San Diego might not come to mind when you think of potential foodie towns to visit, but this is your sign to add it to your list.
PHOTO COURTESY KIMPTON ALMA SAN DIEGO
Located in the East Village downtown, The Kimpton Alma wants to be your next designation of choice. The hotel is a stone’s throw from the brimming nightlife district of Gaslamp Quarter and sits about a mile away from the pier with stunning ocean views that you can enjoy from the comfort of your hotel room.
PHOTO COURTESY KIMPTON ALMA SAN DIEGO
This May, the Kimpton Alma launched their spring menu for their in-house, fine dining experience at The Desmond. Acclaimed chef/restaurateur Jason Neroni is the head chef in 1960s styled establishment and graced us with a seven-course meal, each one paired with a cocktail. You know the meal is about to be delicious when you can’t stop eating the bread before the first course even comes out, which was a mouthwatering laffa pita dusted in za’atar alongside an English pea green thai curry hummus, wasabi peas, tendrils, and olio verde to dip into. I could’ve eaten an entire plate of just that. Burrata was paired with a bright and refreshing Fresca Sonora, a tender BBQ octopus paired beautifully with the hotel’s personal brand of mezcal La Luna, and the squash blossoms stuffed with crab had my mouth watering long after I had my last bite.
PHOTO COURTESY KIMPTON ALMA SAN DIEGO
And the street-level French-inspired eatery, The Café, is anything but your ordinary hotel food. The arugula salad with prosciutto and burrata is perfectly balanced and tart, and the breakfast sandwich on a sesame seed bun and Neuske’s bacon hit the spot perfectly. Pro-tip: ask for the egg over easy.
I only had time to try a few spots around the city, but I struggle to pick a favorite as every single one blew me away. The Fish Market is a seafood lover's dream, the OB Noodle House in Ocean Beach serves peanut butter whiskey alongside delicious Vietnamese soups and sandwiches, The Taco Stand is a local favorite, and prepare your besties and your liver for a boozy brunch at Breakfast Republic.
PHOTO COURTESY KIMPTON ALMA SAN DIEGO
If you’re looking for Mexican food, explore the Barrio Logan neighborhood. I stopped by Las Cuatro Milpas and you can smell the goodness from down the street. The line is usually long at this woman-owned establishment, but this day was a lucky one. Some sweet abuelitas were making tortillas and tamales in the back while the one upfront offered tacos and taquitos, pork and chicken, burritos and chorizo. Do yourself a favor and get one of everything, and throw on a side of rice and take home a dozen tortillas while you’re at it. Be sure to take a stroll through the Chicano Park while you’re in the area. It boasts the largest concentration of Chicano murals in the world, and the area is bursting with color and culture. Stop by the Chicano Museum and Cultural Center for a local history lesson on how activists fought to preserve their land and heritage.
PHOTO COURTESY KIMPTON ALMA SAN DIEGO
During my stay at the Kimpton, the hotel hosted an Off The Record concert series on the newly opened Leave of Absence rooftop with the pop rock band The Aces. The vibes were breezy as the sun set behind the quartet during their set. Three of the four girls are queer, and proceeds from this particular show’s ticket sales were donated to several organizations doing good around the country, including The Trevor Project, a nonprofit aiding in suicide prevention efforts amongst LGBTQ+ youth.
And be sure to take home a bottle of La Luna Mezcal on your way out the door!
