One of the perks of being a corporate traveler is the opportunity to wine and dine clients and colleagues in swanky restaurants in a great new city (or if you’re really lucky, being on the receiving end!). Fortunate corporate travelers in San Diego will no doubt find themselves with entertaining options galore. In fact, the options can seem so endless that it’s hard to choose the perfect setting to get the point of your meeting across. We’ve decided to do the dirty work and compile a list of the best corporate restaurants in San Diego gatherings from the casual to upscale.
Karl Strauss Brewing Company is a great place to head to for a business casual get together in Carlsbad, just north of San Diego. Since 1999, this microbrewery has been serving guests their custom made brews with a total of ten on tap. The restaurant offers a full service bar, pub style food, and tours of the brewery. Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3:00-6:00 P.M. with wines, beers, flights, and wells on special for $4. Select appetizers are available for just $5. An online menu is available, featuring April’s beer and entree pairing, along with their daily featured brew list. Head here when you feel like rolling up your shirt sleeves and loosening the tie to get down to business, or kick back for a round of craft beers with your new colleagues.
The Aloha Sushi Lounge in La Jolla is your go-to place for quietly entertaining those not used to exquisitely fresh sushi. Aloha Sushi offers a private dining experience complete with separated booths lined with white seating and curtains designed to create an intimate setting. The lounge decor is complete with bamboo, Hawaiian leis, and dark wood finish. If you are a lover of the tropics and a fan of sushi, or your guest must be impressed by a typical San Diego vibe, Aloha Sushi is your place. The restaurant offers an extensive sushi menu in addition to some dinner entree options, and catering.
Cucina Urbana is the perfect setting for a lunch meeting or happy hour just steps from Balboa Park in San Diego. With lunch specials offered Tuesdays through Fridays, the restaurant has a California-inspired Italian menu and has won several awards and numerous recognitions in a wide variety of magazines. Additionally, Cucina Urbana hosts a monthly “winemaker series” event in which guests receive hors d’oeuvres in addition to wine tastings while in a casual environment, which creates the perfect setting for a no-pressure type sales meeting or get-to-know-you event. If you are eager to have a bit of privacy, Cucina Urbana has a semi-private wine room which accommodates up to 16 people. Not only is Cucina Urbana a restaurant, they have a retail wine shop for those on the go. If all of this wasn’t enough to persuade you to drop by Cucina’s, you should know that they actively practice “green” habits including saving food scraps for composting, recycling, and usage of low flow spray nozzles.
Humphreys By the Bay in San Diego is the place to go if you are entertaining out of town business associates or the higher ups. The restaurant offers a fantastic view of sailboats as far as the eye can see, backlit by the setting sun, all right from your table. Even though Humphrey’s has an impressive menu of hand crafted surf and turf selections, it’s more than just a dining establishment; Humphreys hosts concerts by the bay, has hotel accommodations and can cater to large parties and private events for a truly versatile venue. Concerts packages are available and include hotel, concert tickets, and dinner for two (perfect for a little business encouragement!).
The University Club Atop Symphony Towers is last on this list because it provides the most exclusive upscale dining experience in Downtown San Diego. If you are looking for a place to impress the client and seal the deal, The University Club on the 34th floor is where you need to be. The club hosts guest speakers, professional seminars, and business networking events. With a spectacular view atop one of San Diego’s largest buildings, the club is perfect for private events and the menu certainly means business. Memberships provide access to private clubs, tickets, and events.