The San Diego County Fair at Del Mar is one of Southern California’s most beloved summer traditions. Funnel cake, live music, carnival rides, and enough entertainment to fill an entire day. But here’s something many fairgoers overlook: what happens before and after the gates open matters just as much as what’s inside them.
The Del Mar Plaza sits just steps from the fairgrounds, perched above the village with sweeping Pacific Ocean views and a lineup of restaurants that cover every meal of the day. Whether you’re looking to ease into a fair day with a proper brunch, recharge with a late lunch, or close out the evening with a sunset dinner and cocktails, the Plaza has you covered.
Brunch Before the Fair: Start the Day Right
Arriving at the fair on an empty stomach is a rookie mistake. Yes, there’s plenty of food inside, but fair food is a sport, not a meal. If you want to show up ready to actually enjoy yourself, grab a proper breakfast first.
The Cottage is the Plaza’s go-to morning spot, and it earns that reputation. Set on an open-air terrace with views of the Pacific, it’s the kind of place that makes you slow down before you even order. Pull up a seat, take in the ocean, and enjoy a full breakfast: eggs, fresh pastries, coffee done properly. It sets a relaxed, unhurried tone for the day ahead, which is exactly what you want before walking into the energy of the fair.
Late Lunch After the Fair: Decompress and Refuel
A few hours into fair day, the crowds peak, the sun gets serious, and even the most enthusiastic fairgoer starts to feel the heat. That’s the perfect time to slip out, head to the Plaza, and reset with a proper meal before deciding whether to go back for the evening events.
Tamarindo Del Mar is an ideal mid-afternoon stop. The menu brings bold Latin flavors and well-crafted cocktails to the Plaza’s open-air setting, with happy hour running from 3:00â5:00 PM, timing that lines up perfectly with a post-fair lunch break. Order something fresh, grab a margarita, and let the ocean breeze do the rest.
For something a little more laid-back, High Marea is one of the Plaza’s newest additions and already a local favorite. The menu puts a fresh spin on Mexican food, tacos, poke bowls, chicken wings, served counter-style, so there’s no fuss involved. Grab a beer or a glass of wine, pick a seat inside or out, and decompress at your own pace.
Both spots offer the kind of casual, no-pressure dining that fits naturally into a fair day.
Dinner and Sunset Views: End the Day in Style
Here’s where Del Mar Plaza really earns its reputation. As the fair winds down and the afternoon light turns golden, the Plaza becomes one of the best places in San Diego to close out a summer evening.
Monarch Ocean Pub is the anchor of any sunset plan. Set above the village with open-air seating and unobstructed Pacific views, it hosts a nightly sunset cheers that’s become something of a local ritual. Come for the atmosphere, stay for the cocktails and seafood. The Yellowfin Tuna Poke Board is a standout for sharing, exactly the kind of dish that makes an evening feel memorable. Happy hour runs 4:00â6:00 PM, with live music on select evenings adding to the energy.
For a more intimate dinner, Il Fornaio brings classic Italian cooking to an elevated setting, complete with a patio that captures the ocean light beautifully in the early evening. Happy hour runs from 3:00â6:00 PM, so arriving straight from the fair puts you right in the window. Handmade pasta, wood-fired dishes, a thoughtful wine list, it’s a proper sit-down dinner that feels like a reward after a full day out.
Enoteca Wine Bar offers a different pace entirely. Pull up a seat at the bar, order a glass of Italian red and a few appetizers, and settle into the kind of easy, unhurried evening that doesn’t require a reservation or a plan. The outdoor setting has a real Italian piazza feel: relaxed, convivial, and genuinely pleasant to linger in.
And if you want to end the night on a sweet note, An’s Hatmakers deserves its growing reputation as one of San Diego’s best gelato destinations. Known as the sommeliers of gelato, the shop offers flavors you won’t find anywhere else: Pandan Matcha, Brown Butter Chocolate Chip, Lavender. It’s the perfect final stop before heading home.
Plan Your Del Mar Fair Day Around the Plaza
The Del Mar Fair is a full day experience, and Del Mar Plaza gives that day a proper beginning and end. Brunch with an ocean view at Pacifica Breeze Cafe. A late lunch at Tamarindo or High Marea when the afternoon heat hits. Sunset cocktails at Monarch Ocean Pub, dinner at Il Fornaio, a glass of wine at Enoteca, and gelato from An’s Hatmakers to close it all out.
It’s an easy combination, geographically, logistically, and in every other way. The Plaza is right there, the parking is simple, and the restaurants are ready for exactly this kind of day. Visit delmarplaza.com to explore dining options, check current happy hour times, and plan your visit.
