand, Bombay Sapphire martini masterclass, and a Tiki Speakeasy, among others.
Live music, an aura photo booth, tarot readings, and a glitter bar fill out the rest of the afternoon. New this year, VIP tickets include early entry, a welcome cocktail, chef’s amuse-bouche, and access to a dedicated Sake Chef’s Table.
📆 Sunday, June 7, 2026 | 1 PM – 7 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
Little Italy on Foot, One Bite at a Time
If you’ve been meaning to do a proper deep dive into Little Italy’s dining scene, this is the event that makes it happen without any of the usual coordination headaches.

Pick up a Taste Passport at Piazza della Famiglia and spend the evening wandering 48 blocks and 20+ restaurants – empanadas at Puerto La Boca, inventive ramen at Underbelly, California pours at Pali Wine Co, and plenty more in between. No reservations, no logistics, just show up hungry.
Tickets are $70.50 per person and this one sells out. Two consecutive nights gives you some flexibility, but don’t sit on it too long.
📆 Tuesday, June 16 – Wednesday, June 17 | 4 PM – 8 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
5 Years of Agave, and Estancia Is Not Playing Around
Three hours of unlimited pours from a lineup that spans Patrón and Cazadores on the familiar end to craft bottles like Cazcanes and Fosforo Mezcal worth actually knowing.

Distillery reps are on the floor to walk you through what you’re drinking, and the food runs Baja-inspired – street tacos, ceviche, the kind of stuff that holds up against good tequila.
If you want to make a night of it, Estancia has a room package bundling two tickets with accommodations and an agave-themed amenity. $95 per person, 21+.
📆 Friday, June 19 | 6 PM – 9 PM
📍9700 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla
ℹ️ Read the full story
The Blank Table’s 2026 Season is Underway
The Blank Table returns for its seventh season in San Diego, kicking off a new chapter of immersive dining.
Designed as a secret dinner experience, this evening brings together 60 curated guests for a multi-sensory night of cuisine, cocktails, and culture. The secret location, revealed only 24 hours before, is transformed into a thoughtfully designed environment where every detail is intentional.

A five-course pre-fixed menu is paired with bespoke cocktails, sound, design, and storytelling crafted by some of San Diego’s most innovative culinary, beverage, and entertainment talent.
📆 Second dinner of the season is June 25
🎟️ Get your tickets here
25 Years of Taste of Adams
Adams Avenue does a lot of things well on a regular Sunday – but once a year, it does everything at once. The Taste of Adams Avenue is back for its 25th edition, with 45 spots across University Heights, Normal Heights, and Kensington serving up everything from ramen and cheesecake to craft beer and tapas.

Advance tickets are $55 (day-of is $65) and this one sells out every year – 24 times straight – so don’t wait. Grab them at tasteofadams.com or at participating Taste locations starting in early June.
📆 Sunday, June 28 | 11 AM – 3 PM
📍 4649 Hawley Blvd., San Diego
ℹ️ Read the full story
North Park’s Sweetest Day is Back With the Scoop San Diego Ice Cream Festival
The 8th Annual Scoop San Diego Ice Cream Festival takes over North Park with 30-plus local ice cream, gelato, paleta, and frozen treat vendors.
Every dollar of net proceeds goes to Feeding San Diego, which provided over 31 million meals last year.

General Admission is $45 and includes ten shareable two-ounce samples to work through the vendor lineup.
The First Scoop Experience at $90 gets you early entry, priority vendor access, exclusive small-batch flavors, ice cream-filled Korean cream puffs, and a live-printed custom tote.
Celebrity judges include Sam the Cooking Guy, Top Chef alum Zuliya Khawaja, and Bachelor Nation’s Becca Kufrin and Thomas Jacobs – all on hand to crown the Best Flavor Award. A good afternoon for a great cause.
📆 Sunday, June 28 | 12 PM – 4 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
San Diego’s Best Chefs, One Afternoon, All on Fire
Heritage Fire is a walk-around tasting event where top chefs cook over live flame and you eat everything. No assigned seats, no formal courses – just great food, curated drinks, and the energy of watching talented people work over fire in real time.
The lineup includes Brian Redzikowski of Kettner Exchange, Chris Hutten of STK Steakhouse, Mark Kropczynski of Grant Grill, Ethan Yang of Glass Box, and a handful of other heavy hitters from across the San Diego culinary scene.
After tasting through the lineup, the crowd votes for their favorite. The winner takes home the Heritage Hero title, with top finishers advancing to a national Grand Finale.
📆 Sunday, June 28 | 3:30 PM – 7 PM
ℹ️ Read the full story
Eat, Drink, and Give Back at This South Bay Summer Night
The EastLake Educational Foundation‘s Taste of EastLake is back at the Chula Vista Elite Training Center – the former Olympic Training Center – with 40+ local food and beverage purveyors, live entertainment, and a silent auction spread across a garden party-style evening.

It’s a 21+ event, and every dollar from ticket sales goes directly to technology and innovation programs for EastLake K-12 public schools. Tickets are limited and early pricing gives you a reason to act quick.
📆 Friday, July 24 | 6 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 2800 Olympic Pkwy, Chula Vista
ℹ️ Read the full story
Looking Ahead
Encinitas is Getting a Hidden Cocktail Bar
Something genuinely intriguing is opening along the 101 in Encinitas. Arcana is a new hidden cocktail bar tucked in next door to The Roxy, and it’s not your average night out.
You enter through an astrolabe-inspired door – a nod to the instrument once used to navigate time and space – and step into a room that feels deliberately hard to place. Dim candlelight, jewel-toned velvet curtains, dark textured walls warmed by brass, and a cathedral-like back bar that brings a quiet sense of drama to the whole space.
The design draws from pre-war European salons, private members’ clubs, and something altogether more surreal. At 47 seats, the scale is intentional. The menu keeps things focused – classic cocktails and small bites – which lets the room do what it does best.
📆 Opening late May | Hours TBA
ℹ️ Read the full story
Telefèric Barcelona is Bringing Spanish Tapas to La Jolla
La Jolla is about to get a taste of Spain. Telefèric Barcelona is expanding to San Diego this spring with a new location at Westfield UTC, adding vibrant tapas and paella to one of the area’s go-to shopping and dining hubs.



Founded in Barcelona more than 30 years ago, the family-owned concept is led by the Padrosa family and a team of Spanish chefs. Known for colorful pintxos, signature paellas, and a curated Spanish wine list with more than 100 selections, Telefèric delivers a lively, communal dining experience that feels festive from the first bite to the last sip.
📆 Opening spring 2026
🎟️ Reservations coming soon
ℹ️ Follow here for updates
Cloak & Petal is Getting its Own Coffee Shop
We’ve got another reason to swing by Cloak & Petal. The Little Italy favorite is opening Black Mizu Café this summer, bringing a dedicated coffee concept right to the front of the restaurant.
The new spot will serve beans from Torque Coffee along with a simple menu that’s perfect for an easy morning stop or midday pick-me-up. Later this fall, Executive Chef Robert Cassidy will roll out a Japanese and Pacific Rim–inspired brunch, giving us yet another reason to linger.
Black Mizu will have its own entrance and large retractable doors that create an airy, patio-like feel. When the café isn’t open, the space will double as a private dining room – a smart move that keeps this Little Italy staple evolving.
📆 Opening July 2026 | Brunch launching fall 2026
🎟️ Reservations coming soon
An’s Gate D5 is Coming to Oceanside
An’s Gelato – two-time winner of USA Today’s 10 Best “Best Ice Cream Shop in America” – is opening its next concept inside the historic Top Gun House at Mission Pacific Beach Resort, right on the Oceanside waterfront.

Gate D5 transforms the 1888 cottage into a full airport terminal experience: walk through a “security” checkpoint, order at a flight-style counter, and choose between a “carry on” or “checked bag” serving size.
Seven rotating destination-inspired gelato flavors (think Milan pistachio) swap out every few weeks, alongside sorbetto, coffee drinks, and affogato. If you’ve been to any of their North Park, OB, Del Mar, or Petco Park locations, you already know this one’s going to be good.
📆 Expected to open late spring to early summer 2026
📍 250 N Pacific St, Oceanside
ℹ️ Read the full story
A New Restaurant in Bankers Hill From Urban Kitchen Group
Tracy Borkum and chef-partner Tim Kolanko of Urban Kitchen Group are bringing a new all-day concept to the corner of Fifth Avenue and Laurel Street in Bankers Hill, directly across from their Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized CUCINA urbana.
The approximately 5,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor space has been vacant since the closures of Civico by the Park and Il Dandy. For Borkum, a longtime Bankers Hill resident, the project is personal – and the neighborhood is better for it.
Details on the name, concept, and design are still under wraps, with an opening anticipated in late 2027. The pedigree speaks for itself.
📆 Anticipated opening late 2027
📍 505 Laurel Street, San Diego
ℹ️ Read the full story
Pear Plum is Bringing a World-Class Wine Program to a Neighborhood Café
Downtown San Diego has a new all-day café, specialty coffee shop, and wine bar opening steps from the New Children’s Museum and the waterfront.
Pear Plum owners St. Elmo and Christina Crawford are bringing a bottle list that reflects a lifetime of serious collecting – Bordeaux, Burgundy, rare vintages from the ’60s and ’70s, and pours from producers like Kistler, Taittinger, and Château d’Yquem, with glasses starting at $10. St. Elmo is a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, which explains a lot.
They’re also pouring their own house wines made in partnership with Violin Wines in Oregon, named for their daughters. The food menu comes from the team behind The Handmade Chef Meal Prep Co. One to watch.
📆 Opening January 2027
ℹ️ Read the full story
See you there, San Diego!



















