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Best Waterfront Restaurants in University City/Golden Triangle

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7 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Dockside 1953 restaurant
1. Dockside 1953
4.6
Exceptional(631)
Price: Moderate
• Californian • Mission Beach
Booked 33 times today
With its spectacular waterfront setting on Mission Bay, nautical-inspired design, and a menu of mouthwatering dishes, Dockside 1953 is a favorite restaurant for hotel guests and locals alike. Aptly named for its marina-facing locale at the Bahia Resort Hotel and the year the resort opened, Dockside 1953 is a stunning standout in San Diego’s dining scene. Fresh, coastal-inspired, and locally sourced — the eclectic menu of California fare features dishes to satisfy all palates. With a dedication to high-quality ingredients, menu highlights include classic sweet and savory options for breakfast; salads, bowls, and flatbreads for lunch; sharable starters and fresh seafood entrées for dinner; and a thoughtful wine and cocktail menu. The extensive outdoor patio features cozy fire pits, gorgeous Mission Bay views, and a covered trellis to shade guests.
A photo of Waterbar San Diego restaurant
2. Waterbar San Diego
4.5
Awesome(399)
Price: Moderate
• American • Pacific Beach
Booked 21 times today
Located alongside the vibrant ocean-front boardwalk in Pacific Beach, Waterbar offers only the best in tantalizing menus, innovative libations, panoramic views, and lively entertainment. Our “social seafood” menu is inspired by East coast, West coast and Baja cuisines, and transforms the freshest flavors through our chef’s unique renditions of coastal classics. Flavor-forward craft cocktails, local micro-brews, national brand favorites, and a diverse wine list are offered across comfortable bar seating, community-table dining, and intimate ocean-side tables. Waterbar’s thriving, energetic environment captures the passion of San Diego’s iconic coastline for an unforgettably satisfying experience.
A photo of Oceana Coastal Kitchen restaurant
3. Oceana Coastal Kitchen
4.5
Awesome(1309)
Price: Expensive
• Seafood • Pacific Beach
Booked 14 times today
Oceana Coastal Kitchen features chef-driven, California cuisine along with modern, ocean-inspired design. The restaurant offers a memorable bayfront dining experience at an iconic Pacific Beach hideaway.The airy waterfront restaurant includes several distinct dining areas such as a quartz-topped cold bar embedded with mother of pearl and sea glass. The focal point in Oceana Coastal Kitchen's main dining room is an impressive 800-gallon aquarium, while a sliding window fully opens to showcase unobstructed views of Mission Bay.Oceana Coastal Kitchen offers an al fresco experience for guests, complete with sleek booths and tables with sweeping panoramic waterfront views. Led by Executive Chef Paul Arias, favorite menu items include the Oceana House Roll, the Harris Ranch Ribeye, and the Striped Seabass.We are excited to announce that we have been recognized by TripAdvisor as a 2023 Traveler’s Choice Best of the Best award winner, ranking 10th in the country for “Everyday Eats.”
A photo of Tidal restaurant
4. Tidal
4.4
Awesome(1158)
Price: Very Expensive
• American • Mission Bay
Booked 20 times today
Join us at our Tidal Waterfront Restaurant for a seafood focused Sothern California dinning experience! Enjoy locally sourced ingredients and beautiful views on our outdoor Tidal Deck or pick up dinner and take it with you back to your bungalow guest room.For parties of 13 or more please visit our website www.tidalsd.com
A photo of Rumorosa restaurant
5. Rumorosa
4.1
Excellent(40)
Price: Expensive
• Regional Mexican (Baja Med) • Harbor Island
Booked 10 times today
Harbor's Edge is a waterfront restaurant because it's located on Harbor Island Drive overlooking the marina, as mentioned in its description. Reviews also highlight the beautiful views from the restaurant, confirming its waterfront location.
A photo of Casa De Freds, Tacos y Tequila restaurant
6. Casa De Freds, Tacos y Tequila
4.5
Awesome(323)
Price: Moderate
• Mexican • Old Town
Booked 15 times today
ABOUT FREDS OLD TOWN | Since 2001, Casa de Freds in Old Town has been bringing the fiesta to San Diego. Freds is the place for amigos - both new and old - to have a great time while enjoying quality food, fresh margaritas and a festive atmosphere. The menu offers a wide variety of delicious, Baja-infused selections that are made from fresh, high-quality ingredients. The vibrant decor and great music provide a unique dining experience right in the heart of historic Old Town. The restaurant offers plenty of versatility for groups of many sizes. The large outdoor patio is dog friendly, so bring in your furry friends and check out the doggy menu! The outdoor bar is a fantastic spot to enjoy the San Diego sun, whether you are here for the weekend or live down the street. Freds newly renovated Fiesta Cantina is the perfect place to watch your favorite sporting events. The Cantina also offers daily specials that will keep your tummies, glasses and pockets full. Thanks Amigo!
A photo of Brewery X at Harbor Island restaurant
7. Brewery X at Harbor Island
4.2
Awesome(2)
Price: Moderate
• Dining Bar • Harbor Island
Booked 1 time today
Brewery X on Harbor Island is the spot for craft beer lovers and laid-back visitors alike. Tucked along the scenic waterfront of Harbor Island, our brewery blends SoCal vibes with innovative spirit of craft brewing. To complement our awesome beers, Brewery X serves up locally sourced, fun American eats. Think artisanal pizzas, juicy burgers, and fresh seafood dishes that pair perfectly with our brews. We're all about delivering a memorable experience with seasonal specials and bold flavor combos.Step into our breezy taproom, with panoramic harbor views. It's the perfect hangout to kick back with a cold one or chill out with friends after a long day.
‘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
From verified diners like you
  • ErinnVIP
    Cincinnati / Dayton •14 reviews
    4.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    Good food, excellent sushi and server was attentive. Very loud.
    More info
    Waterbar San DiegoPrice: Moderate• American• Pacific Beach
    •
    4.5
  • Jaime
    San Diego •2 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 2 days ago
    Busy valentines evening, the food was great and was seated promptly in time, due to even being a little behind it was fine. The server was very attentive and aware of our orders to be accurate. Thanks Thomas for making it a great experience, we’ll be back for sure.
    More info
    Peohe's - Coronado Waterfront RestaurantPrice: Moderate• Seafood• Coronado
    •
    4.4
  • DougVIP
    Atlanta •57 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 6 days ago
    Outstanding food. We really liked the appetizer plate, 4 different appetizers, portioned so that a party of three each had a bit of each of the 4. I was a bit disappointed with the service this time. Our server was pleasant and knew his stuff, but he depends too much on his support staff to maintain the table. I had to flag him down for water and empty plates stayed on the table way too long.
    More info
    Roy's San Diego WaterfrontPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Downtown
    •
    4.2
  • Marci
    Los Angeles •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 6 days ago
    We went to Dockside 1953 to celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary. We wanted to sit outside by the bay, but the weather was chilly. We asked for a table with a fire pit. We were given that, and when I told Kelley (our server) that we tended to be cold, she brought over an additional heater and gave us both blankets! We enjoyed our delicious dinner warm and comfortable. Kelley was very conscientious and friendly, and took great care of us during our stay. We had a wonderful dinner and a fantastic evening. Thanks!
    More info
    Dockside 1953Price: Moderate• Californian• Mission Beach
    •
    4.6
  • Derek
    San Diego •1 review
    5.0
    Dined on Feb 4, 2025
    Red snapper fantastic. Server’s were attentive. The marine aquariums a bonus. Highly recommend
    More info
    Oceana Coastal KitchenPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Pacific Beach
    •
    4.5

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