Mid-City

This restaurant is so named because the kitchen is bigger than the rest of the restaurant. "Judy The Beauty (on Duty)" is usually there serving up great food (mainly breakfast, but also lunch), with a cheerful attitude. Take time to appreciate the bumper stickers and celebrity posters on the walls - Whoopi Goldberg once worked here.

Charming, rustic neighborhood French brasserie in the heart of Kensington. They feature a prix fixe Bohemian menu every night from 5-6PM, all night on Tuesdays. Try the moules frites in Roquefort sauce.

Ponces has been renovated, offering a bar and better seating but it still offers some of the best American Mexican food in San Diego. Not authentic Mexican food, but good American Mexican food. Get there with enough time to wait and if you don't want dine in call for take out.

Charming place where it's easy to imagine you've time-traveled to the early 1970s. Don't expect cutting-edge cuisine, but when your parents or grandparents wanted to have a nice evening out, they probably went somewhere like this. The bar furnishings came from a 17th-century English pub - think mood lighting and lots of dark leather and oak. Also a good place for a cocktail or two. Live music nightly.

Zias is home to some of the most unique and tastiest pizzas in all San Diego. You can order by the slice or a whole pie. The types of pizza range from the traditional cheese (three types) to the most famous, eggplant (cranberries, walnuts, yogurt, and eggplant). All food served is kosher and halal and there are vegan options as well. The owner and head chef constantly walks around and asks how everything tastes.

With a pub vibe and aesthetic, BLAH's a fantastic place to drink a wide selection of local craft brew and munch on some pizza. During the week it's not nearly as crowded--you'll be able to find a spot on the long wooden tables. If you ride your bike there, you can get a 10% discount when you show your helmet at the bar.

A quaint hipster bar that offers music on the weekends.

This coffee shop, loved by the locals, serves coffee, tea, food and even spumoni.

Lestat's never closes, ever. Aside from the specialty coffee drinks and the local pastries, the walls are covered with art for sale, and the next door stage has nightly shows and open mics. Free wifi attracts all sorts of local characters and the back is always packed with people. They have a sister location in University Heights along Park Avenue.

A regular neighborhood coffee spot that's a popular study space for many college students given its proximity to SDSU.

Historic hotel that was at one time a preferred San Diego destination for Hollywood's elite. The Olympic-sized pool was designed by Johnny Weismuller of Tarzan fame. On summer weekends they host often fairly raucous pool parties.

A small mom-and-pop nightly rental apartment complex. Well furnished, on a residential street.

Established in 1967, Folk Arts Rare Records specializes in folk and country, but has a great variety of styles and genres in stock (from Surf to Pop, Blues to Metal, Zydeco to Rock).

Huge range of new, used, and vintage toys.

Beautiful used bookstore with a great selection. Highlights include many vintage series and magazines, ornamental books, political zines, a large collection of classic children's chapter books and YA novels, and a large and eclectic foreign-language section.

Small but very well curated bookstore.