Water Grill To Replace Pacifica Del Mar At Del Mar Plaza Following Iconic Restaurant’s Closure

One of Southern California’s most prominent upscale seafood brands is preparing to expand into coastal North County San Diego, as Water Grill is slated to take over the longtime Pacifica Del Mar restaurant space at Del Mar Plaza following Pacifica’s planned closure later this year.

While no official opening date has yet been announced, the move signals a major changing of the guard for one of San Diego County’s most recognizable oceanview restaurant locations. Given Pacifica Del Mar will remain open through the end of 2026 and the likelihood of an extensive interior and exterior remodel, Water Grill’s Del Mar debut is not expected until sometime in 2027 at the earliest.

The transition comes just days after Pacifica Del Mar publicly confirmed it would permanently close after nearly four decades in business, ending a run that began in 1989 and helped define Del Mar’s modern dining identity. For generations of North County residents, Pacifica served as a landmark destination for seafood dinners, race season cocktails, milestone celebrations, sunset date nights and oceanview dining overlooking the Del Mar coastline.

Now, the highly visible second-floor space at Del Mar Plaza appears poised to enter an entirely new chapter under the ownership of Costa Mesa-based King’s Seafood Company, the hospitality group behind Water Grill, King’s Fish House, Lou & Mickey’s and several other seafood-focused concepts throughout California and the Southwest.

Originally founded in downtown Los Angeles in 1989 inside the historic Pacific Mutual Building, Water Grill has long been considered one of Southern California’s premier seafood restaurants. The brand built its reputation around expansive raw bar programs, live seafood tanks, highly seasonal fish offerings, oyster selections sourced from both coasts, and polished service delivered within dramatic nautical-inspired dining rooms.

The company opened its San Diego location in March 2015 at the corner of Sixth Avenue and J Street in the Gaslamp Quarter, replacing longtime steakhouse tenant The Palm after undertaking a reported multi-million-dollar transformation of the 11,000 square-foot property. The downtown restaurant quickly established itself as one of the city’s flagship seafood destinations, attracting convention crowds, business dinners, tourists and affluent local diners with its upscale but approachable interpretation of classic American seafood house dining.

At the time of the Gaslamp opening, King’s Seafood Company CEO Sam King described San Diego as a natural fit for the concept due to the city’s coastal culture and growing dining scene.

“San Diego’s energetic dining scene and proximity to the water provide a great landscape for Water Grill,” King said in 2015. “We’re proud to join such a vibrant neighborhood and offer a setting for guests to enjoy the highest quality seafood available.”

Over the past decade, Water Grill’s downtown San Diego location has become known for towering seafood platters, extensive oyster offerings, live lobster and crab tanks, prime steaks, sophisticated cocktail programs and expansive dining rooms blending industrial maritime aesthetics with polished contemporary design. The company also operates successful Water Grill locations in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Costa Mesa and Las Vegas.

The forthcoming Del Mar location would represent the company’s first major North County expansion under the Water Grill banner and positions the brand directly within one of Southern California’s wealthiest and most tourism-driven coastal dining corridors.

The move also reflects the broader evolution underway within Del Mar’s hospitality landscape, where longtime independent restaurants increasingly face pressure from rising operating costs, luxury redevelopment, corporate-backed hospitality groups and changing consumer expectations.

Pacifica Del Mar’s closure announcement last week resonated deeply throughout San Diego’s restaurant community not simply because of the restaurant’s longevity, but because it represented one of the last remaining examples of the independent coastal dining institutions that helped shape Del Mar’s restaurant culture during the late 20th century.

The arrival of Water Grill introduces a markedly different hospitality model: larger corporate infrastructure, centralized seafood sourcing, highly systematized operations and the financial resources to extensively redesign and modernize marquee restaurant spaces.

Given Water Grill’s history with large-scale renovations, industry observers expect the Del Mar Plaza property will likely undergo a significant transformation before reopening. Previous Water Grill projects have included multimillion-dollar overhauls featuring custom architectural installations, dramatic bar expansions, live seafood displays, oyster shell art walls, retractable window systems, upscale lounge spaces and extensive private dining infrastructure.

The Del Mar location’s elevated oceanfront positioning could ultimately become one of the most visually striking settings within the entire Water Grill portfolio, potentially blending the company’s signature maritime aesthetic with panoramic Pacific coastline views overlooking the Del Mar Village and coastline below.

At present, Pacifica Del Mar remains fully operational and is expected to continue service through December 2026. The restaurant has stated it intends to celebrate its final months by honoring longtime employees, loyal customers and nearly four decades of community history.

Water Grill has not yet publicly announced official plans, construction timelines or projected opening details for the Del Mar property.

Pacifica Del Mar remains open at 1555 Camino Del Mar in Del Mar through the end of 2026. Water Grill currently operates its San Diego flagship at 615 J Street in downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. For more information, visit Water Grill.

Originally published on May 22, 2026.