The stores in San Diego, California, are among the best in the southern United States for shopping, and many of the people who benefit most from this are Tijuana, Rosarito, and Tecate, Mexican cities that border the United States.
Let’s get to know a selection of the best places in San Diego that include clothing stores, shoes, accessories, galleries, jewelry stores, books, gourmet foods, and other specialties.
1. Fashion Valley San Diego
Fashion Valley San Diego is a 150,000 m 2 shopping center visited annually by millions of people who live or travel in the southern United States, with more than 200 stores and exclusive restaurants. It is both a tourist and retail shopping destination.
Stores and brands present include AX Armani Exchange, Athleta, Apple, 3DHQ, Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, Boss, Chanel, Charles Koll Jewellers, Chico’s, Club Monaco, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Coach New York, The Container Store, Cotton On, Disney Store, Balenciaga, and Emporio Armani.
As for places to eat and drink, there are places like 59th & Lex Café, Better Buzz Coffee, Café Sócrates, The Cheesecake Factory, and eBar at Nordstrom.
His most popular restaurants are Bibigo Kitchen, Blanco Tacos + Tequila, California Pizza Kitchen, NoRTH Italia, PF Chang’s China Bistro, So Sushi, and Zodiac Restaurant at Neiman Marcus, and 59th & Lex.
2. Spanish Village Art Center
Spanish Village Art Center combines art with shopping and entertainment. It’s in Balboa Park with the studios of over 200 local artists who perform, display, and sell their work in the art center.
You will be able to see the creators transforming the oil paintings, canvases, stones, wood, metals, cardboard, and other materials, into handicrafts and works of art that they leave for sale.
The Spanish Village Art Center also offers courses in watercolor, ceramics, sculpture, potter’s wheel turning, glazing, Chinese brush painting, totem pole construction, glass blowing, stained glass, paint pouring, and polymer clay working techniques.
In the area, there is a city observation tower and a botanical garden.
3. Seaport Village
More than 50 stores and 13 restaurants endorse this open-air mall facing the Pacific Ocean as one of the most seductive in the Californian city.
Its stores include the best brands in women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing, accessories, swimwear, and toys, as well as stores selling gastronomic products, wine tasting, art, souvenirs, body care items, seasonal decorations, and lights.
Everything in the Harley-Davidson store is original, including jackets, t-shirts, key chains, patches, glasses, and photos.
Seaport Village has its historic carousel with horses and other pieces carved by hand at the end of the 19th century. To eat, there are grills, seafood, Mexican cuisine, fast food, pastry shops, and ice cream parlors.
4. Buddha For You Gifts & Books
Shop with statues, pieces of art, and other articles related to Buddhism. It’s a laid-back spot in San Diego with one of the best selections of Asian art and meditation supplies.
The exhibited articles bring together the simplicity, serenity, and beauty of the current art around Buddha and allow the creation of spiritual and relaxing environments in the garden, the home, the office, and the Buddhist temples themselves.
The collection includes fine and ancient statues, Tibetan and Nepalese thangkas, and garden statues with pieces from Nepal, India, Bali, and Thailand.
5. Warwick’s
Founded in 1896, Warwick’s is America’s oldest family-owned and operated bookstore, selling gifts, jewelry, pens, leather goods, stationery, and office supplies in addition to books.
It is one of the few bookstores in the world that has been visited by best-selling writers and literary award winners.
It also maintains a regular program of events with authors such as the Chilean, Isabel Allende, the American, Alice Walker (Pulitzer winner with the novel The Color Purple), and the Malaysian of Chinese origin, Yangsze Choo.
Warwick’s has bestsellers, classics, audiobooks, and autographed books, for its more than 150 annual book signing events, in addition to the autographs stamped by authors on their casual visits to the bookstore.
The gift department has a wide selection of gifts made by local and branded artists and artisans.
6. Seven Stitches Jewelry
Jewelry in San Diego with handmade pieces such as bracelets, Pacha Mama bags, statement pieces, chokers, and limited edition bracelets, necklaces, and earrings.
One of its purposes is the empowerment of women, which is why the store donates 10% of its income to this.
Men’s products include faceted onyx, faceted Dalmatian jasper, labradorite, turquoise and onyx, amazonite and onyx, commercial pearls, labradorite, and silver, ebony and bone wood, onyx and pearls, ebony and pearls, and pearls knotted with silver fittings.
The successful line of Pacha Mama bags includes pieces with pearls, tassels and with fringes, and charms.
In the series of women’s bracelets, there are large pearl bracelets with skulls, large bracelets with dark pearls, onyx, faceted Dalmatian jasper, pearls and vintage chain, light blue quartz and leather, jade and leather and ebony wood and opal.
7. Chuck Jones Gallery
These galleries have represented the art of American pop culture since they were founded in 1977 by Linda Jones, daughter of the famous American cartoonist, screenwriter, animator, producer, and director, Chuck Jones (1912-2002).
Its mission is to find works of art wherever they are and bring them to collectors and interested people.
His first location was Corona del Mar, where Chuck Jones lived. Currently, there are locations in Santa Fe (New Mexico), Orange, Costa Mesa, and the Gaslamp District, San Diego (California).
The galleries represent numerous artists and studios. They offer unique works of art to thousands of collectors from California, the United States, and the world.
Chuck Jones was a multifaceted artist who helped create popular cartoon characters like Coyote and the Roadrunner, Marvin the Martian, and Pepe Le Pew during his successful work at the Warner Brothers animation studios.
He won an Oscar in 1965 for the animated short film, The Dot and the Line, and another honorary one in 1996 for his career as a whole.
8. Catalina Offshore Products
Company with more than 40 years of offering the best fish products in San Diego. The adventure began in 1977 when its owner, diver Dave Rudie, began selling sea urchins from the seaweed beds off the California coast from his boat.
Rudie set up a small processing site for local deliveries and then began exporting his products to Japan. Catalina Offshore Products is one of the largest suppliers of seafood in San Diego, as well as one of the largest buyers of seafood.
The list of products includes tuna (Maguro and Toro), yellowtail, caviar, roe, lobster, prawns, shrimp, crab, salmon, sea urchins, premium fish fillets, sushi and sashimi-grade fish, sauces, and special kitchen supplies. such as oyster knives, shrimp cleaners, premium sushi rice, seaweed sushi sheets, and cedar planks.
9. Nordstrom Rack La Jolla
These stores are good for saving on clothes, shoes, bags, beauty products, accessories, and decoration items. They have both the latest fashion trends and everyday products.
Some of the global brands are Calvin Klein, Adidas, Nike, and Joe’s Jeans. Others also available are Zella, Madewell, Kate Spade, Cole Haan, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, Max Studio, Vince Camuto, and Tommy Bahama.
In the women’s clothing line there is a wide assortment of dresses, loungewear, blouses, blazers, tops, pants, coats, shorts, and mini shorts.
In the footwear department, there are classic sneakers, trendy sneakers, platform shoes, sandals, and many other models. The men’s clothing sector exhibits pants, jeans, shirts, t-shirts, t-shirts, ties, jackets, blazers, scarves, and socks.
The sunglasses department has seasonal designs and shades from the most prestigious brands.
10. The Cave Store
Among the stores in San Diego, The Cave Store is the only one where you can buy a souvenir and at the same time enter an authentic old smuggler’s cave.
From La Jolla’s waterfront, marine-themed gift shop you can enter one of San Diego’s coolest attractions: Sunny Jim’s Cave.
It is accessed through a dark tunnel and is the only Californian sea cave with an entrance from the land.
The tunnel was dug between 1902 and 1904 at the initiative of the German engineer, Gustav Schulz, while the name Sunny Jim was coined by the writer, Lyman Frank Baum, author of the famous children’s novel, The Wizard of Oz.
Admission is $5 and $3 for adults and children, respectively. Access is handled by the store itself and prices for souvenirs are good.
