Vistal Bar + Restaurant

We celebrated our anniversary here and everything from start to finish was exceptional. The service was warm, attentive, and set the tone for the evening. We started with the yellowtail crudo, which was vibrant, zesty, and layered with a unique sweet-sour carrot sauce and pickled onions—easily one of the standout dishes of the night. The crab bisque was also very good, with a rich saffron broth and a fried crabcake that made it hearty and flavorful. For our main course, we shared the grilled yellowtail special, served over a creamy corn risotto with truffle, squash, and Shishito peppers. The fish was tender and perfectly cooked, and while the dish had a lot going on, every element came together beautifully. On the sides, the Brussels sprouts were crispy with a tangy, almost buffalo-style sauce, and the truffle fries were tasty though not quite worth the price compared to other options. My wife ordered the Island Oasis mocktail, a passionfruit and pineapple blend that was refreshing and easily a 10/10. To top off the night, the restaurant surprised us with a decadent chocolate ganache cake for our anniversary—rich, indulgent, and the perfect couple of bites to end the meal. Between the rooftop vibe, the great views, and the exceptional service, this was a dinner to remember, and we’re already looking forward to coming back.

I absolutely love the ambiance and service at Vistal! They have delicious curated cocktails that really are elevated! The food menu is awesome and I love that they only serve local seafood!! The spiny lobster experience and demo was something I’ve never seen before and it was so educational and their 4 course menu was out of this world! The views of the bay are beautiful at sunset too! Top notch and highly recommend!!

Amazing restaurant with waterfront dinning..with the view of the bay..in sunny San diego..very modern relaxing atmosphere..amazing sea food..we enjoyed the crispy halibut tacos, the wagyu cheeseburger..was very juicy..😋 cinnamon roll pancakes..fresh orange juice,with fruit...and the pink panther cocktails...highly recommend!!,food is delicious!! Thank you😊

Beautiful atmosphere with incredible views. The food is terrific and wow.. the size of the jumbo shrimp! Siyovush, our AMAZING bartender was so accommodating and hospitable! We enjoyed talking with him and were able to have him as our bartender in multiple occasions. Can’t wait to come back!

The atmosphere was wonderful. We had dinner by the fireplace on the terrace, and it was so relaxing to sip our drinks while enjoying the quiet night. We ordered the flatbread pizza and tacos — both were delicious.

Jerry made me an off the menu concoction that tasted amazing!! The bar staff has excellent customer service, they have a rooftop bar overlooking the bay. Beautiful place to enjoy a cocktail or have a date night.

Just came here this past weekend for a birthday brunch and it was wonderful! For starters, we were a group of 12 so there were a lot of us to attend to and Alejandro was so quick, efficient and friendly. We were also quite needy with constantly asking for photos or refills and he was very patient and attentive. This was for my mom's birthday and he was so kind in providing a beautiful birthday dessert and making her day extra special. The food and drinks were all amazing! We loved their Bird Across the Bay which is a rum based cocktail that was delicious and it comes in this fun parrot cup! Everyone in our group was super pleased with everything we ordered and with the service. And that view is spectacular! If you don't sit outside, be sure to check out the deck before leaving. Thank you Alejandro and Vistal for a fantastic experience!!

We love the Chicken BLT for breakfast and the shrimp cocktails in the evening. Great service and great vibe (appreciate how it’s not too crowded and open during Christmas)!

The Vistal Bar and Restaurant, in the Intercontinental Hotel, San Diego is a lovely place to relax and grab a lite bite. I had been looking for a location where I could have brunch (and chill) before catching the Amtrak Surfliner back to the SFV. As such, Vistal is within a short walking distance from the station and provides a nice finale to a San Diego visit. I ordered the Roasted Local Beets. This plate arrives beautifully and colorfully arranged containing two types of beets and grapefruit. In addition, around the main attraction is whipped stracciatella, pumpkin seed pesto, topped with petite water cress and pistachio dukkah. There was refreshment and freshness in every bite. The flavors blended well, while the additions were not overpowering. Instead, they enhanced the textures and taste of the dish. Service was slow but good. What was incorporable here was the blue soft denim table napkin. A unique touch to the end of your meal. There is more I wish to try from the menu. That will definitely happen because Vistal will be my last dining date, each time I am on my return train journey from San Diego to the SFV.

This place offers a very small menu and different from what's online. They have a completely new menu. Also the portions are super small. There is a nice view from the top with fire places and warmed up tables. The people sitting at the restaurant were rude and entitled. I left after I felt the negative energy of this place. I did not event want to bother trying the food.

Located on the third floor of the Intercontinental San Diego, Vistal Bar + Restaurant is the property's in-house dining establishment. The outdoor patio had an amazing view of the Embarcadero, including the highly popular USS Midway Museum. The bar occupied a lot of space inside the main dining area. There seemed to be more customers drinking than eating during my visit. I sat outside to enjoy the cool evening air and ordered a couple of items, the Twice Cooked Marble Potato and the Coriander Cider-Glazed Pork Cheeks. The first was a side of fingerling potatoes with garlic and chives that was served with an aioli dip. The second was a main dish comprised of three pieces of very tender pork accompanied with brussels sprouts, smoked apple, and creme fraiche. I couldn't believe how soft the meat was cooked. The taste resembled a slow braised beef instead of pork cheeks. I imagine the view during the daytime and sunset would be impressive as the westward facing perch overlooking N. Harbor Dr allowed plenty of natural light to flood the facility. The fire pits on the patio provided an additional nice touch to the night time ambiance. The waitresses for my table were polite and attentive. Overall, my dining experience at Vistal Bar + Restaurant was mostly positive.

It's a nice bar / restaurant. Great views , friendly staff . We went in on a Friday at around 3pm and it wasn't very many people there. We tried two drinks: Lime in a coconut $29 and sand dollar $27. Drinks are pricey but in the sand dollar they use Don Julio 70th Anniversary Cristalino Tequila. Drinks was good. We also had the Salsa Macha Guacamole which was NOT good. Had no flavor , no salt, they put peanuts on top of the guacamole and a spicy red chili sauce that was bitter. The chips that came with it tasted burnt, the entire appetizer ruined the taste of our drinks. Other than that is was

Came here as a 1st stop for my wife's 30th and the staff was so attentive and Gerry the manager there was so knowledgeable. Overall terrific hospitality. He Let us know all about their cocktail program and let me tell you, these drinks are legit. Try their take on the aviation and admire that glassware. Super cool to see how sustainability is emphasized here. Tuna Tatar was a highlight for us with snacks. And THAT VIEW. Was a bit on the chillier side (JUNE GLOOM IS REAL) but luckily they have plenty of heat lamps and a gas fire. Definitely recommend! Thanks again Gerry for a great experience!!

This restaurant was great - perfect views from all directions. The day was gloomy with a bit of wind. We sat outside with a chill but there were heat lamps. The service was excellent & food was filling and served with perfect portions. The best seating would be outside if you're looking to experience the amazing view of the marina- Definitely recommend!

Always saw this while walking the bay so decided to try it for brunch. All in all the food was a bit lackluster and due to them being understaffed the food took forever to come out. Alejandro was our server and he was fantastic. He was very apologetic. All in all would recommend this place for a drink and a view not for a meal that would blow your mind though. They validate parking for the hotel as well.

Service and ambience were incredible. Can view the water from the terrace and theirs plenty of space for lots of people. The entire staff was very friendly. The food was not my cup of tea. Lacked any flavor in the burger and guacamole. The taro tacos were ok but had no bite. The wings were ok if you drank with lots of beer. So much salt but good flavor at least. Who knows maybe the kitchen staff is all new.

This restaurant has a great view of the harbor and very good service. I had the squid ink fish tacos. Might be the best fish tacos I've had. The salsa on the side was delicious. It wood be great if they gave a few tortilla chips with it so you could eat more of the salsa. My wife had the crab toast. Very good toast and crab topping. The topping was very rich so it's difficult to eat a whole serving.

I've gone here a few times with my fiance already, we live down the street! Brunch can be a tad busy but always worth it. the view is sepctacular and you can enjoy it outside or inside. The service every time has been great and we have never left unsatisified. If you don't live nearby walking distance and you're not staying at the hotel, i recommend parking below the hotel! if you're grabbing brunch, get the chilaquiles lunch? fish tacos!

For the price point this place sucked. The views were nice but in my opinion the food and service were lacking. Let's start with the food, they used good ingredients, but the combinations weren't executed well. For example, putting caviar on smoked salmon completely masks the caviar flavor. And the octopus came with this burnt potato thing that not only liked flavor, but did not look appealing. Frankly, it looked like poop. As for the service, it was minimal at best from our assigned waitress Chemy. The support staff was, however fine. Let's just say we had to work to get her attention. In the end, she brings the bill without offering dessert. We had to ask if they had a dessert menu, which they did. Overall, the only thing that left a positive impression was the views.

Enter through the elevators and go up to the lobby and check in. Seamless process when not busy. I honestly have gotten food before and it wasn't great at all. Views are beautiful though! Service is quick and efficient and drinks are delicious and very strong. Perfect place to come just for cocktails and good views. You won't be disappointed with that. However, not the best place on busy nights out!

We decided to try this place last minute. To our surprise, the food was pretty decent. Ordered the raw seafood, halibut, pork chop & angelotti. The oysters were so sweet. The pork chop was the best dish.

Wow - so many cheers for Chemy! She took our food allergy seriously and was so helpful and not just about the food! Thank you for the suggestion of the Italian district. Food was wonderful and our corpse revivers were definitely reviving! I just love this place. I will make sure to come by on our next cruise. Every time has been perfection. Everyone is friendly. The view is spectacular. Ambiance is so relaxing. I only wish I lived closer. But I do cruise a lot so every cruise that includes San Diego you'll find me here! Thank you Vistal and Chemy for the beautiful lunch!

While staying at the intercontinental we enjoyed breakfast here daily. The eggs Benedict was amazing! Highly recommend, service was good prices were reasonable for being on the water in a resort in SD.

Good cappuccino wish they had flavored lattes and cappuccinos!! The views make up for it though. Jazz was an amazing sever!!

HOTEL BAR WITH VIEWS Hotel bar so expect hotel prices. The staff here are super amazing and kind. Views are lovely but annoying when it's mostly big cruise ships parked in the harbor. Nice little chill spot when in the area.

Amazing experience! Our reservation was changed due to a buy out, but the manager made sure to take care of us. The service was amazing and the food was spectacular. Also the views didn't hurt

Delicious food. I had the fresh catch (sea bass) and my husband had the pork chops (OMG!). Great view. Mia was a fantastic server. Lots of GF options - including dessert! - which was great for me! Atmosphere is warm and friendly. We sat out on the patio for Valentine's Day. They have heat lamps at every table and the manager offered to bring me a blanket. Excellent service. The only thing that fell a bit short was the signature cocktail list. We had three different ones and didn't really love any. BUT they have a beautiful full bar, so you could absolutely get whatever you want. Overall, 5 out of 5, would recommend.

Very accommodating staff, fresh guac and good food. I would say the potatoes could be better though.

We stopped here for a night cap before heading back to our room. The views were nice and the service was friendly. The only drawback was the noisy conventioneers at the bar having too good of time.

I had the unfortunate experience of dining at this restaurant, and I must say it was nothing short of a disaster. The service was abysmal, with waitress, Chemy, seemingly indifferent to our presence. To make matters worse, not only did I have to endure the dreadful service and tasteless food, but the wine selection was equally disappointing. I'm not an expert, but even I could tell that the wine they served was subpar. Asked to change it and the server's response is "oh wow". We then ordered oysters, didn't come with a little spoon for the horseradish or for the vinegar. The salad was a sad mix of limp lettuce, a dressing that tasted like it came from a bottle, and an abundance of poorly prepared radicchio that added a bitter, unpleasant taste. It's astonishing how they managed to ruin such a classic salad. Inedible and a complete waste of money. I almost forgot to mention the fries - they were a disaster too. They arrived at our table cold and drenched in an excessive amount of salt. I understand that some people like their fries salty, but this was beyond excessive. It felt like they were trying to cover up the fact that the fries were stale and had been sitting around for ages. Cold, salty, and stale - a trifecta of disappointment. This restaurant clearly has no idea how to prepare even the simplest of dishes. To top it all off, our waitress, Chemy, had a horrible attitude. She seemed annoyed by our presence from the moment we sat down and was incredibly rude throughout the meal. It was as if she resented having to do her job and serve customers. Her lack of professionalism and hospitality only added to the overall terrible experience. I wouldn't wish this restaurant's service on anyone.

We were nicely greeted by Clo. Marilu was kind enough to bring us water. And we Loved our service from Alejandro.

Located in the lobby of the hotel, it was very convenient. When staying at the intercontinental, you receive a credit for the restaurant that is part of your charges. Our first night was excellent. Our server was very attentive, the food was delicious, the atmosphere was fun and exciting. On Sunday night however, it was a different story. Our waitress was barely around and the food was not as good. We also had her for breakfast and it was the same thing. She was barely around, had to track her down for refills. Waited 10 mins for napkins. Had to ask twice for a glass of water. Neither times on Sunday were busy. The atmosphere was quieter, which was to be expected on a Sunday night. Overall, I would recommend. If going on a Sunday night, would just recommend ordering a salad or appetizer. The fries were cold and had to be sent back, the burger was dry and my companion was only able to eat about half. The breakfast was very good! Definitely recommend overall. 2/3 meals were excellent.

The plain food here lacks taste. I would say there is a wide range of good restaurants with better food and fair prices. During our two-day stay at the Intercontinental, I ordered a goat salad on the first day, which was fine. On the second day, I opted for the cheeseburger, which was rather plain. Both were takeout, not dine-in. The weird thing was on the first day, the bill didn't include a service fee, but on the second day, they charged me a 15% service fee. I'm so confused! What kind of service is included in a to-go order? There was no service at all.

Jaz gave awesome service , food was spot on great spot for a afternoon lunch and maybe a cocktail with bay views . Enjoy

Great view! Great Service! and Great Drinks! Yes go visit when you can.

This is the on site restaurant and bar at intercontinental San Diego. It's bay front so the views outside were amazing. We had couple drinks at the bar, the tequila old fashioned was good but Vesper martini was the worst! The bartender didn't have Lillet Blanc so he used something else. And it made the drink taste so nasty! He should've informed us that he was going to use a substitute ingredient! Yikes! We had breakfast buffet here in the morning. They had a la carte and buffet options. The buffet items were kinda bland and not really worth $40 per person. At least the mimosa with freshly squeezed OJ was yummy. The breakfast buffet at intercontinental dtla tasted much better and better value! Service was very friendly and fast enough. This place closed at 10pm on a Saturday, so it's not really convenient for hotel guests at all!

We stopped in for an early lunch on Sunday. We ordered the fish tacos and completely devoured them before I realized that I didn't take a photo. Delicious!!!

Please see prior reviews about the service here, the employees are miserable! Alex is the worst, most entitled bartender in san diego. He made what I asked for wrong and when I tried to correct it he told me to "go back to PB". I live across the street. Disgusting behavior. Don't go here!

Awesome signature cocktails, great views, skilled mixologists! Highly recommend going here! Service was excellent

Enter from the hotel elevator in the driveway opposite Broadway to the third floor. You are greeted by a host that will seat you. We were a little early for the sunset, seated at a table on the outside railing with a 180 view of the harbor. We were lucky to watch a sailaway after they blew their horns. This visit we had a couple of local draft beers each so fresh as if they were just tapped at the brewery along with a good sized charcuterie for the price with some other sides. As the sun went down they accommodated all the outside tables with their own personal heater as the breeze picked up, somehow our table was the only one that did not get one, we shouldn't have had to ask. The service seemed to get slower as the place got busier, we would have stayed longer for dinner but decided to go elsewhere.

Was staying at intercontinental hotel and decided to give the on-site restaurant a try and they did not disappoint! The drinks and dishes were amazing. Loveeed the poke and ceviche! Service was friendly and they turned on the heater for us. The balcony is dog friendly with amazing views of the harbor. Would recommend!!

Love coming to the hotel.. so many good restaurants! First time here to celebrate my best friends birthday.. we had an amazing time. Great food and service! I came for brunch and had cocktails. Great ambiance and decent pricing!

I wanted to give one star, but after talking with my husband, we decided on two stars due to the great ambience and view. We have come to Vistal bar twice on two separate occasions, and each time it's been subpar. We ordered a flat bread which tasted so bad I didn't eat it. It tasted like a frozen pizza from the grocery store. You have to get out of your seat just to get your server or bartender's attention. Oh, good luck trying to get your check. I had to physically get up and get someone's attention because I was never checked on. Do yourself a favor and skip this restaurant.

My mom and I stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel and decided to have lunch here on one of our days. Everything was delicious and the service was great. To top it off, the view was lovely!

I'm reviewing this place for their breakfast menu and I'm not impressed. The interior of this restaurant is pretty and inside the Intercontinental hotel. But the food for breakfast needs to be changed! The wait staff was only two servers and they were swapped with so many people in the morning. After we ordered we had to wait a while to get our food. And when it came out I seriously thought, this place can do a lot better. What I ordered: 1. House cured salmon & everything bagel- Tasted exactly like the salmon and bagel from Costco not worth the price of $15.00. 2. Avocado Toast- the avocado is not fresh and it tasted like the Costco avocado dips. The price was also $11.00. 3. Duck Confit Hash- The price was $16.00 and the eggs were cold. Overall the items on the menu are lacking fresh ingredients and tasty options. I only ate here once and wouldn't want to come back.

Vístal is a beautifully designed restaurant. Two of the highlights are the very large bar and some outside seating. Staff were pleasant but not overly coordinated. One minute three servers checked on you, the next not a server in sight. The food was decent but just that. Given all the restaurants in San Diego this would not be my go to, unless I was staying in the Intercon and was feeling very lazy.

tldr: amazing views outside and great service for mediocre breakfast - great potatoes though Stayed at the Intercontinental while in SD and ate breakfast at Vistal. Took them a while to greet me for breakfast even though it seemed pretty empty at 9 am on a Saturday. Opted to sit out side because the views were breathtaking - can see the entire harbor with views of the Disney cruise ship Was served orange juice + water while I ordered the 3 egg omelet with mushrooms, spinach, and smoked salmon (mistake on my part - do not get smoked salmon in your omelets) asked for a side of fruit to have something fresh but ultimately was not served it which was disappointing. 3 egg omelet came with the most amazing crispy potatoes I've ever had. It was like some of them were blown up in a way you had only crispy potato skins for some bites mixed with arugula which kept it fresh. Seasoned really well and mixed some purple potatoes in too which was nice. Bread with jam or butter was good. Omelet itself was not my favorite. The egg was rubbery and just unappetizing. My meal costed $35 which is kinda steep for what it is but it's a fancy hotel breakfast so makes sense. I would come for the views but not for the omelet.

Had a nice relaxing time here for a Friday morning breakfast, staff were very nice and welcoming I didn't catch their names but the host was blonde, and my server had a French accent I believe :) Huevos rancheros were very good, eggs were sunny side up, I do wish the salsa was a bit spicier but I was able to get extra chili oil which made it better! Would come to relax again

First kudo to the bus person Tristan. He was phenomenal!! The heat lamp was not working properly but he spent his time and switching out two other ones and find one that works. He also offer the other table if they would like to have their heat lamp turned one. How thoughtful and attentive to the guests need. He also kindly brought me some Tabasco sauce and offer to bring me some water. Solid 5 star serve there. Unfortunately the food was a great disappointment. I ordered the Tofu Scrambled consists sweet potatoes, kale, sage and the rimescola sauce with a side focaccia. I don't taste sage and it was bitter. I did taste turmeric, which was too heavy handed, which you can see the bright and deep color in the photos. The photos are not filtered at all. Too much turmeric makes food tastes a bit bitter. On top of that were the little bits size of burnt and charred sweet potatoes, every bite was bitter. Picked out the burnt sweet potatoes, and it was bland due to lacked of salt and pepper. The romesco sauce was tad spicy. I decided to speak up as no cook (cook not chef) should at least has pride on the quality they would allow for the food to leave the kitchen. I was shocked as this was allowed, and the bits were hidden in the scrambled tofu. Overall, the head chef who was in charge of the kitchen needs to be responsible. Hiding the burnt bits in the scrambled tofu is just wrong. I give it 2 stars because of Tristan (solid 5 star service) and the server talked to the general manager and didn't charge me for the meal. Overall, kitchen and the server are the first line of service to the guests, both need to be aware what quality they bring out to their guests. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone due to the business seems to have no pride on how the food was prepared. The great reviews here means nothing when the food was burnt and bland.

Stopped in for a drink before our reservations at Seneca. Love how spacious Vistal is with the most amazing views! We grabbed a spot at the bar on a Saturday night. They said that we could take the drinks outside or enjoy them at the bar. They had a big TV that we were also able to watch the game on. The bartenders were all extremely friendly. They let us try a wine before ordering it and I'm glad they did, because it was very unique and not what I was looking for. We ordered a different glass and they definitely didn't skimp on the pours. I would love to come back here again!

Excellent service and view. We only ordered some light food and it turned out better than expected.

This is the hotel bar and restaurant at the InterContinental hotel. To get there head in to the main entrance of the hotel and up to the lobby which is not on the ground floor. You can spot the bar on the rights as you exit from the elevators. I say all this, because it took me forever to find them. I walked all along the perimeter of the building, past Delfrisco's and the entrance to Seneca, past a bunch of unclaimed retail space and the convenience/liquor store... twice looking for signage before I went into the elevator to try and ask someone who worked at the hotel. This is where I had started as I had come from the Harbor & Sky restaurant/bar in Marriott's Residence Inn/ Springhill Suites that shares the driveway entrance with the Intercontinental. I was right across the drop off driveway and didn't see any signage for the restaurant. The other restaurant on-site at the Intercontinental have their own signage and street entrances, so I followed that precedent. Had I known it was the hotel bar, I wouldn't have circled. Especially with the time crunch as I was rushing to get in before the kitchen closed. As far as hotel bar-restaurant it starts out similar. Large bar surrounded by a couple tables for a lounge and more tables off to one side for the restaurant side. Nothing really to write home about regarding the decor. Wood bar very hotel feel, but what they also have that stands apart is their outside patio that offers very nice views of the San Diego Bay and some much needed fresh air. The view is a great perk for those who just like to enjoy the city and those who are visiting.

I feel bad giving them two stars because the service was amazing but this review is solely based on the food. The tuna poke was the only dish that was decent. Good flavor fish but chips were too greasy. Seafood pasta sauce was lacking flavor. Catch up the day sea bass was extremely overcooked and dry. The sauce was a weird flavor. The salmon was undercooked. We had to send back the sea bass and replace with the salmon but I wouldn't recommend either. Food is over priced and the quality is not there. Very kind servers and staff though!

Wow! The hotel definitely stepped up their game! Thank you for the excellent customer service! Alexis, and Cierra are two top notch waiter/waitresses! Their customer service was over the top! Definitely made us feel special! Alexis, recommendations were outstanding! Cierra, she even brought Stella a blanket to help keep her warm! The food was delicious!

Loved my experience at this restaurant! Great view of the San Diego coast with a chill, relaxed vibe. It wasn't packed and I could easily hear and talk. The food was incredible! I had the coconut ceviche, which was served in a coconut shell. Super creamy and delicious! I also had the scallop. There were only two but they were so good - the perfect serving size for me.

This is the spot to have some drinks+food and enjoy the beautiful views of San Diego. I've stopped by Vistal a couple times, and both times were a great experience. Service is very friendly and attentive. This was my first time trying chicken oysters, and we ended up ordering two, because they were so delicious! They look like chicken nuggets but they have a different oyster like texture - crispy and delicious salt and pepper flavor. Ahi tartare was fresh, the avocado was mixed in unlike the typical layered ones, but it was still good. The pepperoni flatbread was delicious, topped with fresh Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I wish it was a little crispier. Spring vegetable salad with salmon was very refreshing and they cooked the salmon perfectly. I look forward to trying their brunch next.

Service was fantastic! Really enjoyed my mai tai. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and fun to talk to. I popped in before going to a reservation upstairs and I was very impressed with the selection. Will for sure be back

This bar is located in the intercontinental San Diego and has an amazing view! We held a small event on the patio and they went above and beyond! I was so impressed. Pro tip: if you like spicy get the spicy margarita. It was soooo good!