A Guide to Pacific Beach: Concierge Edition
September in Pacific Beach still feels a lot like summer, just with less lines and fewer crowds to enjoy it. The sun is still shining, the beach is still calling and it's the perfect time to slow down and spend a little more time around our coastal neighborhood
Here at Pacific Terrace Hotel, our concierge team knows PB exceptionally well. We spend every day helping guests figure out where to grab breakfast, which happy hour comes with the best view, where to watch the sunset and what’s actually worth squeezing into a few hours along the boardwalk or around the area. So we pulled together some of the places, orders and local bites we find ourselves recommending again and again, so you can put together your own ultimate Pacific Beach bucket list next time you’re in town!
Where would you send a guest looking for a breakfast burrito near Pacific Terrace, and what should they order?
Our Concierge, Jake Moncreif, sends guests to Early Bird Breakfast Burritos on Garnet Avenue. Jake says his go-to order is the Eggie and Cheesy or the Chorizo Campeon with Oaxaca cheese. Pacific Terrace guests can also take advantage of the 10% off cards for their next breakfast outing.
What’s your go-to recommendation for a casual lunch or bite in Pacific Beach?
After a long day at the beach, there’s nothing like picking up a quick bite near the boardwalk. Our concierge recommends grabbing a slice of pizza over at Mr. Moto Pizza, which is just a 3 minute walk from our hotel! It's a quick, casual option when you want something easy to grab nearby, and Pacific Terrace guests can also ask us about a 10% discount as well!
*Insider tip: Mr. Moto’s lunch special comes with two slices & a drink to-go, perfect for a quick beach-day bite.
For a more under-the-radar Mexican food stop, try Taqueria Los Ruiz, a neighborhood favorite away from some of the busier beachfront restaurants
And if you came to San Diego with fish tacos somewhere on your must-eat list, Oscar’s Mexican Seafood, gets our vote. It's a popular PB stop and one we're always recommending when guests want something casual.
Where would you send a guest for the best sunset spot near the hotel?
One of our favorite places to watch the sun go down is right here at Pacific Terrace from the balcony of your room. You came for the ocean views, and sometimes the best sunset plan is the one that doesn’t require leaving at all. Grab a drink, step outside and catch a Pacific Beach sunset right from our hotel.
Just nearby, we also recommend Palisades Park above Law Street Beach. Plenty of locals make their way there in the evening for a laid-back San Diego sunset, and you may even spot a yoga class happening around that time!
If you are willing to venture a bit farther, we recommend Sunset Cliffs, Mount Soledad in La Jolla and Torrey Pines Gliderport. Each gives you a different take on a San Diego sunset, from dramatic beachside cliffs to sweeping views across the city and coastline.
A guest wants a happy hour with a view. Where do you recommend?
We like to send guests to Waterbar, just south of Crystal Pier. You can settle in for drinks and a bite without giving up the ocean view, and walk right down the boardwalk from our hotel.
*Insider Tip: Waterbar’s Happy Hour features $7.00 spritz’s, walk over from the hotel from 3pm-5pm (M-F) to enjoy a beachfront cocktail.
Where would you send a couple looking for a great date-night spot or activity near Pacific Terrace?
For dinner, our concierge team likes JRDN, especially if surf and turf sounds like your kind of date night. Then walk over to The Baked Bear and end the night with something sweet. Dinner, dessert and the beach all in one neighborhood makes this an easy PB date night.
If you’re looking for something a little different, we also suggest grabbing a pizza from Mr. Moto Pizza and taking it to Kate Sessions Park, where you can enjoy coastal and downtown San Diego views with a hillside picnic.
What are a few hidden gems in Pacific Beach you find yourself recommending again and again?
Kate Sessions Park is one of our go-tos when guests want to slow down for a bit . Grab a spot on the grass and take in the views stretching across Pacific Beach and toward downtown San Diego.
When seafood is calling, Pacific Beach Fish Shop is another favorite. Bring along your favorite bottle, take advantage of the BYOB option with a small corkage fee and pair it with happy hour oysters or something from the raw bar.
For something sweet, try Desserts by Clément for something a little more unique than your traditional ice cream run. This viral dessert shop is known for its stunning desserts made to look like real fruits- definitely a must-try during your Pacific Beach visit!
If a guest only has a few hours to explore Pacific Beach, what would you tell them not to miss?
We’d start around Crystal Pier, spend a little time watching the surfers and then head along the boardwalk before making your way up Garnet Avenue. Between the ocean, local shops and plenty of places to stop for a bite or drink, you can fit a lot of Pacific Beach into a few hours without spending half of them in the car.
And if you need help narrowing down where to stop, come by the front desk and see us. That’s what our concierge team is here for!
What’s your go-to matcha or coffee shop nearby, and what are you ordering?
For coffee, our team sends guests to Barista Botanist for the Hawaiian Honey Latte.
More of a matcha person? Try the matcha latte from Drift Café. Either way, consider your pre-beach caffeine stop covered.
What’s a Pacific Beach question guests ask you all the time, and what do you usually recommend?
“Where can I rent a surfboard or take a surf lesson?”
We hear this one a lot, which makes sense when the Pacific Ocean is right outside.
If you already know what you’re doing and just need a board, we recommend Ray’s Rentals on Mission Boulevard. If you’d rather learn the ropes first, we partner with San Diego Surf School for surf lessons to help you catch your first wave. Bonus, for guests looking to stay and surf – we offer a Surf Package, with discounted room rates, and help from our concierge to coordinate a lesson during your visit.
One More Beach Day Sounds Pretty Good
The problem with finding your favorite Pacific Beach spots? You start wishing you had another day to fit them all in.
Stay a little longer and save up to 25% with our Linger Longer Offer! That means more time for slow beach mornings, fish tacos, sunset drinks, surf sessions and a few more of our favorite PB stops before it’s time to head home.
