Looking for the best places to eat and drink in San Diego? The best places to eat? To hang? To have $2 mimosas? I got you covered. I have created a list of seven awesome places to eat, drink and be merry in San Diego. It can be hard to decide where to eat in a city like this, considering there is an overwhelming amount of options! But fear not, I have created an approachable list that covers all of your needs. From coffee, to mimosas, to sweet views, to cheap eats- you’ll find it all here, so read on my friends.
Communal Coffee
Looking for the most adorable coffee spot in town? With great local coffee and sweet treats to boot? Communal Coffee in South Park is the place. Located on the ever-cool Fern Street, this stylish travel trailer is slinging the freshest almond milk latte you’ve ever had. If you’re feeling funky, you can try one of their originals, a lavender honey latte or a rose vanilla. Sounds amazing, no? They also have a larger brick and mortar location at 2335 University Ave in Northpark, if that’s more your style 😉
While around, be sure to wander the street and check out some of the shops. Grafittti Beach across the street is great for stylish clothing and home decor, and don’t miss the adorable Vinyl Junkies Record Shack down the road.
221 Fern St. San Diego, CA 92104
7am-7pm daily
Buona Forchetta
You might have seen this one on a list or two. Looking for the best Italian food in San Diego? Maybe the best Italian food in California? Or even in the US? Alright, I might be making an extreme assumption there, but this place is that good. It’s got everything you want from an Italian restaurant, delicious food, fast-talking Italian servers and a close-nit, buzzy environment. Not to mention great bottles of Italian wine at 34 dollars a pop.
Here, you can choose your own pasta type and a sauce to with it. I highly recommend the gnocchi with pesto, but that’s right up my alley. From Bolognese to Carbonara, Pappardelle to Fettuccine, you are bound to find something you love. Not to mention, there are over 20 pizzas to choose from and they all look delicious. When you walk up it will look like theres no way you’re getting a table any time soon but fear not, these people are on top of it and the longest you will wait might be an hour. There is an awesome little bar called Kindred right across the street that will make you up a nice fancy cocktail while you wait. Trust me, of all the places to eat in San Diego, you don’t want to miss this one.
3001 Beech St. San Diego, CA 92102
M 5-10pm | T-Th 12-3pm, 5-10pm | F 12-3pm, 5-11pm | Sat 12-11pm | Sun 12-10pm
Dunedin
Located in the trendy Northpark neighborhood, this place will fulfill all of your Brunch dreams- a creative, well-decorated environment, INSANE brunch menu, and TWO DOLLAR MIMOSAS. Who said brunch has to be expensive in California? As long as you get in before noon, all of your mimosas are two bucks- you heard it right, dos dolares. And these aren’t your typical discount mimosas, no sir. These are champagne to the brim, splash of OJ, the way us true brunch-lovers expect. On top of that, the food is crazy good. A New Zealand-inspired restaurant, Dunedin has an extensive burger menu but other menu items that’ll satisfy all of your deepest brunch desires. Try the steak, shrimp & grits, the killer chicken biscuit with gravy, or some fried dough to get started.
3501 30th Ave. San Diego, CA 92101
M-Thur 10am-11pm | F 10am-12am | Sat 9am-12am | Sun 9am- 11pm
Kono’s
Arguably Pacific Beach’s best kept secret- Kono’s breakfast. This little (seemingly) hole-in-the-wall spot serves breakfast all day. But don’t let its super cheap prices and simple decor fool you. Once you walk up to the counter and place your order- you have four options for places to sit. You can sit inside the cafe, outside on the adjourning patio, across the path where their outdoor coffee stand resides, OR you can venture to their BEACH FRONT patio (that they might suggest to you in careless passing).
THIS is the place. Go to the beach front patio, it’s low key and magical. They will bring your HUGE, DELICIOUS $6 burrito out to you there. I highly recommend the burrito, they are literally $6.95 and they are HUGE- you can share one and still be full. If it doesn’t come with avocado, add it, I swear they put a whole avocado in there. This was hands down the best meal I had in Pacific Beach and we stumbled upon it after passing multiple places with lines and waits (that we tried later) and their food didn’t even come close. SO take my advice, you won’t be disappointed.
1730 Garnet Ave. San Diego, CA 92109
7am-3pm daily
OB Noodle House 1502
Talk about a good happy hour, be sure to get here before 6 and grab a peanut butter shot or two. SO GOOD. You’ll want to venture to this funky neighborhood no matter what, and this is a great place to stop for dinner. I recommend going on a Wednesday and hitting up the Artists’ Market on the 4900 block of Newport Ave between Cable and Bacon Streets. This market is loaded with fresh produce, ready to eat meals, local arts and crafts and a little live music sprinkled in between, it a super cool event. BUT as I was saying, save room for dinner and head over to the noodle house before 6 for 1/2 off select beers and hot sake, plus $6 peanut butter shots. These are amazing whiskey-based shots, completely masked by some kind of homemade peanut butter deliciousness. (I know, it sounds a little funny but TRUST ME, it is insane). As for food, you can’t go wrong with any type of Pho here, the wings are awesome, and the Dry Chow Fun is just too good for words. Def one of the best places to eat in San Diego.
The original OB Noodle House is located 2218 Cable Street and is smaller in size with a more extensive menu. (Not recommended for larger parties).
4993 Niagara Ave. San Diego, CA 92107
12pm-11pm daily
Poke One N Half
Another Northpark gem, this grab and go (or stay) spot is a must-try. Now I had never had a Poke bowl that you could build yourself, Chipotle-style, and now I don’t know if I want one any other way. You literally walk down and select your base, your fish, and all your toppings. These places have become pretty popular in Southern California it seems but this one is spectacular. Everything is SO fresh, you get FIVE scoops of fish on a large (not three, WEAK) and unlimited toppings- does it get better than that?? This is a super fresh but filling meal, great for is you’re on the go but also awesome to sit and stay. They have beer to go with it if you choose the latter 😉
3030 University Ave. San Diego, CA 92104
M-Thu 11am-11pm | Fr-Sat 11am-12am |Sun 12pm-10pm
Carruth Cellars (Wine Garden in Little Italy)
Want to run off and hide away in a secret wine garden? I have the place. Carruth Cellars, a local urban winery, has a wonderfully hidden garden right in the center of Little Italy. Here you can grab a glass, a bottle, or even a flight of their city-born wine and enjoy it on the GORGEOUS back patio. You can get a red or white/rose flight, both come with 5 samples. Be careful these can sneak up on you 😉
Carruth Cellars also has a winery and tasting room in Solana Beach, as well as another tasting room in Carlsbad. They get their grapes from Northern California and Oregon right at the peak of harvest when they are immediately shipped on temperature controlled trucks to their urban winery by the beach in San Diego where the grapes undergo the full wine-making process.
Carruth Cellars– Wine Garden
2215 Kettner Blvd. San Deigo, CA 92101
M-Fri 4-10pm | Sat-Sun 12pm-10pm
There you have it, where to eat and drink in San Diego, now go out and enjoy my friends!
xx,
Hannah
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