North ParkAward-winning Mabel’s Gone Fishing gives you Spanish gintoneria and wine bar vibes without the expensive trip to Barcelona. From the creators of Secret Sister and The Rose Wine Bar, the mostly gin-based cocktail menu usually carries a trio of gin and tonics, vermouth and sherry on draft, and a couple of beer selections, while a curated wine list draws exclusively from Spain, Portugal and California vineyards. Seafood dominates the menu with chilled oysters and raw appetizers, house smoked fish on sourdough, mussels escabeche, clam toast, and gambas al ajillo, plus a few entrees that change frequently depending on what’s fresh that day.

Start out during Oyster Hour, sitting elbow-to-elbow with strangers at the bar who are also going to town on half-priced bivalves and goblet-sized gin and tonics. You might just make some new pals who’ll want to move with you to a table to graze on tapas at this buzzing, just-loud-enough restaurant that feels like a party. And whether you’re with old friends or new, it’s worth convincing the whole group to throw in for the chef’s menu, a four-course shareable feast that could include a caviar-topped spanish tortilla or grilled octopus dressed with salsa macha.

Where: 3772 30th St., San Diego, CA 92104One of just 10 restaurants statewide to make their Bib Gourmand debuts in the 2023 Michelin California Guide, Mabel's (named for a beloved dog) styles itself as a "ginoteria" as well as a champion of Iberian-style seafood. The place has made a splash in its North Park neighborhood and beyond by virtue of its local seafood dishes (including such inventive specialties as Swordfish Schnitzel) and its gin-forward cocktail offerings. The Michelin representatives said: "A focused menu highlights excellent local seafood with a simple-yet-satisfying approach that blends Californian and Iberian cuisine, and the results are undeniably delicious.

Since opening 15 months ago, Mabel’s Gone Fishing in North Park has collected a Michelin Bib Gourmand award and was recently named one of the Esquire magazine’s 50 best new restaurants in America. I checked it out last March and was absolutely charmed by the friendly (though noisy) neighborhood restaurant with an eclectic Iberian-inspired menu and gin-based cocktails. My favorite dish was the house-smoked mackerel served on an olive-oil-sprinkled, thick-cut slice of house-baked sourdough bread.

Mabel’s Gone Fishing uses top-tier Californian seafood in their Iberian Peninsula small plates at one of North Park’s busiest restaurants. You could pair the Spanish gin and tonic with a platter of baja oysters and a side of chorizo and stop there, but you should keep going and get some grilled fish with thai basil and the mussels escabeche. Mabel’s works for a casual date night or a catch-up, and you’ll keep company with the neighborhood crowd and some mermaid sculpture friends at the bar.

If you're in search of an upscale night out with a neighborhood feel, this Spanish-inspired North Park spot is a great contender. The dining room at Mabel's Gone Fishing is playful yet upscale, complete with colorful tiles, bouquets of fresh flowers, and eye-catching ceramic dishware that you'll want to bring home with you. The seafood-forward menu of small plates is also perfect for a party of any size, whether you're splurging with a group of friends or tucking in solo.

Mabel’s Gone Fishing in North Park offers a Mediterranean-inspired escape with a focus on local seafood and natural wines. Brought to you by the same team behind The Rose Wine Bar, this wine bar and restaurant creates a fun, relaxed atmosphere with its nautical-themed décor and playful storytelling. The food menu rotates regularly based on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, featuring oysters, mackerel, and a variety of other seafood delights.

Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that deliver the most joy—like a bucket of oysters and a gin tonic from Mabel’s Gone Fishing. A salty and satisfying blend of California and Iberian seafood, this trendy bodega draws inspiration from traditional Spanish tapas bars. Oysters and kampachi are the perfect palate warmers before moving on to swordfish schnitzel served with salsa verde, creamy tonnato sauce, caper berries and fennel.

Mabel’s Gone Fishing is a gintoneria (a gin specialist, for the uninitiated) and natural wine bar in North Park. Focusing on Iberian coastal cuisine with San Diego and Baja seafood offerings like oysters, scallops, mussels and more, it was named one of EATER’s best new restaurants of 2022. Order the Spanish tortilla (before they sell out), clams & ham, and mackerel toast, and end with the best basque cheesecake in town.

In the heart of North Park, Mabel’s offers a seafood dining experience inspired by the culinary traditions of the Iberian Peninsula. Recognized with a Bib Gourmand designation, Mabel’s is celebrated for its quality and value, making it a favorite among San Diego restaurants. The menu features a variety of seafood dishes that highlight the rich flavors and techniques of Iberian cuisine.

On always-bustling 30th Street in North Park, Chelsea Coleman and Rae Gurne run the kind of neighborhood restaurant that pulls you into its gravitational orbit. An energetic crowd flows from streetside tables into the thronged, genially cramped dining room; the lighting flatters everyone with its drawn-butter glow. Solo diners will be happy at the bar.

When the Michelin guide gives a nod to a local restaurant you pay attention which is probably why it’s so hard to get a seat at this trendy small plate restaurant. Go for happy hour for oysters and wash them down with a Gin and Tonic. There’s no view here other than your gorgeous plate.

Want a dining experience that matches the caliber of Michelin star restaurants in San Diego but at a more affordable price?. Mabel’s Gone Fishing, with its Bib Gourmand rating, stood out as one of only nine California restaurants to earn this honor in 2023.

Mabel’s Gone Fishing was recently added to the 143 Bib Gourmand Restaurants of California list. It is a joint venture of Chelsea Coleman and Rae Gurne. This restaurant offers local seafood cuisine with a perfect blend of Californian and Iberian Cultures.

Bread and butter, oysters, clams, swordfish schnitzel, scallops, and mussels escabeche are all great for sharing bits and bites over conversation. The sharp wine list is also perfect for a social night out.