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. 

Baby Grand, the second hotel by hospitality group CH Projects, is set to open on Coronado's Orange Avenue. The $17 million project will feature 31 rooms and three new restaurant concepts. The design will thematically reference the area's coastal setting paired with CH Projects' signature maximalism, striving to progress the social landscape of San Diego's distinctive neighborhoods and cultures. 

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. 

As part of its annual Nighttime Zoo, the San Diego Zoo will be open to visitors for extended summer hours starting May 23 until August 10. The Zoo will close two hours later than normal, at 8:00 PM, and have live music, special events, and more.    

Seaworld San Diego is gearing up for a busy summer of fun. Now through June 22, Seaworld is teaming up with The Pinkfong Company to celebrate 10 years of Baby Shark with character meet-and-greets and a live mini show. On weekends from May 2 through 18, Seaworld is hosting Viva La Musica, a festival celebrating Latin culture, with the new addition of the SoCal Taco Fest. The park has also announced the lineup for its 2025 Summer Spectacular Concert Series, running Saturday nights from June 21 through August 23 and featuring performances by artists such as Soulja Boy, Bow Wow, Fat Joe, Waka Flocka Flame, and more.  

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.  

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.   

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. 

Explore the beauty of the orchid during “World of Orchids” at San Diego Botanic Garden, on display from May 3 to June 1. The exhibition will be staged in the Garden's state-of-the-art, 8,000 square foot, glass-enclosed facility, and will feature impressive orchid specimens, locally bred hybrids, and rare species plants displayed in unique and unexpected ways. 

Opening May 23, the new Museum of Illusions is bringing a new immersive experience to the Gaslamp Quarter. Visitors will be able to discover a brilliant collection of perspective-changing rooms, enthralling installations, and spellbinding images. 

 

Festivals & Events 

Gator By The Bay returns to Spanish Landing Park May 8–11, bringing four days of Cajun food, live music, and dancing. Festivalgoers can enjoy Louisiana crawfish, gumbo, and jambalaya while catching performances by Ozomatli, Kimmi Bitter, James Intveld, and more. The weekend kicks off with a Western Swing Party and features a range of genres from blues to rock 'n' roll. 

Twenty-plus chefs and vendors are bringing bold flavors to the City Heights Street Food Fest, returning for its fifth year on Saturday, June 14. Guests will enjoy live entertainment, music, dancing, and an incredible selection of street food and local beers along University Avenue. City Heights Community Development Corporation, the neighborhood's nonprofit, invites families and foodies to savor authentic, multicultural and fusion flavors from around the world. 

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.  

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. 

On August 16, Downtown Chula Vista is hosting the city's 28th Annual Lemon Festival. The event will include food and drink options, two stages of live music, a lemon cook-off competition, arts and crafts vendors, and more.  

From May 10 through May 18, a group of AANHPI-owned restaurants and chefs across San Diego will come together for the inaugural AANHPI Eats Week, a city-wide culinary celebration in May held in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Participating restaurants will offer multi-course AANHPI-inspired menus or specials that highlight their unique culinary heritage and cultural roots - from Filipino comfort food and traditional Chinese kitchens to modern Vietnamese and island-inspired Hawaiian fare. 

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.  

 

Arts & Culture 

This summer, La Jolla Playhouse presents three productions. From May 17–June 15, Jaja's African Hair Braiding brings the energy of a Harlem hair salon to San Diego, direct from Broadway. From June 10–July 16, Indian Princesses makes its world premiere, following five girls of color and their white fathers navigating identity and connection in 2008. Another world premiere, The Heart, runs August 19–September 31. Set in San Diego, the musical explores loss and renewal after a young surfer's death gives a woman facing terminal illness a second chance. 

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. 

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. 

Making its U.S. debut, A Burial in Shanghai brings three larger-than-life canvases to the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) from April 17 through early 2026. Chinese-born painter Yan Pei-Ming (b. 1960) is noted for his commanding portraits and compositions that imbue conventional forms of representation with contemporary resonance. The project, which debuted at Paris's Musée d'Orsay in 2019, is being presented in the United States for the first time at MCASD. 

The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) is unveiling its newest exhibit, Impressionism Across the Atlantic, which will run May 31, 2025–April 5, 2026. The exhibit will shine a spotlight on over 40 Impressionist works from Europe and the U.S. This summer, SDMA will also become he only U.S. venue participating in the global centenary celebration of Eduardo Chillida—one of postwar Europe's most visionary sculptors. Opening August 2, Eduardo Chillida: Convergence marks the most expansive U.S. survey of his work in nearly 50 years 

The Granger Hotel has introduced the Open Art Studio by San Diego abstract artist Walter Redondo. This appointment-only gallery doubles as Redondo's working studio, offering guests a behind-the-scenes look at his paintings and debut sculptures before they appear in his Seaport Village gallery. As the hotel's first artist-in-residence, Redondo's studio will serve as a permanent, art-focused space for guests, collectors, and private events in an immersive, creative setting. 

The Comic-Con Museum is introducing two new exhibits this summer. “Sangre, Sudor, Myth: The Art, Culture, and Heritage of Mexican Lucha Libre” opens May 22 and is a collaboration with the Consulado General de México en San Diego that highlights the art behind the fan-favorite pro-wrestling form. Opening June 30, the globally beloved, Japanese-inspired lifestyle brand tokidoki  is brought to life with a one-of-a-kind exhibit featuring original art, never-before-seen collectibles, and more. 

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. 

 

Restaurants, Breweries & Bars 

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.  

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.  

Lana, a new restaurant from industry veterans Travis LeGrand and Mark Whedon, is set to open in along Solana Beach's Highway 101. Developed with chef Jason McLeod and designed by Workind Studio, the 5,000-square-foot space will feature a central bar, multiple dining areas, and a patio. Lana aims to offer coastal comfort and everyday luxury, reflecting the area's evolving culinary scene. 

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. 

Every two weeks, 24 Suns reinvents itself—just like the season. Inspired by the ancient 24 solar terms of Chinese tradition, their menu shifts in harmony with nature's micro-changes. This summer, expect bright, seasonal ingredients, innovative wine and tea pairings, and a dining experience that evolves with each visit. Recently renovated, 24 Suns offers dishes that feel both timeless and refreshingly new. Whether it's a chilled tea-steeped seafood dish, a vibrant vegetable-forward creation, or a fragrant summer dumpling, each plate is a moment of the season captured on a plate. 

 

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 this summer, travelers passing through Terminal 2 at San Diego International Airport (SAN) will have the opportunity to experience Mirror Mirror, a temporary exhibit of more than 100 works by 16 contemporary artists from the San Diego region, all exploring the interplay between light, color and space.  

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. 

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.  

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For more information on San Diego's offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website at www.sandiego.org.  

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