Discover California

I’ve created this Discover CA portion of my blog to share photos and experiences with you that I have had right here in California.

Whether you’re spending the weekend in San Francisco or headed down to LA and San Diego for a week long holiday; here are some of my favorite spots in California.

San Francisco

I truly never soaked in the beauty of San Francisco until when the quarantine thing happened in 2020. I never realized how beautiful corners of San Francisco are. And I never knew how much pink existed in the city.

PLACES TO EAT IN SAN FRANCISCO

Media Noche– in the Mission is one of my favorite go to spots for Cuban food. The Pollo(chicken) bowls are amazing and filling. If you love empanadas, then this is YOUR place. The wall mural outside the restaurant changes every so often. The first time I went, there was flamingos on the side.

Leo’s Oyster Bar-located in the Financial District on Sacramento Street. This is a cute hidden gem. It’s popular for it’s wallpaper aesthetics. This is the place to go to if you only want drinks with a cute girly environment.

SWEET MAPLE-located in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. This a must for BRUNCH. I recommend getting there early and waiting in line. This is one of those places where you get there and wait in line with your party. You could be waiting hours but it’s all worth it for their Million Dollar Bacon.

TOASTY-located in Cow Hollow off Union Street. This is such a tiny place for amazing avocado toast and beet root lattes. This is the first place I’ve tried Hummus toast with a pinch of cucumber on it.

FLORES-located in Cow Hollow also off Union Street. This is such a cute and hip Mexican place. The aesthetics in the bar area are to live for. The tacos here are incredible. Now this is where you come with your friends for happy hour.

PALM HOUSE-located in Cow Hollow off Union Street. If you love Caribbean and Hawaiian food-this is the spot. From their punch bowls to their jerk chicken tacos. Everything on the menu is so appetizing that I always have a hard choice when it comes to ordering. This place reminds me of a fraternity house party in college. It’s bohemian themed and cute.

COFFEE SHOPS IN SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco has plenty of coffee shops and it seems that there is a new coffee shop opening up every so often. Here are some of my top picks:

• Hollow
• Home
• Cafe Reville
• Matching Half Cafe
• Jane on Fillmore

WHERE TO STAY IN SAN FRANCISCO

Whether you are coming into Sf just for a weekend getaway or coming in as a tourist from abroad, there are plenty of hotels in the city to accommodate your stay.  Here are some of my hotel recommendations:

The Proper Hotel-The Famous rooftop, Charmaine’s is located at this hotel. The staff is very friendly from check in to the restaurant staff at the Villon. It’s a nice little hideout to escape the madness of the city. ($$)

Marriott Marquis-The View Lounge is incredible. This is a super nice hotel if you’re looking for just a quick 1 night stay in the city. Its tucked away in the middle of San Francisco. ($$)

The Westin-located in the middle of Union Square and is a great location especially for the holidays. If you’re in the city to just shop and hang around Union Square, I highly recommend this one. ($$)

Hotel Fairmont-This one is just AMAZING! This is the famous Presidential Hotel where President Barack Obama once stayed. They have an amazing Tonga Room where you can indulge in nice drinks. They have a wonderful bar in the hotel as well especially around the holidays when the huge Christmas tree is up and the Gingerbread house is up. My favorite time to visit the Fairmont. ($$$)

Hilton San Franciscon Financial District– Hilton is a hotel chain everywhere. I know some people prefer to stay in a hotel that they are already familiar with the name and what to expect. The Hilton in SF is nice and their lounge upstairs has incredible views of the city. ($$)

If you’re visiting San Francisco and want to check out Wine Country- I highly recommend you take a day out for wine tasting. Napa is so close to San Francisco that you would be damned if you don’t.

Napa Wine Country

Wine Country is known for all the amazing wines. Harp and I definitely make a trip to Napa and Sonoma yearly. There is never a bad time to go to Napa. Well, if you go after Harvesting season (usually around mid-late November) you may see the vines are all dry. Napa is so beautiful all year around and whether you want to sip on Rose during the hot summer months or stick to a glass of Cabernet on the cold winter days- wine tasting in Napa is a MUST.

The Napa Wine Train is also something that I highly recommend. Harp surprised me a few years ago for my birthday on the wine train and it was the most beautiful and romantic experience. Depending on the package you choose, you get lunch/dinner along with 2 tastings of wine. You can purchase additional wine tastings. If you select a package that includes a wine tasting tour at one of the wineries, you will be dropped off at the winery from the train. It’s an experience and every package is special.

Napa is not only known for its amazing wine, but the views are to die for.  I will list out a few of our favorite wineries in Napa and Sonoma. If you have any favorites, please let me know so we can definitely try them out.

Our Favorite Wineries in Napa:

• V.Sattui
• Del Dotto
• Castello Di Amorosa (The Castle)
• Sterling Vineyards
• Chateau Montelina
• Domaine Carneros (Sparkling Wine)
• Artesa
• Mumm Champagne House
• Darioush
• Silverado
• Peju Winery
• Stags Leap
• Hall
• Robert Mondavi
• Far Niente
• Alpha Omega Winery
• Signorello Estate Winery

Los Angeles, West Hollywood

Who doesn’t love Hollywood? I always try to make a trip to LA at least once or twice a year. LA is the definition of the perfect girl’s weekend getaway. There are so many beautiful places. It’s too hard to ignore the beauty.

MY TOP PICKS IN LA

CATCH LA– CATCH LA is a beautiful restaurant with an intensive menu. Whether you go for brunch or dinner-you’ll be in love. CATCH LA’s upstairs foyer balcony is what caught my attention and I have been extremely obsessed with this place ever since.

PUMP– Both PUMP restaurant and SUR Lounge are owned by Lisa Vanderpump from Vanderpump Rules. PUMP is a beautiful outdoor garden patio restaurant. It’s perfect for a girl’s night out or even to host your bridal shower.

BEAUTY & ESSEX LA– Beauty and Essex is definitely one of my favorite go to spots in Hollywood now. It’s fairly new. The ambiance was my type of scene. I loved the venue so much; it can go for a nice date night or just a classy night out with the girls. The best part is that in the women’s bathroom, you get free champagne. Who doesn’t love free champagne?

The Ivy at the Shore, Santa Monica– There are two Ivy locations in LA. One in Beverly Hills and one in Santa Monica. I went to the one in Santa Monica. Both locations are equally gorgeous, but I personally like the one in Santa Monica better. I’m very attention to detail and the details at the Santa Monica location is beautiful and so girly. Upon being greeted, you are provided a glass of complimentary champagne. Again, who doesn’t love free champagne? The brunch at the Ivy is a little pricey, but worth it. Every meal I’ve had this far is amazingly delicious.

DUKES MALIBU– If you’re cruising down Malibu or on Highway 1 and want to stop for food and drinks; I recommend Duke’s Malibu. It’s right on the beach in Malibu with an amazing view. The food and drinks are delicious. I started off with a delicious white wine and then ordered fish tacos as my entree for lunch. The food isn’t anything fancy, but typical beach front entrees that still taste delicious.

THE ROOF ON WILSHIRE– The Roof on Wilshire is located at the Wilshire Hotel. It’s a really nice place to come and have Sunday Brunch on a nice summer day. The views from the rooftop are amazing. If you look closely on the hill, you can see the Hollywood Sign. My first time here, I brought Harp and he enjoyed the view with the drinks. We came mid-day just for drinks and it was a nice place to just relax and soak up the sun.

SUR LOUNGE– I’ve been to Sur Lounge twice now. Sur is a nice lounge to just come and enjoy the atmosphere with a few drinks. We’ve had dinner here, but I wasn’t a big fan of the dinner personally. I just enjoyed the drinks with the lounge ambiance. The patio at Sur is just as beautiful as the garden patio at PUMP. You can rent out the patio at Sur for your own special event. I mean, I wouldn’t mind hosting a bridesmaid brunch here.

BRU’S WHIFFLE WAFFLE JOINT IN SANTA MONICA, LOS ANGELES– Forget Roscos. If you want chicken and waffles for breakfast, you come to Bru’s Whiffle Waffle Joint. If you’re in the Santa Monica area and you don’t go here- what’s your excuse? This has to be one of the best chicken and waffles breakfast I’ve ever had. You might wait an hour, 2 hours…but it’ll be worth it!

COFFEE SHOPS IN LA

• Alfred’s Coffee
• The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker
• Carrera Cafe

WHERE TO STAY IN LA

WEST HOLLYWOOD HOTELS

• The W-Upscale hotel on the famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine. This puts you in the center of most of the best attractions. I highly recommend this hotel if you want to make West Hollywood your backyard. A bonus; WET DECK on the W’s rooftop is one of the best pool parties in LA. ($$)
• The Hollywood Roosevelt-A Boutique Historic Upscale Hotel located along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There’s no Hollywood without the Hollywood Roosevelt. The staff here is super friendly, nice and very accommodating. The rooms are little smaller but I mean that is normal for a boutique hotel. ($$).
• Kimpton Hotel Wilshire – Located on Miracle Mile and less than a mile from The Grove shopping mall. Super Contemporary, gorgeous and urban high end hotel. Top notch service at a classy hotel offering free wine hours with an incredible rooftop restaurant and bar. ($$)
• The West Hollywood EDITION- Located on Sunset Strip. Amid eateries and nightclubs along Sunset Blvd. This hotel boasts sophisticated outlets in their signature restaurant, lobby lounge, rooftop pool and so much more. ($$$$)
• The Beverly Hills Hotel-Located in Beverly Hills. This has been the ultimate beacon of glamour, chic and posh hotel. From the moment you pass the iconic signage, you’re stepping onto the red carpet. They have a beautiful Polo Lounge located onsite for brunch, dinner, drinks, you name it. It’s a corner of paradise. If you can’t stay here, don’t worry- there’s tons of Instagramable places for you at this hotel to just visit and take photos ($$$$).

ORANGE COUNTY HOTELS

• The Waterfront Beach Resort, Hilton Huntington Beach-Overlooking Huntington Beach and walking distance to Huntington Beach pier. Relax with their two pools, water slides, private cabanas and a rooftop lounge. It’s 30 minutes away from Disneyland. A family resort. ($$)
• Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach- set on the beach, right off Highway 1 is a mile away from Huntington Beach Pier and 20 miles away from Disneyland. It offers coastal chic aesthetics and overlooks Huntington Beach ($$$)
• Hyatt Regency Newport Beach- An iconic beach resort. Tucked away about 4 miles from the Newport Beach Pier. There are 3 pools on this desert like spacious retreat. The hotel staff is extremely friendly. This hotel is about 19 miles away from Disneyland. ($$)

LA is huge and the list of things to do there will never get old. Whether you just want to relax on the beach and enjoy the piers or you want to have the full on WeHo experience with your girls. Here is a list of some site seeing things to do in LA:

• Santa Monica
• Venice Beach
• Griffith Observatory
• LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) or “Urban Light”
• Hollywood Sign (Runyon Canyon Hike)
• Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Melrose Ave
• Hollywood Blvd & Sunset Strip
• Huntington Beach Pier
• Newport Beach
• Laguna Beach

San Diego

San Diego has no shortage of brunch places, breweries and coffee shops. It’s a college town with so much to explore, some places I have yet to discover myself.

 

MY TOP PICKS IN SD

Holy Matcha SD – If you love PINK and MATCHA, with dreamy interiors, this is your spot! Total Instagram worthy. There are two locations, one in North Park off University Ave and the other in East Village off Park Blvd. It’s famous for its wallpaper and Parisan aesthetics. I’ve only visited the North Park location as of now, but thanks to Holy Matcha, I am obsessed with Matcha and it’s health benefits.

Verbatim Books– An antique and classic bookstore with a curated selection of used and rare books. Super hip and elegant located in North Park. It’s not Instagram famous yet, but we can make it famous.

TOP BRUNCH PLACES IN SAN DIEGO

HASH HOUSE A GO GO, SAN DIEGO-There’s no question about. If you’re a foodie, I highly recommend HASH HOUSE A GO GO. It won’t disappoint. I recommend arriving early as this place tends to have a wait for hours.

CRUSHED-Woodsy chic haunt for global inspired tapas, brunch and my favorite, mimosas. Located in Pacific Beach, its atmosphere and mouth watering tapas and mimosas bring will bring you in. This is a pretty cool spot just to meet up with some friends and hang out. I definitely give this place 4.5/5 stars.

CAFE 21-San Diego’s most innovative restaurant from their signature breads to their fruit infused sangrias. Their concept is smaller plates, allowing for a variety to indulge in different tastes and flavors. This is where amazing food meets great company. It’s located in Gas Lamp therefore, it explains why it’s always happy hour.

SNOOZE AM Eatery-One of the best brunch spots in SD. Well, I’ll be a bit honest but I like Hash House A Go Go a little bit more than Snooze.  Incredible atmosphere, service and food. They have an intensive menu selection with reasonable prices. The staff is amazing. I definitely recommend it. Like Crushed, its a nice place to meet up with friends and hang out.

MORNING GLORY SD – What’s pink, funky and irreverent all over? Brunch is more than Basic here at Morning Glory in San Diego. It’s located in Little Italy. The atmosphere is beautiful. I love the all PINK hues with wooden seating. Rose – colored retro lamps compete with a pink Champagne vending machine for space for all your Instagram posts. This place has 38 unique cocktails and their menus look like a vinyl album cover. The staff here is so friendly and helpful. I definitely recommend this place for it’s aesthetics and cocktails.

THE GREAT MAPLE- Super chic eatery specializing in comfort food but with a TWIST. Take this 50’s style diner, add a little swagger and you get Great Maple. It is one of the four outlets statewide, but this particular location is popping and the most famous.  Their Maple Bacon Donuts are a staple and are highly recommended. Their brunch cocktails are to die for. There’s an intensive menu selection with reasonable prices. The staff here is super friendly. And if you’re up for it, you might get some free lemon drop shots for breakfast. Joe was our waiter, he’s incredible and so funny. He’s extremely helpful when it comes to any questions about the menu as well.

COFFEE SHOPS IN SAN DIEGO

• Better Buzz Coffee Roasters
• S3 Coffeebar
• Communal Coffee
• Holy Matcha
• Cafe Gratitude
• The Grounds Bean Bar

 

San Diego is beautiful and the list of things to do will never disappoint. Whether you’re here to party for a Bachelorette or just relaxing get away weekend with the girls, you’re going to have an amazing time. Here’s a list of some site seeing in SD:

• Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach
• Belmont Park located in Mission Beach
• Gaslamp Quarter
• Little Italy
• La Jolla
• Balboa Park
• Sunset Cliffs
• Torrey Pines State National Reserve
• Old Town
• Coronado Island
• USS Midway
• Microbrewery Tour

Pro tip: If you’re looking to party in SD, Pacific Beach is your spot for all the day bars and beach drinkers. Gaslamp Quarter has a great intensive view of rooftop bars, lounges and clubs. Spend the day in PB and head to Gaslamp for the nightlife. If you’re looking for pool parties, Hard Rock Hotel located in Gaslamp has such a fun Vegas-style pool party for you to enjoy!

WHERE TO STAY IN SAN DIEGO

San Diego Mission Bay Resort – Indulge in the California lifestyle right at your fingertips- sun, sand and so much more. You can enjoy waterfront dining, outdoor water activities, luxurious spa treatments and poolside relaxation. This resort is in close proximity to all San Diego attractions. This is a great hotel for family stay-cations or a weekend getaway with your girls. ($$)

La Valencia Hotel – Mediterranean style hotel located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego. This has been an iconic destination for years- with it’s signature pink exterior and it’s iconic tower, the elegant “Pink Lady.” There are beautiful panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean coastline and the La Jolla cove. Such a great hideaway hotel for your weekend stay. ($$$)