Del Mar
Bing Crosby's racetrack out front; two square miles of bluff-top beach town.
Start here
12 in total
Neighborhood GuidesThe 9 Best Things to Do in Del Mar, Ranked9
Neighborhood DiningThe 10 Best Restaurants in Carmel Valley and Del Mar Heights10
SeasonalDel Mar Races: 9 Ways to Do a Day at the Track9
Outdoors & ViewsThe 12 Best Dog-Friendly Places in San Diego, Ranked12
Bars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Beer Gardens in San Diego10
MarketsThe 13 Best Farmers Markets in San Diego, by Day of the Week13
Every list that covers Del Mar
Updated as places change- 9 rankedNeighborhood GuidesThe 9 Best Things to Do in Del Mar, RankedUpdated Jul 20
- 10 rankedNeighborhood DiningThe 10 Best Restaurants in Carmel Valley and Del Mar HeightsUpdated Aug 2
- 9 rankedSeasonalDel Mar Races: 9 Ways to Do a Day at the TrackUpdated Aug 2
- 12 rankedOutdoors & ViewsThe 12 Best Dog-Friendly Places in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 24
- 10 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Beer Gardens in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
- 13 rankedMarketsThe 13 Best Farmers Markets in San Diego, by Day of the WeekUpdated Aug 2
9 rankedRestaurantsThe 9 Best Waterfront Restaurants in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
9 rankedBeachesThe 9 Best Family Beaches in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 30- 10 rankedBeachesThe 10 Best Beaches in San Diego County, RankedUpdated Jul 27
9 rankedArts & CultureThe 9 Best Live Music Venues in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 26
7 rankedSeafoodThe 7 Best Oyster Happy Hours in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 24
The neighborhood itself
13 verified places · 6 eat & drink and 6 things-to-do listsDel Mar runs on two clocks. Mid-July through Labor Day the racetrack sets the tempo — first post at 2pm, Thursday through Sunday, and the free shuttle from Solana Beach station beating every car crawling down Via de la Valle. The rest of the year the town reverts to what it actually is: a bluff-top village where the dog beach goes off-leash all day, the low-tide walk to Torrey Pines starts from Seagrove Park, and almost everything worth doing is free. Go on a meet Thursday — free admission, free grandstand seat — then come back in October, when the parking stops being a blood sport.
If you only do 5 things
1Del Mar Racetrackraces2North BeachdogsKnow before you go
Race days: Via de la Valle locks up before the 2pm first post — ride the train to Solana Beach; the race-day shuttle is free with a valid ticket
Parking: track lot is $15 with no re-entry; Coast Blvd beach spots go by mid-morning in summer
After rain: skip the water for 72 hours — the river mouth at North Beach carries the advisories; check sdbeachinfo.com
Where they are — 13 verified places
The index
Ranked places pulled from all 12 listsThis is where the dogs go. North Beach runs long and open at the river mouth, and for most of the year — the day after Labor Day through June 15 — a voice-contr…
Seagrove is one small lawn on a bluff and it does exactly one thing perfectly.
The parrots have opinions and they will share them.