Best Shopping Malls, Outlet and Places in National City Area

"Located inside Balboa Park, the San Diego Museum of Art is one of the most popular indoor attractions in San Diego and plays host to a large collection of artwork. For those who enjoy viewing masterpieces created by European, American and Asian artists, the museum offers a broad selection of pieces including work from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as some from today’s most recognizable artists. The San Diego Museum of Art is the oldest and largest art museum in the region and welcomes guests from all over the world throughout the year."

"Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is an art museum that is engaged in the collection, preservation, exhibitions, evaluations of artworks from the 1950s to today so far. It is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1941. MCASD offers access to the finest art at two exemplary locations in San Diego, i.e., the La Jolla and downtown location of Santa Fe Depot."

"Guests go to Liberty Public Market for meals, drinks, and pop-up dinners, as well as to buy fresh produce, fish, art, crafts, sundries and pastries. It’s open every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., though some individual vendors may have different hours."

"San Diego’s first food hall is housed in the city’s former naval training center, a 361-acre site in Point Loma that now features a lively business district with wide lawns, a waterfront park, and historic Spanish Revival–style..."

"Liberty Public Market is a relatively new marketplace in San Diego. It was built in 2016 and is located in an old Navy building. This is one of the best food attractions in San Diego."

"Ocean Beach has its own unique vibe, and that same spirit can be felt at theOcean Beach Farmers Market!. This funky and hippy-happy beachside community creates a fun atmosphere with tasty meals, homemade arts and crafts, and live music. It’s probably the most unique farmers market I’ve ever been to (and that’s saying something!) So trust me, you won’t be disappointed."

"People come to the Ocean Beach Farmers Market in San Diego for the local music, the handpicked fruits, and the unique beach vibe. Guests will walk the market on their evening stroll, they’ll come from the beach in their bathing suits, and find local honey, flowers, food truck style meals, and more. Parking: There are many affordable parking spaces in the area."

"Smaller than the other markets but with the added bonus of being near the beach, the Ocean Beach Farmers’ Market takes place every Wednesday from 4 p.m."

"Horton Plaza Shopping Center, a multi-story, open-air mall, is known for its eclectic architecture, people-watching opportunities and more than 100 stores and shops. Make a purchase here and you'll get three free hours of parking—ample time for shopping and exploring the surrounding Gaslamp Quarter."

"This isn't your average cinnamon roll, in more ways than one. The cinnamon rolls are all DIY with frosting flavors like cake batter and coffee and toppings like cookie dough and Oreo cookies. The cinnamon rolls are also completely vegan."

"This North Park shop serves creative donuts from Cheesecake Custard Charred Blueberry Lemon, Chocolate Custard Honey Peanut Butter Bacon, Banana Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake, and Raspberry Lavender. Nomad even has an entire menu section dedicated to exotic vegan options with flavors such as Habanero Peach Guava, Coffee Maple, Ube Taro Coconut, Key Lime Prickly Pear, and Coconut Passionfruit. For you sticklers on the classics you’ll still be able to find the good ol’ flavors like old fashioned vanilla bean, maple, or chocolate glazed."

"This travel-inspired eatery got so popular that it moved to a larger space on University Avenue in August 2017. Once in the new location, executive pastry chef Kristianna Zabala was able to expand her menu (which changes daily) to include..."

"Another motif you may notice as you peruse this list is the abundance of donuts. Donuts seem to be having their moment right now, but consider this a warning: nostalgic dessert trends tend to fade fast. Remember when cupcakes were big?"

"Located in the heart of Little Italy, Bencotto offers artisanal Italian food in a chic, modern setting. Diners can choose from a wide selection of appetizers, including risotto balls, calamari in a spicy garlic tomato sauce, and an excellent selection of meat and cheese platters. The menu also offers soups, salads, meat and seafood entrees, and gourmet pasta dishes; all the pasta is 100% organic and made fresh by hand every day."

"You decide on a sauce, you decide on a pasta style, and you’ll soon be in pasta heaven. Start with some small plates to share like the thinly slice prosciutto or fried risotto balls, and don’t worry about trying to influence your date to get something you want to try because trust me, whatever they order you will want to try it. Industrial setting is a bit cold but don’t let that turn you off."

"Bencotto Italian Kitchen offers traditional Italian cuisine and regional specialty dishes to share. Pasta is Bencotto’s signature dish and customers are free to order it al dente or cooked to their liking. Customers can also choose between eight different sauces for the pasta."

"South ParkSouth Park favorite Eclipse Chocolate has produce, coffee, cleaning products and pantry staples plus hard-to-finds like flour, yeast and dried beans. Couverture chocolate, custom made build-a-bars and cocoa mole bloody Mary mix will satisfy your chocolate cravings, and they’ve recently introduced to-go family meals serving 8, made with ingredients from Specialty Produce. The site is updated daily and new items are added frequently."

"This South Park gem is the perfect place to go whether you and your date just want dessert, or you’d like to have your sweets accompanied by an amazing brunch or dinner. Eclipse Chocolate Bar & Bistro serves nearly 100 different handcrafted confections, and has regular events like Build-a-Bar Nights, Game Nights, and Supper Clubs – perfect for a hot date!"

"This quaint restaurant lies in the North County of San Diego and is open for lunch and dinner during the week and brunch on the weekend. This highlight of this establishment is its views of the ocean. The restaurant boasts that it has an ocean view from every table."

"Situated on top of a cliff, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse used to be the most elevated lighthouse in the United States. It was so tall, in fact, that the clouds often hid it from view, so lighthouse keepers would fire shotguns at approaching ships to keep them away. Things are much less dramatic now, but the Old Point Loma Lighthouse is still great in terms of San Diego attractions."

"It commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542; first time that a European expedition had set foot on what later became the west coast of the United States. The lighthouse, which is often used to depict San Diego, dates from 1855 and was decommissioned in 1891. Both are part of the National Park Service."

"This historic lighthouse stands watch over the San Diego Bay at Cabrillo National Monument. It has magnificent birds-eye views of the bay and is a fantastic photo spot. The cost to enter Cabrillo National Monument is $20/car or $10/individual on foot or a bike."

"Stretching for almost 400 feet across open air, the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge is the best way to give yourself a gut check in San Diego. Do you have what it takes to walk the entire length?. Can you handle the swaying motions and the howl of the wind as you travel so far above the ground?"

"Locals love this hidden spot in the Banker’s Hill neighborhood. Spruce Street Bridge is 70-feet over the canyon below. This charming bridge has an intricate cable design and plenty of trees surrounding it, making it the perfect Instagram-worthy backdrop for your photos."