Known as America’s Finest City, San Diego has truly stolen my heart. So much so, that I’m plotting to retire here and luckily, my brother lives in San Diego! With this guide, I’ll share where to eat, play, and stay in San Diego, and obviously why I’m retiring there. Yes, I’m indeed speaking this into existence HEAVY.
The vibes
With perfect weather year-round (they get 100+ days of sunshine yearly), you can realistically visit any time. I visited in late July and it felt like a fall/spring day every day. The mornings and evenings were chilly, but not too cold. And the afternoons were warm, but not too hot that I’d start sweating.
Maybe the weather contributes to why San Diegans are so friendly and active. You’ll see folks biking, jogging/running, and walking at all times of the day.
As I learned from my brother and friends who live in San Diego, May and June are known as “May Bloom” and “June Gloom”. Meaning mornings (especially on the coast) start with overcast, but usually clear up by the afternoon.
There are many hotels and Airbnb’s to choose from in San Diego. When researching places to stay, I saw hotel and Airbnb listings that varied in price range, ambiance, amenities, etc.
This gem is located in the South Park neighborhood, a quiet single-family neighborhood. I love how tranquil, scenic, and diverse the neighborhood is. When I stayed, the neighborhood was filled with Black Lives Matter signs, Pride flags, and colorful murals. I never felt more safe in a neighborhood, people even randomly waved and smiled.
Now the Airbnb was perfect, the rooftop was the best spot to sunbathe (and nap). There are lounge chairs around and an umbrella if you don’t want to sit under the sun. The perfect weather, plus the peacefulness of the neighborhood made the rooftop a vibe every morning and evening. This listing is also close to small coffee shops, restaurants, 7-Eleven, liquor stores, Target, and more. The host was amazing and checked up to make sure everything was okay throughout my stay.
I loved this Airbnb for a few reasons:
- It’s conveniently located between North Park and Hillcrest which were two of my favorite neighborhoods in San Diego for restaurants
- The Airbnb is part of a community of apartments and everyone I met was very nice
- They had a nice porch with a fireplace for chilly nights
If you’re looking to stay in the heart of North Park, then this is definitely the place for you! This Airbnb is right off University Avenue, which has many shops, restaurants, and bars. The rooftop and the views it provided were amazing. However, my only complaint is that the wifi wasn’t that strong when more than two people used it.
My absolute favorite restaurant in San Diego, hands down, and it’s Black-owned which is a plus! I’ve been twice and the food, drinks, service, and ambiance are always on point! The menu is inspired by New Orleans, and I love that they have outdoor seating with heated lamps.
Breakfast Republic
Basically a chain restaurant in Southern California (specifically in, and around, San Diego) that serves breakfast all day. Coming here is a must every time I visit San Diego, and there’s one in almost every major neighborhood. I love breakfast, so I was excited to know Breakfast Republic is open 7am-3pm every day,
Dunedin New Zealand Eats
Located in the North Park neighborhood, this is a unique New Zealand-inspired restaurant (I’m sure the name gave it away). This is the best place for weekend brunch, weekday breakfast, happy hour and lunch. We went for weekend brunch and the ambiance was amazing. It felt like I walked into nature or an island. And the outdoor tables felt private and secluded with nature and dividers in between one another. The food was absolutely delicious, and the $2 double mimosa is a MUST during weekend brunch. Essentially, you get two mimosas for the price of $2-$3 (depending on the juice you choose). Also, the service was SUPER quick, I think our whole dining experience last an hour.
El Zarape Mexican Cantina
I’d suggest visiting El Zarape on taco Tuesday during their happy hour (3-6pm). Because, for $20 you can get unlimited tacos and for $5, margarita flights with four flavors. But this deal is only possible during happy hour on taco Tuesday.
The staff was funny and friendly, and the vibes at El Zarape were amazing. They had a mix of R&B, hip-hop and reggae music playing in the background. We sat inside of a cabana with a large table, they also have colorful floating umbrellas above tables without cabanas. The umbrellas reminded me of the ones you see in San Juan, Cartagena, or Miami.
I should also note that there are two El Zarape locations a few blocks from each other in North Park.
Shrimp Heads
The food here is delicious, in fact, I’m still thinking about my meal – specifically the fries with cajun seasoning. We ordered from this place via Doordash and got their fried baskets, but they also have seafood boils. Typically, seafood can be pricey, but everything here is very reasonably priced.
StreetCar Merchants
A Black and family-owned southern chicken joint and bar located in North Park, but we ordered food for delivery. The chicken here is SO tender, juicy, crispy and delicious. Next time I’m in San Diego, I’m definitely going to try dine-in at their location.
Barley Mash
Located in the Gaslamp District, Barley Mash gives me a sports bar type of vibe. The service was great and the food was honestly just okay, but the drinks were yummy. I ordered the “Stay Classy…” (an ode to Ron Burgundy) which was so good!
One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in SD, but not for the reason you think. It’s actually my favorite brunch spot because they offer sweet and savory options (I love having both for brunch). The food is delicious and portions are huge, the service is amazing, and the drinks are strong.
Hands down my favorite authentic Mexican restaurant because the tacos here take me back to my time in Mexico. I’m talking handmade corn tortillas, fresh ingredients, and all the pineapples you could ever want for your tacos! There are separate lines you can enter to order different tacos (e.g. adobada, carne asada, and chorizo lines).
Disclaimer: I’m not a coffee drinker, so I can’t speak on that, however, their tea and mimosa options are delicious! HOB’s a great place to work because:
- The music isn’t too loud
- There are many seating options (or, at least there are at the North Park location)
- There’s free wifi and power outlets
I think what they serve is self-explanatory, and with many locations throughout San Diego, you’ll probably be close to one. They have more than 15 tacos to choose from, including traditional tacos (e.g. carnitas) to vegan tacos.
A woman-owned LGBTQ+ bar and restaurant, Barrel & Board offers curated and delicious shareable boards. I loved the decor in the restaurant, it was giving Parisian vibes, and the service was great too. Also, I want to highlight their music selection was on point. They played a mix of early 2000s music, including pop and hip-hop, bringing me back to my adolescence.
Balboa Park
Visiting Balboa is basically a given when visiting San Diego, especially since it’s right in the heart of the city. There’s so much to explore, from museums and gardens, to shops and the arts. All of the architecture around Balboa Park made feel like I was back in Spain. I walked around the parked and saw the Old Cactus Garden, Botanical Building and more.
Sunset Cliffs
Within the Point Loma community, this is a great place to catch the sunset (the name probably gave it away). It’s a chill place, but there isn’t much to do outside of a picnic. There are also no bathrooms, so plan accordingly.
La Jolla
A seaside community filled with luxury boutique shops, restaurants, and beaches. The coastline is rugged, which is great for surfing and even has sea lions hanging out. Heading to La Jolla would be a great day trip from San Diego as it’s only 20 minutes away. If you’re in the area, also check out:
- Torrey Pines: About 15 minutes from La Jolla Torrey Pines and 30 minutes north of San Diego. Torrey Pines includes the State Natural Reserve and Beach, unfortunately, it was closed when I visited due to COVID. But, I did get to relax on the beautiful beach!
SD has tons of great thrift and boutique stores, especially in the North Park area. Speakeasy is definitely one of those cool boutique stores that offers discounts on clothing, accessories, and more. I bought a few OBEY Clothing sweatpants for very reasonable prices and the staff were so nice.
