TRAVELS: What's new in San Diego this Summer 2025

  

New Hotels and Renovations After more than six years, the Hotel Del Coronado is set to unveil its $550 million renovation this June. This project encompasses the historic Victorian building, its garden courtyard, and event spaces, as well as two new dining destinations: an all-day dining restaurant, Veranda, and Nobu del Coronado. The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina has unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion of its 81 meeting spaces. Encompassing 270,000 square feet of refreshed ballrooms, conference rooms, and pre-function areas, the newly transformed meeting spaces introduce a modern, dynamic atmosphere designed to inspire and engage, welcoming the next generation of professionals.  The La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club has welcomed Chef Ananda Bareño to lead the resort’s culinary program, which includes the Marine Room and The Shores Restaurant, as well as a new restaurant, market, and bar launching as a part of a $60 million resort-wide transformation. Attractions  LEGOLAND® California Resort is unveiling its new Driving Schools on May 21, offering kids the chance to learn the rules of the road on fresh tracks at both Driving School and Jr. Driving School. The new tracks are located in Fun Town and feature realistic road scenarios, intersections, roundabouts, and even a car wash equipped with interactive bubble triggers that activate as kids drive through. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego announced that their new exhibition, Living Seas, will officially open to the public May 22. Living Seas, which is the largest capital improvement to the aquarium since 1992, invites guests to explore the wonders of our ocean planet on an unforgettable, immersive journey to uncover the splendor of the Pacific.  On June 6, San Diego Natural History Museum will be offering new experiences for visitors in the Tom Demere Paleontology Center, a new state-of-the-art collections space and fossil processing lab. It will officially open to the public as a part of Amazement in the Basement, an exhibition featuring natural history specimens of all kinds. The exhibition will also showcase stories of medical discoveries and conservation projects that have their foundation in The Nat’s research collections. As a part of its hundred-year anniversary celebration, Belmont Park has debuted a new ride, Tiki Typhoon.  This new “round up” ride is one of several additions and updates being made to the park in the coming months, including a new children’s play area called Shipwreck Cove.     Festivals and Events Dockside Night Market, an open-air celebration of local chefs and sustainable seafood, returns on August 7.  Organized by Puffer Malarkey Collective in partnership with San Diego Fishermen's Working Group, the evening brings together San Diego’s best culinary talent and local seafood suppliers all set against the stunning backdrop of the historic fishing harbor. On June 28, Ingram Plaza at Liberty Station will transform into a wellness sanctuary for the second annual Anchored in Wellness Festival.  Experience a vendor marketplace, participate in wellness classes on two dedicated stages, and enjoy special features including ice baths, contest giveaways and a wine and beer garden. From May 16-18, Wonderfront Music and Arts Festival, a highly-anticipated 3-day music, culinary and arts festival will descend upon the waterfront of downtown San Diego all along the Embarcadero. The festival offers diverse attractions including yacht parties, water sports, art installations, after-parties, a craft beer village and plenty of local flavors. Savor the flavors of San Diego’s most beloved dining district as Taste of Little Italy returns for two unforgettable nights on June 17th and June 18th. Each evening presents a unique lineup of 20+ participating restaurants, ensuring guests can experience new flavors and fresh pairings on both nights. Arts and Culture The New Children’s Museum recently debuted Artopia, an 8,600 square foot expansion that provides more room for guests to think, play and create. The new exhibit includes gallery space, classrooms expanded art-making studio space and will offer art-making workshops, artist-led experiences, and opportunities for private event rentals, all of which will be for multi-generational audiences. A new mural in Downtown San Diego, Abalone Journey, honors the Chinese fishermen of the 1800s who played a key role in developing San Diego’s abalone fishing industry. Located on Third Street and J Street, this piece was brought to life by the Downtown San Diego Partnership and the Asian Business Association in collaboration with the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and talented local artists Janelle Louie and Thao Huynh French. The La Jolla Music Society has announced the lineup for its 39th annual SummerFest, taking place between July 25 and August 23. This chamber music festival brings the greatest classical musicians and more from around the world to The Conrad in La Jolla for four weeks of concerts. Centered on the theme of “Milestones,” SummerFest brings talents such as Alan Gilbert, Tessa Lark, and Yura Lee and chef and food writer J. Kenji López-Alt in a concert that pairs musical selections with specially prepared food courses. Restaurants and Bars Nearly two decades after its original build, San Diego’s iconic Starlite is reopen following a 14-month renovation by Bells + Whistles, in collaboration with CH Projects. In addition to the upgrades in the dining room, patio and bar, Starlite’s kitchen received a full teardown, expansion and rebuild. On the menu, Starlite loyalists will find many of their favorite classic dishes and cocktails, as well as some new additions.   The Hilton Gaslamp Quarter’s Wild Hare Bar Garden is now home to Le Petit Chef, an innovative 3D dining experience that merges gastronomy and entertainment. Created by Belgium’s Skullmapping Studios, the 58mm-tall chef uses cutting-edge projection technology to narrate a playful, immersive culinary journey, showcasing his virtual cooking skills directly on each guest’s plate. San Diego celebrity Chef Claudette Zepeda’s newest concept, Leu Leu, is officially open in Leucadia. Chef Zepeda, who was once a contestant on Top Chef and a judge on Netflix’s Iron Chef Mexico, has been in the San Diego culinary scene for 20 years, with stints at James Beard-nominated Bracero and El Jardin. Leu Leu’s menu is inspired by Zepeda’s Mexican-American heritage, with Mediterranean influences. Awards and Recognitions The historic La Valencia Hotel recently debuted on  50 Best Discovery, a highly-curated collection of city guides that is an extention of the annual 50 Best rankings of restaurants, bars, and hotels. The iconic La Jolla property, celebrating 100 years in 2026, was added to the platform after a vote by the expert Academy members, some of the world’s most foremost restaurant, bar and travel connoisseurs.   Cori Pastificio Trattoria in North Park recently received the Three Forks (Tre Forchette) distinction in the 2025 Top Italian Restaurants Guide by Gambero Rosso—Italy’s foremost authority on food, wine and hospitality. Cori was one of just 18 restaurants worldwide and five here in the United States to receive this coveted distinction. For a second year in a row, Chef Tara Monsod of Anime and Le Coq has been named a finalist for the James Beard Best Chef: California award. Monsod was also nominated in 2024 and named a finalist for the category.  Transportation Starting on May 8, San Diego will welcome more visitors from Amsterdam and surrounding areas thanks to a new direct route from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The flights from this European hub will begin at three days a week. Central American airline Copa Airlines has announced a new route from their hub in Panama City, Panama into San Diego. Starting June 25, Copa will offer flights four days a week in the summer and three days a week in the winter. This new route will bring travelers from all over South and Central America into San Diego. For a complete list of What’s New in San Diego, Summer 2025, click here.