Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
The Prado at Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

The Prado at Balboa Park

Visa logo badge

Visa Dining Collection

4.6
4.6
8042 Reviews
$30 and under
Californian
1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego, CA 92101

Make a reservation

2 people
9:00 PM
Booked 80 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for outdoor dining
Located in San Diego's Balboa Park, in the Historic House of Hospitality, The Prado offers historic charm and California cuisine.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 11:30 am–8:00 pm Sun 11:30 am–7:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive chef
    John King
  • Catering
    Prado Catering<br />The Prado also offers full service catering at various museums and other locations within Balboa Park. Please contact our catering department for additional information.<br /><br />Experience our Award-Winning Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Menus<br />Professional Staff-Synchronized Service.<br />Full length table linens, gold chiavari chairs and porcelain china.
  • Private party facilities
    The Prado, located in the historic House of Hospitality in the center of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park is known for its world-class California cuisine, unparalleled ambiance and excellent service. From intimate gatherings to grand affairs, the Prado has it all to make your event unforgettable!
  • Private party contact
    Event Manager: (619) 557-9441
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Cross street
    6th Avenue
  • Parking details
    Free public parking lots available throughout Balboa Park.
  • Public transit
    Visit Balboa Park using the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), with easy access from the downtown and Mission Valley areas.Review the times for route Routes 120 (Fashion Valley), Route 7 (Smart Corner) and Rapid 215 are the main bus routes through Balboa Park
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Mother's Day Brunch

    $84.95 per person

    May 11, 2025 only
    Happy Mother's Day! Join us at the Prado at Balboa Park for our Mother's Day Brunch with bottomless mimosas. On this day we will only be serving a buffet from 10am-2:30 pm. Adults are $84.95. Children 12 & under $19.95. Under 6 years are complimentary.

Private dining

What 8,042 people are saying

The Prado at Balboa Park reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Prado at Balboa Park offers a charming dining experience with its "exceptional service" and "beautiful setting" in a historic location. Guests rave about the "delicious food," especially the Date Night menu, making it a popular choice for special occasions. The outdoor patio provides "breathtaking views," enhancing the overall ambiance.

8,042 Reviews
  1. NateH

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The perfect place to celebrate our anniversary! The people were all so kind and the effort and intentionality they put into a positive experience left us with nothing but good things to say about our time.

    Is this helpful?

  2. HereandThere VIP

    Seattle6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome experience. Sitting outdoors was lovely, and the service was pleasant and efficient (and attentive and inclusive with our kiddo!). A great spot to end the day after wandering Balboa, or a reason to go to Balboa. Between us, we tried the crab dip, chef’s steak, chicken caldo rojo, and the short ribs. Drinks were lovely and strong and the by the glass wine list was well rounded. Definitely would go back!

    Is this helpful?

  3. CarolS

    San Diego1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Prado has been one of my favorite San Diego restaurants for years. It still does not disappoint. The staff was welcoming, the outside table perfect and the food delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  4. OpenTable Diner VIP

    San Diego1 review

    3.0

    Dined on July 28, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The Prado menu is tired. It’s time to revamp it.

    Is this helpful?

  5. rblindsey

    Los Angeles18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 27, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Prado is perfect accompaniment to a world class Zoo and Balboa Park.

    Is this helpful?

  6. BonT

    San Diego9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 27, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I’ve been here several times. Not sure if I’ve ever left a review before but it’s always good dining at the Prado especially on the patio. Great ambience. Even though San Diego has been very hot this week, there was still a breeze on the patio. I am a local, and today I brought friends visiting from out of town. Two were from Canada and two were from Turkey.  Five in our party today. Three of us had the Cobb salad two were chicken and one was shrimp. They were very well-made in tasty would order again. One person ordered the Grilled chicken BLT it looked delicious and they enjoyed it very much. One person ordered the Prado Paella looked scrumptious and enjoyed it much.

    Is this helpful?

  7. BarbaraF

    London11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 27, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good is very good. Portions are very generous although a bit pricey. We sat on the terrace overlooking gardens. There was a cool breeze on a hot day. I recommend reserving a terrace seat. A thoroughly great experience. Highly recommended

    Is this helpful?

  8. BradyC VIP

    San Diego7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 27, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The staff at Prado is exceptional. Everyone is friendly and courteous, as well as professional. I got served very quickly, with a meal that was delicious. Extra cudo's to Valentina, who is a new receptionist, and Britney, who was my server last evening. She was on top of everything for all her tables, even though it was still quite warm on the patio, and all the work staff get to walk many steps to do their work.

    Is this helpful?

  9. GaryN

    San Diego7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 26, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food has been outstanding for the price during Date night Tuesday

    Is this helpful?

  10. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle1 review

    4.0

    Dined on July 26, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great setting. Outdoor seating was great this time of year. Had music from nearby venue in park. Slight wait foe main entrée but quality of food was worth it. Good wine selection as well.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Prado at Balboa Park is rated 4.6 stars by 8042 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Diego
  4. San Diego
  5. Downtown

Make a reservation

2 people
9:00 PM
Booked 80 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Prado at Balboa Park

1549 El Prado, Suite 12, San Diego, CA 92101

Additional information

  • Cross street
    6th Avenue
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Sat 11:30 am–8:00 pm Sun 11:30 am–7:30 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Free public parking lots available throughout Balboa Park.
  • Public transit
    Visit Balboa Park using the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), with easy access from the downtown and Mission Valley areas.Review the times for route Routes 120 (Fashion Valley), Route 7 (Smart Corner) and Rapid 215 are the main bus routes through Balboa Park
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    John King
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Prado Catering<br />The Prado also offers full service catering at various museums and other locations within Balboa Park. Please contact our catering department for additional information.<br /><br />Experience our Award-Winning Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner Menus<br />Professional Staff-Synchronized Service.<br />Full length table linens, gold chiavari chairs and porcelain china.
  • Private party facilities
    The Prado, located in the historic House of Hospitality in the center of San Diego’s famous Balboa Park is known for its world-class California cuisine, unparalleled ambiance and excellent service. From intimate gatherings to grand affairs, the Prado has it all to make your event unforgettable!
  • Private party contact
    Event Manager: (619) 557-9441
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant reservation software
  • Industry insights
  • Hospitality resources
  • Marketing resources
  • Operation resources
  • How to open a restaurant
  • For restaurants
  • For restaurant groups
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo