The 2024 Major League Baseball season is upon us, which means the Friar Faithful 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 and drink inside and around San Diego Padres Petco Park during the 2024 MLB season.
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, Puesto, Board & Brew, Seaside Market and so many area breweries. This means a visitor can get a taste of the city's most popular eateries and sample some of our finest craft beer and spirits just by exploring the concessions inside the ballpark.
The 2024 season marks the San Diego Padres 20th year at Petco Park. To celebrate, the team is unveiling a brand new, $20 million renovation of Gallagher Square. Also new this year is the Cutwater Agave Club at Petco Park, a new club and premium seating area debuting for the 2024 season. Sited on Petco Park's Terrace Level on the third baseline in the space formerly known as The Still, the multi-million dollar renovation will feature premium seating, private spaces, luxury finishes, privates restrooms, semi-inclusive food and beverage offerings, and a dedicated bar exclusively for club members.
This year's San Diego Padres schedule includes many giveaways, promotions and theme games, with five-player bobbleheads given away throughout the season. There are also frequent events like Party in the Park, KidsFest, Military Appreciations Sundays and First Responder Salutes. Like last year, there will be a house band performing a variety of music genres on the Sycuan Stage in Gallagher Square before Saturday home games.
New vendors this year include Buona Forchetta's Roman pizza concept and gelateria, Gelati & Peccati; An’s Athletic Field Services ice cream from the owners of An's Dry Cleaning in North Park and An's Hatmakers in Del Mar; Coronado-born Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine; WestBrew craft brewery from Vista; and Nova Easy Kombucha by Novo Brazil Brewing Co. in Chula Vista.
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 309 - Green Flash-owned Alpine Beer Company may not be entirely local anymore, but they still have some tasty beers, as well as sausage sandwiches from Grand Ole BBQ. This top level location also offers amazing views of Coronado.
- An’s Athletic Field Services - Section 104 - Get some locally-made ice cream in fun and interesting flavors.
- Aperol Spritz Cart - 117 - Get your Italian cocktail fix!
- Ballast Point - Gallagher Square - Get your Sculpin IPA and other favorites from one of San Diego's original craft breweries.
- Barrio Dogg* - Section 202 - Delicious bacon wrapped hot dogs.
- Bella Glos Wine Market - Section 104 - an array of wines by the glass or bottle.
- Blue Water Seafood* - Section 227 - Fish sandwiches and tacos, as well as poke and sashimi.
- Board & Brew* - Section 206 - Custom sandwiches and craft beer.
- Budweiser Ballpark Eats & Grill - Sections 110, 113, 115, 116, 135, 206, 227, 305, 310, 311, 315, 323, 326, 328, Western Metal Building - Sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, snacks and crappy beer.
- Budweiser Beer Loft - Western Metal Building - This is the spot to get your Bud beer and some ballpark eats.
- Carnitas Snack Shack* - Section 128, 228 - A San Diego institution for porky deliciousness, get the famed Triple Threat pork sandwich.
- Craft Beers of San Diego* - Sections 101, 209, 303, 328 - San Diego is America's finest beer city and this spot rounds them all up.
- Cravory Cookies - Section 104 - Get your sweet fix at this Point Loma-based cookie shop, which features a variety of unique flavors.
- Cutwater Spirits Agave Club - Section 222 - This new members-only bar & restaurant has taken the space last occupied by The Still. Non-club members will have the opportunity to enjoy the space and grab a beverage at a walk-up bar on the club's exterior.
- Cutwater Spirits Rum Bar - Section 102 - A bar dedicated to all things rum by a local distillery.
- Cutwater Bar - Section 128 - Get your canned cocktails.
- 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 101 - This cart serves Mexican corn either on the cob or off, including a variety topped with Pop Rocks.
- Elysian Cart - Section 101 - Get the most for your money by getting the very strong Space Dust IPA.
- Estrella Jalisco Michelada - Section 112, 119, - Mexican Micheladas (a spiced beer drink made with a tomato-based juice, lime juice, assorted sauces, spices, and chili peppers.
- Gaglione Brothers* - Sections 101, 124, 319 - San Diego cheesesteaks, garlic fries and a pepper bar.
- Gelati & Peccati - Section 104 inside Mercado - Get Roman style square pizza from San Diego's popular Buona Forchetta restaurant group.
- Grand Ole BBQ* - Gallagher Square, Section 113 - Fans can get a variety of authentic, Texas-style barbecue from this North Park-born smokehouse, including the famous choripan sandwich.
- 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 112 - Delicious flavored ice pops perfect to cool off when things get hot.
- Jack in the Box - Section 325 - Now you can get a Jumbo Jack inside the stadium, but those home run deals do not apply.
- Karl Strauss - Sections 112, 318 - The original San Diego craft brewery is serving up brews.
- 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 102, 113, 122, 125, 133, 208, 213, 225, 302, 309, 320, 323, Gallagher Square - Cotton candy, snow cones, Dippin' Dots, churros and, of course, lemonade.
- Mister Softee - Section 109, 133, 121 - Soft serve ice cream available in cones, helmets and floats.
- Negihama Sushi - Sections 104, 222 - A selection of grab-and-go sushi.
- Pizza Port* - Sections 213, 311, 320 - Specialty pizza and craft beer from a local San Diego brewpub.
- Puesto* - Sections 107, 117, 120 - San Diego's fancy Mexican food slings delicious tacos and burritos. We love the beef short rib taco.
- Randy Jones Grill - Section 101, 118, 323, 306 - Another spot for bacon-wrapped hot dogs and beers from a Padres great.
- Sambazon Acai - Section 109 - The acai company offers some healthy acai bowls, smoothies and even acai margaritas for those watching their diet while at the ball game.
- San Diego's Finest Hot Chicken - Section 316 - The hot chicken sandwich craze has made its way to Petco Park and here is where to get it.
- Seaside Market* - Gallagher Square, Section 105, 308, 311, 322, 327 - 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.
- Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine - Section 124 - Gyro wraps and bowls, as well as Greek salads.
- Tiki Bar - Section 202 - Get transported to the islands with this spot for frozen tiki cocktails.
- Topo Chico Margaritas - Gallagher Square, Sections 111, 124 - Delicious cocktails made with Topo Chico sparkling water.
- Wine Cart - Section 101 - You little wine-o, you!
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 inside Petco's Gallagher Square.
- Doggos Gus at The Lost Abbey - This bacon-wrapped hot dog eatery also serves delicious burgers and Micheladas.
- Casa Octavio - Get Mexican food and tequila at this local spot, and don't miss out on their name brand Maniball peanut butter tequila.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 2024 season already started in South Korea but the first home game at Petco Park takes place on Thursday, March 28, at 1:10pm against the San Francisco Giants. The last home game of the season is on Sunday, September 22, against the Chicago White Sox. There are a total of 80 home games scheduled to be played at Petco Park in 2024.
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.
