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From buffet brunches to DIY flower workshops, check out San Diego's best Mother's Day specials
This Oceanside restaurant boasts a creative three-course champagne brunch with special dishes like miso-glazed scallops and cast iron duck pot pie.
Price: $59.95 per adult, $13.95 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 333 North Pacific Street, Oceanside
Phone: (760) 433-3333
The Friday after Mother’s Day, wine enthusiasts can reserve a spot at AVANT’s Daou wine dinner, a four-course meal and amuse-bouche with proprietor George Daou.
Price: $100 per person
Date: May 19
Location: 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo
Phone: (858) 675-8551
Live music, bottomless mimosas, specialty cocktails, and French influenced California cuisine are awaiting diners at this Escondido restaurant. The brunch menu features small plates, crepes, soups, salads, and more.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 14
Location: 417 West Girard Avenue, Escondido
Phone: (760) 747-5000
If mom isn’t a big brunch person, treat her to a fancy four-course dinner at BiCE for an evening full of burrata, pan seared salmon, and double cut lamb loin. Be sure to save room for the strawberry panna cotta.
Price: $49 per adult, $25 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 425 Island Avenue, Downtown
Phone: (619) 239-2423
Moms eat free at Blue Point Coastal Cuisine this Mother’s Day. Enjoy seafood from a special limited menu that features “hook, line, and sinker” options, including pan-seared day boat scallops and passion fruit cheesecake.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 14
Location: 565 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp
Phone: (619) 233-6623
BO-beau is sticking to the classics and offering a special Mother’s Day brunch menu full of their favorites like strawberry French toast and crab cake Benedict.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 14
Location: 8384 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa
Phone: (619) 337-3445
The kitchen at Bracero is cooking up a Baja influenced Mexican brunch menu to celebrate Mother’s Day. All moms will receive a complimentary house margarita or no mames cocktail to go with their meal as well as a special dessert.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 14
Location: 1490 Kettner Boulevard, Downtown
Phone: (619) 765-7864
Show mom your appreciation with an all-you-can-eat style brunch at Buster’s featuring free-flowing mimosas and Champagne, French toast, pancakes, eggs, and more.
Price: $32 per adult, $15 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 800 West Harbor Drive, Seaport Village
Phone: (619) 357-4465
Spend your morning at San Diego’s favorite modern Mexican restaurant for a champagne buffet brunch. Made-to-order omelets and an assortment of cakes, cookies, and pastries are all on the menu.
Price: $69.95 per adult, $17.95 per child (6-12), free for children under 6
Date: May 14
Location: 880 Harbor Island Drive, Harbor Island
Phone: (619) 814-1300
Hotel Palomar’s new Mexican kitchen is serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Mother’s Day. Brunch-goers can try Chef Kraten’s pitaya bowl creation made with dragon fruit sorbet, fresh banana, berries, and house-made granola.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 14
Location: 1047 Fifth Avenue, Downtown
Phone: (619) 515-3003
This Italian kitchen is opening early and serving a variety of family favorites in honor of Mother’s Day. From their antipasti bar filled with pizza, ragu, and salads to their egg and carving stations, there will be something for all taste buds.
Price: $38 per adult, $18 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 2730 Via de la Valle, Del Mar
Phone: (858) 704-4500
Bite into brunch at the La Jolla ocean view restaurant. The coastal buffet menu prepared by Chef Ingrid Funes consists of a mix of sweet and savory dishes and a selection of desserts.
Price: $65 per adult, $30 per child ($10 off each from 9am – 9:45am)
Date: May 14
Location: 7955 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla
Phone: (858) 551-3620
Give mom the gift of more with Decoy’s endless buffet brunch that includes carving stations, omelet stations, seafood, and desserts. Every mom will receive a complimentary Decoy gift certificate for future dining and three lucky moms will win “Queen of the Day” prizes like a $500 Tiffany & Co. gift certificate.
Price: $60 per adult ($65 with bottomless champagne), $18 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 1025 La Bonita Drive, San Marcos
Phone: (760) 621-0909
Build your own waffle or bagel at Farmer & The Seahorse this Mother’s Day, or head to their hot buffet, salad bar, or carving station that will all be serving delicious dishes in honor of the holiday.
Price: $59.95 per adult, $19.95 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 10996 Torreyana Road, La Jolla
Phone: (858) 260-5400
Firehouse American Eatery + Lounge
In collaboration with Bird Rock Yoga, Firehouse in Pacific Beach is hosting a “Yoga & Brunch” Mother’s Day event. Yogi moms can choose from three time slots and enjoy a yoga class, breakfast, and bubbles.
Price: $25 per person
Date: May 14
Location: 722 Grand Avenue, Pacific Beach
Phone: (858) 274-3100
Combining fresh Spring ingredients and ocean views, the coastal La Jolla restaurant will be serving a Mother’s Day brunch with special dishes like French toast with Chino Farms strawberries and Meyer lemon cream as well as local yellowtail and Baja striped bass.
Date: May 14
Location: 1250 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Phone: (858) 454-4244
The revamped La Jolla restaurant will host a brunch buffet of ethically sourced, chef-driven dishes like très leches French toast, crab masala, and opah chorizo and eggs. Moms can sip on complimentary bottomless mimosas.
Price: $38 per person
Date: May 14
Location: 1250 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Phone: (858) 454-1637
Hope 46 at The Lafayette Hotel
Dine at Hope 46 for their prix-fixe Mother’s Day special that features a carving station, an omelet station, side dishes, and salads. Guests will also enjoy a live performance from Beatles cover band, The Rollers.
Price: $46 per person ($56 with bottomless mimosas)
Date: May 14
Location: 2223 El Cajon Boulevard, University Heights
Phone: (619) 780-0358
The Del is toasting to all mothers at their champagne brunch, complete with live music entertainment and a take-home chocolate confection prepared by pastry chef Daphne.
Price: $125 – $135 per adult, $50 per child (6-10), free for children under 6
Date: May 14
Location: 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Phone: (619) 522-8490
Vera cruz tamales and fresh churros are a couple of the Latin-inspired offerings on Indigo Grill’s three-course Mother’s Day menu.
Price: $44.95 per adult, $13.95 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 1536 India Street, Little Italy
Phone: (619) 234-6802
Perched right above the water, Island Prime / C Level invites guests to a three-course menu created by Chef Deborah Scott. Savor some creamy lobster bisque or satisfy that sweet tooth with German chocolate cake.
Price: $59.95 per adult, 13.95 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 880 Harbor Island Drive, Harbor Island
Phone: (619) 298-6802
Build your own mimosa with blood orange rosemary, pineapple mango, and blackberry mint juices and say cheers to mom on the patio of Tower23’s coastal restaurant. Their brunch menu features seafood infused breakfast dishes and sandwiches served on artisanal rustic breads.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 14
Location: 723 Felspar Street, Pacific Beach
Phone: (858) 270-2323
Celebrate Mother’s Day with an indulgent four-course meal that starts with a choice of cheese fondue, like their creamy pesto walnut blend. Once you’ve had your fondue fix, continue to the salad, entrée, and dessert courses.
Price: $53.95+ per adult, $19.95 per child (12 & under)
Date: May 14
Location: 901 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp
Phone: (619) 234-5554
On both Saturday and Sunday of Mother’s Day weekend the sweet bakery is offering brunch specials and a pop-up with Haystack Floral. After you and mom enjoy traditional French breakfast options and 2-for-1 champagne cocktails (each with a chocolate cream puff), create a bouquet from Haystack’s selection of flowers and greens, and don’t forget to pick up a package of macarons. There will also be live music on Sunday.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 13 and 14
Location: 555 G Street, Gaslamp
Phone: 619-245-4457
This urban island eatery will be handing out flowers to all moms at brunch on Mother’s Day. Diners can choose from a selection of farm-fresh dishes including citrus French toast and duck flautas as well as sip on one of their handcrafted spring cocktails.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 14
Location: 1015 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Phone: (619) 437-6087
Stop by this Little Italy restaurant for brunch or dinner to order their special “Pizza della Mamma” made with stracchino cheese, parma, prosciutto, rainbow cauliflower, and eggs for $20. They will also be serving a $25 beet tagliatelle dish cooked in one of their iconic cheese wheels.
Date: May 14
Location: 750 West Fir Street, Little Italy
Phone: (619) 501-0030
The Gaslamp restaurant will be opening its doors early to serve a special Mother’s Day-inspired brunch starting at 11 a.m. Meanwhile, their Violets are Blue cocktail—a mixture of blackberries and apple vodka that’s exclusive to the occasion—will be available starting on Saturday for those who want to celebrate early.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 14
Location: 400 J Street, Gaslamp
Phone: (619) 858-2277
Moms dining at Liberty Station’s new Officine Buona Forchetta will be treated to a complimentary glass of Prosecco upon arrival. Co-owner and chef Mario Cassineri and his team have developed a Festa Della Mamma menu of mom-inspired dishes including a provolone prosciutto cotto quiche, pizza topped with shrimp, lemon, scamorza, and edible flowers, and for dessert, a flourless chocolate cake with sea salt caramel.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 14
Location: 2865 Sims Road, Liberty Station
Phone: (619) 458-9231
Raise a glass to your special lady at Pacific Del Mar and enjoy a three-course brunch menu and a selection of brunch cocktails. Executive Chef David Burke has prepared a kids menu as well.
Price: $42 per person
Date: May 14
Location: 1555 Camino Del Mar
Phone: (858) 792-0476
Feast on a gourmet three-course French brunch meal in Bankers Hill with butter poached lobster and smoked salmon rillettes as menu highlights.
Price: $42.50 per person
Date: May 14
Location: 2760 Fifth Avenue, Bankers Hill
Phone: (619) 319-9472
Bring mom to brunch at Ponsaty’s for live music, $15 bottomless mimosas and house Bloody Marys, and à la carte and prix-fixe menu options, or dine later and enjoy the special á la carte Mother’s Day dinner menu featuring slow poached white asparagus and lacquered milk fed rack of lamb.
Price: prices vary
Date: May 14
Location: 6106 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe
Phone: (858) 771-1871
Buffet brunches are better with a chocolate fountain. On Mother’s Day, guests can fill their bellies with a variety of breakfast and lunch dishes and end their meal with a stop at the chocolate fountain, filled with Belgian chocolate and accompanied with a variety of dipping treats.
Price: $64.95 per adult, $17.95 per child (6-12), free for children under 6
Date: May 14
Location: 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park
Phone: (619) 557-9441
Share the love this Mother’s Day with a field-to-fork brunch spread, including Veladora omelets, fresh pastries, Belgian waffles, local vegetables, and more. After brunch, guests can design a flower bouquet or crown for mom, pamper her with a spa treatment, and sip on Prosecco floats.
Price: $130 per adult, $55 per child, free for children under 3
Date: May 14
Location: 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe
Phone: (858) 759-6246
Savor a healthy beachfront buffet brunch at Imperial Beach with traditional, vegetarian-friendly, and “south of the pier” style brunch dishes. Polish off your meal with a treat from the pastries display.
Price: $59.95 per adult, $17.95 per child (6-12), free for children under 6
Date: May 14
Location: 800 Seacoast Drive, Imperial Beach
Phone: (619) 631-4949
Enjoy classic brunch dishes with a modern spin at Social Tap Eatery, like the huevos rancheros served on blue corn arepa and topped with fresh pico and avocado. Fresh fruit and peach puree mimosas will be available for all the mamas in the house.
Date: every weekend
Location: 815 J Street, Downtown; 4800 Art Street, College Area
Phone: (619) 398-8938; (619) 501-1541
This Coronado steakhouse is showing their appreciation by treating all moms to a complimentary sparkling glass of champagne this Mother’s Day. They have also prepared a special prix-fixe brunch menu with seafood, steak, and egg dishes.
Price: $65 per adult, $30 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 1309 Orange Avenue, Coronado
Phone: (619) 522-0077
Brunch will feature coastal views, music, and children’s activities at the Carlsbad restaurant. Reservations are required.
Price: $70 per adult ($80 with bottomless champagne), $30 for children 4-12, free for children 3 and under.
Location: 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad
Phone: 760-827-2500
In the Presidential Ballroom, enjoy a buffet brunch full of bottomless mimosas, breakfast specials, sweet treats, and more. Arrive early to create a hand made bouquet at the pop-up floral market in the lobby to give mom an extra bit of love.
Price: $82 per adult, $72 per senior, $39 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 326 Broadway, Downtown
Phone: (619) 232-3121
Spoil mom with a bottomless mimosas and champagne brunch in La Jolla. The lavish Mother’s Day menu includes an array of breakfast classics, savory small bites, and sweet treats.
Price: $89 per adult, $39 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 1132 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Phone: (858) 454-0771
Veranda Fireside Lounge & Restaurant
An outdoor brunch buffet, $14 bottomless mimosas, and live music await local families at Rancho Bernardo Inn’s Mediterranean-inspired restaurant. Surprise mom at the table with a floral arrangement designed by Inn Florals starting at $25.
Price: $68 per adult, $25 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo
Phone: (844) 338-9275
Atop Lexus Escondido, enjoy a memorable fine-dining experience at Vintana with a three-course menu and champagne meal.
Price: $59.95 per adult, $13.95 per child
Date: May 14
Location: 1205 Auto Park Way, Escondido
Phone: (760) 745-7777
This year treat mom to “a dozen roses” drink, made with rosehip-infused gin, rose water syrup, fresh lemon juice, Peychaud’s Bitters. and sparkling wine. The trendy eatery will also be serving a special Sunday brunch to celebrate the occasion.
Date: May 14
Location: 2202 4th Avenue, Bankers Hill
Phone: (619) 231-0222
It’s all about roses and rosé at Bottega Americano. Moms will receive a complimentary long stem rose can sip on bottomless Listel Rosé for $20. Brunch will be served with special selections as well.
Price: À la carte
Date: May 14
Location: 1195 Island Avenue, East Village
Phone: (619) 255-7800
Pop into Puesto at The Headquarters to try their frozen dessert taco or tres leches de café cake, a great choice for those who want a small but unique sweet kick.
Date: May 14
Location: 789 West Harbor Drive, Seaport Village
Phone: (619) 233-8880
Surprise mom with a dozen of Sprinkles’ freshly made cupcakes. Their MOM box is filled with dark chocolate, red velvet, vanilla, and salty caramel cupcakes and adorned with sugar decorations and daisies.
Price: $45 per box
Date: May 12 – 14
Location: 8855 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla
Phone: (858) 457-3800
Moms are in for a treat this May with AquaVie’s “Queen for the Day” spa package. The two-hour spa treatment includes an elevated wellness facial, anti-oxidant booster or peel booster, elevated wellness massage, rose petal footbath and pedicure, and lunch at the rooftop pool deck.
Price: $350 per person
Date: month of May
Location: 234 Broadway Street, Downtown
Phone: (619) 557-3663
Spend the Saturday before Mother’s Day at the Hops and Shop Spring Market presented by 32 North Brewing in Miramar. The market will host a variety of vendors and allow guests to attend workshops and demos, drink beer, and snack on bites from the food trucks on site. Plus, the first 25 people will receive swag bags filled with vendor samples and gifts.
Date: May 13
Location: 8655 Production Avenue, Miramar
Phone: (619) 363-2622
Invite mom to a traditional English tea party at Flower Hill Promenade for her special day. Sip tea from fine china and snack on handmade scones, fruit, cookies, and finger sandwiches.
Price: $60 for two
Date: May 14
Location: 2720 Via De La Valle, Del Mar
The Hyatt Regency in La Jolla is hosting its 26th annual Mama’s Day tasting event the Friday before Mother’s Day. The event features 55 chefs from some of San Diego’s top restaurants, hotels, and catering companies who prepare samples for guests. Proceeds benefit Mama’s Kitchen, an organization committed to serve those affected by AIDS and cancer.
Price: $150 – $250
Date: May 12
Location: 3777 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla
Phone: (619) 233-6262
Get a running start on Mother’s Day with the 5th Annual Rotary Club of Mission Valley Sunset Mother’s Bay Run. The whole family can join in and tackle the 10K, 5K, or Lil’ Tykes Dash, all benefitting the San Diego Rescue Mission which supports homeless men, women, and children in San Diego.
Price: Free – $45 depending on race
Date: April 29
Location: De Anza Cove, Mission Bay
Phone: (619) 687-3720
Enjoy a morning of painting with mom as Julie Marriott, a San Diego artist, helps you create a colorful canvas with acrylic paints. All supplies are provided and you’ll leave with your masterpiece in hand.
Price: $45
Date: May 13
Location: 5965 Village Way, Carmel Valley
Phone: (858) 348-1778
Right in time for Mother’s Day, this North Park flower shop is hosting two mother-daughter flower workshops at The Rose in South Park. The flower crown workshop teaches guests how to build their own flower crown and includes a photo booth, treats, drinks, and a small take-home kit. At the wine tasting and flower arranging workshop guests will learn how to create a medium arrangement and receive a take-home guide, a pair of flower shears, mimosas, coffee, and treats. Bubbly will be available at both events, but all ages are welcome to attend.
Price: $105 – $150
Date: May 7
Location: 2219 30th Street, South Park
Phone: (619) 281-0718
AHR Florals welcomes DIY enthusiasts to attend their Pinot + Petals wine tasting and floral arranging event hosted at Vin De Syrah. Attendees will sip on a selection of wines while learning the basics of flower arranging.
Price: $45 per person
Date: May 10
Location: 901 Fifth Avenue, Gaslamp
Bring your mom to The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn and let her be pampered and massaged on her special day. Available indoors or in the outdoor spa garden and patio, moms can enjoy an 80-minute full body treatment that includes a blueberry and lemon sugar scrub, yogurt and kaolin clay mask, and a complimentary blueberry lemonade refresher.
Price: $190
Date: March 1 – May 31
Location: 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, Rancho Bernardo
Phone: (844) 338-9282
Nothing quite says thank you like a chocolate fountain. The day before Mother’s Day, head to the Chocolate Festival at the San Diego Botanic Garden for dozens of chocolate tastings, demonstrations, and Mother’s Day gifts.
Price: free – $14
Date: May 13
Location: 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas
Phone: (760) 436-3036
This nonprofit group is hosting a Mother’s Day Weekend Art, Garden, and Studio Tour, a self-guided, driving tour that displays paintings, ceramics, photography, and more from artists at the San Dieguito Art Guild. Attendees will drive to multiple homes in the area to view the displays and talk with the artists. Complimentary refreshments will be available at each stop.
Price: $25 per person
Date: May 13 – 14
Location: 937 South Coast Highway, Encinitas
Phone: (760) 942-3636
San Diego Mother’s Day Guide 2017
Sip your way through Julian, shop SD’s first-ever Hella Plants Market and check out a wide range of Comic-Con happenings
This week in nerd news: San Diego Comic-Con is back, and with it, loads of sneak peeks, special events and surprise announcements sure to keep the excitement at a fever pitch. For those who forgot to snag tickets, or whose Wi-Fi let them down when it mattered most, there are plenty of offsite (and badge-free) events, including the Comic-Con Art Show and Indigi-Con. Now, over to the classics. A pair of 17th-century French playwrights are the source of two theater offerings on San Diego stages: Molière’s Scapin at North Coast Repertory Theatre and The Old Globe’s adaptation of Cyrano. Finally, in the world of sports, the San Diego Strike Force will cap off their regular season against the Tucson Sugar Skulls, San Diego FC will return to the pitch versus FC Dallas and the San Diego Wave will look to conquer the Seattle Reign during their annual Pride Match.
Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

For the next installment in its ethereal Canyon to Coupe series, the Fairmont Grand Del Mar is teaming up with Valle executive chef and Michelin Star recipient Roberto Alcocer. This Friday at 6 p.m., guests will be treated to a five-course dinner curated by Alcocer and cocktails infused with Reserva de la Familia tequila. This outdoor dining experience will also feature live music and views of the picturesque Los Peñasquitos Canyon. Reservations are $165 per person plus tax and 20% gratuity.
5300 Grand Del Mar Court, Del Mar
Dine, dress up and do a good deed during the Taste of EastLake, a farm-to-table fundraising dinner for local public education, this Friday from 6-9:30 p.m. This 21-plus soiree at Chula Vista Elite Training Center calls for a vibrant garden party dress code and will feature live entertainment, a silent auction and over 40 food and drink vendors. Tickets are $85 for Taste of EastLake; all proceeds will go towards K-12 public schools in Chula Vista’s EastLake neighborhood.
2800 Olympic Parkway, Chula Vista
Kick off a blistering weekend in East County with a refreshment-filled day trip during the 10th annual Sip of Julian. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., pop in and out of the town’s tasting rooms for locally sourced libations, including wine, cider, beer and cocktails, paired with small bites. Eventgoers are also encouraged to sign up for the shuttle option to ensure safe transportation. Ticket options include regular admission ($35), sip + shuttle passes ($60) and complimentary designated driver tickets; tickets include a commemorative glass and wine tote.
Julian

After closing the loop on his 13-year, five-album cycle that began with the smash-hit single “The A Team,” Ed Sheeran pressed Play on a new era in 2025. The project returned Sheeran to the pop bona fides that made him a superstar and kicked off a planned six-album cycle, switching mathematical building blocks for media control icons. During his Tuesday (5:30 p.m.) performance at Peto Park, Sheeran will bridge his two eras, and be joined by singers Myles Smith, Sigrid and Aaron Rowe as special guests. Tickets start at $92 for this concert.
100 Park Boulevard, Downtown
Ahead of their highly anticipated Comic-Con plans, K-pop sextet Enhyphen will perform this Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) at Snapdragon Stadium. Originally formed through the 2020 music competition show I-Land, Enhyphen have built an image steeped in mythical lore, including a web comic series that dives into the band’s vampiric origins. With January’s The Sin: Vanish EP, the recent departure of member Heeseung and the impending release of The Sin:Bliss next month, 2026 has been an eventful chapter for the boy band. Tickets start at $55 for this concert.
2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley
A 15th anniversary reunion for Grimm, an exclusive look at Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender and a special Marvel Studios presentation are just a few of the standout parts of this year’s San Diego Comic-Con lineup. And that’s just what’s going down in Hall H. Fans of sci-fi, fantasy, superheroes and nearly every other corner of pop culture can explore panels, autograph signings, memorabilia and much more at San Diego Convention Center. Though the badges are all gone, there are plenty of badge-free parties, pop-ups and activations that ensure Comic-Con is for all.
111 West Harbor Drive, Embarcadero
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
We the Commas are mixing surf, soul, alternative rock, and sibling chemistry into one unmistakable sound
Siblings make better music. That’s the hot take, and there’s some logic and science behind it. The Bee Gees, Jackson 5, Billie Eilish and Finneas, AC/DC, Van Halen, The Allman Brothers—heck, even the Hanson brothers, why not? Beyond just a shared sense of taste and nonverbal communication developed over decades of living and evolving together, there’s a thing called “blood harmony.” The genetically similar throat cavities, vocal cords, speech patterns, and resonant bone structures all blend each unique voice into a more homophonic sound than what comes out of two non-related singers.
Those throat cavities are working wonders for emerging San Diego band We the Commas—three brothers (from oldest to youngest) Lenny, Jordon, and Cam Comma.
Raised in Vista and Carlsbad, the family opted out of cable TV (video games got a pass). Without binge-watching to fill bored hours, the trio turned to music. Guitar Hero led to GarageBand and finally to live instruments—guitars for Lenny and Cam, drum set for Jordon. In their sound, the influence of Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, The Who, and Dave Matthews Band is obvious, and so is surf culture, specifically that laid-back chill of North County surf culture.
“We’re like the Black Beach Boys,” Cam says. (Note: Three of the five founding members of the Beach Boys were siblings—the theory gets stronger.)
Their debut EP pretty clearly lays out how they see their sound—titled SARB, an acronym for Surf Alternative R&B. That resonates in the song “Sherry,” with its easy-listening, windows-down-on-the-101 vibe. It also works in the louder, surf-punkier “Pissed Off.” Despite some advances in reducing core stereotyping tendencies, people still tend to autofill Black musicians into rap and R&B. The Comma brothers immediately circumvent that by declaring themselves out the gates.
“SARB makes it so [listeners are] open to all of the things that we want to do,” Lenny says. “From there, you can put a label on whatever you think it sounds like.”

People—and musicians further up the stream—are taking note. In 2023, they co-wrote the song “I Keep Fallin’” with Eric Cannata, guitarist for multi-platinum SoCal band Young the Giant. In early 2024, they were tapped to open the national tour of Brooklyn’s jazz-pop heroes, Sammy Rae & The Friends. Comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias invited them to warm up his show at Pechanga a couple months later.
“We really believe genuinely, with our whole hearts, minds and souls, that this is going to work the way that we think it’s going to,” Cam says, grinning ear to ear.
Currently, the Commas live together in Vista, and the dream, wholeheartedly, is more alive than ever. They’ve put out two dozen singles and a trio of EPs: SARB (2020), Old School Love (2021), and Aeroplane (2024); this year alone brought the release of three new singles, including “Let Me,” a silky-smooth entry in their growing collection of love songs.
“We fully realized the magic is in all of us together,” Lenny says. “We know that this doesn’t happen without each person, and we have respect for each other because we need each other.”
As they grow as brothers and as a band, the Commas try to always remember what unified them in the first place.
“Music has always been a glue,” Jordon says.
Ryan Hardison is a freelance arts and entertainment writer and recent graduate of San Diego State. When he's not staring at his laptop, he's likely eating an adobada burrito or getting sunburnt at the beach.
Explore restaurants, activities, and shops within this affluent North County community
The inland North County community of Rancho Santa Fe is often associated with wealth. It’s one of San Diego’s most expensive residential markets and is consistently ranked one of the highest-income zip codes in California and the U.S. Rancho Santa Fe is known for its large equestrian community including riding facilities and horse trails, as well as its country club lifestyle and associated golf courses.
At the center of this luxury master-planned community is a small, walkable downtown area referred to as the “village,” with The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe acting as both a landmark and social hub. Much of the community, including the historic Inn, was designed by acclaimed architect Lilian Rice, one of California’s earliest female architects. The Spanish Colonial-style architecture she brought to the village is still one of its defining characteristics today.
Whether you’re coming to Rancho Santa Fe for golf, horseback riding, or pampering at a resort spa, be sure to start with a short walk around the village to take in the neighborhood’s charm. Plan your next visit here with our neighborhood guide to the area’s best restaurants, things to do, and shopping.
Jump To: Restaurants | Things to Do | Shopping

Families congregate at The Pony Room for elevated California ranch-style cuisine. Lamb lollipops, carne asada tacos, burgers, and weekly dinner specials are offered here, alongside an extensive collection of wine and spirits (especially tequila) and sizeable kids menus. As the signature restaurant of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, this all-day eatery is a lively centerpiece of the local social scene.
5921 Valencia Circle
The piano bar at Mille Fleurs is the buzziest spot to be on Friday and Saturday nights in Rancho Santa Fe. French classics like escargot, lobster bisque, duck confit, and steak frites are the main dinner attractions at this local institution that has been around for more than 40 years. Spring for the four-course prix fixe menu before nabbing a coveted bar seat near the piano entertainer.
6009 Paseo Delicias
Nick & G’s is one of the most prominent restaurants in the village, with an outdoor patio that overlooks the main thoroughfare. Enjoy modern Italian food, steaks, and seafood dishes here, including homemade pasta, pizza, wagyu beef, and oysters. Be sure to check their live music schedule and events calendar for the latest happenings.
6106 Paseo Delicias
Named after renowned architect and planner Lilian Rice, Lilian’s is The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s flagship restaurant. Their upscale menus feature sustainable seafood, grass-fed meats, local produce, and even sushi rolls during dinner. Outdoor seating provides a bird’s-eye view of the village and an elegant backdrop for weekend brunch. Stop by Bing’s Bar (a nod to Bing Crosby) for craft cocktails, beer, wine, and light bites in a refined setting.
5951 Linea Del Cielo
Quaint cafe and bakery Thyme in the Ranch serves a small selection of breakfast and lunch items (don’t miss the tarragon chicken salad), but is perhaps best known for its pastries and baked goods. Cakes, pies, muffins, scones, and cookies fly off the shelves here, where locals come for special occasions, parties, and group catering orders.
16905 Avenida De Acacias
Located inside a historic building once home to Rancho Santa Fe’s original schoolhouse, Paseo RSF is one of the village’s newest dining options. The charming American bistro has pasta, salads, burgers, meat and seafood entrees, plus a thoughtfully selected California wine list and new sushi and omakase program. Kids and dogs are both welcome here.
6024 Paseo Delicias, Suite C
Grab a quick coffee to go from this walk-up window in the same shopping center as the post office. Cinnamon roll lattes, cold brew, spiced chai, smoothies, protein bowls, and more can be found at Rancho Roasters, where they brew beans from Dark Horse Coffee.
16950 Via De Santa Fe
Casual pizzeria and martini bar Goli is a popular spot for catching the latest sports games. Order one of their unique specialty pizzas like the Casbah with hummus and veggies, build your own pizza or burger, or go with one of their hearty wraps that’s made with an extra thin version of pizza dough.
18021 Calle Ambiente, Suite 403
Find generous portions of Mexican food at Cocina del Rancho, run by the same owners as Carlsbad’s Cicciotti’s Trattoria Italiana and Village Kabob. Get classic dishes like burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, plus their specialty items including pulpo, carne asada, and fajitas with lobster tail. Don’t skip the margaritas.
16089 San Dieguito Road
Kai Oliver-Kurtin is a San Diego-based writer who covers travel, dining, events, and culture. Her writing has been published in USA Today, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor's Travel, Marie Claire, and HuffPost, among others.
NOW CFO provides scalable, on-demand accounting and finance support to companies ranging from pre-revenue startups to billion-dollar businesses
Entrepreneurs typically launch businesses because they’re passionate about a product or service, not because they want to manage its finances. While working to carve out a niche in their respective industries and drive their companies forward, many business owners find themselves bogged down by day-to-day accounting. Their existing accounting tools don’t provide the necessary visibility or insight, and they don’t have the time or resources to hire additional staff or a chief financial officer. That’s where NOW CFO comes in.
For more than 20 years, NOW CFO has been pairing businesses across the country with experienced accounting and finance professionals. Its outsourced model allows clients to customize solutions that match their individual needs, size, and financial challenges, whether that’s fractional or interim support, project-based services, or full-time placement.
NOW CFO’s clients range from startups preparing for rapid growth to established companies that need additional financial leadership without the commitment or expense of building an in-house team. However, many of these companies don’t fully understand their needs until they experience a “trigger” event: preparing for an acquisition or capital raise, navigating a first-time audit, or another period of transition. With a team of over 300 consultants nationwide, NOW CFO can start quickly and match the right expert to the right business.

“It’s important for companies to have financial visibility, and we can help them avoid a lot of the potholes that companies often run into,” says Mariah Block, a partner at NOW CFO’s San Diego branch. “Roughly half of our clients have an in-house finance person or department, and we’re resourced for more bandwidth when they need an extra set of hands at the staff or senior accountant level, or the controller or CFO level. Some clients use this a few hours a month and others use multiple people close to full-time. Our model is solution-based and customizable. We’re like a faucet you can turn on and off.”
With NOW CFO, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Solutions are based on the client’s individual goals, challenges, needs, and budget, meaning a client never pays for more than they need. Whether it’s a few hours of executive-level guidance or a full accounting team to support daily operations, NOW CFO meets businesses where they are and grows alongside them.
“We pride ourselves on providing our clients with the right resources at the right rate and being able to evolve as their needs evolve,” says Block.
And clients appreciate on-demand access to cost-effective support designed to improve performance and profitability.
Luxury car storage service Auto Concierge has partnered with NOW CFO to support growth over the past year. The arrangement began with a staff accountant who covered a leave of absence, but as the client’s needs changed, they also added a controller role. This allowed Auto Concierge to put effective processes in place and navigate operational challenges. Lori Church, Auto Concierge’s chief operating officer, says NOW CFO has been an “outstanding resource” and a “true strategic partner.”
“From the controller to the bookkeeper, every professional they’ve placed has brought a high level of expertise, responsiveness, and professionalism to our organization. Their team took the time to understand our business of high-profile clients and needs, adapted quickly to our fast-paced environment, and became a trusted extension of our team,” she says. “As Auto Concierge continues to grow, having a reliable financial partner like NOW CFO has allowed us to strengthen our financial and business operations while remaining focused on delivering exceptional service to our clients.”
Local musicians can audition for a chance to play before performances of Begin Again and at a free community showcase this summer
If you’ve ever wondered what it would feel like to perform on one of San Diego’s most iconic stages, here’s your shot. The Old Globe is looking for local singers, songwriters, and musicians to take the spotlight before performances of its upcoming musical Begin Again—and the gig comes with a chance to perform on the theater’s main stage and at a new community music event, Begin Again: San Diego Sessions.
Inspired by the opening scene of Begin Again, which makes its pre-Broadway premiere at The Old Globe this fall, the open mic–style performances celebrate local talent while giving audiences a taste of San Diego’s music scene before the curtain rises.
Solo artists and duets ages 18 and older can submit video entries here through Friday, July 10. Selected performers will be notified by July 14.
The public is also invited to Begin Again: San Diego Sessions, a free event on Monday, July 20, at 7 p.m. in the Globe’s Copley Plaza. Attendees can catch performances from top contest participants while enjoying discounted drinks from the theater’s pub.
“Begin Again is a story about hope and someone finding their light,” says Adena Varner, Director of Arts Engagement at The Old Globe. “The opening moment, which is what we’re excited about with this contest, is about an artist who’s unknown taking a chance at an open mic night—and then their life changes.”
“What I love about San Diego is it’s a space where hopes and dreams seem to actually be able to come true, and people get to find themselves, find their light and their voice, so I think the spirit of the show really resonates with who we are as San Diegans,” she says.
For director Lorin Latarro, the pre-show performances are a chance to weave San Diego into the production. While the musical has been developed in New York with New York–based musicians and actors, these performances create a direct connection between the show and the city’s local music community.
“One of the things Lorin is passionate about is wanting these performances to feel like San Diego, so we want them to be diverse,” Varner says. “We want these moments to look like us and all that that means… We have submissions from artists based in Tijuana, North County, and East County, so it’s geographically diverse, ethnically diverse, and we’re looking at age diversity as well.”
The Old Globe has hosted community engagement opportunities tied to past productions—including an art contest and walk-on performances—but nothing quite like this.
“We’ve also never had an open mic night on the plaza, so we’re excited, and we really want the music community to know that they’ve got a place at The Old Globe, too,” Varner says. “We’re getting in the practice of making sure our community feels connected to our shows and have an opportunity to contribute in a way that’s meaningful and impactful for them.”
Begin Again is based on the 2013 film starring Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo, with a book by Jenna Clark Embrey and Molly Beach Murphy and music and lyrics by Pat Monahan of Train. Performances run September 6 through October 11, with opening night on September 17.
At the time of publication, The Old Globe had received nearly 100 video submissions.
Kai Oliver-Kurtin is a San Diego-based writer who covers travel, dining, events, and culture. Her writing has been published in USA Today, Condé Nast Traveler, Fodor's Travel, Marie Claire, and HuffPost, among others.
We found a handful of inspiring people who live in, and truly know, these 'hoods and asked them how they’d spend their time out and about
Growing up in Carlsbad, I never quite understood why people vacationed there. What, so you want to check out the field where I have soccer practice? Pay my orthodontist a visit? Carlsbad just felt like a town by the beach, no better or worse than any other in the country. It took going to college out of state for me to actually understand just how rare a place like Carlsbad is.
Thanksgiving break my freshman year, my first time coming home after three months in the Midwest, my shoulders dropped. I rolled down the windows and drove to lifeguard tower 37—the hangout magnet for Carlsbad’s youths (and, in the summer, tourists)—and the smells of the ocean woke me right up like smelling salts do. I finally got it.
Carlsbad isn’t just a stopover town on your way to something better. It is the destination. Travel + Leisure named Carlsbad one of the top 50 places around the world to travel in 2026. From the whole globe, the travel magazine picked my home. Sure, we’ve got the Flower Fields and Legoland—but now it’s the smaller ships and indier dreams that are giving it street-level character.
It’s not just Carlsbad, either. People have talked about the “North County bubble” for decades—a force field that prevents its residents from traveling south of the 56. It’s often used derogatorily, and it’s a fairly accurate burn.
For decades, living up in North County meant giving up on culture, or at least culture within close proximity. But now, the main expansion of San Diego culture is happening up north. Central San Diego restaurants have started taking notice and are expanding into the area—spurred no doubt by Oceanside’s food boom and the Jeune et Jolie–Campfire–Wildland–Lilo constellation in Carlsbad. City Heights burger joint Key & Cleaver opened a new spot in Oceanside; the owners of Parc Bistro-Brasserie in Bankers Hill opened Parc Lounge in Rancho Santa Fe. Possibly the strongest market indicator is that Sam Fox—one of the most successful restaurateurs west of the Rockies—has started focusing on North County for his concepts. In 2025, he opened both The Henry in Carlsbad and Culinary Dropout in Del Mar.
For the ultimate insider guide, we found a handful of inspiring people who live and create and truly know six North County neighborhoods—San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, and Vista—and asked them how they’d spend a dream day out and about in their town.

San Marcos is in full renaissance mode. The biggest story is that the grand North City vision is starting to peek through the scaffolding. It’s essentially the North County Downtown that’s been written in the tea leaves and discussed whenever someone gets stuck in traffic at the 5/805 merge: a 200-acre, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use face-changer that’s slated for 2,600 homes, 350,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 250 hotel rooms, and about a million square feet of offices and labs. Its most recent manifestation is 222 North City—a 12-story residential tower with over 450 residences, rooftop garden, pool cabanas, art installations, and almost 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail (Necessity Coffee, Buona Forchetta, Draft Republic, Milonga Empanadas, and a grocery store anchor on its way).
Which means Restaurant Row is no longer burdened with being the primary caregiver for the hungry or the socially inclined. Patricia Prado-Olmos has watched the city morph during her nearly three-decade tenure at CSUSM, having spent the past six years as the school’s chief community engagement officer. She also just announced her forthcoming retirement at the end of the 2026–2027 school year, so she’ll have even more time to haunt local haunts.
Those in the know call the university “Cal State StairMaster” from the Sisyphean amount of stairs on the hillside campus. So, any day at or around CSUSM should start with a homestyle carbo-load (biscuits and gravy) from Mama Kat’s.

“There’s something about this breakfast spot that immediately puts me in a good mood,” she says. Mama Kat’s is also known for its pie (strawberry-rhubarb), which is breakfast if you change your perspective.
After a few hours on campus—with a break to pet the university’s official therapy goldendoodle, Frank, who helps ease finals tremors or apprehension of on-campus stairs—Prado-Olmos will wander into North City, just steps away. She says the almond croissant and coffee at Christophe Rull Patisserie rival Parisian cafés: “It feels like the kind of place you’d stumble across in a much bigger city.”
Rull, a Michelin-trained pastry chef who’s done stints on Netflix (Bake Squad) and Food Network (Super Mega Cakes, Halloween Wars), opened his patisserie last fall. The hype hasn’t cooled off yet: Get there early because the crowds do.
Emma Veidt is an editor at San Diego Magazine. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She loves running, hiking, and rock climbing, but really, she mostly loves encounters with the street cats around North Park.
It’s a Self-Care Summer. Because your best self is our favorite self.
If you’re anything like us, it can be easy to get so caught up in taking care of everyone else, that your own needs get lost in the ether. But while this may be a cliché, that doesn’t make it any less true: You can’t give your best self to other people unless you’re taking care of yourself.
Sometimes, that looks like stopping in for your regular acupuncture or chiropractic appointment. Other days, it means giving your body the fresh, organic fuel it needs to truly feel and function at its best. And some other times still, it involves leaving your responsibilities behind for a weekend to pamper yourself at an incredible resort and spa.
Only you can decide what your truly need. We’re just here to help you find the best ways to get it.

Island living meets desert luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. When you step onto the 11-acre property, you’ll be surrounded by sweeping view of the Santa Rosa Mountains with olive trees and fragrant citrus groves decorating the grounds. In other words, everything about this relaxed but refined resort is primed to help you let go of the stress from home and enjoy easy sun-soaked days and gorgeous starry nights.
The rooms blend calming, woven textures with Tommy Bahama’s signature tropical prints and feature private lanais, making it easy unwind the moment you walk in the door. If you book one of the four Villa Suites, you’ll be treated to exclusive Tommy Bahama furniture and unique personal touches to further that feeling of instant ease.
At the award-winning Spa Rosa, the expert team will help reset and recharge your body and mind using methods and rituals inspired by the desert. The 12,000-square-foot retreat includes outdoor soaking pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and outdoor cabanas, as well as massages, facials, and body masks—all aimed at creating a day dedicated to you. We’re particularly partial to the Day Long Escape, an indulgent all-day affair of CDBs soaks, renewing scrubs, life changing massages, and transformative facials.
Following your treatment, continue the experience with a meal on the patio at Grapefruit Basil. We love the Hamachi Crudo, a light, citrus-forward dish featuring premium yellowtail, house-made ponzu, creamy avocado, and fresh seasonal garnishes.
Whether you’re strolling the gardens, relaxing beside its saltwater pools, or indulging in a restorative treatment, you’ll be able to escape in style and relax in luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa.

There’s no shortage of ways to stay active in San Diego—but if you really want to enjoy everything the city has to offer, you’ve got to make sure you’re giving your body its tune-ups. Enter: Healcove Chiropractic. The board-certified chiropractors and wellness professionals at Healcove are experts at addressing that stage where you’re not injured, exactly, but you’re not at 100%, either. Maybe you’re feeling a bit tense or stressed out. Or it could be that you’re not quite moving the way you want to. Sometimes, it’s just that the accumulation of days, weeks, or even years of daily strain is starting to take a toll. No matter what stage you find yourself at, the Healcove Chiropractic team can provide integrated, preventative care centered on long-term, science-backed approaches that ensure you can always stay active and live the life you want to live pain-free.
This starts by providing truly individualized care. Every patient can expect a thorough 60-minute consultation session that includes a posture and movement screening. This allows the team to develop a completely personalized plan. That plan might include chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy, as well as functional fitness training, vibration and sound therapy, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, a clinical rehabilitation method that retrains the body’s stabilization systems. Whatever the team recommends, you can be sure that it’s tailored to meeting your body’s needs today and the future.
There’s a reason that San Diego Magazine named Healcove the “Best Chiropractor in San Diego”—don’t wait until you’re struggling with an injury to find out why. Book an appointment today for holistic, integrated care that helps ground and heal your body before it reaches a crisis point.

West Coast wellness culture meets the community feel of Southern Appalachia at Juice Holler. Juice Holler’s menu consists of made-to-order smoothies and smoothie bowls, as well as grab-and-go cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, salads, and more. It operates from the blissfully simple premise that fueling up with food and drink that’s guilt-free and good your body should be simple, accessible, and, above all else, delicious. And if you haven’t yet made it out to the Encinitas café, which opened just this year, let us be the first to tell you: Juice Holler delivers on each and every of these fronts.
We love the Supercharger smoothie, a mood-lifting and body-fueling option made with banana, almond butter, blue spirulina, maca, grass-fed whey protein, raw cacao nibs, medjool dates, and coconut milk. We’re also partial to the Thrive Alive smoothie bowl, where avocado, mango, sea moss, spirulina, mint, coconut milk, and agave are mixed and topped with coconut, chia seeds, strawberry, mango, and chocolate drizzle. The wellness shots include the Detoxifier, a cleansing blend of kale, cucumber, lemon and spirulina, plus a shot specially designed to fight inflammation (named, fittingly, Anti-Inflammation). Probiotic overnight oats, lemon turmeric bars, and strawberry shortcake chia pudding are other standouts on the grab-and-go menu.
Much of the vibe feels beachy North County chic—think green tile with orange and pink accents, grounded with greenery and natural wood—but Juice Holler founder Kelly Sergott, a longtime Encinitas local, has also enfused the space with her Kentucky roots. In Appalachia, a holler is small valley between hills and mountains, where nature reigns, community is king, and nourishment comes right from the land. At Juice Holler, Sergott has created a holler for the busy modern times, using local ingredients to create a spot for people to come together and enjoy fresh, fast, feel-good fuel for their day.

We’ve all had that experience with a medical professional where we’ve felt rushed, ignored, or misunderstood—and ultimately, like we didn’t get the answers that we needed. But at Everwell, the holistic acupuncture practice located in Solana Beach, the care team wants to transform your understanding of what healthcare can look like.
Patients at Everwell experience care rooted in intentional listening and radical empathy—and trust us, those aren’t just corporate buzzwords. This place actually puts those ideas into practice. You will always be given the time you need to tell your story— initial in-take appointments are two hours long—and you can rest assured that your story will be believed. Every single question and concern will be addressed by a dedicated practitioner who wants to find the specific solutions that work best for you, and you’ll receive care that’s aimed at healing the body, mind, and spirit.
Everwell’s highly trained, doctorate-level practitioners blend evidence-based acupuncture with the practice of classical Chinese medicine. (If you’ve never tried acupuncture before or aren’t sure if the team will be a fit, we’d highly recommended Everwell’s complimentary 20-minute consultations.) Research shows that by stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture activates a natural healing response in the body, helping to restore balance, regulate the nervous system, and improve overall wellbeing. This allows the practice to address an incredibly wide range of conditions from chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to digestive issues, from stress and burnout to headaches migraines, fertility and postpartum struggles, hormonal imbalances, sleep concerns and more.
At Everwell, you can expect to feel heard, trusted, respected, and cared for. This is a space that doesn’t want to be just another healthcare provider you visit; it wants to provide patients with dedicated partner who will be there for their entire health journey.