It’s on. There has never been a more exhilarating time to explore the city’s upper half. Meet the doers and culture-makers at the new vanguard of the north.
The ratty quilt Tristan Detwiler upcycled into a jacket for morning surfs at Pipes in Cardiff? A version of the old thing landed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. So, yeah, that’s the abbreviated success story of the 24-year-old Encinitas native and USC engineering major turned fashion designer behind Stan. His artisanal luxury garments, made from quilts and antique textiles, were featured across from Ralph Lauren at In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, a Met exhibition curated by Andrew Bolton. With his third New York Fashion Week collection under his belt, he and his mother attended the exhibit preview and Met Gala alongside Anna Wintour and Thom Browne.
“I’m a very DIY person,” says Detwiler, who spent his youth in Olivenhain crafting in his mother’s art studio. “I got into quilting because of my baby blanket.” Today, he’s a member of the Bumann Quilters of Olivenhain, an otherwise-ladies-only group, while going farther afield for global textiles.
“The most worn, and the most mended are the richest of them all.”
North County – Fabric Investments
Jussi Oksanen
“There’s power in a corner,” says Brendan Foote (left), one of the developers behind Fabric Investments. He would know. Having cornered the market on adaptive reuse from South Oceanside to State Street in Carlsbad, Foote and his business partner Curtis Clave (right) are transforming fallow blocks into vibrant arteries. Tremont Collective, a strip of former mechanic shops off Coast Highway, is a remarkable reset. Anchored by Communal Coffee and with Brixton and Bottlecraft, the hub is thriving thanks to a diverse mix of tenants and ample outdoor space. “It’s about keeping the soul and character of the neighborhood,” says Clave, “and refining the story.” It’s a thoughtful ecosystem that’s spawning a similar concept in the forthcoming Freeman Collective in “South O,” as locals affectionately call it.
Located on Vista Way and Freeman Street, the dazzling F&B lineup includes HomeState, Artifex Brewing, and Blackmarket Bakery. Meanwhile, Nick’s on State is banking on Carlsbad, set to open across from Jeune et Jolie, one of Fabric’s early success stories.
North County – Valle
Audrey Ma
North County – Valle plate
Audrey Ma
Valle chef Roberto Alcocer
Audrey Ma
Valle de Guadalupe is a magical stretch of earth. Baja’s wine region (90 minutes south of the border along the coast, turn left) has become an R&D lab for some of the country’s top winemakers and chefs—like Roberto Alcocer, who made his name at his flagship, Malva. For Valle, he brings that modern Mexican food/wine alchemy to Oceanside. This isn’t a lark Alcocer moved his family here to oversee the ocean-view restaurant; he’s working with local farms and aiming for a Michelin star. While some cuisines don’t survive relocation (see: NYC bagels), Baja and San Diego are one super-region. Whether it’s the rabbit taco (slow-cooked carnitas style, then compressed back together to sear and caramelize) or the ash-rubbed wagyu with leeks confit in bone marrow, it’s a big step for the city’s Mexican food.
201 North Myers Street, Oceanside
North County – Matsu duck
Leo Cabal
Chef William Eick
Leo Cabal
North County – Matsu
Leo Cabal
It’s just cabbage. You’ll keep telling yourself that as you try to wrap your head around why the humble green is blowing your mind. They juice the cabbage, reserve the pulp, sauté it, steep the juice with kombu and fresh herbs, stuff it back into charred cabbage leaves, dress it with sesame oil and togarashi, place it in a bowl with caviar and cabbage dashi (broth, the soul of Japanese cuisine). It’s a 100-percent cabbage gyoza, and in that singular bite you understand why Matsu from chef William Eick is special. Eick has been a rising talent for years, and Matsu is his arrival—a multicourse tasting experience paired with sakes and wines. The dimly lit room in South Oceanside (former home of The Flying Pig) is elegant minimalism, and every table gets its own spotlight. Which feels right, because this is art.
626 South Tremont Street, Oceanside
North County – Along Surfboards
North County – David Lopez
David Lopez
The “family” portrait by photographer David Lopez has little to do with grins. The moody grouping of palm trees on the Swamis horizon is a popular print from his Earth Series Collection. The longtime surfer, skateboarder, and landscape photographer, born in Spain, settled in Encinitas a decade ago. A master craftsman, he makes each surfboard and skateboard by hand for pieces that are utilitarian but double as decor.
Sustainability is top of mind using reclaimed or recycled woods for skateboards (maple, Peruvian oak) while the surfboards are made with eco-forms (recycled polyester or epoxy). The process takes months, using old-school techniques and his architecture background to create modern heirlooms that have been featured in Vogue, Vogue Spain, and Harper’s Bazaar. Next up? A collaborative black-and-white photography project with his favorite Leica Camera.
North County – SOTA
At a new showroom in Encinitas, readers won’t have to be a paying client to check out the finishing touches favored by a pair of in-demand North County architects, married couple Lindsay and Rory Brown of The Brown Studio. SOTA (for “State-of-the-Art”) is like a vision board gone vibrantly tactile.
“We had all of these elements of design that go into the architectural and interior design aspects of our projects,” says Rory. “And you couldn’t see and touch and feel them!”The solution? Create a community-friendly space in their lofty studio HQ, housed in a vintage warehouse-style building, which showcases a curated selection of their global finds, from their go-to picks of Caesarstone, to pieces by Encinitas artist Tait Hawes of Sons Studio. “We wanted to create a hub in North County that would celebrate all the different arts we love: architecture and interior design, but also a place for artists to present their work and bring the community together.”
North County – Kyllee Sebree
North County – Sebree detail
Fresh off a cover story in Furniture & Cabinetmaking magazine, Kylle Sebree is making headlines everywhere. This summer, he’s opening his high-design studio in downtown Carlsbad, further raising the aesthetic bar throughout the Village and State Street. Known for his masterfully reductive woodworking style, he takes timber, walnut, and white oak and transforms it into sophisticated benches, tables, credenzas, and even (coming soon!) headboards. He’s become something of a wunderkind in the design world for his coastal midcentury collection, fulfilling custom orders from architects and designers from all over the US (including June et Jolie owner John Resnick) and making local fans such as Rancho Santa Fe interior designer Amy Meier.
Shane Hall, creator of “The O,” Oceanside’s unofficial anthem
Kristy Walker
North County – Mission Pacific
Not to overstate it, but Mission Pacific Hotel just might be the burgeoning HQ for the best of Oceanside. First, there’s the quintessentially California modern vibe at The Rooftop Bar, which just wrapped up a stylish refresh this month and is kicking off a DJ series starting in June. Speaking of good beats, the hotel recently hailed local soul musician Shane Hall (creator of “The O,” Oceanside’s unofficial anthem) to be the hotel’s musician-in-residence. During his stay, he is recording his next album, performing at various venues on site, and taping a behind-the-scenes docuseries that will also cover his performances at Coachella and Red Rocks. Out in the hotel courtyard, witness even more cinematic history at the Graves House—or as locals lovingly call it, the Top Gun House, since parts of the iconic 1986 film were shot there. The house underwent an award-winning renovation to serve as a new decadent dessert bar just in time for the much anticipated Top Gun: Maverick release in May.
201 North Myers Street, Oceanside
North County – Alila Marea
Treat yourself at Spa Alila. Alila Marea’s spa haven just got better with Sangha: Circle of Wellness, a three-tiered membership of year-round treatments, pool access, and perks. Or if self-care looks more like a four-course meal, stop into Vaga for bagna cauda clams and a chocolate bombe.
North County – Monarch
Camilla Badaro
Someone finally cracked the code on one of the most prized—and maddening—locations in San Diego County. Even with its huge ocean view at the corner of Camino Del Mar and 15th Street, the space was haunted for years by an awkward, closed-off, segmented layout. Social Syndicate blew it wide open in 2020, and now it’s a sprawling, open-air, ocean-view restaurant breathing new life into Del Mar. Monarch has become the steadfast neighborhood hub for craft cocktails (dragon fruit margaritas, blueberry mules), weekday happy hours with $5 specials, and Sunday brunches complete with freshly shucked oysters and mimosa kits. Aside from the main restaurant, the coastal hangout has a rooftop deck with fire pits and Adirondacks, complete with a breezy casual lounge area that connects the two.
1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
North County – Waverly
Kimberly Motos
Inspired by the all-day cafés of Bali, Waverly delivers a breezy, design-forward coastal vibe that’s an extension of its Cardiff roots. Note the seafoam green and bird-of-paradise tiles, Singapore-style rattan lights, and bright yellow umbrellas that punch up the patio. Evening jazz on Wednesdays and weekend DJs elevate the scene. Spend an afternoon sipping fruity cocktails while digging into chef Brian Redzikowski’s signature Caesar salad topped with “Twinkie croutons,” a crispy nugget concoction filled with mascarpone cheese in homage to his favorite childhood snack.
Some keep lists of favorite books, of quotes, of enemies whose time shall come. At SDM we keep vast, nuanced, hotly debated lists of the best food and drink in the city. Menus are our smut novels. From Michelin stars to mom and pops, our list constantly evolves over hundreds of new bites tried every year. Here’s the 2026 list from food critic Troy Johnson and 129,000-plus votes from our readers, who really, really know their food.
Scroll down for the full list of Best Restaurant winners
Troy Johnson is the magazine’s award-winning food writer and humorist, and a long-standing expert on Food Network. His work has been featured on NatGeo, Travel Channel, NPR, and in Food Matters, a textbook of the best American food writing.
You don’t have to go far to get your forest fix in San Diego County—just take the 8 East past El Cajon and gain altitude in the Cuyamaca Mountains and you’ll hit Alpine, a quasi-rural community of 15,000 with sweeping views. Surrounded by national forest land and two reservations and perched at 2,000-feet elevation, Alpine is only about 30 miles east of downtown San Diego, perfect for a day trip when you’re in the mood for a small-town outing (or a stop along the way to the desert or Viejas).
The Kumeyaay hunted, gathered, and farmed in what is now Alpine more than 12,000 years ago before Spanish missionaries forced them to convert their villages to rancherias. By the late 1840s, after California and Mexico declared independence from Spain, the rancherias were consolidated into one massive “rancho,” and, in the 1850s, the area became a stopover on the “Jackass Mail,” SoCal’s first regular postal route. Then came the Gold Rush and a road to Julian, followed by another kind of gold: Alpine was California’s leading producer of honey in the late 1800s.
Former historical society president and honorary mayor Bob Ring says that during WWI, Alpine became known for having the “best climate” in the United States—healthy for soldiers’ convalescence or those with respiratory issues. Good weather, agriculture, and deer hunting brought folks to Alpine as it grew from hunting shacks to cottages to family homes.
Nowadays, Alpine is a place where “you have to get in touch with nature—because we have no movie theaters,” jokes real estate broker and former chamber of commerce board member Jeff Campbell, a resident since 1974. Getting outdoors in Alpine might mean joining 4-H or Future Farmers of America; hiking or dog-walking at Wright’s Field or Loveland Reservoir; riding horses, ATVs, and mountain bikes; or hitting the trails to discover seasonal waterfalls like Cedar Creek Falls, which cascades into a swimmable pool. Alpine is also the place to get up close with raptors at Sky Falconry and meet rescued big cats at the animal sanctuary Lions Tigers and Bears.
Photo Credit: Ariana Drehsler
Facts About Alpine, CA
Famous Broadway actor William Dalton, who went by the stage name Julian Eltinge and made a fortune playing women’s roles on stage, lived in Alpine in the 1920s. His ranch home still stands.
One of California’s earliest female physicians, Dr. Sophronia Nichols, lived in Alpine. Her 1896 home now houses the Alpine Historical Society Museum.
Former major league pitcher and Padres commentator Mark “Mud” Grant resides in Alpine.
Zillow reports the median home price in Alpine is almost $930,000.
Alpine has hosted its holiday Parade of Lights for 30 years. Thousands attend from all over San Diego County.
Photo Credit: Ariana Drehsler
The Locals’ Guide to Alpine, CA
“Here’s how favorites work in Alpine: We all have our preferred menu items at each of our town’s 11 eateries,” Campbell explains. The restaurants are mostly concentrated along Alpine Boulevard right off the 8.
Ring likes the rolled tacos at family-owned Alpine Taco Shop, with extra guac and cheese, while Campbell is partial to the fried fish tacos at Casino Inn Bar & Grill. According to Campbell, Franca’s Italian Kitchen and Bar has the best baked rigatoni not only in Alpine but in all of San Diego County. Ring goes there for family dinners and says he could be satisfied with “just the homemade bread with balsamic and olive oil.” Or head to Mediterraneo (locals call it “the Med”) for vegetarian lasagna. “I’m a keto dude, but it’s that good,” Campbell says.
For coffee, there’s The Well Cafe, where Cecilia Kennedy runs the shop and her husband Alan roasts beans in micro batches at home. Try the dark roast for drip and Mexican mocha for something a little fancier. Breakfast is a must at Janet’s Montana Cafe, which Campbell says serves the fluffiest pancakes, with no syrup needed. “[Janet’s has] homemade everything,” Ring adds, “but try the pies.” Grab supersized treats at Steph’s Donut Hole, and lunch is on the go at Barons Market, where you can pick up soup and salad.
Photo Credit: Ariana Drehsler
With two award-winning breweries in town, Alpine has a good beer scene for its size. Campbell gets the Assaulted By Feather Pillows IPA at Mike Hess Brewing and the Apricot Bells Bluff blonde ale at Mcilhenney Brewing Co.
The town also has a healthy populace of gearheads: Locals like to bring out their classic cars, motorcycles, dune buggies, and fifth wheels. Hang out on a Sunday to ogle old Thunderbirds, Mustangs, and Corvettes. For fun, Alpine parents take their kids to Viejas Outlet Center for outdoor ice skating in winter (and roller skating the rest of the year) or games at the center’s big arcade.
Overall, Campbell and Ring agree, you gotta have humor and heart to live in Alpine. “The culture of this community is that people are always willing to help, even in these busy times,” Ring says.
Photo Credit: Ariana Drehsler
What’s About to Happen?
Change in Alpine is incremental. Campbell anticipates Alpine’s mix of historic and suburban-type housing won’t shift dramatically in the near future, but he has seen some movement by the county to rezone some of its land to encourage more affordable units. “It’s my greatest hope for Alpine,” he says. “Nothing is deeded yet, but it’s on the county’s radar.”
Caltrans is also paying attention to the area, with a recent freeway expansion east of Alpine to Pine Valley, which means more road enhancements could be coming to the two-lane stretch of the 8 that leads from El Cajon west to Alpine.
A new state law that took effect in 2026 will certainly bring changes to Alpine’s mountain aesthetic: Homeowners and businesses must remove all combustible materials within five feet of any structure to help prevent fires. Compliance means replacement of existing landscaping with bare soil, rocks, gravel, concrete, or stone. It could be a whole different look for a rugged town with natural smatterings of oaks, bushy sage, and chaparral.
Campbell has recently seen positive growth and possible expansion in the tribal areas, with new housing subdivisions. In Alpine, he’s noticed a gradual ADU trend, gaining momentum but not catching on as quickly as in other parts of San Diego—“because people come out here for elbow room,” he says.
It’s kind of big news that there’s talk of a small grocery store incoming (the first supermarket to arrive in town since Barons in 2015). New businesses in Alpine used to be heralded with ribbon-cuttings by the chamber of commerce, which disbanded last year—but, Campbell has heard, the organization may get revived soon and bring back this charmingly small-town style of welcome. “Alpine has a need for a center to elevate business to a new level,” he says.
Need help deciding which of La Jolla’s seemingly endless beaches to lay your towel out at today? Each little sandy sliver between the neighborhood’s sea cliffs has its own name and character: the Cove for swimming, Children’s Pool for seal-watching, Wipeout Beach for skim-boarding. Head to La Jolla Shores for that wide, sandy, picnic-with-the-family feel, and if you know what you’re doing, go surfing at Windansea or Bird Rock (if you’re a beginner, opt instead for the Shores, where most of San Diego learned to surf).
Of course, beachy isn’t La Jolla’s only vibe. The Village (locals don’t call it downtown anymore, says La Jolla resident and senior editor of lajolla.ca Elisabeth Frausto) is La Jolla’s most walkable area—highlighted by the main drag, Prospect Street—with a wide radius of shop-lined roads sloping down to the coast.
At long standing neighborhood staples like Warwick’s bookstore and Harry’s Coffee Shop, “old-timers still belly up to the counter and talk politics,” Frausto says. Art enthusiasts visit to peruse through its many galleries, including Quint and Joseph Bellows, and check out what’s on at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD). Shoppers wander Girard Avenue, picking out activewear at Lululemon and Vuori and fancier digs at Thread + Seed and Sigi’s Boutique. Friends gossip and sip coffee at locally owned outposts like Flower Pot Cafe and Il Giardino Di Lilli.
Courtesy of Il Giardino Di Lilli
Once isolated from the rest of San Diego, La Jolla became a popular resort destination when the San Diego, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla Railway arrived in the 1890s and made the area more accessible to visitors (who wanted to spend time there so badly they stayed in tents during the summer). Some of those tourists got creative, too.
“Our tradition of supporting the arts goes back to the days of the Green Dragon Artist Colony that was founded in 1894,” says Athenaeum Music & Arts Library Executive Director Christie Mitchell. Anna Held started the Green Dragon Colony to attract visiting artists to La Jolla for a weekend getaway; it quickly became a venue for ad-hoc performances and bohemian artists’ salons.
However, it was Ellen Browning Scripps more than anyone who shaped La Jolla into the neighborhood we know today, commissioning buildings like the structure that now houses MCASD. The arrival of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1907 laid the foundation for the establishment of UC San Diego 53 years later at the longtime site of the military base Camp Matthews. All of these developments helped establish La Jolla’s layered identities: high-dollar beach town, arts magnet, academic research hub.
Photo Credit: Ariana Drehsler
Facts About La Jolla, CA
Ellen Browning Scripps commissioned Irving Gill to design a building for the La Jolla Woman’s Club in 1914; it still meets today in the same building.
La Jolla’s scenic beauty is a backdrop for many movies, including Thor, Gattaca, Traffic, Mr. Jones, and Andy Warhol’s 1968 experimental film San Diego Surf.
Every summer, thousands of pregnant female leopard sharks gather in La Jolla’s Marine Protected Areas to incubate their pups.
Zillow reports the average home price in La Jolla is $2.3 million.
Old Hollywood film star and La Jolla native Gregory Peck was one of the founders of La Jolla Playhouse, which opened its doors in 1947.
Photo Credit: Ariana Drehsler
Locals’ Guide to La Jolla, CA
Athenaeum Music & Arts Director Christie Mitchell is a bona fide La Jolla local, having grown up in the LJ neighborhood of Bird Rock. Her dad still surfs, and Mitchell met her own surfer husband at La Jolla High (their toddler has already tried surfing, too). Mitchell’s mom still lives in Bird Rock, and “it’s gotten a lot livelier and more pedestrian-friendly,” she says.
On weekends, she makes sure to hit Wayfarer Bread for “the gooiest, heaviest, stickiest cinnamon loaf—definitely preorder because there’s always a line,” she advises. Friday and Saturday are pizza night at Wayfarer, and the bakery’s industry collabs produce some unique pies. For coffee, head to Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, of course, where you can grab a cup and hang out in the open-air seating or stroll to La Jolla Hermosa Park for ocean views (and a skate park and bike paths for little ones to tire themselves out on).
One of Mitchell’s favorites for lunch with coworkers in the Village is Peruvian-inspired Pepino, owned by one of her high school classmates. “The sweet potato bowl is really good,” she says.
Courtesy of The Marine Room
She also cherishes La Jolla institutions. The Ascot Shop, a longtime men’s clothing boutique, is a go-to for gifts; founded by a local fisherman, El Pescador Fish Market is the place for the freshest seafood and fish tacos; and The Marine Room is for special occasions, with on-point service against a backdrop of crashing waves. “And nothing says ‘La Jolla’ like George’s at the Cove,” Mitchell adds. “With the John Baldessari mural and the view, it’s a great mix of the arts and the ocean.”
There’s a surprising amount to do on the weekdays in La Jolla, Mitchell says, with free live music every Monday at the Athenaeum (and weekly ticketed events), late-night DJ sessions at Le Coq, acts at The Comedy Store, concerts at the The Conrad (home of La Jolla Music Society), and the monthly First Friday Art Walk.
Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos
What’s About to Happen
The biggest talk of the town for La Jollans? Possible secession from the city of San Diego, Frausto says. Proponents want to separate so La Jolla can maintain its own infrastructure and make decisions about development (critics say La Jolla should contribute taxes to the rest of the city). If the initiative advances, final say would come down to a city-wide vote.
Additionally, locals and visitors alike are witnessing a genuine culinary explosion. Restaurateur Sami Ladeki’s Roppongi, a Japanese fusion and sushi favorite that closed in 2015, reopened in December 2025 under returning chef Alfie Szeprethy. Michelin-starred chef Elijah Arizmendi launched tasting-menu-only restaurant Lucien last year, and chef Accursio Lota of North Park’s Cori Trattoria Pastifico opened his new spot Dora in November. Local designers Paul Basile and Jules Wilson are building Roseacre, 5,000 square feet of culinary concepts on Girard Avenue. And one of La Jolla’s favorite restaurant families is opening a completely new eatery near Torrey Pines Golf Course in summer 2026: From the guys behind Puesto and Marisi comes an Eastern Mediterranean spot called Ikaria.
Back in the Village, a new boutique hotel by Orli is landing in the old nurses’ quarters (now condos) next to the original 1924 Scripps hospital (the institution moved to Genesee Avenue in 1964). La Jolla is also getting in on the thrifting trend—Goodwill opened a shop on Herschel Avenue in early 2026.
Pedestrian-friendly changes are afoot in two of LJ’s walkable areas. At La Jolla Shores, look for enhancements to Avenida de la Playa from El Paseo Grande to Calle de la Plata, where the street has been closed to vehicles since 2020 for outdoor dining. The Village Streetscape Plan is coming to Girard Avenue between Silverado Street and Prospect Street, bringing expanded walking areas, corner parks, improved lighting, new seating, public art, and landscaping to create shade canopies and gathering spaces.
Photo Credit: Ariana Drehsler
Also look for beautification projects along the coast. The 1920s stairs leading down to the tide pools at Whale View Point are finally getting a redo; Ellen Browning Scripps Park will receive fresh sod and much-needed widened sidewalks. And ADA trail improvements and a new restroom facility are on their way at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, making the beloved natural area more accessible.
As for housing, Frausto says, affordable units are hard to come by, and that probably won’t change soon. Most new homes and apartments are geared toward the luxury market, like La Jolla’s first new gated community in 40 years, Foxhill, which broke ground in October 2025 on the site of a former golf course—with empty lots selling for more than $8 million.
For Executive Chef Emily Brubaker, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa feels like home. She grew up just a mile-and-a-half away from the 400-acre property and fondly recalls walking the golf course perimeter as a kid. Though her ambitions led her away from San Diego for nearly two decades in which she honed her craft in some of the highest of high-profile Las Vegas restaurants—including triple Michelin-starred Joël Robuchon at MGM Grand—they ultimately brought her back to North County.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Today, the classically French-trained chef, who’s fresh off a victory on NBC’s Yes, Chef!, judged by Martha Stewart and José Andrés, oversees Omni La Costa Resort & Spa’s seven distinct dining concepts. Her goal is to elevate the resort’s culinary program with her creative, hyperlocal ingredient-driven approach while maintaining the Spanish- inspired flavors and fresh California coastal cuisine that are the bedrock of its culinary identity.
“The San Diego food scene is really growing, and in North County alone, it’s really exploded in the last five years,” Brubaker says. “There are Michelin stars, beautiful tasting menus, craft bakers, and all this food—when I was growing up in La Costa, it was fish tacos. Now there are really cool things popping up, and I’m so happy to be here to see where it’s going to go.”
Brubaker gives chefs de cuisine at each individual restaurant autonomy, however, her influence is evident across the resort.
For example, lobby restaurant Bar Traza serves as Omni La Costa’s culinary centerpiece and features bold Spanish flavors in a lively, social atmosphere. Brubaker overhauled the menu to be more consistent and centered on casual bites with that signature vibe. Think smoky paprika, vibrant citrus, and Spanish meats and cheeses.
At VUE, the focus is on seasonal offerings, California coastal cuisine, and Baja-inspired dishes. She and Chef de Cuisine Cameron Dixon change the menu biannually, which heading into summer, will highlight farm-fresh produce and hyperlocal ingredients—the resort even has its own herb garden and honeybee hives.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Poolside dining options are leaning into the country’s 250th this summer with a selection of classic American dishes with an Omni La Costa twist. And Bob’s Steak & Chop House (Brubaker is a trained butcher) offers a classic steakhouse experience with elevated service.
The chef and company also plan menus for special events at the resort where her creativity can really shine. For an upcoming National Ski Association dinner, the banquet hall will be transformed into an Alpine-themed winter wonderland complete with a snow machine, savory sausages, and melty, decadent raclette. A recent dinner was built around the Carlsbad Flower Fields and each course was matched to a color of ranunculus (Did you know pink dragonfruit are grown in North County? You do now.).
“It’s my zen to be in the kitchen playing with food,” Brubaker says.
Omni La Costa’s culinary program is a key part of the resort experience. And with Brubaker’s leadership, it’s becoming a draw for visitors and locals alike.
“These aren’t just hotel restaurants, these are restaurants that you should go to. They’re destinations, and I’m really hoping for the future that’s where we’re going,” Brubaker says.
Courtesy of Omni La Costa
Brubaker is also channeling her experience on Yes, Chef! into the culture at Omni La Costa—more emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, empowering her staff to share constructive critiques, and embracing different perspectives. Alongside her leadership role, Brubaker has become an advocate for mental health in the hospitality industry, serving as chief ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Apex Culinary Program, where she mentors and develops future talent.
The 23-year-old Escondido native was trawling YouTube at 13 when he discovered parkour, a sport that evolved from military training in France in the early 1900s—palm-sweat-inducing stuff that involves people jumping off buildings, saving themselves by grabbing a lamppost, or scaling city structures using their legs, arms, and malfunctioning amygdalas, with real people taking to the streets (and now dedicated gyms), flipping, jumping, and climbing like, well, superheroes.
Parkour became a mainstream sport in the mid-2000s (every video was instant viral bait), and Mizel was hooked, starting out by practicing gravity-defying leaps at Kit Carson Park and a nearby dirt lot “with one big rock,” he says; by age 14, he was entering competitions, and the key was taking a high school job at Vista’s Tempest Free Running Academy, one of San Diego County’s largest parkour gyms, where having the keys to the best training facility allowed him to dial in moves like the vaults and wall runs he’d rely upon in competition, and in 2020, remote learning let Mizel take his education on the road to compete in the sport’s most prestigious events.
“That was the first year that I did World Chase Tag on ESPN,” he recalls. “That snowballed into me getting invited to the USA Parkour Cup—I was 19 at the time, and I got third place.” Two years later, he qualified for his first Parkour World Championship, placing sixth and securing his spot among the top athletes in the world.
Now, Mizel is preparing for what he expects to be something of a farewell tour to the high-impact, highly dangerous sport. “2026 is kind of going to be my last year where I’m 100 percent all-in competing,” he says. But like Spidey, you’re never fully out of the game: His goal is to win the USA Parkour Cup in March and rejoin Team USA as he sets his sights on the 2028 Olympics—a giant leap for a kid who once imitated his favorite superhero at the park.
Cole Novak is an award-winning writer with a passion for highlighting local figures, small businesses, and nonprofits. Born and raised in San Diego, Cole is passionate about photography, surfing, art, the local food scene, and the great outdoors.
The coastal neighborhood of Cardiff-by-the-Sea is named after Cardiff, Wales—thanks to the earliest land developer’s wife and her hometown pride—which is also the reason so many of its streets bear the names of cities in the United Kingdom. “Cardiff” for short, this Encinitas community just north of Solana Beach is known locally for its “Cardiff crack” (marinated tri-tip) and The Cardiff Kook statue (a bronze surfer officially called Magic Carpet Ride).
Endowed with prime surf conditions, scenic hiking trails, and seaside walking paths, Cardiff has less than 12,000 residents in its upmarket zip code. The main business district runs along San Elijo Avenue, with several waterfront restaurants scattered further down Highway 101. Plan your next trip using this guide to some of the must-visit places that make Cardiff every beach lover’s paradise.
Courtesy of The Waverly
Cardiff-by-the-Sea Restaurants, Bars, and Coffee Shops
VG Donut & Bakery
An ever-present line out the front door of VG Donut & Bakery is indicative of this humble dough shop’s extreme popularity. Family-owned and -operated, VG (short for “very good”) produces some of San Diego’s best donuts, as well as other baked goods like cookies, muffins, cakes, and pastries. The team makes donuts daily in the morning and afternoon to ensure freshness. When in doubt, order one with the shop’s beloved chocolate glaze.
106 Aberdeen Drive
Ki’s Restaurant
Healthy, California cuisine and fresh juices are on the menu at Ki’s Restaurant, a casual all-day eatery with killer views of Cardiff State Beach from its upstairs dining room. Entrees are satisfying but not too heavy, including curries, fresh spring rolls, and eclectic bowls that can easily be made vegetarian. Check the restaurant’s online calendar for live music and special events like wine tastings, painting classes, and game nights.
Undoubtedly one of the chicest dining options in Cardiff, Waverly has coastal boho décor and twists on classic American food served all day. Portions are on the smaller side, but dishes like Funfetti pancakes, brussels sprouts cacio e pepe, and a grilled pork chop with Peruvian sauce are memorable enough to keep you returning. Live DJs, beautiful cocktails, and indoor palm trees will make you want to sit and stay awhile.
2005 San Elijo Avenue
Pacific Coast Grill
If your goal is to dine beachside with unobstructed ocean views, look no further than Pacific Coast Grill. With a menu that leans heavily into seafood, this is the place to go for oysters, seared ahi, and sushi rolls. The two-story restaurant is a great spot to watch the sunset or go for an after-dinner stroll. Be sure to start with an order of the shrimp dumplings.
2526 South Coast Highway 101
Pipes Cafe
San Diegans head to Pipes Cafe for hearty breakfast burritos in a no-frills dining room packed with the après-surf crowd. Pipes has a full coffee bar, açai bowls, smoothies, egg scrambles, and sandwiches, but it’s the burritos (ordered by number) that have put it on the map as a local institution for 30 years.
121 Liverpool Drive
Cardiff Seaside Market
This gourmet grocery store is locally famous for its “Cardiff crack,” or marinated tri-tip sirloin. Grab some to cook at home or order a sandwich from the prepared foods counter to sample this tender beef prepared with a burgundy pepper marinade. Outdoor tables at Seaside Market make for a quick, no-hassle meal close to the beach.
2087 San Elijo Avenue
Rose Hill Purveyors
Dogs and kids are welcome at Rose Hill Purveyors, where you can glimpse the ocean from the small patio. Formerly Zumbar Coffee & Tea, this bustling shop has a simple menu of coffees, teas, and pastries, so you won’t find frou-frou syrup flavors or add-ons here—just high-quality java.
111 Chesterfield Drive, Suite 115
The Shanty
For more than 60 years, North County residents have flocked to The Shanty for cold beer and strong cocktails. Pool tables, foosball, and arcade games fill the nostalgic dive bar, which still looks much like it did in 1964. Play a game of cornhole on the patio while looking out at San Elijo State Beach, and check for local food vendors onsite every Friday through Sunday.
126 Chesterfield Drive
The Besta-Wan Pizza House
Besta-Wan Pizza House is more than merely a fun-to-say name—the eatery also claims to be the oldest restaurant in the area. It opened in 1965 inside a single-family home. Known for its tavern-style pizza—which is thin, crispy, and cooked well-done with cheese and toppings extending all the way to the edge—Best-Wan also serves burgers, pasta, salad, and chicken wings in a quaint, homey atmosphere.
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.
The iconic 1,200-acre preserve’s history dates back more than 150 years, evolving from a scrub-filled plot atop a mesa overlooking what’s now Downtown to an urban oasis—the largest of its kind in the country—filled with an array of museums, attractions, gardens, trails, restaurants, and more. Balboa Park is an epic playground where San Diegans and visitors alike can experience the great outdoors just as easily as they can enjoy a world-class performance or explore groundbreaking discoveries.
Tucked away in the Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture are 18 diverse museums that allow visitors to spend the day learning about, well, anything. A great place to start is the San Diego History Center. Located in the Casa del Balboa building, the museum tells the story of the city’s past, present, and future through photographs and art, clothing and textiles, and interviews with people who witnessed history-making events firsthand. The San Diego Natural History Museum takes visitors even farther back with interactive exhibitions that show what the region was like up to 75 million years ago.
Blast off on a simulated trip to space at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, then check out artifacts from aviation legends, including the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Buzz Aldrin. Discover new perspectives revolutionizing the science world, learn about an often overlooked but overutilized utility, and exercise your creativity at the Fleet Science Center.
Calling all theater-lovers, Balboa Park has something for you, too. The San Diego Junior Theatre will present their musical take on beloved children’s book A Bad Case of the Stripes from June 26 through July 12. And laugh, cry, and marvel in awe as the pros of The Old Globe perform Kim’s Convenience, the award-winning comedy that inspired the popular series, from May 15 to June 14.
There’s nowhere else in Balboa Park quite like WorldBeat Cultural Center. The institution celebrates African diaspora and indigenous cultures around the world using art, music, dance, and education. The building, a renovated water tower covered in colorful murals, houses a performing arts center, museum, gift shop, cafe, and outdoor classroom.
If you’d like a side of nature with your culture, Balboa Park has you covered there, too. Stroll through the gardens of the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum, a monument to the relationship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama, Japan. Inspired by traditional Japanese design dating back centuries, the 10-acre respite features a living exhibition that showcases plants native to both cities.
If there seems like a lot going on in Balboa Park, it’s because there is. Let theBalboa Park Cultural Partnership be your guide. The organization is the umbrella for 24 of the park’s institutions and offers an Explorer Pass that allows visitors to access multiple museums for one affordable price. The hardest part is picking where to start.
16 Museums, One Pass
Save on admission to San Diego’s top museums with the Balboa Park Explorer Pass. Explore 16 museums of art, science, history and culture across Balboa Park — all with one affordable pass. Choose the option that fits your pace: the Limited Pass (one day for up to four museums), the Parkwide Pass (seven consecutive days of access to all 16 museums) or the Annual Pass (365 days of unlimited exploring).
Looking for an experience-driven gift? Let the museum lover in your life enjoy their favorite museums all year with a Balboa Park Explorer Annual Pass gift voucher.
Bigger experiments, brighter ideas, and boundless curiosity await at the newly reimagined Fleet Science Center. This summer, the Fleet debuts Element 8 Cafe, an expanded theater queuing and concessions space, two new gallery spaces, and, for the first time, a free entrance gallery exploring science in and around San Diego. The transformation marks a new chapter for the Fleet, keeping it a vital, innovative, and accessible science hub for the region. Visitors are invited to explore the experience this summer and connect with the power of science like never before.
Address: 1875 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:FleetScience.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Phone: 619-238-1233
Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum
An accredited cultural gem, the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum brings traditional Japanese garden design to life with koi ponds, curving walkways and layers of greenery. Guests explore bonsai trees, streams and peaceful nooks while taking part in exhibits, educational programs and festivals that illuminate Japanese culture. Situated in the heart of Balboa Park, the garden doubles as a meditative retreat and a dynamic gathering place, welcoming visitors to slow their pace and connect more deeply.
Address: 2215 Pan American Road E, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:Niwa.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; last admission at 6 p.m. Phone: 619-232-2721
The Old Globe
A San Diego summer favorite, The Old Globe invites audiences to experience a beloved local tradition in its outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
This summer, the 2026 Shakespeare Festival presents two thrilling tales of power, passion and romance. Measure for Measure, running June 14 through July 12, 2026, is a riveting story of justice and hypocrisy that asks who holds power, who is punished and what it truly means to be virtuous. Much Ado About Nothing, playing Aug. 2–30, 2026, is a classic rom-com packed with schemes, sparks and laughter as opposites attract. Audiences can enjoy both shows for $44.
Address: 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:TheOldGlobe.org Hours: Box office open Tuesday–Sunday, 1 p.m. to final curtain Phone: Box office, 619-234-5623
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Aviation and space exploration come to life at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. See an airworthy replica of the Spirit of St. Louis, a Gee Bee racer and historic aircraft from World War I, World War II and the Korean and Vietnam eras. Get up close to the Apollo 9 command module — one of only 11 of its kind in the world — along with Mercury and Gemini capsules, Mission Control and space shuttle simulators, and a selfie spot beside a lunar lander on the moon. Running through 2026, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brings oddities from around the world to Balboa Park.
Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:SanDiegoAirAndSpace.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-234-8291
San Diego History Center
History belongs to everyone. At the San Diego History Center, two experiences bring that history to life this summer: America at 250 and the Center for Women’s History. America at 250 traces San Diego’s place in 250 years of U.S. history, while summer programs invite children to learn and explore. The Center for Women’s History amplifies the voices of women whose leadership and creativity have shaped our region.
By understanding our past, we build a more vibrant and inclusive community together. These vital educational experiences are only possible through generous community support. Discover your roots, spark meaningful dialogue, and help keep San Diego’s stories alive for future generations.
Address: 1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SanDiegoHistory.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday Phone: 619-232-6203
San Diego Junior Theatre
Junior Theatre is San Diego’s longest-running youth theatre program, empowering students ages 4 to 18 to explore storytelling, performance, and collaboration in a supportive environment. Through classes, camps, and productions, young artists build confidence, creativity, and lifelong skills onstage and off. Each season features a wide range of opportunities, from introductory experiences to advanced training in acting and musical theatre.
Looking for a summer adventure? Junior Theatre’s Summer Camps deliver dynamic programs for grades K–12, including musical theater intensives, acting academies and immersive JT Studio experiences. It’s a place where imagination truly takes center stage.
Address: 1650 El Prado, Suite 208, San Diego, CA 92101 Website:JuniorTheatre.com Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: 619-239-1311
San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat)
This summer, The Nat is talking trash—literally. Their newest exhibition, Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, features larger‑than‑life marine sculptures made of ocean debris collected from beaches. It invites visitors to explore the impact of plastic pollution and discover ways to take action.
But the experience doesn’t stop at the gallery doors. Friday nights, the exhibition transforms into an ocean-themed “dive bar” during Nat at Night. Select Sundays bring something brand new: a rooftop brunch with sweeping Balboa Park views. Add two new giant-screen films and five floors of nature to explore, and The Nat is shaping up to be one of the season’s must-visit destinations.
Address: 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 Website: SDNat.org Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays in summer Phone: 619-232-3821
WorldBeat Cultural Center
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a nonprofit multidisciplinary cultural organization dedicated to promoting, presenting and preserving Indigenous cultures worldwide through music, art, dance, education, sustainability and community programs. WorldBeat elevates multicultural artists, expands opportunities for cultural enrichment and fosters deeper understanding across traditions. WorldBeat offers a holistic cultural experience that inspires pride, unity, connection and belonging for all ages.
Address: 2100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 Website:WorldBeatCenter.org Hours: Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 6–9 p.m. Exhibits and café: Friday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Phone: 619-230-1190
Event Calendar
Throughout 2026: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
Step into a world of the weird and wonderful at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. Explore hundreds of bizarre artifacts, interactive displays and unbelievable stories that celebrate the curious and the extraordinary.
Presented in partnership with the San Diego Museum of African American Fine Arts, San Diego’s Lost Neighborhoods uses augmented reality, oral histories, and archival materials to explore communities and residents displaced by redlining, freeway construction, and other discriminatory policies.
Spend a summer night at The Old Globe. The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stages Measure for Measure (June 14–July 12) and Much Ado About Nothing (Aug. 2–30), offering two unforgettable Shakespeare productions for just $44.
The Old Globe | 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101
June 8–Aug. 7: Theatre Summer Camps
Summer camps at Junior Theatre spark creativity for grades K–12 with hands-on training, musical theatre intensives, acting academies, and JT Studio experiences.
A museum visit turns into a Sunday Funday with the addition of rooftop brunch, featuring mimosas, bloody Marys, and brunch bites from Wolfish by Wolf in the Woods (June 14, August 9) and Hash House a Go Go (July 12).
Nagashi at the Japanese Friendship Garden & Museum by floating a lantern to honor loved ones who have passed. Stroll merchant booths, enjoy cultural performances in the Inamori Pavilion, and sample food vendors plus a beer and sake garden in the lower garden.
Explore arts, science, history, and culture in the Balboa Park Cultural District with one convenient, affordable Pass. The Balboa Park Explorer Pass is your ticket to up to 16 museums and endless fun! Purchase your pass at BuyMyExplorer.com.
