College Student’s Guide to San Diego
Although it’s not known for being a stereotypical college town, San Diego offers more than enough to accommodate the students from the handful of universities scattered around the city. As an incoming senior at the University of San Diego, these are some of my favorite places to go!
Coffee Shop Study Spots
Communal (North Park)
When you’re tired of studying in the library, try a change of scenery at places like Communal, a coffee and flower shop combo. Not surprisingly, it's a lot more fun to study when surrounded by lush flowers, beautiful decor, and a cozy neighborhood feel. They also just released their new summer menu and the food is… really, really good.
Moniker (Liberty Station)
Moniker is another aesthetically pleasing coffee shop and boutique. They offer smooth coffee and a rotating variety of special flavored drinks. If you’ve had enough caffeine for the day, my favorite drink is the Cucumber Cooler, a refreshing combo of cucumber, fresh mint, lemonade, a sprinkle of cayenne, and sparkling Topo Chico.
LeStat’s (Hillcrest)
If it hits closing time at another study spot and you've still got hours of studying ahead of you, move locations to this late night cafe. The Hillcrest location is open until at least 11pm most nights, but hopefully soon they will go back to being open 24/7 like they were pre-covid. Order a pick-me-up on the first floor, then climb through a secret door disguised as a sarcophagus up to the second level where you’ll find plenty of tables, couches and study nooks. LeStats is certainly a finals week go-to.
Food & Drink
Oscar’s Mexican Seafood (Pacific Beach, North Park)
Providing gourmet Mexican food on a student’s budget, my favorite taco from Oscar’s also happens to be the cheapest - the battered fish taco for just $2.25. If you're willing to spend a few extra bucks, try the fresh ceviche, served with avocado and tostadas. Whatever you order, don't forget to load up on their house-made sauces and salsas, I could drink that stuff.
Beachcomber (Mission Beach)
For the students over 21, Beachcomber is a cozy, no-frills, dive bar right on mission beach with drinks perfectly priced for the college budget - around $5 for a well drink. You might not think of college kids as the core demographic for bingo, but they certainly are at the Beachcomber on Tuesday nights. Alternatively, gather a competitive group of friends to form a team for trivia on Mondays, or sing along with the whole bar for dueling pianos on Thursdays.
Places to Hangout
Liberty Station (Point Loma)
This is one of the best one-stop shops filled with study spots, restaurants, boutiques, and art galleries. You could spend a whole day here; study for a few hours at Moniker, then head to the Liberty Public Market to try some food from one of the dozens of vendors inside. To stock up your dorm room or apartment, there is also a Von’s and a Trader Joes, a college student’s best friend for moderately priced groceries and healthy-ish frozen meals.
Kate O’ Sessions Park (Pacific Beach)
With a large gently sloping lawn and sweeping views of Mission Bay, the surrounding neighborhoods, and the highrises of downtown peeking out in the distance, Kate Sessions Park is one of my favorite spots in San Diego. On weekdays, Kate Sessions is a quiet place to lay out on a blanket and soak up the sun while reading or studying, with plenty of friendly dogs milling about to keep you company. Although this popular park can get crowded on the weekends, there is always space on the massive lawn to sprawl out. My roommates and I love to bring a pizza and a portable speaker and come for a sunset picnic.
Whether you’ve lived in San Diego all your life or are coming for the first time for college, these restaurants, cafes, parks and more will get you through the long studying sessions and provide more than enough to do during your free time. Enjoy your new home!
