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The Prado at Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

The Prado at Balboa Park

4.6
4.6
7855 Reviews
$30 and under
Californian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 37 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
Located in San Diego's Balboa Park, in the Historic House of Hospitality, The Prado offers historic charm and California cuisine.
Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 11:30 am–8:00 pm Sun 11:30 am–7:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (619) 557-9441
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    John King
  • Catering
    Prado Catering<br />The Prado also offers full service catering at various museums and other locations within Balboa Park. Please contact our catering department for additional information.<br /><br />Experience our Award-Winning Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Menus<br />Professional Staff-Synchronized Service.<br />Full length table linens, gold chiavari chairs and porcelain china.
  • Private party facilities
    The Prado, located in the historic House of Hospitality in the center of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park is known for its world-class California cuisine, unparalleled ambiance and excellent service. From intimate gatherings to grand affairs, the Prado has it all to make your event unforgettable!
  • Private party contact
    Event Manager: (619) 557-9441
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    6th Avenue
  • Parking details
    Free public parking lots available throughout Balboa Park.
  • Public transit
    Visit Balboa Park using the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), with easy access from the downtown and Mission Valley areas.<br /><br />Review the times for route Routes 120 (Fashion Valley), Route 7 (Smart Corner) and Rapid 215 are the main bus routes through Balboa Park<br /><br />
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Daou Wine Experience

    Nov 7, 2024 - Dec 31, 2024
    Daou Wine Package Add a bottle of Daou Wine to your table prior to your arrival. Payment will be added onto final check.
  • Holiday Brunch with Santa

    $79.95 per person

    Dec 22, 2024 only
    Enjoy some good old fashion family fun with our holiday brunch with Santa and Friends. Experience the holiday cheer at balboa park and enjoy seasonal favorites and bottomless mimosas brunch at the Prado in our historic Ballroom transformed into Santas Workshop. Come join us for a one of kind experience that will kick off the holiday season. We have limited seating availability from 10 am-2 pm inside our Ballroom *All reservations have a 2 hour time limit. We kindly ask that your experience does not exceed this time in order to seat other reservations on time. Adult $79.95 per person and children $19.95.
  • Christmas Eve

    $79.95 per person

    Dec 24, 2024 only
    Christmas Eve Celebration Enjoy a special preset menu at the Prado in Balboa Park. We will be serving a 3-course meal for $79.95 per person for adults and $19.95 for children, excluding tax and gratuity. We have seating availability from 4-8 pm inside our dining rooms or outside on our heated garden terrace. All reservations are not table specific and we will do our best to accommodate your requests. Outdoor reservations have no weather back up. Standard seating is inside our dining room. *All reservations have a 2 hour time limit. We kindly ask that your experience does not exceed this time in order to seat other reservations on time.

What 7,855 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Diego

    Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Prado at Balboa Park is a "gem" offering a stunning park setting with "amazing" service and inventive drinks. Guests rave about its "delicious" food, including standout dishes like the "unreal good" arugula salad with filet mignon and "scrumptious" tres leches cake. Perfect for special occasions or a casual brunch, The Prado's terrace dining and attentive staff make every visit memorable.

7,857 Reviews
  1. Ellen

    Hawaii

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very pleasantly surprised that with the restaurant being almost full, noise level was not at all a problem. Service was excellent, fast and we did not have to wait long for the next course. My son-in-law and I are picky eaters but we had not just sumptuous meals but appetizing looking as well. From the starter salads to desserts, I the experience as an overall 5 stars.

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  2. Ixchel

    San Diego

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We couldn’t have been more pleased with our meal for Thanksgiving. All 4 of us ordered different options and not one of us was even slightly disappointed. Highly recommended in the future and we will certainly be back!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Marcia

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, service, even sat us early. Very impressed.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Matthew

    Los Angeles

    7 reviews

    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Went to Prado for a$80 all in 3 course Thanksgiving dinner and ended up upgrading my meal (additional $10) to a steak which was overcooked. Ordered a bottle of wine through Open Table when making the reservation which we never got. The entire dinner for 3 people ended up costing over $500!!! Just not worth it.

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  5. Gregg

    San Diego

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Prado never disappoints! Excellent Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey was perfectly prepared, moist, stuffing outstanding, and the cranberry sauce! Wow it was so good!

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  6. Cary

    San Diego

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Bottom Line--- I paid $273.00 for a special Thanksgiving Dinner and NO TABLECLOTH :(:( Unacceptible!

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  7. Thomas

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was an excellent Thanksgiving meal with delightful food and ambiance. Everything was top notch.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Jim

    San Diego

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and good food. Holiday pricing is high but the ambiance and efficient service commands that. The food is very good but comparable quality is available at lesser priced restaurants. Today, our server talked to his customers in a voice that was louder than needed. He could be too easily heard by all adjacent tables.

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  9. A. L.

    San Diego

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love The Prado at Balboa Park and have been a frequent diner there for many years. It never disappoints and Thanksgiving Day was no exception. We arrived and were immediately greeted and sat on the patio. I requested the patio. There were several diners but it wasn't busy, yet. We were brought water and our server Kara came over and took our beverage order and let us know about the new cocktails and the pre-fixe menu. She helped us make adjustments with what we ordered. Our first course, the beet salad, came out and we were able to eat and chat and enjoy each bit before our entrees came out. Mom and I had the traditional turkey meal and friend had the prime rib. We all tucked right into our meals and they were all so good. There was plenty of food and there was no way we could finish our delicious meals. Dessert was also packed up to go with our leftovers. More families had come in to dine and the energy on the patio was great. We sat and had another cocktail and had wonderful, relaxing Thanksgiving Day.

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  10. Terry

    Washington DC

    18 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a lovely Thanksgiving lunch today. Beautiful outdoor table, excellent food, and one of the best servers we’ve ever had anywhere. We go to the Prado every Thanksgiving and Christmas and today was perfect!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Prado at Balboa Park is rated 4.6 stars by 7855 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 37 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Prado at Balboa Park

1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

  • Cross street
    6th Avenue
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 11:30 am–8:00 pm Sun 11:30 am–7:30 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Free public parking lots available throughout Balboa Park.
  • Public transit
    Visit Balboa Park using the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), with easy access from the downtown and Mission Valley areas.Review the times for route Routes 120 (Fashion Valley), Route 7 (Smart Corner) and Rapid 215 are the main bus routes through Balboa Park
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    John King
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (619) 557-9441
  • Catering
    Prado Catering<br />The Prado also offers full service catering at various museums and other locations within Balboa Park. Please contact our catering department for additional information.<br /><br />Experience our Award-Winning Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Menus<br />Professional Staff-Synchronized Service.<br />Full length table linens, gold chiavari chairs and porcelain china.
  • Private party facilities
    The Prado, located in the historic House of Hospitality in the center of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park is known for its world-class California cuisine, unparalleled ambiance and excellent service. From intimate gatherings to grand affairs, the Prado has it all to make your event unforgettable!
  • Private party contact
    Event Manager: (619) 557-9441
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  • Terms of Use
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