Goodonya Eatery in Encinitas
From outdoor markets to drinks by the sea, let’s take a peek at the restaurants and stores across Encinitas and Carlsbad.
Pizza Trolley in Encinitas
Where to Eat and Shop in Encinitas
Downtown Encinitas is a charming mixture of upscale businesses and eclectic appeal. Shopping and dining tends to be a bit more expensive compared to Carlsbad, but you’ll find lots of unique, trendy businesses, from record stores to surf shops.
Dining options include seafood restaurants and lots of coffee shops and sidewalk cafes. The Santa Fe Railroad Station houses Pannikin Coffee & Tea, and open-air beachside spots like Pacific Coast and Grill offer class without compromise.
Stores Line the Street in Carlsbad Village
Carlsbad’s Restaurants and Shopping
The name of the game in Carlsbad is variety, with a wide range of restaurants and stores serving just about anyone’s preferences!
Around downtown and along Main Street, the whole area is highly walkable. If you’re looking to buy local, swing by during the weekly State Street Farmers Market, one of our team’s picks for the Best Farmers Markets in San Diego.
As for shopping centers, we love the Carlsbad Premium Outlets enough to put it on our list of the Best San Diego Malls.
Carlsbad Village has everything from smaller boutique stores to larger chains. Most live entertainment is hosted at the Village, with performances at the New Village Arts theater and a variety of comedy clubs and music venues.
Shops in the Village of Carlsbad
Which Neighborhood Excels: Carlsbad
Both Encinitas and Carlsbad have some excellent options for grabbing a bite to eat and browsing stores, but I lean toward Carlsbad when I want to go all out!
To me, it boasts a greater variety of entertainment options that round out the shopping experience.