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VAGA Restaurant & Bar, Encinitas, CA

VAGA Restaurant & Bar

4.5
4.5
256 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

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2 people
19:00
Booked 36 times today
  • Romantic
  • Great for scenic views
  • Good for special occasions
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
  • 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

What 256 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
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • North San Diego

    Romantic

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
VAGA Restaurant & Bar offers breathtaking ocean views and a chic atmosphere, making it perfect for special occasions. Guests rave about the "amazing food" and "excellent service," with standout dishes like the duck carnitas and halibut. While some mention high prices, the "beautiful location" and "wonderful ambiance" ensure a memorable dining experience.

256 Reviews
  1. Amelia

    VIP

    San Diego

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Here’s a more polished and engaging version of your review: --- We had a reservation but still waited 30 minutes for a table. Hoping for a spot on the terrace, we patiently waited, only to be told after half an hour that they still couldn’t estimate how much longer it would take. Hungry and frustrated, we opted for an indoor table instead. Unfortunately, the service was slow, and the food was underwhelming. We initially visited as we were considering the hotel as a potential wedding venue, but the experience quickly changed our minds. Given the lackluster service and mediocre food, we won’t be returning. With so many outstanding restaurants in the area, I’d recommend locals and visitors alike dine elsewhere.

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  2. Gayle

    San Diego

    85 reviews

    5.0

    85 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best burger around and I am not even a burger person! My husband loved it too!

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  3. Athena

    Orange County

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Love the place. Great for friends from out of town. The views, the staff and the food are what brings me back.

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  4. Keith

    Portland

    4 reviews

    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 8 February 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Servers are friendly and attentive but the overall property seems disorganized. Showed up five minutes early for a 7:00 reservation and was told it would be a 10 to 15 minute wait. Nobody ever came to get us. Thirty minutes later, they finally said they had a table, but the only one available was outside, where it was 52° and under heaters that were too ineffective to cut through the cool night breeze. A few minutes later, they managed to seat us inside, but no explanation and no credit was ever given for the long wait. Expected better for the price and location.

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  5. Susan

    VIP

    San Francisco

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on 5 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is delicious and beautifully presented. The menu is eclectic with dishes that combine different cuisines. The decor is beautiful, with indoor and outdoor seating and ocean views.

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  6. Andrew

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 3 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Unbelievable food. Fantastic service. Can’t blame the restaurant for a dense fog that rolled in before sunset. Will definitely repeat

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  7. Synove

    San Diego

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 1 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Simply top tier from the first to last step from the elevator.

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  8. Scott

    VIP

    San Diego

    21 reviews

    3.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on 1 February 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The restaurant is lovely, as is the view. I got the Halibut. It was delicious but the price was extremely high. My husband got the hangar steak. The portion was very small and the meat was tough. The rolls were excellent and the sweet potato side or appetizer was very good. Our waiter was lovely and the service was good. For the price, we will go elsewhere.

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  9. Brittney

    VIP

    San Diego

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 27 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food, amazing service, incredible atmosphere.

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  10. Gisele

    San Diego

    55 reviews

    5.0

    55 reviews

    Dined on 26 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was fantastic - apple barrata was outstanding- balance of flavors and textures was amazing. Duck carnitas with crisp thinly sliced carrots and jalapeño peppers was very flavorful and the skin was crispy. Braised short ribs were good but could have been more tender. Both were served with freshly made and warm corn tortillas which were excellent. Duck carnitas only brought 3 tortillas so had to request more but took some time to get them. Wine list is small but good. Many wines are not well known. There is a good spread of prices. The Syrah we had was quite good and reasonably priced. It paired very well with our food. They decanted the wine for us which enabled it to open up. Our server, Amanda, was excellent. I would go back.

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FAQs

VAGA Restaurant & Bar is rated 4.5 stars by 256 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 36 times today
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
  • 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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