Best Food Halls in San Diego

The best food hall for a fast, good downtown meal.

The Little Italy Food Hall's six-stall format keeps quality high, and it opens directly onto the piazza, which is one of the best public spaces in the city. Portions are small for the price.

Local tip: Grab a table in Piazza della Famiglia rather than eating inside.

The best setting of any casual food-and-drink spot in the county.

Panama 66 isn't a traditional food hall, but its beer garden in the Museum of Art's sculpture court serves the same purpose with a far better view. Live jazz runs several nights a week.

Local tip: Sit in the sculpture garden — it's free to enter during restaurant hours.

Not a formal hall, but the best cluster of Asian food in the county.

Convoy's density means you can assemble a better meal by walking a block than most formal halls provide indoors. Parking lots are shared and prices are lower than downtown.

Local tip: Treat a block of Convoy as the hall and order across three or four places.

The best food hall in North County.

Windmill Food Hall converted a Carlsbad landmark into an eight-stall hall with a bar, outdoor seating, and easy parking. It's the best casual group dinner in North County.

Local tip: Free parking, which no downtown hall can match.

The best newer food hall downtown.

Fifth & Rose brought a modern hall format to the Gaslamp with a strong bar and a rotating vendor roster. Quality varies by stall but the average is high.

Local tip: The bar runs later than the food stalls — check closing times.

The most comfortable food hall for families.

Del Mar Highlands' renovated dining wing functions as a polished food hall with reliable operators, plenty of seating, and the county's easiest parking situation.

Local tip: Free garage parking and a large outdoor plaza make this the easiest stop with kids.

The best waterfront eating with a view, if not the best food.

Seaport Village's food is aimed at visitors and priced accordingly, but the bayfront setting is genuinely good and it's an easy stop between the USS Midway and the Gaslamp.

Local tip: Eat on the grass facing the bay rather than in the courtyards.