The 20 Best Rooftop Restaurants in San Diego
One of the most beautiful cities in the United States, San Diego offers a wide range of attractions. You can also find historical sites, and great views while having perfect weather for all 12 months of the year. San Diego is also known for its fantastic cuisine. San Diego is located on the border of Mexico while also on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
When you throw all of these factors in together, San Diego has no shortage of fine dining options in several different atmospheres. This includes rooftop dining with some of the best views you could possibly ask for, and world-class meals and drinks. There are plenty of places to pick from, but these are the 20 best rooftop restaurants San Diego has to offer and some of their fan-favorite dishes and drinks.
1. Upper East Bar
Located within Hotel Solamar in San Diego, Upper East Bar is a 7,500-square-foot rooftop oasis. This gives the other rooftop restaurants claiming to be the biggest in San Diego, a run for their money. This rooftop destination offers pool access, fire pits, private cabanas available to rent, and a yummy assortment of American cuisine and fresh seafood dishes. Upper East Bar also serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Patrons can grab a luxurious room, an order of the blackened salmon, pork belly mac & cheese, charcuterie board, chicken and waffles, and some of the fun cocktails offered at Upper East Bar.
2. TopSail
Top Sail is located right on the North San Diego Bay. TopSail at Portside Pier Restaurant offers stunning waterfront views from the rooftop oasis, as well as fresh tapas-style dishes and classic handcrafted cocktails. Patrons have a lot of good things to say about their lobster corn dogs, crab cakes, grilled octopus, fish and chips, and balanced adult beverages.
3. Topside Terrace Kitchen & Bar
Located at the Hotel Republic in San Diego, Topside Terrace Kitchen & Bar offers Baja-inspired Californian cuisine. This rooftop joint specializes in weekend brunch al fresco. It offers a wide selection of red and white wines, cocktails, and brews. Visitors can dine on flavorful and fresh dishes while overlooking beautiful downtown San Diego.
Some of those dishes include Baja shrimp street tacos, pan-seared Maine diver scallops and octopus. They also offer citrus and guajillo chile-marinated hanger steak, all of which can be downed with some of their cocktails like the Botanical Bomb. (made with Ketel One Cucumber Mint, lime juice, and sugar). Also, the Aeronaut, is made with Empress Gin, Violette Liqueur, St-Germain, and lime.
4. Rustic Root
Overlooking the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, Rustic Root offers elevated down-home cooking, weekend brunch, and a wonderful selection of signature and classic cocktails. Visitors rave about the fantastic views of the downtown San Diego neighborhood from their rooftop dining area, with live acoustic music on Tuesday Evenings as well.
5. SKA Bar
Located in the Normal Heights neighborhood, SKA Bar is a spacious multi-level establishment with dazzling views of the city in its rooftop oasis. SKA Bar serves Asian-inspired cuisine, offering a simple and small plate menu. Patrons rave about their salt and pepper chicken wings, honey walnut shrimp, bao buns, and spring rolls. Their creative and cute cocktails are the perfect refresher as you enjoy the 360° view of the city from above. As a bonus, the SKA bar is dog friendly as well.
6. Top of the Market
Located on the San Diego Bay and above The Fish Market restaurant, the aptly named Top of the Market is a gorgeous destination with a rooftop deck to give you dazzling views from Coronado to Point Loma. Top of the Market offers fresh and sustainable seafood dishes in an elegant setting, as well as a good selection of cocktails, wine, and beers.
7. JRDN Restaurant
Located at Tower23 Hotel by the coast, JRDN Restaurant offers fresh American/Californian cuisine with oceanfront views. JRDN has a tasty selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Some of the local favorites are the fresh seafood, great service, and of course the view of the Pacific. Some of JRDN’s signature dishes are the braised short ribs with a decadent bone marrow demi-glacé, the ahi tuna nachos, one of their many sushi rolls, and eight-layer carrot cake made with yuzu cream cheese frosting.
8. The Nolen
Located on Sixth Avenue in downtown San Diego, The Nolen offers fun bar food, a delicious Sunday brunch menu, flavorful cocktails, and an overall great rooftop atmosphere. Some of the “Nolen Favorites,” as their menu calls them, include dishes like their popcorn shrimp tacos, and whiskey braised beef flatbread. For those wanting to just grab a drink, some of their cocktails include the Hot Girl Summer drink with mezcal, yellow chartreuse, orgeat, lemon, and strawberry purée.
9. Altitude Sky Lounge
Located high above the Gaslamp Quarter, Altitude Sky Lounge offers stunning views of Coronado Island, Petco Park, the Coronado Bridge, and Point Loma. This rooftop joint has a hefty American breakfast menu, bar food, and a selection of crowd-pleasing cocktails. Some of the fare at Altitude includes American breakfast classics, flatbreads, fried calamari, and Sonoran dogs.
10. The Rooftop by STK
Located within Andaz Hotel in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, The Rooftop by STK claims to be the largest rooftop destination in the city. The Rooftop serves breakfast/brunch, lunch, and dinner daily as well as offering some fun cocktails. Their American/Californian-influenced cuisine is fresh and locally sourced. They serve tempting dishes like their lobster and short rib, charred octopus, lamb lollipops, and crispy Brussels sprouts.
Visitors can wash it down with one of their delightfully named cocktails such as Jala-atcha Boy made with Don Julio Blanco tequila, cucumber, jalapeño, li hing muy, and agave. The Rooftop also serves the Mai-tize Me made with plantation pineapple rum, Koloa dark rum, like, orange, and lilikoi.
11. Garibaldi
Located within InterContinental San Diego Hotel, Garibaldi offers scrumptious Italian fare. The stunning rooftop destination, just minutes from Little Italy, serves up sweet and savory brunch dishes, classic Italian dinner dishes, as well as Italian-inspired cocktails and spirits. Some of their fares include flatbreads, classic pasta dishes, fresh seafood, and veal chop tomahawk style.
Garibaldi’s cocktail menu includes drinks like Fiore di Farfalla, made with carbonade vodka, Gusto di Amalfi alloro, myrtle sugar, butterfly pea flower infused luxardo, lemon juice, Stella, and Mosca brut. Also on the menu is the Mirto do Limone, made with limoncello, malfy limone scillian gin, and egg whites.
12. Wonderland Ocean Pub
Located in Ocean Beach San Diego, Wonderland Ocean Pub is a fun rooftop spot paying homage to San Diego’s first amusement park, Wonderland Park, which opened in 1913. Wonderland Ocean Pub has a lot to offer with fresh Mexican/American-influenced cuisine, fun cocktails, an unbeatable oceanfront view of the Pacific, and friendly staff. Some of their most delicious dishes you ought to try include the short rib tacos, chowder fries, garlic serrano chili fried oysters, and the woco moco.
On Saturdays and Sundays, they serve brunch with dishes such as fried oyster Benedict, an omelet served with their award-winning chili and their sailor’s salmon benny. Wonderland even has its own brunch cocktail menu with drinks like blame it on the bubbly, made with sparkling wine, Aperol, ford’s gin, blood orange, lemon, and aromatic bitters. Patrons can also get Wonderland’s Irish coffee drink, made with Irish whiskey, demerara sugar, French roast coffee, and fresh cream.
13. Lumi
Located on Fifth Avenue in downtown San Diego, Lumi offers unique Japanese cuisine and cocktails, with a view that can’t be beaten. Patrons rave about the inspired and flavorful dishes at Lumi. You can take in the fabulous views while enjoying fresh seafood, masterfully prepared sushi, incredibly unique cocktails, and one-of-a-kind sake.
Some of their most beloved dishes include seared albacore tiradito, pork belly kimchi fried rice, chicken karaage, and yellowtail serrano. Among the wide cocktail selection is the Fuka-Sa, made with milagro silver tequila, blueberry, mint, lemonade, agave, and smoked chili bitters. The Suntory Toki Highball made with Suntory Toki whiskey, effervescence, and a lemon twist is another hit, as well as the Haiku, made with patron añejo tequila, Los Vecinos mezcal, Mr. Black cold brew liqueur, glazed pecan reduction, and egg whites.
14. Level 9 Rooftop Bar
Located within Hotel Indigo in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, Level 9 Rooftop Bar offers American dishes and cocktails along with their awesome rooftop city views patrons rave about. Some of their fares include brioche French toast, their bayside cinnamon roll, calamari frittata, and savory truffle garlic fries.
15. Cannonball
Located in Oceanside, Cannonball claims to be the largest oceanfront rooftop restaurant in San Diego. This beachy rooftop haven is known for its fresh and award-winning sushi. Cannonball serves up fresh seafood, Asian cuisine, Asian-inspired cocktails, Japanese whiskeys, sake, and brews. Patrons also rave about their lobster roll, sashimi wrap, crispy shrimp tacos, and ceviche.
16. Glass Door
Located atop the Porto Vista Hotel in San Diego, Glass Door offers a stylish rooftop atmosphere where you can enjoy their Mexican Cantina fare. You’ll get beautiful views of Little Italy and the bay while you dine on fresh, locally sourced, elevated dishes and sip on specialty cocktails. They offer Mexican-inspired brunch dishes and bar food with a modern spin, served by friendly and knowledgeable staff. Some of their simple fare include chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, ahi tuna tostada, and the Tijuana dog. Wash them down with some of their specialty cocktails such as the horchata whiskey slam, made with bourbon, horchata, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Or perhaps the fittingly named rooftop madness, made with vodka, apple, lime, and ginger.
17. El Prez
Located within the Promenade at Pacific Beach shopping mall in San Diego, El Prez is a fun and lively rooftop joint specializing in laid-back Mexican cuisine. El Prez features a delicious dinner menu as well as an extensive drink menu. While you’re there you can dig into their salt and pepper calamari, fried to perfection, served with fried jalapeño slices and chipotle aioli for dipping. You can also dive into their Baja fish tacos made with wild-caught Alaskan cod, beer battered, deep fried, and topped with shaved cabbage, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese, and drizzled with their jalapeño cream sauce. Those looking for something refreshing can also try the famous El Prez margaritas.
18. The Holding Company
Located in Ocean Beach San Diego, The Holding Company is a massive three-story venue featuring a plentiful bar, Asian-inspired fare, and live music. Their rooftop bar features great ocean views and a plethora of fun cocktails and spirits. The staff has earned great praise for their attentive and helpful nature, as well as the Korean fried chicken, orange chicken, fried rice, chicken and waffles, and of course the view. The Holding Company has even more to offer with its THC-infused dishes for the adventurous diner.
19. Old Town Tequila Factory Restaurant and Cantina
Located near San Diego International Airport, Old Town Tequila Factory Restaurant and Cantina features an extensive menu of authentic Mexican cuisine, cocktails, and spirits. They also have a delicious weekend champagne brunch menu offering dishes like jalapeño agave glazed ribs, shrimp fajitas, sweet corn cake, and churros with caramel sauce. Patrons have had a lot of praise to give the staff here. Enjoy the beautiful rooftop views of the city while digging into fares such as ceviche, chicken fajitas, enchiladas, and tamales. And to finish it off, a decadent deep-fried ice cream sundae.
20. Born and Raised
Located near Little Italy in San Diego, Born and Raised is a high-end restaurant that serves mostly traditional steakhouse fare, cocktails, wines, and spirits. The spacious, modern, rooftop joint offers fabulous city views and sophisticated comfort food. Patrons most enjoyed the steak tartare, beef Wellington, bone marrow, steak Diane, dirty hashbrowns, and decadent slices of carrot cake. One of their unique cocktails features wagyu used in a very interesting way: The wagyu old fashioned. This dish is made with roast wagyu beef-infused bourbon, benedictine, aromatic bitters, and citrus zest bringing a slight savory twist to a classic cocktail.
You can also read:
