Pacific Beach
Fish counters and a pier by day; rooftops, tiki drinks, and late-night kitchens after dark.
Start here
31 in total
Neighborhood DiningThe 8 Best Restaurants in Pacific Beach, Ranked8
Neighborhood GuidesThe 6 Best Things to Do in Pacific Beach, Ranked6
MexicanThe 10 Best Breakfast Burritos in San Diego10
RestaurantsThe 15 Best Restaurants in San Diego Right Now15
Pizza, Burgers & SandwichesThe 12 Best Burgers in San Diego, Ranked12
Bars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Cocktail Bars in San Diego10
Every list that covers Pacific Beach
Updated as places change
8 rankedNeighborhood DiningThe 8 Best Restaurants in Pacific Beach, RankedUpdated Jul 27
6 rankedNeighborhood GuidesThe 6 Best Things to Do in Pacific Beach, RankedUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedMexicanThe 10 Best Breakfast Burritos in San DiegoUpdated Jul 19
15 rankedRestaurantsThe 15 Best Restaurants in San Diego Right NowUpdated Jul 31
12 rankedPizza, Burgers & SandwichesThe 12 Best Burgers in San Diego, RankedUpdated Aug 2
10 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Cocktail Bars in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
6 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 6 Best Dive Bars 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 rankedThings to DoThe 10 Best Hotel Pool Day Passes in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
9 rankedThings to DoThe 9 Best Spas in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
12 rankedSushi & JapaneseThe 12 Best Sushi Restaurants in San Diego, RankedUpdated Aug 2
10 rankedOutdoors & Views10 Things to Do at Mission Bay ParkUpdated 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
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
12 rankedPizza, Burgers & SandwichesThe 12 Best Pizzas in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
8 rankedOutdoors & ViewsThe 8 Best Sunset Spots in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
7 rankedSurfing & WaterThe 7 Best Surf Schools in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
9 rankedMexicanThe 9 Best Tacos in San DiegoUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedOutdoors & ViewsThe 10 Best Views in San Diego, RankedUpdated 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
7 rankedSeafoodThe 7 Best Oyster Happy Hours in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 24
9 rankedSeafoodThe 9 Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 24
10 rankedMexicanThe 10 Best Fish Tacos in San DiegoUpdated Jul 19
12 rankedBreakfast, Bakeries & SweetsThe 12 Best Ice Cream Shops in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 19
10 rankedSeafoodThe 10 Best Mariscos in San DiegoUpdated Jul 19
The neighborhood itself
27 verified places · 18 eat & drink and 13 things-to-do listsPacific Beach works better when you choose your version of it. For a morning plan, start at Kono’s by the pier, walk or bike the boardwalk, then head north if you want more room on the sand. Oscar’s makes the easy fish-taco stop.
For evening, start at Kate Sessions Park, then choose dinner at The Fishery or Ambrogio15. The Grass Skirt handles the tiki detour; For The Win keeps the kitchen going late on Friday and Saturday. After rain, check the county water status page before making Tourmaline the plan.
If you only do 5 things
1Oscar's Mexican Seafoodeat2The Grass Skirtdrink3Crystal Pierpier4Kate Sessions Parksunset5Kono's CafemorningKnow before you go
Parking: beach lots fill by mid-morning in summer — budget a residential-block hunt or bike in
Water: Tourmaline catches advisories after rain — check the county Beach & Bay status page first
Transit: Bus 30 from Old Town · stops at Crystal Pier
Where they are — 27 verified places
The index
Ranked places pulled from all 31 listsOscar's Mexican Seafood on Emerald Street is where Pacific Beach gets its smoked fish taco.
Rocky's Crown Pub on Ingraham Street in Crown Point has been a San Diego burger institution since 1977, and the half-pound cheeseburger is why it's on this list.
Ambrogio15 on Turquoise Street is the quieter Italian dinner on PB's north edge, the one for conversation and a good bottle.
The Fishery is where Pacific Beach goes for a full seafood dinner, because the restaurant is built around a working fish market.
At Crystal Pier on Garnet Avenue, Kono's Cafe has served the Pacific Beach breakfast burrito since 1991.
When the day at the beach turns into a night out, The Grass Skirt on Grand Avenue is the move.
If the boardwalk is how you see Pacific Beach, Crystal Pier is where you stop and look back at it.
For the big-picture view of Pacific Beach, go uphill.
Pacific Beach's surf culture comes into focus at the north end of the neighborhood.