Welcome to Solana Beach
Beachfront city with hip boutiques and outdoor recreation.
Solana Beach is an idyllic San Diego County city with 1.7 miles of glorious sandy beachfront. Bounded by Cardiff-by-the-Sea to the north, Rancho Santa Fe to the east, Del Mar to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west—as well as being just a 30-minute drive from San Diego—it is in close proximity to several wonderful communities while maintaining a unique charm all its own. This city boasts hip boutique shopping in the Cedros Design District and many laidback cafés and upscale dining options.
“Solana” is Spanish for the "sunny side," and its joyful attitude fully embraces its namesake. Solana Beach has been voted the friendliest beach town in Southern California—with an atmosphere that is intimate and family-oriented, it’s not hard to see why. Solana Beach's real estate and housing options include stylish oceanfront condos for sale, charming coastal cottages, homes in private golf course communities, and peaceful suburban neighborhoods of single-family homes.
What to Love
- Excellent location
Friendly residents
Beautiful beaches
Great shopping and dining
Cedros Design District
Laidback lifestyle
People & Lifestyle
Because of its quaint size and tight-knight community feel, Solana Beach offers residents a slower pace of life than that of more crowded, bustling beach towns. Many families call it home, as it is a friendly and accessible neighborhood, making walking to school and going on sunset seaside strolls possible. The artsy downtown area and proximity to country clubs mean residents are never bored. It’s no wonder that many families live here for generations.
Solana Beach is home to an abundance of surfers, and residents love the gorgeous coastline, stretching alongside the Pacific Ocean. A popular pastime for residents consists of sitting near the Oceanside cliffs to watch the sunset or sunrise. Not only are the beaches and coast breathtaking, but Solana Beach is also home to the 1,000-acre San Elijo Lagoon, an ecological preserve with an extensive trail system, wildlife, and plenty of activities.
When it comes to purchasing a home in this friendly beach town, the property value has remained mostly stable over the years.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Cedros Avenue is the hippest shopping street in San Diego County. In the two-and-a-half block Cedros Avenue Design District, discover eclectic fashion boutiques, jewelry stores, art galleries, and relaxed cafés. Apart from the incredible shopping opportunities, Cedros Avenue is also bursting with history, charm, and a truly unique experience. You'll feel like you're strolling down a street in Europe while window shopping or stopping into a little bistro for wine or coffee.
Claire’s on Cedros is the perfect place to grab lunch between a day full of pampering and retail therapy. Here, you can enjoy fresh plates of homestyle Californian comfort food as well as delicious baked treats, bread, and desserts. Lofty Coffee is the perfect place to start a trip to the Design District with fresh-roasted coffee, organic pastries, and other breakfast specialties. Vendors at the Lotus marketplace sell unique gifts, crafts, homeware, and clothing. Shop for fine art at spots such as Aaron Chang Galleries.
For nighttime entertainment, Belly Up Tavern on Cedros Avenue is one of the best music venues in San Diego County. Closer to the oceanfront, The Naked Café is another great spot for coffee along with mimosas and globally-influenced breakfast eats. Fidel’s Little Mexico on Valley Avenue serves great fish tacos, margaritas, and other flavorful Mexican dishes.
For fresh produce and a selection of organic pastries and other artisanal treats, stop by the Cedros Avenue Farmers’ Market, which takes place every Sunday afternoon year-round. It even got San Diego Magazine’s seal of approval as a top market.
Things to Do
Fletcher Cove Beach runs along the oceanfront from Solana Beach to Carlsbad. Arguably the most beautiful coastal stretch in San Diego County, popular activities on this gorgeous sandy beach include bodyboarding, kayaking, whale watching, swimming, and surfing.
Annie’s Canyon Trail hugs the coastline, providing magnificent views over the Pacific Ocean as well as a lagoon. The trail also takes in stunning maritime terraces with canyon walls carved from thousands of years of rainfall. 125-acre San Dieguito County Park is another incredible outdoor recreation area with five miles of hiking trails, five playgrounds, pavilions, and sports facilities, including a basketball court and a baseball field. Lomas Santa Fe Executive Golf Course is a top-rated golf course with a spectacular landscape of rolling hillsides.
North Coast Repertory Theatre stages outstanding performances in an intimate environment. The theatre opened more than three decades ago and has continued to thrive as a passionate send-off to the arts and a non-profit organization. It boasts an award-winning mainstage that shows multiple performances year-round to more than 40,000 people in a cozy 194-seat setting.
Schools
Solana Beach is zoned in the Solana Beach Elementary School District and San Dieguito Union High School District.
- Santa Fe Christian Schools, Private, Christian, PK-12