Guidebook for Cardiff
Food Scene
Lofty Coffee Company
90 N Coast Hwy 101Best coffee in Encinitas, great food too!
Great coffee, quick walk to great beaches for views or hanging there after. Yummy food! Tell Jose we sent you!
64 locals recommend
Coffee Coffee
970 N Coast Hwy 101Great coffee, quick walk to great beaches for views or hanging there after. Yummy food! Tell Jose we sent you!
Amazing coffee, another of our top favorites. Small menu for breakfast (avocado toast, and pastries)
17 locals recommend
Ironsmith Coffee Roasters
458 S Coast Hwy 101Amazing coffee, another of our top favorites. Small menu for breakfast (avocado toast, and pastries)
We love this coffee and have some of our favorite blend at the house for you to enjoy (Hummingbird). Limited drink menu and pastries. Right in downtown Cardiff, grab your coffee and walk down to the 101 for a nice walk along the beach.
32 locals recommend
Zumbar Coffee & Tea
111 Chesterfield DrWe love this coffee and have some of our favorite blend at the house for you to enjoy (Hummingbird). Limited drink menu and pastries. Right in downtown Cardiff, grab your coffee and walk down to the 101 for a nice walk along the beach.
Local Hot Spot: seasonal menu, craft cocktails. Make a reservation prior and enjoy!
100 locals recommend
Campfire
2725 State StLocal Hot Spot: seasonal menu, craft cocktails. Make a reservation prior and enjoy!
Delicious food, order at counter and seat yourself, gets busy on the weekends.
138 locals recommend
Fish 101 Leucadia
1468 N Coast Hwy 101Delicious food, order at counter and seat yourself, gets busy on the weekends.
Lotus Cafe & Juice Bar
765 S Coast Hwy 101Lots of healthy options.
Our favorite Pizza, woodfire, local wines and beers. Butterscotch pudding for dessert is yummy! You can now make reservations!
59 locals recommend
Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria
897 S Coast Hwy 101Our favorite Pizza, woodfire, local wines and beers. Butterscotch pudding for dessert is yummy! You can now make reservations!
Iconic brewery, you can go on a tour or just walk the grounds on your own. Enjoy a delicious meal while you're there.
232 locals recommend
Stone Brewing
1999 Citracado ParkwyIconic brewery, you can go on a tour or just walk the grounds on your own. Enjoy a delicious meal while you're there.
Essentials
Cardiff Seaside Market
2087 San Elijo AveTrader Joe's
2629 Gateway RdVons
453 Santa Fe Drclosest to our home
Shopping
Outdoor mall great for a quick shopping trip:
Free People, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Apple Store, Paper Source, Victoria's Secret, Madewell.
Food: Urban Plates, Panera, Casa De Bandini, Pressed Juicery, Coffee Bean, and Jimbo's Grocery Store.
62 locals recommend
Forum Carlsbad
1923 Calle BarcelonaOutdoor mall great for a quick shopping trip:
Free People, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Apple Store, Paper Source, Victoria's Secret, Madewell.
Food: Urban Plates, Panera, Casa De Bandini, Pressed Juicery, Coffee Bean, and Jimbo's Grocery Store.
Target
1010 N El Camino RealCute local mall with small mom & pop and large businesses to shop with.
21 locals recommend
Flower Hill Promenade
2720 Via De La ValleCute local mall with small mom & pop and large businesses to shop with.
Fashion Valley
7007 Friars Rdlarge mall with everything you could need!
One of my personal favorite malls. Open air, great restaurants and shopping.
11 locals recommend
University Town Center
One of my personal favorite malls. Open air, great restaurants and shopping.
Everything Else
If you need a mani/pedi - call for an appointment and then shop on the 101
760-632-8888
101 Nail Lounge
541 South Coast Highway 101If you need a mani/pedi - call for an appointment and then shop on the 101
760-632-8888
Parks & Nature
Torrey Pines State Reserve
12600 North Torrey Pines RoadBeautiful views, easy hikes.
Walk around the beautiful and peaceful Self Realization Meditation Gardens. Relax on a bench overlooking the ocean and take it all in.
92 locals recommend
Meditation Gardens
215 W K StWalk around the beautiful and peaceful Self Realization Meditation Gardens. Relax on a bench overlooking the ocean and take it all in.
Beautiful beach, tide pools (if you go at low tide) with all sorts of beautiful creatures hiding. Lots of stairs to walk up and down to get to and from the beach. Beautiful at sunset.
117 locals recommend
Swami's Beach
Beautiful beach, tide pools (if you go at low tide) with all sorts of beautiful creatures hiding. Lots of stairs to walk up and down to get to and from the beach. Beautiful at sunset.
Our favorite beach for a good day at the ocean. Parking is about $15 for the day. There are tide pools south of the lifeguard towers.
8 locals recommend
Seaside State Beach
Our favorite beach for a good day at the ocean. Parking is about $15 for the day. There are tide pools south of the lifeguard towers.
If you walk south down Mackinnon you can walk down to the park. After you cross the bridge that goes over the freeway turn right and follow the path to the park. We like to pack picnics and let our girls run around.
31 locals recommend
Encinitas Community Park
425 Santa Fe DrIf you walk south down Mackinnon you can walk down to the park. After you cross the bridge that goes over the freeway turn right and follow the path to the park. We like to pack picnics and let our girls run around.
Drinks & Nightlife
SHELTER Encinitas
540 S Coast Hwy 101Open air bar, newly remodeled, fun!
1st Street Bar
656 S Coast Hwy 101Fun - dive bar, DJ and dancing.
Great bands come through, you might try to book tickets before your visit, but they have tickets at sale at the door too.
271 locals recommend
Belly Up
143 S Cedros AveGreat bands come through, you might try to book tickets before your visit, but they have tickets at sale at the door too.
Arts & Culture
Lots of great restaurants, shopping, and history. Mexican food and margaritas, live music, parks to walk around, people watching, this spot has it all. You can take the train down from Encinitas to avoid driving and parking.
170 locals recommend
Old Town San Diego
4002 Wallace StLots of great restaurants, shopping, and history. Mexican food and margaritas, live music, parks to walk around, people watching, this spot has it all. You can take the train down from Encinitas to avoid driving and parking.
Balboa Park
Museums, gardens, artisans, and beautiful sites.