Ikaria is the latest concept from Jewel Hospitality Group, the operators behind Puesto Modern Mexican and Marisi Italiano, both of which have become anchors of San Diego’s upscale dining scene. The new restaurant is rising in a prominent location near Torrey Pines Golf Course and the Alexandria Tech Center, directly across from The Lodge at Torrey Pines, in an area that has seen increasing interest from both hospitality and biotech-driven development.
According to early details, Ikaria will be a large-scale, 250-seat restaurant housed in a newly constructed two-story building with a striking architectural profile. The project is being designed by the internationally recognized Rockwell Group, signaling that the restaurant will place as much emphasis on design and atmosphere as it does on food and drink. Beyond traditional dining, Ikaria is also planned as a culinary education hub, with programming expected to include wine and cooking classes, fermentation workshops, and other food-focused experiences.
The concept draws its name from the Greek island of Ikaria, long associated with longevity and wellness as one of the world’s so-called “Blue Zones.” While the group has not released a full menu, the restaurant’s website describes the vision as “seasonal, coastal dining inspired by the Eastern Mediterranean and perfected in La Jolla,” positioning Ikaria as a lifestyle-driven restaurant that blends cuisine, education, and wellness-minded hospitality.
Beverages will play a central role in the project, with the bar and wine program led by Beau du Bois, a familiar name within San Diego’s dining and cocktail scene. The scale of the space and its proximity to Torrey Pines suggest Ikaria is being designed to serve both destination diners and business clientele from the surrounding offices and resorts.
Ikaria marks the hospitality group’s first dedicated foray into Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, expanding beyond the modern Mexican and Italian concepts that helped establish its reputation. The company launched Puesto in La Jolla in 2012 and has since expanded the brand across San Diego and California, while Marisi has earned praise for its handmade pastas and immersive interiors. The group also previously operated Roma Norte, a cocktail-focused concept that received a James Beard Award nomination but closed this past September.
Construction at the Alexandria Way site has already drawn attention for its distinctive silhouette and scale, and the project appears poised to become one of the most high-profile restaurant openings in La Jolla in recent years. With its combination of ambitious design, educational programming, and a wellness-adjacent culinary theme, Ikaria reflects a broader shift toward experiential, globally inspired dining concepts in San Diego’s coastal neighborhoods.
In addition to Ikaria, the group continues to expand its San Diego footprint with another major project underway in Sorrento Valley, where Puesto is preparing to open a new location on Barnes Canyon Road. The forthcoming outpost will mark the company’s fourth San Diego restaurant and will be situated within a newly developed commercial project in the heart of the area’s fast-growing biotech corridor. The move underscores the group’s continued focus on design-forward, high-traffic business districts, while complementing other in-progress expansions, including a Puesto location inside the redeveloped Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport, positioning the company for significant growth across both neighborhood and travel-driven dining markets in 2026.
Ikaria is currently targeting a summer 2026 opening at 10960 Alexandria Way in San Diego's La Jolla. For more information, visit ikarialajolla.com.
Originally published on December 30, 2025.
According to early details, Ikaria will be a large-scale, 250-seat restaurant housed in a newly constructed two-story building with a striking architectural profile. The project is being designed by the internationally recognized Rockwell Group, signaling that the restaurant will place as much emphasis on design and atmosphere as it does on food and drink. Beyond traditional dining, Ikaria is also planned as a culinary education hub, with programming expected to include wine and cooking classes, fermentation workshops, and other food-focused experiences.
The concept draws its name from the Greek island of Ikaria, long associated with longevity and wellness as one of the world’s so-called “Blue Zones.” While the group has not released a full menu, the restaurant’s website describes the vision as “seasonal, coastal dining inspired by the Eastern Mediterranean and perfected in La Jolla,” positioning Ikaria as a lifestyle-driven restaurant that blends cuisine, education, and wellness-minded hospitality.
Beverages will play a central role in the project, with the bar and wine program led by Beau du Bois, a familiar name within San Diego’s dining and cocktail scene. The scale of the space and its proximity to Torrey Pines suggest Ikaria is being designed to serve both destination diners and business clientele from the surrounding offices and resorts.
Ikaria marks the hospitality group’s first dedicated foray into Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, expanding beyond the modern Mexican and Italian concepts that helped establish its reputation. The company launched Puesto in La Jolla in 2012 and has since expanded the brand across San Diego and California, while Marisi has earned praise for its handmade pastas and immersive interiors. The group also previously operated Roma Norte, a cocktail-focused concept that received a James Beard Award nomination but closed this past September.
Construction at the Alexandria Way site has already drawn attention for its distinctive silhouette and scale, and the project appears poised to become one of the most high-profile restaurant openings in La Jolla in recent years. With its combination of ambitious design, educational programming, and a wellness-adjacent culinary theme, Ikaria reflects a broader shift toward experiential, globally inspired dining concepts in San Diego’s coastal neighborhoods.
In addition to Ikaria, the group continues to expand its San Diego footprint with another major project underway in Sorrento Valley, where Puesto is preparing to open a new location on Barnes Canyon Road. The forthcoming outpost will mark the company’s fourth San Diego restaurant and will be situated within a newly developed commercial project in the heart of the area’s fast-growing biotech corridor. The move underscores the group’s continued focus on design-forward, high-traffic business districts, while complementing other in-progress expansions, including a Puesto location inside the redeveloped Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport, positioning the company for significant growth across both neighborhood and travel-driven dining markets in 2026.
Ikaria is currently targeting a summer 2026 opening at 10960 Alexandria Way in San Diego's La Jolla. For more information, visit ikarialajolla.com.
Originally published on December 30, 2025.
