La Jolla
Coves and cliff walks lead the plan; fish sandwiches, galleries, and parking shape the rest.
Start here
43 in total
Neighborhood DiningThe 8 Best Restaurants in La Jolla, Ranked8
Neighborhood GuidesThe 10 Best Things to Do in La Jolla, Ranked10
Surfing & WaterThe 4 Best La Jolla Kayak Tours, Ranked4
Outdoors & ViewsThe 8 Best Sunset Spots in San Diego, Ranked8
Date NightThe 12 Best Private Dining Rooms and Big-Group Restaurants in San Diego12
BeachesThe 10 Best Beaches in San Diego County, Ranked10
Every list that covers La Jolla
Updated as places change
8 rankedNeighborhood DiningThe 8 Best Restaurants in La Jolla, RankedUpdated Jul 24
10 rankedNeighborhood GuidesThe 10 Best Things to Do in La Jolla, RankedUpdated Jul 27
4 rankedSurfing & WaterThe 4 Best La Jolla Kayak Tours, RankedUpdated Jul 24
8 rankedOutdoors & ViewsThe 8 Best Sunset Spots in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
12 rankedDate NightThe 12 Best Private Dining Rooms and Big-Group Restaurants in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
10 rankedBeachesThe 10 Best Beaches in San Diego County, RankedUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 26
10 rankedTrip PlanningSan Diego With a ToddlerUpdated Aug 2
12 optionsBeachesWhich San Diego Beach Is Right for You?Updated Aug 2
12 rankedPizza, Burgers & SandwichesThe 12 Best Sandwiches in San DiegoUpdated Jul 30
7 rankedSurfing & WaterThe 7 Best Surf Schools in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedOutdoors & ViewsThe 10 Best Views in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
20 rankedThings to DoThe 20 Best Things to Do in San DiegoUpdated Jul 27
15 rankedThings to DoThe 15 Best Things to Do in San Diego with KidsUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedThings to DoThe 10 Best Rainy Day Activities in San DiegoUpdated Jul 22
12 rankedArts & CultureThe 12 Best Bookstores and Record Stores in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
13 rankedMarketsThe 13 Best Farmers Markets in San Diego, by Day of the WeekUpdated Aug 2
14 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 14 Best Happy Hours in San Diego, RankedUpdated Aug 2
10 rankedTrip PlanningThe 10 Best Resorts in San Diego CountyUpdated Aug 2
12 rankedSushi & JapaneseThe 12 Best Sushi Restaurants in San Diego, RankedUpdated Aug 2- 10 rankedThings to DoThe 10 Best Guided Tours in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
9 rankedRestaurantsThe 9 Best Waterfront Restaurants in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
11 rankedThings to DoThe 11 Best Free Museum Days in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
12 rankedBreakfast, Bakeries & SweetsThe 12 Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 31- 9 rankedBeachesThe 9 Best Family Beaches in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 30
15 optionsTrip PlanningSan Diego Memberships and Annual Passes That Actually Pay OffUpdated Jul 30
8 rankedBeachesThe 8 San Diego Beaches With the Easiest Parking, RankedUpdated Jul 27
11 rankedBreakfast, Bakeries & SweetsThe 11 Best Bagels in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
7 rankedSurfing & WaterThe 7 Best Beginner Surf Spots in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedCoffeeThe 10 Best Coffee Roasters in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedDate NightThe 10 Best Date Ideas in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
12 rankedPizza, Burgers & SandwichesThe 12 Best Pizzas in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedThings to Do10 Free Things to Do in San Diego This Summer (2026)Updated Jul 27
7 stopsItinerariesOne Perfect Day in San DiegoUpdated Jul 27
12 stopsItinerariesThe Perfect 3 Days in San DiegoUpdated Jul 27
11 stopsItinerariesThe Budget Weekend: San Diego for Under $150 a DayUpdated Jul 27
12 rankedCoffeeThe 12 Best Coffee Shops in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 24
10 rankedMexicanThe 10 Best Margaritas in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 24- 9 rankedSeafoodThe 9 Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 24
9 rankedItinerariesThe Splurge Weekend: 9 San Diego Luxuries, RankedUpdated Jul 24
9 rankedMexicanThe 9 Best Burritos in San DiegoUpdated Jul 19
12 rankedBreakfast, Bakeries & SweetsThe 12 Best Ice Cream Shops in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 19
12 rankedBreakfast, Bakeries & SweetsThe 12 Best Bakeries in San DiegoUpdated Jul 18
The neighborhood itself
38 verified places · 18 eat & drink and 25 things-to-do listsLa Jolla's real draw is the amount of coast you can pair with a compact village plan. Start on a weekday morning with the Coast Walk Trail and La Jolla Cove, keeping a safe distance from the sea lions. Choose The Taco Stand or El Pescador for lunch, then step into the Athenaeum's free galleries. Windansea or the Gliderport works better as a separate second stop than an extra turn in the village walk. Parking gets difficult after 10am, so arriving early is part of the plan.
If you only do 5 things
1La Jolla Coveswim2The Taco Standeat3Windansea Beachsunset4Coast Walk Trailwalk5George’s at the CovesplurgeKnow before you go
Parking: brutal after 10am — use the Coast Blvd lots at 8, or park uphill and walk down
Transit: Bus 30 from Pacific Beach / UTC
Don’t miss: the Coast Walk Trail at low tide
Where they are — 38 verified places
The index
Ranked places pulled from all 43 listsAt The Taco Stand, it starts with the tortilla.
George's at the Cove, on Prospect Street above La Jolla Cove, has been running since 1984.
In July 1974, a 19-year-old surfer named Jeff Norris and his 16-year-old partner, Jim Mahoney, built a display case out of wood and fiberglass and started selling fresh seafood in Del Mar.
Range is what sets Bird Rock Coffee Roasters apart.
Wayfarer Bread & Pastry is a bakery first, and that's its advantage.
La Jolla Cove is the one to pick if you're packing a mask and snorkel, or if you want a good shot at seeing sea lions without booking a tour.
Windansea Beach in La Jolla gives the sunset some company.
Coast Walk Trail in La Jolla is the view you walk through.
Sunny Jim Sea Cave is the only sea cave in California you can reach by land, and the way in starts inside a shop on Coast Boulevard, near La Jolla Cove.
The Torrey pine is the rarest pine species in the country, and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is one of only two places on Earth where it grows naturally.
People have been flying off the Torrey Pines cliffs for almost a century.