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.
Need a tuxedo for that special evening out? This is where the most stylish of men come to rent or buy their evening wear. Complete tuxedo packages are available with accessories and shoes for all sizes. Browse through an extensive selection of designer tuxedos on hand. If you are in a rush, last-minute requests can be accommodated. The establishment has five stores throughout the county.
If you walk into this shop, chances are you will walk out with a flag furled under your arm, even if you never intended to buy one. The big selection and low prices almost guarantee you will find a banner just right for yourself or someone you know. With hundreds of flags representing nations, cities, historic events, military divisions, plus a variety of decorative seasonal banners, there is literally something for everyone...all at discount prices. The shop also welcomes large orders and corporate accounts.
This popular nautical bookstore and chart agency located in Point Loma is owned and operated by boat enthusiasts. It offers coffee table books, gifts, maps, fiction and non-fiction reading and videos for sale or rent. If you are planning your next cruise, this is an excellent place to get charts, chart advice and to meet other cruisers. Whether you are looking for good nautical reading or are in need of charts for your next cruise, this is the place.
Want a memorable gift or souvenir? Consider coin jewelry made with modern, ancient or foreign coins or a beautiful art ingot of solid sterling silver, engraved with any of hundreds of designs. It is an inexpensive and memorable gift. This store also offers investment-grade gold and silver coins, proof and mint sets and gold and silver bullion. Are you buying or selling coins? The shop is a member of the International Numismatists Guild, the Better Business Bureau and many other professional organizations.
In this upscale watch and jewelry store, the merchandise carries snooty labels, but the staff and atmosphere are friendly and helpful. Among the shop's merchandise, shoppers will find only the finest watches from unpretentious IWC to top-notch Rolex varieties. Other quality brands at Leo Hamel & Company include Omega, Movado, Xemex and Chromoswiss. Jewelry selections here are impressively glitzy, including bracelets, earrings, necklaces and other decorative pieces. Appointments are not necessary to browse the shop.
If sun, sand, and surf are your thing, then head to Clairemont Surf Shop for some quality merchandise. This surf shop has been a San Diego fixture since 1976, making it quite the expert for people's surfing needs and wants. They offer surfboards, apparel, wetsuits, and even some snowboarding equipment. If you really love the store, you can become a member for a reasonable fee and receive discounts on store merchandise for a year.