Best Restaurants to Get Into the Holiday Spirit
The holidays are a great time for foodies to visit San Diego. Complementing the fantastic events taking place throughout the city, many restaurants and bars offer seasonal menus and other festive culinary experiences. Here’s a guide to four dining and drinking destinations that get in on the holiday spirit every year.
Mister A’s (20 minutes from Pacific Terrace)
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Mister A’s is an award-winning white-tablecloth restaurant, celebrated for its exquisite American fare and panoramic city views. During the holiday season, you can pair delicious seasonal cuisine, including pasta dishes and hearty meat entrées from the annual holiday menu, with cocktails such as the Maple Whiskey Sour. Hundreds of lights are installed atop the restaurant, making its building visible from as far as Tijuana, Mexico.
Prado Balboa Park (15 minutes from Pacific Terrace)
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Known year-round for its hearty cuisine and romantic ambience, the Prado is particularly lovely during the holidays, as it sits near the massive Balboa Park Christmas tree and features elegant holiday lights of its own. The celebrated three-course Christmas menu includes carrot-ginger soup, butternut-squash risotto, eggnog panna cotta, and other seasonally appropriate delights. Be sure to reserve your meal well in advance, as tables are known to fill up quickly.
Nolita Hall, Little Italy (15 minutes drive from Pacific Terrace)
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The Little Italy neighborhood in general attracts many visitors during Christmastime, hosting an impressive tree lighting, but Nolita Hall has become its own holiday destination, screening festive movies through early January. “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the “Home Alone” movies, and “Love Actually” may be viewed as you sip eggnog, holiday spritzes, and spiced Manhattans, and optionally take pictures with Santa.
Polite Provisions, North Park (20 minutes from Pacific Terrace)
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If you’re in the mood for a drink, make sure to stop by Polite Provisions, where a holiday pop-up has transformed the space into a festive wonderland with an equally festive menu. The pop-up bar Miracle has been doing this at various bars around the country over the last few years, and if you love holiday decor and creative, festive cocktails, you won’t want to miss Miracle at Polite Provisions.