A fun part of living in Carlsbad is discovering, and enjoying, our diverse dining options, which range from casual to high end. While Carlsbad doesn’t offer quite the diversity of restaurants found in San Diego, there are a number of options to suit most tastes and budgets, with a number of new places (some award-winning, like Campfire, and Jeune et Jolie!).
Many of these are stand-alone restaurants but some of those listed are in hotels. A few only offer breakfast and lunch, and I included some coffee shops, too…always a favorite…and a couple of dessert places.
This list of Carlsbad restaurants is far from all-inclusive, and I hope you appreciate the diversity. These are some of the restaurants I am aware of, or have tried, plus others that have been suggested by people I know. This is an update from a post a couple of years ago, in no particular order. NOTE – The dining scene may have changed a bit since this article was written.
RESTAURANTS IN CARLSBAD VILLAGE
Jeune et Jolie, 2659 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 637-5266, Jeune-Jolie.com – named in 2019 as one of Esquire’s top 22 new restaurants in the US, #11 overall and the only San Diego restaurant on the list.
Campfire, 2725 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 637-5121, ThisIsCampfire.com
Shorehouse Kitchen, 2833 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 720-3300, ShorehouseKitchen.com
OAK + Elixir, 2917 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 453-7853, OakAndElixir.com
Barrel Republic, 2961 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 841-8404, BarrelRepublic.com
Paon Restaurant, 2975 Roosevelt Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 729-7377, PaonCarlsbad.com
Café Topés (breakfast and lunch), 3091 Roosevelt, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 434-8673, EatAtCafeTopes.com
Blue Ocean Robata & Sushi Bar, 2958 Madison Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 434-4959, BlueOceanRobataSushi.com
Vigilucci’s Cucina Italiana, 2943 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 434-2500, vigiluccis.com. Also check out Vigilucci’s Italian Market next door for shopping, take-out and outdoor dining.
Cicciotti’s Trattoria Italiana & Seafood, 595 Grand Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 994-0553
GelatoLove, 300 Carlsbad Village Drive (in the Village Faire), Carlsbad, CA 92008, (442) 500-8231, GelatoLove.com
Las Olas Mexican Restaurant, 2939 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 434-5850.
264 Fresco, 264 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 720-3737, 264Fresco.com
Bluewater Grill, 417Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 730-3474, BluewaterGrill.com
Café Elysa (breakfast and lunch), 3076 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 434-4100, Café Elysa (Facebook)
Baba Coffee, 2727 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 994-0666, BabaCoffee.com
Café Ground-up, 550 Grand Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 637-5077, CafeGroundUp.com
Jay’s Gourmet Seafood & Pizza, 2975 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad CA 92008, (760) 720-9688, JaysGourmet.net
Norte Mexican Restaurant, 3003 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad CA 92008, (760) 729-0903, NorteMexicanRestaurant.com
Barrio Mexican Restaurant, 530 Grand Avenue, Carlsbad CA 92008, (760) 453-7242, BarrioCarlsbad.com
Pizza Port Brewery & Restaurant, 571 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad CA 92008, (760) 720-7007, PizzaPort.com
Carlsbad French Pasty Café, 1005 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 729-2241, CarlsbadFrenchPastryCafe.com
Harbor Fish Café, 3179 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad CA 92008, (760) 729-4161 HarborFishCafe.com (Facebook)
Park 101, 3040 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 434-2217, Park101Carlsbad.com
Coyote Bar & Grill, 300 Carlsbad Village Drive (in the Village Faire), Carlsbad CA 92008, (760) 729-4695, CoyoteCarlsbad.com
Dini’s Bistro, 3290 Carlsbad Boulevard, Carlsbad CA 92008, (760) 434-6000, DinisBistro.com
Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant, 2968 State Street, Carlsbad CA 92008, (760) 729-8565, AtGarcias.com
Señor Grubby’s Mexican Restaurant, 377 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad CA 92008, (760) 729-6040, EatGrubbys.com
Carlsbad Chocolate Bar (being a chocolate lover I HAD to include this), 2998 State Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 434-4479, CarlsbadChocolateBar.com(Facebook)
ELSEWHERE IN CARLSBAD
Windmill Foodhall (14 eateries plus a grand bar), 890 Palomar Airport Road, Carlsbad, CA 92011, WindmillFoodhall.com
Pelly’s Cafe & Fish Market, 7110 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92011, (760) 431-8454, PellysFishmarket.com
Vivace (at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort), 7100 Aviara Resort Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011, (760) 603-3773
Twenty20 Grill – Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 827-2500, Twenty20Grill.com
Chandler’s Restaurant & Lounge – Cape Rey (formerly known as the Hilton), 1 Ponto Road, Carlsbad, CA 92011, (760) 683-5500, ChandlersCarlsbad.com
Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen and Bar, 2659 Gateway Road, Carlsbad, CA 92009, (760) 602-1949, TommyVsUrbanKitchenCarlsbad.com
West Steak & Seafood, 4980 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad, CA 92008, (760) 930-9100, WestSteakAndSeafood.com
Argyle Steakhouse (at the Argyle Golf Club/Park Hyatt), 7447 Batiquitos Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92011, (760) 603-6908, ArgyleSteakhouse.com
Tin Leaf Fresh Kitchen, 6985 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92009, (760) 431-5323, TinLeafKitchen.com
Beach Plum Kitchen (breakfast and lunch), 6971 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92009, (760) 931-1362, BeachPlumKitchen.com
If you have other favorite Carlsbad restaurants you think should be included please let me know! And feel free to share feedback regarding restaurants you know or visit. I will continue to add to this list or modify it periodically.
Which restaurant will you try tonight?
And of course don’t rule out dining al fresco on the beach, watching a beautiful sunset.
PLEASE NOTE – no one has provided any incentive to me, financial or otherwise, to be on this list, or has specifically asked to be included – it’s my own decision as to which ones to include, with apologies to eateries in Carlsbad that are not on the list but deserving of your attention. Nothing is implied or intended by the exclusion of any particular restaurant, now or in the future.