Dining at the hotel: Vistal, Garibaldi, Seneca Trattoria, Layover and more
InterContinental San Diego offers several on-site dining options: Vistal Bar + Restaurant for coastal Southern California breakfasts and all-day meals, Garibaldi and Seneca Trattoria for Italian- and Mediterranean-inspired dinner options, and Layover as the poolside rooftop bar. You’ll also find Mastro's Ocean Club, Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, and an on-site Starbucks for coffee and grab-and-go items.
In this guide
Vistal Bar + Restaurant — signature all-day dining
What it is: Vistal Bar + Restaurant is the InterContinental’s signature restaurant on the third floor with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking San Diego Bay. The menu follows a coastal Southern California approach with Baja and Mediterranean influences.
When to go: Vistal serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily; breakfast service includes a cooked-to-order breakfast option. Check with the concierge for current hours.
Service notes: Vistal is suitable for families and casual business meals. The restaurant offers craft cocktails and seafood-forward plates under Executive Chef Franck Tasic (per property materials).
- Location: 3rd floor, bay-facing seating
- Serves: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (hours vary — ask concierge)
- Style: Coastal Southern California with seafood focus
| Offer | Best for |
|---|---|
| Cooked-to-order breakfast | Early starts, families |
| Lunch service | Quick meetings or waterfront views |
| Dinner and cocktails | Evening dining with bay views |
Garibaldi — rooftop Mediterranean seafood
What it is: Garibaldi is the hotel’s rooftop Italian/Mediterranean seafood restaurant and bar with a mix of indoor and al fresco seating and wood-fired items. The concept highlights Southern Italian and Sardinian-inspired dishes, housemade pastas and local seafood.
When to go: Garibaldi operates primarily for dinner with specific nightly hours (Thursday–Sunday per published listings) and offers a Sunday brunch; reservations are recommended for rail or terrace seating through OpenTable or the concierge.
Booking and atmosphere: The restaurant is described in some listings as having a speakeasy-style ambiance; the hotel concierge can confirm current hours, menu and any special access details.
- Typical hours (subject to change): Thu–Fri evening, Sat evening (brunch Sat morning per some listings), Sun evening/brunch
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired seafood, wood-fired dishes, handmade pastas
- Reservation tip: Book rail/terrace seats in advance for views
| Feature | Note |
|---|---|
| Location | Rooftop / third-floor terrace |
| Style | Southern Italian / Sardinian influences |
| Reservations | OpenTable or concierge |
Seneca Trattoria — 19th-floor Italian with panoramic views
What it is: Seneca Trattoria sits on Level 19 and focuses on Roman-inspired Italian dishes, wood-fired pizzas and panoramic bay and downtown waterfront views.
Hours and dress code: Published hours list Seneca open daily for lunch and dinner with later closing on Friday–Saturday; the restaurant maintains a smart casual dress code. Reservations are recommended, and walk-ins may be accepted at the rooftop bar.
Private dining: Seneca includes a private dining room and interior features such as a central banquette; contact the concierge for private-event options or menu details.
- Location: Level 19 (19th floor) — panoramic bay views
- Hours (published): 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Sun–Thu; Fri–Sat until 11:00 p.m. (confirm current hours)
- Cuisine: Roman-inspired plates, Wagyu bolognese, wood-fired pizzas
| Good to know | Practical tip |
|---|---|
| Panoramic views | Choose window or terrace seating for bay vistas |
| Smart casual dress | Plan attire accordingly for dinner |
| Reservations | Recommended via OpenTable or concierge |
Layover — rooftop poolside bar and lounge
What it is: Layover is the fourth-floor rooftop bar and lounge located beside the heated rooftop pool. It serves cocktails, light bites and offers firepit seating and reservable cabanas.
Hours and pool access: Published pool and Layover hours run roughly 8:00 AM–8:00 PM, but hours can vary by season; poolside food service is available during operating hours and Vistal provides takeout outside those times.
Atmosphere and suitability: Layover is designed for relaxed afternoons and evenings, with bay and runway/naval station views for plane-spotting. No reservations are typically required for the bar, though cabanas may be reservable.
- Location: 4th-floor rooftop next to heated pool
- Serves: Cocktails & light bites; poolside service during posted hours
- Pool features: Lounge chairs, fire pits, free cabanas (reservable)
| Amenity | Notes |
|---|---|
| Poolside bar service | Food and drinks while pool is open |
| Cabanas | Free cabanas available — ask pool staff |
| Family use | Pool and Layover welcome all ages |
Steakhouse options and quick coffee
What it is: In addition to hotel-operated restaurants, InterContinental San Diego houses two well-known steakhouses on property: Mastro's Ocean Club and Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, both focused on steak and seafood dinner service.
Coffee and grab-and-go: The property includes an on-site Starbucks for espresso drinks, coffee and quick snacks — useful for early departures, pre-cruise plans or quick caffeine runs.
When to use each: Use the steakhouses for formal or celebratory evening meals; use Starbucks for fast takeaway, casual breakfasts or when you need a familiar coffee chain.
- Mastro's Ocean Club: Steakhouse and seafood (hours vary — ask concierge)
- Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse: Classic steakhouse with extensive wine list (hours vary)
- Starbucks: Convenient for coffee and quick bites (hours vary)
| Venue | Best for |
|---|---|
| Mastro's | Refined steak/seafood dinners |
| Del Frisco's | Classic steakhouse dining and wine |
| Starbucks | Coffee, quick breakfast, takeout |
Practical tips for hotel dining and special requests
Reservations: For rooftop or window seating at Garibaldi and Seneca Trattoria, book ahead via OpenTable or ask the concierge to reserve specific seating. Vistal accepts guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner but hours can vary so confirm on arrival.
Dietary needs & family dining: The hotel's restaurants list vegetarian options and are family-friendly; staff can help with dietary requests but specific menu items and allergy accommodations should be confirmed with each venue.
Event dining: Vistal and Garibaldi offer private and semi-private dining options; the hotel also provides extensive meeting and ballroom catering for events of many sizes — contact the events team for menus and pricing.
- Ask concierge for current hours and reservations
- Confirm menu items for allergies or strict diets directly with the restaurant
- Private dining and banquet catering available through hotel events team
| Question | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Make a restaurant reservation | Hotel concierge or OpenTable |
| Book private dining or event catering | Hotel events / catering team |
| Check pool/bar hours | Front desk or concierge |
