Bear Coast: The best place in San Clemente for coffee. Hands down. Located across the street from the pier, we suggest ordering your coffee to-go, and head to the beach. (@bearcoastcoffee)
Bobby’s pick: Black Coffee
Alli’s pick: Oat Milk Latte
Rapport Coffee: If you’re in the North San Clemente area and are in search of your morning buzz, Rapport Coffee has an ambience that keeps locals coming back. High quality coffee and a nice place to read a book (or work). We’ll take it. (@rapportcoffee_by_cafesmith)
Breakfast
Cafe Mimosa: This charming little French bistro is one of our favorite spots for brunch! Their menu is small (and on the pricier end) - but the quality, service, and ambiance is well worth the price. (@cafemimosasc)
Bobby’s pick: Breakfast Sandwich
Alli’s pick: Steel Cut Oats
Rose’s Sugar Shack Cafe: Huge portions, friendly service, and a casual, beachy, at-home setting. Perfect place to fill up before a day at the beach!
Bobby’s pick: C’ Dragon
Alli’s pick: The Surfer
Lunch/Dinner
The Vine: Craft cocktails, a seasonal menu, and an extensive wine bar, all in the most romantic and intimate setting. The Vine is definitely a “special occasion” kind of a spot - and worth a stop, even if just for a drink! (@vinesanclemente)
Bobby’s pick: American Kobe Wine Country Burger
Alli’s pick: Lemon Verbena Poached Scottish Salmon
South of Nick’s: We are obsessed with this modern Mexican restaurant. So much so, that we celebrate every Christmas Eve there! (No joke, we really do!) Hands down our favorite margaritas. (@southofnicks)
Bobby’s pick: The Pork Carnitas. Every time.
Alli’s pick: The Stacked Chicken Enchiladas
Pizza Port: Our favorite laid-back pizza spot. Invite your friends, order a few pitchers of beer, and snack on some “Beer Buddies” while you wait for your pizza. Did we just make your Friday night plans? ;) (@pizzaportbrewingco)
Bobby’s pick: Meet Extreme Meat
Alli’s pick: Pizza Carlsbad
The Riders Club Cafe: They’ve been voted “Best Burger of San Clemente” and we’d have to agree. Everything is made fresh with quality ingredients - and while the burgers are simple, they’re absolutely delicious. (Oh, and it sounds weird- but make sure you get the chocolate pudding. You’ll thank us later.) (@ridersclubcafe)
Bobby’s pick: The Burger with cheddar and bacon
Alli’s pick: The Burger with the housemade veggie patty and avocado
Pedro’s Tacos: Short on time? This drive-through Mexican chain serves up fresh fish tacos, burritos, taquitos, and more. Great quality for a great price!
Bobby’s pick: Bean and Cheese Burrito with Potatoes and Rolled Tacos with Guacamole
Alli’s pick: Fish Taco Combo Plate
The Cellar: We love this little wine bar! They have the best wine flights, cheese boards, shared plates, and live music (almost) every night! And their patio is dog-friendly, which makes us love it THAT much more! (@sccellar)
Bobby’s pick: Pinot Camp
Alli’s pick: Red, White and Frosé
The Vine: Sure, this place is already in our Dinner category - but it belongs here too. Their wine and craft cocktails are some of the very best in Southern California. Even if you don’t eat here, you must stop by for a drink. (@vinesanclemente)
Bobby’s pick: One and Done
Alli’s pick: English Kiwi
(We’ll be honest, San Clemente doesn’t have the best hotels as some neighboring beach communities. We’d prefer to stay in Dana Point or Laguna Beach - but here’s a few options if you have your heart set on staying in SC.) ;)
Casa Tropicana: You can’t beat the location of this little ten room boutique hotel. It’s clean, quaint, and practically on the water. Oh, and it’s above Bear Coast Coffee - which is reason enough to stay there! (@casatropicana)
CAMP! What’s better than beach camping?! San Clemente State Beach and San Onofre are two great options.
Walk or bike the San Clemente Beach Trail: This picturesque shoreline trail features 2.3 miles of stunning ocean views… It’s our favorite walk to do early in the morning, before all the crowds!
Shop Del Mar Street: Filled with eclectic shops, restaurants, and bars - the opportunities are endless on this cute downtown street!
Our dog Sally LOVES coming with us to San Clemente! Almost every restaurant has a dog-friendly patio (The Cellar and Bear Coast Coffee are some of the best), and San Onofre State Beach is pet friendly as well. Sun, sand, and grub… what more could a pup want?!
