Guidebook for San Diego
Food Scene
Hands down, best Baja-style fish tacos on the West Coast. Upstairs has great views, too.
225 locals recommend
South Beach Bar & Grille
5059 Newport AveHands down, best Baja-style fish tacos on the West Coast. Upstairs has great views, too.
Great oceanfront brunch spot. Pet friendly patio. Good happy hour with discounted drinks and $5 appetizers.
35 locals recommend
Shades Oceanfront Bistro
5083 Santa Monica AvenueGreat oceanfront brunch spot. Pet friendly patio. Good happy hour with discounted drinks and $5 appetizers.
Nice French-inspired restaurant. Can get a little loud at night. Tasty food, good cocktails, solid wine list.
133 locals recommend
BO-beau kitchen + bar
4996 W Point Loma BlvdNice French-inspired restaurant. Can get a little loud at night. Tasty food, good cocktails, solid wine list.
Quirky 1960s hotel with a fabulous restaurant (also called the Pearl.) On Wednesdays the restaurant has a pool party & shows an outdoor movie. Their crispy brussels sprouts are a must-try!
23 locals recommend
Pearl Hotel
1410 Rosecrans StQuirky 1960s hotel with a fabulous restaurant (also called the Pearl.) On Wednesdays the restaurant has a pool party & shows an outdoor movie. Their crispy brussels sprouts are a must-try!
Sushi and tapas restaurant. The Joint Hand Roll is our favorite here. Excellent beer selection, good sushi rolls (try the O'Beef or the Big Kahuna), and good tapas options for non-sushi eaters.
78 locals recommend
The Joint - Award Winning Sushi, Tapas, Brunch, & Craft Beer
4902 Newport AveSushi and tapas restaurant. The Joint Hand Roll is our favorite here. Excellent beer selection, good sushi rolls (try the O'Beef or the Big Kahuna), and good tapas options for non-sushi eaters.
Newbreak Coffee & Cafe
1959 Abbott StLocal Coffee Shop with a great view.
Outdoor coffee shop slash garden boutique. Front patio is dog-friendly. Great vibe, good coffee and smoothies.
21 locals recommend
Jungle Java
5047 Newport AveOutdoor coffee shop slash garden boutique. Front patio is dog-friendly. Great vibe, good coffee and smoothies.
Good late-night happy hour options, plus the kitchen is open until 1 AM. This place also serves as a wine store, with the racks and tables interwoven throughout the place.
180 locals recommend
The 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro
2265 Bacon StGood late-night happy hour options, plus the kitchen is open until 1 AM. This place also serves as a wine store, with the racks and tables interwoven throughout the place.
Everything Else
Off leash dog beach. Worth going to even if you don't have a dog, just to see all the happy dogs frolicking!
174 locals recommend
Dog Beach
3902 29th StOff leash dog beach. Worth going to even if you don't have a dog, just to see all the happy dogs frolicking!
Drinks & Nightlife
Sessions Public
4204 Voltaire StreetLocal public house. Good food, solid artisanal cocktail list.
Local public house with a good beer selection and good cocktails. Their bloody marys are a meal in themselves.
110 locals recommend
Raglan Public House
1851 Bacon StLocal public house with a good beer selection and good cocktails. Their bloody marys are a meal in themselves.
Old school dive bar, hasn't been altered since the 1970s. Full of psychedelic blacklist undersea murals and a giant shell-shaped bar overhang. Well drinks are $2 during happy hour.
36 locals recommend
Pacific Shores Bar
4927 Newport AveOld school dive bar, hasn't been altered since the 1970s. Full of psychedelic blacklist undersea murals and a giant shell-shaped bar overhang. Well drinks are $2 during happy hour.
Essentials
Closest Grocery store to the cottage, though its a little on the pricey side.
159 locals recommend
Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market
4765 Voltaire StClosest Grocery store to the cottage, though its a little on the pricey side.
This is the closest inexpensive grocery store. Meat and produce prices are great, and the quality is high as well!
43 locals recommend
Stump's Family Marketplace
3770 Voltaire StThis is the closest inexpensive grocery store. Meat and produce prices are great, and the quality is high as well!
Wonderful little gourmet grocery store with an excellent wine selection.
95 locals recommend
The Olive Tree Market
4805 Narragansett AveWonderful little gourmet grocery store with an excellent wine selection.
Barons Market Point Loma
4001 W Point Loma BlvdA reasonably priced area grocery store.
Sightseeing
Sunset Cliffs
Gorgeous cliffs. Also great for a morning jog or a picnic!
Longest pier on the West Coast. Great views back toward OB. Plus its a fun walk and you get to see all the people fishing off the side and what they've caught.
776 locals recommend
Ocean Beach
1850 Ocean Front StLongest pier on the West Coast. Great views back toward OB. Plus its a fun walk and you get to see all the people fishing off the side and what they've caught.
San Diego's only natural park! Walk the hiking trail, visit the tide pools, or check out the lighthouse and museum. Admission is very inexpensive.
502 locals recommend
Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center
1800 Cabrillo Memorial DrSan Diego's only natural park! Walk the hiking trail, visit the tide pools, or check out the lighthouse and museum. Admission is very inexpensive.
Hornblower offers great cruises of the San Diego Harbor. We recommend the "Sights n' Sips" sunset cocktail cruise, which includes light appetizers.
49 locals recommend
Hornblower Cruises & Events
1800 N Harbor DrHornblower offers great cruises of the San Diego Harbor. We recommend the "Sights n' Sips" sunset cocktail cruise, which includes light appetizers.
This rooftop restaurant is on the flight path to San Diego Airport, and has a great view of downtown. Grab a cocktail and appetizer and watch some planes land! (Dress code = no shorts.)
152 locals recommend
Mister A's
2550 Fifth AveThis rooftop restaurant is on the flight path to San Diego Airport, and has a great view of downtown. Grab a cocktail and appetizer and watch some planes land! (Dress code = no shorts.)
San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo DrNot to be missed on a visit to San Diego!
This beach is the only harbor seal rookery in the area. Come watch the seals. If its between December and May, you may even see some pups! Volunteer docents provide educational info on the seals.
108 locals recommend
Childrens Pool Beach
This beach is the only harbor seal rookery in the area. Come watch the seals. If its between December and May, you may even see some pups! Volunteer docents provide educational info on the seals.
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Ladera Street