Guidebook for San Diego
Food Scene
One of the best coffeeshops in all of San Diego. Often has live music on weekends. In a beautiful neighborhood, lovely for walks.
217 locals recommend
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters
5627 La Jolla BlvdOne of the best coffeeshops in all of San Diego. Often has live music on weekends. In a beautiful neighborhood, lovely for walks.
Truly fantastic high-end pizza and italian food, with knowledgable waiters. Do ask about the wine. Vegetarian/Vegan friendly.
33 locals recommend
Ambrogio15
926 Turquoise StTruly fantastic high-end pizza and italian food, with knowledgable waiters. Do ask about the wine. Vegetarian/Vegan friendly.
One of the best brunches around. Can walk there along the beach!
112 locals recommend
The Mission Mission Beach. WE ARE TEMPORARILY CLOSED! PLEASE KEEP CHECKING! NORTH PARK AND SOMA OPEN FOR PATIO DINING! TAKEOUT AND DELIVERY!
3795 Mission BlvdOne of the best brunches around. Can walk there along the beach!
The most So-Cal place you will ever go. Fantastic all-vegan menu with phenomenal desserts, served in the same space as an aerial yoga studio, on a rooftop with stunning views of the ocean and La Jolla. On the top floor, above the Pharmacy. One of the best vegan breakfasts in the city.
62 locals recommend
Trilogy Sanctuary
7650 Girard AveThe most So-Cal place you will ever go. Fantastic all-vegan menu with phenomenal desserts, served in the same space as an aerial yoga studio, on a rooftop with stunning views of the ocean and La Jolla. On the top floor, above the Pharmacy. One of the best vegan breakfasts in the city.
Fantastic seafood taco shop. Made it onto Yelp's top 50 best reviewed restaurants in the country a few years ago. Deserves it. Best seafood tacos I've ever had. No outdoor seating (take your tacos to the beach, which is a few blocks away!). Often a long line, so go during off-hours.
323 locals recommend
Oscars Mexican Seafood
703 Turquoise StFantastic seafood taco shop. Made it onto Yelp's top 50 best reviewed restaurants in the country a few years ago. Deserves it. Best seafood tacos I've ever had. No outdoor seating (take your tacos to the beach, which is a few blocks away!). Often a long line, so go during off-hours.
Nice local coffeeshop, plenty of seating, great wifi. Good sandwiches in addition to coffee drinks. This is where I go when I want to work on my laptop for a few hours. Check out the boutique next door for excellent locally-made crafts and gifts.
44 locals recommend
Java Earth Coffee
4978 Cass StNice local coffeeshop, plenty of seating, great wifi. Good sandwiches in addition to coffee drinks. This is where I go when I want to work on my laptop for a few hours. Check out the boutique next door for excellent locally-made crafts and gifts.
Not in the neighborhood, but worth the trip. Most unique (and excellent) vegan restaurant you'll ever go to. Also a fantastic bar with unusual cocktails. Worth it just for the decorations, which are....different. Order the Seitan Skewers as an appetizer, and check out the bathrooms. Oh, also an amazing vegan brunch menu.
140 locals recommend
KINDRED
1503 30th StNot in the neighborhood, but worth the trip. Most unique (and excellent) vegan restaurant you'll ever go to. Also a fantastic bar with unusual cocktails. Worth it just for the decorations, which are....different. Order the Seitan Skewers as an appetizer, and check out the bathrooms. Oh, also an amazing vegan brunch menu.
Fig Tree Cafe Pacific Beach
5119 Cass StBrunch. They do it well. Nice outdoor seating.
This hard-to-find spot has the best thai food in the area, and really nice ambience. It's tucked inside a residential neighborhood where you wouldn't expect a restaurant to be. I recommend that Prik King (green beans).
16 locals recommend
Turmeric Thai Kitchen
6435 Caminito BlythefieldThis hard-to-find spot has the best thai food in the area, and really nice ambience. It's tucked inside a residential neighborhood where you wouldn't expect a restaurant to be. I recommend that Prik King (green beans).
All vegan thai food that is superb. The "duck" larb is phenomenal.
8 locals recommend
Veganic Thai Cafe
University AvenueAll vegan thai food that is superb. The "duck" larb is phenomenal.
Drinks & Nightlife
Basically an absinthe and wine bar with tapas and live music every night. Go for absinthe, papas bravas, great romantic ambience and jazz music. Don't order the sangria. Excellent place to go for drinks and music after dinner at Ambrogio15 across the street.
52 locals recommend
Cafe Bar Europa
873 Turquoise StBasically an absinthe and wine bar with tapas and live music every night. Go for absinthe, papas bravas, great romantic ambience and jazz music. Don't order the sangria. Excellent place to go for drinks and music after dinner at Ambrogio15 across the street.
Shopping
Really well-curated boutique that sells jewelry, crafts, and homewares all made by local artists. Everything is well-priced. It's the perfect place to get a thoughtful gift for someone back home, between $10-$50.
10 locals recommend
Gallery At Lands End
4984 Cass StReally well-curated boutique that sells jewelry, crafts, and homewares all made by local artists. Everything is well-priced. It's the perfect place to get a thoughtful gift for someone back home, between $10-$50.
Essentials
Pretty decent grocery store with good produce (including organic), and lots of frozen foods. They carry fresh bread from Bread & Cie, and they have a big selection of wine and beer. A little pricier than Sprouts or Vons, but not bad considering that I can walk there in my neighborhood.
47 locals recommend
Gelson's Market
730 Turquoise StPretty decent grocery store with good produce (including organic), and lots of frozen foods. They carry fresh bread from Bread & Cie, and they have a big selection of wine and beer. A little pricier than Sprouts or Vons, but not bad considering that I can walk there in my neighborhood.
Takes credit cards, open until 10pm, lots of machines, wifi, and TVs. Next door to a nail salon (so you can pamper yourself while you do your laundry), and a variety of coffeeshops and restaurants.
Spin Spa
5010 Cass StTakes credit cards, open until 10pm, lots of machines, wifi, and TVs. Next door to a nail salon (so you can pamper yourself while you do your laundry), and a variety of coffeeshops and restaurants.
Entertainment & Activities
You can reserve seating. It's in a mall that has plenty of great restaurant options. Try the gelato that's right at the bottom of the escalator to the theaters.
28 locals recommend
ArcLight Cinemas - La Jolla
4425 La Jolla Village DrYou can reserve seating. It's in a mall that has plenty of great restaurant options. Try the gelato that's right at the bottom of the escalator to the theaters.
Super fancy movie theater with reclining seats, and a full menu you can order from in the theater itself. More expensive than other theaters, but a nice indulgence when you want to have fresh-squeezed green juice and shishito peppers to snack on during your movie.
68 locals recommend
THE LOT Liberty Station
2620 Truxtun RdSuper fancy movie theater with reclining seats, and a full menu you can order from in the theater itself. More expensive than other theaters, but a nice indulgence when you want to have fresh-squeezed green juice and shishito peppers to snack on during your movie.
Old-timey amusement park on the beach, with rickety old roller coaster and funnel cakes. CLASSIC! Great as part of a day spent strolling along Mission Beach, which has some excellent restaurants, bars and coffeeshops. Don't forget to check out the walk on the bay-side as well, which is beautiful, and more peaceful than the beach-side.
689 locals recommend
Belmont Park
3146 Mission BlvdOld-timey amusement park on the beach, with rickety old roller coaster and funnel cakes. CLASSIC! Great as part of a day spent strolling along Mission Beach, which has some excellent restaurants, bars and coffeeshops. Don't forget to check out the walk on the bay-side as well, which is beautiful, and more peaceful than the beach-side.
Parks & Nature
A little park overlooking the beach. Excellent sunset-viewing and people-watching spot. Often groups do yoga here. Lots of cute dogs. Public restrooms and a path down to the beach.
38 locals recommend
Palisades Park
4960 Ocean BlvdA little park overlooking the beach. Excellent sunset-viewing and people-watching spot. Often groups do yoga here. Lots of cute dogs. Public restrooms and a path down to the beach.
This is a surf park - lots of surfers of all skill levels come here every day. There's a parking lot and public bathroom and showers. Sometimes on the weekends there are surf competitions and festivals.
113 locals recommend
Tourmaline Surf Park
This is a surf park - lots of surfers of all skill levels come here every day. There's a parking lot and public bathroom and showers. Sometimes on the weekends there are surf competitions and festivals.
Very easy hike. As the name suggests, the time to go is around sunset, when the sun lights up the colorful cliffsides.
268 locals recommend
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Ladera StreetVery easy hike. As the name suggests, the time to go is around sunset, when the sun lights up the colorful cliffsides.
Most beautiful easy-moderate hike in the region. The pine-covered hills overlook the beach. Parking can be tricky during peak times.
1108 locals recommend
Torrey Pines State Reserve
12600 North Torrey Pines RoadMost beautiful easy-moderate hike in the region. The pine-covered hills overlook the beach. Parking can be tricky during peak times.