Best Of San Diego Archives - San Diego Magazine

Unleash your local loves and insider favorites once again in 2024, Powered by You! It’s time to nominate and vote for San Diego Magazine’s Best of San Diego Reader’s Choice Award. The winners will be revealed in the upcoming Best of San Diego issue this July and showcased on our website.

Your nomination and vote play a crucial role in giving your favorite businesses the recognition and bragging rights they deserve for the year ahead. So go ahead, show some love to your cherished local spots.

As a token of our appreciation, every vote enters you for a chance to win 2 tickets to The Best of San Diego Party on Friday, August 2, 2024.

How to Win

A business, place, or person must be nominated at least once to appear on the voting ballot. Once the voting period concludes, the business, place, or person with the most votes within their respective category will be selected as the Reader’s Choice category winner.

When submitting your nomination, please provide as many details about the business as possible, including its name, address, website, and phone number. Businesses and individuals that cannot be verified will not be eligible for voting.

Deadlines for Nominations and Voting

Nominations: March 11 – 24, 2024
Voting: March 25 – April 14, 2024

The post Vote for the Best of San Diego 2024 Reader’s Choice Awards appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Best of San Diego Reader’s Choice 2024 Marketing Toolkit

Cole Novak — Wed, 07 Feb 2024 22:02:21 +0000

Connect with your biggest fans and followers and win one (or many) prestigious Best of San Diego Reader’s Choice Awards.

This is your chance to gather support from your biggest fans and followers to nominate and vote for your business. You know that you’re the obvious choice (and we agree), so we’ve put together this marketing toolkit to help you promote your business and win.

The winners will be announced in San Diego Magazine‘s Best of San Diego issue this July and posted online. And let’s not forget, bragging rights all year!

If you’re looking to amplify your marketing efforts, email our team at [email protected]. We’ll help you further your message with our most engaged readers.

How to Win

Secure at least one nomination for your business from March 11 – 24, 2024.
Start Promoting: Invite your biggest fans and followers to vote for your business from March 25 – April 14, 2024.
The nominee with the most votes will win “Reader’s Choice” in their respective category.

Logos

Add a logo to your email or website

Click here or the image above to go to Google Drive to download it.
Don’t forget to include a link to vote: www.SDMag.com/Bestof24

Instagram Story

Click here or the image above to go to Google Drive to download it.
Don’t forget to include a link to vote: www.SDMag.com/Bestof24

Customizable Instagram Story

Click here to go to Canva (free to join):
Important: Please “Duplicate” the design. Do not edit the template.
In your duplicated copy, add your photos and text within the app.
Don’t forget a tap-to-vote link in your story: www.SDMag.com/Bestof24

Instagram Post

Click here or the image above to go to Google Drive to download it.
Don’t forget to include a link to vote: www.SDMag.com/Bestof24

Customizable Instagram Post

Click here to go to Canva (free to join):
Important: Please “Duplicate” the design. Do not edit the template.
In your duplicated copy, add your photos and text within the app.
Don’t forget a tap-to-vote link in your story: www.SDMag.com/Bestof24

The post Best of San Diego Reader’s Choice 2024 Marketing Toolkit appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

San Diego Mag’s Top 10 Most-Read Articles in 2023

Cole Novak — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 21:37:54 +0000

This year was a milestone for us. We celebrated our 75th birthday, introduced the inaugural Del Mar Wine + Food Festival, partied with readers at our SDM events, debuted a fully revamped website, and covered some of the best stories coming out of our very fine—and very newly minted “most-expensive city in the nation“—home. What an honor.

To celebrate all that 2023 has brought us, we’re taking a look back at some of your favorite stories by our editors and contributors. Here are SDM‘s top 10 most-read articles from this year:

Photo Credit: Eric Wolfinger

1: San Diego’s Best Restaurants, 2023

We asked, you answered. And the votes poured in like good, crisp hard kombucha on a sunny San Diego day. Here’s the best of the best in the food world, according to you (and us).

Courtesy of the San Diego County Fair

2: 10 Wild, Weird, Damn Good Eats at the SD County Fair

By Troy Johnson

Y’all are weird. And we like it. When we put out a list of the wildest foods to try at this year’s county fair, you grabbed your stretchy pants, coastered up the 5, and chowed down on Hot Cheeto sandwiches and mermaid floats like the youthful folks you are.

3: The Best Liquor Store Sandwiches in San Diego

By Emily Blackwood

Forget national chains and sub shops—you devoured our list of local markets with delis inside. From heroes to hoagies, San Diegans proved that they’re just as obsessed with sandwiches as everyone’s favorite pal, Joey Tribbiani.

Photo Credit: Jared Cross

4: The LaFayette Hotel San Diego Reopens Following $31M Renovation

By Jared Cross

Since it was one of the most anticipated openings of the year, we weren’t surprised that this SD icon’s rebirth caught our reader’s attention. Zebra prints, ostentatious furnishings, and velvet everything—The LaFayette returned under Consortium Holdings as an amusement park for the eyes.

Photo Credit: Johanna Siring

5: The Newly Renovated Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel Opens Its Doors

By Mara Altman

This year, Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel made its debut with a huge facelift and a fascinating story that started with a group of friends who wanted to purchase the property and ended up with an entire town instead. It’s a must-read.

Courtesy of Tanner’s Prime Burgers

6: Three-Star Michelin Chef Opens New Burger Joint in San Diego

By Troy Johnson

We love a good burger. So when we heard that Brandon Rodgers of The French Laundry was joining up with Brandt Beef to open Tanner’s Prime Burgers, we were eager to break the news. And you ate it up, too!

Courtesy of Pure Project

7: 15 of San Diego’s Best Breweries

By Beth Demmon

Honestly, no notes. This one was an obvious choice for a city that loves its craft brews. Beer guru Beth Demmon picked her favorite breweries in San Diego, and you took note. Sharpen your pitchforks—it’s a “best of” list.

Photo Credit: Stacey Keck

8: San Diego Mag’s Ultimate Spa Guide, 2023

SDM Staff

One of our most-read pieces each year is always our spa guide. It’s hard assignment for us staffers—we head into the city to check out the newest, best, and most interesting treatments in the spa world, just for you, our readers. Your very own ahhh guide, if you will.

Courtesy of Gilly’s House of Cocktails

9: Incoming: Gilly’s House of Cocktails

By Troy Johnson

When a beloved SD institution goes through a change in ownership, you watch, listen, and pray that it doesn’t lose its heart and soul. The brains behind some of San Diego’s top cocktail bars ushered in a new era for Gilly’s Cocktails recently, promising to keep it nearly the same—save for a few modern touches.

Courtesy of Corvette Diner

10: 20 Top Family-Friendly Restaurants in San Diego

By Beth Demmon

Topping out our top 10 list is a guide for families dining out. From thoughtful kid’s menus to toys and games, these eateries around town are parent- and kid-approved.

The post San Diego Mag’s Top 10 Most-Read Articles in 2023 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

The Food Hit List: October 2023

SDM Staff — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 20:43:54 +0000

San Diego is home to more than 5,000 restaurants—meaning that you could eat at a new one every single day for over 13 years before you had to resort to repeats. With all that goodness, it can be tough to narrow down your next dinner spot. That’s where we come in. Here are 15 of our favorite meals (and coffees, cocktails, and croissants) this month. Go get some.

Courtesy of Cafe 21

Cafe 21

Shrimp Corn Cake

Cafe 21’s bloody marys (topped with a salad bar; served in a ceramic head) deservedly get lots of airtime, but the decadent shrimp-and-potato corn cake is an underrated sleeper hit. It’s crowned with a poached egg and lounging in an herby pool of cilantro cream sauce rich enough to stand up to the 10 a.m. vodka. –AR

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Saigon Coffee

Hanoi Egg Coffee

Starbucks who? This pick-me-up with Vietnamese coffee and fresh egg foam at Saigon is a richer, more satisfying version of a frappuccino (although, sadly, not blended). It’s breakfast on ice. Saigon started at the Hillcrest Farmers Market in 2012 and now boasts a buzzy new location in North Park. See you in line. –MH

Glutenus Maximus

Butterscotch Pecan Sticky Bun

Suns out, buns out, especially when those buns are covered in butterscotch and dusted with pecan bits. The perfect blend of salty and sweet, this roll is chewy but not overly dense. These buns are huge, so grab two forks in case you need to share (though you probably won’t want to). Check Glutenus’ website to see what farmers market it’s currently stationed at. –WR

Oscar’s Mexican Seafood

Ceviche

On the list of edible items that can be served in a cup, ceviche isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. The proximity of Oscar’s to the Pacific means this place is all about their fish. The ceviche menu includes shrimp, fish, scallop, and bluefin tuna served with crispy, hand-sized tortilla chips. This dippable snack has become my favorite post-beach ritual. –AD

Little Asia Sliders

Pork Belly Sliders

With dozens of seductive smells swirling in the air at the OB Farmers Market, it’s nearly impossible to choose a bulwark against hunger-induced overshopping. Allow me to make your life easier: Get the pork belly sliders from Little Asia Sliders. Decadent, fatty pork belly is nestled in a soft bao bun and topped with fresh carrot, cucumber, cilantro, and a drizzle of crunchy chili oil. Is it Wednesday yet? –LK

Courtesy of Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria

Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria

Spinach Mushroom Deep Dish

I don’t often jump into the pool that is deep-dish pizza, but at this Windy City joint covered in (admittedly bland) Illinois license plates, it’s a felony not to. Sure, Lefty’s serves delicate, crispy thin-crust, too, but come on. Catch me doing a double-reverse-pike backflip into this deep Chicago dough. –MH

TJ Oyster Bar

Octopus Taco

Decades later, TJ Oyster Bar is still the South Bay taco gem. The smoked tuna fries are like a Baja poutine. But it’s this classic octopus taco—braised until tender but still with that desirable bite, topped with one or three of the sauces (cilantro and chipotle cremas and hot sauce), and served on a good corn tortilla—that epitomizes a simple thing done extraordinarily well. –TJ

Tacos El Trompo

Chilaquiles

Chilaquiles don’t always hit (too dry, overcooked eggs, no beans?!), but when they do, you might as well write my obit and send me skyward. Two sunny-side up eggs, savory red sauce, sour cream, refried beans, Spanish rice, and avocado, portioned to feed two—all for under $10? Whew, life’s good. –NM

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Wise Ox

Smoked Bologna

Brad Wise (Trust, Fort Oak, Rare Society) is famous for his killer marinades and the way he seasons proteins. Wise Ox is the butcher shop where you can buy those gems in a bag to cook yourself. Or you can get a sammy. Like this diet-breaking beauty of high-end couch food. House-made bologna, American cheese, mustard, and mayo. Sleep well. –TJ

Yalla Habibi

Fool Moudamas

When I lived in Bethlehem, fool (also spelled “foul” or “ful”) was my go-to local breakfast. Made with warm, garlicky, lemony stewed fava beans; olive oil; and pita to scoop it up, fool is what comfort food eats when it’s having a hard day. The Lebanese Yalla Habibi in the Gaslamp does fool right, with an extra garlic kick. Shawarma and kebab are the go-to here, but I’ll be back for the comfort. –MH

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Fernside

Watermelon Feta Salad

Salads historically occupy a lonely, shadowy spot on bar-food menus, but South Park’s Fernside gives fruit and veg their glorious place in the sun. The bar tempers the creamy whipped cheese in its watermelon-feta with sweet and nutty stuff like pistachios, pomegranate molasses, and fennel. If you, say, add a side of waffle fries, the salad won’t care—she knows she’s still the star. –AR

Peachy’s Market And Grill

Chicken Shawarma Pita

Tucked in an unassuming strip mall off El Camino, Peachy’s offers a plethora of Mediterranean delights. Containing both a specialty market (touting treasures like rose water, dried limes, and bulk feta) and a counter-serve restaurant, it’s well worth a stop on your next errand run for lunch. The chicken shawarma pita is a star: generous portions; succulent, grill-caramelized chicken; cooling, zesty yogurt sauce. –SL

Cutwater Spirits

Dragon’s Breath

Fruity tequila cocktails on hot days are the way to my heart, so the Dragon’s Breath at Cutwater Spirits’ Miramar Tasting Room really hits the spot: It’s a vibrant, magenta-hued drink made with dragonfruit, muddled strawberries, serrano, and lime juice, served in a glass that’s quarter-rimmed with black volcano salt and garnished with a slice of dragonfruit. –JI

Ramen Nagi

Veggie Ramen

A big-deal noodle shop from Tokyo touched down in SD in August. The cozy sit-down spot, next to Raised by Wolves in UTC, is helmed by chef Ryoichi Nishio, who (literally) wrote the book on ramen—his knowledge is encyclopedic. Surprisingly hearty for a veggie-based soup, Ramen Nagi’s Veggie King comes stacked with toppings (get the soft-boiled egg) and is fully customizable, from salt to heat to noodle thickness. –EH

Parakeet Cafe

Banana Chocolate Croissant

With a new pastry chef, Parakeet is singing. This is basically like if a flaky chocolate croissant and a gooey banana-bread pudding had a baby, then covered that baby in toasted almonds and powdered sugar. Crispy outside, rich on the inside. Delicious, baby. –MH

The post The Food Hit List: October 2023 appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Best of San Diego 2023: Reader’s Picks

San Diego Magazine — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Ocean Beach Pier San Diego

Finance, Education, & Legal

Accounting Firm

Considine & Considine

Bankruptcy Law

Thomas B. Gorrill

Charity

Helen Woodward Animal Center

Family Law

Beatrice L. Snider

Financial Planning

Canter Wealth

Home Insurance Provider

AAA San Diego Insurance and Member Services

Litigation Law

Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers

Loan Provider

Jason E. Gordon – (Gordon Mortgage Group)

Local Bank

North Island Credit Union

Local Credit Union

North Island Credit Union

Personal Injury Law

Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers

Private School

University Of San Diego

Public School

Westview High School

University

San Diego State University

Four Moons Spa San Diego

Photo Credit: Shawn Kallio

Health, Wellness & Cosmetics

Acupuncturist

Be Well Acupuncture Collective

Animal Welfare Organization

San Diego Humane Society

Barber

The Little Italy Barbery

Beauty Services

Honest Skin

Chiropractor

Acru Health

Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Brian Davey

Cosmetic Dermatology

Beauty Lounge Medical Spa

Cosmetic Surgeon

Sirius K. Yoo, Md (Sky Facial Plastic Surgery)

Cosmetic Surgery Group

Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa

Dance Studio

Activate House

Day Spa

Four Moons Spa

Dental Office

Blue Wave Dental Care

Eyeglass Store

Urban Optiks Optometry

Fertility Center

San Diego Fertility Center

Fitness Studio

Verve Studios Del Mar

Gym

Activate House

Hair Salon

Scisters Salon & Apothecary

Hair Stylist

Hair By Rachel Sd

Health Insurance

Sharp Health Plan

Hiking Trail

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Hospital

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Martial Arts Studio

Ka’imi Kuoha – Othentik Gym

Massage

Four Moons Spa

Nail Salon

Sunny’s Spa & Beauty Lounge

Orthodontist

Dr. Kurt Stormberg

Personal Trainer

Wellness With Lele

Physical Therapy Spa

Proactive Physical Therapy And Sports Medicine

Veterinarian

Banfield Pet Hospital

Weight Loss Clinic

Katalyst Wellness

Yoga Studio

Wolf & Lion

Moniker Commons San Diego Coworking Space

Courtesy of Moniker Commons

Home & Living

Apartment Community

The Jewel At Lux

Artificial Turf & Lawn

Elanit Abrams

Auto Dealer

Mossy Toyota

Auto Parts Store (Tie)

Autozone Auto Parts + O’Reilly Auto Parts

Auto Repair

Smitty’s Service

Building Contractor (Tie)

Dreamstyle Remodeling + Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling

Carpet Cleaner

J&C Carpet Company

Child Day Care (Tie)

Warren-Walker School Early Learning Center + World Of Wonders Preschool

Commercial Real Estate Company

Next Wave Commercial

Coworking Space

Moniker Commons

Dog Beach

Ocean Beach Dog Beach

Door & Window (Tie)

American Vision Windows + Dreamstyle Remodeling

Escrow Company

Chartwell Escrow

Estate Planner (Tie)

Alspaugh & Alspaugh Law + Henderson, Caverly & Pum Llp

Family Beach

Coronado Beach

Flooring & Carpet

Select Carpets Inc

Furniture Store

D3 Home Modern Furniture

Garden & Nursery

Armstrong Garden Centers

Heating & Air Conditioning

Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air

Home Builder (Tie)

Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling + National Black Contractor Association

Home Loan Provider

Origin Point Mortgage

Home Organizer

Elanit Abrams

Independent Living Community

The Remington Club

Interior Designer

The True House

Kitchen & Bath

Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling

Landscaper

Ramos Landscape San Diego

Local Nonprofit

Helen Woodward Animal Center

Mattress Store

D3 Home Modern Furniture

Moving Company

Ace Relocation Systems

Neighborhood

Little Italy

Patio Furniture

D3 Home Modern Furniture

Pest Control

Dewey Pest Control

Picnic Spot

Kate Sessions Park

Plumber

Anderson Plumbing, Heating & Air

Pool Cleaning

Padre Pools

Property Management Company

Garden Communities

Real Estate Agent

Bree Arellano

Real Estate Agent Team

Greg Cummings Group | San Diego Real Estate | Compass

Real Estate Brokerage Company

Compass Real Estate

Solar Power Company

Baker Electric Home Energy

Sunset Viewing Spot

Sunset Cliffs

Surf Spot

It’s A Secret…

Tile & Masonry

Daltile

Tire Store

Discount Tire

Wedding Venue

Bali Hai Restaurant

Desiree Steve Wedding Venue San Diego

Travel, Entertainment & Shopping

Airline

Alaska Airlines

Antique Store

Sea Hive Station

Appliance Store

Costco Wholesale

Art Gallery

Bread & Salt

Artist – Jewelry

Ember&Onyx

Artist – Muralist

Josue Baltezar

Artist – Painter

Stefanie Bales

Artist – Photographer

Angela Garzon

Bookstore

Verbatim Books

Boutique Clothing Store

Stroll

Boutique Hotel

Inn at Moonlight Beach

Camera Store

George’s Camera

Canabis Dispensary

March and Ash

Concert Venue

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Doggy Day Care

Platinum Pet Sitting Co.

Engagement Rings

Marrow Fine

Evening News Broadcast

NBC 7

Event Venue

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

Florist

Native Poppy

Golf Course

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Golf Store

Land & Sea Golf

Grocery Store

The Mighty Bin

Groom & Bridal Wear

The Bustle Bridal Boutique

Jewelry Store

Gorjana

Karaoke Bar

The Lamplighter

Local Casino

Sycuan Casino Resort

Local Theme Park Or Attraction

San Diego Zoo

Mall

Westfield UTC

Morning News Broadcast

FOX 5 KSWB TV

Movie Theater

The Lot Liberty Station

Museum

Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Music Nightclub

Belly Up Tavern

Musician – Cover/Tribute

Yächtly Crëw

Musician – Indie Rock

Shane Hall

Musician – Jazz

Nick Caldwell

Musician – Pop

Jason Mraz

Musician – Singer/ Songwriter

Jason Mraz

Nightclub

Belly Up Tavern

Outdoors & Bicycle Store

REI

Pet Store

Dexter’s Deli

Radio DJ

Rick Morten

Radio Morning Show

KPBS Radio (89.5 FM)

Hotel

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

Sports Team

San Diego Padres

Scenic Spot

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

Shoe Shop

Road Runner Sports

Shopping Center

Westfield UTC

Social Media Personality

Jodie Alonso

Staycation Hotel

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

Surf Shop

Clairemont Surf Shop

Theater Group

Lamb’s Players Theatre

Thrift Shop

Buffalo Exchange

Wedding & Event Planner

Joseph Harmes

Weekend Road Trip

Palm Springs

The post Best of San Diego 2023: Reader’s Picks appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Best of San Diego 2023: Retail

San Diego Magazine — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 01:45:00 +0000

Meet Cute Bookstore in North Park

Best Place to Make Your Mail More Beautiful

Sweet Paper

From wedding invites to custom notepads, Sweet Paper in La Jolla is a one-stop shop for finding pretty paper goods and other post-worthy delights. Customers can be choosy when searching the stationery and gift boutique for greeting and business cards, locally inspired presents, personalized envelopes, gift wrap, and other products that make sending mail more exciting. The ways to include your own personal touch are endless. –MK

Best Spot For, Well, A Meet-Cute

Meet Cute Bookshop

Not a single Dan Brown thriller in sight. Queer-owned North Park bookshop Meet Cute exclusively stocks romance novels, with particular focus on LGBTQ and BIPOC authors (and an allowance for the occasional queer memoir or nonfiction writing guide). And if you happen to reach for a book at the same time as a fellow hopeless romantic… Well, we know how this story goes. –AR

Best Tech for Happy Feet

Road Runner Sports

This 40-year-old, family-owned San Diego business just launched new 3D foot-scanning technology that helps customers with their in-store shoe, sock, and custom insole fitting experience—for free, in less than 10 minutes. Called Fit Finder, the tech provides a comprehensive foot analysis with personalized shoe and gear recommendations, including apparel from their Korsa collection and their popular (as in 12-million-plus sales) R-Gear Drymax socks. –KO

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Best Street-Style Watching

Lucky Stars Market

The city’s entire population of Gen Z iconoclasts materializes at this roving market to shop women-, LGBTQ-, and BIPOC-owned businesses. Consider a full-scale, ’90s-movie-style makeover–new pre-loved outfit, new handmade resin earings, new piercings–or simply pick up a croissant-shaped candle and try to recover from the fact that early noughties clothing is now considered “vintage”. –AR

Best Wedding Registry for Cool Cohabiters

Casa y Cocina

Finally, an answer to the dilemma of what to put on a wedding registry when you already live together and own a Nespresso machine: Ask for prickly pear salt. A newish North Park shop from the founder of Artelexia, Casa y Cocina sources tableware, kitchen items, dry goods, and other home stuff from Mexico and offers registry services. Sure, you have dishes, but a handmade Oaxacan salsa bowl? Didn’t think so. –AR

Best Beauty Salon for Both Blowouts and Vibrators

Angelica B Beauty

Angelica B Beauty takes self-care seriously. While picking up beauty products and home décor, guests can browse Angelica B’s line of pleasure products to learn more about sexual wellness. Whether you’re getting your roots touched up or adding color to your sex toy game, this beauty shop in South Park is all about empowering women from head to… use your imagination. –NM

Collins & Coupe Bar Store North Park

Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

Best Spot for Obscure Bitters

Collins & Coupe

Your home bar called. Your grenadine’s expired. Upgrade your dinner party drink game at Collins & Coupe, a North Park barware store slinging new and vintage glassware, cocktail recipe books, specialty ice, bar tools, and every imaginable mixer (garam masala bitters, anyone?). You’ll have to hit a liquor store for the booze—though they do offer a selection of zero-proof spirits for sober folks craving something shaken or stirred. –AR

Best Tattoo with a Point-of-View

Pixley’s Oddities

In the front, the queer-owned University Heights studio is a fairy garden offering taxidermied critters, fantasy-inspired wire crowns, and Kewpie dolls. The muraled back room hosts more than a dozen artists, each with their own distinctive art style. Browse their Instagram to find the flash that feels most you,from ultra-detailed stick-n-pokes to sketchy, brightly colored florals and spindly abstract sigils. –AR

Fuze Jewelry Liberty Station

Courtesy of Fuze Jewelry

Best Alternative to Matching Tatoos

Fuze Jewlery

A step above BFF necklaces and below getting one another’s initials inked. At Liberty Station, the Fuze team welds delicate, claspless chains onto wrists, ankles, and necks. Select your metal and chain style (the shop offers more budget-friendly sterling silver and gold-filled options as well as 14-karat white and yellow gold) and, with a flash, you’re friends for life. –AR

Best Zero-Waste Shop for Plastic-Haters

Earthwell Refill

Environmentally conscious consumers don’t have to spend ages reading labels when they visit this zero-waste refillery in Kensington. Shoppers can bring their own containers to Earthwell Refill to buy plant-and mineral-based beauty and cleaning products. With the mission of diverting plastic items from the landfill and local waterways, Earthwell sources natural goods, such as detergent, shampoo, shower gel, and other toiletries, as well as sustainable items like stainless steel razors and bamboo toothbrushes. –MK

Gabriel Feitosa Pet Boutique Dog Grooming

The post Best of San Diego 2023: Retail appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Best of San Diego 2023: Health & Wellness

San Diego Magazine — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 01:15:00 +0000

Torrey Pines Paragliding

Photo Credit: JP Ramirez

Best Place to Sleep in a Tree

Alter Experiences at Mt. Laguna

Husband-wife hosts Rami Abdel and Shantel Seoane created Alter Experiences as a haven away from city hustle. They thought of everything to make tent camping accessible and hassle-free (including luxurious linens and outdoor kitchens), but what makes this place extra special are the tree hammocks. Equipped with super cozy, warm sleeping bags and lights that make them glow like fireflies or aliens (depending on your imagination), they offer a unique, weightless outdoor sleeping experience. –CG

Best Club for Long Runs and Bar Crawls

Black Flag Running Club

Back in the day, there used to be something called Ed’s Run, an event loosely organized through meetup.com that brought 50 to 100 people together by the harbor to jog five miles and then consume many beers at the Waterfront Bar & Grill. These days, Ed’s Run is no longer, well, running, but there are still social exercise clubs to be found. Black Flag Running Club has weekday evening meetups and Saturday long runs that are well-organized and held at a rotating list of locations. The group has no pretensions about speed or ability, is welcoming to all, and is heavy on the socializing—with plenty of drinking and parties to counteract the miles you’re putting in. –CT

Mission Trails

Courtesy of the City of San Diego

Best Epic Hike Challenge

All Five Peaks in Mission Trails in One Day

Say you’ve tackled most of the region’s hikes and are looking for a new challenge. Well, what about climbing all five peaks in Mission Trails on the same day? There are plenty of people—some as young as four or five—who’ve hiked all the mountains. But doing all the treks in 24 hours scores you special status. If you complete the challenge without any driving between peaks, you’ll have earned endless bragging rights. –CT

Best Jet Skiing For Crazy Wave-Jumping

San Diego Jet Skis

You can rent jet skis from just about anywhere around the city, but to really feel the power of these bad boys, head out of Coronado with San Diego Jet Ski Rentals and skip the slow-paced bayside options. Because of the many motor boats and the distance to the ocean, renting from here gives you more opportunities to wave-jump and feel the wind in your hair. –NM

Best Adventure for High-Octane Families

Tandem Paragliding at Torrey Pines

Even the youngest thrill-seekers can experience the epic adventure of a tandem paraglide at Torrey Pines Gliderport. Expert instructors answer all your questions and ease pre-jump jitters with clear guidelines. While waiting, the gliderport offers the ideal picnic spot with a view. Then, gear up in a helmet equipped with a GoPro and soar for 25 minutes of pure exhilaration over the serene coastline. Check that one off the bucket list! –CG

The Hub Pickleball Courts

Best Place to Run a Racket

The Hub Pickleball

If you haven’t tried pickleball yet, what are you waiting for? The Hub is San Diego’s largest dedicated pickleball facility, boasting 26 courts, a pro shop, restaurant, event space, and clinics for beginners and pro picklers alike. Memberships start at $99 a month, with discounted youth prices and drop-in options also available. Ready to watch, but not play? Don’t miss the World Series of Pickleball at The Hub from Oct. 27–29. –BD

Most Posh Way to Play Outside

Coronado Lawn Bowling Club

Dress in all white to look dapper outdoors during a game of lawn bowling hosted by the Coronado Lawn Bowling Club. Operating since 1935, the nonprofit club offers free lessons to San Diego County residents on the artificial green adjacent to the Coronado Public Library. Trainees get to feel boujee with 30-day access to the green and equipment to master their throws. Call to request gratis instruction. –MK

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Best Bathhouse Remodel

The Golden Door

Guests from across the continent travel to luxury retreat The Golden Door for relaxation and rejuvenation. The all-inclusive health spa pairs activities like yoga, hiking, and meditation with pampering such as massage, skin, and nail services for a full-body reset. This utopian property got a facelift with a multi-million dollar renovation, including complete overhauls of the bathhouse and pools, plus upgrades to their 40 guestrooms. While the bathhouse dates back to 1958, improvements include a new Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, cold-plunge pool, and an LED light therapy bed. –KO

Most Underrated Leg Workout

Pedal Boating on Lake Murray

All due respect to lunges, but frankly, you’re terrible and everybody hates you. Luckily, it’s always leg day on Lake Murray. Vessel rentals–which include pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and motorboats–are first come, first served at the concession stand Wednesdays through Sundays. Pedal boat rates start at #30 for the first hour and $15 every hour after. It’s a surprisingly easy (and scenic!) way to develop thighs of steel. –BD

Best Race to Set a PR with Santa

Holiday Half in December

Held just before Christmas, this annual half-marathon starts on Carmel Mountain Road and then lets you roll on downhill for the entire course. It traces the State Route 56 bike path and finishes at Torrey Pines State Beach for a net 714 feet of elevation loss over 13.1 miles. It’s pretty tough to run it and not set a personal record—or at least feel like it was a super fun and easy time. And you can get your racing done right before the holidays, then kick back and feast until the new year. –CT

The post Best of San Diego 2023: Health & Wellness appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Best of San Diego 2023: Arts & Culture

San Diego Magazine — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 01:00:00 +0000

Group Irreversible Entanglement performing at the Blacktronika Festival this last year

Photo Credit: Erik Jepsen

Best Goose

San Diego Rally Goose

Geese aren’t usually immortalized on baseball mugs, but most geese aren’t the San Diego Rally Goose. After the live bird crashed Dodger Stadium in game two of the NLDS—a game the Padres won 5-3 to tie the series—the Friars went on to take the next two at Petco Park and advance to the NLCS for the first time since 1998. You’re so fly, San Diego Rally Goose. –WR

Best Out-Of-The-Box Ballet

The Rosin Box Project

Contemporary ballet company The Rosin Box Project is named for the receptacle of powder that’s dusted onto dancers’ shoes for better grip, but their innovative choreography implores audiences to think outside the box. At the Liberty Station studio, professional classical and contemporary dancers express themselves in multi-sensory performances under the creative guidance of artistic director Carly Topazio. The company’s flagship series Debuts runs Aug. 24–26, showcasing local and international choreographers making their contemporary ballet premiere. –KO

Birch Aquarium Oceans at Night

Best Place to Drink Like a Fish

Birch Aquarium’s Oceans at Night

Birch Aquarium gets it: Parents need playtime, too. A new monthly 21-plus experience transforms the aquarium into a bustling space with vibrant live music, glow-in-the-dark cocktails, face-painting, and games galore. Need a romantic moment? Take in a perfect sunset view on Tide Pool Plaza. Miss adult conversation? Learn about jellyfish, coral, and sea anemones’ radiant bioluminescence without the kids constantly asking, “Why?” –CG

Best Local Cred Booster From a Non-San Diego Band

Dia De Los Deftones

Sacramento alt-rock/metal icons Deftones have made San Diego a go-to tour stop since the ’90s, but somehow they’ve since only managed to make each visit more memorable, thanks in large part to their annual Dia De Los Deftones festival at Petco Park. Held each (non-lockdown) November, the band’s self-curated fest has seen them share the stage with the likes of Chvrches, Turnstile, Freddie Gibbs, and JPEGMAFIA, boosting artists on the rise while making our own backyard the venue for one of the best single days of live music in any city. –JT

Oolong Gallery Art Solana Beach

Photo Credit: Margo Yinger

Best Free Art Lesson

Oolong Gallery

Cardiff transplant Eric Laine founded his airy gallery in Solana Beach with the mission of turning San Diego into an art town. Step one: Bring in boundary-pushing creatives from all over the world. Step two: Teach visitors the “why” behind the cool. Laine and his knowledgeable staff offer insight and context as you eyeball paintings and sculptures from artists like Taylor Chapin, Jerry Hsu, and Minga Opazo. –AR

Best Event To Jazz Up a Weeknight

Panama 66

You don’t have to be a hipster to appreciate the special vibe at Panama 66 each Wednesday night. Linger in the dog-and kid-friendly sculpture garden and order excellent craft beers, creative cocktails, and small plates made with local ingredients. Free jazz begins at 7 p.m. with the Young Lions, some of SD’s most talented youth musicians. The subsequent jazzy jam session, curated by trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos (2023 winner of San Diego Music Awards’ Album of the Year), is sure to get your toes tapping. –CG

Steve Aoki Performing at The Sound Venue

Best New North County Noise

The Sound

Nearly 50 years after local institution Belly Up Tavern opened in Solana Beach, it finally got a sibling—one three times as large. The Sound, a new 1,900-person-capacity concert hall operated by the Belly Up and housed on the San Diego County Fairgrounds, brings a much-needed mid-size venue to North County. With a state-of-the-art sound system and the space to accommodate headliners such as M83 and The Flaming Lips, it’s a thrilling addition to the live music landscape. –JT

Best Radio Playlist Reboot

91X

Scant few locals of a certain age lack fond memories of hearing new-wave hits by Oingo Boingo and The Cure on 91X in the ’80s, even if the format has undergone a few phases of metamorphosis in the years since. After celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, however, the station charmed its way back to the FM presets with a so-called return to its roots, bringing bands like The Clash and INXS back into regular rotation while leaving plenty of space for next-gen artists such as The National and Wet Leg. That kind of musical omnivorousness is refreshing to hear. –JT

Best Festival That Started as Homework

Blacktronika

When DJ, producer, and professor King Britt introduced his UCSD lecture course, “Blacktronika: Afrofuturism In Electronic Music,” his homework assignments asked students to experience a spectrum of Afrofuturist performances firsthand, to actually feel what they’re studying. Thus one of the city’s most interesting and distinctive new festivals was born, debuting virtually in 2021. A year later, it made its in-person premiere. Having hosted the likes of singer-songwriter Xenia Rubinos and free-jazz group Irreversible Entanglements, it’s an experience that transcends dusty fields and beer gardens, connecting ancestral history directly to bodies moving to the rhythm. –JT

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Best Soundtracked Park Hang

Winyl Club

Fancy some left-field jazz with your skin-contact riesling? Perhaps some ’90s R&B with your rosé? Then free up your Wednesdays for a different kind of wine pairing. This seasonal, epicurean happening posts up at the edge of Balboa Park weekly from 2 p.m. til sundown and is prime real estate for anyone looking to unwind. Run by a collective of vinyl and wine enthusiasts, selectors spin while spectators sip in a sea of blankets sporting dining options that run the gamut from makeshift charcuterie boards to full-on tablescapes. –DA

Best Strip-Mall Listening Lounge

Convoy Music Bar

Vinyl sounds better with a cocktail—lack of hard science be damned. Which makes the concept behind Convoy Music Bar, a lounge fashioned after Tokyo-style listening bars, a welcome import. Featuring a custom hi-fi sound system from Japan and a curated selection of platters for nightly DJs to drop the needle on, as well as spirit-forward drinks with Asian ingredients, the intimate hangout is the best bet for a night of being intoxicated by sound. –JT

The Mudd House

Best Place to Get Your Hands Dirty

The Mudd House

High school pottery class just got an upgrade. Tucked along the 101 in Leucadia, this charming ceramics studio is here to host your next hobby. With multi-week wheel-throwing workshops, DIY hand-building sessions, and solo or group pottery lessons, the woman-owned hotspot is a clay-filled, choose-your-own-adventure artistic endeavor. If arts and crafts aren’t your jam, The Mudd House’s talented potters have plenty of ready-made vases, bowls, and mugs to spruce up your space— sans messy hands. –ER

Best Karaoke Joint (Without a Stranger’s Take on “Eye of the Tiger”)

Hive

Book a private, Asian-style karaoke room that can hold up to 50 guests and zero randos drunkenly wailing songs from Rocky. HIVE serves signature cocktails, beers on tap, and carafes of soju (an alcoholic beverage popular in Korea) to thirsty performers. Late-night cravings are kept at bay with Korean-inspired appetizers for noshing (think bulgogi fries, kimchi pancakes, and spicy fish cakes). The time goes by quickly, so make sure you reserve a room for at least a couple hours. –MK

Monstrate Winery Fallbrook

Best Spot to Laugh Under the Stars

Monserate Winery

What better way to enjoy a stand-up show than under the stars with a glass of an estate grown red blend In hand? While it’s not unusual for bars, breweries, and restaurants to host small comedy nights,Monserate Winery in Fallbrook kicks it up a notch by partnering with the Comedy Store La Jolla to bring in bigger names like Michael Yo (America’s Got Talent; The Yo Show) and Sarah Tiana (Reno 911!; Crashing). They also host live music, salsa classes, and other events—all of which makes the drive up to Fallbrook worth it. –JI

Best Woman-Run Creative Studio Moonlighting as an Arts Space

Department

Owned and curated by local DJ, design maven, and ad agency vet Danielle Higgins, this City Heights catch-all arts space has quietly hosed some of the city’s best shows since it found its home on Winona and El Cajon five years ago. The eccentric studio-cum-venue fosters the growth of a femme-forward and emerging artists. With everything from hip-hop to the avant-garde packing their modest-sized house, they’re poised to lose their underground status real quick. –DA

The post Best of San Diego 2023: Arts & Culture appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Best of San Diego 2023: Food & Drink

San Diego Magazine — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 00:45:00 +0000

Ambrogio by Acquerello

Best Sit-Down Spot With a Playplace

Del’s Hideout

Say it’s a Friday night, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and cooking dinner in that chaos feels like a very difficult form of astrophysics. Enter Del’s Hideout in Del Cerro, a Cohn Restaurant Group spot. It’s got tasty barbeque, sandwiches, and salads, plus a good kid’s menu with their favorites: burgers, mac ’n cheese, grilled cheeses. But elementary schoolers don’t sit for food no matter how much fromage is present. Del’s knows this, so they turned a shipping container into a play area with foam blocks, push carts to ride around in, and a small climbing structure. So you can sink down at a table, grab a craft beer, and send the little ones to get their zoomies out. Bonus: Every Wednesday you get a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entrée. –CT

Best Gamifying of Fine Dining

Ambrogio by Acquerello

The new modern Italian tasting-menu restaurant is a partnership between the owners of Ambrogio15 and the chefs behind Milan’s Michelin-starred Acquerello. One of those chefs, Silvio Salmoiraghi, got his first star at vegetarian restaurant Joia, which explains the choice to offer two menus: omnivore (wow, the Alaskan cod) and vegetarian (featuring his signature dish, Acquerello Rossini). A knockout linguine and the “omelette surprise” appear on both lineups. The omelette is presented with four mystery fillings under each quadrant that the server asks you to taste and identify, gamifying a gourmet meal. –KO

Best New Addition to the Stadium Food Trend

Snapdragon Stadium

Snapdragon Stadium promised a lot from the get-go. So far they’ve done a damn good job delivering with Major League Rugby, one of the most electric women’s sports teams in the country (Wave FC), concerts, and concessions. That final bit is especially key, because why bother watching a game in real time unless the food is as exciting—if not more—as the spectacle? Snapdragon’s curated selections run the gamut. Petco Park started this star local-food game, and Snapdragon carries the torch well with Crack Shack, Cali BBQ, Hodad’s, and more. –BD

Juniper & Ivy Restaurant Kimberly Motos

Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

Best Way to Sabbath

Juniper & Ivy

J&I was one of the restaurants that put Little Italy on the serious-food map. It opened with Richard Blais holding the reins. Now, for nearly 10 years, it’s been Anthony Wells (protégé of Thomas Keller and Jonathan Benno) who keeps it flying high. While they’re usually a nice-shirt kinda place, they’ve introduced a Sunday Supper, a more casual, family-style, three-course meal using the best of hyper- local farms, fish, and ferments. It’s set to return in September. Wipe great food on your jeans. –TJ

Best Bar to Cheer At

Majorette

When beloved College Area dive The Ugly Dog Pub closed and became Majorette, the transition breathed new life into a neighborhood thirsty for more upscale options. Yes, there are still billiards (now free, in fact), a cozy patio, and big screens showing sports. But owner Will Remsbottom is serving seasonal plates, low-ABV cocktails, and plenty of smashburgers paired with natty wine. Rah rah, indeed. –BD

Best Drive-Thru Experience for Introverted Caffeine Junkies

happyfastdelicious

If the line of SUVs at Starbucks seems a little long and life-draining, happyfastdelicious in Hillcrest is an introverted nine-to-fiver’s dream. Opened in 2022, the grape-and-yellow, A-framed coffee drive-thru offers indie-shop creativity with the speed and convenience of mobile ordering. Grab espresso, energy drinks, seltzers, and sodas in 30-plus flavors to get a customizable fix for that uber-specific craving. From banana-bread lattes to cocoa marshmallow cold brew, it’s fast done well. –MK

First Look: Ciccia Osteria

Photo Credit: James Tran

Best Not-Dessert Dessert

Ciccia Osteria

Mario Cassineri and Francesca Penoncelli had been angling toward this little house for a long time. The married Italian transplants started a decade-plus ago as the food engine at Bice in Downtown (he was the chef; she, the cheese expert). In 2019, they threw everything into this cottage of their own. They can make pasta from scratch in their sleep, but it’s the mushroom flan that snatches breaths: a little truffle, a little cream sauce, and a pecorino crust. –TJ

Best New Microgreens Dealer

Cardiff Farmers Market

How did Cardiff not have a farmers market til recently? The beach burg is so rustic that parts of it don’t even have sidewalks. Well, that’s fixed now. Saturdays bring the Cardiff Farmers Market to Mira Costa College’s San Elijo Campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located just off the 5, the market has close, ample parking and 70 vendors, including Cardiff Tiny Farm and Seas Greens Microgreens. –KO

Best Place to Rock an Elastic Waistband

Shabumi

Devouring all-you-can-eat Asian hot pot at Shabumi with friends and family is best done in stretchy pants. Choose your steamy soup base before selecting three meats, such Angus brisket, pork belly, and lamb leg. Top it off with bok choy, bean sprouts, onions, broccoli, and other veggies. Korean barbecue is also bottomless, which means you’ll probably be back—real soon. —MK

A collection of colorful doughnuts from Broad Street Dough Co. in Encinitas

Best Donut Shop Without a Pastry Case

Broad Street Dough Co.

Like a dating app for donuts. Patrons select their sugary soulmate from a roundup of photos pinned to the wall, then the lovely folks at Encinitas’ Broad Street drop dough in the fryer; glaze it, stuff it, and spackle it with Fruity Pebbles; and serve it still warm. Most of the menu can be made vegan and/or gluten-free and is 99 percent less likely to disappoint than your latest Hinge match. –AR

Sandpiper Restaurant La Jolla

Best Cake That’s Not a Cake

Sandpiper

Sandpiper is the offshoot of George’s at the Cove, which means one of the most respected chefs in the country (Trey Foshee) is on the QC. If you blink when driving into La Jolla Shores (by the beach we all go to, not up top at the Cove with the fancy galleries), you’ll miss it. Stop missing it. There are oysters and good beer and oak-smoked, fire charred dishes (the Niman Ranch pork chop is life), but that blue-corn cake with spicy macha agave steals all shows. –TJ

Best Form of Choking

Amalfi Cucina Italiana

It’s no surprise that Amalfi is a runaway hit in San Marcos, since chef-partner Marcello Avitabile is a six-time World Pizza Champion. The tiles on his woodfired cauldron are gold because that’s what his oven makes. However, the best menu item comes crust-free: The pan-fried Roman artichokes with arugula and Grana Padano Parmesan prove why they import most of their ingredients directly from Italy. –TJ

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Best Surprisingly Hearty Coffee Shop Meal

Mujer Divina

Bedecked with bright murals and faux flowers, Mujer Divina is a beacon of coffee and community in National City. You can order online to grab a café de olla and slim chorizo burrito on the fly. But if you can nab a table, it’s worth lingering over a big plate of green chilaquiles, a veritable feast in comparison to other quick-service cafés’ dainty pastries and toasts. Add machaca or birria to power a full afternoon of errands. –AR

Best Symphonic Salad

Little Frenchie

Little Frenchie’s roasted beet salad is a microcosm of the Coronado bistro’s knack for balance. The petrichor sweetness of the beets and subtle salt of goat cheese cut the bitterness of the dish’s radicchio base and temper its bright citrus. Also melodic: its entreés, including two takes on mussels, the sexy butter of the sea. –AR

Best Reason to Wear a Bib

Crab Hut

Crab Hut is owned by the local family behind the breakout restaurant Kingfisher. Tidiness and polite, methodical eating happen at some other, more boring place. Here, they hand you a bib and gloves and bring your seafood feast in a giant bag. Just put your whole you into the experience. In that bag—as long as you did this right and ordered the “full house sauce”—is one of the best seafood-boil sauces in the city, plus snow-crab clusters, lobster, crawfish, sausage, corn, and potatoes. Regulars beat the crowd at their four-hour happy hour (3 to 7 p.m.). Also, they have pretty fantastic cocktails. –TJ

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Best Place to Get Dessert On Tap

The Craft Creamery

You know how you can go into a bar in SD and order a kolsch from Colorado or a pilsner from Pennsylvania? At The Craft Creamery near Shelter Island, the idea is the same, but with ice cream. Here you can find rotating flavors from the best ice cream makers in the country, such as Fat Elvis (banana ice cream with peanut butter and chocolate chips) from Wisconsin’s Chocolate Shoppe and Marionberry Pie from Tillamook in Oregon. Grab a four-flavor flight for $12. –MH

Best Jewish-Korean Handheld

Homestead Solana Beach

This is a husband-and-wife-owned little casual-bites and gourmet-goods store in the design district. Work up a hunger buying vintage lamps, then regain life here. The roast beef dip is a winner. Tuna salad is one of those things you don’t realize you require in your life until you see it on a menu and it feels like a religious need, and their tuna toastie is excellent. The star, however, is the Korean twist on a reuben: pastrami with kimchi and swiss on toasted rye. –TJ

Best Place to Strip

Cowboy Star

Making it as a steakhouse these days usually requires coast-to-coast financial backing, so this one’s special. It’s San Diego’s indie steakhouse, started by a trio of industry vets, little butcher shop attached. The’ve got all of the fancy meats, all aged in-house–Wagyu skirt, bone-in ribeyes, the works–but it’s the relatively homely New York strip that slays after 21 days of dry aging. Also, the bread pudding will roll your eyes back into your personal sweet spot. –TJ

Valentina Restaurant Kimberly Motos

Courtesy of Valentina Restaurant

Best Celebrity Ham On Toast

Valentina

Every neighborhood needs one of these pheromone-boosting little spots, a minimalist charmer with mussels and wine and a couple well-placed lamps. Valentina is owned by Mario and Morgan Jean Guerra, whose Leucadia Co. restaurant group (Moto Deli, Corner Pizza, Hamburger Hut) has thrived up here. They named this Spanish tapas bistro after their daughter. Get the tomato toast with the famed jamon Iberico, a garlicky, salty, lightly sweet piece of bread art. –TJ

Best Boneyard

Ranch 45

The secret’s out about dry-aging. Won’t be long before we get the dry-aged Whopper. And bone marrow is the activated charcoal of the beef world, a silky collagen bomb people on the internet claim reverses the aging process and brings the Chargers back to San Diego. But the only folks I know that are dry-aging bone marrow are husband-and-wife duo Aron and Pam Schwartz in their Solana Beach restaurant-slash-butcher-shop. Spread it on toast, on steak, on your life. –TJ

Best Meat on a Tree

Tribute Pizza

A midcentury post office turned into a pizza haven with a farmer-focused ethos (get the kale salad with aleppo pepper), Tribute has knockout focaccia, soft-serve ice cream with olive oil and sea salt (sounds weird, is glorious), and world-class pies (order the mushroom whitestone). Lots of yes here, especially the “handsome board”—specifically, the “Big One”— with all kinds of cured meat snacks and fancy cheeses and housemade sauces beside in-season farm fruits and nuts and such, served on a fallen tree ring. –TJ

Golden Mushroom

The post Best of San Diego 2023: Food & Drink appeared first on San Diego Magazine.

Best Of San Diego Archives - San Diego Magazine

Best of San Diego 2024: Reader’s Picks

Best of San Diego Art + Retail

Best Antique Store in San Diego

Best Art Gallery in San Diego

Best San Diego Artist: Jewelry

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Best San Diego Artist: Painter

Best San Diego Artist: Photographer

Best Auto Dealer in San Diego

Best Auto Parts Store in San Diego

Best Bookstore in San Diego

Best Boutique Store in San Diego

Best Camera Store in San Diego

Best Cannabis Dispensary in San Diego

Best Engagement Rings in San Diego

Best Eyeglass Store in San Diego

Best Farmers Market in San Diego

Best Florist in San Diego

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Best Outdoors & Bicycle Store in San Diego

Best Shopping Center in San Diego

Best Surf Shop in San Diego

Best Thrift Shop in San Diego

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Best of San Diego Beauty + Cosmetic

Best Barber in San Diego

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Best Cosmetic Dentist in San Diego

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Best Cosmetic Surgeon in San Diego

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Best Cosmetic Surgery Group in San Diego

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Best Med Spa in San Diego

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Best Charity in San Diego

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Best Community College in San Diego

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Best Private High School in San Diego

Best Private K–8 School in San Diego

Best Private University in San Diego

Best Public High School in San Diego

Best Public K–8 School in San Diego

Best Public University in San Diego

Best Tutoring Services in San Diego

Best Vocational School in San Diego

Best of San Diego Family + Pets

Best Animal Welfare in San Diego

Best Child Day Care in San Diego

Best Dog Beach in San Diego

Best Doggie Day Care in San Diego

Best Family Attraction in San Diego

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Best Park & Playground in San Diego

Best Pet Groomer in San Diego

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Best Pet Trainer in San Diego

Best Picnic Spot in San Diego

Best Swim School in San Diego

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Best Youth Day Camps in San Diego

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Best of San Diego Finance + Legal + Insurance

Best Accounting Firm in San Diego

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