Favorite Places in San Diego for Dinner and a Concert

Living in downtown San Diego in my 20s, I became entranced by our live music scene. From watching The Stillettos march out of Henry’s Pub and onto Fifth Avenue followed by swing dancers to overhearing sold-out shows from Petco Park at the nearby East Village restaurants, San Diego is synonymous with live music and great food. Horizons have expanded from downtown and there are more options than ever to listen to top talent while enjoying delicious food across San Diego County.

While San Diego is home to incredible music venues from Snapdragon Stadium to North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, exceptional musicians aren’t just taking center stage at arenas. Local restaurants are also patronizing the arts by booking a roster of talented musicians to showcase their sounds and draw in a crowd. Keep reading for a few of my favorite picks.

FAVORITE SUPPER CLUB

Lou Lou's Jungle Room

The newest music-centric restaurant to open in San Diego, Lou Lou's Jungle Room at the Lafayette Hotel and Club has set a new standard for dinner and a show. Tables fan out from a center clam shell stage while the dinner service is positioned as a prix-fixe supper club to space out a four-course meal during the performance. Catch resident jazz musician Gilbert Costellanos or other local acts like The Danny Green Trio or Julien Cantelm Quartet, a lineup facilitated by The Casbah’s Tim Mays. The decor of the former ballroom is audacious, as is typical in CH Projects concepts, with a Little Mermaid goes to Vegas aesthetic. End the meal with an equally whimsical dessert, Ambrosia Salad, a nod to the hotel’s heyday in the mid-1940s.

FAVORITE JAZZ BRUNCH

Books & Records

Another relative newcomer to the San Diego dining scene is Bankers Hill’s Books & Records, helmed by Chef Sam Deckman. While the restaurant has live jazz most evenings from Thursday through Sunday, their weekend jazz brunch is the perfect way to spend the day in the neighborhood, where you can walk off the Yuzu Ricotta Pancakes in nearby Balboa Park. The small, dedicated stage hosts the likes of Mercedes Moore in the evenings and Nightshade Navarro during brunch. Pair the jazz with flavorful duck chilaquiles piled high with cilantro on top of house-fried tortillas from Logan Heights’ La Princesa Tortilleria.

FAVORITE FOR GLOBAL TALENT

The Rady Shell

While The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is more music venue than restaurant, its exceptional food program earns it a spot on the list. While the celebrity chef concept Blais by the Bay is the center of much attention at The Rady Shell, smaller homegrown purveyors also shine brightly at The Shell’s Prebys Pavilion. The landmark outdoor concert hall at Embarcadero Marina Park South has tapped Michelin Bib Gourmand winner Lola 55, plus Urban Kitchen Market by Urban Kitchen Group (Cucina Urbana and Cucina Enoteca). In the “cart” section, Kitchens for Good has outstanding soups (the coconut chicken curry soup is especially good), while providing culinary job training for adults overcoming incarceration, homelessness, and foster care. This summer, catch Ziggy Marley, Jason Mraz and the Superband, and John Legend performing with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

FAVORITE FOR FAMILIES

Nate's Garden Grill

City Farmers Nusery's slogan is “a little bit of country in the heart of the city” and the onsite restaurant, Nate’s Garden Grill, takes that a step further with its live music offerings. From bluegrass to folk and country, bands perform daily Wednesday through Sunday at the City Heights restaurant. Order at the counter and then choose between the rustic dining room or outdoor patio, where the stage is located. The longstanding diamond-in-the-rough restaurant sources as much food as possible from local farms, with a focus on organic. Kids are very welcome and frequent Nate’s Garden Grill. Take little ones for a walk in the nursery if they get antsy in high chairs—or let them dance alongside the band.

FAVORITE FOR BALBOA PARK

Panama 66

Panama 66 hosts live music most nights of the week and is also the best grab-and-go option for shows within Balboa Park, like at the nearby Organ Pavilion (which has free concerts on Sundays at 2pm). Panama’s impressive lineup features San Diego swing favorites like Whitney Shay and the Mad Hat Hucksters and dancers frequently fill the bar area near the stage. In addition to an impressive selection of local beers, their food menu offers well-crafted sandwiches and salads.

FAVORITE VACATION VIBES

5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar

The live music schedule at 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar doesn’t just host Buffet cover bands, the musicians range from rock to funk with well-known local names like Ryan Hiller. The poolside bar and restaurant brings the island vacation elements that you would expect from a Maragaritaville concept, with Booze in the Blender 22-ounce cocktails and Key Lime Pie.

FAVORITE FOR COUNTRY

Moonshine Flats

Both Moonshine Flats and Pacific Beach sister concept Moonshine Beach attract national touring country artists like Kylie Morgan and Aaron Watson. Moonshine Beach offers three food concepts, their own menu, Coal Town Pizza, and Lucky’s by the Beach. Your best bet is the The Deck at Moonshine Flats with Southern-style options like a Pulled Pork Sandwhich with apple cranberry coleslaw and Tri-Tip Sliders on pretzel buns.

FAVORITE FOR FLAMENCO

Cafe Sevilla

Between Sevilla’s three Southern California locations, they book more than 2000 local acts each year. At San Diego’s Fifth Ave. location, the Spanish tapas-style menu is accompanied by Latin music seven nights a week and flamenco shows on Saturdays with a three-course dinner.

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