Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection by Hilton at La Jolla Shores recently announced the Wednesday, May 15 opening of Sea & Sky, a new sea-to-table restaurant situated atop the 11th floor. As the newest concept to occupy the location, the restaurant plans to deliver a sophisticated menu featuring the area’s freshest seafood and locally harvested ingredients, offered for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week.

Sea & Sky’s newly designed space imagined by hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates, captures the essence of the property’s seaside locale, featuring a soothing color palette of muted ocean-blue tones and light wood accents, wall coverings, and textiles reminiscent of La Jolla’s famed sandy beaches.

The 100-seat dining room and bar area now feature retractable window panes allowing sea breezes, and a newly enclosed show kitchen allows guests a front-row seat to the culinary action. The newly expanded bar with a marble top patterned after the natural mosaic of sea glass and stones from below offers a photo-worthy setting for guests to enjoy casual drinks, bites, and sunsets with floor-to-ceiling west-facing windows.

In addition to the open main dining room and bar area, the restaurant also features an elegant private dining room with seating for up to 16, to accommodate more intimate celebrations and business dinners.

Anthony Wells, previously of Juniper & Ivy restaurant, has been tapped as executive chef, overseeing menu development and day-to-day operation of the new restaurant. Wells, known for his creative “West Coast cookery” approach to fine dining, which has garnered countless accolades including a Michelin Guide California Bib Gourmand award, and his own James Beard nomination for Best Chef, California in 2022, has created a menu focused on showcasing regional ingredients with elegant presentations.

Menu

Breakfast features sweet and savory items including Apple Pancakes adorned with caramel cinnamon anglaise, and candied pecans; a signature Omelet with caramelized onions, Holy Cow Swiss cheese, chives, and optional lobster addition; and Baked Eggs with chorizo, guajillo pepper sauce, lime crema, and cotija cheese, served with warm tortillas.

Weekend brunch, served Saturdays and Sundays, expands on the restaurant’s breakfast menu with several lunch-style options such as a Smoked Turkey Sandwich with herb mayo, creamy avocado, bacon, and Holy Cow Swiss, stacked on fresh ciabatta, served with fries; a Chopped Salad with salami, California goat gouda, house-pickled giardiniera, and breadcrumbs, drizzled with sweet garlic dressing; and the Brunch Burger with caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, and a sunny side up egg, on a sesame seed bun.

The lunch menu debuts at 11 a.m. each weekday, introducing several handheld and entrée selections highlighting freshly caught seafood. Highlights from the menu include a pair of Tuna Smashburger Sliders decorated with cabbage slaw, and chipotle tartar sauce, and served with fries; Yellowtail Crudo with coconut milk, Fresno chile, purple daikon, and lime, topped with crispy ginger; and Shrimp Ravioli with Italian sausage, Calabrian chili tomato Sauce, and broccoli gremolata.

The dinner menu that features a selection of creative starters, followed by several main course options highlighting land and sea. First course selections include Mussels in a broth of garlic and cilantro butter, dusted with chorizo breadcrumbs; Scallops with English peas, morel mushrooms, bacon dashi, and Meyer lemon; and creamy Bone Marrow served with tuna sashimi, pineapple pico, and pepita salsa macha, served with warm tortillas.

Main course highlights include Wild King Salmon bathed in smoked mushrooms, green garlic, and clam and artichoke chowder; White Sea Bass served with charred spring onions, and green romesco sauce; and Bone-In NY Strip Steak with sides of Alaskan potatoes, horseradish bearnaise, and house-made steak sauce.

The dessert menu features treats made in-house, including a Churro Ice Cream “Sandwich” with fuille de brik, cinnamon sugar, and smoked vanilla ice cream; île Flottante, which translates to floating island, with Cara Cara anglaise, fresh citrus, and crispy sorrel meringue; and a Chocolate Tart sweetened with salted caramel, dark chocolate ganache, and whipped mascarpone.

Sea & Sky serves as the crown jewel of the newly renovated La Jolla landmark hotel, with the March 2024 completion of a multi-million-dollar revamp, encompassing all 110 guestrooms and suites, 11th-floor public areas, and meeting space. A second phase of renovation, slated for late 2024, includes the property’s lobby area, landscaped entrance, courtyard, and al fresco pool lounge.

The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is served from 7-11 a.m., and lunch from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Weekend brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays, from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner is served daily from 5-10 p.m. Reservations are not required but encouraged and can be made by calling 858-551-3600, or on opentable.com for dates starting May 15. For more information, visit seaandskylajolla.com.

Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection by Hilton is located at 7955 La Jolla Shores Drive and is managed by Aimbridge Hospitality. Para más información visite hotellajolla.com.