New, yet iconic. This is the theme of the revamped Tom Ham’s Lighthouse, a San Diego institution for more than 40 years on the tip of Harbor Island. The $3.5 million renovation, designed by the late architect Graham Downes, includes new interior design, new menus, a bayfront bar and one of the best views in San Diego.
 “My father, Tom Ham, built Tom Ham’s Lighthouse in 1971. This was his dream, to build a restaurant that highlighted the history of San Diego,” said co-owner Susie Baumann.
“I think he would be pleased with the outcome of this remodel,” she said. “The genius of our architect Graham Downes was that he could see what an older building could be.”    
The Baumann family said it worked closely with Downes and his team to ensure that every interior finish was updated to complement the classic early California design of the building. An outdoor dining deck was added to the second floor and features infinity glass, providing unobstructed views of the San Diego Bay and the city skyline. 
As guests enter Tom Ham’s Lighthouse, they will see a unique keg room, which sets the tone of the restaurant. A bayside wedding site was added, and artist Christopher Puzio created the wedding arch with 2,000 individual aluminum rings, which soon will become an icon on the bay. The new design also moved the upstairs bar to face the bay.
The new upstairs bar features 32 beers on tap, including “Beacon No. 9” brewed by Ballast Point in honor of Tom Ham’s Lighthouse Beacon No. 9, a working Coast Guard lighthouse. The majority of the beers will be from established local breweries, like Karl Strauss, Ballast Point, Stone Brewery, Green Flash, Port Brewing, the Lost Abbey and Manzanita.
Also featured are craft cocktails like Saucy Sally with light rum, Chambord and lemon verbena and Wickie’s Salvation with Maker’s Mark, ginger liquor, blackberries and rosemary syrup. An extensive wine list will be offered by the bottle and glass.
Susie, her husband Larry, and sons Grant, Tommy and Andy own and manage Tom Ham’s Lighthouse and the Bali Hai Restaurant.
For more information, visit www.tomhamslighthouse.com, or follow them on Facebook and like them on Twitter.