Food Scene
Arguably the best Italian restaurant in San Diego. Despite not being in Little Italy, the owner and staff are all Italian. Their speciality is their pizza. Try the Sergio. Also try the Sangria.
317 locals recommend
Buona Forchetta - South Park
3001 Beech StArguably the best Italian restaurant in San Diego. Despite not being in Little Italy, the owner and staff are all Italian. Their speciality is their pizza. Try the Sergio. Also try the Sangria.
Decent coffee, I mostly list here for the convenience factor. If you are a coffee snob like me, head to either Subterranean or Coffee & Tea Collective in North Park.
82 locals recommend
Grant's Marketplace
2953 Beech StDecent coffee, I mostly list here for the convenience factor. If you are a coffee snob like me, head to either Subterranean or Coffee & Tea Collective in North Park.
For meat lovers this place is just amazing. Order the steak sandwich or Triple Threat, and enjoy it on their patio with a cold draft beer. Open late, great for munchies.
162 locals recommend
Carnitas' Snack Shack - North Park
2632 University AvenueFor meat lovers this place is just amazing. Order the steak sandwich or Triple Threat, and enjoy it on their patio with a cold draft beer. Open late, great for munchies.
Best coffee shop in San Diego. I get my guests a growler of their cold-brew iced coffee, and have yet to disappoint.
47 locals recommend
Coffee & Tea Collective
2911 El Cajon BlvdBest coffee shop in San Diego. I get my guests a growler of their cold-brew iced coffee, and have yet to disappoint.
Phenomenal Mediterranean/California cuisine. I have yet to have a dud here, so no specific recommendations are needed. They have a more glamorous location downtown, but this is the original.
73 locals recommend
Cafe 21 University Heights
2736 Adams AvePhenomenal Mediterranean/California cuisine. I have yet to have a dud here, so no specific recommendations are needed. They have a more glamorous location downtown, but this is the original.
Thai food in San Diego is hit-or-miss, but this place is very reliable. Hole-in-the-wall style, good cheap options. Great for pick-up or eating on their sidewalk tables.
95 locals recommend
Bahn Thai
4646 Park BlvdThai food in San Diego is hit-or-miss, but this place is very reliable. Hole-in-the-wall style, good cheap options. Great for pick-up or eating on their sidewalk tables.
I'm a major Sushi snob, and Roger (the owner) does something really unique here. The best dishes are a mix of fresh sashimi and spicy peppers. Unfortunately quite pricey, but worth it.
80 locals recommend
Hane Sushi
2760 Fifth AveI'm a major Sushi snob, and Roger (the owner) does something really unique here. The best dishes are a mix of fresh sashimi and spicy peppers. Unfortunately quite pricey, but worth it.
Authentic little family run Mexican restaurant. You won't get a "California Burrito" here, but try the goat and you won't care. On Friday there is live music.
22 locals recommend
El Comal
3946 Illinois StAuthentic little family run Mexican restaurant. You won't get a "California Burrito" here, but try the goat and you won't care. On Friday there is live music.
Pretty unanimously considered the best tacos in San Diego. LONG lines on weekends, so come hungry and come prepared. Worth the wait, however.
99 locals recommend
Tacos El Gordo
556 BroadwayPretty unanimously considered the best tacos in San Diego. LONG lines on weekends, so come hungry and come prepared. Worth the wait, however.
This isn't in the most interesting neighborhood, but they make my favorite version of the famous "California Burrito". Get their classic Surfin' California, and prepare to gain 5 lbs. It's worth it.
139 locals recommend
Lucha Libre Taco Shop
1810 W Washington StThis isn't in the most interesting neighborhood, but they make my favorite version of the famous "California Burrito". Get their classic Surfin' California, and prepare to gain 5 lbs. It's worth it.
Great breakfast spot. Super San Diego vibe. Also good if San Diego is starting to have a negative impact on your waistline, they actually have some delicious healthy options.
63 locals recommend
Swami's Cafe North Park
3794 30th StreetGreat breakfast spot. Super San Diego vibe. Also good if San Diego is starting to have a negative impact on your waistline, they actually have some delicious healthy options.
Essentials
Amazing little market with organic produce from a local collective of farms. They also have great eggs, chicken and beef (grass fed), and a stellar (no pun intended) juice bar.
Stehly Farms Market-South Park
2967 Beech StAmazing little market with organic produce from a local collective of farms. They also have great eggs, chicken and beef (grass fed), and a stellar (no pun intended) juice bar.
Saturday Morning. Not the best Farmer's Market in San Diego by any means, but convenient from my place. The better and more impressive ones are in Little Italy (also Saturday), and Hillcrest (Sunday).
20 locals recommend
Golden Hill Farmers Market
2776 B StreetSaturday Morning. Not the best Farmer's Market in San Diego by any means, but convenient from my place. The better and more impressive ones are in Little Italy (also Saturday), and Hillcrest (Sunday).
Everything Else
Ginseng Yoga
2985 Beech StOne of the best Yoga studios in San Diego.
Great little gym built in an old fire-house. Day passes are $10.
12 locals recommend
South Park Fitness
2211 30th StGreat little gym built in an old fire-house. Day passes are $10.
This is a great Kayak rental company. They also rent stand-up paddle boards.
12 locals recommend
Aqua Adventures Kayaks & Stand Up Paddleboards Rental & Sales
1548 Quivira WayThis is a great Kayak rental company. They also rent stand-up paddle boards.
Drinks & Nightlife
One of the most renowned beer bars in San Diego. Written up by New York Times. A great way to sample some of the vibrant local brewing scene. Warning! They are silly busy on a weekend night.
170 locals recommend
Hamilton's Tavern
1521 30th StOne of the most renowned beer bars in San Diego. Written up by New York Times. A great way to sample some of the vibrant local brewing scene. Warning! They are silly busy on a weekend night.
Probably my favorite bar in San Diego. Whiskey bar, but amazing vibes and cocktails. Their weekday happy hour is $5 cocktails until 7. Later at night, they usually have a free jazz or blues show.
133 locals recommend
Seven Grand San Diego
3054 University AveProbably my favorite bar in San Diego. Whiskey bar, but amazing vibes and cocktails. Their weekday happy hour is $5 cocktails until 7. Later at night, they usually have a free jazz or blues show.
Tied with Seven Grand (also listed here) as my favorite bar in San Diego. Amazing craft cocktails, airy Art Deco atmosphere (built in an old pharmacy), and killer happy hour. Try their punch-bowls.
245 locals recommend
Polite Provisions
4696 30th StTied with Seven Grand (also listed here) as my favorite bar in San Diego. Amazing craft cocktails, airy Art Deco atmosphere (built in an old pharmacy), and killer happy hour. Try their punch-bowls.
San Diego is craft-beer central, and there are 5-6 breweries within a couple miles of my place. However, this one is my favorite in town. Great "session style" beer, and the decor here is phenomenal.
41 locals recommend
Modern Times Beer
3725 Greenwood StSan Diego is craft-beer central, and there are 5-6 breweries within a couple miles of my place. However, this one is my favorite in town. Great "session style" beer, and the decor here is phenomenal.
I'm not big into nightclubs, but this place is impressive. A sushi-fusion restaurant meets nightclub, it is definitely the place to see and be seen. Dress well.
40 locals recommend
Bang Bang
526 Market StI'm not big into nightclubs, but this place is impressive. A sushi-fusion restaurant meets nightclub, it is definitely the place to see and be seen. Dress well.
Stone is the most popular brewery in San Diego County. Their main location and brewery is 30 min north in Escondido, but you can also walk here and fill one of my growlers for $10 (or try tasters).
20 locals recommend
Stone Company Store
2215 30th StreetStone is the most popular brewery in San Diego County. Their main location and brewery is 30 min north in Escondido, but you can also walk here and fill one of my growlers for $10 (or try tasters).
Something between a gay dive bar and karaoke. If you don't want too much pretension, come here. Their karaoke list is actually really impressive. Also rarely too busy on a weekend.
36 locals recommend
Redwing Bar & Grill
4012 30th StSomething between a gay dive bar and karaoke. If you don't want too much pretension, come here. Their karaoke list is actually really impressive. Also rarely too busy on a weekend.
Sightseeing
My favorite beach in San Diego. To reach it, look up the Torrey Pines Gliderport. From there, you have to hike down a fairly steep trail. It is a bit of work, but it's worth it.
144 locals recommend
Black's Beach
My favorite beach in San Diego. To reach it, look up the Torrey Pines Gliderport. From there, you have to hike down a fairly steep trail. It is a bit of work, but it's worth it.
"Garbage Beach", as it is rather unappealingly called, is right below here. This is one of the better "secret" beaches in San Diego. You descend the cliffs to get to it with a rope!
579 locals recommend
Sunset Cliffs
"Garbage Beach", as it is rather unappealingly called, is right below here. This is one of the better "secret" beaches in San Diego. You descend the cliffs to get to it with a rope!
For a town with little history of political activism, this is actually cool to see. Very well done political Chicano murals on the underside of the Coronado bridge.
51 locals recommend
Chicano Park
1949 Logan AvenueFor a town with little history of political activism, this is actually cool to see. Very well done political Chicano murals on the underside of the Coronado bridge.