Fun & Unique Restaurants in San Diego

If you are out in San Diego looking for something new and interesting to do then I think today’s list is going to be just the thing for you. Because today I have a list of the 9 most unique restaurants in San Diego. I tried to get plenty of variety on the list, but a lot of them ended up being cocktail bars because those kinds of bars usually really commit to their theme and atmosphere which just kind of makes them more unique than most restaurants by default. But if you are specifically looking for amazing restaurants and are more interested in family themed establishments be sure to check out our great list of 7 restaurants in San Diego that you must visit. But if you are interested in this list I’ll be sure to give you the address of each place, a brief summary of what makes them so unique and interesting, and a link to their website so you can dive deeper if one of them catches your eye. And on top of that I will also throw you a convenient link you can use anytime one of these unique restaurants in San Diego accepts our convenient GiftYa gift cards.

If you are new to GiftYa they are essentially gift cards that exist in an all digital format. And there are a ton of different benefits to using the cards that you simply don’t get with your traditional plastic gift card. Be sure to check out the video on this page if you want to learn more and you can follow this link if you want to search for GiftYas!

But that’s enough with the introduction, let me get right to that list of unique restaurants in San Diego that brought you here today!

1 - C Level

A Unique Restaurant With A Breathtaking View of San Diego

📍 880 Harbor Island Dr | San Diego | www.clevelsd.com/

This restaurant is unique in a couple different ways. First and foremost is the fact that it sits upon stilts in the San Diego Bay C Level Lounge. So you get to enjoy an upscale lounge right on the waterfront with breathtaking views of the San DIego skyline. Which makes for a really unique dining experience. And then on top of that they have a menu of incredible seafood and steak, but they also offer a diverse menu of new American fusion style dishes that you won’t be able to find at other restaurants. So not only do you get a unique dining environment, you can also enjoy a unique meal that will capture your senses and delight your taste buds!

“Came for New Years Eve. We made reservations and everything went smoothly. I got the Korean beef tartar which was yummy and the citrus salmon and my bf got the lobster bisque and steak with mashed potatoes. Both were pretty flavorful. Our waiter was nice and attentive. We loved our seating. We sat outside and saw the view of ocean.

Great experience.” - Yelp Review 

2 - Raised By Wolves

A Beloved Cocktail Bar in San Diego

📍 4301 La Jolla Village Dr | San Diego | https://raisedxwolves.com

Raised By Wolves is one of the most unique restaurants in San DIego because it features the restaurant as well as a “secret” bar. And the great thing about the bar is the incredibly unique craft cocktails that they have to offer. They can make any regular drink you are looking for, but they also have tons of unique and interesting cocktails that they invented themselves. In particular people really seem to love their banana cream flip, their cosmic dancer, and their bidi bidi bom bom. Be sure to check out their full menu to see the varied and diverse offering of craft cocktails that they have!

“Fun experience.

A not so secret, secret bar.

The way you get into the bar is fun and unique.

They offer a lot of really good and playful cocktails.

The service is classy and efficient.” - Yelp Review 

3 - Noble Experiment

A Great Cocktail Bar With A Secret Entrance

📍 7th Ave & California St | San Diego | cleaned up URL/hyperlink

Noble Experiment is unique for a couple of different reasons. The first reason is that they have a secret entrance that gives the whole experience a really unique twist. And then on top of that they take reservations exactly one week in advance so be sure to stick to that schedule to be sure you get to go on the night you want to. It’s a unique reservation system that adds to the game of being a “secret” bar which I think makes the whole experience pretty interesting. And then they have an incredible list of craft cocktails that you can pick from and enjoy, but they also offer the Dealer’s Choice option where the bartender will pick a new drink for you everytime you want a refill. All said and done it offers a really unique night out in San Diego that you just aren’t going to be able to replicate anywhere else.

“It's interesting looking there's a lot of skulls on the wall, which makes it pretty cryptic looking. If you're into Gothic or medieval vibes, I said this is a good place to go to. It's small spaced, and more bar like setting. Very creative though from secret passage to the speakeasy entrance to the bar. It's very well executed. The guy was nice to us.” - Yelp Review 

4 - Allegro Restaurant and Bar

An Italian Restaurant In San DIego That Offers A Unique Menu

📍 1536 India St | San Diego | https://www.allegro-sd.com/

Allegro Restaurant and Bar is located in the Little Italy part of San Diego and as you might guess they serve up authentic and delicious Italian food. And what makes them unique is that they offer both traditional Italian dishes as well as modern Italian cuisines that are quickly becoming classics. So you’ll be able to enjoy a safe and familiar dish, or you can branch out and try something new. And I think that makes them pretty unique for an Italian restaurant because most of them stick to one or the other, but Allegro offers you the opportunity to try both right under the same roof

“Amazing vibes, amazing drinks, amazing staff, and amazing food! Diego was an amazing server and the cheese wheel was incredible!” - Yelp Review 

5 - False Idol

A Very Unique Restaurant That Is A Hybrid of aa Tiki Bar and A Speakeasy

📍 675 W Beech St | San Diego | https://falseidoltiki.com/

If you’re looking for the place in San Diego that is going to offer you the most unique atmosphere then you are going to be hard pressed to find a place better than False Idol. This cocktail bar offers a hybrid version of a tiki bar and a speakeasy which is a combination I’ve never heard of being tried anywhere else so I definitely think you’ll have a unique experience here!

“The winter special banana nog cocktail is to die for and fairly priced at $16! I gotta come back before they get rid of it!! Cool spot, cool looking unique cocktails.

Note to self: the jungle bird holiday special is also pretty damn good!” - Yelp Review 

6 - insideOUT

A Great Mediterranean Restaurant in San Diego

📍 1642 University Ave | San Diego | https://insideoutsd.com/

insideOUT offers a Mediterranean menu with plenty of great cocktails, but what truly makes it a unique place it that they go all out with their decorations and atmosphere. So if you are looking for somewhere that offers you a relaxing atmosphere that almost feels like a dream then insideOUT is gonna be the spot in San Diego for you!

“InsideOUT is a dreamy place!

I've been here during their holiday event- fully decorated (oh my eyes! ) but also during a regular season- both times have been filled with exquisite dishes, top notch service, and a chill and fulfilling atmosphere.

I came for the experience, but stayed for the food! Everything is always made to order, and absolutely delicious!

Can't rave enough!” - Yelp Review 

7 - Realm of the 52 Remedies

A Chinese Inspired Speakeasy in San Diego

📍 4805 Convoy St | San Diego | https://www.52remedies.com

Realm of the 52 Remedies is a great place to find a great meal as well as unique cocktails. But what really makes this  a unique destination in San Diego is that fact that it is a speakeasy that is inspired by Chinese medicine. So you are going to find an atmosphere and ambiance here unlike any other place that you’ve been. And although they are primarily a cocktail bar, they have plenty of great food options as well. Be sure to check out their full menu to get an idea of what kind of dining experience you’ll be in for!

“Tucked inside Common Theory, this Chinese medicine inspired speakeasy is such a cool spot! I went with friends for drinks and didn't try the food, but the menu looked eclectic and definitely intriguing. The highlight of the night (for me), though, was the miso cookie they brought at the end--quite possibly the best cookie I've ever had! It's worth a visit just for that unique treat. Can't wait to go back and explore more of what they have to offer!” - Yelp Review 

8 - Mothership

A Space Themed Cocktail Bar in San Diego

📍 2310 30th St | San Diego | https://mothershiptrip.com

Mothership is another cocktail bar in San DIego that offers a truly unique atmosphere. The bar is space themed (as you might have guessed from the name) but that means that the entire restaurant, the music, and drinks have an overall theme of outer space which makes for a really unique experience that is completely different from any other bar out there. This one is particularly fun if you are a fan of sci-fi movies or space in general, but I think no matter what interests you, you will certainly find Mothership to have been an interesting experience unlike any other you’ve had before!

“Highly recommend even if this type of place is not your thing. Themed drinks are typically more difficult to make at home. Amazing atmosphere of outer worlds. Service is great since this place requires quick service to keep customer flow. The place is very busy sometimes so always make a reservation if you can. Very similar to the galaxy edge bar at Disneyland.” - Yelp Review 

9 - Books & Records

An Amazing Brunch Place in San Diego With A Unique Atmosphere

📍 2202 Fourth Ave | San Diego | https://booksandrecordsbar.com/

Books and Records offers a unique atmosphere that is highly inspired by literature and music history. And although they are widely beloved for their brunch menu, they also have an extensive dinner menu featuring craft cocktails and live music on most nights. Be sure to check out their calendar to see when they have live music and who will be playing!

“Amazing food, drink, service, and atmosphere. Super cute and big space for a party. Went here for a brunch with my coworkers and I gotta say I was so impressed! Their portions were very generous and their menu was eclectic and fun! My faves was the short rib hash! Also I really liked their mocktails!

Can't wait to try more next time I'm in the area.” - Yelp Review 

And There You Have A List of 9 Unique and Interesting Restaurants You Can Find Right In San Diego!

I hope something on the list today stood out to you and looked like the kind of fun and unique experience you are hoping to have. I know there were a lot of cocktail bar options on the list today, but they tend to go really big on their atmosphere and themes so I thought they would offer the most unique experiences in the city. But if you didn’t find exactly what you were hoping for on my list today, be sure to check out our other list of 7 of the most fun restaurants in San Diego. And I am positive between the two lists that everybody out there will be able to find a fun and unique experience in San Diego that they will remember for a lifetime.