30 Things to Do in Pacific Beach San Diego

Pacific Beach, affectionately dubbed PB by the locals, is one of San Diego’s popular neighborhoods. Although it has a reputation as a party haven for young adults, that’s not a reflection of the entire neighborhood. You’ll see free-spirited twenty-somethings, but there are also families mixed into the local scene. If you’re visiting with kids, I have a separate family guide to Pacific Beach with everything from where to eat to where to stay.

Basing a San Diego vacation in Pacific Beach is not for everyone. However, this eclectic list of things to do in Pacific Beach San Diego is sure to appeal to nearly every type of visitor. Whether you prefer the beach, the bay, or the inland area, you’ll find something here to enjoy.

Beach Activities

It makes sense that the majority of things to do in Pacific Beach actually involve sand and ocean. Pacific Beach is one of San Diego’s best beaches.

The wide, flat beach is tucked between the Pacific Ocean and a 3.2-mile-long boardwalk lined with beachfront bars, restaurants, and shops (and a handful of homeless/interesting characters).

1. Join the Never-Ending Beach Party  

Let’s get the elephant out of the room. The heart of Pacific Beach isn’t for everyone. You’ll often find young crowds sunbathing, playing beach sports, and bar-hopping roughly between Crystal Pier and where the vacation rentals start in Mission Beach.

The spring-break-like vibe is noticeable on weekends, in summer, and during other holidays, but is usually fairly mellow on weekdays outside of summer and in cooler weather. On any day, you will see some eclectic characters. (We walk and jog along the boardwalk often.)

2. Relax With the Family on North Pacific Beach

Central Pacific Beach may be party central, but North Pacific Beach is popular with local and vacationing families looking for a wide beach and calm waves.

Situated between the Pacific Ocean shoreline and the bluffs behind it, this family-friendly beach lies to the north, roughly between Pacific Terrace Hotel and Law Street, where there is some residential parking.

There are public restrooms at Law Street (ramp-accessible, somewhat stroller-friendly) and at Diamond Street (with stairs from the beach). Exercise caution and don’t let kids use them unattended.

North Pacific Beach also has both swim and surf areas protected by lifeguards. Like us, many La Jolla families go to the section right at the end of Law Street. For more on PB with kids, check out my Pacific Beach family guide.

3. Catch a Wave at Tourmaline Beach and Surf Park

Tourmaline Beach is the neighborhood’s northernmost beach and one of San Diego’s most coveted surf spots. If you’re into longboarding, this is your spot. It’s also good for beginners.

You’ll find it off Mission Boulevard (near where it becomes La Jolla Boulevard) at the bottom of Tourmaline Street. It’s not much of a swim beach, but families come here to explore its tide pools at low tide. There’s a small parking lot here and public restrooms.

4. Catch a Fish or Watch a Sunset on Crystal Pier

Crystal Pier, built in 1927, is a Pacific Beach historic landmark and a privately owned pier that grants public access during the day.

You’ll find it at the end of Garnet Avenue, the main street in Pacific Beach, which is home to loads of casual shops, restaurants, and bars. 

Midway down the pier on your right is a good spot to watch surfers. You can whale-watch (January is the best month for spotting gray whales), catch a sunset, or catch a fish at the far end of the pier. There’s a bait shop on Crystal Pier. California doesn’t require a fishing license on public piers, though Crystal Pier’s classification has been debated, so bringing a license is the safe bet.

5. Stay over the Water

The beach end of Crystal Pier is dotted with over-the-water vacation cottages available for rent. It’s one of the most unique accommodations in all of San Diego, as they are often directly over the water, depending on the tides.

Yes, you will definitely fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean. Reservations can only be made directly with this family-owned and operated hotel.

6. Bike or Walk on the Oceanfront Boardwalk

Ocean Front Walk is the premier oceanfront boardwalk along Pacific Beach. The 3.2-mile-long boardwalk begins at Law Street in North Pacific Beach and runs parallel to the shoreline all the way south through Mission Beach to the South Mission Beach jetty. The dividing line between PB and Mission Beach is Pacific Beach Drive, though there’s nothing marking it.

This is the perfect place to ride your rented beach cruiser from one end to the other and back, or take a leisurely morning or sunset stroll.

During summer, the boardwalk can be packed with people from late morning to late evening, including the occasional entertainer like the locally-famous Bubble Man. 

7. Get Your Zen on With Beach Yoga at Palisades Park

Palisades Park at the end of Law Street has become one of PB’s best free experiences thanks to longtime instructor NamaSteve, who has been leading donation-based yoga classes here for nearly two decades. You’ll find classes several mornings a week, all overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Just bring a mat or towel and show up. Donations are appreciated but not required. The park setting with its panoramic ocean views makes this special, and the morning sessions are a perfect way to start a beach day.

8. Learn to Surf at San Diego Surf School

Although San Diego Surf School is located on Cass Street, a few blocks from the beach, they set up shop on North Pacific Beach (at the bottom of Law Street) for their lessons and camps.

This is a great spot to learn to surf with calm waters and steady waves. San Diego Surf School offers private and group lessons, surf camps for kids and adults, and surf retreats.

All instructors are Lifeguard- and CPR-certified. Many local kids (like mine) attend these camps, and they can typically get you up on a (foam) board on the first day.

Eat, Drink & Stay on the Beach

9. Dine in Style at the Beach

JRDN Restaurant is a beachfront, indoor/outdoor restaurant located along the beach boardwalk in Tower23 Hotel. You’ll find California cuisine with Japanese and Baja influences.

The fresh menu includes seafood platters, steaks, sushi, and nigiri at this sleek and modern restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Their glassed-in sushi station lets you watch chefs prepare sashimi, sushi, and raw bar dishes.

Complement your meal with sake, Japanese beers, or craft cocktails. JRDN is family-friendly and open daily for lunch and dinner, and on weekends for brunch.

10. Eat the Best Breakfast in Pacific Beach

Kono’s Surf Club Café has been serving San Diego locals and visitors since 1991 and has become a neighborhood icon.

This surf-themed, oceanfront café is located directly across the boardwalk from Crystal Pier. Known for its big breakfasts, low prices, and long lines out the door, breakfast is the main event here and you can order it anytime.

Consistently appearing at the top of “Best Breakfast” lists, their giant breakfast burritos are legendary. The family-friendly restaurant will even split a breakfast for you if the portions are too big (and they probably are).

11. Grab a Beer on a Beachfront or Rooftop Bar

There is no shortage of places to have a beer or cocktail in Pacific Beach, that’s for sure. But finding a beachfront rooftop bar narrows the choices considerably.

That’s when you go where the locals go, and they flock to PB Shore Club for the best ocean views, two full bars, and friendly service. The bar has plenty of TVs showing your favorite sports, a solid tap list, great grub, and phenomenal sunsets. Their famous fish tacos, fresh ceviche, and tri-tip sandwiches are all good bets.

You can also try Waterbar, which is a bit more upscale with big open windows right on the boardwalk. For a totally different vibe, Moonshine Beach on Garnet has country music and line dancing (only open a few nights a week, so check their schedule). PB has one of the deepest bar scenes in San Diego, and these are just a few of the highlights.

12. Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth 

Technically, the Baked Bear isn’t beachside, but if you walk the short block up Garnet from Crystal Pier and turn left on Mission Boulevard, it’s a few doors down on your left.

This made-to-order ice cream sandwich shop is well worth the slight detour from the beach. My daughter and her friends always stop here before heading home from the beach.

Build your own ice cream sandwich from a Brownie Sandwich with Mint Chip Ice Cream to a Funfetti Cookie Sandwich with Cookies and Cream. They also sell ice cream by the pint and cookies by the dozen. (We also like sandwiches from Board and Brew next door.)

13. Stay in an Oceanfront Boutique Hotel

If you’re into ocean views and swanky vibes, you’ll find them both at Tower23 Hotel. This fun boutique hotel has a prime beachfront location near Crystal Pier. Designed with the epicurean traveler in mind, Tower23 caters to well-heeled business professionals and families.

In-room spa services, extraordinary views, and a private second-floor Tower Deck set the hotel apart from neighboring hotels. JRDN, the hotel’s signature restaurant, serves Japanese and Baja-inspired cuisine featuring seafood, steaks, and sushi.

Experience the PB Side of Mission Bay Park

Pacific Beach is blessed with a Pacific Ocean beach and a bay beach, thanks to nearby Mission Bay.

14. Play Beach Volleyball at the Bay

Sail Bay is a part of Mission Bay that is nestled along the beach from Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, wrapping its way past Fanuel Park and east into the neighborhood to Crown Point. Its perimeter is wrapped in a continuous sandy beach with a paved walkway called Bayside Walk.

On Sail Bay’s northern end, you’ll find everyone’s go-to spot for bayside volleyball. Whether to play or watch, show up on any weekday evening before sunset to join the fun. Or, gather your own group together anytime for a beach volleyball match of your own.

15. Release Your Inner Angler at Fisherman’s Channel

Located at the tip of Crown Point beneath the Ingraham Street Bridge, anglers can enjoy prime shore fishing in Fishermen’s Channel.

It’s a great spot to catch spotted bay bass, corvina, and halibut. Leopard sharks, bat rays, barred sand bass, and calico bass can also grab your line. Halibut are particularly abundant here. Add live bait like anchovies to your baitfish imitators, and you’ve got a good chance of bringing home a halibut for dinner. 

16. Picnic Bayside With the Family

Fanuel Street Park is located along Sail Bay, a popular section of Mission Bay Park, the largest man-made aquatic park in the country. The park has an expansive grassy area, regularly used by the community for neighborhood cookouts.

The park’s main playground equipment was removed in 2024 for safety reasons, and a rebuild is in the works through the San Diego Parks Foundation. Swings and spring riders remain for younger kids. The calm, shallow water and the seasonal lifeguard-protected swim area remain the main draw for families. There are also public restrooms.

17. Go to the Best Pacific Beach Spa

The Catamaran Spa is a waterfront, full-service spa located at the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa on Sail Bay in Pacific Beach. Spa treatments here are influenced by the healing traditions of Asia and the South Pacific.

Expect everything from body wraps to massages to facials imbued with both marine- and botanical-based products. A private outdoor whirlpool adds another layer of relaxation with tranquil views of Mission Bay. The spa also hosts daily open-air yoga classes overlooking the bay.

18. Devour One of San Diego’s Best Burgers

At Rocky’s Crown Pub, the burgers are so sensational that the entire menu fits on an index card. You’re choosing between a one-third- or one-half-pound burger, with or without cheese. There are fries. There’s a grilled cheese. That’s it. You know they have to be good.

Located in the Crown Point area of Pacific Beach, you’ll find this pub with its famous burgers and craft beers at the corner of Ingraham Street and La Playa Avenue. (This pub is 21 and up, but you can get burgers to go.)

19. Sleep and Play in Polynesian Style

Located on Sail Bay, Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa offers vacationers a waterfront, 1950s Polynesian experience. This unique resort hotel has tons of amenities I love, like their seasonal bayside luaus and movie nights, complimentary sternwheeler cruises of the bay, bird shows, tropical gardens, koi ponds, and a kids’ arcade.

The resort has two great restaurants, including Oceana Coastal Kitchen, a coffee shop, pool bar, and grill, and a beach snack shack. It offers the most activities out of any resort on Mission Bay in addition to easy access to both the ocean beach a few short blocks away and the bay beach.

Don’t Overlook PB’s Inland Neighborhood

You can find plenty of things to do in Pacific Beach off the sand.

20. Enjoy the Best Views of Mission Bay

Perched high above the Pacific Beach neighborhood where Lamont Street becomes Soledad Road, you’ll find sprawling Kate Sessions Park. Views of Mission Bay, the San Diego skyline, and the Pacific Ocean are enviably picturesque from this vantage point. On a clear day, you can even see the Coronado Bridge.

Kate Sessions Park is a local favorite for watching the setting sun or admiring the nighttime city lights. An expansive grassy slope is perfect for Frisbee tossing, ball playing, and kite flying. The park is equipped with barbecues, picnic tables, play equipment for kids, and restrooms.

On any given day, there will be lots of dogs on leash and off (even though off-leash is technically not permitted).

21. Become a Supersleuth and Impress Your Friends

Quicksand Escape Games is an escape room venue on Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach. Participants are locked in a room and given 60 minutes to figure out how to escape.

It’s the perfect challenge for coworkers, friends, or family. You uncover clues and solve puzzles to make your escape before time is up. There are several themed escape rooms to choose from, including Speakeasy Nouveau, The Diner, Chinatown, and The Family Cabin. The difficulty level varies from room to room, and all are family-friendly.

22. Fuel Up at Better Buzz Coffee

If your morning in PB starts with coffee, Better Buzz is the move. With a few locations throughout the neighborhood, including one on Grand Avenue with a rooftop deck, you’re never far from a good cup.

Their avocado toast is one of my favorites in all of San Diego, and their signature drinks are next level. It’s the kind of place where surfers in wetsuits stand next to remote workers on laptops, which is pretty much PB in a nutshell.

23. Discover New Views of San Diego by Bike

Electric bike tours offer a great way to experience San Diego because they make pedaling easy (if you like). You can even stop and smell the roses if you wish.

The California Dreamin’ tour is great for vacationers and San Diegans alike. The ride through Pacific Beach and La Jolla offers views most people don’t even know about.

Discover how the two neighborhoods connect and learn more about the area from your knowledgeable tour guide. Tours are also a great way to meet new people.

YOU’LL START IN LA JOLLA

You’ll meet the tour and grab your bike in La Jolla, the north adjacent neighborhood to Pacific Beach. I have tons of advice for things to do, restaurants, and shopping if you want to spend some time before or after your tour in my town.

24. Shop for Worldly Treasures at Pangaea Outpost

Named after the prehistoric supercontinent, Pangaea, this eclectic store is a shopper’s paradise. Located on Garnet Avenue, one block from Crystal Pier, the unique store offers shoppers an unforgettable experience. You’ll see everything from clothing to stuffed zebras to crystals among the store’s vast collection of treasures.

Over 70 local artisans are represented at Pangaea Outpost, and the store sells exotic imports from across the globe. Even if you aren’t buying, this is an experience you won’t want to miss.

25. Grab Soft Serve From a Classic Spot

Mr. Frostie on Garnet Avenue has been a local favorite since 1949. Go for a classic soft serve dipped cone or frozen banana, though they also offer hot dogs, banana splits, and other nostalgic fare to eat at the handful of picnic tables outside or take with you.

Local Favorites & Hidden Gems

26. Browse the Tuesday Farmers Market

Every Tuesday afternoon, the PB Tuesday Farmers Market sets up on Bayard Street between Garnet and Hornblend. It runs year-round, rain or shine.

You’ll find local produce, fresh flowers, baked goods, prepared foods, and artisan vendors. It’s a nice way to spend a late afternoon in the neighborhood. If you’re staying in a vacation rental, it’s the perfect spot to grab dinner ingredients.

27. Find PB’s Hidden Tiki Bar

The Grass Skirt at 910 Grand Avenue is a tiki bar hidden behind a storefront. You walk in and pass through a freezer door into a tropical, dimly lit cocktail bar with a strong Polynesian theme.

I’ve been, and it’s a fun change of pace from the typical PB bar scene. The cocktails are fun, and the ambiance is over the top in the best way. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

28. Take a Self-Guided Mural Walk

Pacific Beach has more than 50 murals, sculptures, and other public art pieces scattered throughout the neighborhood, thanks to the volunteer-run beautifulPB organization.

The murals are spread from the ocean nearly to I-5, so you won’t see them all in one walk, but you can download a free map from their website and make a loop of the ones near the beach. It’s one of those things most visitors never think to do, and it’s a great way to explore PB’s side streets.

29. Go Bowling With Cocktails

Break Point on Garnet Avenue is a sleek bar, restaurant, and four-lane bowling alley. It’s a fun option when you want something to do that isn’t another beachfront bar, and a solid pick for a group night out.

30. Walk, Bike, or Roll on Bayside Walk

Most visitors only know about the ocean boardwalk, but Bayside Walk on the Mission Bay side of the peninsula is a completely different experience. This paved path wraps around Sail Bay’s shoreline and connects to the larger Mission Bay loop trail.

It’s quieter, flatter, and calmer than the ocean side, which makes it popular with joggers, families pushing strollers, rollerbladers, and people on beach cruisers. You can connect the two paths via the short east-west side streets and make a loop. If the ocean boardwalk feels too chaotic (and in summer, it can), Bayside Walk is the local move.

Know Before You Go

Parking: I’ll be honest, parking in PB is rough, especially on weekends and during the summer. I live just up the hill, and even I take an Uber when it’s busy. My daughter and her friends do the same. If you insist on driving, arrive early on weekends and try the side streets north of Garnet.

Where to eat: I have a full guide to the best Pacific Beach restaurants that I keep updated. A few of my current favorites: Nico’s Fish Market for fresh-caught local seafood, Prince Street Pizza for some of the best slices in San Diego, The Fishery for a sit-down seafood dinner, and PB Fish Shop for fish tacos you’ll dream about.

Pacific Beachfest: If you’re planning a fall visit, the annual Pacific Beachfest falls on the first Saturday in October. It’s a free, all-day boardwalk festival with a fish taco contest, live music, a beer garden, and a beach volleyball tournament. It’s one of PB’s best community events.

What are your favorite things to do in Pacific Beach, San Diego?