48-Hour Staycation in Point Loma, San Diego
When we think San Diego, we think laid-back, sun-kissed, fun-filled days at the beach, fresh seafood, incredible happy hours, and history. If there is one neighborhood that encapsulates this and more, it’s Point Loma.
Located on a peninsula that defines San Diego Bay and separates the city from the Pacific Ocean, Point Loma is where you’ll find a balanced mix of rugged natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage.
To help inspire your next trip adventure in San Diego, we’ve compiled a list of things we would do in Point Loma in a 48-hour span. Let’s go!
Friday
3:00PM – Check into the Monseraz Hotel
The Monsaraz is part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, which comprises several modern upscale hotels around the world. The hotel is in the Point Loma Village, and the first new hotel in the area in over a decade. Since opening, the Monsaraz has become a hot spot for both incoming travelers and San Diego locals. The hotel’s convenient location gives you quick access to plenty of shops and activities and is only one mile from San Diego International Airport.
Click here to read about our full experience at the Monseraz Hotel.
4:30PM – Head to the Wine Pub and Buy a Bottle of Fotinos 2018 Pinot Noir
After you’ve checked in to the hotel, head over to The Wine Pub and enjoy a bottle of Fotinos 2018 Pinot Noir from Napa Valley.
Why Fotinos, you might ask?
Napa Valley is synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and their neighbor to the west, Sonoma County has typically been identified with Pinot Noir.
The Pinot Noir grape, sometimes referred to as the “heartbreak grape,” is notoriously finicky and demanding, requiring constant care and attention, a climate that is not too hot or cold, and just the right combination of soil, irrigation, rootstocks, and more. If anything is out of balance, the vine won’t yield or produce anything that taste good.
As a result, many Napa Valley wineries have focused on producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, varietals that tend to overshadow the nuanced and complex Pinot Noir.
When you have the opportunity to enjoy a terrific Napa Valley Pinot Noir, that has experienced consistent success for over 50 years, you have to take that opportunity.
The Fotinos Vineyard in Napa Valley
If we were to ask you to explain the Carneros in Napa Valley in one word to some who has never heard of the area, our guess is that your word would be “wine”.
If we were to ask you that same question 50 years ago, you would probably say “sheep” or “cattle” or “farming.”
Historically, the Carneros region was the ideal land for raising sheep, dairy cattle, and fruit trees. The planting of vineyards in the area is said to have originated in the late 1830s, although by the late 1880s, the spread of a grapevine insect (Phylloxera) and prohibition in the early 1900s wiped out the wine industry in the region.
In 1969, brothers George and Tom Fotinos purchased a 27-acre prune orchard in the heart of Carneros. The brothers, first-generation Greek immigrants, learned the art of wine growing and winemaking from their father. With a passion for working in the vineyard and utilizing the winemaking knowledge passed down to them, George and Tom slowly began to develop the original orchard into a Pinot Noir vineyard.
Image Courtesy of Elaine Fotinos Burrell
Elaine Fotinos Burrell, the daughter of George and a Point Loma resident, recalls working with her sisters alongside their father and mother, Vivian, in the vineyard. Much like their grandfather, George and Vivian passed down to their daughters a love for farming the land and cultivating fine Pinot Noir grapes.
Image Courtesy of Elaine Fotinos Burrell
Today, the Fotinos sisters and their husbands continue the family tradition of producing world-class Pinot Noir grapes. In addition to selling the fruit to Mumm Napa to make sparkling wine, the family produces about 150 cases annually of boutique award-winning Pinot Noir under their family name.
Image Courtesy of Elaine Fotinos Burrell
The 2018 Pinot Noir presents as a light ruby color, and we experienced a charming nose of strawberries, raspberries and vanilla. On the palate, it’s very well balanced with a light, silky texture and flavors of cherries, cranberries, and strawberries. You could pair this well-balanced Pinot Noir with a wide variety of foods, like a mushroom risotto, tuna poke, salmon, roasted chicken, Basque sheep’s milk cheese, and pasta dishes.
What’s unique about this wine is that you have access to a Napa Valley grower right here in San Diego, and the ability to acquire a bottle (or two) of this unique and exclusive wine.
You can purchase the 50th Anniversary Vintage of Fotinos Vineyard Pinot Noir at The Wine Pub or contact Elaine for hand-delivery to your door in Point Loma. Contact Elaine via email at elaine@fotinos.com or purchasing a bottle on their website. Sign up for their newsletter at www.fotinos.com to receive updates on their wine, wine parties and special events that are held in Point Loma.
7:00PM – Dinner at the Westerly Public House
For dinner, head to the Westerly Public House that is located within the Monseraz Hotel. This rustic Cali-Aussie fusion restaurant features a spacious central dining area, a fun and inviting bar that is crafted from repurposed surfboards. The restaurant extends out into the courtyard where you will find plenty of open-air seating, tiled fireplaces, couches and even a community table. This is a great space not only for dinner, but also for a more casual happy hour.
San Diego Chef Jesse Paul curated the menu focusing on delightful sea-side flavors and fresh, local produce. His passion for distinctive flavors and zero-waste cooking results in memorable dishes that utilize the best ingredients that San Diego has to offer.
Click here to read our full review of the Westerly Public House.
Saturday
9:00AM – Brunch at Liberty Station
Cruise north up Rosecrans Street to Liberty Station, a former naval training center that is now home to several of San Diego’s stylish bars, restaurants, boutiques, small museums, and art galleries. There is plenty to do in Liberty Station and visitors and locals alike can make a day out of exploring the various amenities.
Deciding on a brunch spot can be difficult because there are so many great options from which to choose. To make your life easier, we recommend Eggies and Fig Tree Café.
Eggies
If you’re in the mood for a filling grab-and-go breakfast experience, Eggies is an excellent choice. Eggies’ menu focuses on mouthwatering breakfast sandwiches, French toast, and desserts. Our recommendations include the California sandwich, which is a wonderful mix of baby arugula, avocado, cheese bacon and a house aioli. We also recommend the Eggies Classic, which is made with sharp cheddar cheese, sausage, bacon and the signature “eggcellent” sauce.
Also, don’t miss out on the decadent French Toast in a jar, with strawberries, mascarpone cream, and brown sugar crumble. It’s definitely a treat!
Fig Tree Café
If you’re looking for more of a sit-down, traditional brunch experience, go to the Fig Tree Café, which is located next door to Eggies.
The Fig Tree Café offers a wide variety of breakfast menu items, including an enticing selection of French Toast. We couldn’t decide which French Toast to order so we got the sampler of Bananas Foster, Berry Sweet and Fig Jam stuffed with Ricotta cheese.
The Brisket Hash was out of this world, and we highly recommend that you choose to have it served on the freshly baked focaccia bread. The bread soaked up the Holland aisle and juice from the brisket and when you cut into that beautifully poached egg it was yolk porn perfection.
We also ordered the Breakfast Sushi which were thick rolls of brown sugar and spiced bacon stuffed with rice, eggs, scallions and topped with a plum sauce.
You can’t go to Fig Tree Cafe without trying one of their scratch made Bloody Mary’s, we went for the “Man Candy” that was topped with some more of that sweet & spicy bacon. Don’t forget the coffee, they are serving Café Moto Coffee, which is one of our favorite San Diego roasters.
The Brisket Hash was out of this world, and we highly recommend that you choose to have it served on the freshly baked focaccia bread. The bread soaked up the Holland aisle and juice from the brisket and when you cut into that beautifully poached egg it was yolk porn perfection.
We also ordered the Breakfast Sushi which were thick rolls of brown sugar and spiced bacon stuffed with rice, eggs, scallions and topped with a plum sauce.
You can’t go to Fig Tree Cafe without trying one of their scratch made Bloody Mary’s, we went for the “Man Candy” that was topped with some more of that sweet & spicy bacon. Don’t forget the coffee, they are serving Café Moto Coffee, which is one of our favorite San Diego roasters.
11:00AM – Explore Old Point Loma Lighthouse / Cabrillo National Monument
Tucked into the southwest corner of the Point Loma Peninsula, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and Cabrillo National Monument offer a peek into San Diego history and the birth of California.
The Cabrillo National Monument commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542. Cabrillo is credited with being the first European to step foot on what is now known as the west coast of the United States. Historians believe that Cabrillo anchored his flagship, the San Salvador, near the area of where Cabrillo National Monument stands today.
The Monument, established in 1913, remembers Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's voyage of exploration that would set the path for future Spanish exploration along what is today’s California coastline.
Image Courtesy of Noe Hill
Old Point Loma Lighthouse
You've heard of California's Missions, but did you know that the Golden State has an equally impressive set of historical lighthouses, including the Old Point Loma Lighthouse?
The Old Point Loma Lighthouse, constructed in 1854, seemed to be the perfect spot for a lighthouse. Built in the cape cod style, consisting of a one-and-a-half story dwelling with a central, spiral staircase leading up the tower to the lantern room perched atop the structure, the site for the lighthouse sat at 422 feet above sea level, offering a perfect vantage point of the Pacific Ocean.
That is, when it wasn’t foggy.
The lighthouse had a short life because the seemingly good location concealed a serious flaw: fog and low clouds often obscured the light beam from seagoers. The old lighthouse was boarded up an abandoned in 1891 and set to be demolished in 1913. However, in October 1913, a presidential proclamation set aside ½ acre surrounding the lighthouse, preserving the structure that was ultimately rehabilitated in 2005.
On a clear day, you can see downtown San Diego, the Coronado Bridge, and our neighbors to the south in Tijuana.
Image Courtesy of Randy Rubbles @krazeykat27
Noon – Harbor Town Pub
This may come as a surprise, but San Diego’s climate is arid sub-tropical (aka, it’s a desert), and exploring in the warm sun can be exhausting. After exploring Cabrillo National Monument and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, recharge at Harbor Town Pub.
The pub a laid-back spot known in the community for great food, ice cold beverages, and a fun atmosphere. We loved the Bahn Mi Sliders and of course, and ice-cold draft IPA.
6:00PM – Dinner in Shelter Island
Shelter Island is home to the some of the most popular seafood restaurants in the city and views of the harbor. We asked Point Loma locals to give us our favorite recommendations which include:
Ketch Grill and Taps
Ketch is a member of the Brigantine Inc. family of restaurants, and their menu features a mix of fresh seafood and American pub-style food. The drink menu features several craft beers, including six from Ketch Brewing. This is a casual restaurant that offers incredible views of the harbor from their patio.
Click here to view their menu.
Old Venice Restaurant
Family owned and operated for 42 years, Old Venice features traditional Italian cuisine and has an extensive wine list. The pizza dough and pasta is made fresh daily, and entrée recommendations from locals include the Honey Glazed Salmon, Le Regina, or the Chicken Florentine.
Click here to view their menu.
Supannee House of Thai Restaurant
Another local favorite is Supannee House of Thai, which serves a variety of traditional Thai dishes at an affordable price. Keep in mind that many of the entrees are large enough for two people to share. Some of the customer favorites are the Summer Rolls, Mango Sticky Rice, Wild Shrimp Pad Thai and the Nam Kao Tod.
Click here to view their menu.
7:30PM – Catch a Show at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay
Since 1982, Humpreys has showcased legendary artists such as Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, ZZ Top, Willie Nelson and shows no signs of letting up anytime soon.
After dinner, head over to Humphreys’ intimate 1,450-seat outdoor concert venue and enjoy an awesome show against the backdrop of beautiful Point Loma at night and relaxing views of the marina. Humphreys offers something for everyone, and we recommend buying tickets in advance as their shows regularly sell out.
Click here to view Humphreys current concert schedule.
Sunday
8:00AM – Grab Dark Horse Coffee
Start your morning off by heading down to the Westerly and grabbing a cup of fresh brewed Dark Horse Coffee. The coffee is excellent, and their craft coffee drinks are consistently good. We like to start our day off on the right foot, and you can never go wrong with Dark Horse Coffee.
11:00AM – Head to Sunset Cliffs
Not surprisingly, if you were to search “San Diego sunset” on Google, you find images of some of the most spectacular you’ve ever seen. Most of those images are taken along Sunset Cliffs.
Aside from its location to catch picturesque sunsets, Sunset Cliffs Natural Park offers inspiring panoramic ocean views, intricately carved coastal bluffs, arches and sea caves. From the cliffs, California gray whales often can be seen migrating annually from the Bering Sea to Baja California and back.
Sunset Cliffs is one of our favorite spots to walk, talk and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Pacific coastline. If you’re looking to sunbathe, there are two beach access points, although these spots are not very large, are slightly challenging to access, and can become very busy during the spring and summer months. To catch sunrays, we recommend driving a few miles north to Ocean Beach, which offers plenty of space and a funky vibe that’s well suited for an afternoon at the beach.
Photo by Jermaine Ee on Unsplash
3:00PM – Cry and Wish it Was Friday Again
Back to home you go! Or, if you can telecommute, extend your stay at the Monseraz and enjoy a day of movies and room service.
What are your favorite things to do in Point Loma?