I am originally from San Francisco, but I am a SoCal girl at heart. I love being in Southern California soaking in the sun. Hart loves surfing and being in San Diego, so we’ve made it a point to escape the Chicago winter for San Diego every year. It has become one of our favorite traditions. There’s a variety of neighborhoods and vibes to explore throughout the city and its beaches. Over the last couple of years, we’ve fallen in love with Ocean Beach (OB), San Diego.
OB is the perfect little beach town for us – it’s low-key yet eccentric, perfect for surfing, and has an abundance of places to eat and drink. I absolutely love it and I bet you would too! If you’re looking to go on a trip to OB or need to be persuaded to go then this post is for you. I’ll walk through the ultimate guide to OB with all of my favorite places to go.
Where to Stay in Ocean Beach
OB isn’t home to large hotel chains so I’d recommend booking something through a site like Airbnb. I’ve found that there are accommodations for every type of person. You can stay in a low-key hotel, a hostel, beach shack or bungalow.
Budget
Samusen Hostel – This hostel is perfect for solo or couple travels. It’s affordable and centrally located. I was wary of staying here when we did because sometimes hostels can be so rundown. That is not the case here. The hostel is well-maintained, clean with plenty of amenities, and the friendliest staff. A few of their amenities include free beach towels, surfboard rentals, breakfast, and a popular patio with a fire pit. What I loved most about this place was it’s location.
One Bedrooms
A beach shack is another great option for solo or couple travelers. They’re often just a small, one bedroom place right off the beach. There are several on Airbnb to choose from. We’ve stayed in this shack on Voltaire street that had 4 identical shacks in one property. It was a great option for a long weekend with good outdoor space but was a little further away from the main street (although still walking distance.) These are some other great options on Airbnb – this stylish one bedroom, this bungalow studio studio, or this guesthouse on the beach.
This last one is a bit of a splurge, but I love this boho cottage.
Two Bedrooms
If you have a larger group or a family, a beach bungalow might be a better option. We haven’t stayed in any bungalows, but I really love this two bedroom, this bungalow near the park, and this home with a hot tub.
Getting Around Ocean Beach
Car: You don’t really need a car to get around OB. It can be nice to have if you’re driving to a further point for something like surfing and need to transport your board, but otherwise, I’d recommend not getting a car. If you do have one, there is ample free street parking along the residential streets.
Scooter: I love using scooters to get around the neighborhood. Ocean Beach is an extremely walkable area, but sometimes you want to get around a bit faster. We use scooters to get to Sunset Cliffs and it’s great. They’re fun, safe and efficient. You’ll see scooters lying around and can download the corresponding app to pay for it. The most common scooters you’ll see are Lynk and Bird.
Bike: If you’re looking to explore the neighborhood by bike, you can rent them from a handful of shops near Newport Ave. Again, the area is very walkable so you likely won’t need a a bike unless you want to joy ride or get to somewhere like the Cliffs.
Where To Eat
There are plenty of options for things to eat in OB. Whether you’re a meat lover, a vegan, or just a picky eater, you will find a restaurant you love in the neighborhood. Newport Ave is the main street of OB and you can find most of the restaurants on or around this street; but, don’t discount the restaurants a little further away either. Those can be just as good and typically a bit cheaper. Here are some of my favorite options!
Breakfast
The Breakfast Republic: Although there are locations throughout the city, this is a must-go spot in OB. While you can get a normal American breakfast entrée, this is not your typical American brunch spot. The menu consists of a twist on comfort foods like mashed potato omelets, Oreo cookie pancakes, and crab & crawfish cake benedicts. They have seasonal menu items to keep an eye out for as well like a pomegranate mimosa in the winter. Of course, with all good restaurants, you can expect a wait – but it’s worth it!
Margarita’s Family Restaurant: If you’re looking for a low-key diner style breakfast, Margarita’s is for you! This is your typical American breakfast spot. It’s a comforting, no-nonsense, and easy breakfast place for when you just want something simple. One thing to note is you can pay with a card, but you can’t tip on the card. You’ll want to make sure you have cash.
Little Lions Café: If you step away from the main drag of Newport Ave a bit and head over to Sunset Cliffs, you’ll find Little Lions Café. This is a cute little Belgian café with an amazing breakfast. If you love a good Instagram brunch photo, this is where to do it. It’s not your typical neon sign with boxwood backdrop, but it’s quite picturesque. I love their waffles, which are served with fruit on the side.
Snacks
I’m not sure about you, but I love snacks. Okay, I may also need snacks to survive until dinner without being hangry, but that is beside the point. Snacks are good and there are awesome ways to get snacks in OB. It is no secret that I love smoothies, so I’m always searching for a smoothie or an acai bowl.
Tiki Port: This isn’t quite a cart, but also really isn’t a brick and mortar restaurant either. It’s in a parking lot a couple of blocks away from Newport Ave. They have plenty of items like coffee, pastries and acai bowls. This is currently may favorite place to get acai bowls. It is packed with mangos and coconut, which are my favorite toppings.
OB Smoothie & Subs: Located on Newport Ave just off of the beach, OB Smoothie & Subs is popular spot to get smoothies and acai bowls. I like their bowls a lot. The smallest size is pretty large and I could have shared one with Hart. It is packed with strawberries, bananas, blueberries and honey. Hart’s favorite.
If you’re looking for a coffee pick-me-up, you can check out The Template or Azucar. The Template is an eccentric coffee shop with live music, nitro coffee and chill vibes. It’s located right off of the pier. Azucar is a cuban-style bakery and coffee shop with plenty of baked goods to choose from as well!
Lunch & Dinner
I could talk about what to eat for lunch and/or dinner for an entire blog post. Maybe I will at some point because these next few snippets on restaurants can’t do it justice. I love eating my way through Ocean Beach. There are so many options for every palate. We still haven’t eaten everywhere on my list.
Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives
Alright so these next few restaurants have been on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives so they’re very popular restaurants – expect a wait.
OB Noodle House: This Asian-fusion restaurant lives up to the hype. I had the best pho of my life here and it wasn’t even the signature pho. Their beef broth is amazing. Hart loved it so much that he ate his dish and then finished off mine as well. If you’re not in the mood for pho, their spicy garlic chicken wings are also a must-try! The food is phenomenal and the ambience only makes the experience better. There is indoor and outdoor seating with 2000’s hip-hop playing in the background. There are two locations in OB so don’t miss it!
Hodad’s Hamburgers: Hodad’s is an extremely popular place for locals and tourists alike. At prime meal times, the line will wrap around the buildings. The burgers, onion rings and shakes are the signature dishes you’ll want to try here. The burgers and shakes are huge. One shake felt like an entire quart of ice cream. The two of us couldn’t finish a shake and a burger in the same sitting. Overall, the burger wasn’t the best burger I’ve ever had, but it is good. If you are looking for the best burger, I don’t think Hodad’s is your spot but it is a good vibe and ambience. Like the rest of OB, the atmosphere is eccentric with stickers surrounding every inch of the building and seats. There is also a cool van you could sit in while you eat if you’re lucky!
NOTE: If you are looking for the best burger, check out Raglan’s Public House. The New Zealand cuisine pub is amazing and offers a variety of burgers and sandwiches.
Pizzeria Luigi: Full disclosure, I haven’t tried this place yet. Chicago is known for pizza so I’m not usually craving pizza when I’m visiting other cities, however it’s on the list for our next trip. They have dairy-free and vegan pizzas to choose from as well.
Seafood
Wonderland Ocean Pub: This seafood joint is overlooking the beach, which makes it the perfect place to grab a bite to eat at sunset. I wouldn’t say it’s the best restaurant in OB; however, the view is priceless and the food is good. It’s mostly seafood, but there are other options on the menu as well..
Blue Water Seafood: This casual place is great! It’s right off of the beach, but hidden behind OB Surf Lodge a bit. The outdoor seating is a good vibe and great for groups. The high quality seafood comes with a high quality price tag, but the ambience and the food makes it worth it.
Cal-Mex
Mike’s Taco Club – You can’t visit San Diego without a California burrito! I know I said I was a SoCal girl at heart, but I was born and raised in the Bay Area so I am partial when it comes to burritos. I love a good Mission-style burrito, specifically from Pancho Villa in San Francisco. However, if I’m going to cheat on Pancho Villa with another burrito, it’s going to be at Mike’s Taco Club. They have the best California-style burritos. I would also recommend trying their carne asada fries. We get Mike’s at least once, but sometimes twice, every time we’re in the city. You can eat at the restaurant or do my favorite and take it to go to eat on the beach!
La Doña: This is another local favorite located just off Newport Ave. The chef was born and raised in Tijuana. It has a really good vibe and patio for you to enjoy. If you stop in for a meal, make sure you save room for the churros after your meal because they are amazing!
What to Do In Ocean Beach
I’d say the number one thing to do in Ocean Beach is to go to the beach, but that’s just me. You could go surfing, brewery hopping, watch an amazing sunset or just pop into the stores along the main drag. OB really does have something for everyone.
Where to Surf
There a few good spots to surf in Ocean Beach and I’ll outline them below. If you are needing to rent some gear, you can check out Ocean Beach Surf & Skate Shop or The Shed OB. Both are great, but The Shed OB is directly across from the beach. There are ample places to grab surf lessons as well if you’re interested.
Garbage Beach: Don’t worry, there is not garbage all over the place here. We were first taken here by a friend and it can be a little tricky to find. You’ll park at the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park (which is also nice to walk around) and the surf break is just below. You can get to the bottom using the stairs, but we were taken down a path with a rope. It’s a bit of a hike down to get to the water, so while the boys surfed, another friend and I hung out on the cliffs for a bit.
Luscomb Point: This is where Hart surfed our first time in OB. This spot is located in Sunset Cliffs as well. It’s just before the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. Once you get to the cliff, just walk down the cliff’s side to get to the bottom.
OB Pier & Ocean Beach: Surfing at Ocean Beach is an obvious contender. This is an easy spot to choose if you’re renting your equipment from one of the shops near by and/or don’t have a car. You can surf over by the pier or on the other side near the dog beach. Be careful not to surf in swim-only zones and likewise, be careful not swim in surf zones. The lifeguards will call you out for it and surfers can get fined.
If you have a car and you are wanting to get out of OB to surf, you can also check out La Jolla.
Where to Drink
After a day of surfing, soaking up the sun or discovering your inner bohemian self in some of the shops along the strip, you may be ready for a drink or two. There are plenty of bars and breweries for you to choose from.
The Holding Company: It’s a restaurant, a bar, and a live music venue directly across from Ocean Beach Brewery. This 21+ bar has 3 different levels including a rooftop, each with their own vibe. The first floor is for live music, the second floor has DJ and then third floor is the rooftop. There is brunch on Saturday and Sunday or lunch/dinner any day of the week.
Breweries: As a I mentioned there are several breweries in Ocean Beach. I’m not a big beer person, but I’ve gone to OB Brewery and Rincon Reservation Road Brewery. OB Brewery has a nice rooftop and a food menu to give you some fuel, which is always good. The food is okay, but I wouldn’t plan your day around eating there when you have so many other options. Rincon is a new tribally-owned brewery that just popped up and is a less packed than OB Brewery. Other breweries to check are:
- Kilowatt Brewing
- Pizza Port
- Mike Hess Brewing
- California Wild Ales
Where to Watch Sunset
I love a good sunrise or sunset, but I enjoy sleeping so I may be a bit partial to a good sunset. One of the best parts of being on the west coast is being able to watch the sun set over the ocean. It’s so beautiful. If you’re in OB, you should definitely take the time to slow down and watch the sunset at least once.
Ocean Beach: An obvious place to enjoy the sunset is right on the beach. You can watch in from the sand, the grass behind the beach or even grab a sit on the ledge off the sidewalk. You could also watch the sunset overlooking the beach at a restaurant like Wonderland or OB Surf Lodge.
Sunset Cliffs: We’ve watched the sun set over the cliffs more times than I can count at this point. You can walk or scooter over to the cliffs. Depending on your fear of heights and/or cliffs, you can climb onto a rock or watch from behind a rope.
Blacks Beach: Okay, so this isn’t actually in OB, but it is one of my favorite places to watch the sunset. You can hike down to Blacks Beach from the Torrey Pines Gliderport or watch from the cliffs above. It is a wonderful view and one you can’t miss if you have a car available. The hike is steep to make it all the way to bottom and back, but the sunset is beautiful no matter if you’re at the top, middle or bottom of the cliffs. We usually like to hike down and then hike back up to watch the sunset somewhere in the middle.
I hope you enjoyed my travel guide to Ocean Beach, a place that has become near and dear to my heart. If you want to watch a quick mini vlog of our last trip to OB, check it out here. You can keep up with all of my other travels on my travel page.
Have you been to OB before? Let me know what you love about it in the comments below!
I LOVE a mission-style burrito, but I’ve never had one in southern California! I can’t wait to try Mike’s Taco Club on my next trip. I also so appreciate the recommendations for catching the sunset, it can be hard to know where to go (and sometimes you don’t think about it until it’s too late!).