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We crown 103 winners in food, shopping, fitness, kids' activities, and more
The Best of San Diego 2018
San Diego is a-changing. Bartenders are using CBD oil. A mall is the newest restaurant hot spot. The tally for new breweries? We’ve lost count. Big names like SoulCycle and Shake Shack have arrived with a bang. And La Jolla Playhouse is about to debut its biggest musical yet. All this to say, our city is buzzing. That’s where we come in, to help you navigate the landscape of new, must-try, and got-to-see. Check out the 103 top meals, drinks, activities, and shops to enjoy both in San Diego and across the border in Tijuana.
Winners by Category
The Best of San Diego 2018
Named after the hotel’s original proprietors, the new dining concept at Point Loma’s Pearl Hotel is helmed by ex-Campfire chef Andrew Santana. The new menu leans more upscale than before—think curry fried Jidori chicken with doenjang aioli, kimchi, and pickled shiitake for dinner and buckwheat pancakes with cardamom syrup for brunch. Santana’s also bringing in buzzy new local baker Wayfarer Bread for all toasts. On Mondays they’re serving up $1 oysters all night, Wednesdays are still the hotel’s fun Dive-In Theatre night by the pool, and they recently launched a monthly bingo night with local burlesque star Sassy Stiletto.
1410 Rosecrans Street, Point Loma
The Best of San Diego 2018
Charles + Dinorah | Photo by Sam Wells
While most restaurants are veering toward fast-casual, leave it to San Diego’s cutting-edge hospitality group, CH Projects, to buck the trend. The team behind Underbelly and Ironside Fish & Oyster has created a lavish, trendy dining experience complete with caramel-colored leather booths and terrazzo flooring. The menu focuses on dry-aged steaks and dishes made tableside, like a Caesar salad and traditional French omelet. Chandeliers drip from the ceiling, and waiters wear tuxedos with Converse sneakers. You’ll definitely want to sit and stay awhile.
1909 India Street, Little Italy
Rebuilt on the ashes of its longtime location after a 2015 fire, this phoenix of a sandwich shop updated its decor and layout (more seating!) but kept its affordable menu of made-to-order bánh mì and croissant sandwiches, grab-and-go spring rolls and entrées, fresh-baked baguettes, and pastries. Loyalists clamor for pork bánh mì, but also worthy is the pâté chaud, a puff pastry filled with ground pork and pâté.
7604 Linda Vista Road, Linda Vista
Yes, you can order from the menu, but the fun of eating at this Hillcrest spot is picking dishes straight from carts that the chefs wheel around the space. Think of it as an Italian spin on dim sum. The passaggi (Italian for “to pass by”) are daily creations that range from vegetable appetizers to cacio e pepe gnocchi. The pastas are made in-house with free-range eggs and top-notch flour. Make sure to try their pinsa, a pizza ancestor made with wheat and rice flour. For more in-depth dining, belly up to the bar, where you can watch the chefs work.
1040 University Avenue, Hillcrest
San Diego isn’t trying to be a pulsating city like New York or Los Angeles, but sometimes it’s nice to feel that energy. That’s what you’ll get at this Japanese fusion restaurant in Little Italy, launched by the team behind Tajima. Seating in the front section rings around the centerpiece bar, marked by eye-catching synthetic cherry blossom trees and paintings of Tupac Shakur. The back section feels roomier, with a sushi bar, lounge seating, and portraits of Biggie Smalls gazing upon your dinner. It’s just the kind of cool vibe that our sweet, sleepy San Diego sometimes needs.
1953 India Street, Little Italy
Executive Chef Alex Emery and a new culinary team have revamped the menus at The Med. The oceanfront eatery combines Mediterranean and California coastal flavors in classic dishes with modern twists. The surf and turf is a standout, made with Wagyu black beef and king crab in lobster thermidor with shellfish cream and caviar. Get there early to secure a spot on their outdoor terrace for sunset views.
1132 Prospect Street, La Jolla
Executive Chef Marco Provino, originally from Sicily, delivers a welcome (and much needed) addition to Lemon Grove with Giardino. The dinner menu focuses on pasta, pizza, and traditional Italian entrées like Sicilian steak, cioppino seafood stew, and chicken Florentine. During the weekday happy hour, diners can score $3 wine and $5 antipasti specials. Take it outdoors to the patio or in the modern dining room, which is filled with plenty of Instagram fodder. Don’t skip the tiramisu.
8131 Broadway, Lemon Grove
The Best of San Diego 2018
Herb & Wood
In April, this Little Italy showstopper debuted a weekend menu of Dutch baby soufflé pancakes, omelets with aromatic herbs, and jamón ibérco Benedict—exactly the kind of upscale but approachable fare we hoped for. If you want to go big, try the monkey bread with tahini gelato or the pastry basket, filled with whatever kinds of carbs the chef chooses. Brunch cocktails are a must, and there are even a few zero-proof libations that won’t make you miss the booze.
2210 Kettner Boulevard, Little Italy
This new restaurant from StreetCar Merchants’ Ron Suel serves brunch daily and a New Orleans–strong supper menu featuring oxtail stew, popcorn catfish, a holy trinity jambalaya, gumbo, and grits. For dessert, try the Nilla Caramel Crunch Banana Pudding.
751 Fourth Avenue, Downtown
Tucked on quiet Pearl Street in La Jolla, Masala Street is changing everything you assumed about Indian food—enormous buffets, soupy curries, etc.—and giving it a high-end, creative twist. Chef Saransh Oberoi collaborated with his father Hemant, a culinary master who’s cooked for U.S. Presidents, on a menu of classics with a California bent. You’ll find quinoa chaat, a samosa-taco hybrid called the tacosa, and naan topped with brie and truffle oil. There are also familiar dishes like chicken tikka masala and biryani, but we recommend trying somethig new.
915 Pearl Street, La Jolla
People come to this elegant Bankers Hill establishment for its mussels, escargots du Bourgogne, short rib Bourguignon, and especially the steak frites. Chef Benjamin Navarro specializes in modern French; come September, he’ll launch a new menu but keep the classics we love. Parc is also known for its wine list. Owner and San Diego restaurant veteran Garo Minassian hosts monthly five-course wine dinners that bring in vintners like Northern Italy’s Batasiolo for the Barolo lovers. The next one is Frank Family Vineyards, September 19.
2760 Fifth Avenue, Bankers Hill
Opened by a recent UC San Diego grad, this bright, spacious Convoy spot specializes in both Northern-style and Sichuan Chinese food. You can slurp a hot pot, eat sweet and sour pork with pineapples, or get adventurous and try chicken feet with pickled peppers or pork lungs in chili sauce.
4428 Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa
Taking over the space that once housed the Busalacchis’ Trattoria Fantastica and Café Zucchero, Nonna takes the restaurant family back to their roots. The comfortable, often bustling eatery pays tribute to classic Italian comfort food—the way your nonna would make it. That means saffron-scented arancine, a Bolognese passed down within the Busalacchi family, and chicken Parmesan. When it comes to dessert, head to the display cases occupying nearly one whole side of the eatery. There you’ll find cannoli, tiramisu, and Zappoly, a deep-fried pastry.
1735 India Street, Little Italy
When you love a good Italian restaurant—and we loved Dolce at the Highlands—it’s a happy surprise to hear it’s getting a second life. Following the sudden passing of its founder, Dr. Anthony Smith, his close friends and business partners took the wheel and reopened the Pacific Highlands Ranch eatery as Amici’s, which means “friends.” Native San Diegan Rhoelle Gabriel, Dolce’s executive chef, remains, presenting a new menu but keeping some of our favorites, like the lamb chops and pizzas. The ambience and Southern Italian cuisine make it a great date night, but be sure to try their new weekend brunch.
5980 Village Way, Carmel Valley
At his South Oceanside sushi haunt, Executive Chef Davin Waite serves a full vegan omakase—a meal where the chefs pick the plates—featuring locally procured veggies that are pickled, grilled, smoked, and artfully presented. The results span rolls, veggie nigiri, and flavorful dishes like cauliflower mushrooms in vegan dashi broth.
1815 South Coast Highway, Oceanside
Owners Han Tran and Jay Choy offer a 12-and-under menu that’s, we kid you not, batter-free and alternative-diet conscious. Choices boil down to pho or a rice plate and can be prepared as meatless or meaty as you and your little prefer: vegan, vegetarian, with chicken (white meat, dark meat, or both!), or with well-done, thin-sliced eye round.
2930 University Avenue, North Park
The Best of San Diego 2018
Harumama
The corner of Columbia and Fir streets has long struggled with finding the right restaurant tenant, but this pan-Asian spot proves to be the right fit. Just look to their sleek, stylish, frequently packed dining room for proof. They serve playful takes on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean food, including bao buns, massive fried noodle bowls, and the popular steamed buns in the shape of cartoon-style animals corresponding to protein type—chicken, pig, and panda (filled with purple sweet potato). Look for a Carlsbad location opening soon.
1901 Columbia Street, Little Italy
Whether you have their toasted baguettes filled with housemade choripán (chorizo), bondiola (braised pork shoulder), or ribeye steak, you’ll be satisfied—and full. Save room for a five-pack of alfajor de maizena, dulce de leche sandwich cookies rolled in grated coconut.
531 Broadway, Downtown
Part of the bustling new dining plaza in Westfield UTC called The Pointe, Sweetfin expanded to San Diego earlier this year from LA. The California-inspired poke shop uses sustainable fish “from pole to bowl,” local produce, and unique ingredients like wasabi toasted coconut, chile-marinated oranges, and pickled shiitake mushrooms as toppings. Shoppers can stop by for a fresh bowl and nab a bag of Sweetfin’s signature housemade matcha, or sriracha popcorn and wasabi furikake taro chips as a snack for later.
4301 La Jolla Village Drive, Westfield UTC
We are momentarily setting aside our loyalty to the tomato basil soup at Nordstrom’s café to dote on the decidedly unfussy version at The Melt. What makes it special are the mini grilled cheese croutons that come on the side, part and parcel of the fast-casual restaurant’s menu of grilled cheese wonders. Ask for extra, because one serving is never enough.
8849 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla
The next best thing to flying to Argentina for pillow-soft empanadas? Driving a shorter distance downtown to this new fast-casual eatery. Owned by local entrepreneurs Matias Rigali and Dan Housenga, Empanada Kitchen uses recipes from Rigali’s own Argentinian grandmother. They have meat, vegetarian, and vegan options, with a chimichurri that should be drizzled liberally. Plus, the empanadas are baked rather than fried, so your afternoon snack doesn’t lead to an afternoon nap.
819 C Street, Downtown
The Best of San Diego 2018
Minou Crêperie Patisserie | Photo by Justin McChesney-Wachs
If a French flea market had a café, it would look just like Minou. This downtown crêperie from the owners of the late Cafe Chloe is filled with antiques—books, art, you name it—sourced from annual trips to France, with tilework and brass light fixtures that give it major vintage appeal. It’s small, as the Europeans would want it, with a catering menu of sweet and savory crepes, quiches, sandwiches, and espresso drinks.
721 Eighth Avenue, East Village
Eco Caters Founder and Executive Chef Nick Brune has reinvented office catering, serving up tasty dishes with local, sustainable ingredients like grass-fed burgers and vegetable étouffée. The goal? Making your staff more productive and energized through healthy midday eats. At $10 per person (minimum 20 people), they’ll plan and design the menus with dietary restrictions in mind.
National City’s Dickinson Farm has partnered with Chef Christina Ng on a meal delivery service geared toward people needing specialty diet plans to align with their medical treatments. The fresh, organic, non-GMO vegetarian meals are meant to boost the immune system and support the body’s healing based on your doctor’s recommendation and diagnosis. Each Monday, a set of weekday meals are delivered to clients from National City to coastal Encinitas, targeting three issues: inflammation (for arthritis and Lyme disease); candida (yeast overgrowth), and diabetes. Sample dishes include quinoa-stuffed collard greens rolls, ponzu-glazed tofu with roasted sesame carrots, black rice noodle bowls with Vietnamese herbs, and more.
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This unassuming butcher shop, owned by John Sepulveda and operated with his nephew Nick Swing, sources from small farms like Imperial Valley’s Brawley Ranch. They offer traditional and custom cuts of beef, pork, lamb, and chicken; the butcher cases are also filled with deli meats, housemade sausages, and house-marinated meats, from Korean short ribs to carne asada.
1220 28th Street, Golden Hill
Top-tier bakeries fill owner Crystal White’s résumé, from Tartine in San Francisco to LA’s Proof, which she cofounded. Since moving to San Diego, she’s been running wildly successful pop-ups, and in June, she opened this Bird Rock bakery dedicated to naturally fermented loaves, pastries, and sandwiches, with beans from Ironsmith Coffee Roasters. Make sure to try her egg sandwiches on housemade English muffins and unique croissants, like pistachio strawberry or asparagus with cheese.
5525 La Jolla Boulevard, Bird Rock
Eager to make lesser-known French pastries as coveted as, say, macarons, former Crawford High English teacher and Le Cordon Bleu–trained pastry chef Melanie Dunn registered as a cottage food operator—a state classification allowing the sale of food prepared at home. Everything is baked and packaged in her home kitchen, located above the ground floor of her family’s Hillcrest condo that’s been transformed into a retail-only pastry boutique. Signature petite treats include a buttery, flaky Breton tea cake called Kouign-Amann, and cannelés Bordelais, a caramelized vanilla and rum tea cake with a set custard filling that will leave you saying Merci, Melanie.
3788 Park Boulevard, Hillcrest
This green apple cotton candy isn’t standard carnival fare. At the Peruvian restaurant, with locations in Point Loma and Carlsbad, you get a mountain of delicately spun sugar set not in a paper cone but on a formal dinner plate. After classic Peruvian entrées like ají de gallina and causitas, it’ll be your sweet finish.
5970 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad; 2401 Truxtun Road, Liberty Station
Must-tries at this made-to-order dessert shop include the Black Magic, an activated charcoal butterscotch ice cream frozen by liquid nitrogen and sprinkled with gilded butterscotch morsels; the Dragon’s Breath, a bowl of nitrogen-infused cereal puffs that make you breathe out white “smoke” upon eating; and the Cookie Monster, a hand-size Belgian waffle pop drizzled with blue and white chocolate and topped with crushed chocolate chip cookies.
3904 Convoy Street, Kearny Mesa
December might be an odd time to debut an ice cream shop in most cities, but not in San Diego. The Portland import, known for gourmet takes on humble ice cream, opened its doors last winter and the lines haven’t let up since. Honey lavender is a crowd favorite, but be sure to try more out-there flavors like the avocado and Oaxacan chocolate fudge and a James Coffee Co. mash-up with bourbon. They also do fun monthly themes—think chocolate rose petal for “May Flowers.”
1670 India Street, Little Italy
When An’s Alterations & Dry Cleaning closed up shop, three longtime friends decided to take on the space and convert it into a small-batch gelateria that pays homage to its former tenant. Beyond maintaining the moniker, the gelato shop fully commits to the laundry theme, with flavor names like Gabardine (banana chocolate) and Chiffon (strawberry ginger), plus the option to “add starch” (a cone) or go the “fluff and fold” route (a waffle cone bowl with all the flavors). Cups read “We love our customers,” just as the wrap on your freshly pressed button-down would.
3017 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights
When it’s peak heat, find some chill at Dianne Manansala and Jayrell Ringpis’s frozen dessert dispensary, which features the Filipino shaved ice dessert halo-halo as well as Taiwanese-inspired nondairy shaved snow in flavors like ube (purple yam), honeydew, and strawberry—the latter is the go-to flavor of This Is Us actress and Paradise Hills native Faithe Herman. Customize as you like or request one of the items on Snoice’s secret menu: a Thai Chi Panda, made of Thai tea shaved snow, mochi, and crushed Oreos.
8423 Paradise Valley Road, La Presa
In the Lofts at Moonlight Beach near Lofty Coffee is the newest health food café from OH! Juice, which claims to be the only 100-percent certified organic cold-pressed raw juice company in San Diego. Oh, but it’s more than just juice: smoothies, salads, soups, toast, sweet and savory bowls—all delicious, with daily specials like a vegan protein waffle. Our favorite is the Thai Me Up bowl, with kelp noodles and Amazonian nuts in an almond ginger sauce. The bar is super cute, but who can resist the outdoor patio? Psst: There’s a parking garage in back.
90 North Pacific Coast Highway, Encinitas; 5631 Palmer Way, Carlsbad; and Little Italy, Rancho Santa Fe, Vista, and Hillcrest farmers’ markets
Owners Amanda Matson and Chris Bourgeois regularly rotate in eight flavors of locally brewed draft booch at their shaded outdoor bar in Ocean Beach and new 400-square-foot indoor shop in Pacific Beach, with favorites like lavender lemonade, coconut strawberry banana, Jasmine Bliss, and mango guava showing up on repeat. Enjoy on-site or on the go, or take some home in a TapShack-branded glass growler.
2232 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, Ocean Beach; 927 Hornblend Street, Pacific Beach
We didn’t think owner Jen Byard could top Communal Coffee—her bright, airy North Park café that shares a space with Native Poppy flower boutique—but then she opened this South Park spin-off in March in a formerly vacant lot. The always-buzzing alfresco espresso bar, shop, and community space serves coffee from a converted 1959 Shasta trailer, with stylish seating and games for kiddies. Look for live music and movies to come.
2221 Fern Street, South Park
The Best of San Diego 2018
Better Buzz
Over the past year, Better Buzz has graduated to grande status, opening a second drive-thru in Pacific Beach, overhauling its Fashion Valley kiosk into a brick-and-mortar, and seeing its newest location in Hillcrest attract a line that snakes out the door even on weekdays. The latter is a coffee-lover’s paradise pared into 7,500 square feet of Instagrammable decor—subway tiles, ferns overflowing from macramé planters—as well as a conference room and meeting spaces for rent. And did we mention good coffee? The building serves as the roaster’s second headquarters, making it easy to imagine that their worker bees aren’t just brewing up coffee, but also ideas for the company’s next move.
801 University Avenue, Hillcrest, with locations in Encinitas, Fashion Valley, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, and San Marcos
From upbeat baristas to messages like “Have a good day” and “Watch me party” stamped onto takeout cups, the vibe of Jack Harris’s La Mesa espresso bar is a welcome break from the wave of sober, super-serious micro-roast cafes. To beat the heat, Harris, who’ll open an East Village outpost next year, installed a frozen granita machine that churns out nondairy coffee slushies alongside iced coffees and cold brew.
4330 Palm Avenue, La Mesa
Amy Truong is on a mission to steep the city in tea. Besides selling organic whole leaf blends with ingredients she’s grown and dried herself, she hosts tea blending workshops and regional tea tastings at The Little Black House in Little Italy. She also serves her teas in custom-made drinks—like Shiso Hibiscus, Jasmine Lychee, and the secret menu Blue Palmer—at pop-up The Tea Stand in North Park’s Art Produce Garden every Friday through September 7.
Art Produce Garden: 3139 University Avenue, North Park
The Best of San Diego 2018
Paru Tea Bar
Latte art is so yesterday. At this mod Clairemont café, it’s all about the cool colors and patterns in their tea lattes, like the Dreamer, a cold-brewed blue ombre chai latte; the Double Post, a drink striped with layers of amber-colored rose Earl Grey tea, milk, and green matcha; and the Firewall, an oh-so-fuchsia beetroot latte.
4340 Genesee Avenue, Clairemont
Even bars are hopping on the Prop 64 bandwagon: Madison is incorporating nonpsychoactive cannabidiol oil into its cocktails. The Purple Rain is made with aquavit, peach liqueur, egg white, and sparkly gold CBD oil, while the blended, mezcal-based Mr. Nice Guy with pineapple, matcha, coconut milk, and lime is garnished with CBD oil drops and a marijuana leaf. A dollar from each drink goes to the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
4622 Park Boulevard, University Heights
While North Park and Miramar may be San Diego’s most well-known craft beer nabes, Chula Vista has been quietly racking up an impressive number of breweries in the last year, including Bar Sin Nombre, 3 Punk Ales, Chula Vista Brewery, and Groundswell. Here you’ll find brews from San Diego and Tijuana, and small-batch pours you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, like a sour from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales in Michigan.
This isn’t the treacly stuff you might’ve tasted with other ciders. At Bivouac, you’ll find a mix of sweet and dry, English-style ciders, and even one with an IPA spin called the West Coast Tapper. The food menu isn’t an afterthought, but a balanced roundup of roasted vegetables, cider-braised pork tacos, octopus with fennel salad, and more made by Danilo “DJ” Tangalin (ex-Whisknladle, Jrdn). To top it off, you’ll be sipping and savoring in a beautiful, nature-themed space, a nod to the owners’ love for the outdoors.
3986 30th Street, North Park
Move over, craft beer. At this unassuming winery in Ocean Beach, Keith Rolle is cranking out award-winning wines. Just this year he has taken home gold, double gold, silver, and bronze in international wine competitions from San Francisco to New York to Hilton Head. One standout, a charbono made from vines planted in the early ’80s in Placerville, won double gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Stop by the tasting room and look for more winners, or sign up for the new Fedora Wine Club.
4836 Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach
This game-changing, sustainable-minded Bird Rock winery—which created a device to enable direct pours of high-end wines straight from the barrel—has launched a wine-on-demand service via golf carts. Think of it as the modern milkman. Their Growler Express dispatches reds and whites to Bird Rock, La Jolla Village, and Pacific Beach; delivery is $10, or free if you buy four or more bottles. There’s one cart at the moment, but owner Lowell Jooste, a fourth generation winemaker from South Africa, plans to add more based on demand.
5621 La Jolla Boulevard, Bird Rock
The Best of San Diego 2018
Raised by Wolves | Photo by Zack Benson
One of Westfield UTC’s shiniest new tenants is this bar concept launched by CH Projects (Craft & Commerce, Polite Provisions). The front portion is decked in baroque details and displays bartending tools, Japanese whiskeys, and rare liquors for sale (one weighs in at $3,495). Sit on the raised wooden platform and you’ll be transported via rotating wall to the speakeasy with a stained-glass roof. There you’ll be able to sip Sazeracs, take classes, and visit one of their events. Reservations are a must, even on weeknights.
4301 La Jolla Village Drive, Westfield UTC
Hotel La Jolla’s Bubbly Around the Clock offers flutes of premium Champagne for a mere $4 at 4 p.m., paired with oysters at only $1.50 a pop. Get there quick—the Champs get $1 more expensive every hour. Also wonderfully dizzying are the views, as the 11th-floor Cusp is the highest perch in the Shores.
7955 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla
We still love you, In-N-Out, but there’s a whole new crop of burgers to appreciate in San Diego
What started as a pop-up at University Heights’ Park & Rec bar now operates as a brick-and-mortar in Ocean Beach. The owners also own Nopalito Farm in Escondido and use ingredients from their plot in Royale’s burgers and cocktails.
4204 Voltaire Street, Ocean Beach
The Best of San Diego 2018
jim sullivan
Royale!
The East Coast export has landed with its all-natural Angus beef, non-GMO potato roll buns, and rabid fan following. Order the ShackBurger to get the traditional lettuce, tomato, and sauce toppings, and look out for their seasonal concretes (milkshakes).
675 Camino De La Reina, Mission Valley; 4309 La Jolla Village Drive, Westfield UTC
Their $5 Dirty Flat Top burger is famous for its no-frills approach—a white bread bun, two thin patties, caramelized onions, American cheese, and mayonnaise. You can visit the North Park eatery as late as 2 a.m., but the Dirty Flat Top is just as delicious at 2 p.m.
4592 30th Street, North Park
The Best of San Diego 2018
The former South Park boutique closed up shop in January 2015 only to reopen in Bird Rock two years later. The new store has the same giftables and decor, which combine different aesthetics with a touch of quirk. There are greeting cards, serapes, coffee table books, and more, many from local makers like Orange & Park.
5648 La Jolla Boulevard, Bird Rock
The Best of San Diego 2018
Eden | Photo by Shiloh Colleen
After doing business for over a decade, North Park Nursery branched out with the opening of two new houseplant boutiques by the name of Eden. The University Heights location houses foliage that’s in vogue—fiddle-leaf figs, calatheas, snake plants—as well as jewelry, embroidered bags, macramé, and decorative pots and planters, plus a potting station so you don’t have to make a mess at home. Its Point Loma counterpart carries the same inventory, but also offers “interiorscaping” services, essentially at-home styling and upkeep for your houseplants. It’s gardening made easy.
4636 Park Boulevard, University Heights; 1335 Rosecrans Street, Point Loma
Husband and wife Blake and Jenna Robertson opened this Normal Heights store following a seven-month trip around the world that inspired them to stoke adventure in others. Avid mountaineers can pick up bags, pocket torches, headlamps, and titanium sporks, for example, but there’s also gear like campfire-scented cologne, pins, and bandanas for the less, er, enthusiastic camper.
3275 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights
The Best of San Diego 2018
Rove
Nicole Novena’s minimalist, midcentury-inspired pottery comes in plates, bowls, and wine carafes that are dishwasher- and microwave-safe. We especially love her plate-bowl hybrid—aptly named “Blate”—and the carafe set, which holds about one bottle of wine and comes with two six-ounce cups. Her newest addition is a collection of eight-inch tall cylindrical vases. Consider your gifting dilemma solved.
Since moving to La Mesa last year, Portland transplant Jena Ralls and her collection of ’70s to ’90s garments and accessories have scored a space at La Loupe Vintage, as well as the San Diego Vintage Flea Market and its sister event the Garb Bazaar (next on August 25). Striving to be as sustainable as possible, Ralls wraps online orders in thrifted fabric for protection and ships them in reusable poly bag mailers made of 100 percent recycled material.
Every day is a throwback at Fivespace, which shelves vinyls and cassettes of notable hip-hop, R&B, and soul artists from the 1970s to the 2000s, a few of which are still factory sealed. Curating couple Rachel and Erick “Sir Froderick” Cohen also sell vintage threads like Guess and Levi’s denim, as well as rarities like a Jordan-era Chicago Bulls jacket.
2305 University Avenue, North Park
Stylish owner JaNea Muldowney took the garage next to The Studio by Vanity cottage and fashioned a supercool indoor-outdoor space for doing beachy waves, fresh cuts, and trendy color. The vibe is refreshingly low-key—no upselling here, though you’ll want to browse Muldowney’s fine selection of jewelry, clothes, and hair products. Complimentary wine and beer are an added bonus.
705 North Vulcan Avenue, Encinitas; 760-716-0335
Harmful UV rays and harsh chemicals are a thing of the past. The Organic Tan Studio’s spray tan solutions are vegan, hypoallergenic, and free of alcohol, oil, and fragrance. Owner Alejandra Lopez applies custom airbrush treatments based on each client’s skin tone and tanning goals, and the color lasts about five to seven days. The studio shares a space with Posh & Polished Nail Lounge, where clients can shop for sunless tanning skin care products from Luna Bronze, Aviva Labs, and Tan Raw Concepts.
1985 National Avenue, Barrio Logan
After seven years of owning a day spa with a focus on skin care, Tessa Dean left to start The Little Canary. An 18-year esthetician, she’s an expert at creating symmetry of the face through her eyebrow and lash work, which spans brow tattoo work, lash extensions, and shaping. To top it off, her low-fi Leucadia digs—a cute cottage with bohemian rugs and vintage records—are just as aesthetically pleasing.
422 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas
Toxic chemicals are so last season, and these San Diego retailers have taken notice
The Best of San Diego 2018
Thread & Seed | Photo by Becca Batista
A beauty bar with nontoxic labels like Indie Lee and Herbivore Botanicals is the focal point of this Bankers Hill space, a sister store to South Park’s recently revamped Graffiti Beach Boutique.
2870 Fourth Avenue, Bankers Hill
Leah Kirpalani’s website turned North Park brick and mortar is devoted to eco-friendly cosmetics and products that promote holistic wellness, as well as high-demand facials, waxes, and yoni steams performed in their spa on site. Expect to book appointments weeks in advance.
3030 North Park Way, North Park
The Best of San Diego 2018
Natasha Boote
Shop Good | Photo by Natasha Boote
The San Francisco brand exclusively carries cosmetics that are cruelty free, organic, and sustainable. At its new digs in Westfield UTC you can book a “clean sweep” appointment, where you bring your own non-green products so staff can recommend similar items that are more eco-friendly.
4305 La Jolla Village Drive, Westfield UTC
This OB shop handcrafts plant-based apothecary goods to use from head to toe—shampoo, balm, solid perfume, even insect repellent. We especially love their vitamin-packed Pure SPF-15 Lightweight Moisturizer.
4852 Voltaire Street, Ocean Beach
Bird Rock’s organic skin care studio specializes in “sugaring,” a hypoallergenic hair removal technique using lemon, sugar, and water to gently deplete your follicles. Consider their spiritual facial menu—the New Moon Facial is available only during or one day before or after the new moon.
5514 1/2 La Jolla Boulevard, Bird Rock
The Best of San Diego 2018
Green + Anchor | Photo by Jessie Taft
You can actually take in a breath of fresh air in the newest full-service hair salon in Bankers Hill, since it cuts out products with unnecessary chemicals. Staple brands include Simply Organic’s Original & Mineral and Oway shampoos, conditioners, and styling products.
2440 Upas Street, Bankers Hill
Suja Juice cofounder Annie Lawless has put her name behind a “clean AF” natural makeup line comprising liquid lipsticks and foundations made with ingredients that are known to be neither carcinogenic nor endocrine disruptive.
The Best of San Diego 2018
Lawless Beauty
Drop by the Point Loma boutique’s Cocktails + Clean Beauty event, which takes place the second Thursday of every month, when a natural beauty brand shares its product over cocktails in The Shed, an adjoining space that sells gardening supplies. This month’s soirée is pairing CBD drinks with a discussion about facial masks.
1021 Rosecrans Street, Point Loma
Mission Hills–based skin care guru Sara Elizabeth Tucker launched her botanical line of serums, masks, and moisturizers last year, incorporating natural ingredients like fenugreek (to boost glow and reduce oiliness) and konjac root (for hydration).
4026 Hawk Street, Mission Hills
The Best of San Diego 2018
Armed with a decade of experience teaching yoga and Pilates, Amy McCabe wanted to open her own reformer studio that didn’t cost customers an arm and a very toned leg. She opened Hillcrest’s Studio Reform in February 2017—while she had a two-year-old and another baby on the way, no less—with a mere eight machines, meaning her instructors can offer very personalized, hands-on adjustments. Amy, Betsy, and Sam are some of the more popular instructors, but expect a seriously challenging full-body workout with anyone on their roster.
1040 University Avenue, Hillcrest
The Best of San Diego 2018
SoulCycle
We begged and pleaded and this spring we finally got the cult cycling studio in San Diego. Book a class with beloved teachers like Alexa or Janelle, who will whip you into shape—both physically, with tough, 45-minute routines that get you moving all around the bike, and emotionally, with motivational mantras. For an added challenge, you can sign up for their SoulSurvivor class for a 60-minute session. It’s an upscale workout at $28 per class with $3 shoe rentals, but if that doesn’t stop you, good news: Another location is headed to Carmel Valley’s One Paseo next year.
4303 La Jolla Village Drive, Westfield UTC
On appearance alone, Sojourn outdoes the competition with its exposed brick wall, palo santo scents, and mellow lounge area. Thankfully, their classes are great too. Sojourn isn’t about the Bikram heat and rapid flows; expect gentle vinyasa circuits in a comfortable place surrounded by leafy plants and Buddha statues. They also have a funky light machine that projects tiny green dots onto the ceiling—like you’re staring off into space right before you savasana.
2870 Fifth Avenue, Bankers Hill
The Best of San Diego 2018
Sojourn Healing
San Diego’s newest cycling concept is all about exercising in 72 degrees and sunny. Co-owners and instructors Corey Butts, a personal trainer who’s gotten NFL athletes into shape, and Oz Blackaller, yogi and owner of Cueva Bar, launched the startup with a focus on team- and community-building. Customized corporate and private events are really the bread and butter of the biz, but anyone can jump on the stationary bikes for communal rides in our local outdoor spaces. Spin & Go pops up on Wednesdays at Liberty Station and, new since spring, at Trolley Barn Park in University Heights on Mondays and North Park Community Park on Tuesdays. The 45-minute community classes are $20 per drop-in or $50 per month and top out at 10 riders. Towels, water bottles, and music provided.
The best way to get through spinning, pumping iron, and sweating profusely is a good playlist, and this year-old cycling studio’s themed classes are so fun they make you forget about that full-minute sprint. Past sessions have included Summertime Happy Hour and a Bruno Mars–Michael Jackson mash-up. You can select your bike beforehand, and so long as your rental spin shoe size is included in your online profile, the staff will have them ready for you upon arrival.
1040 University Avenue, Hillcrest
The Best of San Diego 2018
ack by popular demand! The original pillow-and-mattress bouncefest has returned a decade later to The New Children’s Museum downtown. In No Rules … Except, kiddos are free to jump on 40 mattresses and 165 handmade, silkscreened tire cushions. “I’m an unartist—I do art among people who don’t care about it,” says exhibit creator Brian Dick of his playful work. Dick has reimagined the original installation by the late Allan Kaprow, who was his adviser at UC San Diego. Tiny touches: Lie down and you can just hear one of six soundscapes between mattresses; zero in on the tires and you’ll see a bagel recipe on the side. (Kaprow once said the meaning of life is the hole in the bagel—it doesn’t matter.) The tire-tread pattern came from a Playmobil car owned by Dick’s son.
200 West Island Avenue, Downtown
Sorry, Giant Dipper, there’s a new coaster in town. SeaWorld’s new Electric Eel clocks in at 62 miles per hour and the view from the top will make your stomach flutter. After a few half-pipe-style plunges backward and forward, the coaster kicks into high gear, navigating rolls, twists, and an inversion at the top that provides upside-down views of Mission Bay from nearly 150 feet high. Once your heart slows after the one-minute ride, you can wander over to the adjacent moray eel habitat, part of the park’s expanding Ocean Explorer exhibit. Must be 54 inches or taller to ride.
500 Seaworld Drive, Mission Bay
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Every Thursday, kids eat from the children’s menu for free at this gourmet sandwich export from LA. The deal, available at their La Jolla location and now in Carmel Valley, lets little ones choose anything from cheese and nitrate-free salami sandwiches to a cheddar cheese quesadilla. Once they’re done eating, a chalkboard wall, complete with swanky Eames-style mini chairs, is prime for playing.
12873 El Camino Real, Carmel Valley; 8975 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla
Bianca Wickers’s beloved e-boutique, Bink & Boo, rebranded to Sunny and Cheer last year. The new name is a nod to the eclectic, electric styles of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, and the vintage and new threads for wee ones remain rooted in Palm Springs meets Venice Beach fashion. There are still the favorites for the kids—Ankle Biters (aka the raddest little pants ever), bloomers, and booties—plus expanded home decor. Coming in summer 2019, a women’s collection inspired by vintage dresses that Wickers has thrifted over the years.
Hilary Kearney, the beekeeper and educator behind Girl Next Door Honey, takes kids ages 5 to 10 under her wing for customized introductions to her trade. In the 40-to-90-minute show-and-tell of all things pertaining to pollinators, she uses an empty hive to educate about what once happened inside, shares a hunk of beeswax to explain the honey-making process, and suits up to explain safety. Of course, the best way to follow Kearney’s suit is to get the kiddos in one. Those age eight and older are allowed to attend her adult beekeeping classes, with kid-size suits included and available for purchase.
The Best of San Diego 2018
Madison Gallery uprooted from its longtime La Jolla digs to a new contemporary space as the newest tenant of Cedros Design District in Solana Beach. May’s inaugural exhibition, New Generation, showcased artists James Verbicky, Olivia Steele, and Robert Montgomery; the paintings by Kansas City’s Jane Booth are on display in Narratives now until September 3.
320 South Cedros Avenue, Solana Beach
It seems that we say this every year: La Jolla Playhouse is on fire. They have two Playhouse-born shows currently running on Broadway, two off-Broadway, and four that recently closed. We’re still glowing from Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. This season’s lineup includes smaller, cutting-edge works as well as a potential blockbuster about Diana Spencer before her wedding to Prince Charles. It premieres in February, with music and lyrics from the team behind Memphis and directed by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley. Vanity Fair has already called it a reason to book a flight to San Diego. From Donna to Diana, we are so lucky to have a front row seat.
2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla
Artwork is popping up like weeds around Arts District Liberty Station as part of the new public art program Installations at the Station. The NTC Foundation is selecting guest artists on a rolling basis to decorate the center with temporary visual art meant to capture the San Diego–Baja border region. The pieces include a Greetings from the U.S. Naval Training Station postcard mural, a boat out of water, and a light installation that reads “Rest With You Comes Easy.” This fall, San Diego Dance Theater is slated to put a performing arts twist on the project with a tour called Installation Dances, akin to their popular Trolley Dances.
2701 Lytton Street, Point Loma
This national chain recently opened its first San Diego location in Hillcrest, offering craft projects like canvas pillows and framed wooden signs. Popular for bridal showers, corporate outings, birthdays, and summer camps, AR provides all the materials; you just show up and leave with your finished product.
1010 University Avenue, Hillcrest
The Best of San Diego 2018
Rooftop Cinema Club
The problem with outdoor movies? The crowds, uncomfortable seating, and lack of volume. Thankfully, this UK-based outdoor movie series for the 18-and-over set has landed in San Diego with ticketed seating (from $17), comfy chairs, and wireless headphones for every viewer. Movies like The Big Lebowski, Mean Girls, and Coco play atop downtown’s Manchester Grand Hyatt, and if you pay extra, you can get loveseats, bottomless popcorn, and more. If you purchase food or drinks—from the rooftop concessions stand or one of the hotel’s on-site dining options—you get four hours of parking validated. But make sure to bundle up: They offer blankets but no heat lamps.
1 Market Place, Downtown
The in-demand sourdough treats from ultra-small batch, family-run microbakery are popping up more and more across San Diego
There’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sign tacked on a utility pole on a residential street in La Mesa with one word scrawled across it: SOURDOUGH. Megan Loney has lived in the Academy Heights neighborhood all her life—in fact, her parents reside next door and she lives in the house she grew up in. Out of her kitchen, she runs Gemini Twins Bakery. But based on demand, she may need to start looking for space somewhere else.
“We already have, let’s see, one, two, three…” she counts the equipment around the room. “Six fridges in the house.” (One fridge even gets delivered in the middle of our conversation.) Of course, not all of them are for the bakery, she adds. Half are dedicated to fermentation, from pickling peppers to making kombucha.
Scientists have long touted the benefits of yeast and bacteria converting sugars as a way to improve digestion and overall gut health (among other benefits) for many years. Handmade, housebaked sourdough bread has particularly regained popularity after a dip in production during the commercial bread heyday of the mid-20th century, driven in part by at-home attempts during the pandemic. Loney began experimenting with her sourdough starter in 2019, hoping to improve her family’s nutrition and eating habits.
It didn’t click right away. “It took me a year to keep my starter alive,” she laughs. “I didn’t bake any bread until 2020.” Once she did manage to nurture her starter to life, she taught herself how to bake better versions of store-bought items. “Look at anything on a label in a store these days, and it’s terrifying!” she says. “I was like, ‘No, no, no, we can do this fresh.’”
Loney started selling loaves and baked goods to friends and family before officially launching Gemini Twins (named after her twins, naturally) in 2024, first appearing at La Mesa Oktoberfest. Now, you can pick up her products at the Lakeside farmers market on Thursday afternoons, the Sharp Grossmont farmers market every other Friday morning, Cardiff farmers market on Saturday mornings (although not as the main bread vendor), and the first and third Saturdays of every month in her driveway—just follow the sourdough signs.
Gemini Twins mainly sells sourdough loaves, both traditional and flavors like blueberry lemon basil (made with lemon basil, not lemon and basil) and Dilly Jack (dill, Monterey Jack cheese, and dried onion), plus cookies, cinnamon rolls, scones, and bagels. Loney makes her own in-house blend of fresh-milled whole grain wheat that she mills herself, along with Central Milling organic high-mountain bread flour, a blend of spring wheat and high protein winter wheat. Using organic is key, she says, to avoid negating the health benefits of fermentation with possible exposure to pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals.
After leaving a steady job in construction to launch Gemini Twins, she’s determined to make it work by any means necessary—literally. When she was pregnant with her youngest child, she was baking up until and actually on the day she gave birth. “It’s a dedication for sure, but it’s one that I love,” she says. Launching a viable sourdough brand isn’t exactly the easiest business to get into—most farmers markets and small grocers already have an overabundance of products. But the chance to be her own boss, support her wife who’s currently going to school full-time (as well as their kids), work from home, and share her wares across San Diego? It’s worth it. “The most important part is that it’s family-based,” she says. “We’re just hoping to see it grow… there’s a pretty big horizon in front of us.”
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Hit the theater for Oh, Mary!, cheer on the Padres in the playoffs, and explore the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival
Fans of remarkable artistry, live sports, and foodie-friendly excursions are all eating particularly well this week. The Civic Theatre will present eight performances of the stage comedy Oh, Mary!, while the city’s streets and MTS Blue Line stations will host another edition of Trolley Dances. As they chase their first World Series crown, the Padres will kick off a best-of-three Wild Card series with the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park, and over at Snapdragon Stadium, Mexican soccer rivals Cruz Azul and Club América will face off in an exhibition match. Last but certainly not least, unleash your appetites for the Taste of North Park, Mexico in a Bottle, and the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival, where five days of culinary experiences await.
JUMP TO: Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
From Wednesday’s first bite at Monarch Ocean Pub to Sunday’s final Grand Tasting hurrah, the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival boasts a lineup for the ages. A trio of Thursday dinners will showcase Rioja wines ($200), whiskey paired with Indian fusion ($295), and Chateau Montelena’s lasting legacy ($639). The following day, spectate ($125) or play (starting at $200) in a star-studded pickleball tournament, including an appearance from SD Mag CCO Troy Johnson. Then comes the two-day Grand Tasting at Surf Sports Park. Overwhelmed by all the culinary possibilities? We’ve got you covered. Grand Tasting ticket options include single-day passes ($185-$425) for Saturday and Sunday, as well as two-day passes ($275-$765).
Citywide
Sample the neighborhood cuisine and culture alike during the Taste of North Park. Beginning Saturday at 11 a.m., check in at North Park Mini Park then check out more than 65 unique tastes, including over 50 food stops, across local delis, bistros, dessert shops, and more, plus live music, art activations, and local business pop-ups. Eventgoers can enjoy all-inclusive tastes until 3:30 p.m. and sips through 4 p.m. Food & sip tickets (21-plus) are still available for $65, but—like the food-only and shareable tickets—they are expected to sell out before Saturday.
Check-in: 3812 29th Street, North Park
For one afternoon each fall, Rancho Bernardo becomes Rancho BEERnardo, complete with a festival highlighting local breweries, wineries, and distilleries. This Saturday from 2-5 p.m. during the 21-plus Rancho BEERnardo Festival, attendees can sample from over 35 drinkmakers at Webb Park while enjoying food vendors and live music, all to raise money for the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club. Ticket options include general admission ($65) and VIP entry ($90), which grants early arrival at 1 p.m.; designated driver admission ($10) is also available.
11666 Avena Place, Rancho Bernardo
Few things get more classic—or in this case, Enlightened—than the Le Salon de Musiques, kicking off its new season with a Grand Opening concert this Sunday (4 p.m.). The first monthly show of the 2026-2027 calendar at the La Jolla Woman’s Club will showcase more obscure works by Beethoven, Schubert, and Hiller, played by violinist Martin Chalifour, violist Carson Rick, cellist Allan Hon, and pianist Xiao Chen. After the performance, audience members will be joined by the musicians for a high tea buffet with French champagne. Tickets are $69 for students and $120 for the general public; full season passes ($864) are also on sale.
7791 Draper Avenue, La Jolla
Mexican craft spirits and the storied traditions that bind them are the focus of the 21-plus Mexico in a Bottle festival, returning to Bread & Salt this Sunday from 4-7 p.m. Attendees can try sips and hear stories from distillers of Mexican mezcal, tequila, whiskey, rum, gin, and more. There will also be music from DJ Mafondo, art and craft vendors, panels on Peruvian agave and mezcal education, and vendors showcasing Oaxacan, Sinaloan, and Mayan cuisine. General admission ($82) is all-inclusive and can be purchased here.
1955 Julian Avenue, Logan Heights
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.
From food festivals and Fashion Week to hockey games and Oktoberfest, these are the best events to add to your calendar in October
It’s finally fall, and although it may not feel like it (our ceiling fans are this close to flying off their hinges), San Diego is ringing in the cozy season with a heap of fun events. Whether you’re wanting to find your new favorite outfit at Fashion Week, cheer at the Oceanside Shock’s home debut, or practice meditation at the Strength in the City Festival, these are the best things to do in October.
Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do
Go beyond the menu during the Taste of North Park, with over 50 food samples and 15 beverage stops, plus live music and art-driven programming to keep all the senses engaged.
Cross the Coronado Bridge—and bring your appetite—for A Taste of Coronado, an island-wide culinary jaunt in support of beloved businesses and the Promises2Kids nonprofit.
In the Roustabouts Theatre Co.’s newest comedy at Scripps Ranch Theatre, roommate beef has no age limit. In “Ripcord,” a feud between Abby and Marilyn escalates to absurd heights.
Pay it forward to local public schools with each pet adoption, purchased piece of art—from over 170 artists—and sip of wine, beer, or spirits at the free La Jolla Art & Wine Festival.
Those in search of creativity and community can find both at Other Places Art Fair South, a free showcase for independent artists and galleries at California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
Where can you play pickleball with celebs, sample local eats (including that place you’ve always been meaning to try), and take part in the scenic and delicious Grand Tasting at Surf Sports Park? There’s only one answer: the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival.
Sashay your way through the 19th annual Fashion Week San Diego, home to stunning runway couture, fall designer collections, and a trunk show—perfect for shopping for your new look.
Dance to Y2K throwbacks all weekend long during Ocean Beach Oktoberfest, which includes a beach party, a stein-holding competition, a brat-eating contest, and for VIP attendees, a custom “OB2K Oktoberfest” liter
mug.
First comes the sting, then comes the shock. San Diego County’s newest sports franchise, Oceanside Shock, will make its home debut in the Federal Prospects Hockey League versus the Fresno Falcons at Frontwave
Arena.
Working out is just one part of this Waterfront Park wellness experience. Practice meditation, play bingo, and recover with sauna zones during the Strength in the City Festival.
At the 25th annual Oceanside DÍa de los Muertos Festival, the Day of the Dead is alive and well. Walk through a chalk cemetery and Por Siempre Car Club’s decorative trunk altars during the free event.
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.
At Vi at La Jolla Village, residents don't have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
Today’s seniors are more connected than ever, with a renewed focus on retirement as a time of discovery and enriching experiences. The ultimate reward for a retirement well-earned is the wisdom to appreciate it all, and what better place to enjoy that unique perspective than Vi at La Jolla Village, in the heart of San Diego.
All-access pass to good living.
As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Vi provides access to a connected and fulfilling community while making it easy to plan for future care, should the need ever arise. With a care plan in place, residents enjoy greater financial predictability and long-term value, freeing them to focus on making the most out of retirement.
Resort-style amenities at the epicenter of a cultural hub like San Diego offer a retirement experience unlike any other. Paired with exceptional dining, spacious accommodations and dedicated staff, the best of maintenance-free living is all around. And with the introduction of Vista 360 Well-Being, Vi’s panoramic approach to wellness, there are more ways than ever for residents to access it all.
The harmony of mind, body and community.
The key to longevity is striking the right balance in maintaining an active lifestyle with an active mind in a fulfilling community. With newly renovated community spaces and restaurants, Vista brings a variety of opportunities for residents to elevate their well-being through Vi-exclusive “Signature Experiences.”
Vista Enrich takes an evidence-based approach to brain vitality, keeping residents at the forefront of cognitive health through exergaming (exercising + gaming), nutritional plans and informative workshops. It is also home to The Brain Vitality Studio, an innovative facility dedicated to cognitive fitness that has garnered national recognition.
Vista Discover invites residents into stimulating educational experiences, from chef-led cooking demos and guided wine tastings to lectures at local universities and intimate lectures following cultural outings.
While Vista Enrich focuses on brain health and Vista Discover engages residents intellectually, Vista Explore cultivates a sense of adventure through curated travel and local excursions. But broadening one’s horizons doesn’t always require a plane ticket. One recent event brought a taste of the world right to the community: an onsite “jazz cruise” featuring live music and global cuisine served at a series of themed “ports” all within the community’s own ballroom.
“Location, location, location”
One of the biggest perks of life at Vi at La Jolla Village is its proximity to just about everything. With easy access to transportation and local attractions just steps away, residents can explore and engage with their community at their own pace.
“There are trolley and bus stops within a 5-minute walk that will get you to the beach, UCSD Campus, medical appointments, downtown La Jolla or San Diego, et cetera. We rarely use our car,” said resident Tom Yager.
With the best of San Diego just steps away, residents don’t just live in the city, they live within reach of everything that makes it special.
The best of all worlds.
At Vi at La Jolla Village, retirement isn’t a chapter to slow down; it’s an invitation to discover more. Tailored community experiences created by Vista, paired with the vibrant pulse of San Diego just outside the door, mean that residents don’t have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
This is what an all-access pass to good living looks like: the comforts of an elevated lifestyle, a community built for growth and a city made for discovery – all in one place.
To learn more about Vi at La Jolla Village or for details on available floor plans, visit ViatLaJollaVillage.com/SDM.
Chantal Partolan’s growing food business blends her Filipino and Chinese heritage with a creative, memory-driven approach to cooking
As a child, Chantal Partolan never considered cooking as a viable job route. Rather, it was a passion she could turn to as a way to flex her creative muscle, from the time she was in school all the way into adulthood working in a corporate space.
“I never felt like [cooking] was a chore, like some other people feel,” she says. To feed that passion, she started hosting supper clubs in 2022, creating menus and full tablescapes to bring together friends and family. With each successful gathering, she wondered: Could she take this further?
In 2024, she did. Officially launching as Bik-Lun, she began small, hosting baking pop-ups in Long Beach before moving back to her hometown of San Diego in 2025. Now, Partolan still mostly pops up at small local businesses like Moniker General and Joon Shoppe, but now also offers small batch catering and private chef services, all centered around her father’s Filipino and her mother’s Chinese heritages.
Bik-Lun (pronounced bik-LUHN, like “fun”) is named for her mother. “When she migrated to America when she was younger with all her siblings, they all got American names,” Partolan says. She doesn’t strictly adhere to rigid culinary rules—instead, she lets memories drive her creations.
“Now that my grandparents are no longer here, trying to revisit those memories and share them with others has been a really important part of this journey for me,” she explains. Ingredients like red bean and black sesame reflect her Chinese roots, while more savory items like sinigang (a sour and savory Filipino soup) pay homage to her father’s family.
Collaborating with other children of immigrants is another way she experiences flavors through a fresh lens. There are so many Filipino-run small businesses willing to share their own familial memories and inspiration, she says. “Hearing their experiences sometimes helps me recount my own.”
You can next catch Bik-Lun on September 27 at Home Ec + Best Bud with Magnaye (formerly One of One), October 3 at Patine’s new location in Bankers Hill, and October 10-11 at the Mingei Museum for Merkado Kultura, a makers market for Filipino producers. Partolan says since most customers are familiar with her sweet products, she’s planning to offer more savory items—like a breakfast sandwich—at the Home Ec event to give people a taste of her creative versatility.
Eventually, she hopes to add some permanent residencies to Bik-Lun’s schedule—a few are already in the works, so stay tuned—while also looking for ways to combine her food and photography expertise. (A cookbook? Maybe, she says.) But in the meantime, Partolan will remain curious about where she comes from—and how it can take her to where she’s going.
Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene
Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Jacob Chen’s Made for MeiMei adds protein and fiber to flavors like ube, black sesame, and PB&J
As a kid, Jacob Chen scrounged up whatever odd jobs he could—running lemonade stands, organizing garage sales, reselling appliances on Facebook Marketplace. But there was something about cooking that kept him coming back to the kitchen. “It started as a way for me to spend time with my mom,” he says. “In a way, I think it was inevitable that I would begin a food-based business.”
That business ended up being Made for MeiMei, a line of low-sugar, high protein and fiber mochi flavors like ube, matcha, red bean, black sesame, peanut butter and jelly, and chocolate hazelnut. “‘Mochi’ is derived from ‘mochigome,’ which is the special type of short grain rice that gives mochi its stretchy, chewy texture,” he explains. Traditionally served in Japan as a dessert to celebrate the new year (similar to bibingka in the Philippines and nian gao in China), American-style mochi tends to taste sweeter and often comes as mochi ice cream. However, Chen points out that wasn’t always the case.
“Before mochi was synonymous with ice cream and refined sugar, it was simply a rice based snack filled with whole food ingredients,” he says. “That’s the version of mochi we’re trying to bring back.”
Made for MeiMei’s primary ingredients are rice flour and coconut milk, plus the featured ingredient for each flavor. But rather than using refined sugar, Chen sweetens his mochi with monk fruit and uses organic pumpkin seed protein and chicory root fiber to create what he calls “the first better-for-you mochi.”
Recent collaborations include a mochi-wrapped gelato with An’s Dry Cleaning, strawberry daifuku cream puff with Mon Chourie, and a funfetti chantilly cream dip mochi with The Clovery, but Chen has his sights set on retail expansion. Currently, Made for MeiMei products are available online, locally at Easy Does It Cafe, Bodega Market, or at upcoming events like Embolden Beer Company’s Taste of Shogun on September 27 (admission is free!) and a pop-up with Organic Oren on October 5.
Besides being better for you nutritionally, Chen’s goal for the business is to also be better for the world. He’s worked in rehabilitation clinics and volunteered at San Quentin when he lived in Berkeley—experiences that transformed his worldview. “It really doesn’t take much to be on the other side of the fence,” he says. That’s why he donates portions of proceeds to organizations like Second Chance San Diego (which helps formerly incarcerated people find steady employment), Immigrant Defenders Law Center (a nonprofit deportation defense law firm), and Border Angels, an advocacy group working to reduce fatalities of people crossing the United States and Mexico border.
Chen has his sights aimed high, hoping to bring Made for MeiMei to more local grocery stores and cafes before hitting national retail shelves. Will he stop at mochi? Maybe not.
“There are so many childhood treats that could use an ingredient upgrade,” he says. “Mochi is just the beginning!”
There’s no such thing as too much omakase, and we’re leaning in. On September 24, chef Davin Waite (The Plot, Wrench & Rodent) will join chef Mark Correa at Roppongi Restaurant & Lounge for a one-night-only, eight-course omakase experience with an optional (but personally recommended) beverage pairing curated by sommelier Humberto Ramirez. You definitely need to snap up a reservation for this one before they’re gone—and with a dream team like this, they will be gone.
Listen Now: The Latest in San Diego’s Food and Drink Scene
Have breaking news, exciting scoops, or great stories about new San Diego restaurants or the city’s food scene? Send your pitches to [email protected].
Beth Demmon is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work regularly appears in national outlets and San Diego Magazine. Her first book, The Beer Lover's Guide to Cider, is now available. Find out more on bethdemmon.com.
Scripps electrophysiologists not only deliver the latest therapies, they help develop them
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common cardiac dysrhythmia, affecting more than 10 million people in the U.S. The condition, characterized by an irregular and often rapid heartbeat, raises the risk of stroke, heart failure and death. Advances in electrophysiology, a subspecialty of cardiology focused on the heart’s electrical system, are transforming how AFib and other dysrhythmias are diagnosed and treated. Scripps electrophysiologists use state-of-the-art therapies—some of which they helped develop. They were instrumental in the pre-FDA approval research for an effective new treatment, pulsed field ablation, and are on the forefront of other innovative treatments. Click here to learn more.
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