Top Rated Shopping in San Diego

Filippi's Pizza Grotto is one of the most beloved Italian restaurants in San Diego. Its pizza has been highly acclaimed since first being served more than 50 years ago. The front of the restaurant is an Italian shop selling dried pasta, wines, candy, canned goods and olives, and a deli selling Italian sausages and cheese. After passing through this aromatic area, one is led to the restaurant itself. The chefs here dish up all the classics including lasagne, spaghetti and meatballs, ravioli and more. Imported and domestic wine and beer is available.

Take a leisurely walk from the Gaslamp Quarter or Horton Plaza and escape the madness of the city for awhile. Stroll down miles of cobblestone paths taking in the greenery, ponds and fountains as you make your way around 54 one-of-a-kind shops, 13 casual dining eateries and four fine-dining restaurants. Unsurpassed views of the bay, its ships and the San Diego-Coronado Bridge surround the park. Complete with a carousel dating from the 1890s, this is a great place to visit for the day. A monthly calender features live blues, jazz, country and swing bands.

Bazaar del Mundo is one of the happiest and most colorful of all marketplaces in San Diego to shop. Part of historic Old Town, where the city's first inhabitants set up the original city, this shopping area is a true delight. Colorful parrots screech, color blooms everywhere, mariachis stroll the grounds, sparkling fountains babble and delicious Mexican dishes permeate the air and tempt the palate. Five restaurants, 15 international specialty shops and plenty of historic sites in adjacent Old Town provide much to explore.

Completely renovated in 1997, this elegant outdoor mall is your best stop for serious shopping in San Diego. Less tourist-like than the flamboyant and exciting Horton Plaza, Fashion Valley Shopping Center is much easier to navigate. It is the main hub for upscale and designer shopping. Exclusive names like Hermès, Neiman Marcus and Rolex are among the luxury brand stores. With 200 stores, seven restaurants, a food court and a movie theatre, even the most discriminating shoppers will find what they are looking for, including foreign currency exchange.

Conveniently located just 20 minutes from downtown is the major shopping center referred to as UTC. Here you will find shopping majors such as Sears, Macy's, and Nordstrom's. More than 160 specialty shops, banks, seven eateries, 16 fast-food sites and an ice skating rink that will entertain and delight you. Events and entertainment are scheduled on weekends. Plenty of free parking is available.

The quaint Girard Avenue offers visitors a chance to experience shopping within small, local businesses. There are a number of art galleries, books stores and craft shops that are not affiliated with any corporation. If you are looking for the most modern and fashionable clothing for women, try Melange. Anyone looking for art should be sure to make a stop at Cosmopolitan Fine Arts. Once you are through shopping and in need of some tasty on-the-go food, try Girard Gourmet.