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*This post was last updated on February 27, 2021.

I moved to San Diego a little over a year ago and I absolutely love it here. The weather is pretty much perfect all year round and there is always something to see and do. Whenever I have friends visiting, they ask me for some recommendations and I always have a ton of suggestions. It's hard to fit all of my favorite places into a single weekend, but I was able to put together an itinerary that gives you a little taste of "America's Finest City".

Friday

1. Check-in at Historic Sofia Hotel

This hotel is located in Downtown San Diego and a couple of blocks from the famous Gaslamp Quarter. They offer free yoga classes and a complimentary guided tour of the historic Gaslamp District. If hotels aren’t your style of accommodation, we recommend staying at a Sonder.

2. Balboa Park

Balboa Park is huge and both the locals and tourists love this place. I can't tell you how many times I have been to Balboa Park. You can check out the Spanish Village Art Center, the Museum of Man, the Old Cactus Garden and more! There are a ton of museums and events going on and the architecture here is stunning. You can even grab lunch here at the Prado, which is located right in the middle of the park.

3. Dinner & Drinks in Little Italy

Little Italy in San Diego is filled with exciting new restaurants, bars, and cafes. You can actually spend an entire day here splurging on decadent desserts and craft cocktails. Your choices are endless. We recommend dinner or drinks at Born & Raised and dessert at Extraordinary Desserts.

Saturday

1. Breakfast at Parakeet Cafe

I highly recommend checking out La Jolla and starting your morning at Parakeet Cafe, is the way to go. Not only will you get a great parking spot, but you'll start your morning with a variety of healthy breakfast options.

2. La Jolla Cove

After breakfast, walk over to La Jolla Cove and enjoy not only the beautiful scenery, but the seals and sea lions sun bathing and hanging out all along the coast. If the weather is warm, bring your swim suits and spend some time in the water. 

3. Lunch at Duke's La Jolla

If you're looking for a lunch spot with a view, Duke's is definitely the place to go. There are plenty of dining options in La Jolla, so if you aren't digging Duke's menu or vibe walk around and I'm sure you'll find something to your liking. 

4. Sunny Jim Cave

If you want to do a little cave exploring check out the underground tunnel to the Sunny Jim Cave. It's a unique little cave expereince that will only cost you $5.

 5. Dinner at Cafe Sevilla

Head back downtown to have an amazing dinner at Cafe Sevilla. It's located in the Gaslamp Quarter and you have to try their Traditional Paella Valenciana and their award winning Classic Red Sangria. This Classic Red Sangria has won multiple awards in San Diego and its recipe is top secret.

6. Drinks at You & Yours Distillery

If you're not quite ready to head back to your hotel, grab some drinks at San Diego's first urban distillery. You'll not only be blown away by the atmosphere, but their cocktails are superb. I highly recommend the "Little Bunny Foo Foo" and "Side Salad". 

Sunday

 1. Breakfast at Better Buzz Coffee in Hillcrest

There are several Better Buzz Coffee locations, but I recommend going to the one in Hillcrest. It's their newest location and it's also their headquarters. This place is huge and the decor is amazing. They have some unique drink selections and their food menu has options for either breakfast or lunch.  

2. South Park

If you want to get a vibe of where the locals live and hang out, South Park is a charming neighborhood to checkout. I especially love South Park as it's still quite the hidden gem. The historic neighborhood is filled with independently owned businesses and it is very pet friendly.

3. Lunch at Del Sur Mexican Cantina

There are many lunch options in South Park, but I really enjoy the complimentary chips and salsa at Del Sur. The atmosphere is inviting and the tacos are delicioso! 

4. Crepes at Cafe Madeleine

If you are looking for some sweet treats, check out Cafe Madeleine. They make their crepes to order and the charming french cafe has plenty of seating outside.

5. Coffee Break at Communal Coffee

One of the newest additions to South Park is Communal Coffee. Communal Coffee is no stranger to San Diego as its original cafe is located right next door in North Park. However, this one has a completely different vibe and there is plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. They originally only had outdoor seating, but recently expanded to an indoor space. The outdoor area is a gorgeous 2,000 square foot oasis where you can order a craft latte (I had the Lavender Honey Latte) at the adorable vintage Shasta trailer.

6. Sunset at Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

Catch a beautiful sunset at this hidden suspension footbridge that was built in 1912. You can soak in the views of the peaceful and serene valley.  

7. Drinks at Kindred

Before you leave South Park, you have to check out Kindred. It's such a unique chic death metal vegan restaurant and bar. The decor is amazing and you'll get a kick out of their bathroom art. 

If you have time for dinner, I'm going to leave dinner open for you to decide and explore a little bit on your own. This itinerary gives you a little taste of the different areas in San Diego that I personally enjoy and would recommend to all my friends and family. 

For more restaurant recommendations, check out Female Foodie’s unbiased reviews of “The 20 Best San Diego Restaurants”.