Elizabeth’s guidebook
Local Restaurants and Cafes We Recommend
Encinitas, Cardiff and Leucadia have many wonderful eateries. We are "foodies" so we will only recommend restaurants which offer excellent food and service.
Pannikin Coffee & Tea
510 N Coast Hwy 101Best coffee and gluten free muffins!
Swamis Cafe
1163 S Coast Hwy 101Great breakfast place!
Great high end pizza and salads with good wine and micro-brew beer options in downtown Encinitas.
59 locals recommend
Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria
897 S Coast Hwy 101Great high end pizza and salads with good wine and micro-brew beer options in downtown Encinitas.
Lovely restaurant/local winery, fun outdoor patio, nice bar indoors, sometimes have live music. Located in Leucadia on coast highway.
85 locals recommend
Solterra Winery & Kitchen
934 North Coast Highway 101Lovely restaurant/local winery, fun outdoor patio, nice bar indoors, sometimes have live music. Located in Leucadia on coast highway.
VG Donut & Bakery
106 Aberdeen DrFamous local donuts and pastries located in Cardiff.
Walking distance (just across Mt. Vista at the corner of El Camino). Great food and fun atmosphere. Family friendly.
20 locals recommend
The Craftsman Tavern
267 N El Camino RealWalking distance (just across Mt. Vista at the corner of El Camino). Great food and fun atmosphere. Family friendly.
Jorge's Mexicatessen
417 Santa Fe DrExcellent and inexpensive Mexican food. Just one block away!
Sushi Bar Blue Fin
257 N El Camino RealWalking distance. Great sushi, family friendly.
Excellent rolls and specials. Easier to get into than Blue Fin but just as good in our opinion.
Hooked on sushi
272 N El Camino RealExcellent rolls and specials. Easier to get into than Blue Fin but just as good in our opinion.
Excellent for breakfast or lunch. Gluten-free and vegan options. Love the pancakes!
47 locals recommend
Lotus Cafe & Juice Bar
765 S Coast Hwy 101Excellent for breakfast or lunch. Gluten-free and vegan options. Love the pancakes!
One of our favorite cafes near Moonlight Beach. Go for a walk on the beach just down the street then have breakfast at Lofty ...a great weekend starter. We love the avocado toast and lattes.
82 locals recommend
Lofty Coffee Company
90 N Coast Hwy 101One of our favorite cafes near Moonlight Beach. Go for a walk on the beach just down the street then have breakfast at Lofty ...a great weekend starter. We love the avocado toast and lattes.
A fun place for dinner and live music. Great food and wine list. Outdoor patio in back is a special place to enjoy a meal.
114 locals recommend
Le Papagayo
1002 N Coast Hwy 101A fun place for dinner and live music. Great food and wine list. Outdoor patio in back is a special place to enjoy a meal.
Breakfast Republic
2730 University AveChart House
2588 S Coast Hwy 101Great ocean front location
Pacific Coast Grill
2526 S Coast Hwy 101Pipes Cafe
121 Liverpool DrBuona Forchetta - Encinitas
250 N Coast Hwy 101Amazing Italian food. Close to the beach for a sunset walk before dinner. Great wine list.
15 locals recommend
Trattoria Positano
2171 San Elijo AveAmazing Italian food. Close to the beach for a sunset walk before dinner. Great wine list.
Beaches and other local spots
What to do in Encinitas
Family friendly beach with bathrooms, snack bar, playground, lots of lifeguards. Not a great surf spot but convenient with parking and all the amenities. After a day at the beach visit local restaurants nearby or stop for an ice cream at Handles.
322 locals recommend
Moonlight Beach
400 B StFamily friendly beach with bathrooms, snack bar, playground, lots of lifeguards. Not a great surf spot but convenient with parking and all the amenities. After a day at the beach visit local restaurants nearby or stop for an ice cream at Handles.
Cardiff State Beach
Great surf spot, mostly locals. Must pay to park.
Great local surf spot. Must pay to park. Fun restaurants nearby such as Tower 13, Pacific Coast Grill, Las Olas, and Kai's.
39 locals recommend
San Elijo State Beach
2050 S Coast Hwy 101Great local surf spot. Must pay to park. Fun restaurants nearby such as Tower 13, Pacific Coast Grill, Las Olas, and Kai's.
Swami's Beach
Local surf spot near downtown Encinitas.
Fun playgrounds for the kids, dog park, sport fields, skate park.
31 locals recommend
Encinitas Community Park
425 Santa Fe DrFun playgrounds for the kids, dog park, sport fields, skate park.
Beautiful meditation garden and views of the Pacific ocean. Entrance is free.
130 locals recommend
Self-Realization Fellowship Encinitas Temple
939 2nd StBeautiful meditation garden and views of the Pacific ocean. Entrance is free.
Gorgeous gardens with children's play areas, gift shop, and walking paths.
196 locals recommend
San Diego Botanic Garden
300 Quail Gardens DrGorgeous gardens with children's play areas, gift shop, and walking paths.
San Diego Adventures
San Diego has many tourist attractions to visit, all under 30 minutes from your home base in Encinitas.
There is so much to do and see at Balboa Park. From the Museum of Art to the San Diego Zoo, you will love spending a day here!
3290 locals recommend
Balboa Park
There is so much to do and see at Balboa Park. From the Museum of Art to the San Diego Zoo, you will love spending a day here!
Seaworld is a fun place to visit but can get really crowded so plan accordingly.
1754 locals recommend
SeaWorld San Diego
500 Sea World Dr.Seaworld is a fun place to visit but can get really crowded so plan accordingly.
Just a 30 minute drive. Fun place to spend the day. Gets really hot in the summer.
165 locals recommend
San Diego Safari Park( Insidegate) station
Just a 30 minute drive. Fun place to spend the day. Gets really hot in the summer.
LEGOLAND California
One Legoland DrJust 15 minutes away.
Fun day trip, rent bikes at the Del Coronado or walk on the path around the Island.
487 locals recommend
Coronado Island
Fun day trip, rent bikes at the Del Coronado or walk on the path around the Island.
Golf
Encinitas Ranch Golf Course
1275 Quail Gardens DrTorrey Pines Golf Course
11480 N Torrey Pines RdLomas Santa Fe Executive Golf Course
1580 Sun Valley RdFood scene
Great local market with take out deli, excellent cheese shop, great produce and bakery. The best meat/fish counter.
176 locals recommend
Cardiff Seaside Market
2087 San Elijo AveGreat local market with take out deli, excellent cheese shop, great produce and bakery. The best meat/fish counter.