We can always count on the OB Boardwalk for an eclectic mix of people. Tourists, locals, homeless…read more(not aggressive in our experience), buskers, craft vendors, surfers...you name it! The views, the ocean breeze, the sun. Soak it all in. Take a walk on the pier. Put your feet in the water. If the kettle corn guy is there, by all means treat yourself to some. It's really good. If you're fortunate enough to visit during the craft fair, stroll through for some treasures. We love OB.

This walkway stretches along the beach, offering stunning ocean views, picturesque pier sights, and…read morea lively atmosphere that's perfect for a leisurely stroll or a fun-filled day out. I love walking along the boardwalk, taking in the salty air, and stopping at the various shops, eateries, and surf spots along the way. Whether you're a local or just visiting, the OB Boardwalk is a must-visit destination for its classic beach town vibes and unforgettable sunsets.

Beautiful garden with an array of CA native plants. Gravel paths meander through hillside. This…read moreplace Is larger than I anticipated. Many helpful signs identifying plants. Garden is well-tended to. No sketchy people in sight unlike the comment I read on Google, which was 7 years old. Nice to see wooden bridges and lookout deck built by the Scouts. I appreciate all the work that volunteers must dedicate to keeping this garden flourishing.

Free SD public native garden that's got a variety of plants and paths to walk along or sit down and…read moretake in the greenery.

i almost want to gate keep this place since it is hard enough to get a reservation, but elvira…read moredeserves all of its flowers! we reserved for a large party, and got a room to ourselves that truly felt like walking into someone's home dinner table! the service was excellent, our waitress had recommendations for everyone. she was also very clear with me as a vegetarian when items (like the eggplant) would be fried alongside meat which was super sweet of her! i ordered the rigatoni sugo with ricotta, and i think everyone was jealous because of how stunning it was. the ricotta and basil were fresh and the pasta was perfectly al dente, no notes! we were celebrating a birthday, so we even got a pistachio tiramisu and a cute polaroid souvenir! as a note: we had brought a cake from another place, and they do warn they can only serve cakes from other businesses (not homemade) and will cut and serve the cake themselves! we had no issues, but haven't experienced this before. definitely will be back!

I came to Elvira with my family from out of state and a couple of my best girlfriends. We had a…read moregroup of 6 and were seated outside on the patio. I had really high hopes for Elvira since I've been to cesarina and LOVED it. While the food was good, I personally did not think it lived up to the expectations I had in mind. My personal favorite of the evening was the pizza, which was genuinely delicious. However the specialty pasta we ordered tasted bland and was not worth the price. I understand entirely that it is hot out in San Diego this summer, but our entire party was dripping sweat the entirety of the meal. The outside fans were not on and there were a ton of flies constantly swarming the dining tables. One even flew into my glass of wine and I had to get a new glass. That being said, I totally understand that restaurants cannot control the outside temperature or whatever bugs are lurking around, but it wasn't until we paid the check that they finally turned the fans on and we realized all along that we could have been having a much better dining experience if they were on sooner. There are a lot of amazing options on the menu and everything tasted pretty good, I just wish it would have been a more comfortable dining experience. If I go back, I will only book if I'm able to get an inside table, and I'll definitely give some other menu items a try. Overall, the decor is cute. Our waitress was friendly. The food was good. Just nothing too spectacular.

I like to call this "kiddie corner" because the area around Ebers Street and between Saratoga…read moreAvenue and Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach is irretrievably a neighborhood devoted to children and childcare. The bastions of Ocean Beach Elementary and Sacred Heart Academy are right there. There is the Ocean Beach Park & Recreation Center-where generations of children have played and hung out. The hippie haven of the Children's Energy Center-a daycare like no other is nearby and there are other Church-related daycares close to it all. A small, passive park attached to the other side of the Ocean Beach Park & Rec Center alley-the Saratoga Kid's Park is a gathering spot for lots of local kids who come up with their parents in strollers, trikes, bikes or simply on foot. On the weekends, the Park is overrun with them and the benches and picnic tables get quite a workout too. The Jungle Gym and swings are only a few years old- the Park was recently refurbished and freshened up with new equipment. What's nice about the Kiddie Playground there-it doesn't look ghetto or like a hang-out for punky teens. The Park & Rec must maintain it since there is no graffiti or trash. The only time it's gross is when the perpetually-flaky OB dog-owners bathroom their dogs in the sand or lawn area. Otherwise, a perfect spot to roll up with the kids and let them run around till they get hungry or tired-or preferably both! Which could only mean blessed words to hear, which are: NAP TIME!

This park is awesome for kids three and under. Wish I had known before I drove all the way out…read morehere. My daughter just turned five and she was done in less than an hour. Great place if your child is smaller.

Been frequenting this area for a long while or a big chunk of/span of my lifetime. As a local…read morenative San Diegan I like to introduce spots to people who travel into the surrounding area. Point Loma is one of those places since it has a certain charm to it. Don'tcha think!? *It's very historical and strongly tied to those who serve or have served our country. Hence the anchor logo and other nautical features you'll spot in the area. Especially since the NAVY is right there in town. *The market hosts many different food and small business vendors all in one hall. Truly a hidden gem and so glad they opened up the space to share with those business owners. *You can visit larger restaurants establishments in the very near vicinity as well. It's touristy and locals favorite hot spot vibe is all rolled into one fused place here. *Very Family and fur baby friendly! *Very close to some nice hotels as well! Hope you enjoy as much as I do! Cheers!

I hadn't been back here since before COVID. I'm so glad we decided to pop by for lunch. Food halls…read moreare perfect for parties that don't all want to eat the same thing. My friend and I tried three places here, and most of them were great. The wonton noodles from Slurp actually had a heaping big portion that we were struggling to finish. The platter we ordered from Asado Gaucho, while tasty, were too overcooked for our taste. The empanadas from Panana were to. die. for. If I come back, I am 100% grabbing some to go. We had asked the employee for recommendations and they were all spot on. If you have to try anything in this hall - highly recommend their empanadas!! I regret not buying more to take back home LOL.

Chill, spontaneous, and a place with good food…read more I love coming here to people watch, and when I do come here there's always something new happening. Sometimes the events here are huge and fun! Come on down!

We absolutely LOVE beaches! We used to spend more time in Ocean Beach area when friends lived here…read more We love visiting surrounding shops and eateries. Afterwards, a stroll on the beach was the BONUS part of the day! Ocean Beach Pier has one of the longest concrete pier on the West Coast! They say it's a half mile long. The local area is very laid back. Quite a few small local type shops. I enjoy the vintage antique shops! It's that 1970's vibe that brings back all the memories! You won't find the big box chain type stores here. The ocean waves are beautiful! The 70 degree something weather is perfect for the stroll on the beach. The sounds of the waves are relaxing. The surfers catching a big wave is exciting! Overall, it's a beautiful experience!

The atmosphere of this place is great. It feels very homey! The service was top notch…read more First we had the complimentary bread and it was amazing I couldn't stop eating! Then we had the Tartufona and I think that's my absolute favorite pasta! We also had Arrabbiatissima and it was a little spicy but it was good. I definitely prefer the Tartufona better though. We also tried the octopus and everything they had on the plate just works SO WELL together. We almost licked the plate clean!! I normally don't like a lot of seafood but I loved this appetizer. For dessert we had tiramisu and they brought up the ladyfingers separately and poured espresso and other stuff on it in front of us so the ladyfingers dun get too soggy. I'm usually not a sweets person but I loved this too. First time trying tor Italian soda. They said blood orange one is the best but it was so out so we tried lime. I liked it. Also ordered a lemonade. It's very mild but it was very good, not too sour. Wish they brought this restaurant to Chicago! 100% recommend!!!

Outstanding. I loved my experience here…read more I appreciated the service, I had a reservation and was seated quickly. If you don't have a reservation you may wait a while as it was packed even on a Monday night. They were attentive to my requests and quick to offer recommendations when I asked. The cocktail I tried was perfectly balanced and I loved the addition of the thyme, it actually added to the experience of the cocktail rather than functioning as just a garnish. I love a Spanish octopus dish so I couldn't pass this one up, AND I don't recommend you do either! It was exceptional. I think romesco and pulpo are a match made in heaven. Please try it. Couldn't pick between the pastas so I ended up with both the bolognese and funghi options, the bolognese being my favorite. The pasta was cooked beautifully. I did love the rich umami of the mushrooms, but if anything it may have been a bit too much on the rich side. The portions are truly massive so any of their pasta dishes can function as several meals. Not featured in the pictures is their tiramisu which was a reason to go all by itself. The restaurant was a bit warm during the heat wave but still pleasant. the vibes were comfortable, colorful, and welcoming Overall a really great experience and I'll certainly be back next time I'm in town

Green Flash is a meteorological optical phenomena that you can see during sunset or sunrise. It is…read morevery rare to be able to see. Given the right conditions, you can see a distinct green spot above the sun's upper limb, that usually only lasts for no longer than two seconds. It is even more rare, the green flash can resemble a green ray shooting up from the sunset or sunrise point. This sculpture is the work of Malcolm Jones and is dedicated to that phenomenon, but it in no way aids you of viewing. You will find it on the Mission Beach boardwalk. The piece is made of a solid cast acrylic archway that is supported by two concrete pillars. There is also a bronze plaque describing the green flash phenomenon located on the sculpture and another title plaque. It was made in 2002 and is in fair shape, especially considering its age. Some has put stickers on it and the plaques are show signs of corrosion. It is unique and I actually learned something new in the process. It definitely sticks out. I have come to the terms that I will probably not ever see a green flash. It takes masterful planning, precise timing, and patience. I have 2 of the 3 (you can figure out which one I am missing). Parking here is simple. There is a free parking lot right by it. You can park, get out and talk a closer look. Well, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. The beach, a park, and an amusement park are in walking distance if you are looking for ideas.

I walked under this on my way to Mission Beach in San Diego and wondered what it was. It looked…read morelike something out of the 1970s!!! What is the Green Flash?? Well, it happens at sunrise or sunset, right before the sun drops out of view or starts to appear, it is said that a green flash appears for about 2 seconds. So this SoCal local flavor arch is a tribute to those 2 seconds!! Don't blink or you might miss it, literally, lol!!!!!

The OB Holiday Parade. What a blast! Every year! Such a blast!…read more This was our second consecutive year we enjoyed the parade from the balcony of the our room at the OB Hotel. We're already booked for next year. It starts with the countdown to the lighting of the traditional OB crooked Christmas tree, then the quirkiest, most awesome parade begins. It starts on Santa Monica then travels around the block down the main drag Newport Ave. then onto Abbot St. right in front of the boardwalk and beach. It is so much fun! Everybody is in such a festive mood. The floats and participants are all super cool and most are only what you'd find in OB. (My apologies for having too much fun to take pictures.) Macy's Thanksgiving Parade ain't got nothin' on OB!

I have lived my entire life in San Diego and never knew this was a thing???…read moreThe Ocean Beach Holiday Parade was fantastic. It all started off with the lighting of the annual crooked Christmas tree. Followed by a parade of OB's interestingly fun inhabitants. We were up on a hotel balcony enjoying the views of the passerbys all to the sweet aroma of marijana. Randomly seeing our friend Nikki on the float of crazy Bill's fans was a plus. I hope to remember to attend next year... once the smoke clears from my head.

This neighborhood was featured on a list of neighborhoods to check out when looking at Christmas…read morelights in San Diego and as tourists here during the holiday season, we saw that this wasn't too far from us so we went to stop by and check out the lights. We came here around 7 PM, so around prime time for lights. There were a couple houses with lights, but it's really spread out and not really as impressive as some of the other neighborhoods I'm accustomed to in the 626 nor like the neighborhoods in northern San Diego that my friend and I saw on our way back up from our trip. There was a group on golf cart zooming through the neighborhood, so at some point it used to be a thing, but not so much anymore. Aside from how fancy the houses look normally, there may have been 2 houses that were unique, the others were a bit standard.

It's a beautiful neighborhood up in the hill and has nice Christmas decor but it is not like what…read moreit used to be?! Not all of the homes are decorated whereas in the past all the homes and yards were lit up and the whole street glowed. I don't take any pictures.