The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant Reviews

A little jewel of a place with a nice big courtyard. Great service and very reasonably priced food. Great location in the center of a courtyard. Although there are lots of other options in the area this one is the one to go if you want to relax. The short rib was good but small.

The atmosphere is excellent keeping to the Old Town period. We mostly looked to eat Mexican Food during our stay as it is hard to get good Mexican food in Boston. So this was one of our two breaks from eating Mexican Food (the other was Phil's BBQ which I also reviewed). The menu was fairly limited reasonably priced. We had the short ribs, which were actually served boneless. It seemed obvious that although they were served boneless they were cooked on the bone since the meat had all the goodness and richness that good short ribs should have. The meat was rich and tasty. The serving size was very good and my wife did not finish hers. Although I am a big eater I was not tempted to gobble up her leftovers since my own portion had left me full. We were two full to be tempted by dessert. Everything on the plate from the mixed small potatoes to the vegetables were excellent. If I have one criticism it was the serving size of the items on the plate other than the meat. The large serving of meat could have used a larger quantity of "sides". We had a coupon for a bottle of house wine which was certainly drinkable if not exceptional.

We went for the Sunday brunch and had a table on the patio-it was beautiful with all the plants and flowers and there was a heater next to our table which was great because it was chilly that day. Our server, Bill, was very attentive and other staff members would greet us as they walked past. The free parking lot is within a few easy steps and we were fortunate enough to find a handicap spot because one of our party is in a wheelchair. Our drinks and food arrived very quickly. Two of us had the Monti Cosmo (really a Monti Cristo name), one had the hamburger and my husband had the fried chicken which must have been good because he ate it down to the bone. Maybe because it was so chilly, our Monti Cosmo's were more warm than hot but we do intend to return and try some of the Mexican entree's. Loved walking around Old Town, a lot to see and you can easily imagine yourself back in the 1800's

I may be a little too critical, but I wasn't blown away with my first impression. My wife and I literally wandered around the resturant trying to find someone to sit us. We initially went to the hostess area, but we waited for several minutes with no help. Then I went searching, found a Server and she got us a hostess. But, with that said, the food was wonderful and our Server Daniel was attentive and great. All in all we'd come back. Price and portions are good, especially by Ca. standards.

We arrived early to have a drink in the bar. Nice bartender, good local beers, margaritas and full bar. Loved the outdoor seating with heaters as needed. On weekends they offer a Couples Cosmo which is two entrees, two glasses of wine and a dessert for $39.99. The Seabass was amazing! My friend had the chicken which was also good. The other two ordered ribeye which was also good (but not included in the Couples Cosmo). We shared the berry cobbler which was delicious! They also have Mexican entrees.

We found it restful here though the food was sort of average. Set in the courtyard of a hotel, this restaurant had good service and kind of western/mexican choices. Meat. Not for vegetarians, that's for sure. They did have free wifi :-) I'd hoped for more. I guess it depends on what you're looking for.

Me and the family ate here. Price was good and the kids ate free, so that was a plus. We had Whitney as our waitress and she was so nice and friendly and accommodated my son's picky eating habits with a smile. They had a great happy hour and overall our meal and time was great! I ate a burger and my wife the chicken and churro, which was probably one of the best dishes we ate during our trip. Definitely would go again!

What a pretty spot to have a quiet breakfast. Tropical plants, flowers and trees abound encircling the patio area offer a tranquil setting to enjoy your meal. Butterflies and hummingbirds add to the atmosphere while you eat. Service was a bit slow, we found out we were actually early for opening, but happily accommodated anyway. The menu is not exactly Mexican as we had expected, rather eclectic and more breakfasty (ok, that's not really a word, but it does describe the offerings pretty well). The food was well prepared and presented. Unhurried, no push to boot us out after finishing our meal. All in all, a really nice way to start the day. AL & Cris R.

This place was a great place to eat. The style of the place, it's like you're in the 1800s, in some movie. The staff were all great, very polite, quick and friendly. The atmosphere was unique, laid back and it was a cool place to eat away from the sun, but still outside. Food- The corn bread was great! and also had churros which were really nice. Great stop!

We enjoyed lunch at the Cosmopolitan on our first day in San Diego, sitting at a table under an umbrella in the courtyard. The fish tacos were tasty, as was the ahi tuna sandwich. Service was friendly although sometimes a bit slow. A very pleasant experience overall.

Everyone was so friendly and welcoming! I arrived early in the day from an East Coast flight and they stored my luggage and I got to wander around the neighborhood - excellent area! When I came back and checked in, I think I had the best room in the place - two bedrooms/two entrances, brass tub, and comfy bed! Ate in the restaurant before the theatre that night, and they were able to meet my rushed schedule and STILL SERVE an excellent meal! Got some great pictures, since it was all in preparation for Day of the Dead... Overall excellent trip and I'll be back!!!!

A great way to start a Sunday is brunch at the Cosmopolitan. Located in San Diego's Old Town, it's part of a cluster of historic buildings and a nice park, all of which provide a pleasant place to walk before or after eating. They offer indoor dining in a historically decorated room or outdoor dining on a pretty patio.The brunch menu is a la carte, which we prefer to an expensive and excessive buffet. Start with a morning cocktail -- the mimosa and the sangria both were excellent. So was the coffee. For entrees, we were impressed with the Bandini's eggs Benedict and the huevos rancheros. Whatever you get, order a side of house-made biscuits and jam. Service was attentive without being bothersome. Whether you're visiting or live locally, you must give this place a try. P.S. We had dinner here previously, and enjoyed that just as much.

This review is for the restaurant and not the hotel. We really liked the hotel! We had dinner at the restaurant and should have been wary when we saw only one other couple in the large outdoor dining room. Granted it was a Wednesday evening in early May, before the tourist season kicked in... but still. One would think that with only two tables occupied, and at least two servers on duty, the service would have been outstanding. Not so. Service was sparse and slow. Food was just adequate at best. Soup was lukewarm and had to be sent back. It was removed from the check without asking. The rest of the dishes were unremarkable. This is sad, and I'm sorry to have to write this review. This restaurant used to be Casa de Bandini, and in years past always had a line down the street and around the corner. That restaurant has now moved to Carlsbad and still has a similar following. As for the Cosmo, you'd be better to just walk down the street to a different restaurant. There are several withing the Old Town neighborhood.

Parking is difficult to find near this HISTORIC hotel. We did manage to find a space very close to the entrance. Luncheon is served in a delightful patio with flowers all around. SERVICE was excellent..FISH FRY with thin deepfried strips of potato garnished with fresh herbs and a little sea salt. A good cup of coffee ! (and a decent Margarita too). Service outstanding everything SPIC & SPAN--we shall return -- Happily to this place.

Maybe we had a particarly bad night since other reviews are s favorable. But we are locals, frequent Old Town for dinner and this place was SO disappointing...It started good with a really interesting and surprising menu (don't expect Mexican food) and a beautiful outdoor patio area. I had a Cosmo that was yummy. But, from there not much went well. We were a party if 6. It was a Tuesday night and nearly empty but service was really slow and not very helpful. New waiter did not know what beers were on tap, what alcohols they poured and clearly didn't know much about the menu. As for the food, we had chicken fajitas (note this restaurant does not have a Mexican food theme like most in Old Town...only a few very expensive Mex items on a separate menu), short rib burger, special pasta, soup, salads and a kids pizza. The chicken on the fajita was just weird. Odd texture like it as undercooked but clearly looked cooked. The kids pizza had no real flavor, the pasta was good but lacking any special flavor. Tomato soup was fine, just a little bland. Dessert menu sounded good. We ordered churros and fried ice cream. Fried ice cream was good and the churros had a nice cinnamon sugar outside and were hot and freshly cooked (which took forever) but were undercooked inside. All in all an expensive and unimpressive dinner. Will not go back. Our Old Town favorites are Old Town Mexican Cafe and Miguel's.

This is in the Old Town area of SD and there is much to see. It's a little like a TJ swapmeet in part of it, selling trinkets, leather items and what-nots, and lots of cowboy/western shops all in the same small area. The "Cosmo" hotel was a great spot just to have a relaxing drink at the bar outside and take a break from shopping all over. You could spend the whole day there if you wanted to see it all, and it would probably be fun to stay at the hotel and see the rest of the town.

We stopped by here to have drinks prior to our dinner reservation for another place up the street. While the building is a landmark hotel with the old bar up front, the actual bar where they serve drinks is a little affair in the back. The bartender was professional and fairly friendly and the drinks were ok. We stopped in for their happy hour drinks so we only had their house pours and did not ask for anything special for our hard liquors. We did not eat while at the venue. The overall experience was just 'ok' overall and nothing special.

Step back in time to a lovely covered porch, beautiful surroundings, very great waiters, and really yummy food. Best part is kids eat free - 1 adult entree + plus 1 kids. We will make it a regular stop - thank you to our waiter Bill for his gentile manner and good sense of humor.

Great location in the heart of Old Town. Food was good and service was above average. Large outdoor patio to enjoy your meal and the weather.

I don't know what happened when Casa Bandini sold and became The Cosmopolitan. It used to have such great atmosphere, both in the Bandini Ballroom and on the patio. Now, in the interest of making the place more authentic (old Mexico) the charm is gone. Maybe that is why I think the food is not as good as well.

The food was decent with a fun atmosphere. The service was also pretty good. I recommend sitting outside in the courtyard area. I got the pot pie for dinner. For the price of $16 I was disappointed with the 'heartiness' of the meal but I think that is the average cost of a dinner in most San Diego tourist areas.

On a recent trip to San Diego, I had insisted on a Mexican meal in Old Town. We had had a unique mole meal in a past visit but chose to pick another restaurant. Using a popular restaurant reservation app, we chose Cosmopolitan. We arrived before dark, so we could see in the light of day an outdoor eating area that seemed to be crumbling. Unfortunately, I could also see days of food stains on the server’s apron. He was certainly pleasant enough, but the stage was set. We lucked out on happy hour drink and appetizer prices and both went for the Mexican entrees. Forgettable for both of us. Probably our last visit to Old Town, as on our post meal stroll, nothing seemed appealing to bring us back. Or was it the meal that left a bad taste?

We had dinner last night at the Cosmopolitan restaurant after having wanted to for a very long time. I ranked it four stars with some reservations. It's a solid three stars working for more. First, our waiter was Daniel. Bravo for him because he works hard to give excellent service. If he's considering food service as a career, he should seek out a mentor. He has what it takes, but he needs further guidance and training. As good as the service was, the food was very good, but it could use a little more sophistication. We shared four platters. The last one was a flat, artisan bread with cheese. It was perfect and I probably could have had another one! The setting, which was in a garden, was absolutely heaven on Earth. They have a very large garden, so there never should be much of a wait. There's a theater next door, so I'm sure they attract early diners for a pre-show snack. Overall, we liked it and will definitely return.

Very close to Cygnet Theatre and a great choice for dinner before. Service is typically attentive, kitchen reliable and reasonably priced. The patio is always pleasant.

After a day of exploring San Diego we popped into the Cosmopolitan Hotel for a drink at happy hour before going back to our hotel. You have to go through the hotel into the courtyard to find the bar. The bar menu would remind me of a brewing porterhouse. We didn't recognise any of the beers or whiskey so had a bit of fun ordering different ones as there was 4 of us. My vanilla beer was delicious and my husband loved the Mexican one. My mother & father took to different whiskeys. We loved how we could then sit outside the front with our drinks as the sun went down and the night time buzz started to build in Old Town. Quirky layout period hotel.

The Cosmopolitan in Old Town is so Fantastic! The history is phenomenal...& I felt it was a privilege for them to allow me to stay there. Dee was the most fantastic host! He caters to your every request! I am from Gettysburg, PA. where there is also so much history...& very difficult to get a reservation to stay in a pre-1900's building. This is a secret spot you should treat yourself to for the fantastic feeling of a step back in time!

My husband and I went here for a meal on our last but one night in San Diego before heading home. I’m glad we did as it meant we could go again on our last night. I had a glass of the house Chardonnay and a mushroom burger. Both were delicious. We decided to eat at the bar as the bartender was friendly and chatty.

We stayed two nights at the Cosmo Hotel and reserved the dining package the first night. We received a coupon for a complimentary bottle of wine with our entrees. We enjoyed the dinner with our friends. The outdoor dining under the beautiful, plant draped patio enhanced the taste of our delicious dinner! Wait staff were friendly and helpful with the menu.

Great place for weekend brunch, lunch or dinner. The Chicken and Churros with jalapeño maple syrup is a sweet-crispy taste explosion. The pesto pasta with scallops is very good as well and the position is very generous. For breakfast I recommend one of the benedicts, the short rib benedict with horseradish sauce is my favorite.

Great place for pics, wish we ate here, next time. Took several fun photos and loved walking back in time.

After calling several high-end restaurants to inquire about their Thanksgiving dinners, and all they could offer was a two course meal. The manager at the Cosmopolitan gave me an elaborate description of the traditional Thanksgiving food with the addition of other things like salmon, tortellini and enchiladas. We were so happy that everyone in our group could find something they liked (and that none of us had to do the cooking or clean up) that we booked a reservation. The price was very reasonable ($30/person). Guests could choose a seating at 11:00, 1:00, 3:00 or 5:00 which ensured fresh food for each seating, and nothing that had been sitting out all day. Drinks were not included, but there was a nice wine and cocktail list. There were several desserts and all were delicious, but we were so full we ate very few. This may become a new tradition!

We went a couple of days before the wedding and walked through, very historical. The wedding was held outside in the courtyard and was decorated beautifully, staff were great, food was great.

We made reservations for this place but we walked out after talking to the manager. I do give props that she did try to make things better but first impressions was already tarnished by the host not doing his job right. Assuming we were with another party and not taking our name. I told the host TWICE that we were a party of two with a reservation at 4:15pm. Again assumed we were with another party then took TWO LARGE parties and another party of two BEFORE US! Excuse you! Reservations trumps everyone else or so I thought. I did talk to the manager but she didn’t even listen to me. She even tried to put blame on ME For the hosts mistakes. Finally she listened and said she would make service above par because of the missteps. Sorry but first impressions is everything and if you don’t have a competent host who makes a huge blunder as he did I’m not going to trust my food with your servers. And you DON’T blame the customer when the customer said it TWICE YET AGAIN that we told the host we weren’t a part of any parties. This was going to be our first time eating here but because of this we’re never coming back. So we will take our date/anniversary night to D.Z. Atkins a place I KNOW won’t screw us over since we have been there before and know they will treat us right.

We did the $39.95 special meal offered Sunday and Monday nights - came with 2 glasses of wine - I asked if I could substitute Sangria and they allowed it - not the best sangria but I've had worse. I had the chicken which was delicious - very crispy the way I like it and I liked the churros (I didn't even know what they were until I ate them). My husband had the fish which he said was delicious. Nice veggies that went with his fish. We shared the fruit cobbler with ice cream for dessert. Good meal for the price

We will have "High Tea" here this coming Sunday so, we decided to check it out first. It passed muster. The lunch menu is a bit small but, my Churro Burger was just fine. My wife had the Portabello burger and she enjoyed it. The server, Brooke, was friendly, efficient, professional and pleasant. The only downside was the high price for a beer - The Old Times German Pils (pint) was $8. That's a bit high. We'll be back for tea on Sunday.

We have been here several times and especially love the Sunday brunch menu and drink menu. Beautiful patio and outdoor bar. We love the food and the atmosphere. The hotel itself is quaint, and we hope to stay there sometimes. I just love the saloon style vibe inside. We really recommend stopping here to check it out!

This is now called the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant. Food is good and service excellent but again history of the facility is "Americanized"

I stopped in for lunch after a casual stroll through Old Town. What an exceptional find! Excellent service by Bill. Wonderful food. All made from scratch. Delightful time. Can't wait to go back!

Very cool place, food was great and unlike anything I've ever had before! The atmosphere was amazing, taking us back in time. The band on sat was very cool and helped to set the stage for this unique experience. The staff was great and we had a wonderful time sitting on very nice patio. The perfect place to enjoy the San Diego weather! The seafood parridillas (spelling) was fantastic and so was the complementary bread! A very cool find on our last day in California.

Booked a room for one night to get away from work and stress. Lovely atmosphere, and cute bar area that had live jazz band playing. Rooms are old fashioned, with some modern appliances (heating and air, power outlets, no TV). Only used the room to sleep and shower, with it being right in the middle of Old Town there was so much to see. Would recommend it, if you can over come the thoughts and rumors of it being haunted. We stayed in room 8 and had no problems...lol.

We loved our Sunday afternoon in Old Town State Historic Park in San Diego, but by 3:00, we'd had enough tacos, mariachis and crowds. We found a perfect retreat on the shaded patio at the Cosmopolitan Hotel's courtyard restaurant. The setting was uncrowded, relaxing and probably just as reminiscent of a by-gone era in San Diego as any of the Mexican restaurants teeming with tourists. Even better, the food was unexpected diverse and delicious. We enjoyed the Kung Pao Calamari, Fried Mac and Cheese Balls, housemade fresh pasta, and a sea bass entree (for under $20!) Had it been a weekday, we could've saved half price on the wine and beer, so I guess we have a reason to come back.

My wife came with me on a business trip and we visited Old Town after a very long travel day. We decided on Cosmopolitan on a whim and were not disappointed. The setting was relaxing, the food was well-prepared and very good, and the service was excellent. We might try something else while we are here but this restaurant is a place we would come bace to on a future visit.

After having eaten Mexican style food for two weeks my wife and I craved some American flavours. We were not disappointed - dining here for two consecutive evenings. Bar staff - including Titus - were helpful and attentive. I just wish we had discovered this little gem earlier on during our stay. Happy hour wines were excellent.

We spend one night in this hotel after couple of nights and a medical congress in san diego. A very nice, old fashioned hotel with well and modern equipped rooms. Very comfortable rooms, and nice breakfast. The stuff is good and helpfull. Highly recomended

What a pleasant place to stay. No TV, no Phone, just quite relaxing and enjoy the food and bar and of course Old Town. Highly recommend for a stay vacation.

You can't beat the ambience and decor of the Cosmopolitan. Truly wonderful old world charm, architecture and vibe. The building is an 1800s hotel, restaurant and saloon located in the historic Old Town state park...the hostess and servers wear period outfits (a little touristy but it works), the atmosphere is totally laid back and charming. Didn't know what to expect from the food since this is a high tourist area but wow...the food was great!!!! I started out with the Mexican Street Corn which was so good I plan to recreate it at home. Most of my group ordered burgers which were outstanding...everything from the toasted bun to the juicy meat was great!!! My colleagues said the Poke Ahi and fish tacos were likewise excellent. We were a group of 9, a largish group that is sometimes tricky for a server but she was up to the occasion....no mistakes, food was hot and it all came out at the same time. Take a minute to look around inside and outside if you go...a lot of cool stuff to see and experience. Most highly recommended.

Beautifully restored. Good food and great margaritas. We got to tour the hotel and learn of it's history. We had a wonderful lunch. There servers were very friendly and efficient.

Attended a rehearsal dinner and got great service. A group of over 70 was seating the courtyard and everyone had a great time. The servers were very attentive and ensure everyone had refreshments. The buffet was constantly replenished and the food was warm and tasty. There was adequate parking available. Weather was very comfortable for sitting outside. Décor certainly sparks conversation, especially the long wooden bar. Will certainly return

Great place to stay near public transport into San Diego and free parking! Old Town has great restaurants and shops.

We had a nice lunch with friends in a beautiful patio that is part of the Hotel by the same name. The area is historic San Diego in the state park and is a great place to spend the afternoon. The menu is more contemporary Mexican than authentic with mild sauces, very little cilantro, but it was beautifully served. We were dining with friends and everyone enjoyed their orders: Seafood enchiladas, Caesar salad, Chicken Fajitas and Carnitas grilled cheese sandwich.

Cute restaurant that makes you feel you've gone back in time. Old fashioned copper bathtub in the room. Saloon when you enter. Restaurant has good food and bar is great. Friendly bartender who makes good drinks. Hotel was under construction when we visited but accommodations were good. Friendly staff.

We came here for Brunch and were very impressed with the food. I enjoyed the breakfast burrito and my partner had the brunch burger. We then shared the caramelised banana cheesecake. Absolutely nothing wasted. All the food was excellent, the service was good and not to rushed which helped us enjoy the food and relax. We would certainly recommend dining at the cosmopolitan when you are in the old town.

We had our 29th anniversary dinner (noted on reservation) and kind of surprised we received no acknowledgement. Actually had a hard time getting a server. Menu looked pretty good but neither of us wowed with our entree. My breaded pork chop was a bit dry and the best part of my wife’s steak was the single onion ring they served with it. Nothing on the dessert menu piqued our interest. Online notes inside and patio dining but everyone was outside as inside was limited. A walk around the property gave us a kind of creepy and haunted feeling rather than old charm. If I eat in old town again I will stick with the many Mexican food establishments that are available.

This is very old but clean unique restaurant that has a great ambiance, good food and service. Reasonably priced and lots of interesting sites very close (walk to them)

Our new summer favorite. Relaxed garden atmosphere. Off the main tourist run. Great $40 dinner special for two Sunday thru Thursday. House wine, any entree, excluding rib eye, and dessert to share. Menu changes monthly. Easy to converse at your table. Waiters professional. Building historical background talk offered. Entree's beautifully presented. Bring a light sweater or jacket. Can be breezy at night. Weekends have live entertainment. Small patio bar. Fabulous historical bar in hotel. Heaters and fire pit lit when needed. Fresh fish and short ribs particularly good. Cobbler is a good dessert choice.

A historic building remodeled yet retaining the character of the mid 1800's. The restaurant has a great feeling of stepping back in time, yet menu and service were excellent. There are many places to dine in old town, but this is our favorite.

The food was good. Enjoyed sitting outside on patio. Would definitely visit again. The portobello mushroom sandwich was delicious!

The Cosmopolitan Hotel has been stunningly restored. It's freaking glorious inside and out. This is a must do if you're in Old Town. Definitely grab a drink! My favorites are the Stagecoach Smash and the Bandini Plan (named after Juan Bandini the orginial owner of the Cosmopolitan). Enjoy the ambiance, history and wonderful service.

My wife and I had a drink at the Cosmopolitan during our visit to San Diego last weekend. What a unique place! The courtyard in the center of the historic-style hotel is filled with beautiful plants and palm trees, it's an incredible, welcoming atmosphere. Our bartender was friendly and knowledgeable... and made a terrific drink! I had an Old fashioned and my wife had the Cosmopolitan's version of a Moscow Mule, the Cosmo Mule. Both were excellent. The entire place makes you feel like you have just stepped back in time! Next time we are in San Diego we plan to stay at the hotel for the full Cosmopolitan experience.

For dinner, we decided to try the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant, a former stagecoach hotel. The maître d’ told us the history of the place while we waited for our dinner. The interior of the hotel and restaurant was nearly identical to what you could expect to have seen when it was originally operating. We found out that at one point, the hotel had 22 rooms and one bathroom, but it now has 11 rooms to accommodate the extra bathrooms (thankfully!). The menu features a mixture of Mexican food, American grill, and seafood. We tried the kung pao calamari, and I had the parmesan-crusted yellowtail. It was a fun experience, and the food was great.

We tried to get in El Agave on a Saturday, but they had reservations-only. Old Town Mexican Cafe and El Coyote had huge wait lines. We decided to try the Cosmopolitan although I thought it would also be reservations-only. WE GOT IN. So try it even when you have doubts. The service people kept forgetting things, but my friends did not care much. I got the parmesan, pear flatbread which was good but I did not really find the pears. We sat in the patio which had good heating. It was quiet, we could talk, thank goodness.

The Cosmopolitan was really wonderful. We arrived during happy hour. My margarita was great. My husband had oysters on the half shell as an appetizer. They were so good and fresh he ordered more after finishing his entree. The entrees were tasty and not over priced for San Diego. Our server was the best. Highly recommend Cosmopolitan restaurant. If you get there during happy hour so much the better.

Food was excellent. Try and hit happy hour. Prices much more reasonable. My friend and I went here before show at theater in Old Town. Service was just great.

LB, Dave & Caleb best bartenders by far. If you don't want to be surrounded by loud music or young kids, then this is a great spot in old town to just chill out on your vacation. All staff and management go out of their way to accommodate your needs. Dee and Guillermo(something similar) made sure I could tour places in Old Town and found me a TV spot to watch the Belmont Stakes..........Any drink you want, they will make. Best part of my relaxed San Diego vacation, I became a regular for a week!!!!!!

The hotel and restaurant is amazing. Rich history and great food. The outside patio is beautiful. I highly recommend staying there for the weekend. Its haunted as well hehe

Great historic hotel, nice grounds, excellent welcoming staff and team. Beautiful floral patio setting for meals. Perfect location and a family treat. Lot's of charm!

I was surprised and really enjoyed my meal here. The Cosmopolitan is a big, two story building in the middle of Old Town San Diego with huge porches on both floors. The restaurant and bar are located right in the middle of the building which opens up to the sky. It has a really nice decor with many garden trestles and plants, in an outdoor setting. I had a coupon for a free appetizer and they allowed me to pick from just about anything on their appetizer menu. I chose the asian style calamari and it was excellent. For my meal I chose the fried chicken and churros because I had an urge for fried chicken. It was also excellent although the churros were just too sweet for me. One of the main things I liked about this place was not only the great ambience, but the excellent service by well-dressed waiters. I think this might be my favorite place in Old Town now.

Great hotel, and beautiful outdoor seating at the Cosmopolitan restaurant. Outdoor patio is a must. Menu looks a little small but everything on it is a hit! Ordered the seafood enchiladas and would highly recommend for all seafood lovers. Also remember ordering one of the best bloody mary's in San Diego. Great place for special occasions or a nice date.

Since we were staying in the Cosmopolitan Hotel, we decided to have lunch in its restaurant. Lovely weather and wisteria in bloom made the atmosphere quite lovely. The portobello “burger” was quite tasty; my cousin said her fish tacos were also good; the little one liked her grilled cheese sandwich & fries.

This is a classic building with history. While most of the food in of town is tourist junk, this is one of the few restaurants that is a serious restaurant with a little class.

I had been here several times with the Women's Leadership Network and I have never had poor customer service or bad food. They have live music and during the holidays the restaurant comes alive with beautiful decorations.

I always come in through the front where there is a saloon. I asked the elderly waiter if this was an old hotel. He replied that it had been a pretty good hotel in its heyday Anyway, I was really hungry but did NOT eat since I wanted to see as many museums as I could before 5pm. The host in the garden patio pointed out the various trees that were growing there: lime, lemon, orange, fig, some grapes! I did not eat but I did drink a lemonade at the bar. The bartender, Titus, advised me to visit Rosarito the next time, I visit family here. I asked about the hotel. Found out there is no tv or telephone, but wifi is available

This is part II of IV parts reviews. It might take a while for all reviews to be posted, so I'd rather number them all for continuation sake. Part I is my review about Cosmopolitan Hotel Birthday Dinner Fiasco in which I described in many details experience my husband and I had for his Birthday in September 2018. My husband had no idea, that next day after his Birthday dinner we were going back to Cosmopolitan hotel to have Afternoon Tea and stay at General Stockton room. Very first time we had Afternoon Tea at Cosmopolitan was in February 2018. We were not planning for it and to our amusement we were excepted with no advance reservation. This time it was reserved and planned ahead a time and after the previous night dinner fiasco I was so hoping, that our faith in Cosmopolitan will be restored. I sent an email to Cosmopolitan GM and he assured me, that we are expected and this time it must be a positive experience. Afternoon tea was different this time. We are foodies and we were professionally involved in Hospitality industry, including F&B for over a decade. We are working in a different field now. The selling point of Cosmopolitan is its location and for History buffs like us it is very attractive. We do not have Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons expectations, but even being very realistic we yet again realized, that service was lacking. I will mention only three major mistakes made by server during our Afternoon Tea: I. No napkins were served with our cutlery. My husband got napkins from the nearby table when we were already having Tier 3 desserts. And not a server, not supervisor Robyn noticed absence of napkins during several interactions with us. II. My cup was empty and server asked only my husband about his tea preference. After my husband’s tea was served and server was about to depart, my husband asked him to serve my tea as well. III. Our tea bags were served in a small cup every time tea cups were replenished. Tea bags with proper loose tea are brewed in a tea pot, not inside of the individual very small cup. The sizes of the tea bags were overwhelming. We asked for something we could place tea bags into so we could stir sugar. We couldn’t tell server how to serve our tea and we were just tagging along with his style of service. This is when my husband told me, that he would rather not return to Cosmopolitan. I am including photos of Cosmopolitan Afternoon Tea from February and September 2018 to demonstrate lack of consistency. It is not about some items missing or much smaller. It is about simple Three Tiers Afternoon Tea priced $25 per person and not being delivered properly. It is important to mention, that we do not consume some food due to our religious believes and in February 2018 we simply asked not to serve a "sandwich roll-up with smoked ham" as part of Tier One. In September 2018 I requested ahead a time to substitute ham with chicken. After this unfortunate experience there was my third surprise for my husband's Birthday - overnight stay at one of only 10 rooms at Cosmopolitan hotel. To be continued

We were pleasantly surprised by the restaurant which had a nice outside patio, great service and lots of food choices, we spent two evenings at the restaurant. Would recommend the pork chop

What a charmer! We stayed the night at the Cosmopolitan and found it just a cozy, pleasant surprise amid the tourists, the freeways and the transit center. Surprisingly, as the day faded into evening, the noise faded away as the tourists went home. Our meals were delicious and though there was a wedding going one, no missed steps by the restaurant, bar or continental breakfast the next morning . . . Oh, those scones were terrific! Rooms and common areas were all furnished with warm, delicious antiques. A real gem right in the middle of Old Town San Diego. And, easy walk to public transportation and plenty of Hotel parking. Loved it!

During a recent visit we were looking for a restaurant close to the Old Town Trolley Tours in the Old Town area. We found the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant and decided to give it a try. We were happy with the dinner we ordered, service was adequate but low-key. Reminded us of the restaurants located in the hotels of the Wild West.Decorations fit the time period well. It was a fun enjoyable visit.

Loved this place. Located in the heart of Old Town. Clean and well kept. Very friendly staff. Restaurant and lounge downstairs. The cab driver had a bit of difficulty finding it.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant represent the history of Old Town San Diego. Their restaurant menu lists meals to might have been provided, back when it was first built. They have a great bar with a good selection of liquors and local Craft Beers. As for the hotel, its modern in some ways, but no TV or phone. The furnishings are period in design, i.e., the Lincoln Room has wall paper from the time Lincoln was our president. Each room is quite different. Go stay at the hotel and enjoy one of the meals in the restaurant.

Came on a weekend evening for the Flamenco show. Was a very enjoyable show and not so loud that conversation was difficult. The food was delicious, some of the items are more 'old-timey' in keeping with the theme of the Hotel, but they also had newer California Cuisine dishes as well. The staff was very efficient and courteous. Will definitely be bringing others to visit as well.

Great atmosphere great service had the fish tacos very light and could tell they were fresh however the flavor was just so so nothing exciting that would want me to try these again. The first bite was just bland. Wouldn’t mind trying something else at a later date, just because of the atmosphere.

Stayed at the Cosmopolitan in Old Town for just one night! We were greeted late night by the restaurant chef who was obviously off the clock. He showed us where to check in and even offered to stay and make us a bite to eat! The woman who checked us in took the time to show us around and escort us up to our room. She also took the time to acquaint us with our authentic 1800's style room. The decor of this room really made us feel like we were living in the era! Bottled water, toiletries and a hair dryer were all part of the amenities. The room also had a/c. In the morning we were heading out quickly so we just popped in to the dining area and picked up a couple of peach scones to go~they were to die for!!!! Definitely an experience. We loved it here. We will stay again.

We had planned dinner here two nights for group sessions and interviews. For both evenings the staff was friendly and cooperative for groups over 50 people. The food was good, but the buffet was the better of the two nights. We sat essentially outside near a fire pit, which was perfect for a late October evening. Its not too loud, and a great venue.

The dining area for this restaurant is a beautiful garden patio that really adds to the experience. The menu was interesting with a few unexpected choices. I had a carnitas grilled cheese that was excellent, and there were several other items on the menu I wanted to try. Everyone in my party really liked this place.

If you'd like to spend some time exploring the Old Town and the small shops and restaurants, this is the perfect location. The room was very clean and well appointed with antique furnishings. The rooms had no television, so be sure to bring a good book. The bathroom was spacious and clean. We were out at 7 AM, too early for the breakfast buffet, so I am unable to comment on that. The staff was friendly and helpful.

No gluten free breads. They do have 2 gf choices. Nice out door seating. Nice service staff. Side salad in place of fries was good. My hamburger could have been cooked more and the server offered, but I chose to eat it undercooked. Nice looking meals.

We had an opportunity to stay in the Cosmopolitan, but I was too slow making the reservations, and we missed out. I wish I had been quicker. This place is right in the heart of old town, and it is beautiful. It is well kept, very authentic, and the staff is great. As it was, we were only able to stop in for drinks and snacks. What a great experience - our bartender LB was hilarious and fun. Food and drinks were great, and the atmosphere can't be beat. If you like that "old west" feel without having to sacrifice quality, service, and cleanliness (most places I've been like this are pretty dumpy), then Cosmopolitan is a great stop!

We just returned from a wonderful two-night stay at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant in Old Town San Diego, and we can’t say enough about the exceptional hospitality we received. From the moment we arrived, Dee, the host, made us feel right at home. He welcomed us with warmth and humor, even checking us in late without a hint of inconvenience. Throughout our stay, Dee went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed, and his infectious sense of humor kept us laughing. On our second night, after learning it was our anniversary trip, Dee surprised us with a complimentary drink — such a thoughtful and unexpected gesture that truly made our night. It’s rare to encounter someone who genuinely cares about their guests the way Dee does. Beyond the fantastic service, the hotel itself is charming, with its historic ambiance and perfect location in the heart of Old Town. We can’t wait to return and highly recommend the Cosmopolitan for anyone looking for a unique, welcoming stay in San Diego. Thanks, Dee, for making our trip unforgettable!

We were not pleased with this experience. When we arrived, we were told it would be 15-20 minutes to be seated. Sounded Ok since they had a party going on in the corner. After we saw several tables empty during the next 20 minutes, I finally went up and asked how long it would take. The gentleman at the desk makes a call on a phone or radio and then seats us. Not very attentive to the flow. It takes 10 minutes after we were seated before a waiter showed up. While friendly at first, the waiter takes our drink and dinner order. 10-15 minutes later, he delivers our drinks (2 waters and a margarita . After another 15 minutes, the waiter shows up to refill the waters and we ask for to go boxes with our meals as we need to be someplace by 9 (we were seated at 7:30 and its after 8 by now). Hardly saw the waiter from then on. Our food arrived in another 10 minutes. I don't know if the service is always this bad. Maybe the waiters were watching the Dodger playoff game, maybe it had something to do with the guy going from the bar at the party area to the kitchen area with a mop several times, I don't know. There were never more than 4 tables occupied while we were there. The big shame is that the food was actually pretty good. My pot pie was enjoyable and the salads my wife and daughter had were also liked. Perhaps we'll come back in a year or so and there will be a new wait staff so we can have an enjoyable time.

We were keen to have breakfast here as the reviews and menu was ideal, but sadly it did not open until 10am. We arrived at 9.45 but were told that it was not open. As we were meeting others we went elsewhere..

We tried the restaurant since we were staying at the hotel. We had a nice table outside but they also have indoor seating. We had the guacamole for an appetizer and it was very good and a large portion with chips. We tried the porkchops and grilled Caesar salad with chicken. The porkchops were good but the chicken on the Caesar salad was dry. There is an outdoor bar on the patio. The menu mentioned they serve a tea lunch on Saturday and Sunday. The cost is around $20-25 per person. It is a great location for old town.

My husband and I discovered this restaurant while shopping and touring Old Town San Diego. Good food in a restored historic hotel. We ate out on the patio court yard on a very nice day.

We really enjoyed our stay at the Cosmopolitan. Breakfasts were great (especially the scones and granola!), the rooms are furnished with antiques (but no TVs), and it's conveniently located near the trolley/bus/train station. The restaurant is a gem: try the pot pie and charcuterie.....we'd stay again if we ever visit San Diego again!

Had an excellent afternoon tea at the Cosmopolitan. The room was beautifully set and my server made sure to make it as comfortable as possible. Brooke opened the nearby doors for a cross breeze and ensured that I was happy with my placement, which I was. After finishing my first pot of tea I had the option to try another type which was very nice. The food was all excellent and had both classic tea snacks and unique fare that was very tasty. The only draw back was that the area wasn't clearly for eating and many groups wandered through trying to see the hotel, making it a slightly odd experience. Regardless, the food and atmosphere was worth the small inconvenience. Worth the visit!

Stopped here for lunch while visiting Old Town during a recent trip. Beautiful establishment with indoor and outdoor seating in a historic Hotel, Had the fish tacos and they were perfectly prepared. A wonderful taste of the old days in San Diego you can see by touring the hotel and the surrounding areas of Old town. Nice place to visit.

Lovely historic building in the middle of historic Old Town Park. Our food was very tasty and very reasonably priced, with excellent service. We had sandwiches and fries. The bar on site had a gypsy fortune teller to read the cards. Highly recommend both for the food and the location.

Perfect restaurant ! Nice and good food not too expansive. Old town is great and if you don’t want to eat Mexican food that is the place ! Also good with children

Significant offer, delicious courses, outstanding personnel. The restaurant is a must around the area.

We took visiting friends there for a lunch before a theater matinee. Although the courtyard was empty, we had to wait to be seated. We ordered drinks. They arrived, we ordered lunch. Other guests were seated and served; after sitting 45 minutes I flagged down the manager to get our lukewarm meals and soggy salad. They were prepping for a wedding. Walk in guests were apparently not that important. I’d suggest walking further and going to Cafe Guadalajara. The food is a lot better.

Great small place to stop by for a quick drink with friends. No crowd, and literally only 6 people, 3 at the bar who looked like and sounded like they are regulars. We sat in patio furniture, ordered some drinks and delicious flatbreads. Only hung out for an hour as we were meeting there then walking around Old Town, Free parking in dirt lot literally across the street - side entrance. Super friendly bartender - wanted to stay because of him, but had to get out and about.

Nice place in San Diego old town, it's really a typical far west mansion. Area of improvement: breakfast, too poor. Anyway highly recommended.

Over the years this is always on the list of places to go for food and drink when in San diego. Relaxed atmosphere amongst local greenery of trees, vines, plants and colorful flowers. Food is excellent and well prepared. Portions are large and shareable. Lucked out this time with $1 oysters during Tuesday Happy Hour. Was introduced to the Esquites by our waiter Bill. Both the Esquites and Bill were an exceptional find. Visited several times during our stay. Each time the Manager came by to ask about our experience. He and the staff are always friendly and smiling, making you feel welcome to stay, relax and enjoy the experience.

We stayed a couple of nights at this hotel, in the Old Town of San Diego. The hotel is old and has its quirks - our room was a decent size with a good sized bathroom. Bed was ok, although very squeaky. Room decor is quite old, as the theme of the hotel. Location is ok but to see other parts of town you will need a car. There is a great Mexican restaurant on the High Street in Old Town however - Old Town Mexican Cafe - don’t miss it. However, we did not enjoy our stay at this hotel. Outside our window was a very loud fan system that disturbed our sleep completely. Although staff was very helpful and tried figure it out, even shouting us a free dinner, this did not make it better as the hotel was full and we couldn’t change to another room. Unfortunately, even with the very friendly staff, I cannot recommend this hotel.

We arrived in San Diego mid-morning and our Mission Valley hotel room wasn’t ready yet, so we stopped in Old Town to kill some time. Everyone was hungry so we decided to grab a bite, and chose the Cosmopolitan. (Tough choice. There are no shortage of restaurants in Old Town.) It’s an old historic place. We sat in the outdoor terrace surrounded by trees, fresh herbs, and trellises covered with grape vines and wisteria. Very beautiful and very relaxing after a 5+ hour flight. (The booze didn’t hurt either.) The menu is more eclectic than most which is nice since Mexican restaurants are ubiquitous in Old Town. If you’re not in the mood for Mexican, there are other choices. The service was attentive and everyone in our party enjoyed their meal.

We were traveling during Thanksgiving and had our "Thanksgiving Dinner" here. Service was over the top wonderful and accommodating!! They allowed us to have our dog (Ballou) on the outside patio which made it nice, The tomato soup was SO good, as were all the choices. We can hardly wait to go again when in San Diego.

We had lunch at the hotel today! It was located in a central location of old town San Diego. The food was good .. I had chicken fajitas and my husband a grilled cheese sandwich with pulled pork. Clean and the service was great by Tamara

One of the best kept secrets in Old Town is the Cosmopolitan Hotel restaurant located in the heart of this district. Set in a historic house this establishment has both indoor and outdoor seating. One Sunday and Monday evenings there's a special for 2 people that includes a shared dessert and wine for a reasonable price. The menu is varied but in the Fall I love their appetizer that includes black mission figs. Occasionally special events happen here, such as readings for the Twain festival that show period furniture from one of the dining rooms. For lunch, dinner or afternoon tea, do check out the restaurant at the Cosmopolitan Hotel.

We stopped here for lunch during a day in Old Town with our family. This is a wonderful place with excellent service and quality food. We had their Turkey Club Sandwich. it was made on Artisan bread, thick sliced smoked turkey, home made mayo, fresh sliced avocado, and crispy bacon. What can I say, it was one of the best I have had with such wonderful ingredients! Like I said the service was excellent. We sat in the courtyard on a beautiful sunny day and had a wonderful lunch and great conversation. Try it instead of one of the many Mexican restaurants in the area. you will not regret it!

We did not stay in this bed and breakfast, but did walk around the grounds and go into the lobby. The proprietors were more than happy to share the history of the building. The restaurant sits in the middle of the hotel, on the outside and is a wonderland garden venue. The menu looks inviting, but lots of meat and for us who don't eat red meat, our options were limited. The hotel is intriguing. Historically, do not miss this one.

Love the old town in San Diego with it's really old school feel Cosmopolitan is central and a great place to eat Don't miss

Not what I would expect from an Old Town restaurant (like when it was Casa de Bandini) Taco Bell has more Mexican food choices. If you want Mexican then I think the better choice is Miguels in Old Town or on Shelter Drive (PT. Loma area).

Had an amazing experience at the cosmopolitan. This was our first time and will be back on our next visit. My wife had the skirt steak and was cooked to perfection. I had the braised beef rib that was as tender as I have ever had and the prices were so reasonable. Both meals were 18.95 each and after appetizers, drinks and desert we walked away under $80.00. This is a must visit.

I have no clue how anyone could have given this place more than an average rating. Ketchy atmosphere for tourists but the food close to sucks. The "Cadillac" margarita was ok but pricey $11 for not much of an ordinary drink. I asked if thevtorillas were house made which apparently they are. I just didn't ask if they were good. After a few bites of bland I pulled mine off the seafood enchiladas which were supposed to be shrimp, salmon, white fish. They are primarily overlooked taste like chicken white fish a few scant pieces of over cooked salmon and a strategically place small previously frozen salad shrimp at either end. I guess start strong finish strong hoping no one remembers in between?? The jicama slaw was good. Nothing had any taste. If you ask for it you can get salsa which makes it edible but had to wait till my food was cold to get that.

The food was mediocre. Guacamole was ok, but not particularly flavorful. Tortilla chips were not fresh. The flatbread was tasteless, and the drinks had very little alcohol. Service was good, and ambience would appeal to tourists.

Lovely Mother's Day lunch with my daughter here. Went back 2 more time to take my 90 yo mother and then my 25 yo son. Everyone loved the food and service. Great Patio dining.

Had a drink at the bar in the back of the hotel. Very out of the way place and one best settings for a drink at an out of the way place. Outside seating on some couches that were rustic, along with rustic bar in background. $1 oysters on Tuesday which were bonus and great service which made me feel like I was in some old town. Well worth the visit to this hotel.

We arrived very late, after Old Town was closed for the night. Manager Robin was expecting us and welcomed us very professionally and thoroughly. The rest of the staff was just as pleasant to deal with. Historic building with a great location in the middle of the old part of Old Town, we had breakfast on the balcony outside of our room and watched the place wake up for the day. We'll be back.

food very spicy for me. great presentation & great atmosphere! conveniently located within premises. great & friendly staff. recommended by other travelers.

In the sheltered courtyard of this historic hotel you will find charm, very good food, a super-nice staff and a quiet setting to enjoy the late afternoon or evening with friends and family. We stumbled on this but will be back. The food choices are great; service and cooking is excellent and there is really nothing to complain about. Even a room here would be fun, if perhaps a bit noisy from the stressed traffic, railway and tourists. It is authentic and fun. Much nicer than some of the tourist traps trying to look like Old-Mexico just a few hundred feet away.

The food was good but the service was one of the worst I've encountered in many years. I will not return. I did speak with the manager who said they would credit my bill for the mistakes made.

The only thing missing was to see horses tied up outside. This place is right out of a cowboy movie -- though it's a bit upscale for it to be called "frontier."

My wife and I have eaten here several times with our young son. Once during the summer when they have "tastes of the past" and several restaurants take part and two other times. The last time was a few nights ago for our first "stay-cation" in the Cosmopolitan Hotel. When we dined here for the tastes of the past, they featured a wonderful and hearty stew. They need to put this on the menu, as it was just how you'd imagine some cowboys would eat back in the late 1800s, but the quality of the meat was out of this world. The second time I had the steak and it was also very good. This brings me to our meal from the other night. My wife had the Short Rib Burger, which was amazing and I shared it with her. The flavors of the burger and short rib together with the crunchy onions were delicious. Their fries were even perfectly done and seasoned. I ordered the pot pie, which was good, but it wasn't enough food and should come with fries, as I'm glad my wife shared her dish with me. If I were to eat here again, I'd pick the burger over the Pot Pie, but if you are into the Pot Pie, get a side of fries or salad with it. The service was great, I cannot remember our buff waiter's name but he was very friendly with a good sense of humor. He wasn't afraid to address our five year old for longer than one question, which we appreciated. One of the two highlights from our meal was a) the Chef (Nico) came to our table and introduced himself and asked how everything was. We told him how much we loved the burger and he proudly talked about the source for their wonderful cuts of meat that sets them above other places and b) the Hawaiian/Blues band. They were awesome. I cannot remember their name but their were a lot of Z's in their name. All in all, and great dining experience and one I look forward to again.

Most of the places we found to eat in Old Town were mexican so this restaurant was a good alternative. The outdoor seating was nice and quiet, the food was good and the wait staff was fairly quick. We would eat here again if we were in the area.

Met a friend for an early dinner. And we should have stopped with the appetizers. Appetizers were very tasty, Ahi Cups and Street Corn. Our meal consisted of the Rib-Eye * (I asked about the * and waitress assumed it might mean a promotion or ??) It should mean, not very good and it not considered when using a Passport Card or any other discount. The other order was the Chimi-Quesa-Burrito. It may have been better if they had stuck to just one or the other. Did enjoy the apps. :-)

Good food, interesting choices. great service from friendly and knowledgeable staff. Everyone was accommodating.

Our hotel was right near Old Town San Diego so we enjoyed many meals at several restaurants. Every meal was good, but our dinner at the Cosmopolitan Hotel was outstanding. Looking at the outside we were a bit wary - (it is a historic hotel, so not exactly new) - but the menu caught our interest. Once we entered the courtyard we knew we were in for a wonderful experience. We enjoyed short ribs and a seafood combination, plus good service and great music. Enjoy!

We were touring Old Town San Diego (which, by the way, is a "must do") and were looking for someplace to have lunch. There are numerous restaurants in the Old Town area, many of which feature (almost exclusively) Mexican food. There were four in our party, and we were looking for a restaurant with a varied menu -- one that would satisfy both those "Jones-ing" for a Mexican "fix," as well as those interested in non-Mexican fare. The Cosmopolitan's menu includes everything from Kung Pau Calamari to Angus Pot Pie, seafood, steaks, and a good selection of Mexican dishes, as well. One member of our party ordered the Carnitas Sandwich (serve in Naan bread) and deemed it excellent. My wife and I chose the Seafood Enchiladas, which were outstanding. But the "hit" of the meal was the cheesecake, which was made from goat cheese! The texture was superb: very creamy, but with a hint of the graininess found in the somewhat drier, Italian style cheesecakes (usually due to the use of ricotta or mascarpone cheese and less liquid). We will definitely go to the Cosmopolitan when we are again visiting San Diego.

The food was very good actually it was excellent We Thoroughly enjoyed our dinner meal Our Server Brad was superb Very attentive engaging but not intrusive A wonderful representative for the restaurant We had Patio seating On Mother's Day evening Wind and fog coming in Heater moderately helpful A very memorable experience the night before our flight to Hawaii

The crispy chicken was awesome. The staff and service was excellent. Great atmosphere for drinks and dinner.

On Saturday afternoon we stopped by the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant in Old Town San Diego for BRUNCH. Great food choices and prices. The venue is outside and the weather was nice, they also had the heat lamps. They have a BRUNCH menu on Saturday and Sunday. They also have a Tea on Saturday and Sunday for $25. Reservations are recommended. Very nice and relaxing afternoon lunch.

Great old building, fantastic outdoor area but I think the staff had an off day for our visit. And maybe the chef! The place really is worth seeing, with its aged interior and the fantastic patio. Three staff members at the check-in desk spent several minutes taking care of their own affairs, and each other, without making eye contact with us, and without acknowledging our presence. So unconnected were they that the person who finally showed us to our table was four paces past us before we realised his "follow me" instructions were meant for us. I'm not taking major umbrage at this, just noting that it's the jaded approach of a place that does well because of its location in a highly trafficed tourist area. Our table server was much better though. We left two other venues in the vicinity because of wait times yet this place had tables to spare. That tells its own story. The food was decent but comes in closer to average than great. We had a couple of appetisers that were pretty good, while the sea bass (the catch of the day) looked and tasted like it was forgotten under the heat lamp for too long. A really neat building that deserves a look and I'm betting that we were just unlucky and that the service and dining experiences would be better on another visit.

The Cosmopolitan Restaurant was a nice place to have a relaxing, casual lunch. The menu offered a diversity of choices and the atmosphere was casual and comfortable.

Wonderful hotel, it is not for folks who want a lobby bar and rest. The rooms do not have TVs - Sounds bad? Not at all, it is wonderful, They have a balcony overlooking the park and it is a very peaceful place to stay. Beds are super comfortable and this is the best value for hotels in San Diego in my opinion. Dee the Manager is awesome and they will take good care of you stay@sdcosmo.com.

We sat outside on the patio and it was a beautiful quiet spot. We found the service to be okay, the menu to be okay, and the food to be average. They have a kids eat free option and that was nice. The options in the vicinity of Old Town all seemed to get pretty average reviews on Trip Advisor, since they're all pretty touristy, but I would check out another place if we return.

On Christmas Eve we were in Old Town San Diego for the holidays. We decided to try the High Tea again, having been shut out once by rain and another time by a wedding in the courtyard. This time was worth the wait. Laycie was very pleasant and a lot of fun. The hostess, in the picture, as we watched her work was a great staff member. Helpful, funny, and dressed for the holiday. BUT, the High Tea was all you could ask. First, in a beautiful courtyard in an original San Diego landmark, served on an antique 3 level tray. I would guess that the selections might differ day to day, but we had open faces sandwiches, scones, mini tastings, veggie arrangements, jams, dips and a large assortment of teas. Period music on the speakers, nice people, good treats. We are going again, tomorrow.

Visited Old Town while on break from sporting event. Happened upon this venue for breakfast and it was perfect!

Was visiting Old Town and Fiesta De Reyes. Stopped into check out the restaurant to determine where we might have lunch. We took a look at the bar area and decided that was the place. We received such wonderful service from LB and the food was delicious. Fun sitting at the bar and conversing with other travelers. We were welcomed in as soon as we arrived at the front door and everyone working there were so pleasant and always smiling.

On a vintage train ride to San Diego, I heard about the cosmopolitan restaurant in old town, so I decided to try it. The hotel is right from the 1800's, with only 10 or 11 rooms. Very nice and comfortable. My favorite was the restaurant. The cheese puffs as dinner rolls are hot and the fig butter just melts when they arrive. All the food is served in great style and good potions. The salads are delicious, strawberry & almond, yum! The fish and chips and fish tacos were light and meaty. The angus burgers have prime rib in the meat patties and they are huge! Everything was fresh and served with such grace. The staff was excellent. Truly old world customer service when customer meant something. This is a hidden jewel...worth a second and third visit.

This experience was disappointing, at best. We selected the venue for a 88 yr old's birthday bash and I felt like he had been alive as long as it took to prepare and get our meal served! Children can eat free if they are younger than 11,I believe. (big bonus) Prices were otherwise just standard. We were set apart from others because it was a sunny evening and we elected an indoor seating in honor of the fellow who is frequently too cold outdoors. That was a mistake! Still, we don't know how this meal was so slow. Did they not know we were there? Even when we asked them after our first hour about the timing of our meal, they were unphased. The food was neither here, nor there. ( nothing to write home about compared to the nearby Guadalajara Grille and Old Town Mexican Café restaurants). Our wait staff was über insincere about any apologies on a night when the restaurant had next to no customers.

A classic old style hotel! Be prepared, there is no TV phone or radio. We didn't mind at all. The room and view was awesome. Old West décor takes you back in time!

One of our most favorite spots in Old Town for a nice selection of draft beers for happy hour. However, if you are fortunate to be there on a Tuesday, they have $1.00 oysters!!! If you are an oyster fan, then this is the place for you! Seriously...you will forget about taco Tuesday!!

We really enjoyed our lunch in the courtyard. The food was excellent and so was the service. The menu had quite a variety to choose from. But the hotel and the courtyard really made the experience special.

Amazing atmosphere. Service was courteous and prompt. The food was just okay. One in our party had to send her steak back twice for further cooking. Still worth checking out. Maybe just not the steak if you are particular about your steak.

Nice atmosphere, plenty of menu choices, great service, excellent location. Music in the evening was very nice, talented musicians and good play list to relax and enjoy.

Each year we hop on the Coaster train from Oceanside to explore Old Town in San Diego. After exploring the many shops and historic buildings we always stop for lunch at the Cosmopolitan garden restaurant. Old Town restaurants specialize in mostly Hispanic cuisine-- not always our favorite. The Cosmopolitan has mostly an American menu. The restaurant is in the center of the hotel in a garden gazebo setting. We love the elderly waiter who has always served us. The waiters are professional and polite. The food is very good.They dress with a white shirt. tie and black pants. It makes one feel like you are in a high class restaurant but it is very casual. Just walk through the front door past the beautiful antique bar and you enter the outside court where the restaurant is.

Misty, the hostess, is the entire reason we stayed. Please give her a raise! Looking for brunch and a tv to watch a playoff game she educated us on the theme of old town. So finding a sports bar would be difficult but thru her pleasantries and recommendations of the good food we stayed. Breakfast was fantastic! Food and atmosphere superb and chill!

Service could use a little fine tuning, but food and ambiance made up for it. Very laid back with huge fire pit. Drinks were good. Had oysters first and they were great. Lamb was good, not as good as it had potential for though. The chefs pasta was delicious with misc. seafood and chorizo. You MUST order the home made churros for dessert. Add a side of ice cream and there's plenty for two.

Great location: the state historic park and right next to old town. Not a huge menu but good options can be found, food is not spectacular but pretty good, server we had was very nice.

Great place for lunch. Dining in an open and large area is not what we wanted for a B-Day diner. Staff attentive and helpful and efficient. They were out of oysters--Booooo. Cowboy 16 oz ribeye steak was fabulous, which we split. They do not carry Henrinks Gin------Booo, however substitute Martini gin was excellent.. Historic place but not for intimate face to face diner venue. Lunch--YES.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel is a great San Diego destination in the heart of Old Town. While I've never actually rented a room, we eat & drink here whenever a relative or old friend comes to visit town as ritual. The vintage 'wild west' feel of the dining courtyard is contrasted with an outdoor garden of fruit trees and other foliage. I've seen pomegranate & lime trees bearing fruit. In the center there is a fire pit that looks like a long wall of flame. When lit at night it is very beautiful. The bar area has some sort of pseudo-western Asian lantern thing going on… somehow it works. Hopefully when you visit you'll be served by a bartender who has worked there for several years. He offers some excellent service and while, not a 'mixologist' type hipster guy - just a genuinely competent and consistent bartender who knows his stuff and can work a full bar like the best of them. He has served me well, and I thank him every time. The next words I write are the most regrettable: the food 'can' and by 'can' I mean 1/10 and/or 10% of the time can be 'less than excellent.' I will knock one point off for that because I can't knock off a 1/2 point. I only know about the change in quality because at one point we went there every couple weeks! Also we had Thanksgiving there when the family was out of town and it was great! But there was a time when consistency was an issue for me, and I understand it but I have to write an honest review for you. Believe me… there have been beautiful moments of steamed mussels in a red sauce, but that sauce changed over time. I loved that sauce. It was there for me at a time when I needed it - though - now it only exists in my mind, as a beautiful poem of love to the flavor Gods. Sadly, that sauce is gone. Sadness and loss of sauce aside, the Cosmopolitan isn't about the food alone. It's a centrally located place where you can meet a lot of people for cocktail in a nice sit down environment where you can order 10 appetizers and enjoy yourself, as I have many times and will continue to do so. Perhaps you want to have dinner somewhere they have cloth napkins and a wine list? Do it. Don't complain about the parking, park far away and walk. You need the exercise anyway. Me? I will take my family and friends to the Cosmopolitan immediately after their flight lands from some frozen place like Iowa, and they'll take a sip of their chardonnay & a deep breath of lime tree blossoms & pomegranate flowers and exclaim, "I love San Diego, it's so beautiful", while I will noddingly agree, sipping my cocktail.

Yesterday I went with my son for a belated Mother's Day outing. We had reservations for an outdoor table at the Cosmopolitan and were seated right away a little after 12 noon. We were in a cozy shady spot where we could hear music in the background. The waitress came over right away and we ordered drinks and our food. My son ordered a Bloody Mary and knew to say "no bacon". I was surprised but hadn't realized that since bacon is such a big favorite these days they are now making drinks with it!! It came with enough veggies to make a salad. My mimosa was lovely too. We enjoyed the atmosphere while waiting for our food. He had salmon eggs Benedict and I had a goat cheese/onion and spinach omelet. We each tasted the other's meal and thought both were prepared excellently! I particularly enjoyed the fact that the Benedict eggs were on top of a buttermilk biscuit instead of an English muffin! I shouldn't have ordered dessert but I had to taste the unusual combination of flan with red velvet cake! Oh my!! It was just wonderful!! The flan was on top of the cake and service with chocolate/rasberry(?) sauce , whip cream(which I don't really need(LOL) and a strawberry. We really didn't want to leave but we had theater tix nearby and so we forced ourselves. I'll have to come back with my husband some day soon!

We stayed here one night and had the Seeley suite. The reproduction furniture was true to the era it was to represent. There are no TV's and no phones in the rooms. There are only 10 rooms and you pick the room you want when you book. There are books in the rooms that give you the history of the place and that was interesting reading. The bar at the hotel was very nice and we had some awesome oysters there for happy hour at $1 apiece. The drinks were reasonable. I thought it was an interesting place to stay but if you want services you might want to stay somewhere else. The continental breakfast was good. There were some wonderful scones, fruit, juice and coffee.

After the great Tour of Old Town with Al Wolfin, we looked around the Cosmopolitan hotel, and went for a drink at the bar, in the quadrangle, which also included a patio for the restaurant. We ordered Margaritas, 1 with salt, and 1 with out, (which was $2.00 less)! I asked the bartender Fabian, about their beer selection and he let us sample three different beers, an IPA, a Cream ale and a Brown ale. Then he suggested that we sample some Tequila and after agreeing on a price, he let us try their most expensive and second most expensive tequilas. See pics. We thought the first one tasted more like Cognac and the second one more like Single Malt scotch. Obviously both had been aged well; Not like the Tequila we were used to. The manager Dee came and asked how everything was going several times and we ended up talking to him quite a bit. He had visited Canada often and he loves the Apple cider from the Okanogan. Really well run establishment. Maybe next visit we'll stay in the Hotel!

This is really one of the few decent non-Mexican or South American restaurants in Old Town. We have dined here on three recent occasions and food was hot, tasty, reasonably priced (for Oldtown), and the drinks were very good. Outside dining with heaters. Our waiter was on top of the action as a major wedding party was also being served while we were there. Plenty of parking options near by. The Cygnet Theater is almost next door, so lunch or dinner and a great play is another option to consider. The restaurant is the Historic Old Town Park so a stroll before or afterwards in a nice way to eith kick off or end the meal.

Stopped by here when visiting the historic old town San Diego area. We ordered from the brunch menu some house coffee, granola and a pork and cheese melt. The granola was very sweet almost like a dessert, and the sandwich was a bit dry. However staff are very friendly and it is all in a beautiful setting.

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I had dinner at this restaurant. The ambience is rather unusual resembling the "Old West" with host and hostess dressed appropriately. We decided to try their Mexican food and the results were somewhat disapointing. I ordered the tostada stack and my wife ordered the lamb shank. One good aspect of this restaurant was their very good service. I was particularly impressed by the waiter that served our beers, he started by asking ; "Can I have the pleasure of pouring your beers?. That was so unusual that we will always remember it. My wife was more or less satisfied with her food, but mine was not that great. The tostadas were smothered with an excess of beans, the vegetables did not taste very fresh or crispy, and the meat was somewhat dry. The worst part of this was the fact that being stacked on top of each other, really made them difficult to eat. Somehow the kitchen staff tried to be "over- creative" in the presentation of this dish, serving the tostadas side and side by side would have been a lot better. Needless to say that the tostadas made for a very sloppy eating requiring extensive use of my dinner napkin. Perhaps other items in the menu would taste better. If you want Mexican Food while in the Old town, go somewhere else and try your luck.

We had a late lunch here on an open patio which was lovely. The food was very good, cooked and seasoned perfectly. It was an excellent meal. Our server, Bill, was wonderful. The chairs on the patio are very narrow, so if you have larger hips, it is quite a squeeze to sit in them. We recommend the restaurant!

Had dinner here on a Sunday night. This restaurant is located in the patio located in the center of the hotel. it has a very lovely atmosphere. I had the beef puff pastry pot pie and it was very good. I wish it would have had a little more meat though. The vegetables in the pie were cooked but not over done. My husband had the Cowboy Ribeye which was also delicious. He wasn't crazy about the fried onion ring though. t kept stealing his mashed yams. We shared a berry cobbler which was not sickly sweet as other cobblers can be. The service was also good. The server was very polite.

Stopped here for dinner. It was just OK. Great outdoor seating with live music. I had a Caesar salad with salmon, It was just ok. Took a long time to get the food though it was mostly empty.

Had drinks with the bartender Laurie on Saturday great service great drinks wonderful atmosphere will definitely be back

The restaurant had a nice atmosphere with outside seating and fire pits. The entertainment was okay. It was a little loud and we had a family member who was hard of hearing so they agreed to turn down the music some and the hostess agreed to move our large reserves party quickly. Those of us who got cold easy sat by the fire which worked perfectly. Be aware the seating is outside which was nice with the weather that day and probably most days there. The food was all very tasty. The prices were higher than most places there and although the hostesses were very attentive the waiter was a little absent during the meal so our drinks didn't get prompt refills and he wasn't even in eye sight so we could motion for him. Some of us split a meal and were planning to order dessert and more drinks but by the time the waiter came back the party was ready to go. My drink was great but the frozen margarita was watered down. I would recommend this place and go again if I were to go back. One not so great waiter can happen anywhere and the food was so good, more upscale and original than the other places around.

We visited shortly after this place re-opened and were not very please with the experience. We returned last night because we were going to a play at the Cygnet Theater in Old Town. My spouse and I were both very happy to learn that the atmosphere, the food and the service had all improved ten-fold. We shared the Ahi Lettuce cups, my spouse had the Chile Relleno and I had the short rib. Everything was well prepared, beautiful and delicious. And nearly all the entrees were priced under $20.00. We'll be back.

We had a large group and literally every single one of us loved our meal. Their options were unique and delicious. Seating was outdoors and it was rather chilly. No problem. They have heaters everywhere. The service was great.

I recently had the brunch at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and was pleasantly surprised. I sat out on the patio and ordered a glass of champagne and the Eggs Benedict. It is served with crispy smoked ham -- nothing like I have had before. The patio is very pleasant at this time of year and is mostly shaded. The Hotel is said to be haunted by multiple spirits but I only saw the spirit in my friends Gin and Tonic! We took are time eating and talking and no one was rushing us to leave. The patio at night is also amazing with music and a huge fire pit!

If there is a Zero for a rating, that is what occurred on Dec. 8. The restaurant sort of mixed up our reservations for 12 and weren't prepared for the tea, which the reservation was made for. We waited an hour and a half before our tiers of food was delivered. In the meantime, we were served a tea bag in a pottery mug (not tea cup) with a plastic spoon and tepid water. When the tiers of food arrived, they were not fully plated....not 4 of each for the 4 people who were supposed to be served/tier. The manager was NO help. Denied the above.

we walked past here a few times and read the menu and as staying in the old town thought we give it a go for late breakfast. we were greeted well on arrival and shown to a table all the staff are in themed uniforms for the era of the building, so all comes across well. we were served hot coffee then a lady clearly a senior staff member in her coat not in the theme asking people if the coffee was hot.....odd we thought , top up coffee after was cold so maybe she did have a purpose but maybe dress up like the rest of the staff. The food was all OK nothing amazing and the price was OK but the place lacked a little attention, even a goodbye would have been nice