San Diego New Year's Eve

Destination 01

Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter

8 places

Victorian streets of bars and hotel rooftops by the bay; 2 nights for parties, dinner and Coronado.

• Photo: Rameez Raza Amanullah · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Gaslamp Quarter

  Sixteen blocks of Victorian-era buildings along Fifth Avenue, full of bars, clubs and restaurants.

  Tip Fifth Avenue is packed after 10 pm on New Year's Eve; book ahead even for bars.

  DoGaslamp Quarter$$3 hrAfter dark
• Photo: BrokenSphere · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

  Gaslamp hotel that throws one of the city's biggest New Year's Eve parties across several floors and its rooftop.

  Tip General admission is the cheapest ticket; VIP tables sell out first.

  DrinkGaslamp Quarter$$$4 hr9 pm – 2 am

• Altitude Sky Lounge

  Rooftop bar on top of the Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, looking down into Petco Park.

  Tip It sells tickets for New Year's Eve; dress for wind on the open deck.

  DrinkEast Village$$$2.5 hrFrom 8 pm

• C Level

  Seafood restaurant at the water's edge on Harbor Island, with a full view of the downtown skyline across the bay.

  Tip It serves a New Year's Eve dinner from 5 pm; ask for a patio table facing the towers.

  EatHarbor Island$$$2 hrSunset dinner
• Photo: Christian David · CC BY-SA 4.0

  USS Midway Museum

  Aircraft carrier turned museum on the Navy Pier, with about 30 restored aircraft on the flight deck.

  Tip Go on Dec 30; allow three hours and start on the flight deck before it gets busy.

  SeeEmbarcadero$$$3 hrMorning
• Photo: Krithika Saravanan · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Coronado Ferry Landing

  Shops and a small park at the Coronado ferry pier, facing the downtown skyline across the bay.

  Tip Take the ferry over at dusk on Dec 30 and walk the shoreline path toward Centennial Park.

  SeeCoronadoFree1.5 hrBlue hour

• SeaWorld San Diego

  Marine park on Mission Bay whose Christmas Celebration ends New Year's Eve with fireworks at about 9 pm.

  Tip The early show suits families; the fireworks are also visible from the Mission Bay shoreline.

  DoMission Bay$$$4 hrEvening
• Photo: Armandoartist · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Hotel del Coronado

  Red-turreted 1888 beach resort on Coronado, with an ice rink by the ocean in the holiday season.

  Tip Its New Year's Eve party is held at the Laundry, one of the resort's bars; buy tickets ahead.

  StayCoronado$$$$

Destination 02

La Jolla

7 places

Seaside village on sandstone cliffs; New Year's Day for breakfast, sea lions and a coastal walk.

• The Cottage

  Breakfast and brunch spot in a small cottage with a patio in the village, open for more than thirty years.

  Tip Open daily 7:30 am to 3 pm; there is usually a line by 9 on Jan 1.

  EatVillage of La Jolla$$60 minBreakfast

• La Jolla Cove

  Small sheltered beach below the cliffs, part of an underwater reserve, where sea lions sprawl on the rocks.

  Tip Watch the sea lions from the Coast Walk railing; do not approach them on the rocks.

  OutdoorsVillage of La JollaFree60 minMorning
• Photo: Matt Howard thematthoward · CC0

  Children's Pool

  A 1931 seawall beach now used by harbor seals, which haul out on the sand in large numbers in winter.

  Tip The beach is closed to people during pupping season from mid-December; view from the seawall.

  OutdoorsVillage of La JollaFree30 minMorning

• George's at the Cove

  Long-running restaurant above the Cove with three levels, including the open-air Ocean Terrace.

  Tip Ocean Terrace is the relaxed level; aim for a late lunch on Jan 1.

  EatVillage of La Jolla$$$1.5 hrLunch

• The Marine Room

  Dining room at the edge of La Jolla Shores where high-tide waves break against the windows.

  Tip It also serves a New Year's Eve dinner; check the tide table for a high-tide seating.

  EatLa Jolla Shores$$$$2 hrDinner
• Photo: RightCowLeftCoast · CC BY-SA 4.0

  La Jolla Shores

  A mile of flat, wide sand north of the village, the calmest beach in La Jolla for a walk or a swim.

  Tip Walk north toward Scripps Pier at low tide.

  OutdoorsLa Jolla ShoresFree60 minAfternoon
• Photo: Stch2022 · CC0

  Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

  Clifftop reserve protecting the rare Torrey pine, with short trails to ocean overlooks and the beach below.

  Tip The Guy Fleming Trail is an easy 1 km loop; the Beach Trail drops to the sand.

  OutdoorsTorrey Pines$2 hrLate afternoon