Things to Do in Old Town, San Diego San Diego's oldest settled area and the site of California's first European settlement. It contains Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, Presidio Park, and the Whaley House museum.
Plan Old Town Plan your Old Town trip Free · and No sign-up By TripSapien · Updated September 3, 2026
Home / Things to do in San Diego / Neighborhoods / Old Town Already have an AI-made San Diego itinerary?
Paste the plan into TripSapien to check its stops against your destination and travel dates. Free — no ads, no sign-up.
Validate my AI itinerary Top things to do in Old Town
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park ★ 4.7 · 31.7k· $$ ★
Open-air museum about local life in the 1800s, with adobe buildings & interpretive performances.
Every day 10 AM – 5 PM
Old Town Market ★ 4.7 · 2.2k
Historic marketplace with shops & carts offering locally made gift items, plus live entertainment.
Whaley House ★ 4.5 · 2.5k
Supposedly haunted, this museum in an 1850s house offers day & night tours, plus a cafe.
Every day 10 AM – 4:30 PM, 5 PM – 9 PM
Nibble Chocolate Old Town ★ 4.7 · 201· $1–10
A chocolate shop in Old Town San Diego offering bean-to-bar chocolate, hot chocolate, café drinks, and curated gifts made with ethically sourced cacao.
Mon–Fri 11 AM – 9 PM
Sat 10 AM – 9 PM
Sun 10 AM – 9 PM
Gum Saan
Every day 10 AM – 6 PM Where to eat & drink in Old Town
Casa Guadalajara ★ 4.4 · 9.3k· $20–30
Mexican eats with live mariachi music, indoors or on the vibrantly colorful outdoor patio.
Every day 11 AM – 9 PM
Old Town Mexican Cafe ★ 4.4 · 9.3k· $20-30
A cheery spot serving many standard Mexican dishes & authentic hand-pressed tortillas.
Mon–Thu 8 AM – 9 PM
Fri 8 AM – 10 PM
Sat 7 AM – 10 PM
Sun 7 AM – 9 PM
Old Town Mexican Café ★ 4.3 · 14.1k· $20-30
Offering 100 tequilas, this rustic & lively spot serves Mexican fare & buzzes with mariachi music.
Mon 8:30 AM – 9 PM
Tue–Wed 11 AM – 9 PM
Thu 10 AM – 9 PM
Fri 9 AM – 9 PM
Sat 8 AM – 9 PM
Sun 8 AM – 9 PM
Home & Away ★ 4.5 · 829· $10–20
Modern, wood-filled sports pub offering many craft beers on tap, plus table games & an outdoor area.
Every day 11:30 AM – 1 AM
California Bean ★ 4.8 · 279· $1–10
An independently owned and operated local coffee shop that brews quality beans into coffee, including quick-roasted "white coffee" with a unique flavor.
Mon–Fri 5:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Sat 7 AM – 1 PM
Sun 7 AM – 1 PM
Rockin' Baja Lobster - Old Town ★ 4.4 · 5.6k· $20–70
Inspired by the dishes of Baja's Puerto Nuevo fishing town, this fish & lobster taco shop bustles.
Mon–Thu 11 AM – 8:30 PM
Fri 11 AM – 9:30 PM
Sat 11 AM – 9:30 PM
Sun 11 AM – 8:30 PM
Casa De Reyes ★ 4.3 · 8.0k· $20–30
Overlooking a historic park, this Mexican cantina offers outdoor dining in a lovely garden.
Mon–Thu 11 AM – 9 PM
Fri 11 AM – 10 PM
Sat 10 AM – 10 PM
Sun 10 AM – 9 PM
Flor and Seed Coffee Roasters ★ 4.7 · 285· $1–10
Mon–Fri 7 AM – 3 PM
Sat 7 AM – 5 PM
Sun 7 AM – 5 PM
Miguel's Cocina ★ 4.4 · 3.4k· $20–30
Bustling outpost of a small chain serving margaritas & California-inspired Mexican eats.
Mon–Thu 11 AM – 9 PM
Fri 11 AM – 9:30 PM
Sat 11 AM – 9:30 PM
Sun 10 AM – 9 PM
Pizza Bella Italian Bistro ★ 4.5 · 1.4k
Old-world Italian art lines the walls of this bustling eatery serving thin-crust pies & pasta.
Mon–Fri 11 AM – 9 PM
Sat 11 AM – 8:30 PM
Sun 11 AM – 8:30 PM
Doc Holliday's ★ 4.7 · 180· $10–20
Mon–Thu 7:30 AM – 10 PM
Fri 7:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Sat 7:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Sun 7:30 AM – 10 PM Planning time in Old Town?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs before you go.
Pick your dates Old Town map Ranked using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
1 Old Town San Diego State Historic Park 2 Old Town Market 3 Whaley House 4 Casa Guadalajara 5 Old Town Mexican Cafe 6 Old Town Mexican Café 7 Home & Away 8 California Bean 9 Rockin' Baja Lobster - Old Town 10 Nibble Chocolate Old Town Ready to plan Old Town? Turn these Old Town picks into a day-by-day San Diego plan, with every place checked for closures and booking needs on your dates.
Plan my San Diego trip
Old Town San Diego State Historic ParkState / Provincial Park
Old Town MarketSpecialty Store
Whaley HouseHistory Museum
