Before I get into the meat of this story, I must say that as a sunset chaser, I don’t think there is a better coastal restaurant for glorious sunsets and general views as VAGA at the Alila Marea Beach Resort. And if you’re a lover of trains as I am, you will have perfect views of those as well, both north and southbound.
Now back to our regularly scheduled feature. There are certain restaurants around North County that locals tend to mentally categorize as “special occasion” places. You know the drill — anniversary, birthday, visiting relatives you want to impress, etc.
VAGA Restaurant & Bar at Alila Marea, perched high above the ocean at the north end of Encinitas, has probably fallen into that category for a lot of locals. And that makes sense.
Walking into Alila Marea feels like you’ve briefly left North County and landed at some stylish coastal resort several time zones away. Then you get upstairs to VAGA, catch those sweeping ocean views toward Ponto and suddenly remember that you’re still right here in Encinitas. What VAGA appears to be saying these days is: We love the tourists, but locals, this place is yours too.
And they back up that message with a full week of events and specials designed to make VAGA less of a once-a-year destination and more of a place you can pop into after work, meet friends for a drink, listen to music, bring the dog or make a Sunday afternoon out of it.
That starts with Martini Monday, which may be my favorite concept simply because Mondays generally need all the help they can get.
From 5 to 7 p.m., VAGA pairs its burger with a signature martini for $25, with choices ranging from a Dirty Martini and Espresso Martini to its Vagatini. Parmesan truffle frites and bone marrow are available as add-ons. It’s served at the bar, no reservation required, which is exactly the kind of low-commitment scenario that can turn a resort restaurant into a local hangout.
Tuesday brings Trivia Night, covering pop culture, entertainment, current events and whatever other random information has been occupying valuable real estate in your brain. The current promotion includes $35 endless margaritas and 50% off light bites. It’s open to hotel guests and the local community. I will be popping into this one on occasion.
Then comes Tunes on the Tide on Wednesdays at The Perch at VAGA Bar.
This one feels particularly well suited for Encinitas. Live music, cocktails, an ocean sunset and no need to make an elaborate evening out of it. Current hours are 5 to 8 p.m., and community locals receive 15% preferred pricing. That last part caught my attention because there are few phrases more attractive to a longtime Encinitas resident than “locals pricing.”
Thursday is Yappy Hour, because if there is one thing we know about coastal North County, it’s that leaving your dog at home while you go out for a cocktail is simply unacceptable behavior.
Bring the pooch to The Perch and humans can enjoy $12 house margaritas while the canine contingent gets $10 puppy patties. Add the ocean breeze and sunset and you have what might be the most Encinitas happy hour imaginable.
The local outreach continues with the resort’s Locals After Dark on Friday and Spritz into Sunset on Sunday, two more experiences aimed at giving nearby residents reasons to come through the doors without needing a room key.
VAGA has always had one of the more spectacular restaurant settings in North County. The challenge with restaurants attached to luxury hotels is convincing people who live five or 10 minutes away that they belong there just as much as someone who flew in for the weekend.
A lineup like this helps break down that barrier. There’s also the food, of course.
VAGA describes its cooking as San Diego cuisine with “a touch of wanderlust,” built around shared plates, entrees, sides and desserts influenced by neighboring land and sea. The dining room offers floor-to-ceiling views while the patio puts you right into the coastal setting. The lounge and bar lean heavily into San Diego spirits, local microbrews, wine and seasonal cocktails.
Weekend brunch is another obvious entry point for locals, particularly when you have friends or family visiting and want to show off our stretch of coastline without embarking on a major expedition. VAGA currently serves weekend brunch Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs mimosas and Bellinis.
My advice is to hop on your bike if you can, or e-bike if you are of that persuasion. Or a ride-share which is still more convenient than driving although they do have a very efficient valet operation going.
I’ve always thought the best hotel restaurants eventually figure out that the surrounding community is just as important as the people occupying the rooms upstairs. Tourists come and go. Locals are the ones who can turn Martini Monday into a habit, build a trivia team, show up for Wednesday music or become that person whose dog recognizes The Perch before the valet stand.
And VAGA has a pretty enviable neighborhood to draw from — Encinitas, Leucadia, Cardiff, Carlsbad and the rest of coastal North County.
So maybe it’s time to remove VAGA from the “somewhere we should go someday” category and give it a try.
Check them out at 2100 N. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas, vagarestaurant.com or 760-452-3500.
