"Since opening in 1989, Pacifica Del Mar has been more than just a restaurant," the restaurant wrote on May 15, in a farewell post that The Coast News quoted when it reported the December closing. "While saying goodbye is incredibly difficult, we hope you will visit us one last time before we close our doors."
The restaurant has announced December as its closing month but has not named a final night. That leaves roughly eight weeks from the day this post publishes. Those weeks include the full Bing Crosby meet, Thanksgiving weekend racing, and the Sunday when the Village lights its tree a short walk from the Plaza. For most of 2026, the rest of Del Mar Plaza has been changing around Pacifica, one tenant at a time. This holiday season is the last stretch when the 1989 restaurant and the Plaza's newer tenants share the building.
The corner that opened with the building
Pacifica Del Mar opened in 1989 as one of the first businesses in the newly built Del Mar Plaza, at the corner of Camino Del Mar and 15th Street. Some dishes from opening day are still on the menu, including the sugar-spiced salmon. The restaurant also has an unusually long-tenured staff:
"We are especially proud of the dedicated team members who have spent decades with us, with many serving over 10 years and several over 30 years."
That line comes from the same statement, as published by The Coast News.
The restaurant is not closing by its own choice. Del Mar Plaza's representatives told The Coast News that they chose not to renew Pacifica's lease for the coming year. They said they had picked a new restaurant operator whose concept fits their long-term plans for the property, and that they would announce it "in the coming months."
A name came out before the Plaza announced one. On May 22, SanDiegoVille reported that Water Grill is set to take over the second-floor space. Water Grill belongs to Costa Mesa-based King's Seafood Company, which also runs King's Fish House. The same report said Water Grill had not announced plans or a timeline. Because Pacifica stays open through the end of 2026 and a large remodel is likely, it put the Del Mar opening in 2027 at the earliest. The Plaza has not confirmed that name publicly. For now, the nearest Water Grill is in the Gaslamp Quarter at 615 J Street.
That means the oceanview room at Camino Del Mar and 15th is likely to be under construction for much of 2027, with no announced reopening date.
The rest of the Plaza changed first
Pacifica's closing is the latest in a series of food-tenant changes at the Plaza. Brixton Capital, which owns and operates the Plaza, has been replacing tenants all year.
| Space at 1555 Camino Del Mar | What it was | What it is now | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market and restaurant space | Not identified in the reports | Valley Farm Market and High Marea | Grand opening January 10, 2026 |
| Mezzanine café, southwest corner | Pacifica Breeze Café, closed late April | La La Land Café, lease signed | Opening date not yet set |
| Suite 304 | Paris en Rose | Desserts By Clément | Open by June 29, 2026 |
| Second-floor oceanview restaurant | Pacifica Del Mar since 1989 | Water Grill, reported | Not before 2027, per SanDiegoVille |
Valley Farm Market and High Marea came first. The Coast News reported that this is the third Valley Farm Market location, run by Derek Marso, the third generation of the family business. The market stocks produce, premium meats and seafood, wine, sushi, sandwiches, prepared meals, and house-made products. Next door, High Marea serves Baja-style coastal dishes such as ceviche, seared ahi, and Sonoran ribeye. The Coast News listed market hours as 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and restaurant hours as 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Del Mar Plaza dates the grand opening to Saturday, January 10.
Desserts By Clément opened in Suite 304, the former Paris en Rose space. It sells French pastries, desserts, and coffee from chef Clément Le Déoré, and Del Mar Plaza announced it on June 29 as the brand's second San Diego location.
La La Land Café comes next. Pacifica's sister café, Pacifica Breeze, closed in late April, a couple of weeks before the main restaurant announced its own closing. According to Brixton Capital's August 7 announcement, La La Land will take that space at the mezzanine's southwest corner. It is the coffee-and-matcha chain's first San Diego café, with 1,168 square feet indoors plus seating and queuing space on the terrace deck. The chain has opened more than 30 locations since it was founded in 2019. Construction and opening dates had not been set at announcement.
Of the four spaces, Pacifica's is the only one still run by the tenant it had before this year. In December it joins the other three.
Eight weeks, one dining room
Pacifica's last weeks line up with racing at the track, holiday events at the Fairgrounds, and the Village's December celebration. The Coast News noted that the restaurant has long been a stop for Del Mar Racetrack visitors and for birthdays, anniversaries, and wedding receptions. Here is how the calendar lines up:
- Through October 31. Pumpkin Station runs in the Fairgrounds' East Parking Lot, with free admission and parking. Rides cost extra.
- November 6 to 29. The Bing Crosby Season brings live racing back to Del Mar Racetrack. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club says dates are subject to change.
- November 13. The Susan G. Komen 3-Day appears on the Del Mar Fairgrounds calendar.
- November 20 to 22. SnowJam, a preseason ski and snowboard sale, fills the Exhibit Hall.
- November 20 to December 15. Purdy Tree Farms runs its family Christmas tree lot in the Fairgrounds' Main Parking Lot, with flocking, fireproofing, and delivery.
- November 26 to 29. The FanDuel Racing Turf Festival closes the meet over Thanksgiving weekend.
- Sunday, December 6. The Del Mar Village Association's Winter Taste & Sip runs from 1 to 4 p.m. The association calls it the biggest event of its year downtown, with 15-plus tastes from local restaurants, 20-plus sips from regional wineries and breweries, Santa photos at Del Mar Plaza, and more than 2,000 guests. North Pole By The Sea runs across the Village from 1 to 5 p.m. The tree lighting follows at 5 p.m. at the Jim Watkins Amphitheater at L'Auberge Del Mar.
- December 11. Coastal Christmas opens at the Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. It includes a light trail, synthetic-ice skating, a holiday market, and optional igloos.
December 6 is the date that puts the Plaza at the center of things. Santa photos happen at Del Mar Plaza, and the tasting walk and tree lighting are within a few blocks. Pacifica has said only that it will close sometime in December, so even December 6 is not guaranteed to fall before the last night. Any visit planned later in the month carries the same risk, which makes New Year's Eve the riskiest choice of all.
The same year along Camino Del Mar
Del Mar Plaza is not the only place where a longtime room is changing hands. Farther along the street, Honor Bar has replaced Bully's at 1404 Camino Del Mar. The old building was demolished and rebuilt for the new restaurant. As the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on September 6, Honor Bar comes from Hillstone Restaurant Group and has a sunken patio, sushi, and shareable plates. The hours in that report differ from the ones on the restaurant's own page, so check the restaurant before you go.
On Via de la Valle, Market Restaurant and Sushi Lounge closed on September 21 for a remodel and plans to reopen in spring 2027. Market has been open in Del Mar for 20 years and has been recognized by the Michelin Guide. The Union-Tribune reported that owners Monica and Bernd Brust, who bought the restaurant from founder and chef Carl Schroeder in 2025, are planning new interiors, more dining space, and a new menu.
Bully's, Market, and Pacifica each hit a turning point in 2026. Bully's room has already reopened as Honor Bar. Market is closed for its remodel until spring. Pacifica is the only one still serving its regular menu this holiday season, and it is the only one with no reopening ahead.
After December
Once Pacifica closes, the Plaza's new tenant list is nearly complete, but two spaces will still be waiting. La La Land's mezzanine corner has no announced opening date. The corner Pacifica has held since 1989 goes to a reported successor that SanDiegoVille does not expect before 2027. Valley Farm Market, High Marea, and Desserts By Clément will carry the Plaza through the gap, and Market on Via de la Valle stays closed until spring.
The sugar-spiced salmon that has been on Pacifica's menu since opening day is available until the restaurant closes in December.
If you own a home near the Village, the businesses on your block are part of how the market values it. The new Plaza tenants, Honor Bar, and Market's planned reopening all count, and The Higgins Group follows those openings and closings up and down Camino Del Mar. To see how the changes around the Plaza fit into the value of your home, Request a Complimentary Home Valuation.
