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August 31, 2021

A Feminist City Guide to San Diego

By:Sarah Anderson

an island with resort house
Photo by Daniel Frese on Pexels.com

If you’ve never been to San Diego, it is the quintessential Californian city. To walk through it is to be enveloped by smells of eucalyptus trees from Balboa Park and fresh ocean breezes coming off La Jolla. It goes without saying that San Diego is a city of sunshine and beaches, but beyond its tourist draws lies a thriving market for localized products, inventive cuisine, and budding female entrepreneurs. From trying your hand at surfing at the city’s woman-founded Surf Diva to buying flowers that support local women’s shelters at Sage Sisters, there are endless options for ways to both enjoy San Diego and support its local women.

A Couple-Founded Gift Shop Selling Locally-Made Products

Pigment, owned by wife and husband Amy and Chad, is a boutique that is best known for selling local San Deigo products. In the “plant lab” section of the store, shoppers can create their own planters with the wide array of succulents, cacti, pots, rocks, sand, and soil available. Formerly an art gallery and studio run by Amy, this shop offers a meticulously cultivated selection of plants, furniture, clothes, art, and books.

Support Women’s Shelters One Flower at a Time

Sage Sisters may be a flower shop, but it’s so much more than that. Purchasing a bouquet can be done in good conscious as Sage Sisters donates all leftover flowers to non-profits, including local women’s shelters. However, leaving with just flowers seems impossible, as the shop’s owner, Eva, also sells things that pair well with her custom creations, like chocolate and accessories.

sporty young lady sitting on surfboard in ocean
Catch a surf class at woman-founded Surf Diva in San Diego | © Daniel Torobekov on Pexels.com

Catch a Wave at this Woman-Founded Surf School

Among female surfers in San Diego, Surf Diva is an iconic hang out that helped make the waves co-ed. Founded about 20 years ago by twin sisters, Izzy and Coco Tihanyi, this all-girls surf school is now an international company (they also work in Costa Rica). Take a private or group lesson, or sign up for a women’s only weekend clinic and catch some waves in a comfortable environment.

Pay a Visit to One of the Only Women’s Museums in the Country

San Diego is home to one of the only three stand-alone women’s history museums in the country. The Women’s Museum of California is a non-profit dedicated to preserving the often forgotten women of California’s past. Featuring ever-changing exhibits, museum-goers can explore art, history, and enjoy live performances.

A Coffee Shop Founded by Two Former Female Naval Officers

After an eventful day of shopping in Hillcrest—San Diego’s LGBTQIA+ neighborhood—stop in for a quick pick-me-up at Industrial Grinds. This coffee shop was started in 2011 by retired U.S. Navy veterans, Kathy Hansen and Barbara Jeanine. Here, the brews are strong and flavorful drinks are always served with a smile. They roast their own coffee and have a signature blend, so no other cup will taste like Industrial Grind. They have something for everyone, plus pastries to snack on. The free WiFi, comfy couch, and tables make it the perfect place to relax and recharge.

person squeezing lime on the tacos
Grab authentic birria tacos from San Diego’s Tuetano Taqueria | © Los Muertos Crew on Pexels.com

The Best Tacos this Side of the Border at Woman-Founded Tuétano Taqueria

Because of San Diego’s close proximity to Mexico, it’s expected that some of the flavors from our Southern neighbor would spill across the border. For just about the most authentic taste of Mexico you can find in the city, head to woman-owned TuĂ©tano Taqueria. This taqueria is founded by chef Priscilla Curiel and will have you swooning with its low-braised birria with roasted marrow bone. Beyond tacos and quesadillas, you’ll also find speciality items sold here like flautas or chile en nogada, as well as pop-up events with other local restaurants. And yes, you’ll want to pick up a jar or two of that addictive salsa macha to take home and put on everything you eat.  

Enjoy Hand Crafted Ales at this Woman-Founded Brewery

San Diego is known for its breweries and distilleries, and there are a few that should not be missed. Poor House Brew, co-founded by Alanna Scheer and run by a largely female staff, is where tourists should go to drink like a local. They have a wide range of beers on tap, including their own brews.

photo of woman pouring liquid from drink mixer
Sip on gin cocktails at woman-founded You & Your’s Distillery in San Diego | © Helena Lopes on Pexels.com

Sip on Gin Cocktails at this Female-Founded Distillery

For something harder, head to You & Your’s Distilling Co., founded by Laura Johnson. Opened in 2017, this distillery, tasting room, and event center offer up delicious cocktails made from their signature gin and vodka. Cheers to female business owners everywhere!

Don’t Skip on San Diego’s First Latina-Owned Brewery

Co-founders Estela Davila and Carmen Favela recently opened Mujeres Brew Club, San Diego’s first Latina-owned brewery. Come for the craft brews and stay for their events, such as “Mujeres y Musica” each Fridays with live music, their weekly Saturday farmers market, and monthly pop ups like their Sunday Low and Slow Day Market featuring local vendors.

Satisfy Your Cravings at Cuban-Style Azucar

When opening Azucar, founder Vivian Hernandez-Jackson decided to combine her impressive credentials from Le Cordon Bleu and pay homage to her Cuban heritage. The result is a cozy and pretty little bakery where you’ll find pastelitos de carne (puff pastries stuffed with picadillo, a fragrant stew of ground beef, tomatoes, and olives) and homemade desserts like Divina (white chocolate cake, passion fruit curd, and raspberries under a blanket of toasted marshmallow).

The Hotel Del Coronado is one of San Diego's most haunted hotels | © Hotel Del Coronado/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
The Hotel Del Coronado is one of San Diego’s most haunted hotels | © Hotel Del Coronado/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

San Diego’s Historic Hotel is also its Most Haunted

Nicknamed The Del, Hotel Del Coronado has been around for more than 130 years. As one of the most historic hotels in San Diego, The Del has played host to icons like Charlie Chaplin and Charles Lindbergh. One lesser known guest is Kate Morgan, who was a guest in the hotel back in 1892. During Morgan’s ill-fated stay, she was discovered mysteriously dead on the hotel’s exterior staircase leading to the beach. Today, many people believe that Morgan’s ghost still haunts the historic hotel where her life was tragically cut short at the estimated age of 27. To both honor Kate’s story (and those of its other resident ghosts) and appease the curiosities of its guests, The Del offers haunted tours.

Did we miss anything? Help us improve this guide to San Diego by sending us your tips!

2 Comments

About Sarah Anderson

Sarah Anderson is the Editorial Intern of Unearth Women. Sarah is a journalist and senior at San Diego State University, studying journalism and political science. Besides interning for Unearth Women, Sarah works in radio and T.V. As a Production Assistant for KPBS, Sarah writes and edits scripts for T.V. and radio fundraising campaigns and contributes to creative briefings. At KCR, SDSU’s student-run radio station, Sarah is the Executive Creative Content Director. It is her job to oversee management and make sure KCR continues to develop its blogging, podcasting, news and video sections. Previously, Sarah was a Staff Writer at The Daily Aztec, covering everything from protests to comedy events.

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Comments

  1. Stacey Empson says

    December 26, 2018 at 2:25 pm

    I love all of these, thanks! Will be referencing this next week when our Chicago family is in SD.

    Reply

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