Town of San Diego, California is dwelling to the 2026 World of Espresso occasion, North America’s largest gathering of espresso lovers, espresso professionals, and low tradition creators from each step of the chain. It’s a convention on Sprudge that we use these occasions as a superbly fantastic excuse to discover completely different cities world wide. Touring for espresso is a portal into distinct cultures and locations, and we firmly consider that with the intention to get probably the most out of an expertise like attending World of Espresso, it’s essential to seize this chance with each fingers, put aside time exterior the Conference Heart halls, and take within the sights and flavors of the town round you.
This information in the present day is a part of a neighborhood professional collection, which started in Copenhagen in 2024 and continued on to Houston in 2025. To dive into all San Diego has to supply, we turned to a SoCal born chief within the espresso group who has lived and labored within the San Diego space for a lot of the final 4 many years: Peter Giuliano. He’s a scholar of espresso, a gifted public speaker, a gifted author and famous free-thinker who serves now because the Government Director of the Espresso Science Basis. His Substack publication, Pax Culinaria, was nominated for a Sprudgie Award, and I’ve personally discovered a ton in regards to the world of espresso (lowercase) in conversations with Peter going again to the earliest days of Sprudge.
I used to be delighted to interview Peter about his metropolis, San Diego, and to get some suggestions and recommendation from him on the best way to take advantage of out of a World of Espresso go to. This story needs to be checked out as only one leaping off level—we’ll have heaps extra protection on Sprudge upfront of the occasion, and Peter’s website, Pax Culinaria, will probably be publishing much more on what to do and see and luxuriate in within the metropolis within the coming days. Greater than the rest, a name with Peter G on the subject of San Diego is like immersing oneself into the town in a single cool movement: there’s birds chirping exterior over the telephone, and you’ll virtually really feel the sunshine in your shoulders as he talks.
Hello Peter. I wish to begin by asking you about San Diego tradition. What ought to folks find out about this place earlier than they go to? What makes San Diego distinctive and distinct as a metropolis?
There are three issues that outline San Diego. Outsiders sometimes solely find out about one in all them. I’ll speak about these so as of significance.
Primary, San Diego is a border city. It’s actually, deeply influenced by its proximity to Mexico. An enormous portion of San Diego’s tradition comes from Mexico. The most important drink on the espresso outlets is the “Mexican Mocha” and its many interpretations. That is one thing I used to serve at espresso outlets once I was a barista, all the best way again to the late Eighties. And this affect is current in San Diego’s meals scene, too. We’re well-known for fish tacos, and Mexican meals usually. I don’t assume folks from overseas essentially know this about San Diego. It’s in some ways a Mexican metropolis in America, as a lot Mexican as it’s American.
This actuality is in rigidity with the second main cultural aspect of San Diego, which is that it’s a Navy city. There’s an enormous naval base proper throughout the bay from downtown, and what meaning traditionally is San Diego has an enormous inflow of working class sailors on this metropolis. That is a part of what makes San Diego so distinct from someplace like Los Angeles. LA has all of the creative pretensions of being a present enterprise city; San Diego has no present enterprise to talk of, and that cultural footprint is as a substitute changed by the existence within the army. My girlfriend in highschool was a Navy brat. And the most important Marine base within the nation is at Camp Pendleton simply to the north, which additionally impacts the town. The armed forces is a large cultural aspect of life right here.
And the third factor is seashore tradition, which is the one factor folks from exterior the town would possibly already concentrate on. It’s what folks count on once they come to San Diego, and it’s very true. Seashores are a lifestyle right here: browsing, jogging, simply hanging out. Our seashores are our public squares. San Diegans, by behavior, head to the seashore on the finish of the day to observe the sundown, or eat a burrito, or spend time with their companion. These three issues—Mexican tradition, Navy tradition, and seashore tradition—it’s a wierd combine that makes San Diego what it’s.
How about films and music from San Diego? What are a number of the highlights? I do know it’s not Anchorman—that transfer is extra like an impression of San Diego, versus being the true factor.
The best film ever made about San Diego is Quick Occasions At Ridgemont Excessive. The college within the film, Ridgemont Excessive, was really Claremont Excessive Faculty in San Diego—it was written about that place. And there’s so many San Diego issues about that film. Jeff Spiccoli, the character, is a really true depiction of a San Diego individual from that point interval. I knew Jeff Spiccoli sorts rising up.
For bands, there was an excellent different band referred to as Pinback that was from San Diego, and so they have been in heavy rotation within the 90s. Most likely probably the most profitable band in San Diego from the final thirty years is Blink 182, who’re from Rancho Bernardo.
And naturally there’s High Gun, which was filmed in San Diego, and speaks to the armed forces tradition I discussed a second in the past.
Let’s transfer on to some suggestions. What does an ideal day in San Diego appear like to you?
The very best half-day you may spend round San Diego appears to be like like this: get a automobile and drive north on the 5 (we at all times say “the” earlier than freeway names in California) to a spot referred to as Del Mar. You may take the Carmel Valley Street exit in direction of the seashore, and there you’ll discover a spot referred to as Roberto’s Taco Store—get a carne asada burrito or a fish taco. Proper subsequent to it’s a Fowl Rock Espresso, which is likely one of the nice roasters in San Diego. Each of those overlook the Torrey Pines Pure Reserve, a ravishing estuary that opens onto one of many nicest seashores in San Diego. Torrey Pines State Park, simply down the highway, is a treasure. When you’re there you may hike, stroll alongside the cliffs and see whales breaching, and take within the shoreline. It’s the proper solution to spend a half a day in San Diego: you get Mexican meals, you get nice espresso, and also you get to benefit from the seashore.
What are a few of your favourite espresso spots?
One of many first specialty espresso firms within the U.S. was Pannikin Espresso and Tea, began in 1968 by a man named Bob Sinclair. Bob was very clearly impressed by Peet’s, which had begun only a 12 months earlier in Berkeley. By the point I used to be in highschool Pannikin had 7 places round San Diego, and this was within the late 80s; Pannikin was to San Diego what Starbucks was to Seattle, or Espresso Connection was to Boston. There’s one Pannikin remaining in Encinitas, and once you go go to, it simply appears to be like like a cool beachside espresso store—you may’t inform that it has the legacy that it has, however I guarantee you it does. I labored at this very cafe from 1988 to 1994.
Pannikin gave start to a roasting firm referred to as Cafe Moto, which is one other alma mater of mine. They’ve a roastery and low store in Barrio Logan, which is true close to downtown, a simple shot from the Conference Heart. I undoubtedly wish to ship folks there—I feel they’re actually good, and really uniquely San Diego in fashion. Torrey and Kim Lee personal it, and Torrey’s dad based Pannikin; they’ve deep roots within the espresso scene right here.
Each Bid Rock Espresso Roasters location is strong. They’ve three cafes downtown, and each is price a go to.
In Previous City, there’s a spot referred to as Flor & Seed. I’m actually passionate in regards to the Southern California custom round Mexican espresso, and cafes that want to Mexico versus Italy and Europe as hubs of espresso tradition. Flor and Seed has a horchata latte that’s the primary drink versus a flavored latte, for instance. That is the place I’d ship somebody for that have.
The place ought to I eat lunch close to the Conference Heart?
Fish tacos are a should. One place is Karina’s Ceviche Bar and Tacos—it’s a Mexican seafood place that’s a makeable stroll or brief cab trip from the conference middle. I’ll personally be going there for fish tacos or Mexican shrimp cocktail through the occasion. Positively eat Mexican meals in San Diego; there are too many locations to say. Anywhere with the suffix -Berto’s will probably be traditional San Diego Fashion meals (like Alberto’s, Roberto’s, Royberto’s, and many others), however your probabilities of getting good high quality meals in any Mexican place are very very excessive in SD. Do learn my essay on the topic.
If you happen to like seafood, you’ll discover it in San Diego. There’s a handy place referred to as the Fish Market, which overlooks the harbor, and it’s not distant from the Conference Heart. It’s a really good grilled fish sort of place.
Throughout the harbor there’s a spot referred to as Mitch’s Seafood, which is cheaper, and a bit higher, however it’s undoubtedly a cab trip versus a stroll. You can do this for dinner, too, as an informal dinner choice.
One different place for Mexican meals is named Pōkez, which is a beloved veggie-friendly place that’s been round perpetually. It’s within the downtown zone and it’s an excellent choice if somebody in your group wants veggie decisions.
San Diego has an enormous vegetarian and well being meals tradition, so that is one thing folks ought to take a look at whereas they’re right here. The story of San Diego “hippie tradition” is fascinating, because of locations just like the Self-Realization Fellowship in Encinitas, which was based within the Nineteen Fifties. It’s why Encinitas has the very best per capita focus of yoga studios within the nation. In downtown there’s an old style guru-style vegetarian restaurant referred to as Jyoti-Bihanga that serves a sort of San Diego interpretation of Indian vegetarian delicacies, and it’s price trying out.
What bars ought to I take a look at whereas I’m in San Diego?
There’s a spot referred to as The Casbah which is by the airport, and it’s *the* San Diego reside music venue. I’d undoubtedly ship folks there.
I additionally love this place referred to as The Waterfront, which is the oldest bar in San Diego. It’s a bit rage-y for me now, however it’s a extremely enjoyable time. That’s the place all of the restaurant folks go after their shift, which I do know is one thing youthful espresso folks and baristas are a part of as properly.
One other factor that’s interesting perhaps to that youthful crowd is fifth Avenue, which is kind of famously the place Navy guys go to get shitfaced. It has lots of loud bars, however there’s additionally this excellent spot there referred to as Star Bar that’s simply extra like an previous dive bar. After I was rising up in San Diego it was often known as an LGBTQ pleasant area. It’s nonetheless actually nice.
Over in Previous City, the Aero Membership is one other nice previous dive bar. It’s not *in* Previous City correct however it’s close to the world. It’s a extremely enjoyable dive.
And in downtown you may go to the dive bar they filmed in for High Gun, which is named Kansas Metropolis Barbecue however everybody simply refers to it as “the High Gun bar.” They make an enormous deal out of being a filming location for the film.
One final query: I prefer to e book an additional day for these journeys to soak up a bit tradition. What are a number of the cool cultural issues to do across the metropolis?
The San Diego Zoo is maybe probably the most well-known factor right here, and it’s actually nice. Balboa Park is superb with its museums and gardens, and Level Loma is nice too, actually scenic and with a panoramic view of your complete metropolis. You may e book whale watching excursions from San Diego harbor for that ocean life, or take a look at Chicano Park in Barrio Logan- it has an enormous assortment of chicano murals painted on the freeway underpass (belief me- it’s superior!). Or lease a automobile, drive north, and go to seashores.
My primary seashore is a spot referred to as Swami’s in Encinitas. It’s proper by the Self-Realization Fellowship, and it’s one of the best surf spot in San Diego. The Self Realization Heart itself has a ravishing meditation backyard which is free to visit- and it has one of the best ocean views on the coast.
Thanks Peter!
