Our last Designer Escape piece featured stunning Palm Springs and seemed hard to top at the time. But just this last week we were in bright and sunny San Diego visiting old college friends and helping launch Silestone’s Influencer Series featuring our very own Albedo counter top. With the beautiful weather, delicious cuisine, and awesome entertainment, I’m not sure how we made it back to Sacramento! Well lucky for us we get to relive the wonderful experience by telling you, our readers, about the best places to stay, dine, and do.
Stay: Andaz
Nestled in the lively Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego, Andaz is more of an experience than an overnight stay. With glamorous contemporary decor and an out-of-this-world view, the Andaz is easily one of our favorite hotels. Not only is it in the most prime location in the entire city, but it make you never want to leave because of all of the amenities and entertainment located just inside of the hotel. One of its most boasted features is the rooftop. By day it’s a glam rooftop pool dotted with cabanas and the occasional poolside drink. At night it comes alive and turns into one of the most prominent nightclubs in the area, complete with DJ’s, a stunning 360 view of the city, and a cool seaside breeze to keep the party going.
Dine: Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
When we managed to drag ourselves out from under the excitement at Andaz, we realized we were starved and in the mood for San Diego’s famous seafood selections. We made our way to Eddie V’s, a notorious old-school seafood spot known for its great wine selection and to-die-for cuisine. If you happen to find yourself here, nibble on the lobster tacos, dine on the Parmesan crusted sole, and add a side of asparagus. Top it off with a glass of wine (or two), and you’ve had yourself a good, good night.
Dine: Ironside
While the food is scrumptious, we have to confess: we came here for the design. You had to have known we would do a little work while we played! By far one of the coolest seaside eateries, Ironside boasts eclectic, industrial design with decor that makes you wonder why you’ve never decorated your house with piranha skeletons (seriously). After we managed to pinch ourselves and order some food we came to found out that they have one of THE best lobster rolls ever. We topped it off with some yummy Cava and were completely satisfied. Two thumbs up.
Do: Coronado Island, Balboa Park, La Jolla
When we weren’t stuffing ourselves with lobster rolls and seafood towers, we were able to take a stroll through some of San Diego’s most noteworthy tourist spots. We stopped at Coronado Island and took in the salty breeze and sparkling beaches. While we weren’t there long, we would have loved to visit the famed Hotel Del Coronado, a local haunt known for its exciting history of celebrity scandals and ghost stories (eek!). We swung by Balboa Park afterwards for a glimpse at one of the most beautiful urban cultural parks we’ve ever stumbled upon. Also home of the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park is a local culture center complete with art shows, musical entertainment, and gorgeous gardens. And while we love nature, we had to hit a few shopping hot spots! La Jolla is known for its span of shops, from the quaint boutique styles to the ooh-la-la big box stores, we had quite a day of bargain hunting and selected splurging. Because there is so much shopping to do, and so little time, you might literally shop ’til you drop!
So whether you’re a California native or want to spend a weekend in the sun, San Diego is an easy choice for food and fun.
