Last updated: 2025-05-06
Best Upscale Restaurants in San Diego
San Diego’s culinary landscape sparkles with world-class dining experiences that showcase the city’s remarkable gastronomic talent. From waterfront views at Island Prime to the refined elegance of Addison, these restaurants represent the pinnacle of coastal California cuisine.
Whether you’re seeking a romantic dinner at Mister A’s with its panoramic skyline views or a sophisticated meal at A.R. Valentien, San Diego’s top-tier restaurants promise extraordinary flavors and unforgettable dining moments.
Discover San Diego’s most exceptional dining destinations now!
Featured Fine Dining Spots in San Diego
- Addison
- Callie
- Mille Fleurs (Rancho Santa Fe)
- A.R. Valentien
- Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
- Island Prime
- Tom Ham's Lighthouse
- Mister A's
- Avant (Rancho Bernardo)
- Grant Grill
Addison
What to Expect
Michelin-starred chef's innovative California-French tasting menu
Description
Addison offers an intimate, Michelin-starred dining experience in an elegant Del Mar setting. Chef William Bradley crafts meticulously prepared French-inspired California cuisine featuring seasonal ingredients and precise culinary techniques. The restaurant features an elegant dining room with sophisticated table service, custom multi-course tasting menus, and an immersive gastronomic journey highlighting refined contemporary techniques.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Addison ↗
A.R. Valentien
What to Expect
California Craftsman architectural design with golf course views
Description
A.R. Valentien offers an elegant California Craftsman-style dining experience overlooking Torrey Pines Golf Course. The restaurant features a timbered indoor-outdoor dining room with handcrafted wood-framed windows and intimate plush booths. Executive Chef Kelli Crosson creates seasonal menus highlighting regional San Diego cuisine using locally sourced provisions.
Restaurant Details
More Info: A.R. Valentien ↗
Avant (Rancho Bernardo)
What to Expect
Wine Spectator Award-winning wine selection with seasonal menus
Description
Avant offers an elegant dining experience nestled in Rancho Bernardo with a seasonally inspired menu and sophisticated atmosphere. The restaurant features an airy dining room and lush outdoor spaces with championship golf course views. Guests can choose between à la carte dishes, curated Vine-to-Table wines (recognized by Wine Spectator), and craft cocktails in an immersive culinary setting.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Avant ↗
Callie
What to Expect
Mediterranean coastal cuisine with California ingredient sourcing
Description
Callie offers an elegant Mediterranean-inspired dining experience in a sophisticated downtown San Diego setting. Chef Travis Swikard creates intricate, seasonally-driven dishes that blend coastal California ingredients with Mediterranean techniques. The restaurant features an open kitchen, craft cocktail program, and intimate dining spaces with modern, art-inspired design elements.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Callie ↗
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
What to Expect
Waterfront steakhouse with panoramic bay views
Description
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse offers an upscale waterfront dining experience in San Diego's historic North Embarcadero. Featuring sweeping bay views and sleek architecture, this sophisticated steakhouse serves hand-cut USDA Prime and Japanese A5 Wagyu steaks alongside fresh seafood. Five private dining rooms and an elegant atmosphere elevate the traditional steakhouse concept.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse ↗
Grant Grill
What to Expect
Symphonic cocktail menu curated by head mixologist
Description
Nestled in downtown San Diego's historic US Grant Hotel, Grant Grill offers an elegant dining experience with seasonal menus highlighting local Pacific seafood and prime meats. The restaurant features a chic lounge with innovative cocktails crafted by renowned mixologist Rex Yuasa, and an atmosphere that blends classic sophistication with contemporary culinary artistry.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Grant Grill ↗
Island Prime
What to Expect
Waterfront steakhouse with panoramic San Diego Bay views
Description
Island Prime offers an elegant waterfront steakhouse experience in San Diego, featuring panoramic bay views and premium cuts of beef. The sophisticated dining room showcases contemporary design with floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing guests to enjoy sunset vistas while savoring expertly prepared steaks and seafood. Tableside preparations and an extensive wine list complement the refined menu.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Island Prime ↗
Mille Fleurs (Rancho Santa Fe)
What to Expect
Weekend live piano performances by resident pianist Randy Beecher
Description
Nestled in Rancho Santa Fe, Mille Fleurs offers an intimate French-California dining experience with a picturesque courtyard and vintage-tiled indoor spaces. The restaurant features an extensive wine program curated by sommelier Marko Dedic, with live piano entertainment on weekends and a seasonally-driven menu blending French culinary techniques with local California ingredients.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Mille Fleurs ↗
Mister A's
What to Expect
Panoramic downtown San Diego skyline views from 12th-floor dining room
Description
Perched atop the Manchester Financial Building, Mister A's offers a sophisticated dining experience with breathtaking 180-degree views of downtown San Diego. The restaurant features an elevated rooftop lounge, à la minute cuisine blending American, French, and Mediterranean influences, and an extensive 15-page wine list complemented by a curated cocktail program.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Mister A's ↗
Tom Ham's Lighthouse
What to Expect
Bayfront dining with sweeping San Diego harbor panoramas
Description
Waterfront fancy restaurant nestled in San Diego's Harbor Island, offering panoramic bay views and sophisticated seafood cuisine. Candlelit dining rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing stunning marina landscapes. Signature tableside preparations and an extensive wine list complement fresh, locally sourced seafood dishes prepared with refined culinary techniques.
Restaurant Details
More Info: Tom Ham's Lighthouse ↗
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