Guidebook for Carlsbad

Christine & Gregory
Christine & Gregory
Guidebook for Carlsbad

Food Scene

Hang with the Hipsters and enjoy GREAT food
29 locals recommend
The Compass
300 Carlsbad Village Dr
29 locals recommend
Hang with the Hipsters and enjoy GREAT food
BEER BEER BEER and more BEER. Good food too!
24 locals recommend
Barrel Republic Carlsbad
2961 State St
24 locals recommend
BEER BEER BEER and more BEER. Good food too!
Amazing breakfast. Usually a wait on weekends
37 locals recommend
Café Topes
3091 Roosevelt St
37 locals recommend
Amazing breakfast. Usually a wait on weekends
Gourmet Doughnuts
21 locals recommend
The Goods
2965 State St
21 locals recommend
Gourmet Doughnuts
Sandwiches at the Beach
29 locals recommend
Board & Brew - Carlsbad Village
201 Oak Ave
29 locals recommend
Sandwiches at the Beach
Indoor/Outdoor atmosphere, upstairs chill area with fire pits. House smoked meats and much more
24 locals recommend
Park 101
3040 Carlsbad Blvd
24 locals recommend
Indoor/Outdoor atmosphere, upstairs chill area with fire pits. House smoked meats and much more
Seriously the best breakfast and Bloody Mary's ever! Worth the 15 min drive. Very cool space
26 locals recommend
The Crack Shack - Encinitas
407 Encinitas Blvd
26 locals recommend
Seriously the best breakfast and Bloody Mary's ever! Worth the 15 min drive. Very cool space
One of only a couple local places for sunset dining at the beach
36 locals recommend
Dini's Bistro
3290 Carlsbad Blvd
36 locals recommend
One of only a couple local places for sunset dining at the beach
Fine Dining with sunset views. Great Happy Hour
74 locals recommend
Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse
3878 Carlsbad Blvd
74 locals recommend
Fine Dining with sunset views. Great Happy Hour
Lot's of MX choices in the Village and we've tried them all. We like Las Olas best!
22 locals recommend
Las Olas Mexican Restaurant
2939 Carlsbad Blvd
22 locals recommend
Lot's of MX choices in the Village and we've tried them all. We like Las Olas best!
Great pizza and salads, unique beers.
98 locals recommend
Pizza Port Carlsbad
571 Carlsbad Village Dr
98 locals recommend
Great pizza and salads, unique beers.
GELATO!!!!
10 locals recommend
GelatoLove (Gaia Gelato)
300 Carlsbad Village Dr
10 locals recommend
GELATO!!!!
Best high quality burgers
Craft Burger
300 Carlsbad Village Dr
Best high quality burgers
Highly innovative menu- all cooked over wood fire. A bit pricey but fun and unique small plates and entrees. Creative drinks too
100 locals recommend
Campfire
2725 State St
100 locals recommend
Highly innovative menu- all cooked over wood fire. A bit pricey but fun and unique small plates and entrees. Creative drinks too
Walking distance. Great coffee and tea
13 locals recommend
Baba Coffee - Coffee Carlsbad
2727 State St
13 locals recommend
Walking distance. Great coffee and tea
One of our favorite newer restaurants. Huge place with many choices of areas. Mondo beer selection and great food
113 locals recommend
Bagby Beer Co.
601 S Coast Hwy
113 locals recommend
One of our favorite newer restaurants. Huge place with many choices of areas. Mondo beer selection and great food
Great food!!!
199 locals recommend
Local Tap House
308 S Coast Hwy
199 locals recommend
Great food!!!
Our favorite local sushi!
12 locals recommend
Mikko Sushi
1025 Carlsbad Village Dr
12 locals recommend
Our favorite local sushi!
Fun to eat outside when band below at Coyote's is playing on weekends. Great food. Don't expect great service :)
Sushi Yama
300 Carlsbad Village Dr
Fun to eat outside when band below at Coyote's is playing on weekends. Great food. Don't expect great service :)
GREAT breakfast. Huge portions. Tip- sit outside! Usually a wait on weekends-
39 locals recommend
Swami's Cafe Carlsbad
2780 Carlsbad Blvd
39 locals recommend
GREAT breakfast. Huge portions. Tip- sit outside! Usually a wait on weekends-
BEST healthy smoothies, fresh juice, cold pressed coffee, vegan snacks. Cool outdoor area
24 locals recommend
Choice Juicery
430 Carlsbad Village Dr
24 locals recommend
BEST healthy smoothies, fresh juice, cold pressed coffee, vegan snacks. Cool outdoor area
High end seafood and sushi
15 locals recommend
The Land & Water Company
2978 Carlsbad Blvd
15 locals recommend
High end seafood and sushi
Fine Dining Italian
31 locals recommend
Fresco Trattoria & Bar
264 Carlsbad Village Drive
31 locals recommend
Fine Dining Italian
We love to walk the Oside pier and grab lunch at Ruby's
38 locals recommend
Ruby's Diner
1 Oceanside Pier
38 locals recommend
We love to walk the Oside pier and grab lunch at Ruby's
High end steakhouse near Oside Pier. Great Happy Hour
70 locals recommend
333 Pacific
333 N Pacific St
70 locals recommend
High end steakhouse near Oside Pier. Great Happy Hour
Great full range of Japanese entrees. Nice bar area
33 locals recommend
Blue Ocean Robata & Sushi Bar
2958 Madison St
33 locals recommend
Great full range of Japanese entrees. Nice bar area

Drinks & Nightlife

Wine bar and good apps
10 locals recommend
OAK + Elixir - Wine. Beer. Eatery.
2917 State St
10 locals recommend
Wine bar and good apps
Intimate venue with big name acts and lesser known music too. Super fun. Check website for schedule and tix.
271 locals recommend
Belly Up
143 S Cedros Ave
271 locals recommend
Intimate venue with big name acts and lesser known music too. Super fun. Check website for schedule and tix.
The food here is good but we feel a little overpriced. Lately they have been booking some great bands so we go for the music and beer :) Check website for schedule
12 locals recommend
83 Degrees Bar & Kitchen
660 Carlsbad Village Dr
12 locals recommend
The food here is good but we feel a little overpriced. Lately they have been booking some great bands so we go for the music and beer :) Check website for schedule
Fun laid back locals down the coast in Encinitas. Good cover bands and great prices.
37 locals recommend
The Kraken
2531 S Coast Hwy 101
37 locals recommend
Fun laid back locals down the coast in Encinitas. Good cover bands and great prices.
If you're into the whole Irish pub thing. They sometimes have Irish bands.
21 locals recommend
O'Sullivan's Irish Pub & Restaurant
640 Grand Avenue
21 locals recommend
If you're into the whole Irish pub thing. They sometimes have Irish bands.

Parks & Nature

World Famous Ranunculous Fields open Feb to Mother's Day every year
172 locals recommend
The Flower Fields
5704 Paseo Del Norte
172 locals recommend
World Famous Ranunculous Fields open Feb to Mother's Day every year
Only state-sanctioned nude beach. Steep trail steps. Not for those with bad knees, hips, etc. Turn right at the bottom and pick a spot! People of all ages, shapes and sizes. Please read posted signs at the beach
144 locals recommend
Black's Beach
144 locals recommend
Only state-sanctioned nude beach. Steep trail steps. Not for those with bad knees, hips, etc. Turn right at the bottom and pick a spot! People of all ages, shapes and sizes. Please read posted signs at the beach
OUR beach for 8 years :) Tamarack beach is just 1/2 mile south with easy access parking. Bathrooms at both
51 locals recommend
South Carlsbad State Beach
51 locals recommend
OUR beach for 8 years :) Tamarack beach is just 1/2 mile south with easy access parking. Bathrooms at both
Unique beach area. Fire rings available
322 locals recommend
Moonlight Beach
400 B St
322 locals recommend
Unique beach area. Fire rings available
One of the best hikes in the county with trail levels for all abilities. Also nature center there
1108 locals recommend
Torrey Pines State Reserve
12600 North Torrey Pines Road
1108 locals recommend
One of the best hikes in the county with trail levels for all abilities. Also nature center there
If the sun isn't shining at the coast- it will be in Escondido! Great hiking
47 locals recommend
Daley Ranch
3024 La Honda Drive
47 locals recommend
If the sun isn't shining at the coast- it will be in Escondido! Great hiking
Nice big beach. Over on the harbor end you can observe sea lions basking and swimming by he small "fishing pier". Restaurants and bars over there too
239 locals recommend
Oceanside Harbor Beach
North Pacific Street
239 locals recommend
Nice big beach. Over on the harbor end you can observe sea lions basking and swimming by he small "fishing pier". Restaurants and bars over there too
There are multiple companies that do the La Jolla Kayak tours. One of our all time fave things to do!!! Advanced reservations required
109 locals recommend
La Jolla Kayak
2199 Avenida De La Playa
109 locals recommend
There are multiple companies that do the La Jolla Kayak tours. One of our all time fave things to do!!! Advanced reservations required

Shopping

Closest to us
66 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
2570 Vista Way
66 locals recommend
Closest to us
Women' s clothes. LOVE this place
Double Take
2931 Roosevelt St
Women' s clothes. LOVE this place
Jeans and shoes!
Blues and Shoes
457 Carlsbad Village Dr
Jeans and shoes!
Regular type mall but recently remodeled. Movie theater and chain restaurants.
68 locals recommend
The Shoppes at Carlsbad
2525 El Camino Real
68 locals recommend
Regular type mall but recently remodeled. Movie theater and chain restaurants.
LOVE THIS PLACE. Used to drive 45 min to shop here when I lived further inland
400 locals recommend
Carlsbad Premium Outlets
5620 Paseo Del Norte
400 locals recommend
LOVE THIS PLACE. Used to drive 45 min to shop here when I lived further inland
Closest large supermarket
46 locals recommend
Vons
985 Tamarack Ave
46 locals recommend
Closest large supermarket
Closest drug store
19 locals recommend
CVS
1631 S Melrose Dr
19 locals recommend
Closest drug store
FUN STUFF
7 locals recommend
Flashbacks Recycled Fashion
570 Grand Ave
7 locals recommend
FUN STUFF
Our local farmers market! Every Wednesday from 3-7. Great organic produce and meats, prepared hot food and other hand crafted items from local vendors
42 locals recommend
State Street Farmers Market
2907 State St
42 locals recommend
Our local farmers market! Every Wednesday from 3-7. Great organic produce and meats, prepared hot food and other hand crafted items from local vendors

Arts & Culture

Summer productions. Outdoors.
44 locals recommend
Moonlight Ampitheatre
1250 Vale Terrace Dr
44 locals recommend
Summer productions. Outdoors.
Small live theater with productions throughout the year
6 locals recommend
New Village Arts
2787 State St
6 locals recommend
Small live theater with productions throughout the year
ART
70 locals recommend
Oceanside Museum of Art
704 Pier View Way
70 locals recommend
ART
The USS Midway permanently docked in SD and is now a museum. Tour the whole ship! Fascinating!
775 locals recommend
USS Midway Museum
910 N Harbor Dr
775 locals recommend
The USS Midway permanently docked in SD and is now a museum. Tour the whole ship! Fascinating!
Surf history!
109 locals recommend
California Surf Museum
312 Pier View Way
109 locals recommend
Surf history!

Entertainment & Activities

Outdoor concerts in the summer
Oceanside Amphitheater & Pier
301 The Strand N
Outdoor concerts in the summer
By appointment only- a rare inside look at the GIA- the Gemological Institute of America is right here in Carlsbad!
19 locals recommend
Gemological Institute of America
5345 Armada Dr
19 locals recommend
By appointment only- a rare inside look at the GIA- the Gemological Institute of America is right here in Carlsbad!
Older but fun and not gigantic
689 locals recommend
Belmont Park
3146 Mission Blvd
689 locals recommend
Older but fun and not gigantic

Everything Else

If you need your hot yoga fix, this is the place! 5 min away and I've been a regular here for 7 years :)
Peace Love And Yoga
2588 El Camino Real
If you need your hot yoga fix, this is the place! 5 min away and I've been a regular here for 7 years :)
5 min away. Great regular types of yoga classes
Woven We Are
5 min away. Great regular types of yoga classes