Vistal Bar + Restaurant

While Ironside leans into warehouse grit and oyster bars, Vistal operates as Little Italy's dressed-up seafood answer—the place locals take parents visiting from out of town or book for anniversaries when a piazza table won't cut it. It's anchored inside the Intercontinental, which means you're trading cobblestone walkability for panoramic bay views and the kind of polished service that remembers your water glass exists.

The menu commits to San Diego-caught seafood exclusively, which isn't marketing spin—it's the actual sourcing model. That means spiny lobster gets tableside presentation, yellowtail crudo arrives layered with citrus and unexpected sweetness, and crispy halibut tacos show up as the kitchen's nod to casual alongside the linen-napkin offerings. The cocktail program skews craft and intentional, the kind where ingredients get listed like a recipe rather than dumped from a gun.

Practical notes: They auto-add 18% service to everything, including takeout, which some reviewers flag as irritating. The bar seating works for solo hotel guests grabbing a quick bite, but the real estate you want is outside—waterfront tables that let you watch the bay without fighting the indoor acoustics. Happy hour brings tuna tostadas at friendlier pricing, though the kitchen doesn't cut corners even then.

This isn't your neighborhood passeggiata spot—you're not wandering in off India Street for antipasto hour. But when you need Little Italy to deliver the celebration-grade seafood meal with actual views and a cinnamon roll pancake brunch that justifies the occasion, Vistal's the reservation you make. Just know you're paying for the Intercontinental address and that unobstructed waterfront angle, not for rustic charm or vintage family recipes.