The Most Fun Restaurants in San Diego

This colorful and welcoming French restaurant in Carlsbad takes its place as one of the most fun restaurants in San Diego. Full of playful decor and plenty of style, Jeune et Jolie (translated to young and beautiful) is an excellent spot for a night out. Start at the raw bar with some oysters, blue prawns, or Alaskan king crab legs. Go for the "Carte Blanche" tasting menu for a full taste of the restaurant. Selections from the "trois" main course menu includes jidori chicken, wagyu beef, and Iberico pork. The must-have dessert menu features chocolate mousse and "mille-feuille" with pistachio and passion fruit.

A welcoming place off of Orange Avenue in Coronado, The Henry is a laid-back spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This cheerful restaurant maintains a relaxed, fun vibe for diners. Stop in for breakfast for a drink from the coffee bar and a smoked salmon bagel, smashed avocado toast, or the "flower child" scramble with roasted mushroom. For dinner, try the rotisserie chicken with charred lemon or the famous Sam's Burger with grilled onion, white cheddar, and the "Henry Sauce." Libations include a grapefruit spritz with yuzu and sparkling wine, along with the Jane's Aperol with a citrus smash.

This upscale and fun San Diego restaurant is one of the most acclaimed eateries in the city. Right in the heart of Carmel Valley off of Grand Del Mar Way, Addison is one of the more elegant spaces in San Diego. Reserve a table in the exceptional dining room to choose from the ten-course or five-course tasting menu with classic French tastes. Developed by fabled chef William Bradley, the constantly-changing menu comes with an optional pairing of wines and cheeses.

With an excellent pun in the name, the Wrench and Roden "Seabasstropub" is one of the most fun restaurants in San Diego. This creative and lively San Diego spot features a diverse menu of seafood with "unorthodox" preparation. Begin the meal with a nightly-changing ceviche flight, crispy cauliflower, or baked scallops. The "unorthodox" nigiri and sashimi selections feature tuna, yellowtail, seared albacore, and octopus su miso. Try one of the house rolls, like the deep-fried "chronic" with spicy tuna, "Krab," and avocado.

This classic and stylish bar in the City Walk section is one of the most fun restaurants in San Diego. Stop into this lush and relaxing bar and pub for some local brews or a cocktail and some traditional fare. For the "share" plates, try the antelope sliders with red onion marmalade or wild boar barbecue fries with gouda mornay and dill. For cocktails, highlights include the "Hip Hops Diggity" with bourbon, Aperol, lemon, and IPA foam. Experimental drinkers should head for "The Hard Stuff" menu, with a selection of absinthes from France, Switzerland, Kentucky, and California.

One of the most colorful places in San Diego, the Sugar Factory is also one of the most fun restaurants in San Diego. This is a place for those diners with a sweet tooth. Try the restaurant's famous donut burger. This dish features black Angus beef between a glazed donut and topped with a grilled cheese sandwich, pepper jack, and powdered sugar. Experimental eaters can also try the waffle breakfast burger with country sausage and applewood bacon served with warm maple syrup. For a splash of color for the meal, try the "rainbow sliders" with cheese, pickles, onions, and a rubber ducky. Yes, that's right - a free rubber ducky.

Trek to Escondido for the fine Californian-French fare at Bellamy's Restaurant and Wine Bar. Elegant and modern, Bellamy's is one of the most fun restaurants in San Diego. Grab a seat at the bar for a glass of wine or two, or take a seat in Bellamy's upscale dining room. Start with the iced lobster souffle, fish fingers, or terrine of foie gras. For dinner, try the steak tartare, roast partridge, or medallions of venison a la planche.

This welcoming and cozy restaurant in San Diego is a place for upscale, internationally-styled dishes and fine wines. For "openers," go for the Valentina beef tartare aioli with capers and toast or the local crudo with strawberry, cucumber, and ponzu. Shareable plates feature meatballs and marinara, roasted cauliflower, and mushroom lettuce cups with cashews and tofu. The can't-miss main courses include chicken palliard with arugula and lemon caper and cochinita pibil with plantain, tortillas, and habanero. Pair those with one of the Valentina espresso chocolate cakes or dessert wines to finish off the meal.

What's more fun than fondue? In the heart of San Diego's elegant Gaslamp quarter, The Melting Pot is one of the city's most fun restaurants. Not only does the restaurant feature prime cheese fondue, but there is also chocolate fondue for those with a sweet tooth. For an "entree fondue," try the "land and sea" with garlic pepper sirloin, herb-crusted chicken breast, and Atlantic salmon. Cheese fondue styles include Wisconsin cheddar, classic Alpine with gruyere and raclette, and spinach artichoke with parmesan and spinach.

Campfire is a throwback-style spot and one of the most fun restaurants in San Diego. With a cozy and rustic feel, Campfire features a live-fire cooking style for its classic but upscale menu. Try the American wagyu with potato rosti, yu choy, and garlic, or the pork chop with cherry and mustard. Sea bass features wild rice, heirloom tomato, and chicharrones. A smoked and grilled ribeye and roasted boneless jidori chicken come "for two" on the menu. For dessert, don't miss the classic s'mores with salted caramel chocolate and marshmallow. There's also a "camp feast" menu option for the table.

For fine wine and classic bites, The WineSellar & Brasserie is the place to go in San Diego. Peruse The WineSellar's shelves for a gem of a bottle or two and try a few sips from a tasting. For dinner, grab a table at the brasserie for French and Californian cuisine. Go for the "Chef's Mercy" selection with a special menu of Brasserie-favorite dishes. Or, try something off the menu. French ratatouille includes tomatoes, organic squash, and fontina cheese. An Australian rack of lamb comes with potatoes, sauteed spinach, and tomato concasse sauce.

A fun and welcoming spot in the heart of San Diego, Juniper & Ivy is the ideal spot for dinner after visiting the nearby Ballast Point Brewery. Stop into this lively restaurant and begin a meal with bites like Baja yellowtail with shark sauce, lemon and basil Madeline, or a pepperoni bagel with mozzarella. For an entree, go for the special house whole-roasted duck with confit legs, stir-fry wheat berries, and herb butter. It's also an excellent place for beer lovers. Try the Black Light pilsner from Black Plague brewing or the Karl Strauss Wheat from Windansea.

The middle of San Diego's Gaslamp district delivers some of the best Southern soul food in California. Suckerfree is a fun and engaging restaurant with plenty of televisions for games and some incredible decor (a giant mural of Mr. T, for example). The food brings the best of the American South to San Diego. Try the mac and cheese flight, with lobster, barbecue, and fried chicken versions. The 1929 po-boy features fried chicken, catfish, or shrimp, and the "Nickelburger" includes fried pork or beef patty. Fried chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, and collard greens are other menu highlights.

Head out to the Shops at Carlsbad Mall for one of the most fun restaurants in San Diego. In Texas de Brazil, the restaurant's exquisite Brazilian-style meals come carved tableside to the delight of diners. It's a fantastic option for dinner with a group of friends. Try the chicken breast wrapped in bacon, Brazilian sausage, or Parmesan-crusted pork loin. Alongside the meats, choose from fun sides like moqueca fish stew, garlic mashed potatoes, and Brazilian cheese bread.

Voltaire Street in San Diego is the home to Cesarina, one of the city's top Italian places. A warm and welcoming spot, Cesarina is an excellent choice for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A highly-customizable pasta menu gives diners the option to pick their noodles, sauce, and topping. For seafood, try the fresh catch of the day or the Sicilian branzino with confit tomatoes, capers, and onions. Stick around for dessert to try the tiramisu or coppa gelato.

A short trip away from the San Diego Airport, Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens is an excellent spot for food and brews. Grab one of Stone's famous IPAs or stouts to go along with a full menu of fun dishes. Try the Angry Chicken sandwich, with "friendly" or "furious" versions featuring Gochujang glaze, spicy aioli, and cucumber salad. Stone also boasts a "Medianoche" Cuban sandwich, with pork, ham, Stone IPA mustard, and Emmental cheese.