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The Whaling Bar

$31 to $50

Californian

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 28 times today

Experiences are available.

Great for creative cocktails
Lively
Charming

Rediscover The Whaling Bar in La Jolla, blending historic charm and modern luxury. Once beloved in the La Valencia hotel, it's back after ten years, mixing its rich legacy with today's elegance. Known for its cozy atmosphere and top-notch service, it's been updated for contemporary tastes without losing its heritage essence. Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski, with a background in America's top kitchens and Iron Chef America, leads the culinary journey, offering a menu that combines classic and innovative approaches. The Whaling Bar invites both old fans and new to enjoy luxury and become part of La Jolla's ongoing story.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Brian Redzikowski

From the OpenTable editors: La Valencia Hotel’s iconic cocktail lounge is back and better than ever, thanks to a reboot from San Diego's prolific SDCM Restaurant Group. With emerald-green banquettes, arched windows, and brass pendant lighting, the intimate space’s decor is a nod to the bar’s midcentury heyday. Led by executive chef Brian Redzikowski, the menu is equally glamorous—think lobster rolls and braised short rib baos, plus the restaurant’s original signature cocktail, the Whaler, a twist on Irish coffee.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Californian, Contemporary European, Mediterranean
Hours of operation
Martini Hour Daily 4:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Bar Thu–Sat 10:00 pm–12:00 am
Phone number
(858) 551-3758
Website
https://www.lavalencia.com/dining/the-whaling-bar
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual

Location
1132 Prospect St, San Diego, CA 92037-4533
Neighborhood
La Jolla
Parking details
Valet
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Bingo Night
Feb 18, 2025 only
Join us for our 2nd Bingo Night featuring $10 Off Hours Classic Cocktails

What 92 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

4.6Food
4.5Service
4.6Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Diego
Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Whaling Bar offers an "amazing date night spot" with a vibrant atmosphere that attracts both locals and visitors. Renowned for its creative dishes like the "chicken urfa" and "twinkie Caesar salad," the food is consistently praised. Exceptional service, especially from staff like George, enhances the dining experience. The cocktails are "exceptional," making it a great choice for a fun evening. Despite some noise complaints, the overall ambiance and quality make it a must-try in La Jolla.

92 Reviews

C
Christopher
Richmond
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great service, well balanced cocktails & tasty food.
Is this helpful?
N
Noelani
VIP
London
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
Right from start, valet was unpleasant, hostess was unpleasant, our server was unpleasant. Food was okay at best - overcooked hard fries (how can one even go wrong with fries?), steak was okay, pasta special was okay but very small portion, even by European standards, the cheeseburger cake was awful, and it was so loud we could not hear each other. We just moved here and were hoping this would be a great new regular place, yet quite the opposite, we will never return.
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T
Taylor
VIP
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 25, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing date night spot! Great food, great drinks!
Is this helpful?
E
Emiliano
New York City
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Whaling Bar brings new energy to the neighborhood. Food is amazing specially the chicken urfa, twinky salad and the kale salad. Service always on point !!!! Congrats
1 person found this helpful
C
Charles
San Diego
31 reviews
3.0
31 reviews
Dined on January 19, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
A Saturday evening dinner was a full house with a youthful vibe. The menu is sparse, but the the food was first rate. Unfortunately, the bartender could not resist adding vermouth to Grey Goose, despite an explicit request to the contrary, but the service was prompt and attentive. Much about this bistro is attractive, but I would not return if I intended to have conversation with a table mate. The music level was beyond tolerable, and there is nothing inside the four walls to dampen the natural noise level of a crowd. If one is looking for a very good meal with pleasant conversation, this is not the place. If ambiance and tempo are more important than talking, this is a good option.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
VIP
Los Angeles
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Another incredible evening at this special place. I've been coming here for 35 years. Absolutely love it.
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z
zachary
San Diego
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on January 18, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Really enjoyed this place. It was cool and vibe was awesome. I love the area of La Jolla it was in and can’t wait to go back. Oh by the way the kale salad was the salad I ever had.
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L
Linda
San Diego
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on January 12, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Was a bit smaller inside than I expected, but the overall ambience and experience was great.
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M
Michele
VIP
Las Vegas
43 reviews
5.0
43 reviews
Dined on January 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great unique bar. The espresso martinis are fantastic!
Is this helpful?
S
Shane
VIP
Denver
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on January 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Nice bar. Can’t beat the Valencia atmosphere.
Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Whaling Bar is rated 4.6 stars by 92 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Feb 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 28 times today

Experiences are available.

1132 Prospect St, San Diego, CA 92037-4533

Additional information

Neighborhood
La Jolla
Hours of operation
Martini Hour Daily 4:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Daily 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Bar Thu–Sat 10:00 pm–12:00 am
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Californian, Contemporary European, Mediterranean
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Valet
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.lavalencia.com/dining/the-whaling-bar
Phone number
(858) 551-3758

The Whaling Bar

Make a reservation

Why they're an Icon

Additional information

Experiences

Bingo Night

Menu

What 92 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Whaling Bar restaurant rated?

Is The Whaling Bar currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information