Located next door at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, the storied Marine Room is justly famous for its unique dining experience. Built on the sand on pylons and sit directly over the ocean at high tide, the restaurant features tempered glass windows against which the surf pounds, creating a hypnotic natural display throughout the meal.

Since its opening in 1941, the restaurant has twice been flooded when storm surges broke through the glass-most recently undergoing a complete renovation during the El Nino storms of 1982 that restored its funky retro décor, complete with its neon sign over the entrance which calls to mind Rat Pack—era Las Vegas. Since its opening, the Marine has been a magnet for celebrities, a tradition that continues to this day.

The restaurant is open nightly for dinner from 5:30 to 9:30 (10 on Fridays and Saturdays) with a bar area open starting at 4. The menu is rich and luxurious, featuring seafood from around the world-almond bacon coated cobia with vanilla leek and anise carrot puree is a typical dish-along with turf standbys like filet mignon and more exotic fare like Kurobuta pork cheeks and New Zealand elk loin. Despite the luxe surroundings and expansive menu, the restaurant is very accommodating of children, with off-menu items including fettuccine alfredo, pasta marinara, or fried tofu available upon request.

The Marine Room also features a very popular “high tide breakfast” on select dates, with times posted on the restaurant’s website to correspond to peak tide. Kids and their parents will thrill to the dramatic play of sun and surf against the windows-as well as a decadent buffet spread of items such as Grand Marnier chocolate brioche French toast and rock shrimp scramble.