The Dish: New hidden cocktail lounge Arcana opening in Encinitas
Arcana, a speakeasy-style hidden cocktail lounge, opens Thursday, May 28, in downtown Encinitas.
Created by Paula Vrakas and her business partners, who own the Roxy Encinitas restaurant, Arcana is a 47-seat cocktail bar hidden inside the new retail boutique Archive, which is next door to the Roxy, at 509 S. Coast Highway 101.
Arcana serves eight signature cocktails, including a few inspired by San Diego County history, including The Kraken and The Man Who Made It Rain. There’s also a small bites menu with items including dolmades, deviled eggs and chocolate covered cherries and strawberries. 5-10 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 5 to 11 p.m. Thursdays and 5 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. 509 S. Coast Highway 101, Encinitas. opentable.com/r/arcana-encinitas.
French café debuts in Encinitas: Mon Cheri Café & Bistro opened May 16 in the former Echale wine bar space in The Lumberyard shopping center in Encinitas. The new restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a Viennoiserie pastry program, coffee and matcha drinks and a full breakfast menu. French favorites include quiches, French onion soup, Niçoise salad, crepes and beef Bourgignon, plus beer and wines. 947 S. Coast Highway 101, Suite 103D, Encinitas. instagram.com/moncheri_encinitas
Black Bear Diner opens in Vista: Vista’s long-awaited Black Bear Diner finally opened its doors on Tuesday, May 26, in the long-shuttered Coco’s location near Highway 78. The casual restaurant’s opening had been delayed by more than a year. The Black Bear Diner chain has 166 locations in 14 states, including a restaurant in El Cajon. The chain is known for its rustic, bear-inspired décor and a breakfast-all-day option as well as dishes like chicken pot pie, meatloaf, fried chicken and an all-you-can-eat fish fry on Friday nights. 605 W. Vista Way, Vista. blackbeardiner.com
La Valencia celebrates centennial: La Jolla’s La Valencia Hotel turned 100 this year. To celebrate, it has introduced two themed events. From 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays on its Med Patio, the hotel is hosting the 1926 Social Club, a Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age-themed weekly event with live jazz music and Prohibition-era cocktails. The hotel is also offering a new $100 prix-fixe three-course dinner for two for a limited time. Chef Ernest Lopez’s menu includes a shared Mediterranean mezze starter course, two shrimp and steak skewers with vegetables and a tiramisu/sorbet dessert for two, plus a free glass of sparkling wine. 1132 Prospect St., La Jolla. lavalencia.com
McDonald’s rolls out new drinks: McDonald’s restaurants have added six new specialty drinks to their McCafe menu. They include three “refreshers”: strawberry watermelon and blackberry passion fruit, which each have a base of lemonade with fruit flavors and freeze-dried fruit, and mango pineapple, with lemonade, fruit flavors and strawberry boba. There are also three crafted sodas, which are classic soft drinks with cold foam and other mix-ins: Sprite Berry Blast, Orange Dream (Hi-C Orange Lavaburst with vanilla flavoring) and Dirty Dr. Pepper (with vanilla flavoring).
Three new chain locations: Three quick-service chain restaurants serving Hawaiian, Mexican and Greek food have recently opened new outlets in San Diego County:
- L&L Hawaiian Barbecue opened its 100th California location this month at 7610 Via Campanile, Suite 142, Carlsbad. hawaiianbarbecue.com
- Chipotle Mexican Grill opened a new location May 12 at 507 W. Mission Ave., Escondido. chipotle.com
- Nick the Greek opened its 100th U.S. location in Clairemont, joining others in Mira Mesa, San Diego and 4S Ranch. 5604 Balboa Ave., San Diego.nickthegreek.com
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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 6:22 AM.