Where to Eat in La Jolla: The Best Restaurants and Bars

Over 24 years ago, we stumbled onto a sleepy little restaurant called the Cottage La Jolla. The restaurant was a local hangout and had a reputation for delicious food and friendly, personal service. Since 1992, our business has exploded, and in late 2009 we finished a complete renovation of the restaurant. Improvements include a handicap lift & restrooms, expanded kitchen & a fresh, new look. What hasn't changed is our passion for serving tasty, classic American & Southern California influenced food. We are also proud of the many servers, bussers and cooks that have been with us for years & years. We are often asked how we are able to operate two restaurants on different coasts, and our response is, "It's all about the people." Please take a moment to say hello to our Manager, Michael Harrison, on your next visit. Welcome to the Cottage!

The Lodge’s signature restaurant, A.R. Valentien, highlights regional San Diego cuisine served in an elegant, timbered indoor-outdoor dining room overlooking the 18th hole of Torrey Pines Golf Course. Executive Chef Jeff Jackson sources only the best local provisions, and the menu changes frequently based on seasonal fare available. The restaurant takes its name from a talented early 20th-century California artist whose works are exhibited throughout the restaurant.

We Olive is a culinary and wine destination that features olive oil tasting and education, artisan foods for sampling, gourmet gifts, wine tasting, and a delicious menu designed to pair with our small-production wines and featuring our extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars. We Olive is a unique combination of upscale retail, wine bar, and tasting experience. Our retail store features a gorgeous olive oil tasting bar where guests are treated daily to complimentary olive oil tasting and education. Our highly-knowledgeable staff will recommend favorite pairings of olive oil and artisan vinegars and help guests discern tasting attributes of our certified California extra virgin olive oil. Our wine bar features artisan California wines that guests can order by the taste, half glass, glass and bottle. Monthly wine tasting events are held with a featured winery where guests can learn and taste wine with the winemaker. Throughout the week, We Olive offers featured specials in the wine bar, food samples and product demos to encourage guests to taste. We Olive’s retail store features certified California extra virgin olive oil and vinegars sourced directly from the producer that guests can purchase in bulk. Our fustino system allows guest to choose a bottle size they like and fill with their favorite olive oil or balsamic vinegar. We also offer a variety of gourmet foods including small-batch pestos, tapenades, mustards and jams. The rustic modern décor carries through to the collection of artisan olive wood pieces we offer along with beautiful gifts for the kitchen and home. In addition to our food retail, all of the wines from our wine bar are available for retail purchase.

An ongoing commitment to innovative cuisine using only the freshest local produce makes NINE-TEN a must visit for culinary aficionados. This intimate restaurant, led by Executive Chef Jason Knibb and Pastry Chef Jose Alonzo III, offers the perfect combination of sophistication and casual elegance and an ideal location along La Jolla's Prospect Street. Enjoy the best of the harvest from local artisan farmers, where produce is selected daily for the restaurant's Evolving California Cuisine. The bounty of the sea is also featured with local fish selections and items arriving daily from Hawaii and the North Pacific and Atlantic regions. Special prix fixe menus are available and feature matching wines from the extensive wine cellar. Enjoy dining indoors or on the sidewalk patio or outdoor terrace with glimpses of the ocean. A separate bar offers limited menu and happy hour specials daily. Open daily for breakfast and lunch and dinner nightly. Sunday Brunch is also offered.