While the sun shines nearly year-round, summer is truly one of the best seasons to experience San Diego. 

Whether you're a San Diego native or a visiting vacationer, there are endless ways to enjoy the long, sun-soaked days and lively, coastal nights. 

With summer rapidly approaching, we wanted to share a few of our favorite things to do during the San Diego summertime.

We tapped Georgie, Hilary, and Emma to share what they like to do on a typical summer day or night, and the small businesses they frequent. 

Looking for a local dive that's always packed or a strong cup of coffee? We've got you covered. 

Check out LIVDEN's top summer spots, below!

LIVDEN's San Diego Summer Spots

Our Favorite San Diego Eateries

When we asked LIVDEN co-founders Georgie and Hilary  where their favorite spot to eat out was, it took them a while to answer. Can you blame them? San Diego is home to some of the best restaurants on the West Coast.

Georgie went with Las Cautro Milpas, a little hole-in-the-wall in Barrio Logan, where lines regularly reach all the way around the corner. Her favorite item to get from this San Diego institution? The Tamales. 

Hilary, on the other hand, chose a spot that she says has the coolest vibe in all of North County San Diego. Jeune et Jolie, a little French restaurant up in Carlsbad recently opened and has everything from oysters to sophisticated cocktails. She did admit that she spends most of her time here getting inspiration from the décor, and says it's the most "Instagramable" spot in San Diego. 

Our Favorite Nightlife Attractions

They might be slightly biased, but Georgie, Hilary, and Emma all agree that when it comes to summer nightlife, San Diego offers some of the most fun attractions in all of Southern California. 

Emma, our Asset Manager and Marketing Strategist, had several spots that came to mind for this, but one place stood out in particular.  

For a fun, San Diego summer night out, Emma says that the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach is a must because it always features new artists and offers an intimate concert venue.

Hilary's favorite spot for a night out is a bit further south from Solana Beach and closer to downtown. On a summer night, you can find Hilary in Little Italy at the Waterfront Bar and Grill. No matter the time or day, there is always a lively crowd of customers at the Waterfront who bring a great energy. 

If you're looking for a great craft beer from an establishment that also supports sustainability, Georgie says Pure Project in Mira Mesa is the place to check out. Here, you can enjoy delicious beer made from organic ingredients against the backdrop of their sleek and modern interior.

Our Favorite San Diego Summer Activities

How would Emma spend a summer day and night in San Diego? As someone born and raised in New Jersey, she said her ideal day would have be at the beach, namely because she never grew up with one! Her favorite sandy spot is up in North County San Diego, at the Leucadia State Beach.

After a day of fun in the sun, she said she loves to head downtown with friends to enjoy quality time and beers at the ultra-hip Ironside Fish+Oyster Bar in Little Italy. 

Hilary's perfect San Diego summer day is pretty similar to Emma's, except she would swap out Leucadia State Beach for Sail Bay in Mission Beach.

She recommends renting bikes from a local shop, like Radd Action Sports, and cruising around the bay, but she says you must go at sunset because the views are simply hard to beat. After all the action, Hilary enjoys checking out an outdoor movie at Cinema Under The Stars in Mission Hills. 

During the summer months in San Diego, you can find Georgie at the Coronado Dog Beach on Coronado Island playing fetch with her pup. At night, you can find Georgie at Raised by Wolves in La Jolla or at Ray at Night, North Park's premier art walk that happens every second Saturday of the month from 6:00PM to 10:00PM. 

Our Favorite Places to Shop in SD

Need some summer style?

Emma swears by Mimi + Red in Pacific Beach because of its huge selection of cute dresses and affordable prices. 

Hilary's go-to is the Captain's Helm Thrift Shop in South Oceanside. Everything is hand-selected and one-of-a-kind. She scored her favorite pair of rare Levi slides there for only $16! 

Georgie loves to frequent Pigment, which started as an art gallery but has since blossomed into a one-stop-shop for design-savvy gifts, plants, jewelry, and clothes.  

Our Go-To Coffee Spots

Last but not least, you can't make it through a hot summer day without a little coffee buzz.

There's no shortage of coffee shops in San Diego. And, between Emma and Georgie, they have visited almost all the coffee hotspots in San Diego to find the perfect place for a classic cup o' Joe.

For Georgie, nothing beats Communal Coffee in South Park. She likes to hit this spot in the morning for the strong brew and the incredible community vibe this establishment offers. 

When Emma needs a perk-me-up, she heads to Dark Horse Coffee Roasters in North Park for their Guatemalan drip coffee. She says that the baristas here are some of the nicest San Diegans she's ever met, and they have some of the best coffee and vegan donuts in town.

Get Your Summer On

We hope Georgie, Hilary, and Emma gave you inspiration for how to spend your summer in San Diego. 

If you happen to see our faces out at one of these places, don't hesitate to say "hello" and let us know your go-to San Diego spots in the comments below!