From weekend escapes in Temecula wine country to new brunches, taco nights, and healthy eats around town, San Diego is full of fresh flavors this week. Here’s where to eat, sip, and savor:
Day Drifters Brunch
Start your weekend with island vibes at Day Drifters Brunch, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m.–2 p.m. at Margaritaville Hotel Gaslamp. Highlights include SoCal Drive-Thru sliders, Birria Grilled Cheese with consommé, Poke Nachos, Baja Fish Tacos, and a Stacked Roasted Turkey Club. Saturdays feature live music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through January and February.
Temecula Wines: Barrel Tasting Weekend
On Jan. 31–Feb 1, explore 30+ wineries during Temecula Wines’ Barrel Tasting Weekend. Guests taste unreleased vintages straight from the barrel, enjoy chef-curated food pairings, and navigate the region at their own pace in a passport-style experience. Shuttle packages are available via Grapeline Wine Tours.
Hasta Mañana Cantina: Taco & Tequila Tuesday
Gaslamp’s Hasta Mañana Cantina revamps Taco & Tequila Tuesday with all-you-can-eat tacos for $22, street tacos from $5–$6, half-off tequila and mezcal, and margaritas for $8. Drink deals include wells, drafts, and wine by the glass. Specials run 3 p.m.–close, excluding holidays and events.
Urban Plates: Wellness Wednesdays
Every Wednesday in January, Urban Plates offers the first 250 entrees dine-in or to-go with a free Dragon Fruit Replenisher Wellness Booster Shot. Menu options include high-protein meals, low-calorie plates, and plant-based dishes.
The Shores Restaurant: Weekday Specials
At La Jolla Shores Hotel, enjoy Margarita Mondays at 50% off, and Kids Eat Free from Monday to Wednesday with the purchase of an adult entrée. Kids can choose favorites like pizza, chicken tenders, and cheeseburgers, while adults savor Baja-style tacos, ceviche, seasonal salads, and craft cocktails.
New Café at SDSU
Opening next week at San Diego State University, Damor Chai serves authentic Middle Eastern chai, pastries, and toasts. Founder Jamal Rasoully emphasizes scratch-made, health-forward offerings, designed to fuel students and young professionals with balanced, energizing choices.
Pizza & Pints in Little Italy
Pali Wine Co. in Little Italy is teaming up with Marcella Pizzeria for a special pizza pop-up on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 5 p.m., following a successful December event. Guests can enjoy handcrafted, wood-fired pizzas — including Prosciutto and Fungi Truffle pies — paired with Pali’s natural wines from its Neighborhood Winery label. Featured wines include the chillable red Blood Moon, the orange wine Still Life, and the sparkling Pét Orange, with new releases expected soon.
For those who can’t make it on the 24th, the pop-up returns on Friday, Feb. 6, offering another chance to experience the pizza-and-wine pairing in Pali’s intimate backyard setting.
Wellness Travel Pick: Rancho La Puerta
Located on 4,000 private acres in Tecate, Mexico, Rancho La Puerta is a wellness-focused fitness resort designed for sober-curious travelers. Guests can choose from 80+ weekly fitness classes, guided hikes, restorative spa treatments, farm-to-table pescatarian meals, and nutrition-focused cooking classes.
New in 2026, the Longevity Track lets visitors focus on strength, balance, mobility, and healthy aging, with lectures on turning wellness habits into everyday life. Rancho La Puerta is ideal for those looking to extend Dry January intentions into long-term healthy living.
Garibaldi’s Spain Dinner Series
Garibaldi, the rooftop coastal Mediterranean restaurant at the InterContinental San Diego, continues its monthly Mediterranean dinner series with a Spain-themed four-course prix fixe menu, available Jan. 22–25. Highlights include Gilda Skewers, Pulpo a la Gallega, Tortilla Española, Bacalao Croquetas, Ensalada Murciana, Pescado a la Sal, Iberico Pork Chop, and Crema Catalana for dessert.
The dinner is $65 per person, with an optional $35 wine pairing. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
San Diego Restaurant Week Returns
San Diego Restaurant Week is back Jan. 25 – Feb. 1, featuring 100+ restaurants across 30+ neighborhoods with two-course lunches and three-course dinners starting at $30. This edition spotlights winter flavors and peak-season produce, with participating restaurants continuing their collaboration with Specialty Produce.
New in 2026, SDRW partners with Restaurants Care, a nonprofit supporting California’s restaurant workers. A portion of every restaurant’s participation fee benefits cooks, servers, dishwashers, and hospitality professionals in need.
Reservations are recommended, and full details, menus, and participating restaurants can be found at SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com.
This week, San Diego offers something for everyone—from brunch enthusiasts and taco lovers to wine explorers and health-conscious diners.
Do you have any restaurant news? A new chef? New location? Special menu? If so, drop me a line at Debbiesklar@cox.net, and you could be included in a future Eat Beat.
