my san diego favorites - your local guide to the best beaches, restaurants, and activities
Coming up on a year of living in America’s Finest City, I’ve compiled a list of all of my San Diego favorites. This is probably my most asked question to date so if you have a weekend getaway planned or even if you live in the area and want some new places to try, this is for you! Of course, if you have any favorites of your own, please share!
Where To Beach
Pacific Beach
This is the beach I frequent because it is down the street from my home. It is also probably one of the most touristy beaches in San Diego. Anything south of the pier (Mission Beach) is typically more crowded so if you’re up for a bit of a walk more north and having to access the beach via a big set of stairs you will be able to have a bit more room. The only thing about PB thats a little strange is that sometimes they enforce a surfers only area but you can usually swim here with no problems.
Pipes Beach
My absolute favorite beach in all of SD. Something about North County beaches is so beautiful and peaceful to me. There are times when I’ve visited Pipes and have been one of only a few people there. Before I spent substantial time in San Diego, I imagined extremely crowded beaches which can still be true but North County beaches are much less busy than Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach, which I love.
La Jolla Cove
I take everyone that visits me to La Jolla Cove. The vibes of this tiny beach give me the best parts of coastal Italy and on most days you can watch seals and sea lions come in and out of the water. It’s still on my list to go snorkeling here but I’ve heard that the sea life is very active at the cove and it wouldn’t surprise me to see octopus, dolphins, sea turtles, leopard sharks, sea stars etc.
Sunset Cliffs
Although the beach access is pretty tricky here, I loving catching a sunset at these extremely picturesque cliffs. It’s perfect for a sunset picnic and when the waves are good you can watch tons surfers which is always entertaining. Garbage Beach and No Surf Beach are located here too but I would recommend going to one of the other beaches unless you are interested in making your way down, and back up the cliffs.
Favorite Coffee Spots
Hermosa Surf Shop
Located in my favorite San Diego neighborhood, Bird Rock, this is my go to whenever I want to have a fun little bevy out. Although they have no coffee, I love their matcha and the vibes of this little surf shop. It is fairly new and was created by four creative minds that came together wanting to build an irl community out of their store front and thats exactly what they did. They have monthly events for members and the people who work there are such fun and genuine people. Sometimes I go to get work done there but sometimes I just go to chat, regardless, it’s always a good time.
Palmy’s
This is the coffee shop I visit most frequently. It gives me Australian cafe vibes which I love and has some yummy food as well in the center of the action of PB. If you are going to work there, they have a limit of 1 hour for you to be on their wifi but I just use my hotspot. Food and drinks are a little pricy but overall the atmosphere is very cozy and I love getting work done here.
Communal Coffee
This may be the most aesthetically pleasing coffee shop in all of San Diego. Located in North Park, this coffee/ floral shop is one of my favorites as far as actual coffee. It gets super busy during the day so if you are looking to get work done I suggest getting there early to make sure you get a table. Theres outdoor and indoor seating and tons of natural light making it also one of my favorites to get work done at.
Moniker General
Located in Liberty Station, Moniker General is another great spot to get work done. The space is huge and there is ample seating. Music is a bit loud here so I typically opt for outdoor seating. This is where I’m the most productive. I don’t love the coffee here and it is a bit pricy but they have other things on the menu that I enjoy, I recommend the hibiscus tea!
Where To Brunch
Cody’s La Jolla
With sunning views of the ocean in La Jolla, this is one of my favorite special occasion brunches in San Diego. I typically get the bacon and cheddar omelet but have also had the french toast and loved it!
Fig Tree Cafe
This spot is perfect for when you’re feeling a low maintenance brunch. The attire is casual, the wait typically isn’t too long and the food is good. I get the chicken caesar.
The Duck Dive
If your’e wanting bottomless, this is the spot. I know Duck Dive may get a bad rap but it is truly a good time in my opinion. It’s fun with a bigger group on the weekends and bottomless is $17 until 1 pm on weekdays and 3 pm on weekends.
Madi’s
Located in Normal Heights, this is one of my new favorites. It’s clear that they know a thing or two about interior design as well as how to make good food. I love Madi’s breakfast burrito as well as the breakfast tacos. After brunch, I enjoy walking around Adams Ave and stopping in the cute little shops. I want to spend more time in Normal Heights because it has such a cute and cozy neighborhood vibe.
Favorite Dinner Spots
La Dolce Vita
Located in La Jolla Cove area, this is my first choice when it comes to Italian food in San Diego. It’s family owned and makes me feel like I’m sitting in a little restaurant in Sorrento. The foods is amazing and I usually get the caesar salad and vodka pasta to share. It’s the perfect meal for two!
Bahn Thai
My roommate recently found Bahn Thai and it has quickly become one of our favorites. The one we go to is in Hillcrest but there are multiple locations. I usually get the shrimp pad thai and the spring rolls to share but I’ve heard good things about the green curry and pad see ew.
Harumama
On cold days in San Diego, all I want is a warm bowl of ramen and this is the best spot in town for that. It has stunning views of the ocean and has great food including the cutest bao bao buns. I get the high noon and also love the panda bun.
It’s Raw Poke
I’ve never been a raw fish gal until I found this place. Located in Ocean Beach, this is the only place that I will eat poke and honestly crave it most days. I get the plate with spicy ahi and spicy salmon with mac salad and it never disappoints. Its a good bit of food so I usually have left overs but it’s perfect to grab and eat by the ocean.
What To Do
Sports Games
San Diego has a few very exciting sports teams and my favorites to watch are the Padres and San Diego Wave. I haven’t been to many sporting events but enjoy finding a fun neighborhood bar to watch the games from.
Farmers Market
While Little Italy has my favorite farmers market on Saturdays, there are also good markets in Ocean Beach on Wednesdays, Pacific Beach on Tuesdays, and Hillcrest on Sundays.
Hike Torey Pines
If you are looking to get outdoors an in nature while in San Diego, I highly recommend Trey Pines State Reserve. Theres great walking hikes and amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.
Drive Up Highway 101
If you have a free weekday afternoon during your time in San Diego, I highly recommend taking a trip up the coast on Highway 101. There are beautiful views along the way and miles of vacant beaches. I also like stopping in the shops and especially love Pannikin Coffee which is along the road in Encinitas. There are also tons of coves and hidden beaches off this road, you just have to be willing to explore!
And there you have it! My San Diego favorites. Of course there are things that I’ve intentionally left off of this list, primarily beach spots that have not been discovered by the general public. While they are often not hard to find, one of my favorite things about traveling is finding those spots. If you want to get off the beaten path in San Diego, I recommend giving yourself time to wonder! I hope you found value in this and again, let me know your favorite spots in SD!
