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VAGA Restaurant & Bar, Encinitas, CA

VAGA Restaurant & Bar

4.5
4.5
202 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a booking

2+ people
19:00
Booked 27 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for scenic views
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for creative cocktails
For a true “vaga”, the journey is never-ending; the spirit and palate, always curious. Drawing ingredients and inspiration from near and far, VAGA explores San Diego’s ever-changing confluence of culture and wanderlust. From its perch on a coastal bluff in Encinitas, California, VAGA keeps one hand in the ocean, one hand in the farm, and both eyes on the horizon.

VAGA Restaurant & Bar is located on Level 2 of Alila Marea Beach Resort. Valet parking is available through the resort for $5.00 per car before 5 pm with validation only. After 5 pm, valet parking is $10.00 per car with no validation required. Self-parking is not available.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Seafood, Steak
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Daily 07:00–14:00 Bar Daily 11:00–23:00 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Phone number
    (760) 452-3484
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Ananda Bareno
  • Private party facilities
    VAGA Restaurant provides exceptional private dining experiences and breathtaking ocean-view venues for your upcoming event or celebration, accommodating up to 40 guests. For further details, please reach out to the restaurant directly or email alilamarea@alilahotels.com.
  • Area
    Encinitas
  • Cross Street
    La Costa and Highway 101
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Public transit
    Valet Parking: VAGA offers valet parking through Alila Marea Beach Resort. Valet parking before 5 pm is $5.00 per car with validation only. After 5 pm, valet parking is $10.00 per car with no validation required. Self-parking is not available.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Thanksgiving at VAGA

    US$42.07 - US$124.88 per person

    28 Nov 2024 only
    Join us in embracing the joy of togetherness at our Thanksgiving celebration, which will showcase a delightful three-course menu. Savor the seasonal flavors as we pay tribute to the local harvests that adorn our table. Immerse yourself in the warmth of family and community, all while enjoying delectable meals and breathtaking views sure to evoke a grateful spirit.
    Thanksgiving at VAGA photo

What 202 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • North San Diego

    Romantic

  • North San Diego

    Great for scenic views

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
VAGA Restaurant & Bar is nestled within the Alila Hotel, offering "stunning views" and a "beautiful, upscale atmosphere." Diners rave about the "delicious and creative food" and "outstanding service." While some have noted slow bar service, the overall dining experience, especially with ocean views and "fantastic wine," makes it a memorable spot for special occasions.

202 Reviews
  1. deborah

    Orange County

    46 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    46 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Very creative menu with natural sourced food. Our table had the duck taco appetizers that were amazing along with a chopped beet salad, apple and burrata cheese appetizer, and the tuna crudo. The latter was the only weak link among the appetizers since the sauce over-powered the tuna. I had the scallops which was one of the best preparations of scallops I've ever had. Our server was excellent--informative, attentive, and never intrusive. An all around great dinner meal.

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  2. kevin

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was fantastic and our servers (Rebecca at the bar- also a wonderful bartender- and Karen in the dining room) were so good that we will likely stay at this hotel again to dine with them

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  3. Michael

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We dined on a Friday evening for my wife's birthday. Food and cocktails were very good...I had ocean trout and my wife had the short ribs. Service was good as well...no complaints. They did provide a complimentary birthday dessert which was appreciated. Prices for some items are quite high, and although food was good, I would say the value is medium.

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  4. Philip

    San Francisco

    92 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    92 reviews

    Dined on 16 November 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had two breakfasts and one dinner. The breakfasts were among the very best in the US for 5 star hotels, with regard to variety of the menu, quality of the food, and excellence of service. A daily mix of gourmet pastries, locally sourced juice mixes, very healthy choices of both standard and innovative mains. Dinner on the other hand, was slightly less impressive. We had to wait 40 mins for our table. Service was excellent but the food was just ok - good but nothing that wowed us.

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  5. Alyzza

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 5 November 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and ambiance was very good, but had waited at least a half hour to have our order taken. Fortunately the staff had acknowledged the issue and offered a complimentary dessert which was absolutely delicious.

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  6. todd

    San Diego

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 3 November 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Made reservations for the patio. When we arrived, they seated a walk-in couple on the patio ahead of us, then said there were no more tables and we’d have to wait. But they didn’t know how long it would be. So to paraphrase Seinfeld, they know how to take a reservation. They just don’t know how to hold the reservation. And that’s the most important part. The holding of the reservation.

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  7. Cassie

    San Diego

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on 29 October 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our sever was outstanding and we loved the view from our outside table. Nice wine selection and the take on the margarita was inventive. Pricey but delicious! A+ to the staff.

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  8. Lisa

    San Diego

    12 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on 28 October 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We have been to Vaga several times. The food is always delicious and amazing. However, the service is usually sub-par. We had dinner there last Sunday at 5pm with an out of town guest. As it was Sunday (and 5pm) we were the first guests there. We were offered water and our guest requested a glass of ice for hers. After about 15 minutes, no ice arrived. Our server took our drink orders and we again asked for a glass of ice. The server brought me a margarita, but still no glass of ice. We finally just flagged down a waiter who was helping the table next to us and got a glass of ice. It was about a half hour wait for a glass of ice when the restaurant was mostly empty. I then realized the server had brought me the wrong drink. I thought I had ordered the spicy margarita from the drink menu. What I got was a regular margarita which was not at all spicy. My husband tasted it and agreed. I took another sip of it while waiting for the server to return. There was about 3/4 of the margarita left. I told the server when she finally came back that it was not spicy. She took my drink and came back with thd same drink, with added spice. I was mortified. Why would you take the wrong drink that you served me and not provide me with a new, correct, whole drink? Not sure if this was the server or the bartender, but totally unacceptable. Once we actually got our food all was well. But it's pretty bizarre that you get this type of service at a restaurant where rooms are $800+ a night. The food and view are amazing. But we get much better service at restaurants down the street in Encinitas.

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  9. Rita

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    vip
    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 27 October 2024

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    The service is poor. Not the first time I’ve experienced that. The ambience and views are gorgeous but when the food for part of your party is delayed by 15 minutes, it doesn’t make for a good experience.

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  10. Justus

    San Diego

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 27 October 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 1
    Food was okay, service was great, vibe was eh. Heard wedding speeches our whole dinner

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

VAGA Restaurant & Bar is rated 4.5 stars by 202 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2+ people
19:00
Booked 27 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for VAGA Restaurant & Bar

2100 N Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, CA 92024

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    La Costa and Highway 101
  • Area
    Encinitas
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Daily 07:00–14:00 Bar Daily 11:00–23:00 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:00–21:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:00
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Seafood, Steak
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Public transit
    Valet Parking: VAGA offers valet parking through Alila Marea Beach Resort. Valet parking before 5 pm is $5.00 per car with validation only. After 5 pm, valet parking is $10.00 per car with no validation required. Self-parking is not available.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Ananda Bareno
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (760) 452-3484
  • Private party facilities
    VAGA Restaurant provides exceptional private dining experiences and breathtaking ocean-view venues for your upcoming event or celebration, accommodating up to 40 guests. For further details, please reach out to the restaurant directly or email alilamarea@alilahotels.com.
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