We set ourselves a simple challenge: one cocktail a day, five days in a row, each one from a different restaurant at the Plaza. No repeats. No planning ahead. Just showing up, sitting down, and ordering whatever caught our eye. And, if cocktails aren’t your thing, don’t worry. High Marea has a house-made tepache, which is a lightly fermented pineapple drink that’s refreshing and pairs perfectly with their tacos. The Cottage does shaken coffees served in martini glasses that genuinely feel like a cocktail experience, minus the alcohol.
Every spot at Del Mar Plaza has its own thing going on when it comes to drinks. Different menus, different vibes, different reasons to stay for a second round. This is how the week played out:
Monday — Tamarindo
The drink: Margarita Tamarindo
Tamarindo is always lively, especially when you grab a seat on the patio near one of the fire pit tables. The Margarita Tamarindo felt like the obvious first pick. It’s their signature for a reason. Tequila, fresh lime, and a tamarind twist that makes it sweet and tangy without tipping too far in either direction.
We paired it with the elote spears and some chips and guac, which honestly might be the best way to ease into a Monday evening. The cocktail menu here goes deep, with cold-pressed juice margaritas and a solid mezcal selection, so we’ll definitely be back to keep working through it. But as a starting point for the week? Perfect.
Tuesday — Monarch Ocean Pub
The drink: The Selleck
Tuesday called for something with a view. We grabbed a spot outside and ordered The Selleck, because when a cocktail is named after the guy on the giant mural staring back at you from across the bar, you don’t really have a choice.
It’s tropical without being too sweet with coconut rum, pineapple, lime, pandan and cream. Honestly, the perfect drink to pretend it isn’t just a Tuesday.
Wednesday — Pacifica Del Mar
The drink: Blackberry 75
Midweek deserved something a little more refined. Pacifica has been a staple at the Plaza for over 30 years, and although it’s closing its doors in just a few months we wanted to have one last hurrah. We went with the Blackberry 75, a riff on the French 75 with blackberry and bubbles.
If you come during happy hour, they run wine specials and discounted bites that make it easy to turn one drink into a whole evening. Don’t miss this one before the doors close!
Thursday — Shimbashi Izakaya
The drink: Shimbashi Mojito
This was the wildcard of the week and honestly one of the highlights. Shimbashi’s sake bar is the heart of the restaurant, and their drink menu pulls from Japanese ingredients in a way that makes every cocktail feel like a discovery. We went with the Shimbashi Mojito, which swaps in fresh shiso leaves and gives the whole drink a herbal, slightly minty quality that’s completely different from what you’d expect.
The sake selection here is worth exploring on its own. They have over 60 varieties that rotate with the seasons, and if you ask, the staff will walk you through pairings with whatever you’re eating. We added some hand rolls and the soft shell crab appetizer, and suddenly a casual Thursday drink turned into one of the best meals of the week.
Friday — Enoteca Del Fornaio
The drink: Aperol Spritz
We ended the week upstairs at Enoteca, Il Fornaio’s wine bar. If you haven’t been, picture an open air European-style wine bar with a marble counter, and panoramic ocean views from the terrace. Basically a mini trip to Italy.
We kept it classic with an Aperol Spritz, which felt like the right way to close out the challenge. Light, bubbly, and perfectly bitter. There’s something about sipping a spritz with a sunset view that just works. Il Fornaio’s craft cocktail menu goes much further if you’re in the mood, but sometimes the simplest choice is the best one.
The Takeaway
Five days, five cocktails, five completely different experiences, and we never left the Plaza! The next time you’re at Del Mar Plaza, sit down somewhere new, order something you haven’t tried before, and stay a little longer than you planned. That’s the whole idea.
