Best Contemporary European Restaurants in Rancho Santa Fe

The Whaling Bar is hands down our favorite local spot, whether it’s for a cozy date night or an evening out with friends. The atmosphere is fantastic, the cocktails are exceptional, and the food never disappoints. We love everything on the menu, but our personal favorites are the celery salad, Caesar salad, the baos, and the chicken—each dish is perfectly executed. We’re also lucky enough to have George as our server every time we dine here. He’s simply the best, making every visit even more memorable with his friendly demeanor and excellent service. And don’t forget to save room for dessert! The burger dessert is an absolute must-try. We can’t wait to come back again soon!

We came for the drinks. Place was super cute and cozy. Unfortunately, no DJ but Would come back

The ambiance and vibe at Waverly are what you would want for a coastal restaurant. Indoor/outdoor seating with just enough room to move around. The food is always exceptional. The drinks are thoughtfully prepared, and just about every one that I’ve had there has been consistently good. The service was spot on and the waitress was helpful and patient.

This was such a good selection for a date night out while on a big family vacation in Encinitas. Our server was very friendly, knowled,and attentive. The ambiance was somewhat rustic but a very keen eye for detail. We started with the beef tartare special and it was a great start to a fantastic experience. Everything was delicious. Great restaurant.

Fantastic meal, selection and service. It was a little cold because we ate late, but everything else was great.