I will be staying in the Del Mar area. For dinner, how is Del Mal Center for some shopping and dining fun along the water or should I go to Seaport Village? Any restaurant suggestions?
Or should I drive over to Coronado Beach? Is it much to see at nighttime?
I am also wondering if it is too ambitious to do Coronado Beach and La Jolla Beach on the same day?
By the way, thanks so much, Riffsmom.
Del Mar Center or Seaport Village
Seaport Village is about 20 miles from Del Mar, quite a ways to drive for dinner; it%26#39;s further to Coronado..... but Coronado is a lovely place to visit during the day when you can see the views - or a night for the views back over the bay looking at the lights of downtown San Diego, but in my opinion, neither is worth the trip for dinner from Del Mar since there are so many choices right there.
Depending on where in the Del Mar area you are staying, there are many great restaurants. Jakes and Poseidon right on the beach, in the Del Mar Plaza (nice shopping choices there as well) are Rendezvous (Chinese), Il Fornaio (Italian), Pacifica Del Mar (Seafood), Epazote%26#39;s (Tex-Mex). Right on Camino Del Mar (main Street) are En Fuego (Mexican), Americana Cafe, Bully%26#39;s North (steak). Just a couple miles to the north are Solana Beach, also many restaurants there; and a couple miles southeast is Carmel Valley - many restaurants there. Also, great shopping and several restaurants at Flower Hill Mall, just east of I-5 (I recommend Paradise Grill) - - -So, you have a lot of choices close by.
Because of the traffic patterns, you will find a lot of traffic between Del Mar and downtown (Seaport Village/Coronado) during rush hour - including both ways on I-5 between 7:30-9AM and between 4:30 and 6:30 PM - so try to avoid those times unless you want to get stuck in congestion.
As far as both Coronado Beach and La Jolla (Shores) beach - it depends on what you%26#39;re planning to do when you%26#39;re at the beach. I can spend a day at either beach, and visiting the surrounding area. Both areas are nice for shopping and restaurants, so I wouldn%26#39;t try to do them both in one day. Del Mar also has great beaches, so if you%26#39;re staying in the area, be sure to visit there as well. Hope this helps.
Del Mar Center or Seaport Village
Del Mar Plaza has one of the best restaurants in San Diego; Pacifica Del Mar. Be sure and get a reservation for dinner or lunch there. It%26#39;s excellent.
The plaza is realatively small and has some nice boutique shops and other restaurants.
SEaport Village is larger and located in the downtown area of San Diego. The whole area is lovely and has alot of restaurants and shops plus boat rental and a visit to a carrier. Also, the downtown area is within walking distance and of course worth a visit for the shopping and the Gaslamp district with all of it%26#39;s fine restaurants.
You could do LaJolla and Coronado in the same day. Maybe have lunch in Cornado then plan on having dinner and walking through the village in the evening.
How many days to you have, because Riffsmom can fill your schedule with some great places.
Enjoy!!
DelMar is a lovely town just above th ecity of SanDiego on the coast.
I mentioned Seaport Village as a place to go after you arrive and before you checked into your hotel. It is very close to the airport onSanDiego Bay .
I agree with Chissis,unless you are downtown for the day and stay into the evening I wouldn%26#39;t drive there from DelMar for dinner.
I think I would do my sightseeing and then go back towards the hotel(which one?)
Sorry , I didn%26#39;t completely answer. We often take guests on alittle tour starting at La jOllacove to see the scenery adn the seals on the beach and maybe tidepooling,and then the shops above the cove in town,stop fo rlunch/brunch an dthen drive to Cabrillo National Monument for great views,old loghthouse,CA history an dtidepooling, an dthen go toCoronado to visit the hotel Del,have a drink on the seafron patio and walk a little at the ferry landing andthen dinner.
It is possible to do this but you need stamina.
Thanks for the advice. We are going to be staying at the Del Mar Doubletree. I do not mind travelling to Seaport Village because a friend is having a business conference at a downtown hotel so we can accomodate her by going to downtown if that means a better dining and shopping experience. So it sounds like Del Mar Plaza is much smaller than the Seaport Village? Which one is nicer?
Walking to the downtown and Gaslamp areas after dinner sounds great but are the stores and dessert places open after 8 or 9 P.M. in those neighborhoods?
What about the stores and dessert places in Coronado? Are they open after dark? It sounds like it is too rushed to do Coronado and La Jolla on the same day so I am thinking the Zoo during the day and Coronado area for dinner? Is that do-able?
Thanks so much. This is such a great forum!
You are correct, Del Mar Plaza is smaller than Seaport Village. Seaport Village is right on the bay downtown with great bay views; Del Mar Plaza is two blocks from the ocean in Del Mar with spectacular ocean view, so ';nicest'; is relative. Seaport Village has more ';tourist'; type shops, Del Mar Plaza has more clothing and shoe boutiques and better restaurants. (My opinion)
The stores in Gaslamp typically close at 9PM, most restaurants are open much later, and definitely Extraordinary Desserts on Union in Little Italy is open late with great dessert choices. Coronado stores aren%26#39;t open as late as Gaslamp because they don%26#39;t cater quite as much to tourists, it%26#39;s more of a residential area. However their restaurants are still open. If you want to wander after dark for shopping and dessert, your best bet would be downtown/ Little Italy/ Gaslamp.
Del Mar Plaza stores are open until 9, and restaurants until midnight in case you were wondering. Also, your hotel is about 5 miles from downtown Del Mar in a neighborhood of San Diego known as Carmel Valley. The restaurant at the Doubletree, Sydney%26#39;s, is pretty popular as well.
I am not sure what kind of things you are looking to buy. Del Mar plaza is smaller but has expensive shops.SeaPort Village is a tourist destination and pretty beside the water with a little bit of everything. Why don%26#39;t you take a look at each one.
www.delmarplaza.com
www.spvillage.com
I wouldn%26#39;t do serious shopping inCoronado,but looking around at the ferry landing and at the stores intheDel is fun..
SanDiego is very ';small town'; when it comes to staying up late.
Even in the gaslamp,although restaurants may be open, it will be very quiet during the week after 9:30.
I fyou park inSeaport Village you get 2hrs free parking if you buy any small item. The same goes for HortonPlaza Mall downtown.
For dessert near downtown you really should try Extraordinary Desserts. It will be open after dinner .
www.extraordinarydesserts.com/locations.htm
You want the UnionStreet location.
While in Del Mar I would suggest just having their signature margarita at EpaZote and then walking a few feet and having dinner at Pacifica Del Mar which is an award winning seafood restaurant.
EpaZote
1555 Camino Del Mar
Del Mar, CA 92014-2401
+1 858 259 9966
Open HoursLunch: Daily 11:30a-4p; Dinner: Su-Th 5p-9:30p, F-Sa 5p-10:30p
http://www.epazote.signonsandiego.com/
Sbicca%26#39;s in Del Mar is also a wonderful place to dine.
Sbicca
215 15th St
Del Mar, CA 92014
Tel: (858) 481-1001
www.sbiccabistro.com
If you are in the downtown area and want amazing seafood with a beautiful view of the water try the Fish Market (upstairs is Top of the Market fine dining and downstairs is more casual). It is located between the battleship Midway and Seaport Village.
The Fish Market
750 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
PH: (619) 232-3474
Top of the Market: (619) 234-4867
FAX: (619) 232-8646
www.thefishmarket.com
In the Gaslamp District of downtown a fun and kitschy spot for happy hour and yummy appetizers is Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge. You can then wander over to Trattoria La Strada for an absolutely outstanding Italian meal.
Mister Tiki Mai Tai Lounge
801 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 233-1183
www.cohnrestaurants.com
Trattoria La Strada
702 Fifth Avenue San Diego, CA 92101
619 239 3400
www.trattorialastrada.com
Most of the other posters have covered everything. Doubletree is 3 and one-half miles from the Del Mar Plaza. On the Del Mar Plaza, we like Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana which has great views; however, for your one dinner and the real Del Mar experience, I would recommend Jakes, right on the beach at Del Mar at 1660 Coast Blvd. Try to go at sunset calling first for reservations: (858) 755-2002. You can easily walk from there to the shops at Del Mar Plaza and other shops along El Camino Del Mar.
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