Best romantic restaurants for a date in San Diego
Low light, a good table, and nowhere to be afterwards.
34 spots · Jump to the list
The restaurant is still the date most people start with, and the right one does most of the work: a room that's quiet enough to talk, light low enough to relax, a table you're not hurried off. Every restaurant here was chosen for that feeling rather than for the food alone — though the food is good. Book ahead for a weekend, ask for a corner or window table when you do, and leave the rest of the evening open.
This guide ranks 34 romantic restaurants in San Diego, from Balboa Park to Coronado and Encinitas / Del Mar. Editors' picks come first, then the rest by rating, and the plans below build a whole evening around the best of them.
The list
Editors' picks first, then by rating.
The Prado at Balboa Park
4.1(8)Balboa Park · $$$
Molly’s
4.0(5)Pacific Beach / Mission Beach · $$
Nozomi
3.9(11)La Jolla Shores / Torrey Pines
Tacaliente Mexican Grill
3.8(20)Hillcrest / Bankers Hill · $
The Saloon
3.7(6)Encinitas / Del Mar · $$
Nason’s Beer Hall
Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown · $$
Pomodoro Ristorante Italiano
Shelter Island / Harbor Island · $$$
Duke's
La Jolla · $$
Tavern
Coronado · $$$
The WineSellar & Brasserie
$$
Showing 25–34 of 34 spots
Good to know
- What's the best romantic restaurant in San Diego for a date?
- Our top pick is The Prado at Balboa Park in Balboa Park, rated 4.1 out of 5. Molly’s and Nozomi round out the top 3.
- Which San Diego neighborhoods have the best romantic restaurants?
- Balboa Park (1), Coronado (1) and Encinitas / Del Mar (1) have the most spots in the top 10.
- Are there affordable romantic restaurants in San Diego?
- Yes — Molly’s, Tacaliente Mexican Grill and The Saloon are all $$ or under.
- What should we do before or after?
- Make it a romantic night: drinks first, then dinner, then something sweet. The plans on this page pair each top spot with the best-rated places within about a 20-minute walk.