San Diego’s beloved fine dining restaurant, George’s at the Cove, is ready to reopen its Ocean Terrace rooftop dining area. After a three-month closure for remodeling, the Ocean Terrace will reopen to serve guests on Friday, February 6. Reservations for dinners will be available from Saturday, February 7.
Ocean Terrace at George’s at the Cove Reopens Following Renovation
Overlooking the beautiful ocean, the Ocean Terrace has reopened at George’s at the Cove, located at 1250 Prospect Street in La Jolla, California. The dining area will reopen on Friday, February 6, after a three-month remodeling closure.
The initial reopening applies only to Ocean Terrace. Seating on the first day will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations will be accepted starting from February 7.
The 40-year-old oceanfront restaurant in La Jolla temporarily closed its Ocean Terrace rooftop dining area and bar on November 10 for a two-month renovation. The restaurant was scheduled to wrap up by mid-January 2026. During the remodel, the Level 2 dining room and bar continue regular lunch and dinner service.
The renovation was majorly focused on structural upgrades and guest comfort, while preserving the terrace’s signature ocean views. Partner and Chef Trey Foshee said the changes were designed to blend seamlessly with the existing space.
“Much like the renovations of two baseball cathedrals in Fenway Park and Wrigley Field in recent years, our improvements are meant to be mostly seamless to blend in with what we already had,” Chef Foshee added.
He also shared, “You just don’t mess with something magical. While the price tag of our remodel eclipsed the seven-figure mark, guests may not even notice everything. And that’s OK, especially with that million-dollar view of the water they enjoy that has never changed.”
Along with Foshee, Executive Chef Masa Kojima and Pastry Chef Zach Schneider are leading the restaurant’s culinary team. General Manager Mike Grave oversees the front-of-house operations.
Updated Rooftop Dining Experience
The newly remodeled Ocean Terrace features a new foundation and flooring and a four-foot-tall perimeter glass wall designed to improve sightlines without steel pillars. Additionally, a redesigned umbrella system with integrated LED lighting, permanent heaters, new wall sconces, updated dining tables, and a new host stand was also added. The overall seating capacity of the main dining area remains unchanged at 120 guests.
To mark the reopening, the restaurant will offer 50 percent off select bottles of Hill Family Estate wines for the first month of in-person dining on the Ocean Terrace. George’s relationship with the Napa Valley winery spans more than three decades.
The Ocean Terrace renovation follows a separate remodel completed last April to the restaurant’s Level 2 dining area and bar. That project added a new roof with five retractable awnings, a high-top counter with ocean-facing seating, updated dining tables, refreshed furnishings, and new lighting.
The restaurant was founded by George Hauer in August 1984. The restaurant initially occupied the first and second floors of the building, with the Ocean Terrace opening in June 1991, creating a three-level oceanfront dining experience.
Hauer concluded, “It’s been an incredible ride for more than 41 years, and we hope our investment ensures that the restaurant will remain a go-to spot for the next several decades. We always want to provide a special place for both locals and visitors to our great city.”
Over the decades, George’s at the Cove has grown into a La Jolla landmark, blending coastal views with an evolving dining experience. With continued investment in its spaces and remodeling of the Ocean Terrace, the restaurant aims to remain a favorite destination for both locals and visitors.
