La Jolla vs Downtown San Diego Neighborhoods

Let’s look at how the shopping and restaurant scene compares between these two neighborhood areas.

The Beautiful Bayfront Seaport Village

Shopping Centers

Like any city center, Downtown has plenty of stores. I love the walkable Gaslamp Quarter, which is filled with clothing stores, boutiques, and shops where you can buy unique goods. The waterfront shopping center Seaport Village at the Embarcadero is another good choice in Downtown and that shopping area also allows you enjoy the warm, sunny weather while you browse!

As for La Jolla, there are many beach-themed souvenir shops, surf shops, and businesses selling breezy bohemian wares, especially along Prospect Street.

There’s also The Shops at La Jolla Village, an outdoor mall with stores and restaurants, and the Westfield UTC Mall, our founder Todd’s favorite mall in all of San Diego as featured in the top spot on our article covering the Best Malls in San Diego.

One of the Many Sidewalk Cafes in Little Italy

Where to Eat

Since La Jolla is right by the ocean, there are many tasty seafood restaurants. For a truly special experience, look for restaurants serving up local catches, which is some of the freshest seafood I’ve ever enjoyed.

There are also many places serving grab-and-go lunches so you can enjoy a picnic on the beach, plus plenty of outdoor dining spots and sidewalk cafes.

Downtown’s restaurants are incredibly varied, with just about every kind of cuisine you can imagine!

There’s Little Italy’s Italian fare, Mexican restaurants and authentic taco stands in Old Town, plenty of locally-owned craft beer breweries, and even opportunities to take a champagne brunch or dinner cruise in the San Diego Bay. For a little of everything, consider taking one of the tours mentioned in our list of the 10 Best Food & Beer Tours in San Diego.

Now let’s look at the entertainment options at the beach and in the heart of the city.

Mother and Child Snorkeling at La Jolla Cove

Outdoor Activities

La Jolla is the best place to make the most of San Diego’s sunny weather. Alongside sunbathing and surfing, the La Jolla Underwater Park is one of the best snorkeling and scuba diving spots in the area.

Aside from the beach, a hiking expedition is fun too. In La Jolla, see the endangered torrey pine at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Downtown, the trails at Balboa Park are easy for all ages.

Front Seat with Tables at the Rady Shell Theater

Entertainment

While La Jolla is known for its array of outdoor and beach activities, Downtown has a greater variety of entertainment options!

Watch a movie at the Rooftop Cinema Club or Spreckles Theater, see live shows at The Lyceum Theatres, or experience a concert at The Rady Shell. There’s even a nightlife scene with plenty of bars, clubs, and comedy venues, especially around the Gaslamp Quarter.

Fleet Science Center Entrance Courtyard

Family-Friendly Attractions

Downtown is excellent for families, especially around the Balboa Park area, which has playgrounds and picnic spaces. Museums in the park that are great for kids include The Fleet Science Center and the San Diego Natural History Museum, plus the San Diego Zoo. On a hot day, take the kids to Waterfront Park to splash around.

Many of the 11 Best Water Activities to Do with Kids in San Diego can be found in La Jolla. Some of our picks include paddleboarding, taking surfing lessons, and snorkeling at La Jolla Cove. Kids will also love the famous tide pools at Casa Beach and La Jolla Tide Pools.

Comic Con Museum in Balboa Park

Surfing culture is dominant in La Jolla, and many beaches hold annual surfing competitions, such as the Luau and Legends of Surfing Invitational at Scripps. There’s even a Surf Film Festival every year in August.

Downtown’s cultural centers and events are a little more varied, ranging from concerts and performances to a variety of museums and art showcases. Some of the biggest events include the summer Shakespeare Festival at the Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park and, of course, Comic-Con San Diego.

Let me not forget to mention the big holiday celebrations like Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp Quarter and Dia de los Muertos in Old Town San Diego.

Fred Shuttle in the Gaslamp Quarter

With a variety of public transit options, you don’t need a car to get around Downtown. These include bus and trolley lines as well as the FRED Shuttle. The GPS Talking Tour Cars offer another way to get around and enjoy a tour at the same time.

La Jolla is close to other oceanfront neighborhoods in San Diego, making it easy to visit nearby spots like Mission Bay, Mission Beach, Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach and Coronado Island. In La Jolla, you may need to rely a little more on rideshare apps, though there are still bus routes that will get you close to the beach if you’re not already staying at an oceanfront hotel.