NOBU SAN DIEGO 

Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply living the SoCal good life, chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s innovative Japanese fusion cooking at Nobu San Diego, in the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, is not to be missed. A daily dive into the Pacific Ocean yields the chef's fresh, supremely unctuous, live local uni (sea urchin), served in its own spiny shell with dollops of wasabi salsa. In summer, crispy soft-shell crab gets a sweet treatment with shiso-pickled watermelon. Wow! 207 Fifth Ave., Downtown San Diego, 619.814.4124

THE GRASS SKIRT 

A speak-easy tiki lounge, The Grass Skirt is your passport to paradise, tucked away inside Good Time Poke. Beverage Director Steven Tuttle creates an array of tropical concoctions and classic beverages. As a special bonus, he stocks some of the rarest rums in SoCal behind the bar. As for eats, executive chef Brian Redzikowski whips up equally creative dishes, including bigeye tuna cones that often arrive in a treasure chest. 910 Grand Ave., Pacific Beach, 858.412.5237

BEST OF SAN DIEGO: FOOD & NIGHTLIFE

MILLE FLEURS 

Gracious service and elegant French fare with California flair are on offer at grande dame Mille Fleurs, a mainstay of fine dining in Rancho Santa Fe for more than 30 years. Adhering to the "elevated business casual" dress code, diners savor extravagances such as seared foie gras on sauteed white peach, cognac-flambéed shallots and fried sage; pasta with white truffles; and Tsar Nicoulai Caviar (American white sturgeon roe and creme fraiche, served with a buckwheat blini). 6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe, 858.756.3085

By Modern Luxury San Diego

Photo by Alen Lin