OC
Coffee Shops/Desserts:
- Paderia Bakehouse** Fountain Valley, CA (if its not warm tell them to warm it up!)*
- Portola Coffee Lab* (the on located in SoCo)
- 85 Degrees** (sea salt caramel coffee)
- 7 Leaves
- Afters
- The Doughnuterry
- Kean Coffee (locations in Tustin and Newport Beach)*
- Almond Haus
- Philz Coffee
- The Rolling Creamery
- Birdie*
- Scoops n Scoops
- Zero Degrees
- La Michoacana Premium*
- Honor Coffee Roasters
- Sidecar Doughnuts
- Joe’s Italian Ice
- Kit Coffee
Breakfast/Brunch:
- Pandor Artisan Boulangerie Newport Beach, CA**
- W Cafe Newport Beach,CA
- Al Amir Anaheim, CA**
- Zait & Zaatar Anaheim, CA**
- Snooze – Tustin, CA
- Haute Cakes
- Eat Chow
Lunch/Dinner:
- Panini Cafe
- Subculture
- Mama D’s Italian Kitchen
- The Loft
- Gen
- Zait & Zaatar
- Ikram Bakery
- House of Shabu Shabu** (they serve halal!)
- Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot
- The Crack Shack – Costa Mesa, CA Fried chicken sandwiches and deviled eggs are must try too!
- Roscoes Chicken and Waffels*
- Nomads
- Open Sesame
- Sushi On Fire
- Huntington Beach Ramen*
- Mama Tieus
- Project Poke
- Zinque
- Taco Mesa
- Zankou Chicken
Locations to visit:
- Laguna Beach Heisler Park
- Top of the World
- Pacific City
- Thousands Steps
- Crystal Cove Beach
- SoCo
- Corona Del Mar
- Catalina Island
- The Lab / The Camp
- South Coast Plaza (shopping mall)
- Fashion Island (shopping mall)
- ISOC Masjid (my community Masjid. All are welcome even if you’re not Muslim! Very friendly. I recommend going on a Friday between 1:15 – 2:30 pm. After prayer (2pm) Their kitchen serves the BEST SAMOSA YOU’VE EVER HAD!!! If you’re a food junkie you’ll thank me later)
- Balboa
LA
Coffee Shops/Desserts:
- Alfred Coffee Melrose Place
- California Doughnuts (donut is meh but their hot vanilla coffee is amazing!)
- Blue Bottle
- Philz Coffee
- Salt & Straw**
- Somi Somi
- Don Francisco’s Coffee
- Bakers and Baristas
- American Tea Room
- Beau Bar
- Horchateria Rio Luna
Breakfast/Brunch:
- Egg Slut*
- République
- The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker
- Groundwork
- Zinc Cafe & Market
Lunch/Dinner:
- Gracie’s Pizza
- The Perch (rooftop dinning view of DTLA)
- Maccheroni Republic (DTLA)
- Panini Cafe (locations in DTLA & LA)
- Simply Salad (DTLA & Santa Monica,CA)
- Gracias Madre
- Spring
- R+D Kitchen- Santa Monica
- Zankou chicken*
- Yamashiro
Locations to Visit:
- The Broad Museum
- The Arts District
- Hollywood Sign
- Griffith Observatory
- Venice Beach
- The Venice Canals
- Abbot Kinney
- Malibu Farms
- El Madator Beach
- Point Dume State Beach
- Exposition Park Rose Garden
- The Grove Farmers Market
- 3rd Street Promenade
- Old town
- Traditional Mexican town with amazing food and cute shops
PALM SPRINGS / THE DESERT
Coffee Shops/Desserts:
- Mangos*
- Ice Cream & Shoppe
- Shields Date Farm
- Ernest Coffee
Breakfast/Brunch:
- Cheeky’s
- Joey Palm Springs
- The Palma Cafe*
- Elmers
- Broken Yolk
Lunch/Dinner:
- Azucar*
- FARM
- Thai Smile
Locations to Visit:
- Cabazon Dinosaurs*
- Windmills
- Cabazon Shops
- Korakia Pensione
SAN DIEGO
Coffee Shops/Desserts:
- Extraordinary Desserts
- Bird Rock Coffee Roasters
- Communal Coffee – North Park (Suuuppper cute)
- Holly Matcha
- Breakfast Republic – North Park, or Public Liberty Market
- American classics such as Oreo Pancakes, Chicken Wing Breakfast Bowls & S’mores French Toast (Highly Recommend)
- Bing Haus
- Uncle Biff California Killer Cookies
- Por Vida
Breakfast/Brunch:
- Cody’s
Lunch/Dinner:
- Puesto*
- The Crack Shack
- Coasterra – Downtown/Airport area
- Amazing SD skyline views, its Mexican food, a little overprice, but you’re paying for the view (you can always do HH too)
Locations to Visit:
-
Balboa Park
-
La Jolla Cove – La Jolla (cute area with seal watching)
-
Seaport Village – Downtown
-
Torrey Pines
THE BAY
Coffee Shops/Desserts:
- Boba Guys
- Garden Creamery
- Trish Mini Donuts
- Bluebottle in downtown PA*
Breakfast/Brunch:
-
Norma’s
-
Dottie’s True Blue Cafe*
Lunch/Dinner:
- Limon Rotisserie
- Lime Tree Southeast Asian Kitchen
- Burmese Kitchen
- Burma superstar (sf)
- De afghanan (Fremont)
- Foreign cinema
Locations to Visit:
- Baker Beach
- Haight & Ashbury
- The mission district
- Battery spencer (for the best views of Golden Gate Bridge and SF!)
- Palace of fine arts
- The ferry building (grab coffee and enjoy a walk and taste testing, views of bay bridge)
- Lombard Street
- Pier 39
DRINK * EAT * PLAY
