La Jolla Food Stops

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Caroline's Seaside Cafe—Brunch studying by the beach only gets better with omelettes and mimosas. Add a 30% student discount on top of that, and you'll never want to leave this seaside paradise. If you decide to stay all day (and why wouldn't you?), be sure to catch the out-of-this-world rooftop sunsets.

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La Jolla Village Square/The Shops at La Jolla Village - Your one stop shop area near UCSD for groceries, restaurants, and some light shopping. The restaurants include The Melt, Nektar, Rubio's, CAVA, BJ's, Chipotle, Poke One and a Half, Mendocino Farms and Urban Plates, and Starbucks. The grocery stores include Ralph's, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, so you are never short of options!

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Westfield UTC - The newly renovated outdoor shopping mall is connected to UCSD's campus via the new trolley system! Great place to shop and hang out with friends! If you're looking to have a fun night after a day full of shopping, we'd recommend stopping by Raised by Wolves, a hidden speak-easy filled with mystery and fire drinks! 

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Downtown La Jolla

               

The Spot—Downtown La Jolla's premier late-night eatery; because the best way to recover from a cardio midterm is some down-home comfort food!

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Bird Rock Coffee Roasters - Great place to grab a cup of coffee, and a short walk away from Wayfarer, a local bakery, that I personally get my fresh bread from every Sunday!

               

Piatti—Smell that? Love is in the air at this mid/upscale Italian sit-down. With garlic bread to die for, hand-crafted pasta dishes, and desserts too big for one and too good not to order, this adorable bistro is the perfect getaway for a romantic evening with that special study partner.

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The Taco Stand—Home to some of the best tacos and California burritos on this planet of Earth. Don't know what a California burrito is? Get ready to begin living, my friend, for you have not done so until you have had fries AND guac in a delicious carne-asada-filled burrito.

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Bobboi Gelato—Perched on the cliffs of La Jolla, there exists no more perfect end to a day than enjoying some affogatto (espresso-drenched Italian ice cream) while the surfers catch the last waves of the day in front of a gorgeous sunset panorama.

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La Jolla Study Spots

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The Living Room—Huge chairs and a coffee bar with a selection so large that you get your caffeine fix from the sight of it alone! Always buzzing with activity, and super close to the beach.

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La Jolla Shores—Arguably the most popular and chillaxed place in San Diego, a five-minute drive from campus, and, rumor has it, a popular site for some rogue Problem-Based Learning small group sessions, LJS is just as much a spot to learn how to surf as it is a place to hit the books.

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The Sanford Consortium—Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Blacks Beach, the Sanford Consortium is an ultra-modern spot where you can share space with some of the world's leading biomaterials researchers, grab a coffee, and actively transport information into your brain. Watch out for paragliders!

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Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Downtown, Hillcrest, and beyond!

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PB—The home of one of our Free Clinic sites, PB is a hub of activity; breweries, clubs, upscale and downscale restaurants, bars, and indie markets all call this stretch of paradise home. If it's fun to do on the weekend, you can and should probably do it here!

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OB—A little farther south and proximal to Mission Bay, OB retains all the beachiness of PB with a more laid-back, street style vibe dispersed throughout. Grab a burger at Hodad's, browse the weekend street markets, hit the waves, or grab some food at Breakfast Republic—you can't go wrong spending a free Saturday here!

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Downtown SD—Home of Comic Con, comedy clubs, 1920's-style prohibition lounges, escape rooms, line dancing, and live music joints, downtown is arguably the most popular place for you and your classmates to unwind. Bring your dancing shoes!

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Hillcrest/North Park—If UCSD med students know how to have a good time, it's because the SDSU ("State" in the local vernacular) folks laid the groundwork. It's midnight and you're dying for food? 15 minutes gets you oh so far when you come to Fiesta Cantina, City Tacos, or one of North Parks several breweries.