SAN DIEGO, CA
San Diego, CA, is one of SoCal’s most incredible cities. The beaches are exquisite, the cuisine, whether it be seafood, ramen, Italian or tacos, is fresh and creative, and there’s always something fun to do. My friend Cassie lived in San Deigo for about three years and has exciting recommendations for what to do, where to eat and how to enjoy San Diego like the locals do. Happy Traveling!
Travel Tip:
- You need a car to get around, but everything in San Diego is no more than 20 mins away. The airport is in the middle of the city, which makes it convenient to visit.
- San Diego is made up of distinct neighborhoods with their own character. North Park is an area for hipsters and breweries. The beach towns (Pacific Beach, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach) are youthful and energetic. La Jolla and Del Mar are upscale, but they have the best beaches. Hillcrest is the home of a robust LGBTQ+ scene. Downtown, a.k.a. Gaslamp, is the “city” part of San Diego and is home to awesome bars and Petco Park where the Padres play. Little Italy overlooks the bay and has amazing Italian food and delis.
One fun thing:
- Sunsets are epic in San Diego. Cassie recommends posting up with a picnic dinner on Sunset Cliffs or Torrey Pines Gliderport to watch the sun go down over the ocean.
- Craft beer tours and tastings: a fun and tasty way to see the city. The craft beer scene is huge in San Diego and you can’t go wrong with any microbreweries. Karl Strauss is Cassie’s favorite spot. Larger brewing favorites include Ballast Point, located in Little Italy and Cutwater.
- Swim, surf, snorkel La Jolla Cove: one of San Diego’s most popular attractions. La Jolla Cove is stunning — cliffs line the shore and marine life from seals to interesting fish call it home. You must explore the unique sea caves, carved out in the cliffs. To explore the caves, you can snorkel or kayak into them or, if you prefer to stay on land, hike down into them. Check out Everyday California to rent kayaks and snorkel gear.
- Balboa Park: the Central Park equivalent in San Diego. The park is located near downtown. The architecture is gorgeous and it’s lovely to walk around and take in the sights. It’s home to 17 museums including The San Diego Museum of Art, several theaters, the San Diego Zoo, green spaces, ponds and gorgeous gardens. It’s a must-see and perfect spot for a stroll.
- Little Italy: a super cute neighborhood in the center of the city. It’s on the harbor by the airport. Meander through the plazas and markets, check out the boutique stores and enjoy the plethora of restaurants along the way. There are events like farmer’s markets, art walks and heritage nights often, so check out their calendar.
- Stone Brewing in Liberty Station: another great brewery with food options. It used to be a navy base and hospital that eventually was turned into a brewery, so it’s large with plenty to do. There’s a food market, huge patio and lawn games. Keep yourself busy and get a drink at the same time!
- Padres Game: go support San Diego’s baseball team. The Padres stadium is in an exciting part of town with fun bars in the center of the city. The stadium, Petco Park, is relatively new and some of San Diego’s most popular restaurants have become vendors. You’ll get great food, entertainment and get to hang with the locals.
- Breakfast Republic: a perfect spot for a big group brunch with a bright and funky, but modern interior. Their bloody marys are delicious, as is the food. Try the Cluck Madam benedict with ham, gruyere and bechamel sauce. They don’t take reservations here but have seven different locations around San Diego, so find the closest one and just walk in!
- Shorehouse Kitchen: a sit-down spot right on the beach. The brunch here is wonderful. Order the mouth-watering short rib benedict; it’s a favorite.
- Panchita’s Kitchen & Bakery: a lovely Mexican bakery and restaurant in North Park. They serve a huge breakfast burrito that will be sure to leave you full and happy. Their salsa verde is also incredible.
- Crest Cafe: a casual cafe in Hillcrest. The must-try item on the menu is the Cabo Quesadilla stuffed with hash browns, eggs, cheese and bacon.
- Puesto: a spot with bougie artisan craft tacos. This fancy spot has tasty tacos, guacamole and great margaritas. Each month, they feature a taco of the month. Want even more options? Ask about their secret taco menu. The filet mignon taco is Cassie’s pick.
- Barrio Dogg: feast on loaded hot dogs in Barrio Logan. It’s fun to grab a hot dog, pile on the toppings and eat on the main drag, a hot spot for old retro cars to drive by.
- Karina’s Seafood: the best spot to enjoy fresh ceviche. Karina’s offers trays of ceviche for $12. Pick the tray of your choice with some tortilla chips and go to town. It’s an easy dish to picnic with, but there’s also a couple of seats at the restaurant. It’s a small chain with several different locations in SoCal. If you’re in the mood for a drink, try the mango margarita, which is refreshing and not too sweet.
- Din Tai Fung: one of the few locations in the United States where you can find the famous xiao long bao dumplings. It’s located in the UTC Mall, which is an activity in itself. The system runs flawlessly as chefs make the dumplings continually and servers bring them out in steamed baskets. You have to try the xiao long bao broth-filled dumplings and the black sesame dessert bun.
- California Burrito: not a restaurant, but rather a Southern California staple. It consists of a burrito with French fries wrapped in it. Taco stands all over SoCal offer them, so try them anywhere!
- Tacos el Gordo: the best tacos in San Diego according to Cassie. They have 3-4 very casual locations that are a bit outside the city and more towards the border. Tacos el Gordo serves amazing Tijuana street-style tacos. The taco you must try is the Adobada taco, spiced pork on a corn tortilla with toppings
- Barbusa: the best Italian restaurant in Little Italy. Not only is the food delicious, but it’s a picturesque neighborhood that will have you believing you’re in a European city watching the world go by. Cassie’s favorite entree is the bone marrow cavatelli.
- Ciccia Osteria: a feel-good family restaurant with an adorable patio. Owners Mario and Francesca are a couple from Italy that used to oversee a bunch of Italian chefs. They just bought their own place and it exudes warm and familial vibes. Everything is freshly made by hand. Start off with a huge meat and cheese board for $10 and then move on to any of their delicious entrees. To order, go up to the window and they’ll bring it out to you when your dinner is ready.
- Bluewater Fish: where to find the freshest seafood in San Diego. Watch the boats come in from the ocean stocked with their catches of the day. Order at the counter and they’ll bring your seafood out to you. The poke anywhere in San Diego is a must-try, and the poke here is no exception. It tastes like butter in your mouth. Also, try the jalapeño bourbon mussels if you’re searching for a bit of a kick.
- Menya Ultra: a tiny little spot in a strip mall with fantastic ramen. It’s located on Convoy Street, known for its Asian eateries. They don’t take reservations but have a second location in Hillcrest if that’s more convenient. Another good ramen spot on Convoy (and other locations too) is Tajima.
- Extraordinary Desserts: rich and sweet desserts with two locations. It was started by pastry chef Karen Krasne. Walk in and write down your top three choices on the menu. They sell out throughout the day so they’ll serve you whatever is available. Favorites include any of the cheesecakes or chocolate cakes.
- Salt and Straw: a popular ice cream chain based in Portland with locations all along the West Coast. There are a few locations in San Diego.
- Baked Bear: where you can get an ice cream sandwich made right in front of you. Their satisfying ice cream is homemade and just the right consistency. There are a bunch of Baked Bear storefronts in the city.
- Pacific Beach Bars: bars on the beach. Many bars in this area have a rooftop, outside space and great views of the ocean. The demographics here tend to skew younger. Check out El Prez for the sunsets or Mavericks for the outdoor space. Another favorite is Shore Club, a navy bar, where they hold goldfish races for gift card prizes.
- Downtown (a.k.a. Gaslamp) Bars: for a city vibe. Favorites include Moonshine Flats and Trailer Park After Dark. Moonshine is a live music country bar with square dancing on some nights. Trailer is a trailer park themed bar with tables in brightly decorated trailers and pbrs in paper bags. If you’re traveling with a group or for an event, you can rent out your own trailer table.
- Raglans: a low-key surf bar in Ocean Beach. Perfect for a chill night or beer after a day full of activities.
