Guidebook for San Diego
Food Scene
Delicious gelato and coffee. Great customer service. Close to home. My favorite combo is the house flavor with pistachio. You can also try as many flavors as you want! Don't be shy.
132 locals recommend
Pappalecco
1602 State StDelicious gelato and coffee. Great customer service. Close to home. My favorite combo is the house flavor with pistachio. You can also try as many flavors as you want! Don't be shy.
Amazing fish tacos. Try their chipotle and cilantro sauces.
323 locals recommend
Oscars Mexican Seafood
703 Turquoise StAmazing fish tacos. Try their chipotle and cilantro sauces.
Great chicken sandwiches. A bit pricey, but fun atmosphere. Close to home
145 locals recommend
The Crack Shack - Little Italy
2266 Kettner BlvdGreat chicken sandwiches. A bit pricey, but fun atmosphere. Close to home
Buy by the slice. Yummy NY style pizza. Small place, wouldn't take a stroller.
82 locals recommend
Bronx Pizza
111 Washington StBuy by the slice. Yummy NY style pizza. Small place, wouldn't take a stroller.
Yummy breakfast spot. Can sit in or outdoor. Try the jam hashbrowns!
23 locals recommend
Harbor Breakfast
1502 India StYummy breakfast spot. Can sit in or outdoor. Try the jam hashbrowns!
Try the tots! Love all their sauces and burgers are tasty. Fun atmosphere with community tables outside.
174 locals recommend
Station Tavern
2204 Fern StTry the tots! Love all their sauces and burgers are tasty. Fun atmosphere with community tables outside.
Great sandwiches. Order and take to the near by Harbor Park
67 locals recommend
Mona Lisa Italian Foods
2061 India StGreat sandwiches. Order and take to the near by Harbor Park
Great little place right on the Embarcadero. Yummy trip tip sandwich, tacos and fries. Ask them for kids meal options.
23 locals recommend
Carnitas' Snack Shack - Embarcadero
1004 N Harbor DrGreat little place right on the Embarcadero. Yummy trip tip sandwich, tacos and fries. Ask them for kids meal options.
Great for kids. The wait staff brought us cut up fruit for the babies and accommodated our requests. Servings are HUGE so make sure to split. No reservations taken, so either go early or prepare for a wait.
185 locals recommend
Hash House A Go Go
3628 Fifth AveGreat for kids. The wait staff brought us cut up fruit for the babies and accommodated our requests. Servings are HUGE so make sure to split. No reservations taken, so either go early or prepare for a wait.
Great/healthy sandwiches. No place to eat there, so just order and take somewhere else. Close to Balboa park. Can have a nice picnic on one of the many lawns on 6th ave.
28 locals recommend
The Market Place
2601 Fifth AveGreat/healthy sandwiches. No place to eat there, so just order and take somewhere else. Close to Balboa park. Can have a nice picnic on one of the many lawns on 6th ave.
Delicious BBQ. Either prepare for a long wait, or order to go. Amazing ribs and bbq sauce.
166 locals recommend
Phil's BBQ
3750 Sports Arena BlvdDelicious BBQ. Either prepare for a long wait, or order to go. Amazing ribs and bbq sauce.
Donut Star
601 W Washington StSmall but yummy basic donut shop
Iconic donut shop in downtown. Unique donuts. Can be a long line, but you can call ahead and order to pick up which is much faster.
83 locals recommend
Donut Bar
631 B StIconic donut shop in downtown. Unique donuts. Can be a long line, but you can call ahead and order to pick up which is much faster.
Bahn Thai
4646 Park BlvdSmall place, order to pick up.
Iconic and delicious burger joint. Can be a long wait. But right next to the beach.
291 locals recommend
Hodad's
5010 Newport AveIconic and delicious burger joint. Can be a long wait. But right next to the beach.
CUCINA urbana
505 Laurel StDelicious food. Cool atmosphere. Great for a nice date night.
If you haven't tried it, you have too. Lots of hidden variety like: animal style(more sauce, grilled onions and pickles), Protein style(no bun, wrapped in lettuce), Light or well fries(either cooked less or more time), grilled cheese(can either to plain or with tomatoes and lettuce) Animal style fries(fries with sauce, cheese and grilled onions-can also add a patty to the top)
64 locals recommend
In-N-Out Burger
2910 Damon AveIf you haven't tried it, you have too. Lots of hidden variety like: animal style(more sauce, grilled onions and pickles), Protein style(no bun, wrapped in lettuce), Light or well fries(either cooked less or more time), grilled cheese(can either to plain or with tomatoes and lettuce) Animal style fries(fries with sauce, cheese and grilled onions-can also add a patty to the top)
Window service. a few tables outside. We like their burritos(California and pollo asado)
6 locals recommend
El Maguey de Cotija
330 W BroadwayWindow service. a few tables outside. We like their burritos(California and pollo asado)
Delicious Italian food. Great specials. Call for reservations or order to pick up. Pizza combinations are unique and delicious. On the expensive side.
317 locals recommend
Buona Forchetta - South Park
3001 Beech StDelicious Italian food. Great specials. Call for reservations or order to pick up. Pizza combinations are unique and delicious. On the expensive side.
Sightseeing
Beautiful setting on the harbor. If interested in ships, this is for you. Can tour several different types of ships as well as 2 submarines. Docents are very knowledgable and helpful.
124 locals recommend
Maritime Museum of San Diego
1492 N Harbor DrBeautiful setting on the harbor. If interested in ships, this is for you. Can tour several different types of ships as well as 2 submarines. Docents are very knowledgable and helpful.
Tour and air craft carrier. Can do an audio tour(make it as short or long-up to 3 hours as you want) See cool planes and helicopters up top. Beautiful views.
775 locals recommend
USS Midway Museum
910 N Harbor DrTour and air craft carrier. Can do an audio tour(make it as short or long-up to 3 hours as you want) See cool planes and helicopters up top. Beautiful views.
Famous statue of sailor kissing nurse. Next to USS midway. Fun picture spot.
11 locals recommend
Statue "Embracing Peace"
3 Tuna LnFamous statue of sailor kissing nurse. Next to USS midway. Fun picture spot.
We love doing this walk. Can walk from the Embarcadero all the way down to seaport village(even all thew ay down to the convention center if desired) Beautiful walk anytime of the day, but especially for an evening stroll. Stop in the village for ice cream, a carousal ride, see street performers and fun shops.
762 locals recommend
Seaport Village
849 W Harbor DrWe love doing this walk. Can walk from the Embarcadero all the way down to seaport village(even all thew ay down to the convention center if desired) Beautiful walk anytime of the day, but especially for an evening stroll. Stop in the village for ice cream, a carousal ride, see street performers and fun shops.
Cool monument commemorating the founder of San Diego. Beautiful views of the ocean, downtown and coronado. Small fee to enter park.
502 locals recommend
Cabrillo National Monument Visitor Center
1800 Cabrillo Memorial DrCool monument commemorating the founder of San Diego. Beautiful views of the ocean, downtown and coronado. Small fee to enter park.
Gorgeous walk along the point Loma cliffs. Enjoy anytime or especially during sunset.
268 locals recommend
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Ladera StreetGorgeous walk along the point Loma cliffs. Enjoy anytime or especially during sunset.
Everything Else
Cute island with beautiful beaches, walks, shops and restaurants. Feeling adventurous, take the ferry from the Embarcadero over to the island and enjoy Ferries Landing. Otherwise enjoy the beautiful views crossing the Coronado bridge, take a left on orange and you'll see many places to stop and enjoy great food, parks and eventually the Hotel Del and the beautiful Coronado State Beach.
487 locals recommend
Coronado Island
Cute island with beautiful beaches, walks, shops and restaurants. Feeling adventurous, take the ferry from the Embarcadero over to the island and enjoy Ferries Landing. Otherwise enjoy the beautiful views crossing the Coronado bridge, take a left on orange and you'll see many places to stop and enjoy great food, parks and eventually the Hotel Del and the beautiful Coronado State Beach.
Parks & Nature
Great little hikes for the whole family. Fee to enter into the park. Or park for free at the bottom on the street and walk up(good hike up the hill) beautiful scenes and views. Little strip of beach also.
1108 locals recommend
Torrey Pines State Reserve
12600 North Torrey Pines RoadGreat little hikes for the whole family. Fee to enter into the park. Or park for free at the bottom on the street and walk up(good hike up the hill) beautiful scenes and views. Little strip of beach also.
Beautiful walk around the bay with pockets of beach and gorgeous views of Mission Bay
43 locals recommend
Mission Bay Park
500 E Mission Bay Dr Beautiful walk around the bay with pockets of beach and gorgeous views of Mission Bay
Great views, nice little museum with little trails to walk around. Perfect for small kids.
66 locals recommend
Presidio Park
2811 Jackson StGreat views, nice little museum with little trails to walk around. Perfect for small kids.
Arts & Culture
Known for it's many museums. Balboa park is great for just walking and seeing the different scenes and areas of the park. One of our favorite this to do. the 2 free museums are the Botanical Gardens and Timken Art Museum. (look up hours, closed certain days) Kids also enjoy the science, train and natural history museums.
3290 locals recommend
Balboa Park
Known for it's many museums. Balboa park is great for just walking and seeing the different scenes and areas of the park. One of our favorite this to do. the 2 free museums are the Botanical Gardens and Timken Art Museum. (look up hours, closed certain days) Kids also enjoy the science, train and natural history museums.