48 Hours in San Diego | Where to Go, What to Do, and Where to Eat and Drink
If you have found yourself in San Diego for a short amount of time, there are simply just too many things to see and do BUT that doesn’t mean you need to be overwhelmed with the options at hand.
San Diego offers so much to visitors and locals alike and what we’ve found from our trip is that no matter what you find yourself doing, you’ll surely make some amazing memories and you will probably make some new friends along the way too! Michael and I had such an awesome time visiting this coastal California city and we will definitely be back to embrace all the city has to offer.
If your time visiting San Diego is limited, here are the best options for things to do, things to see, places to eat, and a few extra options if you’re feeling up for it!
Top Brunch Spots in San Diego
Snooze A.M. Eatery
Snooze is a staple brunch spot and is only available in a handful of cities across the country so if you’re coming to San Diego from a place that doesn’t have a Snooze, you must go. Snooze is literally a restaurant that focuses on Brunch so the breakfast cocktails, the pancakes, the scrambles and hashes, ugh, it’s so good. The Snooze A.M. Eatery located in Hillcrest is next to the gay neighborhood so it’s also a great place to be so you can walk the gayborhood after!
Snooze A.M. Eatery in the Hillcrest neighborhood
Great Maple
Okay, we must talk about Great Maple. It’s described as a swanky eatery specializing in elevated comfort food with a twist and they had us at comfort food. Great Maple uses sustainable and seasonally sourced ingredients to create fun plates like Toast logs, Lolli-waffles, Cerrillos Chilaquiles, Silver Dollar pancakes and so much more.
Great Maple can be found in the Hillcrest Neighborhood off of Lincoln Ave
The Mission
There are a few locations around San Diego where you can find The Mission restaurant and no matter which one you choose, they are all spectacular. The Mission is a vibrant urban bistro and it really checks a lot of boxes. It’s affordable, the food is delicious, the present the food in a picturesque way, there are healthy options, the cocktails are good and the atmosphere is great. Need I say more?
The Mission (East Village) is on the corner of 13th Street and J Street
Top Things to See in San Diego
Walk the Embarcadero
The Embarcadero is the one-stop-shop for that laid-back special San Diego feeling. There are restaurants, cute places to shop, museums, a waterfront park to people watch (always a must-do) and it’s a place to look at giant boats and yachts. What more can we ask for on a sunny day!? And with less than 40 days or precipitation a year, it’s safe to assume that sunny San Diego is always open for a good walk or run. San Diego has a pretty expansive maritime history so if you enjoy eating and drinking and learning new things, this is the spot for you.
Visit the San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo has over 12,000 animals (two more once we got there ;) ) and over 650 species represented within the park. So you can imagine how excited we were to see AS MANY animals as possible. First off, getting to the zoo is pretty great. You can walk through Balboa Park and find yourself surrounded by forests and greenery in the middle of a city. Second, it’s a zoo! You can’t have a bad time at the zoo, especially when beer and other refreshments are available throughout.
Learn to Surf with Gnarly Neal's Surf Lessons
Hang ten, brah! Actually, for us it was more like, hang for ten seconds and then fall—but oh my goodness, learning to surf was so much fun on the California coast. Gnarly Neals was a great adventure for us. They provided the surfboards, wet suits, and an incredible instructor to help get us started with riding the waves. In all honesty, I was doubtful that I’d be able to make it up on the board, but with a little professional instruction—Gnarly Neals had us feeling pretty epic as we rode a good number of waves in! While I’m no pro surfer, Michael definitely looked like one in that sleek wetsuit. You have to try surfing in SoCal. It’s known as a world-renowned surfing destination for good reason!
Explore the Gaslamp Quarter
You can’t call it a trip to San Diego without making a stop at at the Gaslamp Quarter. It’s one of San Diego's most historic neighborhoods and it is known for its fun and vibrant atmosphere. There are 16 blocks of historic and modern buildings to weave in and out of. There’s endless food options, bar options, club options and shopping options so honestly, it’s a spot where you could spend the entire day and still have more to do. We found it to be a bit packed with tourists at time (like us)! It’s an extremely popular spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties, so you’re bound to see something hilarious while walking around there.
The Gaslamp Quarter is the Historic Heart of San Diego
Top Restaurants to Try in San Diego
BESHOCK Ramen $$
BESHOCK is one of the best ramen spots we’ve been to in a while. The Japanese-style dining adventure is really a treat! The atmosphere and culture that surrounds you, added to the really delicious food and you get a pretty top-notch experience. If you’re looking for a place to go on a date or just want to explore quality Japanese food, this is your place. We tried their Tantanmen ramen, and were left sweating from the spice after a few bites! We love spicy, but if that’s not your thing, the Tonkatsu is meaty, hearty, and equally as good!
BESHOCK Restaurant in East Village on the corner of Market Street and 13th avenue
Baja Betty’s $$
Described as “a colorful place for colorful people”, so yeah, of course we went to Baja Betty’s! This kitchy-gay Mexican restaurant will tickle all of your fancies. Drag shows plus an impressive margarita list equals a fun time no matter when you go. This is located along University Ave in Hillcrest so you’ll be able to continue on your colorful journey after you leave, but trust me, you may not want to leave. The food is delicious, the sights and sounds are delicious, and we honestly just wanted to stay all night and party. But with so much more to see in Hillcrest, it’s hard to stay in one place!
Baja Betty’s is in the Gay neighborhood of Hillcrest.
Juniper and Ivy $$$
Located in a renovated warehouse on the North side of Little Italy, you’ll find Juniper and Ivy. This restaurant screams goodness from the moment you walk in the door and see the decor. The coolest part about this place is that the menu varies daily based on what local farmers and fisherman bring to the restaurant every morning. You have to try the Zabutan. I’m drooling just thinking about it. For locally sourced and elegantly crafted San Diego fare, this place is a treat and one that is perfect for a date night or to cap off a great trip.
Juniper and Ivy can be found on the north side of Little Italy
Water Grill San Diego $$$
This one is for the seafood lovers. One of our favorite parts of visiting San Diego was experiencing the wide variety fish! Some of the freshest and best fish are caught right off the coast and when it comes to delivering good seafood... Water Grill does it right. As soon as you step in the door, you’re transported into a nautically themed oasis. My recommendation? Try as much as you can. We ordered a sampler platter of a variety of fresh oysters, scallops, and shrimp. Each one tasted distinctly different—vibrant flavors, fresh and crisp texture. It was a perfect stop for a couple glasses of wine and the opportunity to let our seafood fancies fly.
Water Grill is perfectly located within the Gaslamp Quarter near the Embarcadero