Coronado Dining Guide: Our Top 10 Must Try Restaurants in Crown City

Coronado Island is more than just a pretty place to visit. Nestled between San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean, the Crown City offers a wealth of things to see, do, and eat. Here are some of our favorite dining spots in Coronado.

Several places to dine are in the historic Hotel del Coronado, but why limit yourself to one area? From Italian, to French, to Mexican to seafood and steaks, grab a bite at these fantastic Coronado restaurants whether you’re a local or a tourist. Here’s our curated list from all Salas Properties teammates of Top Coronado Dining places.

Recomendations courtesy of La Jolla Mom’s guide.

1. Serẽa Coastal Cuisine

Price Range: $$$
Address: 1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Reservations: Yes (highly recommended)
Open For: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Ocean View: Yes

The signature Hotel del Coronado restaurant specializes in sustainably sourced seafood and offers an inventive menu by Chef JoJo Ruiz rooted in Mediterranean traditions. The ambiance is elegant yet relaxed, perfect for a special occasion or a casual evening out. One of the best Coronado Dining spots there is.

Insider tip: If you want to stay the night or own a rare piece of coastal luxury: a residence within the iconic Hotel Del Coronado, specifically Residence 67 on the penthouse floor, offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Glorietta Bay, and the San Diego skyline. Check availability at Shore House at The Del, luxury condos.

2. Little Frenchie

Price Range: $$
Address: 1166 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118
Reservations: Yes
Open For: Daily Brunch and Dinner
Water View: No

There is no need to cross the Atlantic when you can stop into this casual Parisian-style cafe on Orange Avenue. They’re known for a wide selection of delectable cheese and classic dishes like escargots, steak frites, quiche, and croque monsieur. The menu features suggested pairings with French and California wines from their approachable wine list.

3. Peohe’s

Price Range: $$$
Address: 1201 1st St., Coronado, CA 92118
Reservations: Yes
Open For: Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner
Bay View: Yes

Nestled at the water’s edge in Coronado, in the Ferry Landing Marketplace, Peohe’s offers a unique fusion of panoramic downtown skyline views and a menu rich in fresh, tropical-influenced seafood dishes. The setting provides a dramatic backdrop, perfect for special occasions or a romantic evening out. It’s popular for families and friends but also known for being a date-night spot.

4. Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill

Price Range: $$$
Address: 1701 Strand Way, Coronado, CA 92118
Reservations: Yes (highly recommended)
Open For: Lunch and Dinner
Ocean View: Yes

In San Diego, you can’t go far without spotting a place specializing in seafood like this spot, a short walk away from Hotel del Coronado. This waterfront restaurant serves regional seafood delicacies like Maryland-style crab cakes, seafood ceviche, and ahi tuna poke for lunch and dinner.

This historic Queen Anne-style building, finished in 1887, was a test structure for techniques later to be used in Hotel del Coronado. It later became an actual boathouse inhabited by a sea captain’s family and went through a couple of reincarnations until becoming a seafood restaurant in 2014.

5. Saiko Sushi

Price Range: $$
Address: 116 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118
Reservations: Yes
Open For: Lunch and Dinner
Bay View: Yes

Locals know this sushi spot for its sustainable seafood, but you should head in because it’s all delicious. Traditionalists will enjoy nigiri and sashimi while diving into the restaurant’s new-style rolls incorporating ingredients like black garlic aioli and blood orange kosho. Entree sections feature dishes like Grilled Chicken Teriyaki and Japanese Pasta with Seafood if you want a fuller meal.

6. Stake Chophouse & Bar

Price Range: $$$
Address: 1309 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Reservations: Yes
Open For: Dinner
Water View: No, but a nice village view

It’ll be hard to miss this two-story Coronado restaurant nestled in the heart of Orange Avenue, but keep it in mind when you’re in the mood for steak. Specializing in hand-cut steaks like American Waygu, bone-in ribeyes, NY strip, and tenderloins, the restaurant fills out the rest of the menu with various traditional steakhouse sides. This is where you go on Coronado Island for a really nice steak dinner and a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. It’s a short walk from Hotel del Coronado.

7. Clayton’s Coffee Shop

Price Range: $-$$
Address: 979 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118
Reservations: Yes
Open For: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Water View: No

You’ll feel like you’ve been blasted to the past at this iconic coffee shop. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Clayton’s stays true to its roots, serving popular diner classics such as biscuits ’n’ gravy, malted shakes, chili cheese fries, and tuna melts. You will not go hungry here! In a rush? Grab a coffee, pastries, acai bowls, and more from the shop’s takeout window.

Insider tip: They also offer some awesome Mexican takeout that you can order in advance online. So, if you’re staying at one of the Coronado Island hotels and want to try some of the San Diego food my city is famous for, come here for a carne asada or California burrito.

8. The Henry

Price Range: $$
Address: 1031 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Reservations: Yes
Open For: Breakfast, Weekend Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner
Water View: No

The Henry in Coronado is a neighborhood gem known for its reliably good food. It’s a casual all-day dining spot for people staying in the smaller Coronado Island hotels that may not have restaurants to remember for breakfast, coffee, and a good meal out. There’s also a coffee bar inside where you can take away a cup, but if you want a craft cocktail, they have a full bar you can pull up a chair to.

People like the smashed avocado toast, cauliflower hummus, seared ai, and truffle fries, and you can get a seafood platter that’s chilled on the lunch menu that pairs well with champagne and Coronado sunshine.

Insider tip: This is a social place with an open indoor-outdoor dining area, so not somewhere for a quiet meal but definitely one of our Salas Properties favorites.

9. Garage Buona Forchetta

Price Range: $$
Address: 1000 C Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
Reservations: No
Open For: Weekend Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner
Water View: No

Garage Buona Forchetta in Coronado blends authentic Italian cuisine with a unique, automotive-themed atmosphere. The restaurant offers a range of family-style Italian classics, from delicious pasta to mouth-watering Neopolitan-style pizza, all served in a lively setting that car enthusiasts will particularly enjoy. People also love the meatballs and focaccia.

You can also take advantage of the walk-up window. There is a full Italian market and cafe from which you can bring home (or back to your hotel) some fantastic wine, freshly sliced deli meats, and cheese.

10. Tartine

Price Range: $-$$
Address: 1106 1st St., Coronado, CA 92118
Reservations: Yes
Open For: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Bay View: Yes

Near the Coronado Ferry Landing, Tartine presents a European-style cafe experience blended with the laid-back vibe of a Southern California beach town. This café is renowned for its artisanal baked goods, gourmet sandwiches, and exceptional coffees. It’s walkable from Coronado Island Marriott, so it’s a good option for guests who want a casual meal offsite.

To sum up, dining on Coronado: it’s a small place, but you won’t go hungry. In fact, the restaurants and cafes here are part of the reason why people can have a full San Diego experience without leaving the island. Which one is your favorite Coronado Dining place?