Guide to Ocean Beach, Mission Beach & Pacific Beach
What is San Diego without the beaches?! I probably should have given each one of these their own glorious page (seeing as how long this page is), oh heck! maybe I will one of these days.
The beach areas of San Diego are mega saturated with life, bars, restaurants, and mind you, AMAZING people watching! Grab your suit and get your tushy down there!
**Disclaimer: all of the places I have listed below are places that I have been to, eaten at, drank at and enjoyed.
To Eat & Drink. / To Explore.
To Eat & Drink.
JRDN Restaurant
Nice restaurant for surf and turf accompanied by cocktails and a view! Seasonal menu items that won’t disappoint. Whether or not you are looking for a date night dinner or happy hour, JRDN has all of your needs for modern California cuisine.
Website
Area: Pacific Beach
Address: 723 Felspar St, San Diego, CA 92109
The Patio on Lamont
Cozy, rustic eatery with small plates and drinks. They have a heated outside patio that is pet friendly. They boast a one of a kind brunch menu, dinner menu, happy hour menu and late night dining! The Patio is as casual as it sounds, and the atmosphere encourages you to stay a while.
Website
Area: Pacific Beach
Address: 4445 Lamont St, San Diego, CA 92109
Firehouse American Eatery & Lounge
Located a block from the beach in Pacific Beach, Firehouse is just as it sounds. This restaurant by day, bar by night is perched on top of a Firehouse. I love their Sangria and upstairs patio. After dark the bar is more of a club vibe, with a live DJ and great energy!
Website
Area: Pacific Beach
Address: 722 Grand Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Crushed
Tapas and Beer! I have a crush on this little eatery (pun intended). Crushed is a quaint, woodsy place with tapas inspired from around the globe and a great craft beer selection, and made to order cocktail flights. Go get Crushed! You will not be disappointed.
Website
Area: Pacific Beach
Address: 967 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Kato Sushi
My favorite sushi place in Pacific Beach. They have an amazing sake and beer special, as well as great sushi! The outside and inside of this restaurant is like night and day. The outside boasts exposed brick and history, the inside is very urban chic!
Website
Area: Pacific Beach
Address: 980 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Cannonball
Trendy rooftop venue with Japanese inspired dishes and small plates. Enjoy their amazing food and creative cocktails with a seascape view. It doesn’t get more San Diego that this locale!
Website
Area: Mission Beach
Address: 3105 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego, CA 92109
The Mission
The Mission has a few locations (North Park, East Village & Pacific Beach), but the Pacific Beach location is my favorite. An eclectic brunch spot with local art hanging on the walls. Great latin inspired food, with huge portions. A must dine.
Website
Area: Mission Beach
Address: 3795 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Wonderland
If you are looking for a view, and great food Wonderland is the spot in OB. One of my favorite bars/restaurants, great place to spend sunday-funday and watch the sunsets. Not wanting to spend all day there? No problem, go play at the beach and then stop in for a bite and a sip!
Website
Area: Ocean Beach
Address: 5083 Santa Monica Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
Nico’s
Yes, this is the place in the Sublime song. Sublime didn’t lie, they are good, so good that I could eat their food everyday for the rest of my life and be satisfied. In fact, if by some way, I managed to let my burrito slip from my clutches and fall on the floor and roll out of the wrapping…….I would still eat it. I think I am hungry. You should go here, and I should go eat.
Website
Area: Ocean Beach
Address: 4918 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
The 3rd Corner
Amazing place! I generally went here for brunch, seeing as their eggs florentine is to die for and you get bottomless mimosas. I mean who can complain about and entree and endless mimosas for $30? My friends and I would be at our table for an average of 3 hours each time. The staff members are awesome and friendly, seriously go here, brunch, lunch or dinner, their food and wine selection is amazing.
Website
Area: Ocean Beach
Address: 2265 Bacon St, San Diego, CA 92107
OB Sushi
By far one of the best Sushi places in all the land San Diego. Their rolls are always fresh and tasty, and they have an amazing happy hour menu. You CANNOT beat the prices, or the quality that they serve! OB Sushi is a must if you are in the area, You will not be disappointed.
Website
Area: Ocean Beach
Address: 4967 Newport Ave # 17, San Diego, CA 92107
OB Smoothie Bar
If you are as obsessed with Acai bowls as I am, then you will want to go here. I literally have never gotten anything else here, and never wanted to. My love affair with their Acai bowls is for forever. No other order will come between us.
Area: Ocean Beach
Address: 5001 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
PB Shore Club
The Pacific Beach staple! This bar and restaurant has been here since before I moved to San Diego back in 2006. There is a reason they have been the OG of Pacific Beach. PB Shore Club is right off the beach and is a casual, breezy bungalow with amazing fish tacos and pub food.
Website
Area: Pacific Beach
Address: 4343 Ocean Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Barrel Republic
Barrel Republic is perfect if you like tasting craft beer. They have rotating self-serve taps and a low-key location. You have the freedom to become a beer critic and mingle with those who share the same love of the pour and taste as you do.
Website
Area: Pacific Beach
Address: 1261 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Miller’s Field
Double decker sports bar. If you are a sports fan go here. There are two levels of TVs and great beer and food to house you all day. Miller’s is a bar by night, so hang out all day and then stay for the after dark festivities!
Website
Area: Pacific Beach
Address: 4465 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Beach Comber
Rustically inspired bar that is a few steps from the sand. The Beach Comber is your typical beach bar with pool tables, karaoke and trivia on certain nights of the week. The Beach Comber has also been in San Diego forever, the 1940’s to be exact. There is a reason for that. Go here.
Website
Area: Mission Beach
Address: 2901 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Lahaina Beach House
Snug little beach shack with a great view for sunsets and a patio to enjoy during the day. They have the trendy San Diego pub grub, consisting of burgers, tacos, etc. They are cash only! I know one of the few, but well worth the visit!
Area: Mission Beach
Address: 710 Oliver Ct, San Diego, CA 92109
The Harp
Casual Irish Pub on the main drag of Ocean Beach. They boast pub grub and live music most nights of the week. They have a dog friendly patio and a whole lotta TVs to engulf you into the sports culture.
Website
Area: Ocean Beach
Address: 4935 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
South Beach Bar & Grille
If you like mexican themed seafood and sea views, this is your place! Two story bar and grille with a lively atmosphere and great tacos. They have a great selection of local craft beers as well as cocktails.
Website
Area: Ocean Beach
Address: 5059 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
To Explore.
The Beach(es)!
What else can you say? One of the huge tourism attractions to San Diego is the fantastic weather and miles of beaches. Visiting any of these beaches should be a must on anyones list! The weather is nice 90% of the year, and the beach is there year round, there is no excuse! Bring a few bathing suits, because if you are visiting Sunny San Diego you should be at the beach everyday.
Wave House
Technically, the Wave House is part of Belmont Park, but it has it’s own entrance and deserves a section of it’s own. The Wave House is a sandy, beachy bar, that makes you feel as if you are in the tropics. They have a surf pool and live entertainment. An all day affair, and a must see.
Website
Area: Mission Beach
Address: 3125 Ocean Front Walk, San Diego, CA 92109
Belmont Park
The historic beach front amusement park. There is shopping, a boardwalk/carnival with rides and games and the Wave House. Pretty much a one stop shop for fun, beach and all your surf and sun needs.
Website
Area: Mission Beach
Address: 3146 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Kayak/SUP Rentals
There are a lot of places to rent kayaks and paddle boards in the area. I especially love Mission Bay Aquatic Center. You can launch right out of mission bay and paddle around. At Mission Bay Aquatic Center you can also rent boats as well as anything else you can image for your water needs!
Website
Mission Bay Aquatic Center
Address: 1001 Santa Clara Pl, San Diego, CA 92109
Sea World
Ocean animal theme park. If you like aquariums and ocean animals you should visit. This would definitely be an all day affair to see all of the attractions that Sea World encompasses.
Website
Address: 500 Sea World Dr, San Diego, CA 92109
