Food & Drink AUGUST 30, 2023

Q&A With Del Mar Wine + Food Fest’s Chef Carlos Anthony

The DMWFF participating executive chef from Herb & Wood shares his favorites from the SD food scene leading up to the inaugural event

Carlos Anthony, executive chef at Herb & Wood, Del Mar Wine Food Festival 2023

Photo Credit: James Tran

Chef Carlos Anthony has been to the top of the mountain. He talks about food with the enthusiasm of an undergraduate, but it’s passion, not naivety: Anthony has been there and back again.He started at a pizza joint in Tucson, Arizona and earned his way to head chef; opened his own restaurant (Salt & Cleaver); was winner of the Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and Chopped: Next Generation competition show; closed his restaurant; and regrouped to become executive chef of Herb & Wood, one of the most celebrated kitchens in the city.And then he turned 28.From Sept. 9-10, chef Anthony will be joining over 100 of the citys’ best food and drink makers and celebrity chefs at the inaugural Del Mar Wine + Food festival to showcase his years of experience across two days of food, wine, entertainment and VIP experiences.We caught up with chef Anthony ahead of the event to hear his thoughts on the future of the San Diego culinary scene, why community is more important than Michelin Stars, and his favorite places around the city.

Herb & Wood – Feb 2023 -Credit James Tran Del Mar Wine Food Festival 2023

Photo Credit: James Tran

I loved Salt & Cleaver [his former sausage restaurant]. I think about that Duck Duck Pig sausage all the time.

Thank you so much for saying that! Man, that was a time in my career where I really thought I could take on the world. And I think that oftentimes, you need to have some failures in life to really make you realize what’s important. It was very sad but also a very important part of my career.

As the former sausage king of San Diego, who’s doing the best sausages in San Diego right now?

My guy Drew Bench at Papalo has some of the best smoked meat in town. And what’s really cool is that it’s a Sonora-style barbecue. So he has sausages, he has brisket, he’s got all these wonderful barbecue items, but he does it with this Hispanic flair. He spent some time in Mexico, cooking with some of the best chefs in the world, and it shows. It’s like a homey kind of place, and God, is he the nicest guy. He’s that kind of guy that’s always in front of the pit, and happy to talk to you about it. And his sausages are good.

Really under the radar too, isn’t it?

Yes, it really is. You know, I love those kinds of places that, you know, are unimposing and hit you by surprise with their chef-driven food and great cocktails and it’s like a fun little neighborhood atmosphere. I know he’s also doing pizzas out of the place next door and it’s just really great.

You also ran a taco restaurant and have spoken warmly in the past of your grandmother’s cooking and how it’s informed your sensibilities. Are there any tacos spots that feel like home to you in San Diego?

I think asking somebody their favorite taco is so particular to that person. And you hit it right, it’s really the things that make you reminisce of home, the simple things, that are great. I’ll tell you a place that’s been here for decades, and it’s a taco truck called Kiko’s Place. It is the greatest, simplest fish taco. It’s fresh, it’s homemade… The local tip I’ll share with you is that it’s a fish cart, right? So they have octopus, they have marlin, they have ceviches and clamatos, and their fish tacos are what they’re known for.But you go there, you’re hungover, get a cup of their broth, the soup they make everyday with all their fish scraps, and God it just brings me right back to my grandmother’s kitchen. You know that stewing tomato broth with fish scraps and chilies. It’ll cure any hangover, and paired with the perfect fish taco, it’s so, so, so good.And they’ve been doing it for years. It’s a family run business, I think third generation now the daughters are running it.

You’ve been here since 2009?

Yeah. 2009. I came here at a young age. My first job was at La Costa at the Blue Fire which was their fine dining restaurant. And I remember being a young, impressionable kid and I’ve really seen San Diego transform into a food destination, into chef-driven culture.We used to be an IPA town, right? And now we’re this food mecca with Michelin stars. And we have some of the best cocktail programs in all the state.

How have restaurants in the city changed in the 14 years that you’ve been here? Has Michelin made a big change or has it just kind of accelerated what was already happening?

I think that Michelin is less of it, because I don’t know if all of us are hunting [for stars]. It’s really great to see that come to our town. But I think that you have a lot of young chefs that have come along in our industry with these incredible creative minds. I think in the past, there was a lot of competition, and maybe like “us against them,” but now we’re all friends.There’s this group mentality of doing better, utilizing the produce and the seafood that’s around us. I remember when we first opened Seersucker, we would have a special fish, right? You talk to your fisherman once a month or something, you’d have one thing. Now we build our entire menus out of San Diego oceans and the incredible produce around us.The community is much more about taking care of locality and thinking about regenerative agriculture and how it is affecting us. And now I think San Diego is a staple for how to treat food and how to be positive in that direction, and it’s made awesome restaurants.

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You kind of just answered my next question, but: Does San Diego have a style of food? Is San Diego cuisine a coherent idea?

What I love about San Diego’s we’re a melting pot of culture and to see the vast nets of different cultures in different areas of San Diego is really what I think makes us special. Obviously we have an incredible Filipino community, and obviously a great Hispanic background, but we all are focused around produce and seafood that’s the best in the world.The best in the world. This is the mecca of food. And now over the last I think five to 10 years, we really started to showcase that.What is the last meal or dish you had in San Diego that just knocked you down?Callie. Travis Swikard is just so, so good. Especially for me, as a chef who does Mediterranean food, this is really my background, so to go to see somebody of his caliber just knocks me off my seat. Every time I go there. He has the simplest food but everything has a story and meaning.He talks about it in great detail. He’s excited, he’s geeked out about it. He’s like “Oh man, Jack Ford grew this spring onion just for me.” It blows my mind every time. I think I get excited about food when I go there, and I love that. I love having chefs to look up to, and admire, and see them doing it right.

Is there a restaurant opening that you’re particularly excited for?

The big one that I’m excited about opening is Le Coq. And Carlo. This is a restaurant in our group and we’re currently building and they’re working with us right now. It’ll be in La Jolla. The Puffer Malarkey Collective has retaken the old Herringbone location and is building an incredible French steakhouse, Le Coq.We have one of the best chefs in town, Carlo Guardado who is doing incredible things. And right now he’s working with me at Herb & Wood, so I’m seeing his incredible creations firsthand, and I’m so excited about it.

Ok, a few rapid fire questions. Favorites in San Diego, either all-time or lately:

Pizza?

I’m gonna go with the Detroit-style pizza at Prince Street downtown. Out of this world.

A date night spot that is not in your restaurant group?

Wolf in the Woods in Mission Hills. Really good wine by the glass. And the food is tapas-style, so you can go there without breaking the bank, have an incredible glass of wine and some of the best food, and it is so cute.

You’ve talked about how much you like going to the beach with your dog. Favorite beachy spot, or favorite spot near the water?

There are so many. I’ll tell you, I currently live in Bird Rock. And it might not be too beachy but Marisi in La Jolla is blowing my mind. You can go there right off the beach, and it’s super good. The food there is really amazing and the cocktail scene is great.

Favorite place to share a bottle of wine?

So, again, I’m probably biased to my locale but there is an incredible wine company right across the street. LJ Crafted Wines, right in Bird Rock. They’ve been making their own wines and just sourcing some of the greatest things ever. We are a part of their monthly wine club and get their stuff all the time.

Favorite cocktail bar?

Man, I’m torn. But I’m a tiki guy, I just love the show, so I’m going to say False Idol. I just think it’s so fun back there. I think what they do with the cocktails and the scene is just too fun to miss. And if you’re in San Diego, you gotta go check it out.

What are you doing at the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival?

We’re doing an event on the deck at Herb & Sea with Rob Machado and Brian Malarkey, it’s going to be incredible. Really looking forward to that. And then also we’re going to be in the VIP tents at the Grand Tasting.We’re so excited to be there. I mean, this has got some of the greatest chefs ever put together. You know all the best chefs of San Diego and Southern California really, there’s some great chefs coming down from LA. I’m so excited to be there and to eat with some of these legends, and hang out with some of the greatest people in San Diego. It’s going to be an event not to miss.

Everything SD AUGUST 28, 2026

San Diego Is Getting the Music Venue It’s Been Missing

Live Nation is turning the historic Wonder Bread Building into a 4,000-capacity concert hall designed to bring more touring acts to the city

By Camila Ibarra Gallego

Imagine being the song continuously getting skipped on the playlist. Not because no one wants to hear you, but because you never quite fit the moment. For years, San Diego has been that song on the touring circuit. Artists who have outgrown intimate clubs but aren’t yet filling arenas and stadiums have often passed us by, heading north to venues better suited to the size of their show. San Diego wasn’t missing the audience, it was missing the room.

That’s all about to change.

On August 17, Live Nation Entertainment announced plans to transform the historic Wonder Bread Building, which it purchased in June for $16.8 million, into a 4,000-capacity indoor venue slated to open in fall 2028. The new space will host music acts as well as private, corporate, and community events.

Currently, San Diego’s concert landscape jumps quickly from intimate clubs like the Casbah, Winston’s, and Belly Up to larger theaters, amphitheaters, arenas, and stadiums. What’s largely missing—particularly downtown—is a modern indoor room built specifically for roughly 4,000 concertgoers. This leaves a gap in mid-size venues for touring acts that land stages like the Hollywood Palladium or Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway.

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“We are filling a void in the market,” says John Schalk, Live Nation’s Vice President, San Diego Market. “There are other venues in town, but this […] building is just something that doesn’t currently exist.” Although SDSU’s Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater serves the 4,000-capacity range, its outdoor, fixed-seating arrangement isn’t as versatile as the proposed Live Nation project.

Located at 171 14th Street, just a six-minute walk from Petco Park, the building carries a century of history. Architect Eugene Hoffman designed it in 1924, a year after completing the Barcelona Apartment Hotel in Bankers Hill. The landmark brick building served as a bakery and warehouse for the Southern California Baking Company before Continental Baking Company, producers of Wonder Bread, took over in the 1950s and operated there through 1988 continued at the site until 2007.

In the early 2000s, Bob and Gay Sinclair, the couple behind a portfolio of East Village properties, purchased the building. After Bob—the founder of Pannikin Coffee & Tea—died in 2011, Gay sold much of their real estate portfolio but held onto the Wonder Bread Building. Mission Brewing eventually took over the space, where it operated for more than a decade before announcing its 2026 departure.

Now, the building is preparing for another reinvention. Live Nation plans to preserve the historic bakery’s four exterior walls, red brick façade, grain silo, barrel-vaulted trusses, and skylights as part of its next chapter.

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Live Nation isn’t looking to erase its history but to celebrate it, allowing the building’s past to give the new venue some soul. “It’s really important for us that we maintain the integrity and the history of that building,” Schalk says. “There will be new construction and design elements as we go through the process to create the concert venue, but we’re working really hard to preserve it.”

Blueprint Studio, Live Nation’s in-house design and development group, and Gensler, the architecture firm behind San Diego International Airport Terminal 1 and Snapdragon Stadium, will be heading the project. The plan is to design the ground-floor space as an open, general-admission area with a premium level above with 600-plus fixed seats, in addition to box and suite sections. There will also be an additional structure built on top of the historical portion of the building (the four original walls that house the lobby) called the Vinyl Room—a Japanese-inspired hi-fi listening VIP lounge serving elevated food options.

One of the most reassuring aspects of the project is the focus on the concertgoer’s experience—specifically the “pet peeves” we all know too well: long bathroom lines, cramped exits, obstructed views. According to Schalk, one of the best things about building upon the existing structure is having the ability to consider potential obstacles and tackle them before construction begins. “I’d say we are ‘purpose building’ the entirety of the project for a music venue,” says Gensler lead project architect Garrett van Leeuwen. “As part of our design process, we do an in-depth sightline analysis to make sure that sightlines are optimized from every point and seat within the venue.”

Circulation design is also being implemented to ease traffic flow, alongside acoustic optimization and a transformative outdoor beautification effort. According to van Leeuwen, this “public realm space” will grow the existing 14-foot sidewalk to a 32-foot sidewalk complete with plazas and landscaping.

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“This venue is for the fans. For the music lovers,” Schalk explains. The vision is intimate: “I want a fan to walk up to that building, see that red brick facade, grab their ticket from the box office, go into the lobby and see some of the history that will present itself… and feel like you entered a home.” Schalk also expressed a “keen interest in making sure that we work with the local artists, the local bands, the local musicians in town.” It’s a project that recognizes San Diego as a growing market that is hungry and ready to see a vibrant arts and culture community thrive.

According to an analysis by Oxford Economics analysis shared by Live Nation, the venue is projected to deliver a significant boost to the local economy, generating approximately $97 million in annual economic impact and supporting 660 jobs. This also includes welcoming 316,000 fans each year—with 126,000 traveling from outside the San Diego metro area—and driving $53 million in local spending at nearby restaurants, hotels, and retail establishments.

Considering its proximity to other major event spaces and overall busy urban areas, traffic and parking may be a concern, especially on nights of overlapping events. But in those cases, Schalk said they would work together on communication efforts; parking availability; and staggering start, end, and loading times; as well as providing easy access to designated rideshare areas. With transit stations nearby (the closest one being a 4-minute walk at 12th & Imperial), public transportation is another great option for enjoying your night out.

There are still two years of design, construction, and plenty of logistics between now and opening night. But the bigger promise of the Wonder Bread Building is simple: San Diego finally gets a venue built for the artists who have historically passed it by. After years of getting skipped on the touring playlist, the city may finally be getting its turn on repeat.

About Camila Ibarra Gallego

Camila Ibarra Gallego is a CaliBaja native pursuing a master's degree in culinary journalism at the Basque Culinary Center. Shaped by the culturally rich, bicultural megaregion, she's passionate about sniffing out stories that connect people, territory and culture through food. When she's not tumbling down internet rabbit holes, you can find her pretending to be a wine connoisseur at a local wine bar or nose-deep in a good book.

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Everything SD AUGUST 5, 2026

Your Guide to Del Mar Wine & Food Festival 2026

From celebrity pickleball tournaments to intimate dinner parties with your favorite Food Network chefs, here are all of the can’t-miss events going on Sept 30–Oct 4

By Isabella Dallas

Play is underrated. Somewhere along the way, someone decided it was something we should outgrow. That you A good song comes on, and they dance. A game appears, and they’re in. Someone hands them a melting ice cream cone, and somehow it’s the best part of the day.

Adults tend to need a reason. Or maybe just the right setting.

That’s part of what makes the Del Mar Wine & Food Festival feel different. Yes, the week revolves around food and wine, with celebrated chefs, winemakers, and restaurants drawing crowds from across the region. But what lingers afterward is the conversations that stretch a little longer than expected, the strangers who become dinner companions, the live music that pulls people out of their seats, and the rare chance to spend a few hours simply enjoying yourself without much of an agenda.

June 5, 2026

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The Grand Tasting is the festival’s centerpiece, bringing thousands of guests together over two days for hundreds of bites and pours. But some of the week’s most memorable experiences happen on a smaller scale. In the days leading up to the main event, intimate dinners, chef collaborations, and guided tastings create opportunities for guests to interact more closely with the people behind the food and wine and with each other.

Here’s your guide to the 2026 Del Mar Wine & Food Festival happening September 30–October 4.

Wednesday, September 30

Signature San Diego Opening Night Party at Monarch Ocean Pub

Start festival week the San Diego way: ocean views, Baja-inspired bites, and a drink in hand as the sun goes down. The Signature San Diego Opening Night Party at Monarch Ocean Pub sets the tone for the week ahead with a walk-around tasting experience celebrating the flavors that make this city impossible to replicate. It’s an evening of fresh coastal cuisine, bold Mexican flavors, Baja seafood, and plenty of local favorites—all served against one of Del Mar’s most iconic backdrops. Consider it your first official toast to the weekend ahead…

Monarch Ocean Pub | 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
5–9 p.m.
Get Tickets

Courtesy of Del Mar Wine & Food Festival

Friday, October 2

Celebrity Pickleball Tournament Presented by Justin Vineyards & Winery

Wine and competition make an unexpectedly perfect pair. You can join Drew Brees and celebrity players at Barnes Tennis Center for a pickleball tournament benefiting Feeding San Diego, where the sidelines are just as exciting as the court. Grab a paddle, cheer from the sidelines, or simply enjoy a glass of wine while the action unfolds. The day blends friendly competition with an all-inclusive tasting experience.

Since year one, Del Mar Wine & Food Festival has partnered with Feeding San Diego to raise $100,000 in support of the organization’s mission to fight hunger across the region. Every serve, sip, and bite helps give back to the community that makes this festival possible.

Remember that pickleball paddle you swore you’d use? Time to put it to work.

Barnes Tennis Center | 4490 W Point Loma Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107
11 a.m.—3 p.m.
Get Tickets

Thursday, October 1

Rioja Uncorked at Rancho Valencia

This is essentially a passport to Spain with no airport required. Set among the lush grounds of Rancho Valencia, Rioja Uncorked celebrates one of Spain’s most iconic wine regions with an evening of exceptional pours and thoughtfully paired bites. Guests will sip their way through Rioja wines while enjoying a menu featuring everything from Hiramasa crudo and uni toast to duck rillette, birria mini tacos, Cardiff Crack tri-tip sandwiches, and a sweet finale from Karen Krasne of Extraordinary Desserts (date night plans, solved).

Rancho Valencia | 5921 Valencia Cir, Rancho Santa Fe
6–9 p.m.
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Friday, October 2

Justin Wine Dinner with Chefs Kaitlyn Weber, Buddha Lo & Jackson Kalb

Justin Wine Dinner sounds simple: three chefs, one unforgettable table. But chefs Kaitlyn Weber (Estancia La Jolla), Buddha Lo (Top Chef), and Jackson Kalb (Top Chef) are taking you on a one-night-only culinary ride where three styles collide over a multi-course menu paired with exceptional pours from Justin Vineyards & Winery. Set in Estancia’s coastal estate, the evening unfolds course by course with pairings from Justin wines as each chef brings their own style to a menu focused on craft, connection, and a bit of friendly culinary overlap. It’s the kind of culinary conversation that only happens when very, very talented people cook together.

Estancia – Olive Lawn | 9700 N Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California
6–9:30 p.m
Get Tickets

Saturday, October 3

Official After Party at Guesthouse La Valle

About Isabella Dallas

Isabella Dallas is a freelance writer for San Diego Magazine and the Arts and Culture Editor at The Daily Aztec in her final year at San Diego State University. She previously worked as an editorial intern for SDM, but when she’s not writing, you can find her trying the best coffee spots in SD, devouring the latest rom-coms, and indulging in anything and everything pop culture.

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Everything SD JULY 13, 2026

San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Rancho Santa Fe

Explore restaurants, activities, and shops within this affluent North County community

By Kai Oliver-Kurtin

The inland North County community of Rancho Santa Fe is often associated with wealth. It’s one of San Diego’s most expensive residential markets and is consistently ranked one of the highest-income zip codes in California and the U.S. Rancho Santa Fe is known for its large equestrian community including riding facilities and horse trails, as well as its country club lifestyle and associated golf courses.

At the center of this luxury master-planned community is a small, walkable downtown area referred to as the “village,” with The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe acting as both a landmark and social hub. Much of the community, including the historic Inn, was designed by acclaimed architect Lilian Rice, one of California’s earliest female architects. The Spanish Colonial-style architecture she brought to the village is still one of its defining characteristics today.

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Whether you’re coming to Rancho Santa Fe for golf, horseback riding, or pampering at a resort spa, be sure to start with a short walk around the village to take in the neighborhood’s charm. Plan your next visit here with our neighborhood guide to the area’s best restaurants, things to do, and shopping.

Jump To: Restaurants | Things to Do | Shopping

Rancho Santa Fe Restaurants, Bars, and Coffee Shops

The Pony Room

Families congregate at The Pony Room for elevated California ranch-style cuisine. Lamb lollipops, carne asada tacos, burgers, and weekly dinner specials are offered here, alongside an extensive collection of wine and spirits (especially tequila) and sizeable kids menus. As the signature restaurant of Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, this all-day eatery is a lively centerpiece of the local social scene.

5921 Valencia Circle

Mille Fleurs

The piano bar at Mille Fleurs is the buzziest spot to be on Friday and Saturday nights in Rancho Santa Fe. French classics like escargot, lobster bisque, duck confit, and steak frites are the main dinner attractions at this local institution that has been around for more than 40 years. Spring for the four-course prix fixe menu before nabbing a coveted bar seat near the piano entertainer.

6009 Paseo Delicias

Nick & G’s Restaurant

Nick & G’s is one of the most prominent restaurants in the village, with an outdoor patio that overlooks the main thoroughfare. Enjoy modern Italian food, steaks, and seafood dishes here, including homemade pasta, pizza, wagyu beef, and oysters. Be sure to check their live music schedule and events calendar for the latest happenings.

6106 Paseo Delicias

Lilian’s

Named after renowned architect and planner Lilian Rice, Lilian’s is The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe’s flagship restaurant. Their upscale menus feature sustainable seafood, grass-fed meats, local produce, and even sushi rolls during dinner. Outdoor seating provides a bird’s-eye view of the village and an elegant backdrop for weekend brunch. Stop by Bing’s Bar (a nod to Bing Crosby) for craft cocktails, beer, wine, and light bites in a refined setting.

5951 Linea Del Cielo

Thyme in the Ranch

Quaint cafe and bakery Thyme in the Ranch serves a small selection of breakfast and lunch items (don’t miss the tarragon chicken salad), but is perhaps best known for its pastries and baked goods. Cakes, pies, muffins, scones, and cookies fly off the shelves here, where locals come for special occasions, parties, and group catering orders.

16905 Avenida De Acacias

Paseo RSF

Located inside a historic building once home to Rancho Santa Fe’s original schoolhouse, Paseo RSF is one of the village’s newest dining options. The charming American bistro has pasta, salads, burgers, meat and seafood entrees, plus a thoughtfully selected California wine list and new sushi and omakase program. Kids and dogs are both welcome here.

6024 Paseo Delicias, Suite C

Rancho Roasters

Grab a quick coffee to go from this walk-up window in the same shopping center as the post office. Cinnamon roll lattes, cold brew, spiced chai, smoothies, protein bowls, and more can be found at Rancho Roasters, where they brew beans from Dark Horse Coffee.

16950 Via De Santa Fe

Goli Pizza

Casual pizzeria and martini bar Goli is a popular spot for catching the latest sports games. Order one of their unique specialty pizzas like the Casbah with hummus and veggies, build your own pizza or burger, or go with one of their hearty wraps that’s made with an extra thin version of pizza dough.

18021 Calle Ambiente, Suite 403

Cocina del Rancho

Find generous portions of Mexican food at Cocina del Rancho, run by the same owners as Carlsbad’s Cicciotti’s Trattoria Italiana and Village Kabob. Get classic dishes like burritos, tacos, and enchiladas, plus their specialty items including pulpo, carne asada, and fajitas with lobster tail. Don’t skip the margaritas.

16089 San Dieguito Road

Chino Farm Stand

About Kai Oliver-Kurtin

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.

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Studio S SEPTEMBER 1, 2026

The Best Gym in San Diego Isn’t Really a Gym Anymore

Earlier this year, Fit quietly dropped "athletic" from its brand, from Fit Athletic Clubs to simply Fit, and started calling itself something new: a social wellness club.

By Partner Content

There’s a version of San Diego that lives in two extremes. On one side, the 5 a.m. crowd: biohackers, marathoners, people who’ve already logged a cold plunge before your alarm goes off. On the other, the after-dark crowd, the ones chasing sunset happy hours and late dinners with friends. Everyone seems to be either optimizing or unwinding, and most of us feel like we’re failing at both.

Fit, San Diego’s reigning Best Gym for the third year running, has built its entire identity around erasing that divide.

Walk into one of Fit’s three San Diego locations on a Tuesday afternoon and the lines blur fast. Someone’s mid-set on the squat rack. Someone else has a laptop open at a café table a few feet away, half-working, half-people-watching. A group is trading plans for the weekend’s event by the recovery lounge. Nobody’s in a rush to leave.

“We’re not competing for the same people,” says Emily Waybright, Public Relations Manager at Fit, addressing the arrival of a national luxury gym chain in San Diego this year. “We don’t really feel like we’re in the gym category. It’s this unique thing.”

That unique thing has a name now. Earlier this year, Fit quietly dropped “athletic” from its brand, from Fit Athletic Clubs to simply Fit, and started calling itself something new: a social wellness club.

It’s a small wording change with a bigger idea behind it. Fit was never built around escaping the workday. It was built around the people who genuinely like what they do, and who want workouts, work, and friendships to happen in the same place instead of three separate ones. Because sometimes red light therapy with a stranger turns into weekend plans.

Fit’s philosophy traces back to its founder, who started the brand nearly two decades ago after failing to find a gym he actually wanted to belong to. He looked instead to the old-school country club, where people came for a shared interest and stayed for the community. His version was made for a younger generation, minus the golf, plus the loud music.

Which makes it a little ironic that the very award putting Fit back in the spotlight this year is Best Gym.

What does the best traditional gym look like when the definition of a gym is becoming less traditional? It’s a fair question, and Fit’s answer is that the fitness industry itself is shifting. The 45-minutes-in, 45-minutes-out model is giving way to something closer to a genuine third space, the kind of role the office and the bar used to play before remote work and changing nightlife habits rearranged how people spend their time

For Fit, community isn’t a marketing add-on to fitness. It’s the through-line. Members aren’t just paying for a treadmill; they’re paying for an entire day of social wellness that’s built on performance, recovery, connection, and a plan for the next event on the calendar. That’s a much harder membership to walk away from.

Ambition and ease aren’t opposites here, they exist side by side, where passion and play share the same morning. On September 12, Fit is hosting Sol, a full day wellness festival at Fit Social. The morning focuses on wellness classes and vendors and then the evening is a full party with multiple DJ sets and an open bar. Think of it as a kick-off to locals’ summer in San Diego.

Ready to see what a social wellness club actually looks like? Visit fitclubs.com, or follow along at @thefitclubs on Instagram.

Things to Do JULY 6, 2026