Andrew and I spent 3 days in the So Cal beach town of Oceanside. Only an hour south of our home in Huntington Beach, I can’t believe this was our first time staying in this amazing town. Oceanside offers a laid-back vibe with beautiful beaches, a charming harbor, and a great food and craft beer scene. Here are my recommendations on where to stay, eat & play!
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Oceanside and could not be happier with our choice. The rooms were spacious, the staff was top-notch and the location is perfect for exploring Oceanside. It’s only a 5 minute walk to the harbor and a 15 minute bike ride to the pier and downtown area. The hotel’s onsite restaurant & bar, ARYANA, offers breakfast, dinner and a nightly happy hour. The hotel also has a pool, gym and rooftop deck, where you can enjoy a sunset cocktail. Click here to get 10% off your stay!
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
There is no shortage of great restaurants and breweries in Oceanside. We ate and drank our way through town 😂. Here are a few of our favorite spots.
Masters – We absolutely loved this place! From the large, airy floor plan and rustic chic decor to the amazing menu and craft cocktails, Masters is a definite must! It also has to be the best spot in town for brunch with bottomless mimosas and every NFL game on Sunday.
Jalisco Cantina – This may be our new favorite Mexican restaurant. We loved it so much, we ate there two nights in a row! There menu is equally unique and delicious and they offer vegan and vegetarian options as well. They also have the yummiest margarita selection. The Chamoy was my favorite!
Barrel Republic – This place is a mecca for craft beer lovers. They offer 48 beers on tap and utilize a self-pour system. You are given a wrist band which you scan at each tap before you pour, giving you the freedom to pour as little or as much as you want. The band keeps track of your ounces and you pay when you are ready to leave. They also offer wine on tap and a full food menu as well. I recommend the Crispy Avocado Grilled Cheese.
Breakwater Brewing – Breakwater started brewing beer in 2009 and currently offers 15 house beers on tap. Andrew’s favorite was the Hop Mutiny. They also have a menu of pizza, sandwiches and salads.
Stone Brewing Tap Room – This Stone tasting room and retail shop is a hidden gem in Oceanside. Located on Tremont St, away from the busy PCH traffic, the tasting room is situated in a former pottery shop. They have a beautiful garden patio which makes for a relaxed, intimate setting. They offer 19 rotating beers on tap. There is no food or other beverages offered at this location.
Bagby Beer – This was our favorite of all breweries that we visited. The restaurant is really big with both indoor and outdoor seating and they pumped great music throughout the space. The beer selection is pretty extensive with 26 house beers and 26 guest beers on draught. They also offer a decent selection of wine and cocktails for those of us who aren’t huge beer fans.
WHAT TO SEE & DO
Explore Harbor Village – Harbor Village is a quaint New England-style destination, home to a variety of restaurants and retail shops. The village is surrounded by rows of docked sailboats as well as local vendors providing whale watching, boat rental, and SUP experiences.
Bike down the Strand – We loved biking the Strand in Oceanside! The road has the ocean on one side and the cutest beach cottages on the other, making it the perfect scenic ride. We rented our bikes from the Holiday Inn, but you can also rent bikes from Wheel Fun Rentals located directly under the Oceanside Pier for $25 an hour.
Visit the California Surf Museum – Oceanside offers great surfing year-round, but if surfing isn’t your thing, you can still dip your toes in that scene by going to the California Surf Museum. The museum was founded in 1986 and offers a permanent collection which chronicles the history of surfboards and wave-riding, as well as many revolving exhibits each year. The museum has acquired a rare set of archives and collections gathered over more than 30 years, comprising one of the world’s richest troves of surfing history!
Walk the Pier – Did you know the Oceanside Pier is the longest wood pier in California?! It’s 1954 feet long and makes for a fun, scenic walk. You can browse the cute little souvenir shops, rent poles and tackle if you want to try your hand at fishing, or grab lunch at Rubies.
We absolutely loved our time in Oceanside. It may just be our new favorite weekend getaway spot! Let me know if you plan a visit and have any questions.
One thought on “A Weekend in Oceanside: Where to Stay, Eat & Play!”