With beautiful beaches, excellent food, perfect weather, and more sea lions than we could have imagined, San Diego quickly won us over. We spent our time exploring coastal towns, hiking oceanfront trails, brewery hopping, and eating far too well. Here are our favorite places to eat, drink, stay, and explore.
Where to Eat
- Cesarina (San Diego): One of our favorite meals of the trip was at Cesarina, a Bib Gourmand-awarded Italian restaurant just a short distance from the coast. Reservations can be difficult to secure, so we’d recommend booking well in advance, but the effort is absolutely worth it. The restaurant strikes that perfect balance between exceptional food and a lively, welcoming atmosphere. Our standout dish was the Paccheri Vodka and Scampi, which had just enough spice to keep things interesting without overwhelming the flavors. We also couldn’t resist ordering the tableside tiramisu, which was every bit as delicious as it was theatrical.
- Casa Guadalajara (San Diego): Located in Old Town San Diego, Casa Guadalajara ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for us. Given the rave reviews and the charming setting, our expectations may have been a little too high going in. That said, we still enjoyed a solid meal. The homemade flour tortillas were excellent, and the crispy shrimp and mango tacos delivered plenty of flavor. The fajitas, however, didn’t quite hit the mark by our admittedly high Tex-Mex standards. If we returned, we’d skip those and focus on some of the restaurant’s more unique offerings.
- Beginners Diner (San Diego): Unless you’re staying at The Lafayette Hotel (more on that below), Beginners Diner probably isn’t worth going out of your way for. However, if you do find yourself nearby, it’s a great option for a late-night meal. The patty melt was surprisingly good, service was quick, and the extended hours made it the perfect place to grab a bite after a long day of exploring.
- Little Frenchie (Coronado): Little Frenchie was an easy favorite of the trip. Reservations are highly recommended unless you enjoy standing in line and watching everyone else eat. The Frenchie Beef Dip was one of the best French dips we’ve ever had, perfectly rich and packed with flavor. The real surprise, though, was the Le Parisian Hot Chocolate with Fresh Strawberries, served inside a spiral croissant. It was decadent, unique, and unlike anything we’ve had before. We also ordered an almond croissant, which was excellent, though completely unnecessary given the generous portion sizes of everything else.
- Bobboi Natural Gelato (La Jolla): After spending the evening watching the sunset in La Jolla, we made our way to Bobboi Natural Gelato for dessert. Judging by the line, we weren’t the only ones with that idea, but thankfully it moved quickly. The menu features a variety of creative flavors, making it difficult to choose. We ultimately settled on the Mapletella and Girl Scout Thin Mint, both of which were excellent. It’s the perfect sweet treat to cap off an evening by the ocean.
- Encinitas Fish Shop (Encinitas): Expect a wait, but also expect it to be worth it. Encinitas Fish Shop has a fun, casual atmosphere and serves the kind of seafood you immediately start craving again once you leave. The surf and turf taco special was one of our favorite bites of the trip, packed with flavor and perfectly executed. We found the elote taco a little underwhelming by comparison, so our recommendation would be to lean toward the bolder, more adventurous options on the menu.
- Peterson’s Donut Corner (Escondido): While not at all in San Diego, it’s worth calling out this window-service donut shop for two reasons: 1) it is right on the way if you’re driving to Joshua Tree or Palm Springs, and 2) it is delicious. All the donuts here were fantastic and massive, but our favorites were the Isaac, the glazed old fashioned, and the apple fritter.
Things to Do
- Breweries (Throughout San Diego): San Diego’s brewery scene is every bit as impressive as its reputation suggests. We spent an evening exploring North Park and hopping between a few different breweries, including Pure Project and Belching Beaver Brewery. While both were enjoyable, Pure Project was the clear winner for us thanks to its comfortable atmosphere, inviting seating, and excellent beer selection. With so many breweries scattered throughout the region, beer lovers could easily spend an entire trip sampling local pours.
- Balboa Park (San Diego): Balboa Park is one of those places that’s difficult to fully appreciate until you see it in person. The sprawling park is home to beautiful gardens, historic architecture, museums, greenhouses, and countless walking paths. Even if you don’t plan to visit any of the attractions, it’s worth spending a few hours simply wandering through the grounds. The park is also home to the San Diego Zoo, making it a convenient stop if that’s on your itinerary.
- Sunset Cliffs (San Diego): If you only watch one sunset during your trip, make it at Sunset Cliffs. This scenic stretch of coastline is completely free to visit and offers some of the best views in the city. We’d recommend arriving early to claim a good viewing spot and bringing a lawn chair or picnic blanket so you can relax while waiting for the sun to dip below the horizon. Even outside of sunset hours, it’s a beautiful area for a leisurely walk along the coast.
- Chicano Park (San Diego): While not in the best area, the street art found at this park is pretty cool. If you find yourself in the area, it’s worth 10-15 minutes to swing by and admire the works.
- Coronado Beach and Hotel del Coronado (Coronado): Coronado Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the San Diego area, with wide stretches of soft sand that seem to go on forever. While the water conditions aren’t always ideal for swimming, it’s still well worth a visit. A stroll along the shoreline offers fantastic views of the historic Hotel del Coronado, which makes for some of the most iconic photos in the region.
- Sea Lions at La Jolla Cove (La Jolla): Of everything we did in the San Diego area, watching the sea lions and seals around La Jolla Cove was probably our favorite. There’s something endlessly entertaining about observing them waddle around, bark at one another, and wrestle for the most desirable spots on the rocks. We expected to stop by for a quick visit and ended up lingering for hours. Even if you somehow tire of the wildlife, the surrounding coastal paths offer spectacular ocean views and make for a wonderful walk.
- Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (La Jolla): Torrey Pines combines beautiful coastal scenery with some of the best hiking in the San Diego area. We completed the Torrey Pines Beach Trail Loop, a 2.3-mile hike with about 340 feet of elevation gain. It was the perfect balance of exercise and sightseeing, offering dramatic ocean views, rugged cliffs, and beach access without requiring a major physical effort.
- Saigon Trail (La Jolla): Saigon Trail is a short but surprisingly steep route down to the beach in La Jolla. At just 0.7 miles, it isn’t much of a hike, but it does provide a fun little workout. Since we were staying within walking distance at Estancia La Jolla, it was an easy way to start the day, enjoy some ocean views, and justify an extra pastry at breakfast.
- Annie’s Canyon (Cardiff-by-the-Sea): Annie’s Canyon offers a unique hiking experience through a narrow sandstone slot canyon. The trail itself is relatively short at about 1.3 miles, but it’s become quite popular, and the narrow sections can feel more like a traffic jam than a hike during busy periods. If possible, plan to visit early in the day. Crowds aside, it’s still a memorable and worthwhile stop.
- Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens (Encinitas): One of the most unexpectedly peaceful places we visited was the Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens in Encinitas. Perched atop oceanfront cliffs, the gardens are beautifully maintained and completely free to enter. Whether you spend an hour wandering the grounds or simply stop by for a few quiet moments between activities, it’s a wonderfully relaxing place to visit.
Where to Stay
Unless you have a particular hotel on your bucket list, we’d recommend choosing your accommodations based on the areas you plan to explore. San Diego County is surprisingly spread out, and minimizing drive times can make a big difference. Since our itinerary included both the city and the coastal communities to the north, we split our stay between La Jolla and North Park.
- The Lafayette Hotel and Club (San Diego): The Lafayette was easily one of the most memorable hotels we’ve ever stayed in. We were almost certainly not the target demographic, but that only added to the experience. The hotel’s Michelin Key recognition is well deserved. Every corner of the historic property feels intentionally designed, with an aesthetic that somehow manages to be eccentric, over-the-top, and cohesive all at once. The pool area is beautiful, the on-site dining options are strong, and the entire property transforms into a lively social scene at night. We may not have been cool enough to fit in, but we thoroughly enjoyed pretending for a couple of days. As an added bonus, we found free street parking just around the corner.
- Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa (La Jolla): Estancia offered a completely different experience and served as a relaxing counterbalance to The Lafayette. The atmosphere is serene and refined, with beautifully landscaped grounds, a lovely pool area, and elegant accommodations throughout the property. We booked through Chase Sapphire’s The Edit program and enjoyed the included benefits and complimentary breakfast, which added significant value. On-site parking is expensive, so we opted to park at UC San Diego across the street for a fraction of the cost. Its location also made it an excellent base for exploring La Jolla, Encinitas, and the other coastal communities north of San Diego.
Other Tips & Tricks
- Getting Around: We would strongly recommend renting a car unless you plan to spend your entire trip downtown. Some of our favorite experiences were in La Jolla, Encinitas, Coronado, and other areas outside the city center, and having a car made exploring them incredibly easy. Driving in San Diego is generally straightforward, though gas prices can be a bit of a shock if you’re visiting from elsewhere in the United States.
- What to Pack: San Diego’s famously pleasant weather lived up to its reputation during our visit. Days were warm and comfortable, but the ocean breeze can make evenings feel surprisingly cool. A light jacket or sweater is worth packing, especially if you plan to watch sunset along the coast. Beyond that, you can generally pack for summer-like conditions during most times of the year.
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan
