Encinitas has been shaping surfers, skaters, and Sunday mornings for decades, and it shows. It's a beach town on paper, but spend some time here and you'll find it's really a handful of distinct neighborhoods stitched together, each with its own personality. This month's Around Town with Colucci & Co. heads north to cover Encinitas, which includes funky Leucadia, and charming Cardiff-by-the-Sea. We're excited about these local favorites that fit in perfectly to this vibey little beach town.
Sip and Savor
Leucadia mornings start at Pannikin Coffee & Tea, a longtime neighborhood fixture tucked inside a historic former railroad station. The cheerful yellow building and shady patio have been drawing regulars since 1968, and it's still the kind of place where nobody's in a hurry to leave. Fun fact: wifi is not offered here as their hope here is to unplug, connect with each other, and enjoy life without screens for a minute. When it's time for something more substantial, Corner Pizza keeps things simple and satisfying with naturally leavened crusts and a laid back patio, easy for a family lunch or a low key night out. For something a little more special, Leu Leu in Leucadia is worth the reservation. Set inside a reimagined 1930s motel, chef Claudette Zepeda's menu pulls from her Mexican American roots with dishes built for sharing, and the whole space feels eclectic and a little unexpected in the best way. It's not uncommon to see vinyls spinning, and they often have a DJ.
Also worth knowing about: Chick & Hawk, the fried chicken sandwich spot from skate legend Tony Hawk and chef Andrew Bachelier, finally opened its doors on Leucadia Boulevard after years of anticipation. The Birdman sandwich comes in spice levels named after skateboarding trick degrees, a fun nod to the neighborhood's roots that we'll get into below.
If you're around on a weekend, plan your morning around a farmers market. Cardiff's runs Saturdays from 10 to 2 at MiraCosta's San Elijo campus, and Leucadia's takes over Oak Crest Middle School on Sundays, same hours. Between the two, you've got fresh produce, flowers, and local makers covered no matter which day you're free. It's a locals affair and it truly feels that way. It's family-friendly, tons to eat, and often has live music. It's a great way to start your Sunday morning.
Get Outside
This stretch of coast has been a surf town longer than it's been anything else. Swami's is a legendary point break that draws surfers from all over the county, and Beacon's and Grandview round out a lineup that keeps locals in the water year round. Cyclists know this area just as well. Highway 101 and the surrounding hills are a staple of the North County riding scene, and it's common to see a peloton or two out before the morning warms up.
For something slower paced, the Coastal Rail Trail's Cardiff section runs about 1.3 miles between Chesterfield Drive and Santa Fe Drive, an easy walk or bike ride with ocean views the whole way. A few minutes south, the Self-Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens sit above Swami's Beach, free and open to the public, with koi ponds and quiet paths that make it one of the most peaceful spots on this coastline. And if you've got an afternoon to spare, the San Diego Botanic Garden's 37 acres of bamboo groves, desert landscapes, and family friendly trails are worth taking slow rather than rushing through. The children's garden is beautifully designed and even has a water feature.
Shop Local: Encinitas's Skate Roots
Encinitas isn't just a surf town, it's one of the birthplaces of modern skateboarding, and you can still feel that history in a couple of local shops. Encinitas Surfboards has held down its spot on Coast Highway 101 since 1975, when Marc Adam and John Kies opened it together after the shop they'd worked at closed. It's known as one of the last true "core" surf shops around, and Kies still shapes boards on site.
A few minutes away, McGill's Skate Shop has been outfitting skaters since 1987, opened by pro skateboarder Mike McGill, who along with fellow Encinitas local Tony Hawk was part of the legendary Bones Brigade team that helped shape skateboarding as we know it. It's a fitting reason Chick & Hawk, mentioned above, ended up here too, this is skate royalty's hometown.
For something a little different, Thrifty Threads on South Coast Highway has been a family run resale shop since 1978, specializing in surf and skate wear alongside coastal casual finds. It's the kind of place where a quick stop for jeans turns into twenty minutes of digging through genuinely good vintage.
Mark Your Calendar
If you're looking for a reason to make a day of downtown, the Encinitas Holiday Street Fair takes over six blocks of South Coast Highway 101 on Sunday, November 22, from 9am to 5pm. Expect more than 450 vendors selling arts, handmade crafts, antiques, and imports, along with two stages of live entertainment and a beer garden. It's free to attend and one of the better excuses to spend a day wandering the 101 with no real plan.
Worth the Detour
None of these spots need a special occasion to justify a visit. Next time you're in the area, skip the usual loop and build a morning or afternoon around a few of these instead. And if wandering around a town like this has you thinking more seriously about calling it home, that's a conversation we'd love to have.
