Guidebook for Cardiff By The Sea
Food Scene
This is a local place with a great patio atmosphere. The breakfast is the best and the manmosas are good. Only go if you're OK relaxing outside as your food and drinks come slowly to your table.
35 locals recommend
The Besta Wan Pizza House
148 Aberdeen DrThis is a local place with a great patio atmosphere. The breakfast is the best and the manmosas are good. Only go if you're OK relaxing outside as your food and drinks come slowly to your table.
This is now Flat Rocks. They have high quality, affordable food served by great people. They serve $1 mimosas for brunch and have a great beer and wine selection. The huevos rancheros are my favorite.
Flat Rock Eats & Drinks
102 Aberdeen DrThis is now Flat Rocks. They have high quality, affordable food served by great people. They serve $1 mimosas for brunch and have a great beer and wine selection. The huevos rancheros are my favorite.
This is a sister restaurant of Rimel's. They have an even better happy hour since it includes some sushi rolls. The liquor drinks are delicious. The rolls are really good, we also love the tempura.
21 locals recommend
Zenbu Sushi
2003 San Elijo AvenueThis is a sister restaurant of Rimel's. They have an even better happy hour since it includes some sushi rolls. The liquor drinks are delicious. The rolls are really good, we also love the tempura.
Very good Italian. They have live music on the weekends which entails a singing piano player who is a delight. It's worth just grabbing a drink and having some of the yummy (free) bread & marinara.
27 locals recommend
Cicciotti's Trattoria Italiana & Seafood
1933 San Elijo AveVery good Italian. They have live music on the weekends which entails a singing piano player who is a delight. It's worth just grabbing a drink and having some of the yummy (free) bread & marinara.
This is a nice, healthy breakfast or lunch place right across from Swami's beach. They have a large selection of self-serve coffee and tea and freshly made juices. The acai bowls are very good here.
62 locals recommend
Swamis Cafe
1163 S Coast Hwy 101This is a nice, healthy breakfast or lunch place right across from Swami's beach. They have a large selection of self-serve coffee and tea and freshly made juices. The acai bowls are very good here.
This place is really pricey but the food is really good. This is a fancy place where you should dress up. It has a great view and a nice bar.
121 locals recommend
Pacific Coast Grill
2526 S Coast Hwy 101This place is really pricey but the food is really good. This is a fancy place where you should dress up. It has a great view and a nice bar.
The food here is OK but the view is amazing. You can sit downstairs on the patio and walk from your table to the sand. Brunch is very good and on Sundays includes free champagne.
The Cardiff House
142 Chesterfield DrThe food here is OK but the view is amazing. You can sit downstairs on the patio and walk from your table to the sand. Brunch is very good and on Sundays includes free champagne.
Dinner is the best here, especially the sunset specials, which are affordable and you have a nice view of the sun setting. Breakfast & lunch are hit or miss and the atmosphere is less ideal. Organic.
44 locals recommend
Ki's Restaurant
2591 S Coast Hwy 101Dinner is the best here, especially the sunset specials, which are affordable and you have a nice view of the sun setting. Breakfast & lunch are hit or miss and the atmosphere is less ideal. Organic.
This is not very authentic mexican but it is pretty good. If you go at happy hour you can get cheaper margarita pitchers and appetizers. It is supposed to be more fresh and healthy mexican but tasty.
54 locals recommend
Las Olas
2655 S Coast Hwy 101This is not very authentic mexican but it is pretty good. If you go at happy hour you can get cheaper margarita pitchers and appetizers. It is supposed to be more fresh and healthy mexican but tasty.
The brunch here is good, unlimited bloody mary's or mimosas are $10. Live music is on the weekends. The menu is chef inspired (sounding) but the food is OK, good beer. The macaroni is delicious!
21 locals recommend
Cardiff Beach
2633 S Coast Hwy 101The brunch here is good, unlimited bloody mary's or mimosas are $10. Live music is on the weekends. The menu is chef inspired (sounding) but the food is OK, good beer. The macaroni is delicious!
This is an inauthentic taco place overlooking the ocean. It is an outdoor stand but it's nice enough for breakfast, lunch or casual dinner. They have really good tater tots, salsa & a fish of the day.
23 locals recommend
Bull Taco Cardiff
2050 South Coast Highway 101This is an inauthentic taco place overlooking the ocean. It is an outdoor stand but it's nice enough for breakfast, lunch or casual dinner. They have really good tater tots, salsa & a fish of the day.
This is a sister restaurant of Pacific Coast Grill. It has very similar food that is very good. It is pricey and a nice place to go to dress up.
8 locals recommend
Wild Note Cafe
143 S Cedros AveThis is a sister restaurant of Pacific Coast Grill. It has very similar food that is very good. It is pricey and a nice place to go to dress up.
This place has really good beer that goes good with their beer buddies. The other food is pretty good too. It can get pretty packed on weekends and it's first come first served picnic benches.
93 locals recommend
Pizza Port Solana Beach
135 N Hwy 101This place has really good beer that goes good with their beer buddies. The other food is pretty good too. It can get pretty packed on weekends and it's first come first served picnic benches.
This is right next to the Landmark Theater and it's delicious! We actually get the rice noodle bowls and the texture and taste are amazing. They have vegan chicken that is really good.
10 locals recommend
Pho La Jolla
3211 Holiday CtThis is right next to the Landmark Theater and it's delicious! We actually get the rice noodle bowls and the texture and taste are amazing. They have vegan chicken that is really good.
This is the best chinese ever! They have very good Kung Pao. It is a fancy asian fusion place. They even have calorie free noodles if you want.
33 locals recommend
Bangkok Bay
Highway 101This is the best chinese ever! They have very good Kung Pao. It is a fancy asian fusion place. They even have calorie free noodles if you want.
The pizza is amazing. They use quality ingredients and it shows. They also have delicious appetizers and a good selection of beer and wine. The homemade hard lemonade is highly recommended.
59 locals recommend
Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria
897 S Coast Hwy 101The pizza is amazing. They use quality ingredients and it shows. They also have delicious appetizers and a good selection of beer and wine. The homemade hard lemonade is highly recommended.
The atmosphere is not great since your in a shopping plaza but the pizza is to die for. The crust is the best since it's flaky and perfectly made. They have a great beer selection and live music.
Today's Pizza & Salad
481 Santa Fe DriveThe atmosphere is not great since your in a shopping plaza but the pizza is to die for. The crust is the best since it's flaky and perfectly made. They have a great beer selection and live music.
This is the best Sushi in the area. It is fairly new so it's not well known yet but everything there is great.
13 locals recommend
Rite Aid
439 Santa Fe DrThis is the best Sushi in the area. It is fairly new so it's not well known yet but everything there is great.
Jorge's Mexicatessen
417 Santa Fe DrDelicious, cheap burritos.
Rico's Taco Shop
165 S El Camino RealDelicious mexican, tacos and burritos. Try the Justin burrito!
This place is delicious. They have crafty cocktails and tasty salads. I have not tried the pizza but I would have to think it is good since everything else is so tasty.
Real Bar & Bistro
124 Solana Hills DrThis place is delicious. They have crafty cocktails and tasty salads. I have not tried the pizza but I would have to think it is good since everything else is so tasty.
This is our new coffee bar, I hear it has great coffee. It is local, this is their second store open.
Nirvana Surfboards
2777 Loker Ave WThis is our new coffee bar, I hear it has great coffee. It is local, this is their second store open.
Essentials
They have a good grocery selection with lots of high quality food and drinks. The deli has a good selection of quick dinner options that are reasonably priced (go for the rice bowls).
176 locals recommend
Cardiff Seaside Market
2087 San Elijo AveThey have a good grocery selection with lots of high quality food and drinks. The deli has a good selection of quick dinner options that are reasonably priced (go for the rice bowls).
This is one of the best liquor stores in the area. They have a huge selection of craft beer and even a beer cave. They have an expanding wine and liquor selection and the owners are knowledgeable.
Mar Vista Liquor
2121 San Elijo AveThis is one of the best liquor stores in the area. They have a huge selection of craft beer and even a beer cave. They have an expanding wine and liquor selection and the owners are knowledgeable.
Drinks & Nightlife
They have a huge, grocery style selection of wine bottles to buy and pay corkage on that are reasonably priced. They also have beers in cans or draft and wines by the glass. The pizza is very good.
19 locals recommend
Rimel's Rotisserie
2005 San Elijo AveThey have a huge, grocery style selection of wine bottles to buy and pay corkage on that are reasonably priced. They also have beers in cans or draft and wines by the glass. The pizza is very good.
This is a trashy bar but the least trashy place to play pool, foosball and shuffle board around. It's best to drink the bottled beer since the dirty taps can leave you with a headache in the morning.
8 locals recommend
Dukes Cardiff Office Cocktail
110 Aberdeen DrThis is a trashy bar but the least trashy place to play pool, foosball and shuffle board around. It's best to drink the bottled beer since the dirty taps can leave you with a headache in the morning.
Everything Else
This is our local Cardiff gym. It is free for your first week if you tell them you live here or otherwise only about $10. They have showers, shampoo, towels, a ton of weights machines and trainers.
Cardiffit Gym & Yoga Studio
2085 San Elijo AvenueThis is our local Cardiff gym. It is free for your first week if you tell them you live here or otherwise only about $10. They have showers, shampoo, towels, a ton of weights machines and trainers.
This is a great little wine tasting spot in Solana Beach. The wine is good and the people are laid back. 1 tasting is $10 but they are not strict so you will get a few glasses of wine out of that.
10 locals recommend
Carruth Cellars MOVED DOWN THE STREET!
320 S Cedros AveThis is a great little wine tasting spot in Solana Beach. The wine is good and the people are laid back. 1 tasting is $10 but they are not strict so you will get a few glasses of wine out of that.
This is one of our favorite wineries in Temecula. It's a great place to start or end your tasting day. The wine is good and the gardens and vineyards are beautiful.
42 locals recommend
Europa Village
41150 Via EuropaThis is one of our favorite wineries in Temecula. It's a great place to start or end your tasting day. The wine is good and the gardens and vineyards are beautiful.
One grocery store to try if Seaside is not doing it for you.
49 locals recommend
Sprouts Farmers Market
3243 Camino De Los CochesOne grocery store to try if Seaside is not doing it for you.
Vons
453 Santa Fe DrA great grocery store to find a lot of items at reasonable prices.
Von's is the standard grocery store in the area. It is close, well stocked and reasonably priced. One more exit down is Smart and Final, which is cheaper but has less to choose from. We go here.
38 locals recommend
Vons
453 Santa Fe DrVon's is the standard grocery store in the area. It is close, well stocked and reasonably priced. One more exit down is Smart and Final, which is cheaper but has less to choose from. We go here.
Sightseeing
This seems weird, but the garden in the back is beautiful. There is a koi pond and several secluded benches for meditating. Most of the benches overlook a breathtaking view of the beach. A must see!
15 locals recommend
Trattoria Positano
2171 San Elijo AveThis seems weird, but the garden in the back is beautiful. There is a koi pond and several secluded benches for meditating. Most of the benches overlook a breathtaking view of the beach. A must see!
Arts & Culture
This is our closest official music venue. It is in a fun "downtown" area.
271 locals recommend
Belly Up
143 S Cedros AveThis is our closest official music venue. It is in a fun "downtown" area.
Shopping
This is a fun store filled with other stores, almost like an upscale flea market.
12 locals recommend
Lotus (formerly Leaping Lotus)
240 S Cedros AveThis is a fun store filled with other stores, almost like an upscale flea market.