What to Expect During a La Jolla Walking Food Tour
From seal-watching, world-class dining, kayaking tour, La Jolla sea caves, and snorkeling, the possibilities are endless when you’re exploring La Jolla. La Jolla beach is one of the best San Diego attractions, but it’s also a paradise for foodies. If you want to soak in the best of this jewel of San Diego, a La Jolla guided tour is the way to go! Enjoy the freshest seafood fare this side of Southern California on one of your San Diego food tours. We’ve rounded up a little bit about what you can expect on your La Jolla walking food tour.
Explore the Village
Take in the cultural landmarks and a wide variety of architectural styles in the Village. You’ll get the chance to see everything from beach cottages to newer European architectural styles that characterized the 1920s and a few more modern buildings. In the early days, the La Jolla village was made up of small cottages lining the streets, tucked away into the canyons along the cliffs. These Craftsman-style beach cottages were the popular thing and can still be seen today on a La Jolla tour. The newest wave of architecture in the Village houses various high-end boutiques, top-notch beachside bites, and art galleries alongside stunning views of La Jolla Cove.
A few must-see art galleries are the stunning photos of the renowned Peter Lik at Lik Fine Art La Jolla, Legends Gallery of La Jolla (which pays homage to Dr. Seuss), and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego to explore San Diego through the prism of modern art.
Take in the Tastes and Views
On a La Jolla walking tour, you’ll get the story behind the seaside views. Dive into the science and history behind the Pacific, the Cove, and the wildlife. Learn how the city’s culture has been shaped by its distinctive geography – such as the unique Torrey Pines.
If you want to taste all that La Jolla has to offer, join us on our La Jolla food tour … we will make a carefully-curated selection of beachside bites for you. So, what can you expect on a La Jolla food tour? With SoDiego, our guided tour is approximately 2.5 hours, and our walk with stops at the various restaurants and sights adds up to around 1.5 miles — so make sure you wear some comfy shoes! An example of a fun-filled itinerary is below, but know that we can make tweaks for you!
Spiros
At this authentic Mediterranean restaurant, you’ll enjoy fresh and healthy food from the coast. Your taste of the Mediterranean typically includes Spanakopita with Tzatziki Drizzle and Roasted Red Bell Pepper Feta Dip served with Pita & Small Greek Sangria!
Puesto
After a trip to the Mediterranean, we will take you south of the border for the delectable Mexican fare from Puesto. This family-owned restaurant is known for its handmade blue corn tortillas and its authentic-tasting food. To get a taste of Puesto, we recommend their carnitas tacos and a margarita (we make it a mini on our tour so you can save up for the next destination!).
La Dolce Vita Ristorante
Tucked away in the heart of La Jolla, the hidden gem La Dolce Vita Ristorante is known for its quaint and romantic atmosphere. This Italian food is bar none and offers the perfect location to celebrate a special occasion… and the end of our tour! You’ll get Bruschette Golosa for the table, a sample of the fan fave Linguini Bolognese, and a glass of red or white wine.
If you’ve still got room after the tour, swing by Bobboi located right in La Jolla Cove, to enjoy the sweet experience of tasting genuine Italian Gelato!
Couldn’t get enough of La Jolla after your walking food tour? Here are a few of our favorite places to enjoy great bites and an even better view.
A meal with a view
La Jolla is teeming with restaurants with stunning views!
Brockton Villa
This restaurant began its journey in 1894 as one of the first cottages built along the hillside of La Jolla Cove and was converted into a restaurant in 1994. They are known for their world-famous Coast Toast (French toast prepared like a souffle!).
George’s at the Cove
This critically acclaimed restaurant has a million-dollar view of their Ocean Terrace. Dine on some California classics and sip cocktails overlooking the Pacific.
The Mediterranean Room
Soak up the ocean view and Mediterranean vibes within La Valencia Hotel at The Mediterranean Room! They have an all-new menu inspired by the Cali coast and seasonally-driven, locally-sourced ingredients. Brunch is every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.!
Sips by the sea
Here are a few of our favorite places to grab a drink at happy hour!
Catania
Views of Downtown La Jolla, the city, and the ocean, along with delicious cocktails. They offer happy hour daily from 3:00 – 6:00 on their rooftop patio.
Nine-Ten
This casually elegant restaurant with indoor seating or sidewalk tables on Prospect Street offers a unique seasonal California cuisine Happy hour is offered Monday – Friday from 3:30 – 6:30 pm.
Duke’s La Jolla
Expansive ocean views and a “Barefoot Bar” are two of the main features of the iconic Duke’s. They offer an “Aloha Hour” from 3:00 – 6:00 pm Monday – Friday.
The Shores Restaurant
If you’re up in the La Jolla Shores area, don’t miss the chance to dine on the shores at this hidden gem! They feature happy hour Sunday – Friday from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Favorites are their Shores Margarita, Sea Salt Pretzel Bites served with beer cheese, house mustard, and the Angus Beef Short Rib Sliders!
Become One with Nature
When you join an expert-guided La Jolla walking tour, your route will include the best of natural splendor in this California city. La Jolla Cove is one of the most well-known attractions, with crystal-clear blue water, nice swimming temperatures, and no shortage of marine life to observe with snorkeling or scuba diving or even via a kayak tour. The cove is also known for the many places to stop and watch the seals and sea lions in their protected habitat.
By far, one of the most amazing ways to do a La Jolla tour is kayaking. Most of these tours range between 2-4 hours and give you an up-close-and-personal view of the caves and the sea creatures that call them home. At SoDiego, our tour guides are experts about all that is La Jolla, so any questions you have, we’ve got answers!
Learn a few La Jolla Secrets
What would a La Jolla tour be without learning some secrets and fun facts? In our La Jolla Walking Food Tour, we will tell you the story behind the structures, places, and some little – known trivia facts. Here are a few things you might not know about La Jolla – join us on our tour to learn so much more!
Water visibility can sometimes exceed up to 30 feet
No snorkeling gear is needed — you can see up to 30 feet below the water, making it one of the most ideal spots to check out the seafloor in SoCal.
The water is always a few degrees cooler
The water off the La Jolla Cove is colder than anywhere else along the San Diego shore. This is mostly because it faces out into much deeper, colder water.
A Broadway Hit
The Old Globe and the La Jolla Playhouse have successfully sent more shows to the bright lights of Broadway in New York City than any other city in the country.
Check Out the Beach Towns
If you’re looking for more Spring Break activities in SD, why not eat at the best restaurants in Carlsbad CA or do a little people-watching at the best bars Pacific Beach.
We hope you’ll consider soaking up all that La Jolla has to offer on one of our La Jolla walking tours. This jewel of the city is one of our favorite places, and we would love to pass on that love for La Jolla to you! Or, explore the best beaches of San Diego on our San Diego beach tour. If you’re interested in booking for a group of 10 or more, contact us to book a private tour. See you on our walk! See you on our walk!
Written by: Melissa
Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do … In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.
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