Area Guide
Our favorite local spots and insider tips to help you make the most of your San Diego stay. From trendy La Mesa Village to the best tacos in town!
La Mesa Village
Just 10 minutes away! Trendy walkable district with restaurants, shops, antiques, and craft cocktails.
Where to Eat
Our favorite restaurants near the house
Breakfast & Brunch
Broken Yolk Cafe
La Mesa
Huge portions, great benedicts
Big Front Door
La Mesa Village
Cozy breakfast & brunch spot
Hash House A Go Go
Hillcrest
Famous twisted farm food, huge portions
Casual Dining
La Mesa Village
La Mesa
Walkable strip with tons of restaurants & shops
West Coast BBQ
El Cajon
Great local BBQ joint
Mario's De La Mesa
La Mesa
Solid Mexican food
Date Night
The Hills Local Pub
La Mesa
Craft cocktails, upscale pub fare
BO-beau Kitchen
La Mesa Village
French-inspired, great patio
Centifonti's
La Mesa
Italian fine dining
Quick Bites & Takeout
Tacos El Gordo
Chula Vista
Best Tijuana-style tacos in SD
In-N-Out Burger
El Cajon
California classic, 5 min away
Phil's BBQ
Point Loma
Famous ribs, worth the drive
Mission Trails
Only 10 minutes from the house! San Diego's largest open space park with trails for all skill levels.
Things to Do
Attractions and activities for everyone
Must-See Attractions
San Diego Zoo
25 min
World-famous zoo with pandas
LEGOLAND
45 min
Perfect for kids 2-12
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
30 min
African safari experience
USS Midway Museum
20 min
Historic aircraft carrier downtown
Balboa Park
20 min
Museums, gardens, Spanish architecture
Outdoors & Hiking
Mission Trails Regional Park
10 min
Hiking right in your backyard!
Cowles Mountain
15 min
Popular hike, amazing city views
Torrey Pines State Reserve
40 min
Coastal bluffs, easy trails
Sunset Cliffs
25 min
Stunning sunset spot
Family Fun
Birch Aquarium
35 min
La Jolla's ocean aquarium
Fleet Science Center
20 min
Interactive science museum
San Diego Air & Space Museum
20 min
Planes & space exploration
Seaport Village
20 min
Waterfront shops & dining
San Diego Beaches
World-class beaches just 30 minutes away. La Jolla Cove (pictured) is famous for sea lions and snorkeling!
Beaches
San Diego's beautiful coastline is 30 minutes away
La Jolla Cove
35 min
Sea lions, snorkeling, stunning views
Coronado Beach
30 min
Beautiful wide beach, Hotel del Coronado
Mission Beach
30 min
Boardwalk, Belmont Park rides
Pacific Beach
30 min
Lively beach town vibe
Essentials
Everything you need is close by
Grocery Stores
- Vons5 min
- Sprouts Farmers Market10 min
- Trader Joe's15 min
- Costco10 min
Coffee Shops
- Dark Horse CoffeeLa Mesa Village
Best local roaster
- Starbucks5 min
Multiple locations nearby
- Heartwork CoffeeLa Mesa
Great espresso, cozy vibe
Pharmacy & More
- CVS Pharmacy5 min
- Urgent Care - Sharp Grossmont10 min
- Gas Stations2 min
Shell & Chevron on Fletcher Pkwy
- Target10 min
Insider Tips
- 1La Mesa Village is super walkable - park once and explore the shops, restaurants, and antique stores
- 2Mission Trails has trails for all levels - Visitor Center Loop is easy, Cowles Mountain is a workout
- 3Taco Tuesday is a big deal in San Diego - many spots have $2-3 tacos
- 4The beaches get crowded on weekends - go early or try weekday mornings
- 5Gas is cheaper in El Cajon than at the coast - fill up before heading to the beach
- 6Sunset at Sunset Cliffs is a San Diego must-do - get there 30 min early for parking