El Centro Artesano
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You can't miss El Centro Artesano because they're right at the west entrance of old town! I agree with other reviews that the vast selection and price range here is extremely reasonable. You'll find a good mix of authentic, hand-painted ceramics, decorative hangings, and beadwork from Mexico and Guatemala. Kids also love the inside of the store where there are tons of tiny figurines, magnets, and keychains. If you live locally (or within traveling distance) and are looking for Southwestern-themed garden decor, this is your spot. Depending on the style, you can usually find it in multiple colors. For example, the tall speckle glazed container with painted flowers and hummingbirds is available in light blue, navy blue, yellow, white, or pink. This design is only $42, but you could also find a large talavera pot for upwards of $75. My favorites to check out are the Mara mugs toward the back of the store because of their distinctive rounded square shape and whimsical etchings. They're even microwave and dishwasher safe! If you see something you like, I recommend getting it as supply tends to move quickly. I recently came back to get a dark blue talavera pottery for my small calamansi/calamondin tree. If you need help with measurements or are looking for a particular style, just ask and a manager or staff will be happy to help! If you have time, stop by the outer right corner for a variety of discounted items that are vintage, seasonal, or may have been damaged during shipment. Plus, if you purchase $100 or more, you receive a free nylon bag!
Amazing selection of decorated ceramic goods. I am not sure if all are hand-painted, but there is a wonderful assortment of pottery, crosses, chimes, bowls, platters, tortilla warmers, and garden decor. Even their essential oils smell fabulous. I would say their prices are more than reasonable. I always end up buying several unique items as gifts and something for myself. Customer service is outstanding and extremely helpful. I definitely recommend this business if you're in Old Town, San Diego. You won't be disappointed.
If I would have had my truck here, we would have been going home stocked up! Amazing place, came at end of September so the Halloween goods were rolling out. Some very cool stuff here, priced reasonably.
It's my favorite store in the vicinity of Old Town. Don't let the pots stop you from exploring this not-so-little store, there's so much more to see once you are inside. If you're looking into putting some vibrant colored décor in your home, you might find it here. How much of that décor and color you want to put in (or out) your home is completely up to you. And it doesn't stop there. Looking for a unique gift? They might have it here, too. There's a wide array of different knick knacks, from magnets, to shot glasses, to windchimes. Even wallets and ponchos, etc... it really felt like I was in a souvenir store in Mexico. Ended up with a few things both for home and to give away. Recommend coming in to check them out. You might find something you didn't think you needed... or wanted.
The tacos were Visiting San Diego and ended up going on a Saturday night! Prompt service, loved sitting at the window watching food be made! The Ceviche was most excellent!
I really liked this shop and wished I had more time to browse around, however I must admit I was disappointed after realizing later in the evening that I had been over charged. Make sure to pay attention to your totals when making purchases. I bought 5 items which should have totaled 52.40 +tax. I instead got charged twice for one 15.00 item which brought my total to 72.62 including tax.
PROS: this place caught my eye when I saw all the pottery. This place has earned an easy 5 stars for having a lot of inventory in a spaced out area with decent prices and nice workers CONS: when you're inside there's 10,000 chimes hanging from the ceiling that's at a level where everyone is bumping their heads into them OVERALL: Great place to come and see and if I were you I would make room in your house for one of these pots
I really enjoyed this shop. I had it picked out on Yelp because I wanted to check out Mexican pottery while I was in Old Town. I found the prices of the pottery to be on the cheaper side than nearby stores. Nice selection and variety of other Mexican goods, too. Will be back!
One of the funner shops in Old Town.. True, you can get a lot of this stuff cheaper in TJ but why risk being kidnapped? Most of the stuff here is from Mexico or Central/South American countries. It's a very colorful place and every inch of the property is stuffed with various pottery and hangable items. What's also great about El Centro is that they sell at all price points. There's something unique to be found for everyone including tiles, wind chimes, pottery, scented oils ( not essential oils), a lot of crap to hang on your wall, and surfing monkeys. - Not the friendliest staffers. They're basically sitting back behind the counter and collecting all that tourist money. - On Sunday they have a pottery demonstration.
I love this pottery shop located in Old Town San Diego. They always have such a good selection of pottery items and gifts. Sawyer was the sales associate who helped us and some other employees helped load the two birdbaths we got and each one of them was so nice and helpful. We are all happy with our purchases and will definitely go back.
August 10, 2019 Came here knowing I would find a Authentic Mexican red clay bean pot like my grandma use to have. So my mini Mac went in saw what I wanted and we went in. We have been here many times but my cheap ass always cracks this line.....we can go to Tijuana and get one for $5 American dollars. We took our passport had plans to go get one but it got too late so we had no choice but to buy it here. The guy is pretty nice but he hustles his money can't be mad at that. I wanted an authentic clay piggy bank went to Tijuana got a gorgeous white one with hand painted pink flowers on it was in heaven......seen them in San Diego for like 60 dollars I paid 10. I high recommended this place for authentic Mexican pots and wind chimes you just need to know your paying high prices but then you don't need a passport or a 4 hr wait in the line to come back to the U. S. side.
I had been looking for a strawberry planter for a while and finally found the perfect one here! The courtyard is filled with beautiful pottery at great prices. Be sure to check out the shop inside. It's full of smaller treasures that would make perfect gifts. The staff was great and they said that the store is super dog friendly. I'll definitely be back.
I love this indoor outdoor establishment located in Old Town SD! They have SO many beautiful & decorative items for sale. They have great items like flower pots, wind chimes and gardening decor. We will definitely be back for some more items! read more
18 hours ago
After 15 years of annual trips to Old Town, this is still hands-down, my favorite store!! The people who work there are so friendly and accommodating. The selection of Mexican art and garden statuary/pots/wind-chimes/Talavera is amazing! As a huge fan of Mexican folk art, I just get sensory overload and want to buy everything. I encourage everyone to stop here!! read more
You can't miss El Centro Artesano because they're right at the west entrance of old town! I agree with other reviews that the vast selection and price range here is extremely reasonable. You'll find a good mix of authentic, hand-painted ceramics, decorative hangings, and beadwork from Mexico and Guatemala. Kids also love the inside of the store where there are tons of tiny figurines, magnets, and keychains. If you live locally (or within traveling distance) and are looking for Southwestern-themed garden decor, this is your spot. Depending on the style, you can usually find it in multiple colors. For example, the tall speckle glazed container with painted flowers and hummingbirds is available in light blue, navy blue, yellow, white, or pink. This design is only $42, but you could also find a large talavera pot for upwards of $75. My favorites to check out are the Mara mugs toward the back of the store because of their distinctive rounded square shape and whimsical etchings. They're even microwave and dishwasher safe! If you see something you like, I recommend getting it as supply tends to move quickly. I recently came back to get a dark blue talavera pottery for my small calamansi/calamondin tree. If you need help with measurements or are looking for a particular style, just ask and a manager or staff will be happy to help! If you have time, stop by the outer right corner for a variety of discounted items that are vintage, seasonal, or may have been damaged during shipment. Plus, if you purchase $100 or more, you receive a free nylon bag! read more
3 years ago
Amazing selection of decorated ceramic goods. I am not sure if all are hand-painted, but there is a wonderful assortment of pottery, crosses, chimes, bowls, platters, tortilla warmers, and garden decor. Even their essential oils smell fabulous. I would say their prices are more than reasonable. I always end up buying several unique items as gifts and something for myself. Customer service is outstanding and extremely helpful. I definitely recommend this business if you're in Old Town, San Diego. You won't be disappointed. read more
5 years ago
It's my favorite store in the vicinity of Old Town. Don't let the pots stop you from exploring this not-so-little store, there's so much more to see once you are inside. If you're looking into putting some vibrant colored décor in your home, you might find it here. How much of that décor and color you want to put in (or out) your home is completely up to you. And it doesn't stop there. Looking for a unique gift? They might have it here, too. There's a wide array of different knick knacks, from magnets, to shot glasses, to windchimes. Even wallets and ponchos, etc... it really felt like I was in a souvenir store in Mexico. Ended up with a few things both for home and to give away. Recommend coming in to check them out. You might find something you didn't think you needed... or wanted. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
The tacos were Visiting San Diego and ended up going on a Saturday night! Prompt service, loved sitting at the window watching food be made! The Ceviche was most excellent! read more
3 years ago
I really liked this shop and wished I had more time to browse around, however I must admit I was disappointed after realizing later in the evening that I had been over charged. Make sure to pay attention to your totals when making purchases. I bought 5 items which should have totaled 52.40 +tax. I instead got charged twice for one 15.00 item which brought my total to 72.62 including tax. read more
4 years ago
PROS: this place caught my eye when I saw all the pottery. This place has earned an easy 5 stars for having a lot of inventory in a spaced out area with decent prices and nice workers CONS: when you're inside there's 10,000 chimes hanging from the ceiling that's at a level where everyone is bumping their heads into them OVERALL: Great place to come and see and if I were you I would make room in your house for one of these pots read more
I really enjoyed this shop. I had it picked out on Yelp because I wanted to check out Mexican pottery while I was in Old Town. I found the prices of the pottery to be on the cheaper side than nearby stores. Nice selection and variety of other Mexican goods, too. Will be back! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Amazing clay items. Picked up Loteria tiles that we used as centerpieces. Consistently amazing, beautiful items. read more
One of the funner shops in Old Town.. True, you can get a lot of this stuff cheaper in TJ but why risk being kidnapped? Most of the stuff here is from Mexico or Central/South American countries. It's a very colorful place and every inch of the property is stuffed with various pottery and hangable items. What's also great about El Centro is that they sell at all price points. There's something unique to be found for everyone including tiles, wind chimes, pottery, scented oils ( not essential oils), a lot of crap to hang on your wall, and surfing monkeys. - Not the friendliest staffers. They're basically sitting back behind the counter and collecting all that tourist money. - On Sunday they have a pottery demonstration. read more
4 years ago
I love this pottery shop located in Old Town San Diego. They always have such a good selection of pottery items and gifts. Sawyer was the sales associate who helped us and some other employees helped load the two birdbaths we got and each one of them was so nice and helpful. We are all happy with our purchases and will definitely go back. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
August 10, 2019 Came here knowing I would find a Authentic Mexican red clay bean pot like my grandma use to have. So my mini Mac went in saw what I wanted and we went in. We have been here many times but my cheap ass always cracks this line.....we can go to Tijuana and get one for $5 American dollars. We took our passport had plans to go get one but it got too late so we had no choice but to buy it here. The guy is pretty nice but he hustles his money can't be mad at that. I wanted an authentic clay piggy bank went to Tijuana got a gorgeous white one with hand painted pink flowers on it was in heaven......seen them in San Diego for like 60 dollars I paid 10. I high recommended this place for authentic Mexican pots and wind chimes you just need to know your paying high prices but then you don't need a passport or a 4 hr wait in the line to come back to the U. S. side. read more
5 years ago
I had been looking for a strawberry planter for a while and finally found the perfect one here! The courtyard is filled with beautiful pottery at great prices. Be sure to check out the shop inside. It's full of smaller treasures that would make perfect gifts. The staff was great and they said that the store is super dog friendly. I'll definitely be back. read more
4 years ago
One of my favorite places to go love the Talavera planters they are amazing .highly recommend read more
6 years ago
This place is great they have such great variety of different pots windchimes and cool other home and yard decor definitely recommend them read more
My favorite store in all of Old Town. I have to browse around every time. Lots of selection and treasures abound! I especially love the garden pots and décor, prices are really quite decent. I've purchased quite a few things over the years and adore every one of them! Whether you are looking for something for your patio, garden, man cave, kitchen or a gift, there is something for everyone here. It's like a little slice of touristy Mexico on this side of the border. CHEERS!! read more
El Artesano he such a cool place in old town San Diego. They have metal sculptures, planters, stone benches, pario sculptures and fountains and stuff to hang on your guarden. And this is only on the outside part, they also have an inside building where you can find your more souvenir type items like jewelry, purses, handmade ponchos, and little knickknacks. What I loved the most were a collection of little skull figurines that were dressed in different outfits and represented different animals. As you can see from my pictures they have a ton of them, and I didn't even photograph the tip of the iceberg. I bought a couple and I wish I would've been able to buy more but unfortunately I travel very light and that doesn't leave me a lot of space to bring souvenirs back home. All in all this is one of the coolest places in the whole area. read more
6 years ago
This is a fun shop. Lots of neat gadgets and art for outdoor decor if you are looking for that sort of thing. I ended up buying 8 mini succulent plants for our $1.50 each. Very good quality too! read more
15 years ago
4 years ago
I came here on a whim looking for a pot that matched two other smaller ones I picked up in the area. I found one that I thought was a good match and was treated with excellent service. Unfortunately, that pot broke months later while we were in the process of moving across the country. We immediately returned to this location to find a replica of the one that I had lost, but this one was sold out. I talked to the owner and he was very receptive to my concerns. He offered putting some other pots aside for me if I was considering a different one. I happened to see a larger pot that I had my eyes on before and I knew I had to get it. The owner extended a discount as a courtesy after the incident with the first pot, which was not expected, but so appreciated. I absolutely love my new pot and can't wait to put it on our front porch in our next home. I also feel I should mention this particular location is full of other interesting pieces. If I was stationed in the area, I would come here all the time to decorate my outdoor spaces. Feeling very blessed for the hospitality today. Thank you! read more
5 years ago
3 years ago
El Centro Artesano is a store in Old Town that's been around for years. It's both indoor and outdoor, and it's chock full of wind chimes, some cheap looking, others nicer in quality, all of which are inexpensive. The chimes are EVERYWHERE. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall chimes. All chimes. It's a chime fiesta, a ChimEsta if you will. And I will. God help you if you walk in whilst the wind rustles the myriad mechanisms of the mobile melody machines. Then the complete cacophony created by the constantly crashing crafts could cause complete craziness. All alliteration aside, I have fond memories of this place, particularly because of my pleasant memories of wandering this open space with my mom and grandmother when visiting. However, one very important caveat: It is very, very difficult to walk through a store effing full of chimes when you have an afro. I was screwed the minute I walked in today. Damn chimes. read more
In addition to painted and unpainted clay pottery, this place is filled with "yard art" - windmills, wind chimes, sculptures, and more. This is the kind of place that you hope your wacky neighbor doesn't visit. Is this really how the 19th Century Californios decorated their outdoor areas? Surely not. It is, however, worth a visit to see the bright colors and weird and wacky designs even if you won't ever buy anything. read more
8 years ago
9 years ago
6 years ago
I love the selection here! I remember my first visit when I fell in love with the giant metal peacock yard art statues and got sucked in to admiring all of the windmills and other yard knick knacks. Recently it was my mom's birthday and being the garden lover she is requested some kind of outside accessory. El Centro Artesano was the first place to come to my mind! I ended up finding some beautiful hand painted in Mexico stackable potting bowls in a set of three for only $21! I was very pleased with my findings and even more so that they accepted credit cards! And the best part, my mom loved her gifts! read more
9 years ago
This place had so many small Trinkets, Pots, Wind Chimes , and more . I could not figure out the reason they had so many different kind of Trinkets. It was nice to browse around it wasn't for us but it might be for you . This store was typical of all the stores in Old Town San Diego . read more
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More info about El Centro Artesano
2637 San Diego Ave
San Diego, CA 92110
Old Town
Directions
(619) 297-2931
Call Now
Visit Website
http://oldtownstatehistoricpark.org/mobile/el-centro-artesano.html
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