About Juan Jasper Kitchen & Wine

Juan Jasper Kitchen & Wine is one the most romantic restaurant in San Diego. Located in Golden Hill, this a tiny wine bar and restaurant that serves delicious food and wine to match. The space itself is very small, with only a few tables and a communal seating bar outside, so be ready to be friendly with your neighbors. Juan Jasper feels more like having a meal at a friends house, if your friend was a rich Spanish gentry who knew a lot about wine, was an amazing chef, and an even better host.

Their food philosophy at Juan Jasper is to serve good food that isn’t pretentious. They have a lot of comfort foods that bring back memories of their childhoods or dishes that remind them of places they have traveled. For the wine, they bring in wines from all over the world that showcase the varietal and the terroir while always being food friendly. Their menu changes every few days, so they make sure there are wines that will pair with everything they cook, as well as changing up wines for the weather.

Now, what other place do you know that will change their wine menu for the weather?

One of the best things you can do at Juan Jasper is buy a cut of meat from the butcher shop next door, Sepulveda Meats & Provisions, and bring it to the chefs at the restaurant and have them prepare it for you. All you have to do is pick a bottle of wine, and we’d recommend a side or two, and you will have one of the best dinners you can get in San Diego.

Juan Jasper does not take reservations.

Best Parts

• One of the best date night spots in San Diego
• Great wine, better service
• Not cooking your own groceries

Behind The Counter

Juan Jasper Kitchen & Wine is owned by local San Diegan John Sepulveda – also the owner of the butcher store next door, Sepulveda Meats (so don’t feel guilty about getting your meat from there and bringing it to the restaurant). The name Juan Jasper is an homage to dads – the owner John, his dad’s name was Juan, and his partner Mark, who is also the chef, his dad’s nickname was Jasper.

Juan Jasper is active in the local community and cares about their workers and patrons. They donate to the local schools and sports teams for fundraising, as well as causes close to their heart, such as a recent fundraiser and awareness initiative for living kidney donation. (One of the butchers’ step-father is in need of a kidney transplant, so his family did an event with a small custom menu and proceeds went to the foundation). They also donated food and time for the Bloom Bash for Art Alive which raises money for the San Diego Museum of Art.