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Guides JANUARY 18, 2013

Safety in Numbers?

A search for the elusive San Diego 20 reveals they're not who you think they are

Safety in Numbers?
Safety in Numbers?

Peter Horjus illustration

When Bob Filner won the mayor’s race, Lorena Gonzalez, the triumphant labor leader who helped make it happen, sent out a shot across the bow.

Filner’s win, you see, will rock San Diego’s establishment.

Gonzalez said in a recent Voice of San Diego article, “The San Diego 20 becomes the San Diego 200,” using a new nickname for the city’s small circle of power brokers.

Then came the countershot. In the same article, Vince Mudd, the businessman and office-interior maven who rotates on the commissions and task forces, put a challenge to Filner.

Mudd said it was up to the new mayor and his staff to “mend fences” with the business community.

This brought a sharp response from Evan McLaughlin, the political director of the Labor Council and Gonzalez’ top aide.

“The San Diego 20’s arrogance will live on even if their relevance does not,” McLaughlin tweeted.

The San Diego 20! Who is this amorphous blob of big-headed bozos? What will happen to them?

I picture angry mobs throwing them off Point Loma’s southern cliffs. The revolution has come.

McLaughlin is defensive when I ask him who they are. He won’t name names. Instead, he offers general criteria: Look at the rolls of the Chamber of Commerce directors, he says. The San Diego 20 live in La Jolla, vote Republican, and “watched Dan Fouts play at Jack Murphy.”

That seems like more than 20. I’ve been to dinners where at least 1,000 people fit that description. Moreover, the one confirmed card-carrying member of the 20—Mudd—doesn’t fit that criteria very well.

“I’m a brown guy, who started his own business, and I live in Poway,” he explains. And no, Mudd never saw Fouts play in the old Jack Murphy Stadium.

I go back to Gonzalez. Who are these 20 that labor and Filner are displacing?

“I want to be clear that we never said we would get rid of the 20, but they should be supplemented,” she says.

When I tell her that I have been teasing Steve Cushman, the perennial port commissioner and dealmaker, about being in the 20, Gonzalez confirms that Cushman is definitely one of the San Diego 20.

Yes! Now I have two of the 20 down. Even better: I’ve identified the leader of them all!

“Steve Cushman is the king of the San Diego 20,” Gonzalez confirms. “But he worked with us and we’re not saying, ‘No Steve Cushman.’ We’re saying Steve Cushman should sit next to Rabbi Laurie Coskey.” Coskey is the executive director of the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice.

I call Cushman, who tells me Coskey is actually his rabbi. This, obviously, blows my mind.

Turns out, Cushman may indeed have to change to stay in the thick of it. After the election, he and allies pressed the City Council to get him yet another nomination, and a fourth term, on the port commission.

He almost had it, but it wasn’t meant to be. Maybe things are changing.

Life would be nice and simple if we could blame the city’s dysfunction on a small batch of bozos. But when you drill down, it’s a bit more complicated.

Even Cushman, the king, doesn’t fit the criteria for the San Diego 20.

Gonzalez has told me that being an alumnus of San Diego State University is a common thread among the San Diego 20.

Cushman never went to State.  “I was too dumb to get in,” he says.

He’s been smart enough, though, to embed himself in San Diego’s most important conversations for decades.

Filner and the new Democratic coalition see the value in old guys like him.

They’ll just make them sit next to their rabbis.

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Guides NOVEMBER 25, 2019

Where to Shop in San Diego on Small Business Saturday

Cross holiday shopping off your to-do list while supporting these discounted local shops and eateries

Where to Shop in San Diego on Small Business Saturday
One Paseo | Photo by Jim Simmons

Among the things to be thankful for every year is San Diego’s diverse landscape of homegrown small businesses. And though there’s never a bad time to shop, dine, or drink at local boutiques, bars, or bistros, many of them are getting in the spirit for Small Business Saturday by offering sales, live music, and other promotions. Let Nov. 30 be the perfect excuse to find special gifts—and get some sweet deals—while shopping local and small.

One Paseo

At this newly unveiled shopping center, chat with the owners of several San Diego-based businesses, including Shop Good and Urban Beach House, to get personalized shopping advice, tips on trends of the season, and tailored gift recommendations. Stick around for a tree lighting ceremony…because it’s never too early for Christmas.

3725 Paseo Place

Marrow Fine

This jeweler at One Paseo has three specials this year: A buy-one get-one offer for $499; a limited edition run of a new black onyx design; and each visitor can enter the giveaway of their new Pearl Arch Bracelet. Every purchased piece gives participants an extra entry.

3725 Paseo Place

Shop Good

Shop Good at One Paseo will be gifting a self-care kit valued at $100 with all purchases over $100—so treat yourself! Sip on a free warming CBD cocktail while you visit the free brow bar, open all day, no appointment necessary.

3725 Paseo Place

North Park

If you want funky, one-of-a-kind gifts, North Park is holding. On Small Business Saturday, the hip burg is debuting a new mural painted by local artist Bandit entitled Love Thy Neighborhood. Follow your ears to find 50 musicians playing at 16 local restaurants and breweries in the area.

3939 Iowa Street

Home and Hound

Looking for gifts that you and your favorite fur child will? Sniff around Home and Hound for dog- and human-friendly merch at a cool 15 percent discount off your entire purchase.

3768 30th Street

The Lab A Salon

Pamper yourself by purchasing one of Lab A Salon’s fabulous products and receive 10-15 percent off when you post about their store on social media.

3034 University Avenue

True North Tavern

Slake your shopping-induced thirst with $4 pints of beer or cocktails at this tavern when you show a receipt from any North Park purchase.

3815 30th Street

Little Italy

Little Italy is full of cute shops, places to mangiare, and killer views of the Bay. So why not spend Small Business Saturday with special discounts offered by these shops?

Little Italy Food Hall

Spend more than $50 at any of the locations and you’ll receive a free tote bag. Know what you can do with a free tote? Stuff it with more great things!

550 W. Date Street

Love and Aesthetics

Unique gifts are spilling out of this home goods and lifestyle store. Where else can  you find a banana bud vase or an anatomically-correct heart necklace? Fifteen percent off all regularly priced items.

621 W. Fir Street

L.Y.M. Salon

Does your hair need some love—at a 20 percent discount—this holiday season? Get an additional 10 percent off all Kevin Murphy products.

1550 Front Street

Ocean Beach

In between finding great deals, check out OB’s 1960s vintage bus photo experience and the complimentary trolley transporting shoppers between Newport Avenue and Voltaire Street. With $75 in receipts from local shops, you’ll receive a $25 gift card or be entered into a raffle for a local gift basket.

1868 Bacon Street

Bankers Hill

This little neighborhood tucked behind Waterfront Park is full of deals to sip, snack, and shop the day away.

Thread and Seed

Find complimentary drinks and snacks while you browse this clean beauty products store and pop ups by jewelry maker Jen Morales of Pan and Tea. Meet Molly Beane, founder of one of Thread and Seed’s top selling clean beauty lines, From Molly With Love.

2870 Fourth Avenue, Unit 106

Extraordinary Desserts

How sweet is this deal? Twenty percent off all retail and private label merchandise.

2870 Fourth Avenue

James Coffee Co.

Fuel up for the long day of shop-hopping with a Java from James Coffee Co. Maybe get a pour-over brew in a new mug, because on SBS merchandise is 15 percent off.

2870 Fourth Avenue, Suite 107

Liberty Station

Stock up on needles, yarn, and other supplies while taking advantage of all this naval base-turned-shopping-center offers.

2850 Womble Road

Apricot Yarn & Supply

Step inside a world of pillowy yarn, pointy needles and more at this one-stop yarn shop. Deals include 20 percent off selected yarns, $25 gift cards when you spend $125, and a free gift with a purchase of $50 or more. Bring extra canned food for a food drive they’re conducting for the nonprofit Loaves and Fishes.

2690 Historic Decatur Road

Where to Shop in San Diego on Small Business Saturday

One Paseo | Photo by Jim Simmons

Guides FEBRUARY 15, 2013

South Park

While this enclave of quaint shops and restaurants is fairly established, a new crop of businesses are upping the cool factor on what is quickly becoming the Mission Hills of the south.

South Park
South Park

South Park

Click the map to view a larger image | Photo by Bryan Scott
1

Buona Forchetta

Matteo Cattaneo and Alexa Kollmeier, who hail from Italy and NYC, would stroll their neighborhood streets and dream of opening a spot with wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, meatballs, house-made pasta, and a sidewalk patio to serve as a local gathering place. We’re glad this husband and wife team have made that dream a reality. 3001 Beech Street

Read More »

 

South Park

G Fit

2

G Fit

The couple behind Ginseng Yoga is kicking butts into shape at their new G Fit studio. Small group and private sessions provide strength training, core conditioning, and cardio fitness to all levels, with Fundamental Interval Training as well as “Soulercize” and Barre Fusion. 1504 30th Street

 

South Park

Goldline Salon

3

Goldline Salon

After more than a decade at Salon Tonic, Anna Elia and Heather Northcote Elsey have opened their own salon in the old Halcyon Tea space. Named for the proposed “Gold Line” streetcar system, the new space marries vintage and contemporary style. And they want you to feel at home—they serve local beer and they’re dog-friendly. 3009 Beech Street

 

South Park

Specs Optometry

4

Specs Optometry

This once unassuming optometry office has renovated and revamped, turning the shop into an intimate, hidden gem loaded with stylish frames by brands like Drift, Eco, Legre, and Persol. There are so many sexy new yous begging to come to life here, you might not even care about blowing past your insurance deductible. 1947 Fern Street

 

South Park

Diego Tattoo

5

Left Hand Black & Diego Tattoo Gallery

Fern Street is buzzing with fresh ink. The spacious Left Hand Black is unabashedly goth with its dark blue walls, skeletons, and curios (1947 Fern Street). In a male-dominated field, it’s notable that Diego Tattoo’s artists are women, and Diana DeAugustine’s talent for bright, watercolor-style tattoos is an exciting find. 1606 Fern Street

 

South Park

Eclipse Chocolate

6

Eclipse Chocolate Bar & Bistro

Eclipse Chocolat Americanized its name and closed up shop on El Cajon Boulevard, moving to a giant space to up the production of all-natural chocolate and confections. It also serves soup, panini, wine, and local beer. But the best thing? Daily brunch, with cocoa-glazed bacon and cheesy white chocolate biscuits and gravy. 2145 Fern Street

Guides FEBRUARY 15, 2013

Beer Pioneer: Jeff Bagby

After realizing an entire year had passed without his brewing even a single drop of beer, Jeff Bagby had an epiphany: “This is killing me,” he said.

Beer Pioneer: Jeff Bagby
Beer Pioneer: Jeff Bagby

Jeff Bagby

How did you get started brewing, anyway? I started sampling… appreciating craft beer when I got to college. My friends and I stumbled upon the fact that there was better beer to be had instead of just drinking the stuff that would get us drunk. Back then, before the Internet, you actually had to use books and maps to find these breweries.

You’re a brewer, not a builder. What’s this side of starting a business been like? After my experience at Pizza Port Ocean Beach and talking with friends who have done this kind of thing, I knew there would be a lot of work. But I had no idea what it really entailed. But that’s sort of been an exciting part for me, learning along the way. I mean, we have a structural engineer and contractors—a lot of people are involved. I want to understand every step of the process.

You had so much success at Pizza Port, winning all those Great American Beer Festival medals. And then you left. What were you thinking, Jeff? It goes back to my days at Stone, when I had aspirations of starting my own bar or brewpub, but I knew that I wasn’t capable or experienced enough to do it. It got to a point where it was time, where I felt as if I had all the experience I needed and it was a now-or-never deal. Before, it was kind of a pipe dream, and now we’ve got the opportunity to get going. Luckily, my wife is as passionate about it as I am.

“All eyes are on San Diego. So it kind of frustrates me when I go to a place and the quality of beer isn’t that good. Hopefully, they can turn things around and improve their style and quality.”

You’re a North County guy, born and raised in Encinitas. Yet, your new place is in Oceanside. How did you end up there? My original goal was to be in Encinitas. They hadn’t had a brewery there since, I think, 1990 or 1991, and it didn’t last long. But the landlord we wanted to go with ended up going in a different direction. We wanted to stay in North County so we ended up in Oceanside. It’s a big area, a lot of square footage. It’s turned into a really good situation.

Spill the goods, Bagby. What styles of beer do you plan on brewing? I know from getting emails and comments from people, that they associate me with certain types of beers they had at Pizza Port, and how they can’t wait to have them again. But I would like to think of myself as someone who makes everything. I like making beer. I like drinking beer. I want to pull from past experiences and the heritage of beer. We’ll have some lagers, some big IPAs. We’re going to be all over the place.

You’re hearing about the craft beer bubble—are there too many breweries? And we’ve seen a lot of growth locally. More isn’t always better, is it? Beer is becoming more popular with more people. What scares me is that some of the new breweries don’t have the experience that many of the others have. A lot of us have spent a lot of time building San Diego’s reputation. All eyes are on San Diego. So it kind of frustrates me when I go to one of these places and the quality of beer isn’t that good. Hopefully, they can turn things around and improve their style and quality. And I’m one of these new places opening up. I know my beer has to be good.

Your brother-in-law, Josh Byrnes, is the general manager of the Padres. Are you a baseball fan and, conversely, is Josh much of a beer drinker? I never played baseball as a kid and was never a huge fan. I never really paid a lot of attention until Josh came into our lives. Am I really into it? Not fully. But the same can probably be said for Josh and beer. He’s tried a few he likes. I know he’s drinking more beer than he used to.

Studio S JULY 25, 2026

These San Diego Companies Are Driving the Region’s Next Wave of Growth

This month, the 2026 San Diego Business Impact Awards recognized local businesses making an impact in clean energy, biotech, hospitality, and beyond

These San Diego Companies Are Driving the Region’s Next Wave of Growth
Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Renewable energy companies building hundreds of power plants. Biotech startups using artificial intelligence to create personalized medicine for children with rare diseases. Hospitality companies quietly powering thousands of local events. Consumer brands growing from beach-town startups into national businesses. These are the kinds of companies driving San Diego’s economy today, and the businesses recognized at this year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards offer a snapshot of where the region is headed.

Hosted July 23 by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards event honored four local companies for innovation, growth, and economic impact. More than 100 nominations from San Diego’s middle-market businesses were reviewed by a 10-person judging committee, with winners selected across four categories: startup, early-stage innovator, rising star, and established heavyweight.

Two-time honoree Jimbo Someck, founder of Jimbo’s organic grocery stores, also joined the event for a fireside chat on buying local, supporting emerging brands, and giving back to the community.

“San Diego’s strength comes from its makers and builders—the resilient people who endure great risks and overcome obstacles to build and scale a company,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager and Middle Market Banking at JPMorganChase & Co. “These awards aren’t just recognition; they spotlight the talent, grit, and innovation shaping our region’s future. By celebrating those who create and build, we foster connections and fuel the growth that keeps San Diego thriving.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Building the Infrastructure Behind Clean Energy

Heavyweight honoree SOLV Energy has grown alongside the country’s rapid investment in renewable power. “It’s an exciting time for SOLV Energy as we are experiencing significant growth,” says CEO George Hershman. “The business has doubled over the last year and has almost double-digit growth since its inception.”

The Rancho Bernardo-based company designs, builds, operates, and maintains utility-scale solar and energy storage facilities. Since its founding in 2008, SOLV Energy has built more than 500 power plants.

Growth has translated directly into hiring. About 200 employees work from the company’s local headquarters, including roughly 20 interns. “Our intern program is a big part of the way that we grow our workforce,” Hershman says. “Last year, 43 percent of our interns became full-time employees. We believe San Diego is a great community to build and grow a high-tech infrastructure and technology company because of the incredible workforce—the ability to attract top talent and draw from world-class universities.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Developing Medicine One Patient at a Time

Startup honoree La Jolla Labs is tackling one of medicine’s biggest challenges by developing personalized RNA therapeutics for patients with rare diseases—many of them children with neurological disorders like ALS. Using proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, the biotech company develops treatments tailored to each patient’s specific genetic mutation.

CEO Tamar Grossman says the recognition reflects how far the company has come despite limited resources. “We’re honored to be recognized for our ability to change and save patients’ lives and turn our lean startup into a clinical company with very minimal resources,” she says.

Grossman credits San Diego’s concentration of research institutions—including UC San Diego, the Salk Institute, and Scripps Research—with creating a pipeline of talent and collaboration. “San Diego is one of the world-leading centers for technology, genomics, and RNA therapeutics,” she says. “We have over 30 RNA therapeutics companies here, and we support each other and help with anything related to drug discovery.”

She says that collaborative spirit extends beyond formal partnerships. “You can walk around Torrey Pines, go into a café, and find colleagues from the industry and have an ad hoc conversation,” Grossman says. “That’s something very unique to San Diego.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Powering San Diego’s Special Celebrations

While Snake Oil Venue Company may not be a household name, chances are many San Diegans have attended one of its events. The early-stage innovator honoree has expanded from beverage catering and mixology consulting into venue management, operating Julep Venue in Mission Hills, Bramble Bay Venue in Imperial Beach, Vesper Venue, the Chapel at Liberty Station, and five outdoor venues throughout Liberty Station—more than 500,000 square feet of event space altogether.

“We do a lot of launch parties for corporations and new products,” says CEO Mike Esposito. “I really like working on the entrepreneur side of things, where new businesses are entering the San Diego market and looking to make a splash.”

Snake Oil has executed more than 16,000 events, employed more than 1,000 people, and partnered with more than 900 local vendors, including caterers, florists, photographers, entertainers, and other hospitality businesses. The company also works with many of San Diego’s nonprofits, museums, and cultural institutions. “We get to celebrate people’s most important moments,” Esposito says. “Whether that’s a wedding, celebration of life, or quinceañera, we’re fortunate to be involved in the community in so many different ways.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman
Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Growing a Beach-Town Brand into a National Business

Rising star honoree ALOHA Collection is proof that a simple idea can grow into a thriving company. Founded by two roommates who wanted a better way to carry wet swimsuits after a day at the beach, the lifestyle brand has grown into a business while maintaining strong year-over-year growth.

Now headquartered in Carlsbad, ALOHA Collection employs more than 100 people and operates its California flagship store in Encinitas, which is slated for a remodel. With roots in Hawaii, the company is known for its lightweight, splash-proof travel bags that have become a familiar sight on beaches in San Diego and beyond.

“‘Aloha’ is part of our name, but it’s also how we move through the world,” says CEO Lynna Barnard. “It’s how we show up for people, the way we travel, the way we give back.” Since day one, the company has maintained a 5 percent giveback to Hawaii conservation efforts, contributing millions of dollars over the years.

“I think what’s so inspiring about ALOHA Collection, and the founders in particular, is when you dream big, those dreams can come true when you work hard and trust in the universe,” Barnard says. “It’s inspiring to be a role model for other people wanting to start businesses from humble beginnings. Start small and watch it grow.”

Together, businesses like these form a cornerstone of San Diego’s economy—not only through the jobs and revenue they generate—but through the local workers they hire, vendors they support, and investments they make in the region. Their growth doesn’t happen in isolation; it ripples outward, strengthening the broader business community and the people who call San Diego home.

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Partner Content
Guides JANUARY 18, 2013

Drama King

Freshly imported from NYC, the Old Globe's new artistic director, Barry Edelstein, is ready to show San Diego “all the world's a stage.”

Drama King

On being a
theater town

You can’t be a great city if you don’t have great theater. That’s been true since Athens and the ancient Greeks.

On working
with celebrities

In rehearsal, they’re just like any other actor trying to find the truth in this stuff. You remember that they’re celebrities when you see crowds of people waiting to get their autograph. And you get much better tables when you show up [at restaurants] with Gwyneth Paltrow.

And speaking of
Gwyneth…

She is just completely lovely and funny. Who wins the Oscar for Best Actress, and then signs up to do a play for $400 a week in the Berkshires? But she really wanted to get on stage and connect with the work. I have huge respect for her.

On the importance
of live theater

There’s something about sitting down in a theatre at 8 p.m. and watching a piece of art. At the end, you know a little more about what it means to be a human being, and it makes you feel a little better about being alive.

On SD as the new NYC

Up until now, New York has been the main city of American theater. But it’s not decreed by God that that should be so. San Diego has this sense of possibility and a totally different energy than New York.

On attracting
the masses

We need to make it affordable. It has to be possible for people who are not the 1 percent to take part in this extraordinary art form.

Barry Edelstein | Photo by Doug Gates

Q&A

What attracted you to the artistic director position at the Old Globe?

Well, its reputation, and decades and decades of extraordinary work. Also, I’m a Shakespearean. I really could name on one hand the theatres in the United States that center on Shakespeare and also do such a wide variety of other work. They’re rare birds, so when the job opened up, I said, “Oh my God, I don’t know really if I have a shot at it, but I’m going to go for it.”

You have a five-year-old daughter and a newborn son. Did they factor into your decision to move here?

It’d be hard for me to name a city in the United States that’s more beautiful than San Diego. And it’s also a really vibrant, burgeoning place. I’ve been learning about this exploding food scene that’s here. Balboa Park is full of extraordinary arts institutions. So yes, the notion that I get to raise my family in a spectacular place while doing this amazing work—it’s just really hard to express the joys.

What’s the most exciting aspect of being an artistic director?

I get to program a season of work on these three beautiful stages. I really feel like a kid in a candy store because I’m a director, so I get to choose plays that I’m excited about and want to direct. I’m a producer, so I get to gather incredibly talented people—friends of mine, and new friends that I’m going to meet in SD—and preside over this explosion of theater activity in my own house. That’s just completely thrilling.

Drama King

Gwyneth Paltrow and Alessandro Nivola

NPR called you “one of the country’s leading Shakespeareans.” Are you planning to beef up the amount of Shakespeare produced each season?

I do want to see the place do more Shakespeare. I want to see Shakespeare on the indoor stages, in addition to the outdoor stages.

Any other plans or changes?

In my job at the Public Theater [in New York City], I was part of the creation of something that we call “The Mobile Unit,” which takes Shakespeare to prisons and homeless shelters, That’s something I want to create here.

Why the intense focus on the Bard?

If you can do Shakespeare well, you can do anything well. A theater company that builds up the muscles to be able to do Shakespeare brilliantly can pretty much handle anything.

What are some of the overarching themes from Shakespeare’s work that still make him relevant today?

He seemed to be trying to understand the biggest questions of the universe by looking at the littlest details. In Hamlet, he says, “There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow.” Every little detail has something wondrous, and he wanted to know why.

Did he really write all those plays?

Absolutely, yes.

How do you balance performing the classics with spotlighting new playwrights and their works?

I want to make sure the Globe is on that circuit of American theatres where the people whose names we already know feel welcome to premiere a new play. But the tricky part—and the fun part—is when an institution can devote resources to discovering a new voice that we haven’t heard.

What about reimagining the classics with today’s voices?

Years ago, I commissioned Steve Martin to translate this crazy German farce from 1910 [The Underpants, which opened at New York City’s Classic Stage Company in April 2002]. And going in, he thought, Well, God knows if this is gonna work, but on the other hand, there’s something about this writer in Germany in 1910 that somehow sounds a little bit like Steve Martin. It turned out to be a very big success, so I want to do a lot more stuff like that at the Globe.

Which upcoming American playwrights or new writers are on your radar right now?

Nathan Englander is a very prominent American novelist and short story writer. I just directed his first play [The Twenty-Seventh Man, at the Public Theater in NYC]. To take a guy who’s a great American writer and say, “Why don’t you try your hand at writing a play?” has turned out to be one of the most exciting adventures in my career.

// As told to Kimberly Cunningham

Everything SD JULY 13, 2026

San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Rancho Santa Fe

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

San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Rancho Santa Fe
Courtesy of the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

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

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

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

Jump To: Restaurants | Things to Do | Shopping

Courtesy of Goli

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

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.

Partner Content JULY 31, 2026

Blood Pressure Basics

Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death in women

Blood Pressure Basics
Courtesy of Scripps Health

It’s estimated that 44% of women in the U.S. have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, but many don’t know it. The disease often has no symptoms, and when symptoms do present, they can appear similar to many other conditions. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, so it’s critical that it’s detected and treated early. And for women at risk of developing high blood pressure, prevention is key. Click here for the basics of high blood pressure and how Scripps physicians at Scripps use screenings not just as a diagnostic tool, but as part of routine preventive care.

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1230 Columbia Street, Suite 800,

San Diego, CA