A boutique bottle shop is the front for this award-winning speakeasy. Step through the doors and you’ll find a petite Art Nouveau-inspired hideaway, all velvet chairs and ornate cabinets. Come for detail-oriented drinks and splurgy cocktails made with rare (read: old) spirits like 70-year-old bourbon.

If Quixote feels like a house of worship, it’s no accident. The cavernous restaurant was built from a deconstructed Mexican church, as hinted at by its Santa Maria candles and pulpit-turned-bar. Chef José Cepeda serves riffs on his family favorites spotlighting heirloom grains, masa, and his specialty, moles.

Fresh housemade pasta reigns at this charming Point Loma trattoria. Cesarina landed MICHELIN Bib Gourmand status for its knockout mix-and-match pasta options and one exceptional tableside tiramisu. The colorful Italian restaurant is a go-to for weekend brunch, best enjoyed on its bougainvillea-strewn patio.

This Little Italy mainstay is responsible for upping the neighborhood’s culinary cred. The kitchen takes local fish and ingredients from area farms, then turns them into stunning plates with international flavors like pappardelle with sunchoke stroganoff or albacore tuna crudo with citrus vinaigrette.

Spectacular wood-fired mains and a strong cocktail game are the twin draws at this sceney Cali-Mediterranean restaurant. Owner and Top Chef finalist Brian Malarkey created a place that’s just as charismatic as his on-air persona, complete with candlelit tables, barrel-vaulted ceilings, and modern art on the walls.

The scene is just as sizzling as the steaks at this Little Italy stunner. Born & Raised turns the old-school steakhouse genre on its head, displaying photos of rap legends in the all-gold, super-glam dining room. There are steakhouse faithfuls, plus carts that prep vintage cocktails tableside. The result is an OTT steakhouse fit for the highest of high rollers.

Alabaster statues and trickling fountains add a Roman holiday-like ambience to this rooftop trattoria. Enjoy lighter spins on Italian food like wood-fired prawns and pizza made with three-day fermented dough. Seneca lives on the 19th floor of the InterContinental, so your Roman feast comes with equally delicious Marina District views.

Sweeping water views and creative seafood, like everything-crusted ahi and a lobster and fontina BLT, set this bayside charmer apart. Not to mention a shaded patio, complete with heaters and a fireplace, which might be the prettiest outdoor dining space on Harbor Island.

This plush penthouse escape—open since 1965—reached new heights after a dramatic redesign. Thanks to a freshly added lounge, diners have better access to its skyline views. The French-American restaurant highlights local produce in throwback dishes like grilled blue prawns with charred shishitos and pan-roasted Alaskan halibut with corn.

Filipino American chef Tara Monsod takes fusion food to the next level at this groovy Art Deco space. Expect opulent riffs on classics like crispy pig ears and kare kare—Monsod is one of the few chefs in the country putting Filipino food on the fine-dining stage. The approach earned her numerous awards, including a prestigious MICHELIN Plate.