Top Date Spots in San Diego

Date Spots in San Diego

With its endless sunshine, coastal waves, numerous trails, and picturesque shoreline, San Diego is one of the greatest locations for a date night! Because there are so many wonderful restaurants and fun activities to choose from for your San Diego date night, we’ve produced a list of our Top 5 Favorite Restaurants and Date Night Activities to get you inspired for a night or day out with your love!

Dinner Spots 

1. Born and Raised

• Location: Little Italy 
• Type of Food: Steak House 
• If you’re searching for a sophisticated, up-scale steakhouse for a date night, Born & Raised is the place to go. They provide a romantic ambiance ideal for an intimate moment with your sweetheart, with exquisite meals and a broad cocktail menu. If you go to this posh steakhouse, make sure to check out their rooftop terrace bar for an incredible view!

2. King and Queen Cantina 

• Location: Downtown San Diego / Near Waterfront Park 
• Type of Food: Mexican 
• One of our favorite spots on this list is King and Queen Cantina! This hip, new-age Mexican-style restaurant is ideal for a date night out, especially for a double date. If you’re looking for a great day-date spot, in addition to their dinner menu, they have weekend brunch offerings.

3. Seneca Trattoria

• Location: Downtown San Diego / Portside Pier
• Type of Food: Italian 
• Seneca Trattoria is the place to go for homestyle pasta dishes and seafood specialties. This classic restaurant provides breathtaking views of downtown San Diego and the San Diego harbor.

4. STK 

• Location: Andaz Hotel San Diego – Gaslamp Quarter
• Type of Food: Steak House 
• STK is a national steakhouse known for its award-winning steaks, cocktails, and atmosphere. STK’s decor is sophisticated and stylish, setting the tone for a lively and sultry date night!

5. Brigantine (Portside Pier) 

• Location: Downtown San Diego / Portside Pier 
• Type of Food: Seafood 
• We like to call this one “A Taste of San Diego”! Brigantine-Portside Pier, known for its San Diego-style surf and turf menu options, is ideal for a couple looking for a great spot to watch the sunset over the harbor.

Activities 

1. Rooftop Cinema
   1. Location: Grand Hyatt in Downtown San Diego 
   2. Rooftop Cinemas is an open-air rooftop cinema that serves local brews and elevated snacks from retro-style counters. My husband and I recently went on a date night here and had a great time! What better way to elevate a traditional movie date night than to take it to a downtown rooftop?

2. Hiking and Walking Trails 
   1. Location: Mission Trails, Torrey Pines, 7 Bridges Urban Walk  
   2. With average temperatures ranging from 60 – 77 degrees, hiking is a very popular day-date idea for San Diegans. We love how our unique city provides both traditional hiking trails and urban hikes where you can stop for coffee or cocktails if you need a quick break!

3. Beach Sunsets 
   1. Location: Sunset Cliffs 
   2. Picking up dinner and hosting a beach picnic to watch the sunset is a classic San Diego date night. Order to go from your favorite local restaurant before driving to your favorite beach for a romantic oceanfront evening.

4. Balloon Ride
   1. Location: Del Mar or Temecula 
   2. A balloon ride over Del Mar or Temecula Winery Country is the ultimate date experience for the courageous couple. When booking your balloon ride, look for packages that include dinner at a restaurant or a glass of wine from a nearby winery!

5. Paragliding or Hang Gliding
   1. Location: Torrey Pines, La Jolla 
   2. Another exciting date for the adventurous couple: paragliding or hang gliding over the Torrey Pines cliffs. Following this energizing experience, we recommend that you dine at a nearby La Jolla restaurant while watching the sun set.

Camila Margotta is a San Diego based wedding photographer who also specializes in engagements and couples! Please use this contact form to get in touch with me about your photography needs.

Sessions by Camila Margotta Photography:
-Sailboat Engagement Session
-La Jolla Scripps Pier Family Session
-LUCE LOFT WEDDING INSPIRATION