The 2023 Major League Baseball season starts this week and that means that San Diegans will be flocking to downtown in droves to attend San Diego Padres games at Petco Park. Here we run down our favorite spots to grab a bite or a drink inside and around San Diego Padres Petco Park during the 2023 MLB season.
Petco Park, located in the heart of downtown San Diego, was recently named as the best MLB ballpark by USA Today. At Petco Park, ballpark food goes far beyond just hot-dogs and peanuts. Nowadays, it can be healthy, delicious and even upscale, especially in America's Finest City. San Diego Padres' Petco Park is filled with offerings from some of our city's best food and beverage purveyors, including Grand Ole BBQ, Hodad's, Gaglione Brothers, Board & Brew, Seaside Market and so many area breweries, so a visitor can get a taste of the area's most popular eateries and sample some of our city's finest craft beer and spirits just by exploring the concessions at the ballpark.
As far as food and drink, below we have outlined what there is and where you can get it inside and around Petco Park. Remember, Petco Park is an entirely cashless venue, so bring your credit or debit card. Our top picks for where to eat and drink are marked with an asterisk (*).
- .394 by AleSmith* - Toyota Terrace Section 217 - Full-service bar and restaurant by Alesmith Brewing honoring Tony Gwynn's legacy with a variety of food options including salads, mac & cheese, fried chicken and more.
- Alpine Beer Company Bar - Section 311 - Green Flash-owned Alpine Beer Company may not be entirely local anymore, but they still have some tasty beers, as well as new sausage sandwiches from Grand Ole BBQ.
- AleSmith Brewing* - 107, 211, 229, 305, 328 - Craft beer from a San Diego brewery.
- Barrio Dogg* - Section 204 - Delicious bacon wrapped hot dogs.
- Belle Glos Wine Market - Section 102 - an array of wines by the glass or bottle.
- Blue Water Seafood* - Section 219 - Fish sandwiches and tacos, as well as poke and sashimi.
- Board & Brew* - 107, 205 - Custom sandwiches and craft beer.
- Budweiser Grill - Sections 110, 113, 135 - Sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, snacks and crappy beer.
- Carnitas Snack Shack* - 128, 228 - A San Diego institution for porky deliciousness, get the famed Triple Threat pork sandwich.
- Craft Beers of San Diego* - 107 - San Diego is America's finest beer city and this spot rounds them all up.
- Cucina Stella - Section 104 - Neapolitan style pizza, garlic knots, and even a meatball sandwich.
- Cutwater Spirits Rum Bar - 103 - A bar dedicated to all things rum by a local distillery.
- Din Tai Fung - Section 104 - This global chain has a stand in Petco Park, but it only serves a very limited menu.
- Draft by Ballast Point - Section 105 - Get Ballast Point craft beers, as well as food items like Baja fish tacos and Hot Hen spicy chcien fries.
- Elote Mexican Street Corn - Section 100 - This cart serves Mexican corn either on the cob or off, including a variety topped with Pop Rocks.
- Gaglione Brothers* - Sections 124, 319 - San Diego cheesesteaks, garlic fries and a pepper bar.
- Grand Ole BBQ* - Gallagher Square - Fans can get a variety of authentic, Texas-style barbecue from this North Park-born smokehouse.
- Hodad's* - Sections 104, 131, 230, 300 - The famous Ocean Beach burger destination is available in the park. Get the bacon cheeseburger, fries, onion rings and pretty much anything else.
- Holy Paleta* - Section 104 - Delicious flavored ice pops perfect to cool off when things get hot.
- Kona Big Wave Patio - Section 227 - Kona Brewing will offer its lineup of Hawaii-inspired beers complimented by Pan-Asian cuisine like a short rib rice bowl with gangly sweet sauce and steamed rice.
- Lane Field Lemonade - Sections 104, 116, 119, 131, 211, 225, 300, 320, & Gallagher Square - Cotton candy, snow cones, Dippin' Dots, churros and, of course, lemonade.
- Mister Softee - Section 104, 115, 121 - Soft serve ice cream available in cones, helmets and floats.
- Negihama Sushi - Sections 104, 211 - A selection of grab-and-go sushi.
- Pizza Port* - Sections 123, 213, 311, 320 - Specialty pizza and craft beer from a local San Diego brewpub.
- Puesto* - Sections 119, 120 - San Diego's fancy Mexican food slings delicious tacos and burritos.
- Sambazon Acai - Section 107 - The acai company offers some healthy acai bowls, smoothies and even acai margaritas for those watching their diet while at the ball game.
- Seaside Market* - Section 105 - A market inside the ballpark! A great spot for salad, juice, flatbreads, a burgundy pepper tri-tip sandwich, snacks, canned beer & beverages, and hot and fresh comfort foods.
Being that Petco Park gives ticket holders in-and-out privileges (must have ticket and go through metal detector), and patrons can also bring in their own wrapped food items, here are some suggestions for places right around the park to grab a drink and a bite before, during or after the game:
- Social Tap - Nice bar/restaurant with a porch damn near in Petco's Park.
- Knotty Barrel and Brewing - Tasty grub and local beer.
- Chick'nCone - Get portable chicken and waffles, chicken sandwiches and more from this brand new, fast-casual eatery.
- Lolita's Mexican Food - Grab a burrito or some tacos from one of San Diego's most iconic taco shops.
- Basic - Connecticut-style pizza and beer.
- The Blind Burro - Upscale Mexican food in a casual and fun setting.
- The Deck at Moonshine Flats - Legit BBQ paired with lawn games and a full bar at this country-themed spot.
- Stone Brewing Tap Room - Stone Brewing Co. beer right next to the park with pizzas and more.
- Half Door Brewing Co. - Brewpub in a really cool repurposed Victorian home setting.
- Bub's at the Ballpark - Wild bar and eatery with tasty sandwiches and wings.
- Altitude Sky Lounge - Rooftop lounge atop the Marriott looking down into Petco.
- Water Grill - Upscale seafood spot with raw bar and high end eats.
- Pendry San Diego - This hip luxury hotel has numerous spots to grab a bite, including Lionfish, Provisional, Nason's Beer Hall, and its rooftop Pool House.
San Diego Padres 2023 season begins at Petco Park on Thursday, March 30, at 1:10pm against the Colorado Rockies. The last home game of the season is on Sunday, September 24, against the St. Louis Cardinals. There are a total of 79 home games scheduled to be played at Petco Park in 2023.
Petco Park is located at 100 Park Boulevard in downtown San Diego. For a comprehensive listing of Petco Park food and beverage offerings and to get tickets to games, visit padres.com.