Eat & drink
Herb & Sea
Wood-fired seafood steps from Moonlight Beach
hello from
Encinitas
William Routtupdated May 2026
The short version
A coastal North County city of five distinct communities along Coast Highway 101, recognized for its surf breaks, botanical gardens, and unhurried beach-town pace.
Encinitas is a coastal city in North County San Diego, made up of five distinct communities: Leucadia, Old Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, New Encinitas, and Olivenhain. The Coast Highway 101 corridor connects the western communities along the bluffs, while inland Olivenhain holds larger lots and quieter residential streets.
The city is known for its surf breaks at Swami's, Cardiff Reef, and Beacon's, the Self-Realization Fellowship hermitage and meditation gardens, and the San Diego Botanic Garden. Encinitas Union and San Dieguito Union school districts serve the area, and the Coaster commuter train provides a direct rail connection to downtown San Diego.
- Surf culture
- Coast Highway 101
- Five sub-villages
- Laid-back coast
Local picks
Our favorite local spots
5 min read
Little Oaks Bakehouse: Gourmet Cookies in Encinitas
Little Oaks Bakehouse makes small-batch gourmet cookies in Leucadia, Encinitas. Order the signature Biscoff by DM on Instagram — new customers get $5 off.
Eat & drink
Valentina
Spanish tapas and 120-bottle wine list in Leucadia
Eat & drink
Buona Forchetta
Neapolitan pies on the 101, kid-proof patio
Eat & drink
The Taco Stand
Handmade tortillas, al pastor, walk-up window on S Coast Hwy
Get outside
Outdoor options in Encinitas
Events
Coming up in Encinitas
Sunset Sessions at Fox Point Farms
- 1150 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA
- Thu, Oct 8 · 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Open Air Yoga at San Diego Botanic Garden
- San Diego Botanic Garden
- Sat, Oct 10 · 9:00 – 10:00 AM
- Starting at $17
- Every Saturday
Sunset Sessions at Fox Point Farms
- 1150 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA
- Thu, Oct 15 · 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Sunset Sessions at Fox Point Farms
- 1150 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA
- Thu, Oct 22 · 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Sunset Sessions at Fox Point Farms
- 1150 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA
- Thu, Oct 29 · 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Encinitas Holiday Street Fair
- South Coast Highway 101, Downtown Encinitas
- Sun, Nov 22 · 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Free
Real estate
On the market in Encinitas
A live snapshot of what's listed right now, straight from the MLS.
Your guide
Wondering where you'd fit in Encinitas?
Tell me what you're weighing, like schools, walkability, or the commute, and I'll send back an honest comparison. No listing spam.
A new neighborhood spotlighted every week, plus events, local picks, and housing market insights.