Ligaya Malones

2 days ago | theinfatuation.com | Candice Woo |Ligaya Malones

The Rat Pack used to unwind here after a day at the racetrack in the 1950s, and this Golden Hill haunt hasn’t changed much since. Slip into a well-worn booth for a late-night dinner—the kitchen is one of the few in San Diego open until 1am. But there’s a twist: The menu, focused around steaks and slabs of garlic bread, is a cook-it-yourself situation. So put some Sinatra on the jukebox and belly up to the communal BBQ with a cold martini in hand and get those perfect grill marks in.

3 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Ligaya Malones |Candice Woo

Campfire, a stone's throw from the beach, is a Carlsbad staple for fire-cooked everything—right down to the charcoal-infused butter. The oysters, warmed in oxtail dashi broth over coals, and the citrus-zested cornbread with calabrian chili butter are a great primer for larger dishes like the grilled octopus with smoked celery root and chorizo.

3 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Ligaya Malones

RESERVE A TABLEUnderstory is a bar in the middle of the Sky Deck food hall where you can drink great cocktails and order dinner from surrounding restaurants right to your table. Soaring ceilings and underwater scenes make for a dramatic backdrop that's a little nicer than your usual food court. We love the VanDam's Vanga, a margarita-paloma hybrid with activated charcoal.

3 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Ligaya Malones

After cycling the 101 or downward dogging at one of the many yoga studios around Encinitas, head to Nectarine Grove to keep the wellness streak going. Their menu leans organic, gluten-free, and vegan, like an excellent (and filling) roasted sweet potato fajita bowl with chipotle cashew sauce or their falafel tacos with dairy-free tzatziki. It’s also the kind of place where you can get collagen in your latte and order smoothies with ingredients like goji berries and hemp seeds.

3 weeks ago | theinfatuation.com | Ligaya Malones

photo credit: Kimberly MotosRESERVE A TABLEWildland is an all-day cafe that does a little bit of everything. They bake their own bread and pastries, make really good coffee (try the silky chocolate-hazelnut latte), and serve great drinks. It's the perfect place for odd hours of the day when it feels too late for brunch or too early for dinner.