Guidebook for San Diego
Food Scene
The best bakery in San Diego is one block from our house! The pastries are superb, quiche is heavenly, breads are top notch and ambiance charming. They also serve tasty lunches.
103 locals recommend
Bread and Cie Bakery/Cafe
350 University AveThe best bakery in San Diego is one block from our house! The pastries are superb, quiche is heavenly, breads are top notch and ambiance charming. They also serve tasty lunches.
One of our favorite restaurants! Everything is natural or organic, including the well-known cocktails! The menu changes regularly and has new gourmet twists on old favorites. Try the "Duckaroni!"
139 locals recommend
Urban Solace & Bar Solace
3823 30th StOne of our favorite restaurants! Everything is natural or organic, including the well-known cocktails! The menu changes regularly and has new gourmet twists on old favorites. Try the "Duckaroni!"
Organic locally sourced food grilled to perfection. Chef-owners are there cooking. Homemade sausages, ice cream, salad dressings & desserts! The best part is most entrees are $10! Ten min. drive.
57 locals recommend
Tender Greens
2400 Historic Decatur RdOrganic locally sourced food grilled to perfection. Chef-owners are there cooking. Homemade sausages, ice cream, salad dressings & desserts! The best part is most entrees are $10! Ten min. drive.
Wonderful French food in a cozy atmosphere. Added ambiance with French speakers on the staff.
19 locals recommend
Au Revoir French Bistro
420 Robinson AveWonderful French food in a cozy atmosphere. Added ambiance with French speakers on the staff.
Delicious eclectic organic pizzas with local ingredients. Great service and great micro brews and freshly fermented kumbucha!
22 locals recommend
La Vecindad Neighborhood TACOS
3827 Fifth AveDelicious eclectic organic pizzas with local ingredients. Great service and great micro brews and freshly fermented kumbucha!
Great Thai food at reasonable prices. We love the Tom Kah soup.
28 locals recommend
Lotus Thai Cuisine
3761 Sixth AveGreat Thai food at reasonable prices. We love the Tom Kah soup.
Best coffee in Hillcrest, and right next door to Bread & Cie Cafe. It's common to get something from both places and sit on either patio for meeting friends and people watching.
48 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
350 University AveBest coffee in Hillcrest, and right next door to Bread & Cie Cafe. It's common to get something from both places and sit on either patio for meeting friends and people watching.
The best breakfast in San Diego, with one of the best views in the United States! Try "Coast Toast." Walk around La Jolla Village after breakfast for a peek into upscale shops and great views.
51 locals recommend
Brockton Villa Restaurant
1235 Coast BlvdThe best breakfast in San Diego, with one of the best views in the United States! Try "Coast Toast." Walk around La Jolla Village after breakfast for a peek into upscale shops and great views.
Best pie in Julian, and possibly the only one that uses fresh apples year round. And it is still owned by the original "mom."
30 locals recommend
Mom's Pie House
2119 Main StBest pie in Julian, and possibly the only one that uses fresh apples year round. And it is still owned by the original "mom."
Arts & Culture
Landmark Cinema shows trendy artsy movies-two blocks away!
61 locals recommend
Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas
3965 Fifth AveLandmark Cinema shows trendy artsy movies-two blocks away!
Something for everyone here. The Imax theater shows 3D movies, the top floor displays stunning photography, and traveling exhibits range from gems to Dead Sea Scrolls to artifacts from the Titanic.
99 locals recommend
San Diego Natural History Museum
1788 El PradoSomething for everyone here. The Imax theater shows 3D movies, the top floor displays stunning photography, and traveling exhibits range from gems to Dead Sea Scrolls to artifacts from the Titanic.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
711 University AveOrganic groceries and delicious prepared foods.
Great deals on interesting foods, best prices for wine & beer, and lots of organic choices.
752 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
1640 Garnet AveGreat deals on interesting foods, best prices for wine & beer, and lots of organic choices.
Everything Else
One of the best Farmer's Markets in San Diego, held every Sunday from 9am-2pm. A lively folk band plays from 10am-12:30. Organic produce, green smoothies, prepared foods and arts & crafts.
3960 Normal St
3960 Normal StreetOne of the best Farmer's Markets in San Diego, held every Sunday from 9am-2pm. A lively folk band plays from 10am-12:30. Organic produce, green smoothies, prepared foods and arts & crafts.
One of the best beaches in San Diego, and famous for being the largest nudist beach in the United States. More info here: http://www.sandiegocoastlife.com/san-diego-beaches/beaches-blacks-beach.html
144 locals recommend
Black's Beach
One of the best beaches in San Diego, and famous for being the largest nudist beach in the United States. More info here: http://www.sandiegocoastlife.com/san-diego-beaches/beaches-blacks-beach.html
Sightseeing
Balboa Park is exquisite. We love biking thru nature in the city, sunsets by the rose & desert gardens, the museums, listening to street musicians on the Prado, and watching coy fish in the lily pond.
126 locals recommend
The Prado at Balboa Park
1549 El PradoBalboa Park is exquisite. We love biking thru nature in the city, sunsets by the rose & desert gardens, the museums, listening to street musicians on the Prado, and watching coy fish in the lily pond.
Incredibly scenic hikes along the bluffs, reflecting San Diego before it was developed. Desert and scrub brush! Visitor Center on bluff. You can also hike down to a lovely beach. Great for families.
8 locals recommend
Torrey pines hike
Incredibly scenic hikes along the bluffs, reflecting San Diego before it was developed. Desert and scrub brush! Visitor Center on bluff. You can also hike down to a lovely beach. Great for families.
Hiking, rock climbing & beautiful visitor center which tells the story of San Diego's early history. In the spring you'll find flowers and waterfalls! Summer here is hot and dry. Look for lizards!
194 locals recommend
Mission Trails Regional Park
1 Father Junipero Serra TrailHiking, rock climbing & beautiful visitor center which tells the story of San Diego's early history. In the spring you'll find flowers and waterfalls! Summer here is hot and dry. Look for lizards!
The Giant Dipper, or Mission Beach Roller Coaster, is a wooden roller coaster, built in 1925. It is a National Historic Landmark. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Dipper_%28San_Diego%29
689 locals recommend
Belmont Park
3146 Mission BlvdThe Giant Dipper, or Mission Beach Roller Coaster, is a wooden roller coaster, built in 1925. It is a National Historic Landmark. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Dipper_%28San_Diego%29
"The Boardwalk" runs from La Jolla to the end of Mission Beach and provides 3.5 miles of sidewalk for walking, biking or skating. It's lovely in the quiet of the morning, and lively later on.
Ocean Front Walk
Ocean Front Walk"The Boardwalk" runs from La Jolla to the end of Mission Beach and provides 3.5 miles of sidewalk for walking, biking or skating. It's lovely in the quiet of the morning, and lively later on.
Wonderful example of Arts & Crafts architecture. The Marston House offers docent tours with interesting information about San Diego's roots.
14 locals recommend
Marston House Museum
3525 7th AvenueWonderful example of Arts & Crafts architecture. The Marston House offers docent tours with interesting information about San Diego's roots.
I love beautiful architecture. Fort Stockton Drive and Sunset Blvd. wind through a fine neighborhood offering a glimpse of San Diego's stunning original homes and mansions. A fun place to get lost!
Fort Stockton Drive
Fort Stockton DriveI love beautiful architecture. Fort Stockton Drive and Sunset Blvd. wind through a fine neighborhood offering a glimpse of San Diego's stunning original homes and mansions. A fun place to get lost!
Panoramic View of San Diego. Getting up or down is half the fun. Another lovely area to get lost in.
146 locals recommend
Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial
6905 La Jolla Scenic Dr SPanoramic View of San Diego. Getting up or down is half the fun. Another lovely area to get lost in.
Entertainment & Activities
Stunning views of San Diego and the coast, an historic lighthouse which is now a museum, nice visitor center, and popular biking/running/walking trails.
66 locals recommend
Presidio Park
2811 Jackson StStunning views of San Diego and the coast, an historic lighthouse which is now a museum, nice visitor center, and popular biking/running/walking trails.
A delightful park with close up encounters with sea lions, great trees for climbing, and concerts on Sundays in the summer. I have also seen close-up whales migrating from this park in the winter.
Coast Boulevard
Coast BoulevardA delightful park with close up encounters with sea lions, great trees for climbing, and concerts on Sundays in the summer. I have also seen close-up whales migrating from this park in the winter.
A favorite beach in a charming neighborhood. Right next door to the famous Hotel Del Coronado where Marilyn Monroe's classic "Some Like it Hot" was filmed. Great views from Coronado Bridge as well!
144 locals recommend
Coronado Beach & Dog Park
Ocean BoulevardA favorite beach in a charming neighborhood. Right next door to the famous Hotel Del Coronado where Marilyn Monroe's classic "Some Like it Hot" was filmed. Great views from Coronado Bridge as well!
Better than Sea World for exotic fish and educational information on marine life.
34 locals recommend
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
8622 Kennel WayBetter than Sea World for exotic fish and educational information on marine life.
Shopping
Best local organic grocery store with a charming deli upstairs. They are committed to vegetarianism and don't sell any meat.
159 locals recommend
Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market
4765 Voltaire StBest local organic grocery store with a charming deli upstairs. They are committed to vegetarianism and don't sell any meat.