Known for its spectacular beaches, sophisticated art scene and sightseeing attractions, it’s easy to forget the incredible food scene which San Diego has to offer. And some of the restaurants come with a view. From amazing sushi with equally amazing ocean vistas, to fine dining overlooking the city skyline, we will take you to our favorite San Diego rooftop restaurants.
Use the booking links provided to secure your table. Most of these rooftop restaurants are highly popular among both visitors and locals.
Our complete and up-to date guide to the Best Rooftop Restaurants in San Diego feature all info you need about each rooftop, all at the same place, so you don’t have to scroll around on several different sources finding it.
For each rooftop, this guide presents:
We are full-time rooftop reviewers and content creators. Since launching The Rooftop Guide in 2015, we’ve visited over 1 200 rooftop venues worldwide.
Except from our own experiences and insights, we also work closely with thousands of rooftops and local reviewers, so we can secure correct and updated content for all our guides & articles.
With our vast experience and exclusive focus, we can present you with the most complete and up-to date guides about rooftop venues. And with our insider tips and knowledge, we can guide you to the best and most suitable rooftops for your own needs.
Whether you’re looking for an upscale rooftop dinner, a laid-back rooftop brunch, a vibrant rooftop party or a luxurious hotel rooftop pool, we’ve got you covered.
In short: Located right on Mission Beach, Cannonball is an Asian-inspired oceanfront rooftop restaurant and bar with panoramic views. Spacious, and with a modern, bright and trendy decor, the rooftop offers lots of different seatings, from regular dining tables to cosy lounge areas with fire-pits. All surrounded by breathtaking panoramas over the Pacific.
Food & Drinks: Open daily for lunch, dinner and sips anywhere in between, the Cannonball menu features a great selection of Asian-inspired food and drinks. Here you can sip inventive cocktails, Japanese whiskey, saké, craft beers, and a large array of wines, paired with fantastic and awarded sushi, as well as fresh options from the sea.
What we think: Casual, relaxing and fun in vibe, Cannonball almost feels like a beach club. Some evenings (usually Thursday's) local live bands play during the 'Acoustic Sunsets', which creates a really nice atmosphere. We love pretty much everything about this place, and if you visit around sunset, you will se why.
Dress code: Cannonball dress code is casual.
In short: Filled with Mediterranean vibes, Garibaldi is located on the San Diego waterfront, at the fabulous InterContinental San Diego. The rooftop mixes an indoor lounge with a spacious outdoor terrace, with sublime views over the San Diego Bay an the city skyline.
Food & Drinks: Inspired by the breezy Mediterranean kitchens of Italy, Greece, and Spain, and sprinkled with Pacific flavors, Garibaldi serves a vibrant selection of hot, cold and large plates, made with coastal produce and sustainably sourced ingredients. The food is paired with handcrafted cocktails, both signatures and fresh takes on the classics, as well as a fine array of Mediterranean wines.
What we think: For a journey to the coast of the Mediterranean, but with highly Pacific views, Garibaldi is the place to go. A bit exclusive in hours, there is a sense of refinement up here, even though the vibe is charming and relaxed.
Dress code: The Garibaldi dress code is smart casual.
In short: Mister A's is a rooftop restaurant and bar located in downtown San Diego, just west of Balboa Park, and this may very well be the best place in the city to combine fine dining with views to die for. The rooftop offers suberb views over the San Diego skyline, Balboa Park, Coronado Island and the San Diego Zoo. You can also catch the airplanes landing and taking of from San Diego airport, which is really cool.
Food & Drinks: Open for dinner and drinks all days, along with Wednesday to Friday lunch and weekend brunch, Mister A's offer Modern American cuisine with a French touch in a fine dining setting. Enjoy everything from fresh salads, beautiful plates and tempting desserts, paired with top-rated wines and crafted cocktails.
What we think: Mister A's is a great San Diego rooftop restaurant for celebrating special occasions. For lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, reservations are highly recommended. Enjoy your food in the classic and stylish indoor restaurant, or even better, out on the rooftop patio.
Dress code: The Mister A’s dress code is smart casual.
In short: Covering the entire rooftop of the former Grand Pacific Hotel, the 5 000 square feet Lumi brings an artful, energetic and elevated rooftop restaurant and bar experience to the heart of the historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. Here you find a blend of covered dining tables and al fresco lounge seating with colorful murals, fire-pits and pink neon lighting, all overlooking the action of the city.
Food & Drinks: With an energy that feels a lot like Hollywood/Las Vegas-style glamour, the rooftop menu takes inspiration from other parts of the world. Also known as Lumi by Akira Back, here you can indulge in creative Japanese fare created by the Michelin Star chef. From delicious sushi rolls to fusion dishes with South American touches. Complementing the food is a selection of unique Japanese-inspired cocktails, an extensive array of sake, as well as bottle service of premium spirits and champagne.
What we think: Available for stylish and chic after-work dinner and drinks every evening, Lumi Rooftop turns really vibrant towards the weekend, with live DJs and a night club vibe, perfect for an elevated and full evening with friends. Reservations well in advance are highly recommended.
Dress code: The Lumi dress code is upscale casual.
In short: Welcome to this award-winning building located in little Italy, where you find two levels of indoor/outdoor fun. Kettner Exchange pays a tribute to one of the founders of San Diego city, William Kettner. The red leather sofas capture the rooftop’s sophisticated old school vibe inspired by the Prohibition-era.
Food & Drinks: The food menu is a wide-range of innovative new American dishes, prepared by the famous Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski and made perfect to share. The rotating selection means you can expect to try something new for every visit. Add a cocktail list that is equally impressive, with hand-crafted and creative creations, and you can sense that Kettner Exchange will keep most taste-buds happy.
What we think: Usually open nightly and for Sunday brunch, the crowd and ambience at Kettner rooftop is beautiful and trendy, but managing to also be fun and friendly. Decorated with a mix of dining tables, lounge sofas and a large size bar, the Kettner terrace also has private cabanas available for rent. A great San Diego destination for vibrant dinners, or even for a full night out on weekends, enjoying the lively ambience and live DJs.
Dress code: The Kettner Exchange dress code is smart casual.
Rikard has spent the last 10 years exploring, enjoying, researching and working with rooftop venues. During these years he has visited more than 700 rooftops across the globe. The experience he has gained is used to create helpful, in-depth and accessible content, and to share his knowledge and rooftop expertise with fellow rooftop-lovers.
Browse all the cities & articles at The Rooftop Guide
Follow The Rooftop Guide