Lifestyle, Travel
Posted on by Erica Stolman

The Fashionlush Guide to San Diego (Master List!!!)

fashionlush, guide to san diego, masterlist

THE SAN DIEGO MASTER LIST IS OFFICIALLY LIVE!!

I first came up with the idea to write this post because of the amount of messages I get asking for San Diego pouring in & it’s really an IMPOSSIBLE thing to answer. I have lived in San Diego since I was 6 years old & have lived all over the place: Del Mar, Solana Beach, Cardiff, North Park, South Park, & NOW- LA MESA. When you say “San Diego”, technically you’re referring to downtown- but there is SO much more to San Diego that is WORTH seeing!!

When I think San Diego, I think anywhere from Downtown to Oceanside & I just really wanted to cover all the bases. 

I started the list with just my favorites & as I was done, I realized this was kinda weak. I haven’t been everywhere, haven’t lived in North County in years (so I don’t know all the new hot spots), & I also am not the one to ask when it comes to NIGHTLIFE- so I polled my audience.

& HOLY SHIT- DID THEY COME THROUGH!!! I got so many great recommendations of new places I want to try & little gems I forgot I loved. I sifted through every single one of them, eliminating the places I personally don’t think need to be on the list, making sure this was only repping the CREME DE LA CREME of San Diego (very few were eliminated, FYI!).

ALSO- v proud of the organization of this post!! To make sure it’s easy to read/reference- I created different categories & under those categories are drop-downs based on location. The beauty & wellness category is an exception as I organized this by service since most people would travel for a game changing beauty service! You can also click on most of these restaurants/stores/salons/etc to check out there Instagram!

NOTE: anything with a * indicated something I personally recommend, things I like to do in SD, & all of my past & present SD faves! IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THIS MASTER LIST, PLEASE COMMENT BELOW!!

The Fashionlush Guide to San Diego (Master List)

CUTEST NEIGHBORHOODS

If you're coming to San Diego for the nightlife & tourist attractions, Downtown is the place to stay!
Little Italy is close to down, a bit more tamer (although parking is a bitch!) & the spot to go if you're a foodie.
THE HIPSTER HOOD:

+ North Park: great food, shopping, hip brunch spots, trendy bars, & tons of instagrammable spots!
+ South Park: also hip, but a bit smaller then North Park! A great place to live.
+ Hillcrest: home to all the best gay bars in San Diego & just a really fun vibe! Going out in Hillcrest is always a good time.
+ Barrio Logan: if you love ART, culture, Mexican street corn (my fave!), & eclectic shopping- Barrio Logan is the spot!
BEACH VIBES!

+ La Jolla: if you're looking for something a little beachy, a little bougie- you will love La Jolla!
+ Pacific Beach: think college kids by the beach & lots of partying!!
+ Ocean Beach: think hippies by the beach & lots of weed smoking ;).
FOR MORE OF A FAMILY VIBE:

+ Del Mar: a great spot for a family vacay by the beach! Cute restaurants, fun bars, & chic hotels.
+ Rancho Santa Fe: where all the fancy people live with some HUGE houses & a few relaxing resorts to check out.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THAT "ANIMAL KINGDOM" EXPERIENCE... KEEP IT COASTAL:

+ Cardiff: the dreamiest little beach town & my personal fave!
+ Encinitas: the mecca of North County & home to all the hippest bars/shopping in that area!
+ Carlsbad & Oceanside: in the past these haven't always been the "hot spots" but SO many cute restaurants & shops are opening up here. Also- Animal Kingdom was actually filmed in Oceanside!

CHIC CAFES

+ *Parakeet Cafe La Jolla
+ *Trilogy Sanctuary La Jolla
+ Bird Rock Coffee Roasters La Jolla & Pacific Beach
+ *Better Buzz Pacific Beach
+ Creme & Sugar Del Mar
+ Pinpoint Cafe Del Mar
+ *Lofty Coffee Solana Beach & Encinitas
+ *Better Buzz Encinitas
+ Invita Coffee Carlsbad
+ Cafe Topes Carlsbad
+ Copa Vida Carlsbad
+ *Revolution Roasters Oceanside
+ *Better Buzz Hillcrest
+ *Holsem Coffee North Park
+ Deja Brew North Park
+ Holy Matcha North Park
+ *Coffee + Tea Collective North Park
+ *Communal Coffee North Park & South Park
+ *Cafe Madeline South Park
+ *Cafe Motto Barrio Logan
+ *Por Vida Barrio Logan
+ Coava Coffee Downtown
+ Holy Matcha East Village
+ *Coffee & Tea Collective East Village
+ *Copa Vida East Village & Little Italy
+ *James Coffee Co Little Italy
+ *Lofty Coffee Little Italy
+ *SquareBar Kearny Mesa
+ *Public Square Coffee House La Mesa
+ *S3 Coffee Bar Mission Gorge

BRUNCH SO HARD

+ Wheat & Water La Jolla
+ Herringbone La Jolla
+ George's at the Cove La Jolla
+ Beaumont's Eatery La Jolla
+ *The Great Maple La Jolla
+ La Valencia La Jolla
+ Fig Tree Cafe Pacific Beach
+ Crushed Pacific Beach
+ Second Nature Pacific Beach
+ The Duck Dive Pacific Beach
+ *Breakfast Republic Ocean Beach & Pacific Beach
+ *Little Lion Ocean Beach
+ OB Surf Lodge Ocean Beach
+ Searsucker Del Mar
+ Prep Kitchen Del Mar
+ *Claire's on Cedros Solana Beach
+ Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas
+ *Breakfast Republic Encinitas
+ *Swamis Encinitas
+ Beach Plum Cafe Carlsbad
+ *Jeune Et Jolie Carlsbad
+ *Local Tap House Oceanside
+ Hundred Proof North Park
+ The Mission North Park
+ *Breakfast Republic North Park
+ *Trust North Park
+ *Kindred South Park
+ *The Rose South Park
+ Fig Tree Cafe Hillcrest
+ Breakfast Bitch Hillcrest
+ *The Great Maple Hillcrest
+ *Madison on Park University Heights
+ *Luca Downtown
+ Searsucker Downtown
+ Tom Ham's Lighthouse Downtown
+ *Breakfast Republic East Village
+ *Morning Glory Little Italy
+ *Farmers Table Little Italy
+ Nolita Hall Little Italy
+ *Herb & Wood Little Italy
+ *Farmers Table La Mesa
+ The Waffle Spot Mission Valley
+ *The Yellow Deli Vista

LUNCH & DINNER SPOTS

+ The Taco Stand La Jolla
+ Javier's Cantina La Jolla
+ *Piatti La Jolla
+ Eddy V's La Jolla
+ *Barbusa La Jolla
+ Isola Pizza Bar La Jolla
+ *Liberty Station Point Loma (an open market with tons of different food options!)
+ Mitch's Seafood Point Loma
+ Sushi OTA Pacific Beach
+ The Grass Skirt Pacific Beach
+ *OB Noodle House Ocean Beach
+ Blue Water Seafood Ocean Beach
+ *Jakes Del Mar
+ Sbicca Del Mar
+ *Board & Brew (grab a sandwich & go to the beach!) Del Mar
+ North Italia One Paseo in Del Mar
+ Cucina Enoteca Del Mar
+ *Flower Child Solana Beach
+ *The Crack Shack Encinitas
+ *Buono Forchetta Encinitas
+ The Taco Stand Encinitas
+ Death By Tequila Encinitas
+ *Jeune Et Jolie Carlsbad
+ *Harumama Carlsbad
+ Blackrail Kitchen + Bar Carlsbad
+ *Campfire Oceanside
+ *Wrench & Rodent Oceanside
+ *Felix's Barbeque Oceanside
+ *Harney Sushi Oceanside
+ *Poke One Half North Park
+ Mama's Bakery North Park
+ *Underbelly North Park
+ *El Zarape North Park
+ *Alexanders on 30th North Park
+ The Taco Stand North Park
+ *Soda & Swine North park
+ *55 Thai South Park
+ *Buono Forchetta South Park
+ *Tajima Ramen Hillcrest
+ *Karinas Mexican Seafood Mission Hills
+ *Barbusa Little Italy
+ Cucina Urbana Little Italy
+ The Lions Share Little Italy
+ *Monello (order anything in the parm wheel!) Little Italy
+ Born & Raised Little Italy
+ *Harumama Little Italy
+ *Cafe Gratitude Little Italy
+ Isola Pizza Bar Little Italy
+ Starlite Little Italy
+ Juniper and Ivy Little Italy
+ *The Crack Shack Little Italy
+ Kettner Exchange Little Italy
+ Cloak & Petal Little Italy
+ Lola 55 East Village
+ The Taco Stand Downtown
+ Cowboy Star Downtown
+ Eddy V's Downtown
+ Coasterra Downtown
+ Bankers Hill Bar + Restaurant Bankers Hill
+ Volcano Rabbit Downtown
+ *Banbu La Mesa
+ Serea Coastal Cuisine @ the Hotel Del in Coronado
+ Donburi Kitchen Clairemont
+ J Wata Clairemont

DESSERT GOALS

WHERE TO SHOP

+ *Mimi & Red La Jolla
+ UTC Mall La Jolla
+ *LF La Jolla
+ Propsect Ave (window shopping at it's finest! La Jolla
+ Trendy & Tipsy Pacific Beach
+ Dreamgirls Ocean Beach
+ *Pigment Del Mar
+ One Paseo Del mar
+ *Van De Vort Solana Beach
+ *Cedros Design District a street of shopping in Solana Beach
+ Swirl Boutique Encinitas & Carlsbad
+ *The Forum Carlsbad
+ Studio 1220 Carlsbad
+ *Captains Helm vintage Oceanside
+ *Sea Hive Marketplace (antique/vintage mall!) Oceanside
+ *Pigment North Park
+ *Love & Aesthetics North Park
+ *Mimi & Red North Park
+ *Hunt & Gather North Park
+ *Grafitti Beach South Park
+ *Vinyl Junkies South Park
+ *Pigment Point Loma
+ Fashion Valley Mall San Diego
+ Wild Dove Boutique Downtown

HOTTEST HOTELS

+ La Jolla Cove Suites
+ Estancia La Jolla
+ Tower 23 Pacific Beach
+ *The Pearl Point Loma
+ Hotel Indigo Del Mar (dog friendly!)
+ *L'Auberge Del Mar
+ Fairmont Grand Del Mar
+ Rancho Valencia Rancho Santa Fe
+ The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
+ Omni Resort & Spa La Costa & Carlsbad
+ *The Guild Downtown
+ *Pendry Downtown
+ Westgate Downtown
+ Moxy Hotel Downtown
+ Andaz Downtown
+ US Grant Downtown
+ Loews Coronado (dog friendly!)
+ Hotel Del Coronado
+ *The Lafayette North Park

A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN

+ Beaumont's La Jolla
+ Mavericks Beach Club Pacific Beach
+ PB Cantina Pacific Beach
+ Moonshine Beach Pacific Beach
+ The Duck Dive Pacific Beach
+ Searsucker Del Mar
+ *Belly Up Solana Beach
+ *ALCE Solana Beach
+ Shelter Encinitas
+ Death by Tequila Encinitas
+ Home & Away Encinitas
+ Kilowatt Oceanside
+ *Coin Op North Park
+ *Polite Provisions North Park
+ Inside Out Hillcrest
+ *Kindred South Park
+ *Park & Rec University Heights
+ Oxford Social Club Downtown
+ Parq SD Downtown
+ *Trailer Park After Dark Downtown
+ *Punch Bowl Social Downtown
+ *Bang Bang Downtown
+ Searsucker Downtown
+ Rustic Root Rooftop Downtown
+ Born & Raised Little Italy
+ El Camino Little Italy
Nolita Hall Little Italy

THINGS TO DO

+ *Head to La Jolla Cove to check out the tidepools, see the seals, & even paddleboard!
+ Find the "hidden" big swing in La jolla
+ Kayak La Jolla Shores
+ Pacific Beach for a beach day!
+ *La Jolla, Pacific Beach, & Ocean Beach all have great beaches (OB has a great dog beach too!)
+ The Lot Point Loma
+ *Liberty Station Point Loma cruise around for food & shopping!
+ * picnic & sunset at Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach
+ Torrey Pines State Beach: Beach Day!
+ Paddle Boarding at the Carlsbad Lagoon
+ *Del Mar dog beach
+ *also tons of great beaches along the coast in north county!
+ *Carlsbad Flower Fields (if the flowers are blooming, this is a site to see!)
+ *Chill at the LaFayette Pool North Park
+ *Hillcrest Farmers Market on Sunday
+ *go to the Zoo!! Balboa
+ *spend a few hours walking around Balboa Park
+ Little Italy's Farmers Market on Saturday
+ Cinema Under the Stars Mission Hills
+ *Rooftop Cinema Club Downtown
+ visit the USS Midway Downtown
+ hang out at Seaport Village Downtown
+ *Spend the day in Coronado: great dog beach, great regular beach, & hotel Del! 
+ *take a trip to Julian (esp in the Fall for apple picking!)
+ *head 3 hours away to Salvation Mountain, TRUST ME- IT IS WORTH IT!
+ *make the quick trip to Mexico, head to Rosarito & get yourself some bomb ass lobster!

WHERE TO WORKOUT

+ *Sparkcycle La Jolla & Point Loma
+ *Corepower Yoga La Jolla, Pacific Beach, & Point Loma
+ SoulCycle La Jolla
+ The Boxing Club La Jolla
+ Reach Yoga Pacific Beach
+ PB Fitness Pacific Beach
+ Yoga Six Point Loma
+ BodyRok Pilates & Spin Del Mar & Encinitas
+ Fitwall Solana Beach
+ *Elevate Pilates Solana Beach
+ *Yoga Tropics Encinitas
+ *Lagree Fit Oceanside
+ Vital Climbing Gym Oceanside
+ Barry's Bootcamp Hillcrest
+ Studio Reform Pilates Hillcrest
+ Sweat Society Fitness North Park
+ *Corepower Yoga Hillcrest & North Park
+ Club Pilates North Park
+ Ginseng Gfit South Park
+ *Elevate Pilates Downtown
+ Aquavie Wellness downtown
+ The Boxing Club Downtown
+ *Corepower Yoga Little Italy & Downtown
+ Fit Athletic Club Little Italy
+ *Hike Torrey Pines, Del mar
+ Hike Cowles Mountain, La Mesa
+ Hike Potato Chip Rock, Poway

THE BEST IN HEALTH & BEAUTY