Drive through the streets of San Diego to shop from both street vendors and upscale boutiques in retail malls. There are many shopping destinations spread across the city and all you need to do is browse through them while keeping your requirements in mind or go impulsive on your shopping sprees! Whatever you have in your mind, we have tried to help you by covering all the major shopping hotspots for souvenirs of your visit to San Diego.
5 Best Places for Shopping Souvenirs from San Diego
1. Seaport Village: Shop at the Waterfront along San Diego Bay
A Victorian architecture on the beachside of San Diego called the Seaport Village houses more than 80 stores, eateries and art galleries. The shopping complex spread across 90,000 square feet offers a wide range of products including native American handicrafts, beach hats, sunglasses, kites and other antiques amidst occasional live music. It remains adorned with cobblestone trails, fishponds, fountains and lavish settings around the outdoor plaza which hosts several evening events.
The complex features award-winning cafes and restaurants like San Diego Burger Company and Marion’s Fish Market. Head out to the complex to shop some amazing kites, flags, seasonal ornaments and custom commodities from the well-established shops here.
Location: 849 West Harbour Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
Where to Shop: Flags from Alamo Flags, collectibles from American Nostalgia, jerseys from Captain’s Cove, ornaments from Cariloha Bamboo, kites from Kite Flite and beach gears from San Diego surf Co.
Dining Options: Harbor House, Margarita's Kitchen & Cantina, Mr. Moto Pizza, San Diego Pier Café, Spill the Beans and Wetzel's Pretzels
2. Gaslamp Quarters: San Diego’s Destination for a Fun Time
One of the best shopping destinations in downtown is housed inside the Gaslamp Quarters which brims with the late Victorian and artiste architectural allure. It provides something for everyone by featuring some big names and brands as well as some of the quirky street flavoured stores selling various artiste pieces.
The 16 blocks of the area are filled with more than hundreds of stores, eateries and art galleries for the visitors to stroll across. You can shop from a range of gift items, collectables, fashion accessories and beach gears from the many shops sitting at the Gaslamp Quarter.
Location: Bounded by RR tracks, Broadway, 4th, and 6th Aves., San Diego, California
Where to Shop: Wild Dove, Boutique De Marcus, Bubble Boutique, Urban Outfitters, Quicksilver, Street Machine, Cuban Cigar Factory, Lucky Dog and VolcomDining
Options: Café Lulu, Le Parfait Paris, Provisional Kitchen, Café & Mercantile, The Broken Yolk Café, Barleymash, Casablanca Lounge and Lou & Mickey’s
3. Liberty Station: A Venue for Art Shopping
Famous for outdoor shopping, Liberty Station harbours its own vibe as a former US Navy training base. This waterfront neighbourhood situated in Point Loma contains a vibrant collection of art galleries, restaurants, boutiques, gardens and parks inside its premises. Visit the venue to collect gifts, potteries, apricot yarns, ornaments for interior décor, jewellery and other apparels. The place also houses and encourages the art of manga, graphic novels, action figures, candle making and bookshops. Head out to shop some artiste pieces as your souvenirs from San Diego.
Location: 2850 Womble Road, Suite 100-312, San Diego, CA 92106
Where to Shop: Thatch, Pigment, Comickaze Comics, Point Loma Tea, Postal Annex, Montage Fashion Boutique, Karen Jones Fine Art and Gilmore Family Jewellers.
Dining Options: Breakfast Republic, Besties Cool Treats, Corvette Diner, Fig Tree Liberty, Issara Thai, Luna Grill, The Presley and The Lot
4. La Jolla: Shop at the Rodeo Drive of San Diego
This seaside neighbourhood of San Diego spread across the Pacific coast offers a wonderful shopping experience to the visitors with its wide range of shopping destinations which includes malls, high-end stores as well as street shops selling local art and handicrafts.
The area is known as the ‘Jewel by the sea’ largely because of the diverse antique emporiums and art galleries housed inside its perimeters. It is home to exquisite and original jewellery made from unique gems. You must buy organic coffee as your souvenir. Head out to this eco-friendly destination to shop for upcycled clothes from revitalized merchants and for some delicate jewellery for yourself.
Where to Shop: Westfield UTC, Open Aire market, Tijon, Africa and Beyond, Lululemon, Gap, Banana Republic, Chico's, Warwick's bookstore, Shabby Chic Boutique, Petite Street Children's Boutique Mimi & Red and Westfield University Town Centre.
Dining Options: George’s at the Cove, The Marine Room, Sicilia Bella, Duke’s La Jolla, Herringbone La Jolla, Brockton Villa Restaurant, Piatti and The Promiscuous Fork.
5. Fashion Valley Mall: High Scale Brands in an Open-air Architecture
An upscale mall housing brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and Jimmy Choo follows an open-air architecture to let you enjoy the idyllic climate of San Diego. With local and international brands housed inside this diverse space, you can stroll your way around more than 200 stores and outlets.
The mall is full of amazing cafes, theatres and eateries offering rest to your shopping spree. Visit the place for all your needs and desires as the mall covers everything between your casuals and couture. Collect the small decorative ornaments from the local stores as a souvenir of your visit to San Diego.
Location: 7007 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA 92108, United StatesShop in San Diego as the city offers some diverse range of products crafted inside its borders. From exquisite gems and jewellery to artiste comics, ornaments and books, from high-end fashion accessories to local handicraft, San Diego offers everything for everyone. So, stroll around the listed spaces and explore some more around the city during your visit to collect souvenirs and memoirs of America’s finest city.
Where to Shop: Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Prada Jimmy choo, Hot Topic, Claires, Footlocker, Kate Spade, Armani, Bloomingdale, H&M and Fendi.
Dining Option: Blanco Tacos + Tequila, California Pizza Kitchen, Cheesecake Factory, NoRTH Italia, So Sushi, True Food Kitchen and P.F. Chang's China Bistro.