Best Places to Eat in Coronado
A quick drive across the picturesque Coronado Bridge or a 15-minute foot ferry ride from downtown San Diego will bring you to this island gem where you’ll find all types of fabulous restaurants to fit any budget or palate. During the summer months, the island is bustling with tourists and locals all sharing in the splendor of this beautiful spot. Other times of the year, the island life slows down and you can stroll the streets, take a walk on the white sandy beaches and enjoy the laid-back simplicity of island life. No matter what time of year you visit the city, we’ve got a list of the best places to eat – some with ocean views, others on busy Orange Avenue, ones tucked quietly into the neighborhood and those with downtown San Diego skyline views.
If you’d prefer to check-out the best Coronado has to offer with a group, consider So Diego Tours! They specialize in walking and biking San Diego tours and in addition to food and drink samples at our favorites, you’ll learn about the history of the island from talented San Diego tour guides.
Hotel Del Coronado
Photo credit – Hotel Del Coronado
This historic hotel that has been around for over 130 years will give you multiple options to dine waterfront with ocean views. Eno Pizza is an artisan pizza and wine bar where you can gather by the outdoor fire pits with friends and family and enjoy the sunset views or indoors by the open kitchen to watch the pizza be made. Sheerwater is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers casual fare with a gourmet twist with views of the lawns and ocean beyond. They have an extensive breakfast buffet as well as the option to order a la carte off the menu for every meal, making it one of our picks for best breakfast restaurants in Coronado. The Sun Deck is a beachfront eatery that offers cozy fire pits, craft cocktails, delectable bites and some of the most amazing sunset views on the west coast. For a more casual “toes in the sand” kind of meal, we recommend the Beach + Taco Shack, open seasonally from March through September they offer tropical cocktails, beer & wine and some pretty amazing tacos and live music all directly adjacent to the boardwalk and beach beyond!
Orange Avenue Restaurants
Take a walk along busy Orange Avenue and you are sure to find something that will delight your palate. There’s a little something for everyone including the casual café, farm to table approach, local brewery, Mexican, sushi and more. Here are a few of our favorites we think you’d be disappointed to miss!
Miguel’s Cocina
Photo credit – Miguel’s Cocina
Open over 3 decades with 7 locations across San Diego, this restaurant boasts the most authentic Mexican flavors north of the border since 1982! They serve handmade tortillas, house-made salsa, specialties like the grilled swordfish tacos, spicy chicken mole and their jalapeño white sauce you can order to go along with any of their dishes. They offer inside or outside dining on their courtyard patio and are open for breakfast Monday – Friday as well as brunch on the weekends and lunch & dinner every day of the week.
The Tavern
Photo credit – The Tavern
For one of the best burgers around, we recommend this kid-friendly location. They have a fabulous happy hour every day from 3:00 – 7:00 pm with delicious small plates (our favorites are the mini Mac n Cheese & mini Brussels Sprouts) as well as beer and wine specials.
Stake Chophouse & Bar
Photo credit – Stake Chophouse & Bar
This stunning venue is located on the 2nd floor offering views of bustling Orange Ave from their patio out front. They are a modern take on the classic steakhouse offering share-friendly plates that include filets, chops, and an expansive selection of shellfish and crudo as well as salads and wood fire-roasted sides. We recommend checking out their happy hour served daily in the bar and patio from 4:00 – 6:30 pm – a sampling of tasty food and drinks at some great prices!
Chez Loma
Photo credit – Chez Loma
Located just off Orange Avenue on a quiet neighborhood street, this French gem won’t disappoint. Situated in a beautiful historic home, they delight in simple traditional cooking methods using the freshest local ingredients. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped inside a private home with 5-star service.
Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge
Photo credit – Leroy’s Kitchen + Lounge
If you’re looking for a farm-to-table approach to dining, Leroy’s offers a truly locavore experience! Sit inside in their cozy dining room or on their outdoor patio where you can watch people stroll along Orange Avenue while enjoying delicious American cuisine. They feature rotating local artist’s work on their walls and have an impressive craft beer and cocktail menu. Their weekend brunch is a favorite of ours, offered from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
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Coronado Brewing Co.
Photo credit – Coronado Brewing Co.
For a casual pizza and beer, this family-friendly spot is the place for you! Their menu offers much more than just pizza, but their wood-fired oven creates some pretty yummy pies which can be served calzone style if requested. This is the original location started in 1996 by two brothers so there’s a lot of history built into this brewpub! With over 20 beers on tap and a good wine list, there’s something for everyone.
Saiko Sushi
Photo credit – Saiko Sushi
This neighborhood gem is a progressive Japanese restaurant with a great selection of hot and cold items. They have a fabulous daily happy hour from 4:30 – 6:30 pm as well as a daily special board with ever-changing fresh options. If you can snag one, some of their tables on the patio have views of the bay and downtown.
Restaurants with a Bay View
In what is considered the Coronado Ferry Landing area, there are quite a few fabulous restaurants that have views of the bay as well as the downtown San Diego skyline. If coming by car, parking is easy in this area. If you’d prefer to adventure over via the water, take the Coronado Ferry, a foot ferry that transports you from two locations in downtown San Diego (Convention Center and Broadway Pier). Here are a few of our favorites.
Peohe’s
Photo credit – Peohe’s
Specializing in tropical island cuisine, this bayfront restaurant offers tiered seating so that almost every table has a view of the Bay and downtown San Diego. If you prefer to sit outside, they also have a patio and dockside courtyard.
Il Fornaio
Photo credit – Il Fornaio
This restaurant is not local to San Diego but is California based. They boast some of the best views of the bay and downtown San Diego as well as the Coronado Bridge. Using traditional cooking techniques, they serve up authentic Italian cuisine and have an extensive wine list. We recommend reservations for their outdoor patio.
Lil’ Piggy’s Bar-B-Q
Photo credit – Lil’ Piggy’s Bar-B-Q
For a casual dinner, check-out this local Memphis style BBQ joint where everything is made fresh daily. With spectacular park and bay views, they have over 100 varieties of beer to choose from to help you wash down the delicious food!
Don’t forget to check-out So Diego Tours for a chance to experience the best this island has to offer as part of a group! On top of our Coronado food tour, we offer many other food tours in San Diego.
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