While taking a stroll through Old Town, we stumbled upon Toby's Candle shop. They have 4 different…read morehands-on activities to choose from for kids, and my son wanted to dip his own candle and choose his own colors. There were a variety of candle shapes to choose from at different price points. He opted for the boat, which was about $8. You first pay for your candle, then an employee attaches a string and hook so you can start dipping. There were several colors to choose from. After selecting his colors, my son was patient between each dip as you have to wait 15 seconds to dry. You do have to be careful not to drop your candle into the colored wax because otherwise you're done for and candle is gone. He had a great experience and really enjoyed seeing his candle come together after each dip. The shop itself is pretty small so it can feel crowded very quickly, but the candle dipping experience was fun.

Took a friend here for her birthday. Process is pretty easy and simple. A young lady at the…read moreregister was very pleasant and nice on explaining how the process works. Cute and clean shop. Highly recommend

We moved here not too long ago and La Mesa is an area that I have yet to explore. I came…read morespecifically for the soft launch of Sacred Mirror Oracle Deck cards. My first impression walking up to shop, it's going to be filled with all kinds of goodies. The reality exceeded my expectations. I did give myself a budget before I walked in of $100. I headed to the back to find the Oracle deck cards. She had a decorative table in the back displaying her gorgeous Oracle deck cards. There were little refreshments and amazing cookies to celebrate the occasion. After learning more about Oracle deck cards, I decided to shuffle and pull two cards. They were exactly on point. I became emotional and decided to explore the rest of the store. I realized I did give myself a big enough budget. It truly was a gift givers paradise: stones, teas, essential oils, aromatherapy, skincare, books, socks, stickers, cards, plushies, jewelry, etc. I ended up only purchasing two sets of Oracle Deck cards, but I already bookmarked this shop to return for future gift shopping. The cashier was super friendly!

Great unique items. Lots of awesome, high quality jewelry! Super friendly service too!read more

Gold Leaf is one of my absolute favorite small‑business shops -- the kind of place where you can…read moretruly find something for everyone. It's perfect for gifting: they carry a wide range of cookbooks, jewelry, home and kitchen items, candles, perfumes, cards, and tons more. Whether it's a housewarming, birthday, or a "just because" moment, this is always one of my go‑to spots. I love that they wrap purchases in pretty tissue paper, making every gift feel intentional and ready to give. The store is full of little treasures, so take your time -- there's a lot to explore. Gold Leaf is also part of a small cluster of connected shops right in the heart of South Park, which makes it even more fun to wander around and browse. A charming, thoughtful, beautifully curated shop that never disappoints.

Cute, cute little shop!…read more My FAVORITE thing about this small shop is the worker doesn't harass you the whole time. (Thank the lord!) I love boutique stores but hate when they follow you around/pressure you to buy. A hello, asked if we need anything, and friendly service on the way out. Service 5/5. Simple yet effective. Select is adorable. Some expensive but they do have quite a few reasonably priced items. I originally went for a journal and really love the selection of everything they had. Fun artsy items. Also seemed to carry alot of smaller business (which I love!) If are looking for cute niche items -this is your place. I will be back! :)

Colorful selection of sweets. Nice employees here to recommend us to get. Love the organization &…read morewould come again.

Shout out to Cole, he had great customer service and hooked it up w free candy sample provided from…read morethe company Great selection of candy, all types of flavors and styles, so many to pick from

There is always something new to appreciate at Rare Bloom! New arrivals are fresh and classic too!…read moreI found a great outfit at an outstanding fair price! The customer service is the best too!!

This is my go-to store for date nights and gifts. They have a nice assortment of clothes for women…read more Casual, but trendy, which I personally love. Great place to buy plants too! Best clothing spot in PL by far.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this hidden gem!!!! If you've got great taste…read moreor you're the type that has no clue what to buy someone, you've got to come check out this boutique in Little Italy!!! It's a destination by itself, but if you've got time, make a day of it by grabbing a gorgeous flower petal cake slice at the bakery next door, then walk around Little Italy (aka Restaurant Row) where you'll find lots of great choices for lunch & dinner. BUT FIRST SHOP -since hours are limited and you won't want to miss this shopping experience! You'll find lots of unique gifts, items to decorate your home, and even jewelry & scents that anyone would love to receive! I had way too much fun looking at every single thing in the store. If I could, I'd take it all. If you want a gift, invite me to your next party cuz I'm just dying to shop here again! On your way in, tell Sean I sent you! He's not only the owner, he's also the creative genius behind everything you see. So if you're looking for something special and don't see it, I'd check with him to see if he can order it. SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES SUPPORT LOCAL

We were staying downtown and stopped in Love & Aesthetics as we were walking by. The store has some…read morecute and unique items for sale an a very cute dog for petting. My husband found a couple bar soaps that smelled really nice. One was on sale for 50% off so a great deal! Service was very friendly and fast.

This place has never let me down. Rain or shine (seriously, because even during a flash flood…read morewarning and unusual San Diego rain they stay ready), you can stop by this Botánica and find a great selection of materials. The prices are fair, there's an insane variety of items available in their selection, and there are plenty of cultural-specific items for Latinamerican folks in particular. I call ahead to make sure they have what I need, and I have yet to be disappointed. Wonderful service, too. And shoutout to the great music selection. If you're looking for a reliable botánica, try them out.

This was an interesting shop for sure. Stumbled downstairs after entering an indoor bazaar that…read moresold jewelry, clothing, and other goods. Most of the place in the back and downstairs looked to have closed down, but finding this place was like finding some secret doorway into a different world. No one was minding the shop...just music blasting. Walked around and what was first a calming and holistic place, turned a bit more interesting as I walked further in. I'm spiritual as well as religious, and some of the displays and items were very different than what I'd normally see. A lot of the statues, and dolls, etc. gave me a bit of the heebie jeebies. I stopped taking photos after that, but I liked the store. It had so many different elements. Almost bought incense but didn't. Made a quick round to see the rest of the store and left. Quite an experience.

Awesome Candle selection, the only location in the area to offer Gel Candles in beautiful glass…read morevases. Awesome customer service, quick service, free tea lights, prices include tax no hassle.... Easy to find location upstairs Right across Macys away from the hassle of the new parking structure :) Will definately keep visiting for candle needs and special gifts!

Who doesnt love Native Poppy?…read more A magical flower shop that just welcomes you, to choose your favorite flowers and make your own bouquet. Getting to shop for each flower makes buying flowers such an intentional experience. The staff is always sweet and kind and hot to help. The cost of the flowers is on the higher end, but you pay for what you get. Unique flowers. Grown locally (or mostly locally). I love coming into the shop, it's an instant mood lift.

I have always loved and admired Native Poppy.. but their flower selection and quality has gone…read moredown. Their bouquets aren't very cheap either! But for the price.. I think they could have done better than some smelly wax flower & a few variety of colored roses. I miss when they focused on wild flowers and vibrant colors!