The Best San Diego Style

Description:

The Mission Valley corridor, running east-west about 2 miles north of downtown along I-8, is where you'll find San Diego's major shopping centers. Fashion Valley is the most attractive and most upscale, with six anchor stores: JCPenney, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Saks Fifth Avenue (most of which keep extended hours), plus some 200 specialty shops and an 18-screen AMC movie theater. Other noteworthy shops include M.A.C, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Tiffany & Co., Max Studio, Z Gallerie, Smith & Hawken, and Bose. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday 11am to 7pm.

Description:

This old-fashioned outdoor mall predates sleek Fashion Valley and has found a niche with budget-minded stores such as Loehmann's, Nordstrom Rack, and Target; you'll also find Macy's Home & Furniture, West Elm, Sport Chalet, and Bed Bath & Beyond. There's a 20-screen AMC movie theater and 150 other stores and places to eat. Across from the center to the north and west are separate complexes that feature Saks Fifth Avenue's Off Fifth (an outlet store), Borders, and more. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday 11am to 6pm.

Description:

This venerable department store, founded in 1872, made its way to San Diego and the upscale Fashion Valley mall in 2006. Designers like Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, and Ralph Lauren got their first big exposure through the chain, which operates 40 stores around the country. The store's cafe, 59th & Lex, offers a full menu. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday 11am to 7pm.

Description:

A San Diego favorite, Nordstrom is best known for its outstanding customer service and fine selection of shoes. It features a variety of stylish fashions and accessories for women, men, and children. Tailoring is done on the premises, and there's a full-service restaurant on the top floor. Nordstrom also has stores at Fashion Valley Center, University Towne Center, and North County Fair (Escondido), and there's an outlet store -- Nordstrom Rack -- in the Mission Valley Shopping Center. Open Monday to Friday 10am to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm, Sunday 11am to 7pm.

Description:

This comprehensive store has a number of local branches, carrying clothing for women, men, and children, as well as housewares, electronics, and luggage. Besides downtown at Horton Plaza, Macy's also has stores at Fashion Valley Center, two in Mission Valley Center (including a housewares-only store), University Towne Center La Jolla, Carlsbad, and North County Fair (Escondido). Open Monday to Friday 10am to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 8pm, Sunday 11am to 7pm.

Description:

Taking the microbrewery to another level, this restaurant includes a brewery where beers are constantly being created. Customers love the fresh-brewed German beers served here, including special seasonal brews rarely found outside of Germany. As for the food, a great vegetarian appetizer is the smoky portabella mushroom skewers with crispy polenta and salsa fresca. The fettuccini is excellent, combining andouille sausage with a cajun sauce. The Euro-techno atmosphere is a little slick to be cozy but the food and beer provide plenty of comfort.

Our Local Expert Says:

Isabel's recently expanded and offers up a small coffee cart on the boardwalk, perfect for on the go Italian-Asian fusion!

Description:

If you're looking for anything but the typical, then Isabel's Cantina in Pacific Beach is the restaurant for you. Modernly designed in what seems to be an old warehouse, the Cantina offers up patrons a party in their palate for their breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Owned by the same people who have concocted other San Diego favorites ( The Mission, Coffee Cup), Isabel's fuses Mexican and Asian cuisine into a sweet harmony. Typically the eccentric flavors are paired in separate dishes, but for a few spare treats like the crispy shoestring plantains or the crispy dragon potatoes. Reasonably priced and just blocks from the beach in the heart of PB, any palate will be pleased.

Our Local Expert Says:

You can get a taste of Mexico shopping here, without having to cross the border!

Description:

Touristy as it may be, the Bazaar Del Mundo in Old Town holds quite the San Diego heritage, offering visitors insight into the city's vast Hispanic past. Streets are designed with an Old Spanish theme and shops are filled with knick-knacks and designs found only at the Bazaar, or else across the border. This area should mark a whole day of exploration, where shopping is just the beginning of this attraction - as festival events happens year-round, historic architecture offer world views and Mexican restaurants line every block. Lining just a few blocks in Old Town (from Taylor to Juan Streets), the Bazaar Del Mundo takes straight to another culture. Sizzle up your nightlife with bars that explode with margaritas and meringues with shops filled with guitars, ponchos, sombreros and more.

Our Local Expert Says:

Some of the best food in the city, don't be intimated by cuisine inspired by your grandmother's favorites!

Description:

If you can't get to New Orleans this year, just try North Park's Urban Solace, where modern home style cooking meeting modern fusion. The venue is a large, refurbished home with a sizable patio and full bar that offers some of the most exquisite macaroni and cheese, chicken and dumplings and pot pie you've ever had. Think upscale with moderate pricing, that brings up back up again with ambiance inspired by the French Quarter in New Orleans (yellow house with wrought iron staircase). The venue is an inspiration of its own in North Park's vastly improved district, but it is worth the trip no matter where you're coming from or heading toward.

Description:

Though San Diego may be known for many things, funky little vintage shops aren't one of them. With San Diego's Hunt & Gather, that is all going to change. Completely out on its own on Park Blvd, there is little else to do in the neighborhood that houses Hunt & Gather, aside from getting a cup of Joe. But the trip is worth it. Moderately priced pieces, vintage designer finds, stacks of records and special events that happen monthly, this designer couple who opened the store just a few years ago have continued to grow. In 2010 the team presented for the first time at Thread Shows, and continue to amass some vintage finds for both men and women.

Description:

Hidden between some of Bird Rock's more flashy designer stores and iconic coffee shops is locally owned Capricorn Boutique. Operated by two young professionals who have a passion for all things fashion, the fashionistas travel to Los Angeles fashion week and pick up some unique and designer name finds. Though the prices are exactly what you'd expect is a neighborhood sandwiched between La Jolla and Pacific Beach, this Bird Rock venue is just what true shoppers need. The unique shop is small but features some unique sets from Australian, local and US designers, and always give shoppers the personal attention they desire.

Description:

With some 90 stores, this mall includes favorites such as Barneys New York, Crate & Barrel, Converse, Juicy Couture, and Swarovski. The mall also has several specialty shops, including locally based Thousand Mile Outdoor Wear; there's also a fine-dining restaurant on-site. These outlets are located 32 miles north of downtown San Diego, close to LEGOLAND. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday 10am to 7pm.