I just realized that I’ve never written a post about La Jolla, and I’m in shock that I haven’t yet! La Jolla is arguably one of my favorite cities in the whole world, and in the past year and a half that I’ve lived in Los Angeles, I’ve made 5 total trips down there. That’s even more than I’ve been to Palm Springs! It’s the perfect little beach town – everything is so picturesque, the food is to die for, and the people are so sweet.
It’s my favorite city in California for a weekend trip, for several reasons.
- It’s right outside San Diego, so if you want to do some of the more touristy things in SD, they’re within reach.
- The water is so beautiful! All California beaches are not made equal, let’s be honest.
- There’s so much good food that’s not insanely over priced. Tacos are one of my absolute favorites (who doesn’t love tacos, hello) and there are SO many good options nearby. Also delicious seafood is easy to find!
- There’s something for everyone! Love hiking? Got you. Just here for the IG pics? Got you. Foodie? Say no more. Just looking to explore a new area? So many fun things to do.
- I’ve been with friends, with my boyfriend, and we’ve even been on a double couple’s trip with my best friend & her boyfriend. No matter who you’re traveling with, there’s something for you!
Have I convinced you to take a trip to La Jolla yet? Just kidding! But as you can tell, I love La Jolla with all my heart! It’s such a special place to me, because I have so many special memories here. Akash and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary there, and then for our 4th anniversary he surprised me with a weekend trip and we had so much fun both times. We went most recently with my friend & her boyfriend, and we had the best time!
I’m doing this travel guide similar to all my others, but I’m calling it a weekend guide simply because I think that these activities + food spots are our absolute favorites, so it’s perfect if you’re only visiting for a few short days. As always, if y’all visit any of these spots, please let me know! I always love seeing you guys loving the places I love. 🙂
Where to Stay
We’ve done both the AirBnb route and also hotels, and honestly you can’t go wrong with either. It just depends what kind of vibe you’re going for. The prices are pretty comparable, too. I personally prefer staying in hotels, simply because I feel like the check in process is easier, and I like collecting hotel points, but we’ve stayed in AirBnbs twice and they were great too. If you choose to stay in a hotel, here are my two favorites.
Estancia La Jolla
This hotel is a legit property – you feel like you’re on a retreat! We got lucky with a room facing the garden, so we woke up to a pretty view every morning. The whole place has a very Spanish vibe, which I love. Service is great, there are restaurants directly on the hotel property, and the pool is amazing.
La Valencia La Jolla
Right next to the La Jolla Cove, there’s a really pretty big pink building, which is La Valencia. It’s right smack dab in the middle of the downtown area, so it’s walking distance to amazing food and the shops in the town center. It’s steps from the cliffs too, which is great for sunset/sunrise walks to the shore.
Hotel La Jolla
I’ve never actually stayed at this hotel, but I’ve heard good things! We did come here for our anniversary dinner, and the view from the restaurant on the 10th floor is unbelievable. It’s the tallest building in the La Jolla area, so you have an amazing view of the whole city, all the way to the water. Make sure you go at sunset if you choose to visit the restaurant!
What to Eat
Where to start?! So many yummy spots. Here are some of our faves:
Puesto
Some of my all time favorite tacos. You can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, seriously. The chips and salsa are also SO GOOD. Like way better than your typical chips & salsa. We’ve been here three times, and 2/3 times we’ve accidentally spoiled our dinners by feasting on those chips and salsa. My personal favorite is the filet mignon taco; you won’t regret it.
They also have super unique desserts, so save some room for their sweets!
Tacos El Gordo
Okay this isn’t technically in La Jolla, but it is in San Diego so I’m counting it. It’s SO worth the drive; Akash & I have contemplated moving to San Diego solely for this taco place. The first time we found Tacos El Gordo was in Vegas, and we were so pleasantly surprised to find out that there was one in SD! I can’t even describe how good they are, just trust me on this one.
Better Buzz Coffee
So many yummy and healthy-ish options! If you’ve had too many tacos, come to Buzz and get an acai bowl or a smoothie. They have really great breakfast options, and the place itself is just adorable. Akash loves their chocolate protein smoothie, but I personally love their acai bowls. They’re definitely big enough to share, so if you’re traveling with someone else I’d recommend just sharing one.
Parakeet Cafe
Another breakfast spot with healthy options! It’s a tad overpriced, but the place is really cute. There’s an adorable neon sign, so if you wanna get a cute photo, this is a fun place to stop at.
Parakeet Cafe
The Taco Stand
On our anniversary trip, we stayed at an AirBnb on the opposite side from the downtown area. Every time we drove into town, there was always this HUGE line outside this janky looking taco shop. I also did some digging online, and they have more than 3,000 reviews with nearly 5 stars (for my non Yelp-ers, this is pretty high!)
On our last day, we decided to stop by to see what the hype was all about. I’m not sure if I’d ever wait in that line for the tacos, but they were honestly pretty damn good. Not 2 hours in line good, but maybe a solid 30 minute wait good, haha. I’d recommend going before the lunch rush to beat the line! If you go, for sure get the churros. Soooo good, I’m drooling as I’m writing this.
Catania
If you love pasta, this place is a must-visit. It’s featured on the Michelin guide, which is how we found it. We had the orecchiette, and it was to die for. Perfect place for your pasta fix!
Cove House
A fun spot right near the La Jolla Cove! Super cute, and very beachy vibes.
Cove House
Harumama Noodles + Buns
I’ve actually never been to this specific location, but we’ve visited the one in Carlsbad. It’s a fun little noodle shop with the cutest little character buns. If you want to snap a cute foodie pic, this spot is for you!
Shorehouse Kitchen
Actually have never been to this one either, but it’s been on my list for the past year! It always has a crazy line, so we’ve never gotten to go. It looks to die for though, if you’re a big brunch fan.
What to Do
La Jolla Cove
A must for everyone. The view is so gorgeous, and there’s a really nice walking path down the coast. I always get questions about this photo: the cove is where I took the cover shot for this post. Go at sunset, it really is amazing.
Another must-do is seeing the sea lions at the cove! If you walk north for about 10 minutes from the cove, there’s a giant area where you can see the sea lions up close and personal. This was one of the coolest experiences IMO, because you get to see the animals in their natural habitats. I could honestly sit there and watch them for hours.
Torrey Pines Hang-gliding
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can go hang gliding at Torrey Pines! I’ve always wanted to do this, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. It looks so fun though.
San Diego Zoo
Just a 20 minute drive away, you can visit one of the best zoos in the country. You could spend a whole day here, but the time that we visited, we only stayed for about 4 hours and that was more than enough. There are so many different species you can see, and the zoo is really clean and well planned.
Hike!
There’s an endless number of hikes in the La Jolla/San Diego area, so no matter what level hiker you are there’s something for you. Just do a quick Google search of the hiking routes in the area, and you’ll find one near you.
Explore the town center
Every time we visit La Jolla, I always book out an afternoon just to wander around the town center. There are plenty of scooters (Limes & Birds) lying around, so you can easily scoot around the area, and up and down the coast. We also love just traveling around by foot! There’s a ton of cute shops to browse. The whole area is super safe, so just let yourself get lost. Probably one of my favorite things to do, honestly.
Sunny Jim Cave
There’s a fun little cave that you can climb down into. It’s walkable from the Cove, so it might be a good idea to stop by while you visit the Cove! Be careful as you’re walking down the stairs though; I totally busted it down 10 steps while we were there, because the steps were pretty slippery. Thank God I left with only a few bruises! To get to the cave you have to walk down about 150 steps, so just be careful on your way down.
WHEW! Okay I know that was pretty long, but truly, I love La Jolla and I hope this convinces at least one of you to visit. I almost don’t want to share because I feel like it’s my little secret spot, but of course I love you guys so much I have to share my little piece of heaven so you get to experience it too. 🙂