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Can I move here?! I recently stayed an entire week in San Diego visiting my cousins, hanging out with my best friend, and going to my first music festival post pandemic. I fell in love. I have been to San Diego before as I grew up in Southern California but going to San Diego now as an adult hit different! The weather is perfect, the people are friendly, the vibes are immaculate! If you are visiting California, San Diego is a must! Check out my San Diego guide of the best places to stay, eat/drink, and do!
Where to Stay:
The Moxy, San Diego
The Moxy is a trendy hotel located right in Gaslamp Quarter and it was a super fun experience! First of all, you check-in at the bar and get welcome drinks (so amazing!) and the lobby is filled with games and modern decor. This was definitely the place to hang out and meet other young professionals and party at night. The compact rooms include industrial decor, Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV's and USB outlets, tile bathrooms and walk-in showers. They really thought about everything from a steamer, hooks for your clothes, and even controlling the TV with your phone! The best part of this hotel was definitely the location, it's right next to a bunch of amazing restaurants, bars, and is where all the action is! There was also fun little nooks around the hotel to hang out with your friends or work and grab a drink. Loved all the decor as well, The Moxy has the best vibes. The hotel is affordable and I definitely recommend staying here!
InterContinental San Diego
The InterContinental San Diego is a modern waterfront hotel located in Downtown San Diego. This hotel was both luxurious and elegant, be sure to book a waterfront room with the breathtaking views. If you want more of a chill vibe, this hotel is it! The best part of the hotel was the pool overlooking the water with a full bar and restaurant called Layover. The hotel is also conveniently located next to the Waterfront Park as well as other restaurants and bars, even a farmers market right in front of our hotel! It was a bit pricey to stay here but also so worth it since our festival was at the Waterfront Park, this hotel was walking distance to the venue! Super convenient.
Where to Eat/Drink:
Nolita Hall
Once I landed in San Diego, my cousin took me to Nolita Hall and it was so damn cute! It's located in Little Italy and the food and drinks were absolutely amazing. Usually, I get a little scared if the ambiance is too good, the food won't be but I was wrong! I was so wrong... The food here was so good, super unique dishes full of flavor and beautiful plating. The drinks were really good too, we got the "Leave Britney Melon" drinks, highly recommend! If you want to sit outside, be sure to make a reservation.
Morning Glory
Morning Glory was a total party! We came here for brunch and it was a fun rowdy place full of Instagram Influencers, Bachelorette Parties, and people on first dates. They don't take reservations so you have to walk in, the wait could be long but it was worth it for the ambiance! This light-filled, pink hued restaurant had wooden seating and served boozy coffee. It was definitely a really fun and trendy place and I would go again! Especially if you are traveling with a group of girls and want to dress up and go to brunch, this is it!
710 Beach Club
We randomly found 710 Beach Club walking around Pacific Beach aka PB. It's a super breezy, beachside bar with nightly events from live bands, sports, and karaoke. It was a chill spot to grab a drink and an appetizer! Loved the outdoor seating area, it's a must!
Waterbar San Diego
I told my cousin I wanted to drink by the beach, hangout under some shade, and eat some seafood. He took us to Waterbar San Diego and it did not disappoint! Exactly everything I was looking for. We got some Michelada's and the Seafood Platter and just enjoyed the beach views. It was a great way to spend an afternoon. Make sure to walk around the area after to check out PB!
Pacific Beach Shore Club
Another spot we went to was the PB Shore Club, this place seemed like it encompasses what PB is all about. Good drinks, good beach views, and good looking people! This spot seemed like a trendy place to hang out with friends or go on a date. It was super casual and fun atmosphere. They also played good music so it was a cool spot to kick it.
The Nolen Rooftop
Watching a sunset on the Nolen Rooftop is a must! This downtown San Diego rooftop bar had great drinks and bar bites, not to mention the views from here were absolutely breathtaking! From Petco Park all the way to the Coronado Bridge, this open-air lounge was the best way to see San Diego. The menu is super modern with classic drinks including the "Hot Girl Summer" and the brand new summer menu was so tasty! This lounge is a quick elevator ride up to the 14th floor at the Courtyard Gaslamp Hotel, make sure to make a reservation!
Coin-Op Game Room
We randomly found this bar in Gaslamp Quarter as we were walking back to the hotel and I am so glad we did, it was such a good time! The Coin-Op Game Room is a barcade with super casual and chill vibes. There's a bunch of classic games and each game is only $0.50! There are cocktails and 16 craft beers on tap, they also serve finger foods like pizza and burgers. Grab some quarters and hang out here, I guarantee you will meet some fun people!
LIUYISHOU Hotpot
After a week in San Diego, my bestie and I did our tradition of eating at a hot pot place before I leave. This time we picked LIUYISHOU Hotpot it was pretty legit with the taste and they even had an entire sauce bar! Loved that you could choose your soup base flavors, we did 3 different flavors in one pot. The dishes are a la cart and the portions were decent! Definitely hit the spot of our asian food cravings.
What to Do:
Sail San Diego
Sailing San Diego was probably my most favorite activity we did! Sail San Diego is a sailboat charter that provides 2-3 hour sailing tours around San Diego! They are located at one of the closest marinas to the Pacific Ocean and provide a captain as well as refreshing beverages and snacks. All you have to do is show up! You may also see some wildlife during your sail including sea lions, seals, dolphins, and whales. The captain is super knowledgable, friendly, and even lets you steer the boat if you want to! It was such a relaxing activity we did, I even fell asleep on the boat! This was great if you want to party or just lay out and tan. I would absolutely recommend Sail San Diego to really experience this city!
Go to a Music Festival
There whole reason why I decided to go to San Diego was for DAY.MVS festival! It was a house and techno music festival thrown by the CRSSD Festival group. The festival was located at the Waterfront Park and it was such a blast! The location of this festival is what got me, palm trees, boats, and sunsets, what else can you ask for? My favorite sets were MK, Fisher, Nora En Pure, and Lane 8! If you are ever in San Diego, check out the Waterfront Park for events, definitely recommend this venue! *Also, the best part about the venue is that it is all outdoors, which is a bit safer for COVID.
Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach aka PB is your party beach town. I absolutely loved hanging out here, there was so much to do, just walk around and find cool spots. It was a younger crowd but it was still really fun. It reminded me of Venice Beach in LA with graffiti and local vendors, but much cleaner! PB is pretty well known so it's worth checking out!
Crown Point Park
My cousin took me to this park to hang out and check out the beach. What's great is that there are fire pits along the coast so this is the best place to have a bonfire, just need to come and claim a pit. It was really chill, not too crowded. There was also some grass areas for a picnic as well as bbq grills. I will have to come back for a bonfire next time!
Overall, I absolutely loved my trip to "a whale's vagina" (Anchorman reference haha) and I would love to live here or even retire here! Visiting my cousins and partying at a festival with my bestie in San Diego was epic! The weather was perfect the entire trip and the city is clean, friendly, and quaint. I am definitely going to be back in San Diego! Especially since I have family here!
<3,
Laura C.