Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Shelter Island / San Diego Bay

106 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Tom Hams Lighthouse restaurant

1. Tom Hams Lighthouse

4.6

Exceptional(6639)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Downtown

Booked 35 times today

Tom Ham’s Lighthouse was built in 1971 by a man who was not afraid to put his name on his product. Rooted in warm welcomes & excellent food, Tom Ham made his lifelong dream a reality. Tom Ham’s Lighthouse is the only restaurant in the US to have a USCG operated & maintained Lighthouse attached to it. You can locate us on any modern nautical map as Beacon #9. Featuring a 100% responsibly resourced seafood menu & award winning Sunday Champagne Brunch, we are a must when it comes to the San Diego food scene. The dining room, purposely shaped like the state of California, allows for groups as grand as 50 yet private enough for a couple’s night out. Holiday brunches have been long time family traditions for many San Diegans. Start your family’s tradition this next holiday. With the best views of the Downtown City Skyline, Coronado & San Diego Bay, Tom Ham's is & remains a San Diego tradition in dining excellence since 1971.

2. Coasterra

4.5

Awesome(7527)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Harbor Island

Booked 90 times today

Coasterra is San Diego's premier bay front dining destination! We are an innovative and modern restaurant, lounge and floating event center, featuring Mexican cuisine.

3. Cesarina

4.9

Exceptional(5443)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Ocean Beach

Booked 207 times today

Cesarina is a grandmother, a mother, a daughter—our personification of a nurturer who feeds and cares for her community. From meticulous attention to detail and fresh ingredients to the warm and inviting atmosphere, this restaurant is a celebration of the power of food and family.

4. Juniper & Ivy

4.6

Exceptional(7995)

Price: Expensive

• Unspecified • Little Italy

Booked 54 times today

Juniper & Ivy is a go-to place for special occasions. With its unique, creative, and delicious menu, it's a perfect spot for birthdays, anniversaries, and any other celebrations. The reviews are glowing with praises for the outstanding service, wonderful ambiance, and unforgettable dining experience. One reviewer even mentioned a special menu for their anniversary and a champagne toast. With its top-notch service, locally sourced food, and award-winning wine list, Juniper & Ivy makes any celebration truly memorable.

5. Island Prime

4.6

Exceptional(8308)

Price: Moderate

• Steakhouse • Downtown

Booked 61 times today

Island Prime is a go-to spot for special occasions, as it provides a unique and exceptional dining experience. The stunning views of San Diego Bay and Coronado, along with its excellent food and service, make it an ideal place for birthday celebrations, anniversaries, and other special events. Many reviewers noted the exceptional attention to detail and the staff's superb customer service. Whether you're looking for a fine dining experience or an intimate setting to make a special day even more memorable, Island Prime is highly recommended.

6. Herb & Wood

4.7

Exceptional(6425)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Little Italy

Booked 69 times today

A timeless, sought-after dining escape, celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey opened Herb & Wood to instant acclaim over four years ago. In that time, the restaurant has become an icon, a dining destination that has helped to propel San Diego's culinary reputation to new heights. By focusing on rustic, wood-fired dishes, Chef Malarkey's menu elevates humble ingredients such as carrots, beets, and chicken, incorporating Mediterranean flavors and a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability.

7. Mister A's

4.9

Exceptional(8615)

Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary French / American • Downtown

Booked 59 times today

Mister A's is the penthouse, fine-dining destination of San Diego, and has been for over 50 years. Located just a few minutes from downtown, you will take the elevator to the top floor and look back out over jetliners sweeping past at eye level, the San Diego skyline, bay and Pacific, while enjoying Modern American cuisine, hand-crafted cocktails, and one of Wine Spectator's top-rated wine lists in the country. The culinary staff hand-selects local farm produce and the highest quality ingredients in every category to offer you selections that are made from scratch in house for brunch, lunch, dinner.. or simply the finest rooftop drinks and appetizers in town.Please visit our website for specific dress code guidelines: https://www.asrestaurant.com/contact/(Guests not in dress code will be turned away)

8. Barbusa

4.6

Exceptional(4273)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Little Italy

Booked 61 times today

Barbusa is a lively, modern Sicilian restaurant in Little Italy, San Diego. Known for its authentic Italian dishes, craft cocktails, and stone-fired pizza, it's a favorite for celebrating special occasions. Reviews highlight the 'authentic, delicious' food, 'fast service', and 'great atmosphere'. Whether it's for business, family, or a romantic evening, Barbusa delivers an 'exquisite dining experience' with 'outstanding service' and a 'fun atmosphere'.

9. Callie Restaurant

4.8

Exceptional(172)

Price: Very Expensive

• Mediterranean • Downtown

Booked 43 times today

Callie represents Chef Travis Swikard's debut solo project after spending a decade working alongside the esteemed Chef Daniel Boulud in New York City. The restaurant’s name, "Callie," comes from the Greek word "kallos," meaning "the most beautiful," and embodies its blend of Mediterranean cuisine with local ingredients and terroir, from sea to land from San Diego, Swikard's hometown. In 2022, Callie was acclaimed as one of America's top new restaurants by Esquire and Robb Report, and received both a Bib Gourmand and a Plate from the Michelin Guide. Callie is a dedicated supporter of Feeding San Diego, having contributed over 1 million meals to those in need in San Diego since its launch. Swikard is set to open his second restaurant in La Jolla in 2025.

10. Cowboy Star

4.9

Exceptional(4718)

Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Downtown

Booked 50 times today

Located in the heart of the East Village neighborhood of San Diego, Cowboy Star is dedicated to providing an unmatched attention to detail and a level of service that immediately sets us apart. Cowboy Star guests are the number one priority and guest satisfaction is the base upon which our entire concept is built. Our level of service is only matched by our celebration of regional American heirloom recipes offered with genuine neighborly hospitality. We are committed to supporting local and regional farmers, fishers and producers by cooking food that recaptures the simple and pure tastes found in locally grown, natural and organic ingredients. We strive to raise awareness of a more sustainable food future, while helping to restore a sense of community that brings us back to a more homegrown time.The Cowboy Star Menu features the finest in select natural products including Niman Ranch all natural beef from the nation's leading Certified Humane Angus herd.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

S
Stephanie
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Food and service was amazing as always! Chelsea was amazing at keeping us happy and making sure we were satisfied with the recent menu changes. Never had a meal I didn’t enjoy here.
More info
CoasterraPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Harbor Island
•
4.5
M
Marissa
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
I got the pasta with vodka sauce, mini lobster and shrimp, It was absolutely delicious!! The ambiance was amazing and our waitress was great! They did take our food on the extra plate without asking first.. but other than that it was amazing!!
More info
CesarinaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Ocean Beach
•
4.9
L
Linda
San Diego •1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Superb experience, foodie speaking…food, service, ambiance, all top notch! Thank you Seth!!
More info
Island PrimePrice: Moderate• Steakhouse• Downtown
•
4.6
R
Ronvip
San Diego •9 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
One of the best bay views available. Food is excellent quality and underpriced for the combination of location and food quality. Ron Mix
More info
Tom Hams LighthousePrice: Expensive• Seafood• Downtown
•
4.6
E
elizabethvip
San Diego •10 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
From the moment we walked in to the moment we left we felt super special (with the exception of one server that figured out we were unhappy with him and he server came back). Every dish we had out did the one before!
More info
Juniper & IvyPrice: Expensive• undefined• Little Italy
•
4.6

Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Shelter Island / San Diego Bay

Price

Cuisine

Regions

Neighborhoods

Top Rated

Dining Options

Seating Options

Award-winning

Accessibility

106 restaurants available nearby

1. Tom Hams Lighthouse

2. Coasterra

3. Cesarina

4. Juniper & Ivy

5. Island Prime

6. Herb & Wood

7. Mister A's

8. Barbusa

9. Callie Restaurant

10. Cowboy Star

See what locals rave about

Explore OpenTable