Cellar Hand closed permanently on 19 July 2026. Pali Wine Co., the company behind it, is relocating its tasting room into the same Hillcrest space.
What happened
Cellar Hand served its last day on 19 July 2026 at 1440 University Avenue in Hillcrest. Rather than the space going dark, Pali Wine Co. is moving its tasting room in, with a soft opening reported for 12 August and a grand opening for 22 August 2026. So the address stays in use for wine, under a different name and a different format.
What it was
Cellar Hand ran as a wine-focused restaurant in the heart of Hillcrest, pairing an extensive California list with a Mediterranean-leaning kitchen built on locally sourced produce. It held a strong local following across nearly 150 Yelp reviews.
Where to drink in San Diego instead
Our San Diego guide covers current options across the city, and the San Diego wine bars list has the closest equivalents still trading.
Sources: whatnow.com San Diego, Pali Wine Co. relocation report; cellarhandhillcrest.com; Yelp, 2026.
