The Tropic Cafe (1935-1946), San Diego’s first pre-tiki nightclub, was helmed by ‘Skipper’ John Ewing, and served its large transient military population.
Restaurants
28 Days of Classic San Diego Tiki
28 | Aloha Cafe, Tijuana The Aloha Cafe (1928-2011), Tijuana’s first pre-tiki bar, was located on Avenida Revolución (then known as Main Street by Americanos) for over eighty years. […]
Recipe: Chicken of the Gods from Bali Hai
Chicken of the Gods This is a classic entrée from Bali Hai’s midcentury Cantonese menu, and to this day is remembered fondly by many San Diegans. Bali Hai Restaurant is […]
Happy Independence Day from Classic San Diego
The travels and experiences of thousands while serving in the US Navy helped to inspire later Polynesian and Tiki crazes. Many of these servicemen came through San Diego at the […]
Aloha Cafe, Tijuana, 1948
The Aloha Cafe (1928-2011) Tijuana’s first pre-tiki bar, was sporadically located on Avenida Revolución (then known as Main Street by americanos) — for eighty years! It changed hands, was burned […]
Recipe: Victor’s Salad from Victor’s Tijuana
Victor’s Salad Recipe for the original Victor’s Salad, from Victor’s Sombrero, Tijuana. The recipe below is based on that published in a 1972 cookbook. It has been modernized and quantities […]
Marilyn Monroe at the Hotel Del
Whomever it was to catch the stars while eating breakfast, they certainly scored with this autographed menu from the Hotel del Coronado.
Happy 75th Anniversary, Marine Room!
This weekend 75 years ago, The Marine Room opened, and has been deliciously serving La Jolla and San Diego ever since. Congratulations!
Recipe: Grant Grill’s Drambuie Flambé
Recipe for Drambuie Flambé, as made by U.S. Grant Grill bartender Ralph Pipkin, San Diego, 1954.
San Diego’s Oldest Restaurants
Restaurants come and go, but some are more popular and stick around for decades. Here’s a quick list of San Diego’s oldest classic restaurants. Enjoy!