This coastal rooftop restaurant is prime for its social setting and of course, amazing sunset views. You'll find it inside the Del Mar Plaza on the top level. When I'm there, it's always busy but still maintains its beachy laid-back charm. I looove their daily sunset ritual! It brings everyone together to participate in the magical joyful moment. The staff are always super friendly and accommodating. Because they have an extensive menu, I usually ask them for their recommendations which are very helpful. Their cocktails are usually on-point...never had any complaints. Depending on which food I order, the food can be really good but on a few occasions was questionable. In general, I looove coming to this coastal spot and highly recommend it to the Yelp Community. read more

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If I had to wrap up San Diego into a single place this might be it! I don't think there's a bad seat in the house with ocean views aplenty. Plenty of options if you want inside, bar, or outdoor seating. We sat on "the bridge" which provided a nice breeze and an unobstructed 180 degree ocean view. The food was outstanding. We had three of the small plates. Brussels sprouts with bacon were well prepared and delicious. White beans and artichoke dip had a hummus-like texture and was nice and bright spread on charred toast. The winner was the gnocchi. They had a perfect pillowy texture and were complemented with a carrot puree, summer squash (tiny spheres that added sweetness and texture), and nuts. They have a full bar and a solid beer list and amazing service. Came around 4:30 on a Saturday after a nice beach walk and the place was packed. Parking available in the garage underneath, I think it was $6 to park for a couple hours. Will definitely be back to try more things! read more

The ambiance, WOW! The food, WOW! The service, WOW! We enjoyed a nice lunch before the horse races on a Thursday afternoon and had a nice seat in the fireplace area. The view of the ocean was breathtaking and the food we enjoyed was worth the price. We ordered half the menu, including the fresh oysters, calamari, white bean & artichoke dip, lobster & shrimp sliders, clams & mussels, potato & gruyere croquettes, & the duck tacos. The least favorite I'd say was the Dip and duck tacos, it just wasn't as exciting as all of our other dishes. read more

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Whenever I'd take a fitness class on the second level of this plaza and pass by Monarch Ocean Pub, I always felt like stopping in to try the food. So I finally did on a weekday afternoon when it wasn't too busy. I sat at the bar where they have multiple sports playing on the TVs. Staff was nice and accommodating. I got the cucumber mint mojito, gochujang brussels sprouts, and the citrus salad with salmon. The cucumber mint mojito mocktail was very refreshing but a bit on the sweet side. I really enjoyed the gochujang brussels and salad. However, I thought the salmon portion was too small. I'd like to come back for dinner, as I think Monarch would be a great spot to watch the sunset while enjoying good food. read more

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Monarch is among the restaurants in Del Mar that is casual, dog friendly, has rooftop seating with ocean views. Either ascend the flight of stairs of take the elevator from the parking structure to the rooftop to access this restaurant. From a distance and not unobstructed ocean views is the rooftop seating with limited umbrella shades. Indoor and outdoor seating, full bar indoor and outdoor. The indoor decor was nicely decorated. The outdoor seating with the views was cool but there is that fake grass, which my pup and I are not a fan of. Monarch was a nice visit and my pup met friendly pup an 8 month big Swiss Bernese and the friendly owners were from Burbank in LA so we chatted. The regular menu offers typical foods which is offered in most restaurants. Nothing really special caught my attention. I stopped here after having a disappointing lunch at a restaurant nearby. Service by the staff was cordial, efficient and friendly. Perhaps the best time to go is during happy hour, to get to taste and drink more from the HH menu. I had a mocktail and chargrilled artichokes with lemon dill aioli dip, it was delish and guiltless but not in the HH menu. The rooftop dog friendly outdoor patio with a full bar outside gets my thumbs up. read more

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Went here for a quick drink before dinner reservations at another restaurant. This place is located on a second floor, and offers outdoor dining and has AMAZING ocean views. The prices are expensive, but that's average for the area. They had a large bar with about ten beers on tap and plenty of TVs. Our bartender, Xavier, was the best! We walked there, so I'm not sure if they have a parking lot/garage or not. The decor is relaxed and beach-ish, but not overly trendy. My biggest takeaway is the energy and noise - it's definitely popping. Not the place to go if you're looking for a quiet/romantic/low-key date night. read more

Came here for a late lunch while visiting Del Mar. Walked in hoping to get a table with a view and we got lucky and there was one available. The place was pretty busy . It is a big place it looked like it has two sections of restaurant. We were seated and I ordered a mocktail and my husband ordered a drink. Both the drinks were delicious. For appetizer we ordered the white bean and artichoke dip it comes with a very thin crostini and toasted bread. For entree my husband ordered the fish a chips and I ordered the pear salad with chicken. My salad was so tasty it comes with pear, mixed greens and some nice toasted pepitas and other seeds and the chicken was nicely seasoned and cooked. My husband enjoyed the fish and chips that come with some delicious fries and two kinds of sauces. Everything was so good and the location was very nice . We sat there enjoying the view and the food. read more

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Very nice views from where we sat by the edge. The restaurant was filling up by noon on a Friday. Our server was very kind, and they had people coming around to check on our waters and ask how our experience/food was. They were really attentive! Three of us shared some appetizers, which were all good. The ceviche tasted fresh, but I didn't like the halibut as much. The fried calamari and mussels and clams were more to my palette and very good! The portions are on the smaller size for the price point. I think it's a nice place for the vibes and views. I would recommend this place for a casual, relaxing meal to catch up with friends. read more

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We decided to check out happy hour at Monarch and it was decent! It does get quite busy, so I definitely would avoid if you were looking for something quaint and quiet. It looked like a lot of people enjoying happy hour with colleagues and family. The service was great, we had a gent named Jack, and he was quick and made sure we got our orders in quickly. so great service! The artichoke/bean dip we had with the bread and the crackers? was refreshing since it was a warm sunny day. I would try it again, but I wasn't in love with the crackers, the bread was good. The caesar was average, but I didn't hate it. I was eyeing the desserts but will have to save it for next time! The layout and ambiance was super chill and chic! Love the outdoor/indoor coastal feel. I'd probably come again on a weekday when it's calmer :) read more

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I love this happy hour Truly my favorite in the area Beautiful view Delish food Open air Two choices Either eat inside or go around to the rooftop and you can order from a walk up counter Both are amazing but I prefer the patio It quieter and every seat has an amazing ocean view read more

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We visited Monarch Ocean Pub for a work event, and it turned out to be a great spot for gathering with a group. The rooftop setting has a relaxed, park-like feel, and the views of the water were beautiful. As the sun started to set, we were treated to a fantastic sunset that made the experience even more enjoyable. The staff was helpful when it came to choosing a drink, although it took a little while for our cocktails to arrive. The drink menu featured several creative and unique cocktail options, which was a nice touch. Overall, the atmosphere, views, and enjoyable setting made for a memorable evening. If I'm in the area again, I would gladly return. read more

Freshly arrived and checked in to our hotel in Del Mar, we asked the front desk for a recommendation and she said this was a good upscale sports bar. I saw I had already bookmarked it for their highly rated fish and chips, and it was only half a mile away so we decided to walk. It was a beautiful walk along the beach, surfers everywhere reminded me of my college days at UCSD and how big the surfing culture is here. After we passed the train tracks we took a left and had a quarter mile walk straight up the hill! It was definitely a tough little hike for us out of shapers, but it was just enough to get some exercise and work up our appetites and thirst. We put our name down for window seats and stood at the bar while watching the NBA finals. We ordered a couple aperol spritz and were throughly enjoying the vibe and view. Everyone here was super friendly, great customer service and was surprised to see how packed it was late afternoon on a Tuesday. Our server later told us it's like that every night. We had to wait about 15-20 mins for our table but we were fine, then got seated right by the window. The view was amazing, drinks were strong, and some excellent fish and chips and appetizers. The bar even gave a little speech, where the bartender read a poem, apparently a nightly tradition. Cool touch. Great place for families, groups or couples. Recommend! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Fish and chips - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Jack rocked! great service. excellent oysters, very big. lobster and shrimp sliders pretty damn good definitely would get again. got sat fast for a sunny sunday afternoon! place is undefeated for views in del mar read more

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The happy hour menu is good, but I didn't love the food we got. We got the carbonara mac (I've had much better carbonara at other places), parker house rolls with black garlic butter truffle (they burnt the top of the rolls and the butter wasn't good), and potato & gruyere croquettes (were fine but wouldn't get again). I'd like to go back and give another try with getting the flat top burger and fries. The half caesar salad looks good too. The inside is very cute and they have a lot of seating. read more

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Great great cocktails! But lets be real you are going there for the vibe. Sunset at Monarch is exactly where you need to be on a Friday afterwork. Service was very solid and attentive despite the amount of people on the patio. Aside from the views and the vibes, you have to come here for the Hawaiian donuts (Ube Donut Holes). If you are okay with paying a little extra for drinks and food, I highly recommend this place for any sunset happy hour. If you can get your company to pay for it even better! read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Del Mar. The location is beautiful and close to the ocean, which makes the whole experience even better. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the food is always delicious, and everything feels fresh and well made. The lobster rolls and lamb chops were excellent. Overall, it's a great place with good food, a nice vibe, and consistently enjoyable service. read more

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Good ambience! The drinks are pricey but the views during sunset are beautiful! I enjoy the outdoor seating area (especially to watch the sunset) as it's quiet and easy to talk to whoever you're with. However there was an incident the first time I went and the bartender at the main bar questioned my friend groups ids and had to escalate the issue to their manager. I understand to make sure people are over 21 but my friends waited for 10 minutes while they had to figure this out which was a waste of our time as everyone had horizontal licenses and are well over 21. Management, please do better to teach your employees that not everyone who looks on the younger side has a fake id. It was insulting to have two people at a restaurant check all of our ids and QUESTION us information what was on there. read more

Impeccable vibes and views! I take all my visiting friends here, especially around sunset time. This is my favorite place to grab happy hour. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with full service bar and food. The food is a mix of elevated bar snacks, shareables, and restaurant quality entrées. They have an extensive beer and cocktail menu. Sometimes they have life music. At sunset, they read a newly written poem each day and it really feels like a family there. read more

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Pizza was really good here. We liked it enough to order two. Gochujang brussels had a nice flavor with a bit of spice, but they weren't too spicy. Shrimp ceviche tasted really fresh. Aldo, our server was super friendly and kept checking in on us throughout the meal. This is also a great place to come around sunset. The vibe was really nice. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

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We had a small Bridal Shower Lunch for my sister-in-law here last Thursday afternoon. It was The Perfect Place!! There was only 7 of us ladies but this place can also accommodate a larger group as well. All of our food was awesome, amazing environment and ocean view!! Totally fair prices as well! Thank you Monarch Ocean Pub!!! We had an amazing time! read more

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Food: Crispy Loligo Calamari was delicious. The loligo squid tasted fresh. It did not have a fishy smell. It was mixed with caper berries and jalapeno dust. It also came with Yazu Aioli, Spicy Kewpie, Scallion, and Lemons. Drinks: They have a lot of specialty cocktails. The Pog Mai Tai was so fresh and delicious. They also have a great selection of beer. Seating: We sat outside. They need to do a better job of letting you know your food is ready. They only have a megaphone, and you can barely hear it over the loud music and people talking. The view is nice. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

BEWARE of their food quality. Bar service is ok. Not the most attentive group. However, the burger had me hovering over the toilet at 1am that night. I know there's an issue w/ beef and where it comes from right now and not sure where they get theirs but it had me up vomiting all night. It was cooked all the way through so I have to question the quality of meat they are using. I haven't been able to look at another burger since. If you want a good meal in Del Mar, I suggest Sbicca or Jake's. read more

Omg! I've actually been here a few times over the years with co-workers, visitors, or friends in town. But this was over the top. We were celebrating our 35th Anniversary (coral). Super chill staff as usual. Everything was perfect, cocktails, poke board (delicious), mussels/clams and caesar salad (to die for). And then came the sunset with the infamous toast by Erik Sloan, toastmaster extraordinaire. He wrote us in to our surprise. And then some anonymous angel covered our bill ‍.....what a special night at a special place. Still bringing joyful tears to our eyes. Thank you so much everyone! until the next time. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Hostess and Wait Staff Chill, Friendly, with Impeccable service. - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

Dropped in for Friday happy hour on the outdoor roof deck and had a wonderful evening catching a beautiful sunset! Get there early (around 4pm) if you want a good seat, although really any seat is pretty breathtaking to catch the ocean views. We enjoyed the wine on happy hour which is a very generous pour, then switched to a delicious spicy margarita. The HH food was also great - we got smash burgers, Brussels sprouts, Caesar salad, and truffle fries (not on HH menu). Service was attentive and helpful despite being quite busy! Loved our Friday girls night and will absolutely be coming back read more

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We were in the area and wanted to have meal with a side of nice views! We ended up here on a Friday for late lunch/ early dinner. They have happy hour and took advantage of it. We ordered off the regular menu and the happy hour menu. And we enjoyed all that we ordered. From the regular menu we got the calamari, the Caesar salad and Salsiccia Flatbread. And from the HH menu we got the Flat Top Burger & Calabrian Chili Bolognese. Service was good and our server, Jack is nice and friendly. It was a lively Friday too and we were able to experience the sunset cheer! It was busy, energetic and buzzing but not too overly noisy. We still get to have a nice normal conversation. And since we seated on a table close to the window on the street side, we had the beautiful view of the sunset! All in all it was a wonderful experience! read more

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This place has a really good view of the ocean, and it was completely full on a Monday night (I was surprised by this). Shared two entrees with my bf and ordered the spicy chicken sandwich w/ fries and the pepperoni flatbread. I asked for alioli on the side and they gave me a few to dip my fries in and I feel like those made the meal. The passion fruit iced tea was watered down but I still drank it. The flavors are fine but not breathtaking haha. And around 7pm they do a chant with the whole bar at sunset. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

The restaurant itself is beautiful and clean! I loved the ocean view, and the sunset toast was such a nice touch. The food tasted very fresh. We ordered the ceviche, which I'd rate an 8/10. It was fresh but needed a little more flavor, maybe just some salt. The bread came with truffle butter, which was very yummy. I'd give it a 7/10. I also ordered the burrata salad, which was very good, but there was way too much dressing. I'd rate it an 8/10. Unfortunately, the service was where the experience fell short. Our table remained dirty throughout our entire dining experience. Our server never came to check on us or ask if we were enjoying our food or needed anything. We had to get up and request three sets of silverware and plates ourselves, and we had to ask multiple times for our dishes to be cleared. Our server was kind, but unfortunately, she wasn't very personable or present. We expected a better level of service, especially for a restaurant with such a beautiful atmosphere and ocean view. Overall, the food and ambiance were lovely, but the lack of attentive service really took away from the experience. read more

Great place to grab drinks and catch up with friends over apps! Oysters were MP and 12 for $34 on the day we went. Super cute atmosphere inside with a great view of the water! My drink had grapefruit, vodka, and a gochujang syrup which I thought was interesting. Pleasantly surprised though! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Oysters - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

Sky at the Hostess Station is phenomenal, she is so friendly, considerate and very accommodating. She basically made our dining experience for a group of 7 memorable! Thanks Sky! Jack our Server is Top Notch as well, very thorough. Food was good, Drinks were good, ambience was super, great place to watch the sunset. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Sunset from bar area - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Why didn't anyone tell me about this place before? Awesome ocean views and decent pub food! The server was friendly and helped us with our menu selections. There were five of us in our party for lunch, and everything was easily shareable. We ordered the Parker Rolls with truffle butter (so good!), mussels (which comes with grilled baguette), fish and chips, Asian Pear Salad and calamari. We were all satisfied. And the view of the ocean is simply gorgeous! read more

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A friend and I dropped in for dinner for the first time. We didn't have reservations but we were very lucky that a table next to their expansive window opened up. What a beautiful view! We each decided on the Coastal Vibe cocktail because, well, it's Del Mar! I could have had a few of those (but didn't) because it was so good. We are big fans of Parker House rolls, so of course we had to get them to start. Unfortunately, maybe because we had some extremely good ones at another restaurant in Solana Beach a few day before, these came across as a disappointment. I mean, they were good, but just...rolls. We also shared a Bacon Burger and a Marinated grilled artichoke. They burger was huge and had fantastic flavor, and the artichoke was perfectly cooked, and it was served with a tasty aioli. A really fun thing is if you are there at sunset, the man behind the bar rings a bell to get everyone's attention and then recites a poem that he has written. A different poem EVERY NIGHT! I thought it was very cool. I will definitely be back for the food, the view and the fun! read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - The sunset view - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

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This is for the experience of trying to go and not eating there! I thought of doing a special lunch here. They don't take reservations. I thought: how bad could a weekday lunchtime be? Line at the hostess stand was 6 parties deep on a Wed. at 1 pm. Plus their lunch and dinner menu are the same, so a salmon entree would be $38 at lunch. We decided to go to the restaurant next door - which also has a lovely patio and delicious seafood. And it turns out they have lunch specials which I didn't remember. We got seated right away and had a nice time. When we came out at 2 pm - still a line at the hostess stand at Monarch - 5 people long. Either it's exceptionally delicious (read those reviews) OR they need to let people make reservations. I'm not going to plan to come here again when lines are so long when it's not prime time. And that restaurant next door whose initials are PDM is way easier and yummy! read more

Overall, I enjoy going to Monarch. I think they have a great location with pretty good food. The vibes are perfect for girl's brunch or night out. Some standouts include the ceviche and the pastrami sandwich. I got a Hugo spritz and it wasn't my favorite. It just tasted very lemony. The pro/con is that they don't take reservations. So if last minute you're looking for a place, Monarch might be available. However, since they don't take reservations, you might wait a while. I like the view and the interior. The biggest reason I did not love my experience was because it felt like our server was pushing us to order more and was annoyed at us for not ordering enough in her opinion. read more

The drinks, vibe, and sunset poem read by staff is the best part of this place. Truly should be experienced by every San Diegan at least once. We tried lots of food and it really is more of a 3 star culinary experience. The food is expensive and just okay, but drinks and patio sitting is a must. read more

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We went to Del Mar and five if us for a late lunch. Two of us shared the fungi risotto and the pastrami and gruyer sandwich. The sandwich was perfect on marble eye. The risotto was fine. We both felt that it needed more of a kick. Wa added black pepper and a squeeze of lemon to brighten it up. Better, not perfect. Friends split the turkey sandwich. Loved it. The other friend had the pear salad with the wild shrimp. Also a hit. The drinks were generous. Ruby, our waitress did a great job. The atmosphere is fun. We had a pickaboo view of the ocean. The also have a take-out bar. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Pear salad with shrimp - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

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I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT HERE! There are two different sections depending on the vibe you want. They have a main restaurant with a bar and beautiful view of the ocean in Del Mar and a section with a lawn, bar, table tennis, and lounge chairs. I didn't eat at the restaurant but the food that was passing by all looked delicious. The lawn and bar area is located in the back - just walk through the restaurant and you'll find it. There is a LOT of seating with cushioned chairs and high top seating overlooking the view from the hill. I could spend hours here with a group of friends. It is a self seating area so you have to find a spot as someone is leaving or hope that there are open places but I will say that it gets busy especially during sunset times. The people working the bar were super friendly and great! The drink was made on the spot and decently priced given the fact that there's no one to rush how long you stay. After you order and find a seat you could literally spend the whole day there. I 100% would come back here, the vibe was great, the view was beautiful, and I could spend a whole day people watching and socializing in the lawn area. The parking situation is decent, there is a garage that validates for an hour. I would recommend that if you don't want to pay after the hour is up to just find street parking and stay as long as you want. But be careful because it does fill up fast and you can be stuck circling for a while. However, the area is so nice that you could spend the day walking the town too so I would recommend taking advantage of being in a nice area with shopping as well! read more

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MONARCH OCEAN PUB @ DEL MAR Parking is available in the plaza garage, it is free for the first hour, but $3 after every 30 minutes. I'd fully recommend doing street parking, it's free for two hours and there is numerous spots around the area. Stepping into this place, was GORGEOUS. I mean dining was incredible with the view, but if you walked a lot more deeper inside, there's a rooftop of just grabbing drinks and hanging out on seats. My friend and I were there just for some drinks since dining took about an hour on a busy Saturday. We got some sodas and margs. The service was great, they are also dog friendly, and the place is such a lovely vibe at night. I really love the view and the people there! I'd definitely come back for dining in. read more

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Monarch Ocean Pub is a gem. The ambience, the view, the food, and the service made this a memorable experience. I visited with family so there was 6 of us in total and they managed our orders like a champm We shared the oysters which were a good size and all very fresh. I had the salmon and it was delicious. I'd say it was my favorite until I tried my mom's fish and chips which then stole the show. I can't recommend the fish and chips enough. No big drinks or cocktails for us but I can see this place being a great place during a sunset or just a place with a great view. I would highly recommend this for anyone visiting or locals. Enjoy! read more

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Very nice place with absolutely stunning scenery and views. The staff and our server were warm and welcoming. I ordered the Cucumber Mint Cooler (N/A) and thought it would be so refreshing and tasty. Turned out to be absolutely horrible. Not edible at all. I wish I could describe how bad it was. I sent it back and got the Doctors Order instead. Much better. While there are only a couple of GF options, I ordered the civeche. The fish was very fresh, well seasoned and tasty. I had to knock off 2 stars for the lack of GF options and the drink unfortunately. read more

Monarch Ocean Pub - Civeche - Gastropubs Near Me - Del Mar, California

Epic View, good Vibes and our Server "Mo" really made our evening special! Thank youuuu! read more