San Diego Travel Guide || Spring 2023

There’s certainly no place quite like San Diego. A city full of salty blonde surfers, drunk on sunshine… I couldn’t love it here more. I’ve visited three times now and with each visit, I seem to enjoy it a little more. 

This was my first time visiting San Diego in the spring and although it was a little cooler than we had hoped, we made the most of it! It was a shorter visit this time around, just a long weekend packed full of yummy meals and pretty views. Per usual I’m breaking down all the fun; sharing where we stayed, my restaurant recommendations, outfit ideas, and more. Enjoy!

WHERE TO STAY

As I said, I’ve been to San Diego twice before, each time staying with a friend in the Pacific Beach area! This time around we switched things up and stayed downtown at The Andaz. This hotel is just a short drive from the San Deigo airport and beach! Plus it’s within walking distance of The Gaslamp Quarter which is a lively downtown neighborhood, known for its nightlife. There are tons of clubs, dive bars, and cocktail lounges here packed with post-grads.

We stayed in one of their King Bed Deluxe rooms which had tons of space and a beautiful view of the city. We had a cozy bed and a large sitting area complete with modern furnishings and a sleeper sofa.

The best part of this room was the bathroom situation. There was a central glass shower meaning its full glass with a city view. It sounds a little scary at first but I promise it feels like such a small luxury! Additionally, we had tons of counter space and the most amazing mirror lighting for getting ready. The toilet here is separate and in its own little room

The rooftop here is to die for. Complete with tons of loungers and private cabanas where you can catch some sun or take a dip in the pool.

This is also where the restaurant Rooftop by STK is. There is a fully functioning bar open seven days a week—make sure to check out their spring specialty drinks. So many fun fruity options and they all come with the cutest ice cubes. I mean come on, don’t those look amazing! You can enjoy brunch, lunch, and small apps up here as well. So, if you need a poolside snack you’re in luck.

Because this property is downtown, you either have to find street parking on your own or have them valet. I ended up going this route because it was the easiest option. It’s a little pricy at $56 a day but so much easier (and safer) while in this area!

For current availability and the best prices at The Andaz San Deigo, click here.

WHAT TO DO

Even in the “off-season” San Diego is still full of things to do. Admittedly, my favorite things to do here include being in the water but it’s much too cold for that in the middle of March. We made the most of our time, hitting up a few of my favorite spots and spending more time in Pacific Beach!

If you’ve been to San Deigo leave me your recs down below so I can add them to my list—I know for a fact this is one of those cities I will be back to sooner rather than later.

Beach Day In La Jolla

If you’ve never been to La Jolla you need to. Just get in the car and start driving in this general direction. The houses here are absolutely insane as this is one of the most expensive areas to live in. The beaches here are so beautiful with massive waves, tons of surfers, and all kinds of rock formations.

I’d say this area reminds me of Hawaii but to be honest it has a vibe of its own that’s hard to describe. Worth coming even if you can’t necessarily lay out in a bikini tanning this time of year.

Visit Hermosa Surf Shop

There are a lot of cute shops and coffee spots over in the La Jolla area. You might recognize Hermosa Surf Shop as it’s known for its viral Instagram pictures. This is a mix of a surf shop, coffee stores, and cute boutique. They’ve got all kinds of fun beachy brands that are pricey but make for the perfect window shopping. I always make sure to stop in when I’m in the area.

Afternoon at The Flower Fields

If you’re in the area and have a car, I highly suggest going over to The Carlsbad Flower Fields. This is a huge property full of miles and miles of flowers. They are in bloom March-May so spring is the perfect time to go. You can pick your own fresh flowers, get a tractor tour of the grounds, and grab the cutest photos!

They also have a few food trucks out here and a few other activities that make this the perfect afternoon activity. Doesn’t take more than a few hours but was the perfect way to spend our sunny Sunday. They have a huge gift/flower shop too where you can purchase fresh blooms and plants. I’m so glad we were able to make it.

Sunset at The Cliffs

If you’ve never been over to The Sunset Cliffs, they are a must. Truly the most beautiful place on earth. The parking is a little tricky here so I suggest getting there at least 30 minutes before the sun goes down to grab a spot. I’ve never seen a more peaceful view than right here in San Diego. I can’t recommend this activity enough!

Explore Pacific Beach

Pacific Beach is basically a glorified twenty-something playground. This area is full of post-grads, bars, restaurants, and surf shops. You can walk in just about any place here and feel right at home. We’ve spent a lot of time over here strolling around the pier and enjoying the beaches. Definitely, a good place to be if you’re young and looking for fun.

This is also where we like to go out when we’re in town. West End and Maverick’s are my two favorite spots. A little dead on a weeknight but always packed on the weekends!

WHERE TO EAT

You know I’m a foodie at heart… San Diego has some amazing restaurants and all kinds of variety. I wish we could’ve stayed here for a full week to try even more restaurants! If you’re looking for additional recommendations check out this blog post from my last visit!

Truckstop

Menu // Directions

Nothing beats a good ole brunch in San Diego. We made our way over to the Truckstop, an adorable western-themed diner in Pacific Beach! I loved the atmosphere here- country music all morning long and the cutest decor you’ve ever seen. They are known for their bottomless mimosa deal so we started off with those.

Of course, I had to get the waitress’s favorite the California eggs benedict. So delicious with the yummiest hollándose and home fries. Of course, we had to try something sweet too. The brie stuffed french toast seemed to be a fan favorite so we gave it a go. Obsessed with this flavor! The perfect sweet treat to share. Such a fun spot; will definitely be coming again. 

Cesarina

Menu // Directions

Cesarina was probably the chicest Italian restaurant I’ve ever been to. Every detail here was so carefully thought out from the adorable dishes to the pink menus. The owners are from Rome and make all of the noodles right in front of you so everything is authentic. They are known for their “choose your own shape” pasta dishes and huge vegan selection! 

The waiters here were incredible and kept bringing us plate after plate of food! The burrata was my favorite app (per usual) and I built my own pasta with a light red sauce, burrata, and shrimp. It was so flavorful and the portions were huge!

We also got to try several desserts. The baked pazookie with pecans and ice cream on top was by far my favorite! Bonus points for their huge “dessert drink” menu full of classic Italian sips!

The Rooftop by STK

Menu // Directions

I love a good brunch moment. The Rooftop by STK is actually a part of the Andaz Hotel! They serve food all day long + have awesome poolside drinks. We stopped in for brunch before we hit the road and it didn’t disappoint. I got their eggs benedict (I’m on a kick can you tell!) and was wowed with flavor. I’ve never had a hollándose this spicy but it was so good! Of course, I had to get a side of potatoes – these were extra salty and crispy, just the way I like them.

Osteria Panevino

Menu // Directions

We made our way to the Gaslamp Quartres for another night of Italian. Osteria Panevino had the cutest interior and the most amazing cocktail menu. No, seriously this blueberry martini was amazing— the perfect mix of sweet and sour. 

The girls and I split three kinds of pasta: cacio e pepe gnocchi, squid ink crab spaghetti (my favorite!), and lobster stuffed ravioli. This place tasted a little less authentic but was still a fun spot! Bonus points to our amazing waiter who treated us to a tiramisu for desert!

WHAT TO WEAR + PACKING LIST

 Not sure what to wear in San Deigo?! Don’t worry I’ve got you covered—sharing all seven outfits I wore during my trip in this blog post. Per usual I’m sharing links to everything so you can shop as well as directions to each photo location so that you can spice up your Instagram feed!

A few must-have packing items for San Diego in the spring:

• Low Top Sneakers: I feel like I’m always raving over the Dolce Vita Zina sneakers but they really were the best sneakers to have on this trip. Not only are these insanely comfortable with lots of arch support but they are the easiest sneakers to slip on and off. I love styling these in the spring as they pair best with cropped/ankle-length bottoms. I have three pairs but the all-white is definitely my most worn.
• Light Layers: No matter when you’re visiting, San Deigo gets chilly in the evening. I suggest bringing a button-up and/or cardigan to throw over the top of your summer tanks. I ended up wearing this one from American Eagle almost all week. Love!
• A Hat: I don’t mean pack a beanie but this is one of the windier cities this time of year… for that reason, I suggest bringing a ball cap or wide-brimmed hat to keep your hair from getting all crazy. If my hair wasn’t slicked back into a low bun, it was almost always up in a hat. Most of my favorites come from Altard State and Lack of Colors.
• Fanny Pack: This is one of those cities where every twenty-something girl is wearing their Lululemon fanny pack across their chest. It’s super casual here so something simple for your day of exploring will work just fine.
• A Bathing Suit (just in case!): I always suggest bringing a bathing suit just in case. You never know when an opportunity to dip into the water may present itself.

pin this post for later 

If you haven’t been to San Diego yet I hope this convinced you to get a trip on the calendar… truly one of California’s most fun spots! I know this post was short and sweet but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. I know I’ll be back soon… stay tuned for more fun and make sure you’re signed up for emails so you don’t miss a post.

With love, McKenz

Latest Post: 7 Outfits To Wear In San Diego This Spring
Related Post: What To Wear For A Summer Weekend in San Diego
Instagram: styledbymckenz // YouTube: McKenzie Morgan // Pinterest: mckenzmorgan