Bacari is headed to Carlsbad Village. The Los Angeles-born Mediterranean wine bar and restaurant has filed a liquor license application for a location in the heart of the Village, making it the brand's second outpost in San Diego County and its tenth overall. An exact opening date hasn't been announced yet, but the filing signals that the project is moving forward.
If you haven't been to a Bacari, here's what to expect: shareable Mediterranean plates, wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas, and a wine list that's curated rather than endless. The concept was founded in Venice Beach by Daniel Kronfli and has built a loyal following across LA with locations in Silverlake, West Adams, and downtown. Executive Chef and co-founder Lior Hillel oversees menu development across the brand.
Why Carlsbad Village Makes Sense
Carlsbad Village is one of the most walkable dining corridors in North County. Campfire, Jeune et Jolie, Lilo, Harbor Fish Cafe, Blue Ocean Robata & Sushi Bar, and The Coyote Bar & Grill all sit within a few blocks of each other on State Street and Carlsbad Village Drive. The foot traffic is steady, the parking is manageable, and the mix of residents and visitors gives restaurants a customer base that doesn't dry up after tourist season.
Bacari's format fits the Village perfectly. It's the kind of place where you split a pizza and a cheese board, order a bottle of something interesting from the wine list, and stay longer than you planned. That's exactly how people eat in Carlsbad Village on a Thursday night.
What Else Is Coming to Carlsbad Village
Bacari isn't the only expansion headed to the Village. Fish 101, the popular casual fish spot with locations in Leucadia and Solana Beach, is planning a third location in Carlsbad Village. Slice House by Tony Gemignani, a concept from the 13-time world pizza champion, is also set to open. And NÓMADA on El Camino Real already proved that established restaurant groups are betting on Carlsbad in 2026.
The Village's dining scene has momentum. "Carlsbad Village restaurants" gets 3,600 monthly Google searches, and "best restaurants in Carlsbad" gets another 4,400. Those numbers are climbing, and every new opening brings more search volume to the whole corridor. Bacari adds a Mediterranean option that the Village doesn't currently have, which fills a gap and gives people another reason to eat in downtown Carlsbad instead of driving to Del Mar or Encinitas.
No opening date has been confirmed yet. But when Bacari does open, it'll join a restaurant row in Carlsbad Village that's becoming harder to ignore.
