Guidebook for San Diego

Hilary
Guidebook for San Diego

Food Scene

Great spot for coffee and fresh, homemade scones with jam!
46 locals recommend
Rebecca's
3015 Juniper Street
46 locals recommend
Great spot for coffee and fresh, homemade scones with jam!
Fantastic crepes, croque monsieur, coffee or tea. Authentic french cafe with nice outdoor seating!
71 locals recommend
Café Madeleine South Park
2248 30th St
71 locals recommend
Fantastic crepes, croque monsieur, coffee or tea. Authentic french cafe with nice outdoor seating!
Lovely atmosphere and great pastas, etc.
101 locals recommend
Alexander's
3391 30th St
101 locals recommend
Lovely atmosphere and great pastas, etc.
Great food and bluegrass on Sundays.
22 locals recommend
El Comal
3946 Illinois St
22 locals recommend
Great food and bluegrass on Sundays.
Local beer on tap, great burgers and lovely out-door patio.
174 locals recommend
Station Tavern
2204 Fern St
174 locals recommend
Local beer on tap, great burgers and lovely out-door patio.
Stop here before a movie at the Ken for a romantic dinner of Moules-frites and french wine or basil martini! This is one of our favorites and a short drive to the historic Kensington area of town.
74 locals recommend
Bleu Bohème
4090 Adams Ave
74 locals recommend
Stop here before a movie at the Ken for a romantic dinner of Moules-frites and french wine or basil martini! This is one of our favorites and a short drive to the historic Kensington area of town.
Fantastic tacos and burgers!
162 locals recommend
Carnitas' Snack Shack - North Park
2632 University Avenue
162 locals recommend
Fantastic tacos and burgers!
Great breakfasts and homemade bread.
49 locals recommend
Cardamom Cafe & Bakery
2977 Upas St
49 locals recommend
Great breakfasts and homemade bread.
Vintage 20's bungalow next to the La Jolla coves - parking is tough, but worth the effort. Highly recommended for brunch or lunch. Gorgeous views!
51 locals recommend
Brockton Villa Restaurant
1235 Coast Blvd
51 locals recommend
Vintage 20's bungalow next to the La Jolla coves - parking is tough, but worth the effort. Highly recommended for brunch or lunch. Gorgeous views!
Owned by the family that owns Brockton Villa, they have live music, a full bar and fantastic food. Just south of the Village, in Bird Rock, there is easier parking, shops and beautiful ocean views!
107 locals recommend
Beaumont's
5662 La Jolla Blvd
107 locals recommend
Owned by the family that owns Brockton Villa, they have live music, a full bar and fantastic food. Just south of the Village, in Bird Rock, there is easier parking, shops and beautiful ocean views!
Yelp it. I liked it, but others didn't. I recommend it for a celebratory lunch.
33 locals recommend
Prospect Bar and Lounge
1025 Prospect St
33 locals recommend
Yelp it. I liked it, but others didn't. I recommend it for a celebratory lunch.
Nice little sushi restaurant in the neighborhood - walkable from our house. Excellent sushi and I love the teriyaki dinner which comes with salad and rice. Good value and great service.
15 locals recommend
Zensei Sushi
3396 30th Street
15 locals recommend
Nice little sushi restaurant in the neighborhood - walkable from our house. Excellent sushi and I love the teriyaki dinner which comes with salad and rice. Good value and great service.
Cool decor, great food and service, fantastic happy hour - for only six dollars, including $3 draft beers!
114 locals recommend
The Smoking Goat Restaurant
3408 30th St
114 locals recommend
Cool decor, great food and service, fantastic happy hour - for only six dollars, including $3 draft beers!

Shopping

Great spot for buying mid-century gifts, cards and housewares!
11 locals recommend
PROGRESS
2225 30th Street
11 locals recommend
Great spot for buying mid-century gifts, cards and housewares!
Fantastic authentic thin crust pizza, amazing service and lovely indoor or outdoor seating!
317 locals recommend
Buona Forchetta - South Park
3001 Beech St
317 locals recommend
Fantastic authentic thin crust pizza, amazing service and lovely indoor or outdoor seating!
Great gifts, cards and housewares. Tons of items by local artisans.
158 locals recommend
Pigment
3801 30th St
158 locals recommend
Great gifts, cards and housewares. Tons of items by local artisans.
Shop to your heart’s content at The Grove, for gifts and hand-made goodies for yourself, your home, your friends. They also offer classes.
8 locals recommend
The Grove at Juniper & 30th
3010 Juniper Street
8 locals recommend
Shop to your heart’s content at The Grove, for gifts and hand-made goodies for yourself, your home, your friends. They also offer classes.
Make Good sells handmade gifts crafted by local artisans. Home goods, artwork, clothing, jewelry and other handmade items are on display in this cozy store—many of which come from recycled products.
12 locals recommend
Make Good
12 locals recommend
Make Good sells handmade gifts crafted by local artisans. Home goods, artwork, clothing, jewelry and other handmade items are on display in this cozy store—many of which come from recycled products.

Drinks & Nightlife

Live music, great martinis and Wednesday evening game night.
97 locals recommend
Whistle Stop
2236 Fern St
97 locals recommend
Live music, great martinis and Wednesday evening game night.
245 locals recommend
Polite Provisions
4696 30th St
245 locals recommend

Everything Else

I recommend getting pizza dough to go. We have a pizza stone you can use to make your own pizza, or order there to go! Great wine and beer selection and sandwiches are good.
22 locals recommend
Mazara Trattoria
2302 30th St
22 locals recommend
I recommend getting pizza dough to go. We have a pizza stone you can use to make your own pizza, or order there to go! Great wine and beer selection and sandwiches are good.
Tennis, recreational and lap swimming and trail hiking! Also, ask us about the Bird Park summer concert series at Upas and 28th streets.
36 locals recommend
Morley Field Sports Complex
2221 Morley Field Dr
36 locals recommend
Tennis, recreational and lap swimming and trail hiking! Also, ask us about the Bird Park summer concert series at Upas and 28th streets.
Independent Theater - the best in SD!
31 locals recommend
Landmark's Ken Cinema
4061 Adams Ave
31 locals recommend
Independent Theater - the best in SD!
The perfect place to buy a house warming gift or some really stylish clothing, jewelry or gift for yourself!
14 locals recommend
JUNC
14 locals recommend
The perfect place to buy a house warming gift or some really stylish clothing, jewelry or gift for yourself!

Arts & Culture

The 2014 Bird Park Summer Concerts are every other Saturday, 6/14 - 8/9, from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at Bird Park (Upas St @ 28th Street in North Park).
33 locals recommend
Bird Park
Pershing Drive
33 locals recommend
The 2014 Bird Park Summer Concerts are every other Saturday, 6/14 - 8/9, from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at Bird Park (Upas St @ 28th Street in North Park).
Ray St Art Walk / Open Studios Second Saturday of every month 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Ray Street Studios
Ray St Art Walk / Open Studios Second Saturday of every month 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Public course, reasonable fees, 9 or 18 holes, or buy a bucket of balls and spend an hour, then grab a beer and check out the AMAZING view of San Diego and Point Loma!
77 locals recommend
Balboa Park Golf Course
2600 Golf Course Dr
77 locals recommend
Public course, reasonable fees, 9 or 18 holes, or buy a bucket of balls and spend an hour, then grab a beer and check out the AMAZING view of San Diego and Point Loma!
So many activities and events to list here. Check for museum hours and special events on the website. Be sure to check out the Spreckels Organ Pavilion!
3290 locals recommend
Balboa Park
3290 locals recommend
So many activities and events to list here. Check for museum hours and special events on the website. Be sure to check out the Spreckels Organ Pavilion!
Wear comfortable shoes, plan to spend the day and start off with the bus tour!
2510 locals recommend
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Dr
2510 locals recommend
Wear comfortable shoes, plan to spend the day and start off with the bus tour!
Fantastic contemporary art museum. I strongly recommend the trip if you're a fan of modern/contemporary art. Great views of the ocean and cove out of the huge windows. Nice cafe for lunch too!
133 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
700 Prospect St
133 locals recommend
Fantastic contemporary art museum. I strongly recommend the trip if you're a fan of modern/contemporary art. Great views of the ocean and cove out of the huge windows. Nice cafe for lunch too!

Sightseeing

This is our favorite beach. Easy access (just one flight of stairs from the street), beautiful cove and very much a locals beach. Highly recommended! Ask us for the "secret" parking area.
272 locals recommend
Windansea Beach
Neptune Pl
272 locals recommend
This is our favorite beach. Easy access (just one flight of stairs from the street), beautiful cove and very much a locals beach. Highly recommended! Ask us for the "secret" parking area.
Tons to do in La Jolla: Shopping, kayaking, surfing, snorkeling. Check out La Jolla Cave Shell Shop - a tunnel that descends 145 steps to Sunny Jim Cave below.
492 locals recommend
La Jolla
492 locals recommend
Tons to do in La Jolla: Shopping, kayaking, surfing, snorkeling. Check out La Jolla Cave Shell Shop - a tunnel that descends 145 steps to Sunny Jim Cave below.
You can drive over the bridge, or take the ferry to Coronado from the Harbor. Rent bikes and ride around the island for a really fun day!
487 locals recommend
Coronado Island
487 locals recommend
You can drive over the bridge, or take the ferry to Coronado from the Harbor. Rent bikes and ride around the island for a really fun day!
Classic turn of the century hotel with shops, restaurants and bars inside the hotel. Don't miss the photo wall off the lobby to get the lowdown on the history. Expensive to eat/drink, but worth it!
519 locals recommend
Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange Ave
519 locals recommend
Classic turn of the century hotel with shops, restaurants and bars inside the hotel. Don't miss the photo wall off the lobby to get the lowdown on the history. Expensive to eat/drink, but worth it!