Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in National City

55 restaurants available nearby

1. Ciccia Osteria

4.7

Exceptional(178)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Barrio Logan

Booked 14 times today

Nestled in Barrio Logan, San Diego, Ciccia Osteria is a charming Italian restaurant that invites guests on a culinary journey through Italy. With its warm ambiance, attentive service, and exquisite cuisine, Ciccia Osteria is a beloved destination. Notably, it has won the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024Entering Ciccia Osteria, guests are transported to Italy's bustling trattorias. The cozy interior, with small tables, exposed brick walls, and soft lighting, creates an intimate atmosphere perfect for any occasion.Committed to the finest ingredients and traditional techniques, Ciccia Osteria offers handmade pastas, succulent seafood, and tender meats, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience. The curated wine list features Italian and California wines to pair with the menu.Under Chef Mario Cassineri's guidance, Ciccia Osteria is more than a restaurant—it's a destination where guests can savor authentic Italian cuisine and create lasting memories.

A photo of Puesto at the Headquarters restaurant

2. Puesto at the Headquarters

4.6

Exceptional(3504)

Price: Expensive

• Mexican • Downtown / Gaslamp

Booked 12 times today

Owned and operated by a Mexican American family whose best memories all include tacos, Puesto is an award-winning Mexican Artisan Kitchen & Bar providing an innovative approach to authentic Mexican flavors. Puesto has garnered national acclaim for its Mexico City-style crispy melted cheese tacos, served on handmade non-GMO, organic, maíz azul stone-ground tortillas. In addition to tacos, offerings include a selection of fresh catch ceviches, guacamoles, starters and ensaladas, courtesy of Chef/Partner Luisteen Gonzales. The bar program showcases the best of Mexico City through the use of fresh ingredients in our hand crafted cocktails and housemade Micheladas, tequilas, mezcals, house-brewed beers, and Valle de Guadalupe wines you can’t find elsewhere We’re honored to have been featured by media outlets nationally and internationally, some of which include National Geographic, Huffington Post, Refinery 29, MSN, Insider, Zagat, Eater, Food and Wine, and LA Times.

3. Kettner Exchange

4.7

Exceptional(1361)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Little Italy

Booked 37 times today

Kettner Exchange boasts two levels of indoor/outdoor drinking and dining and Little Italy’s only rooftop patio with spanning harbor views. We feature Progressive American cuisine from critically acclaimed Executive Chef Brian Redzikowski. In 2019, Kettner Exchange was named to Michelin Guide's prestigious Bib Gourmand list. Kettner Exchange has proudly maintained this award every year thereafter. Originally introduced in 1997, the Bib Gourmand category highlights restaurants that serve high-quality meals which include two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less.

4. Herb & Wood

4.7

Exceptional(6474)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Little Italy

Booked 39 times today

A timeless, sought-after dining escape, celebrated Chef Brian Malarkey opened Herb & Wood to instant acclaim over four years ago. In that time, the restaurant has become an icon, a dining destination that has helped to propel San Diego's culinary reputation to new heights. By focusing on rustic, wood-fired dishes, Chef Malarkey's menu elevates humble ingredients such as carrots, beets, and chicken, incorporating Mediterranean flavors and a California ethos of seasonality and sustainability.

5. Mister A's

4.8

Exceptional(8671)

Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary French / American • Downtown / Gaslamp

Booked 35 times today

Mister A's is the penthouse, fine-dining destination of San Diego, and has been for over 50 years. Located just a few minutes from downtown, you will take the elevator to the top floor and look back out over jetliners sweeping past at eye level, the San Diego skyline, bay and Pacific, while enjoying Modern American cuisine, hand-crafted cocktails, and one of Wine Spectator's top-rated wine lists in the country. The culinary staff hand-selects local farm produce and the highest quality ingredients in every category to offer you selections that are made from scratch in house for brunch, lunch, dinner.. or simply the finest rooftop drinks and appetizers in town.Please visit our website for specific dress code guidelines: https://www.asrestaurant.com/contact/(Guests not in dress code will be turned away)

A photo of The Henry - Coronado restaurant

6. The Henry - Coronado

4.8

Exceptional(2466)

Price: Moderate

• American • Coronado

Booked 62 times today

Welcome to the greatest neighborhood restaurant, a place where you can always count on a warm welcome from baristas, servers and bartenders who know your order by heart. A fusion of industrial and classical influences, our open dining spaces are bursting with charm and energy. Come and go with ease for your morning coffee, enjoy lunch with a colleague, gather the family together for dinner, or treat yourself to a post-work drink at the bar. For craveable eats and downright delicious cocktails, look no further than a place where you'll always be among friends, a place that feels like home: The Henry.

7. Coasterra

4.6

Exceptional(7569)

Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Harbor Island

Booked 50 times today

Coasterra is San Diego's premier bay front dining destination! We are an innovative and modern restaurant, lounge and floating event center, featuring Mexican cuisine.

8. Madison

4.5

Awesome(3023)

Price: Expensive

• Mediterranean • University Heights

Booked 16 times today

With their stunning design, classic cocktails & highly acclaimed fare, Madison finds itself among San Diego's can't miss restaurants! Serving many of Michelin recognized Chef Mario Cassineri classic dishes, perfect for Date Night of celebrating with friends. ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʜᴏᴜʀ - ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴅᴀʏ 4-6ᴘᴍᴛᴜᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 7-9ᴘᴍᴡᴇᴅɴᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅɪɴɴᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴏɢꜱᴛʜᴜʀꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅᴊ ꜱᴘɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏʟᴅ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴠɪɴʏʟꜰʀɪᴅᴀʏ & ꜱᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ᴡᴇᴇᴋᴇɴᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴢʏ ʙʀᴜɴᴄʜ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴊꜱꜱᴜɴᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ʟᴀᴛɪɴ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 6-8ᴘᴍ

A photo of The Prado at Balboa Park restaurant

9. The Prado at Balboa Park

4.6

Exceptional(7905)

Price: Moderate

• Californian • Downtown / Gaslamp

Booked 38 times today

Located in San Diego's Balboa Park, in the Historic House of Hospitality, The Prado offers historic charm and California cuisine.

10. CUCINA urbana

4.7

Exceptional(7105)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Banker's Hill

Booked 29 times today

We are a wine shop inside of a restaurant | Dining and design form the perfect union at San Diego's highly acclaimed CUCINA urbana, a California-inspired Italian kitchen and wine shop, located in the heart of Bankers Hill since 2009. The restaurant boasts comfort and familiarity, welcoming diners to a country farmhouse with the added whimsy of a contemporary art installation.CUCINA urbana is the originator of the CUCINA retail wine program where each dedicated shop allows guests to hand select wines at a retail price, either to enjoy with their meal for a minimal corkage fee or for purchase to-go. The wine list is comprised of many familiar labels as well as rare and small-batch gems, with an emphasis on Italian varietals.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

K
Kathleen
Phoenix / Arizona •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Simply put, one of the best meals I have had the privilege of enjoying! Delightful server, Calvin, was very in tune with the timing of our meal and our needs. The fixed menu was perfect for Christmas Eve, as it kept the meal flowing and decision-making to a minimum. Every course was delectable from the scallop crudo, the creamed mushrooms, and the sea bass, to the date cake with walnut ice cream! Mezcal hibiscus cocktail was creative and tasty, as well! I will definitely be back!
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Herb & WoodPrice: Expensive• Californian• Little Italy
•
4.7
H
HelenVIP
San Diego •60 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
We have been here before but hadn't been for quite a while. They were very busy but got us a table quickly. Service was wonderful and on top of that the owner and one of the service staff recognized us and welcomed us back. That's the mark of a great neighborhood restaurant. Highly recommend.
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Ciccia OsteriaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Barrio Logan
•
4.7
J
jim
San Diego •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
The small plates are entirely original, owing more to Asian and other fusion than to Spanish tapas. The cocktails were original and enhanced the meal. Ambience was great
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Kettner ExchangePrice: Expensive• Contemporary American• Little Italy
•
4.7
C
CatherineVIP
London •11 reviews
4.0
Dined 2 days ago
Service at the bar was terrific! The bartender, Ruben, I think was his name, was friendly and made a great mocktail and terrific drinks. We each ordered three different tacos, which were excellent, but they took a little while to arrive… perhaps that’s because we had appetizers at the bar beforehand so I guess we expected the food to arrive a little quickly. Overall, a great experience with Mexican food.
More info
Puesto at the HeadquartersPrice: Expensive• Mexican• Downtown / Gaslamp
•
4.6
O
Olivia
Los Angeles •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
The view is unbeaten! We were less excited about the menu but we were proven impressed. Great meals and fantastic service
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Mister A'sPrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary French / American• Downtown / Gaslamp
•
4.8

Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in National City

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Award-winning

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55 restaurants available nearby

1. Ciccia Osteria

2. Puesto at the Headquarters

3. Kettner Exchange

4. Herb & Wood

5. Mister A's

6. The Henry - Coronado

7. Coasterra

8. Madison

9. The Prado at Balboa Park

10. CUCINA urbana

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