Pacific Terrace’s Staff Picks for Your Upcoming San Diego Travel
It’s possible we’re a little biased around here, but we happen to be of the opinion that San Diego is one of the country’s greatest places to visit. Even apart from the perfect year-round weather, miles of beaches, and endless sunshine, there’s just so much to do here. “America’s Finest City” has fantastic attractions, world-class restaurants, boutique shopping, a laid-back coastal vibe, stunning scenery, and much more. So of all the things you can expect during your San Diego travel, boredom will never be one of them.
In light of that, we took a few moments this week to ask the team at Pacific Terrace about some of their favorite places to go and things to do in and around San Diego. Here’s what they came up with.
Hallie Bodenstab, Food and Beverage Supervisor
(Photo: @harumamasd)
“One of my favorite lunch places is in downtown La Jolla on the water. Harumama has awesome sushi and Asian fusion plates, as well as super fun steamed buns that look like little animal characters. You’ll have a gorgeous view overlooking the ocean near the cove, too! After a great dinner, my other favorite activity in San Diego is called The Exit Game, an escape room in Kearny Mesa. It offers guests a high-tech and extremely well thought-out experience that is perfect for any group of adults that wants to try a unique activity.”
Harumama: 1901 Columbia Street, San Diego, CA 92101 (9.4 miles away)
The Exit Game: 8222 Ronson Rd, San Diego, CA 92111 (7.7 miles away)
Lorraine Aldor, Food and Beverage Supervisor
(Photo: @jrdnrestaurant)
“My favorite restaurant/lunch spot in the neighborhood is JRDN. My husband and I ate here for our anniversary last year and absolutely loved it. The location has beautiful ocean views, the service is spectacular, and their famous Surf & Turf is the stuff of local legend for good reason. There’s not a bad thing on the menu, though — this is one of those restaurants where you just can’t go wrong with whatever strikes your fancy. My other area favorites include hanging out at the beach and tide pools in La Jolla and checking out what’s new while shopping at Fashion Valley Mall.”
JRDN: 723 Felspar St, San Diego, CA 92109 (0.2 miles away)
La Jolla Tide Pools: 333 Coast BlvdLa Jolla, CA 92037 (3.6 miles away)
Fashion Valley Mall: 7007 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA 92108 (8 miles away)
Morgan Graber, Server/Bartender
“My favorite lunch spot is Second Nature, a vegan and vegetarian restaurant on Cass Street near the Bird Rock neighborhood. They have a great selection of healthy and fresh lunch and brunch options that are prepared to order every day. I’m also a big fan of hiking, and there are so many great places to do so in the city. If you’re looking to get out and enjoy some fresh air, I highly recommend a hike through Torrey Pines State Nature Reserve. It’s got loads of trails of all different levels, all of which take hikers on scenic strolls over the cliffs of Del Mar overlooking the Pacific Ocean!”
Second Nature: 5026 Cass St, San Diego, CA 92109 (0.7 miles away)
Torrey Pines State Nature Reserve: 12600 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037 (11 miles away)
Sam Blumenshine, Room Service
(Photo: @ob_noodlehouse)
“If you’re hungry, I’m a big fan of OB Noodle House in Ocean Beach. It’s just a great place for a variety of Asian fusion noodle options. They also have great drinks and are in a fun location. Ocean Beach is just one of the best neighborhoods in the city for soaking up some of that famously welcoming and laid back seaside SoCal vibe. Apart from that, my favorite activity is bar-hopping in Pacific Beach, another great place to go to kick back. There’s a local bar called Duck Dive that always has great dinner and drink specials.”
OB Noodle House: 2218 Cable St, San Diego, CA 92107 (4.6 miles away)
Duck Dive: 4650 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109 (0.1 miles away)
Jason Hansen, Server/Bartender
(Photo: @islandprimeclevel)
“If you’re looking for a great place to eat, I recommend C-Level on Harbor island — it’s a fantastic place with a famous seafood brunch. The atmosphere is upscale yet casual, and it’s also good for families. My personal menu favorite is the shrimp mac and cheese. Once you’ve had a great meal, my other favorite place to enjoy San Diego is at the Mission Bay Golf Course. It’s a truly beautiful place to play a few holes, open to the public, and it’s very reasonably-priced — especially given the picturesque landscaping, convenient location, and awesome views.”
C-Level: 880 Harbor Island Dr, San Diego, CA 92101 (8.7 miles away)
Mission Bay Golf Course: 2702 N Mission Bay Dr, San Diego, CA 92109 (3.5 miles away)
Aliya Al-Balooshi, Social Media Coordinator
(Photo: @starlitesd)
“My favorite San Diego restaurant and lounge is Starlite. It’s small and intimate, and perfect for a cozy romantic evening. Their patio is great for grabbing drinks with friends, too! The food also is out of this world. Don’t miss ordering the chickpea-battered greens in lemon yogurt sauce or the Buffalo fried cauliflower for a taste-bud experience like no other. Their pistachio ice-cream sandwiches are also amazing! They are well known for their Starlite Mule, probably the best Moscow Mule in the city in my opinion. Food, drinks, and atmosphere aside — the architecture and interior design is stunning. The décor was actually inspired by the house in Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest,” starring Cary Grant. Be sure to stop at this lovely little mysterious lounge next time you’re visiting San Diego!
Starlite: 3175 India St, San Diego, CA 92103 (8.3 miles away)
We’d love to hear what you think of our favorite places! Of course, we’re always happy to offer personal recommendations to our guests, as well. We look forward to being your hosts as you explore our fair city this summer. Enjoy!