Chances are that if you’re in San Diego for a business trip, you’ll be heading down to the San Diego Convention Center at some point. And in between all those talks, roundtables, interview panels, networking events, and whatever else goes on at conferences these days, you’re bound to get hungry and be ready to explore the best food downtown San Diego has to offer. So bust out of the convention center and head off to one of these five best restaurants near the San Diego Convention Center.
Puesto
789 West Harbor Drive #155 – 12 Minute Walk – Walking Directions from Convention Center
This newer Mexican spot has been a smash hit ever since it opened its doors in downtown San Diego. That’s probably because Puesto has already filled its awards shelf with accolades such as Best Taco Shop, Best Taco, Best Happy Hour, and was a runner-up for Best Chips and Salsa from San Diego Magazine. As you can probably tell from its awards, we recommend starting off with a cocktail and their artisanal chips and salsa here before moving on to Puesto’s signature tacos. If you want some Mexican food to make your friends back at home jealous, Puesto is where to go.
Bottega Americano
1195 Island Ave. – 14 Minute Walk – Walking Directions from Convention Center
Bottega Americano is another hot new opening in downtown San Diego and it has its fair share of awards already too, including one of the 11 hottest new Italian restaurants in the country by Zagat and the best new restaurant in San Diego by San Diego Magazine. Bottega Americano is a hybrid of a restaurant and authentic Italian marketplace, so it’s perfect if you just want to stop by to pick up a quick lunch or want to sit down to a luxurious Italian dinner. You won’t find much better Italian fare anywhere in the city.
Jsix Restaurant
616 J Street – 6 Minute Walk – Walking Directions from Convention Center
Although Jsix Restaurant serves up some of the best food in San Diego, it has still retained its neighborhood restaurant feeling. And thanks to a recent renovation and menu revamp by head chef Christian Graves, you’ll be wishing that Jsix restaurant was in your neighborhood. Chef Graves puts his unique spin on modern American cuisine to create brunch, lunch, and dinner specialities that look as good as they taste. If you want, you can even indulge in the chef’s five-course tasting menu to get the ultimate Jsix experience.
Común Kitchen & Tavern
935 J Street – 10 Minute Walk – Walking Directions from Convention Center
Helping restore the vibrant dining scene in San Diego’s East Village, Común Kitchen & Tavern bills itself as a “borderless” dining experience that brings modern Baja California cuisine to San Diego. Everything here is shareable (hence the name Común), so it’s a fantastic place to bring a group and share some ceviche, carnitas fries, or some smoked mahi tacos. At the helm of Común is Chef Chad White, who will be appearing as a contestant of Season 13 of Top Chef. So make sure to check this place out before the whole world finds out!
Lolita’s at the Park
202 Park Blvd. – 12 Minute Walk – Walking Directions from Convention Center
When you come to San Diego, there’s just no beating some good old fashioned Mexican food. While the Mexican options from Puesto and Común are delicious, if you’re hungry after a day at the convention center and want a straightforward burrito or taco, then take the short walk over to Lolita’s at the Park. Everything here is tasty but their specialties are their California Burrito, which is carne asada, cheddar cheese, sour cream, and fries (pro tip: add guacamole to that burrito too), and their Carne Asada fries, which is essentially the California Burrito without the tortilla.
With these five great dining options in the area, going to a conference at the San Diego Convention Center doesn’t seem so daunting. You’ll impress everyone you meet with your fantastic food recommendations in the area too. Make your business trip to San Diego even better by staying at in luxury apartments designed for business travelers in San Diego. Contact PC Housing today to see how an apartment beats a hotel for business travel every time.