The Port of San Diego has been revitalizing Seaport Village for the past few years, adding new dining and retailers to the landmark that has stood along downtown’s Embarcadero since 1980. Here’s a taste of what’s new and what’s coming soon to the waterfront complex.
Tap into this: The new Mike Hess Tap House is now open at Seaport Village.
Photo via Mike Hess Brewing
Mike Hess Tap House, 809 W. Harbor Dr. Unit E4-A
Mike Hess already runs its biergarten in Seaport Village, and now the brewery has added this satellite taproom in the landmark’s Lighthouse District, right behind Spill the Beans. Find 24 handles of beer, plus sangrias, seltzers, spiked slushies, and non-alcoholic root beer brewed on-site.
Snag a spot on the 1,200-sqft sundeck to enjoy stunning views of San Diego Bay. Guests are welcome to bring their own food. It’s open daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Beachcity, 849 W. Harbor Dr.
This 2,000-sqft SoCal-inspired boutique recently opened in the Carousel District offering beach apparel from well-known surf brands. Shoppers will also find goodies from local company Vuori, as well as Patagonia, RVCA, Brixton, Vissla, and Katin. It’s open daily, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Crack Taco Shop is set to open at Seaport Village soon.
Photo via @cracktacoshopsd
Crack Taco Shop, 817 W. Harbor Dr., Ste. E
Set to debut in early August 2023 in the Lighthouse District, this quick-service eatery near Mike Hess Tap House will offer Mexican food, including the local specialty known as Cardiff Crack — burgundy pepper tri-tip steak used in the brand’s tacos and burritos since 1985.
Patrons will also find grab-and-go items, breakfast burritos, bowls, housemade churros, and the Ballpark Nachos piled with Cardiff Crack and made famous at Petco Park — available all the time, not just during baseball season. The new location will open daily, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Soon, this little spot will churn out that locally famous “Cardiff Crack.” | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
Louisiana Charlie’s, 859 W. Harbor Dr., W11-B
This New Orleans-inspired eatery hails from Long Beach. Now, it’s open in Seaport Village’s Carousel District, offering Southern-style dishes like barbecue, Cajun cuisine like jambalaya and gumbo, and seafood like oysters, crab legs, and jumbo shrimp. It’s open daily, 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Tuk Tuk Eatery, 879 W. Harbor Dr., Ste. B
This Asian-fusion eatery specializes in rice bowls topped with your choice of proteins (BBQ pork, Mongolian beef, orange chicken, marinated tofu, and more), plus bao buns and sticky soy wings. It’s open daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Inside The Tower by Mike Hess. | Photo via @mikehessbrewing
The Tower by Mike Hess, 879 W. Harbor Dr., Ste. W14-E
Mike Hess Brewing opened its biergarten at Seaport Village in 2021 and in June 2022, the location expanded upwards with the addition of The Tower — a second-floor deck overlooking San Diego Bay.
The 750-sqft rooftop area features three TVs, a bar top, 24 taps + a drink rail that wraps around the balcony. Oh, and there are tacos too, whipped up by Quiero Tacos. It’s open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and weekends, 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Eclectic Boutique, 809 W. Harbor Dr., Ste. 11
Over in the landmark’s Lighthouse District, this biz is a new iteration of Bubbles Boutique, a shop that was in the Gaslamp Quarter for 18 years. This boutique features fun fashion, handbags, accessories, and gifts. It’s open daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Ocean Avenue, 835 W. Harbor Dr., Ste. C4-CB
Located next door to the longtime Gepetto’s Toys, this coastal-themed shop offers home goods, beach apparel, Hawaiian jewelry, and locally-made gifts. It’s open daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
According to a rep for Seaport Village, the landmark is having a “post-COVID renaissance of sorts.” These restaurants are planned for the landmark, too:
Malibu Farm is moving into prime real estate at Seaport Village. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
Malibu Farm, 831 W. Harbor Dr.
Remember the landmark’s longtime restaurant, Harbor House? It shuttered a while back, but SoCal’s Malibu Farm has taken over the prime real estate in the heart of Seaport Village — and given it a multi-million dollar renovation that’ll turn the 14,000-sqft space into an indoor and outdoor eatery also featuring an ice cream shop and home goods store.
Fun Fact: The farm-to-table concept is helmed by celeb chef Helene Henderson and her husband, actor John Stockwell. We’d say this is the highest profile takeover at the landmark thus far. This is set to open in late September 2023.
Shorebird, 885 W. Harbor Dr.
This is another high-profile swap — Shorebird will take over the landmark’s Pier Café, the well-known blue structure that sits over the water. Set to open in December 2023, the new restaurant will focus on coastal cuisine, boasting an extensive raw bar and wood-fired dishes. We hear the wine menu, craft brews, and cocktails will flow, too.
Zytoun Gourmet Mediterranean, 849 W. Harbor Dr.
Set to open soon in the Carousel District, Zytoun specializes in Mediterranean + Greek cuisine, from hummus and falafels to tabouli, salads, and kabobs. This project comes from the restaurateur behind Clairemont’s popular Aladdin Café.
Gladstone’s, Carousel District
Founded in Malibu, California, in 1972, this historic SoCal eatery will replace the longstanding Edgewater Grill and will be the first-ever Gladstone’s in San Diego. According to the Port of San Diego, the 9,684-sqft restaurant will feature a wrap-around patio, and its menu will focus on classic seafood dishes. It’s set to open sometime in 2024.
Check out this full list + map of where to shop and eat right now at Seaport Village.
This sign marks the midpoint between the Carousel and Lighthouse districts at Seaport Village. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
The past and future of Seaport Village
Seaport Village has been a waterfront hub for shopping + dining (and a tourist mecca) for four decades. The Port of San Diego assumed ownership of the landmark in 2018, vowing to invest nearly $8 million to revitalize and diversify its offerings — thus, the attraction’s so-called restaurant renaissance.
As of August 2021, the Port said about $2.5 million had already been spent on “enhancing and elevating” the landmark, including fresh paint, new signage and the addition of “Urban Beach,” a bayfront seating area with Adirondack chairs + native plants.
An early-morning view of Urban Beach at Seaport Village — the chairs are out of frame. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday
At that time, the Port also said $1.2 million had been spent to help new tenants renovate their spaces and said it would commit another $4.1 million “towards future tenant improvements for new restaurant concepts that have not yet opened.”
Seaport Village has also been undergoing redevelopment as part of the Port of San Diego’s ongoing Central Embarcadero project, which includes 70 acres of land and water between downtown + the San Diego Bayfront.
In 2016, the Board of Port Commissioners selected the 1HWY1 development team to lead the ambitious effort and in March 2022, the redevelopment team presented its latest details on the $3.6 billion proposal that would include new parks, plazas, walking paths, public piers, an “urban beach,” and so much more.
