5 Stars - One of the Best Spots in Del Mar Del Mar Plaza is one of those places that hits the sweet spot between coastal chill and upscale vibes. Every time I come through, the atmosphere is dialed in -- ocean views, clean walkways, and a lineup of shops and restaurants that feel curated instead of generic. The layout is open and breezy, with plenty of spots to grab a drink, get a bite, or just sit back and watch the sunset. Parking is surprisingly easy for the area, and everything feels safe, well-maintained, and inviting. Whether you're grabbing dinner with family, meeting clients, or just enjoying the day, this place always delivers. Great energy, great views, and a top-tier location. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in Del Mar. read more

A great place to sit, grab a bite to eat or a drink and just relax and enjoy the sunshine! Del Mar Plaza has several dining and shopping locations. Whether you are in the mood for Monarch or a French pastry and a coffee, sit down or grab and go there are plenty of options. Within walking distance of the beach Del Mar Plaza is a great location where you can eat and go for a walk. A few of the locations offer happy hour during the week and most have a good selection of bites and drinks at decent a decent cost. There is plenty of parking (paid underground parking structure) and most everywhere we have gone the staff have always been great. It does get supper busy during the weekends and evenings especially during the Summer. If you're lucky you may even catch a show from some local musician's (including the very talented SOR students). Can't beat the view either! read more

Del Mar Plaza is a vibe. Upscale shops, great eats, and views of the fairgrounds. Hit the farmers market on Sundays and grab coffee at Pacifica. 4.5/5 stars - perfect spot to chill in SD. read more

Del Mar Plaza - Shopping Centers Near Me - Del Mar, California

Update: today I've spoken directly with the plaza manager, who confirmed that additional signage and directories are being added across all parking levels in the next few months -- along with expanded parking access. I appreciated the response and plan to update this review again once those improvements are made. I hope these changes make it easier for customers to reach and support the great businesses upstairs. read more

Wonderful place to relax after a beach walk. It's a small little plaza on multiple levels with boutiques. The highlight definitely are the ocean views. Plenty of spots for coffee or food. Not too much to do since it's fairly small but definitely on the list of pit-stops when in Del Mar. Very relaxing atmosphere. read more

Great place to chill so many different sitting areas with oceanfront view! Try coffee. read more

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Such a beautiful place. With a few eateries and boutique shops, there's something for you for sure. Views from every angle and a block from the beach. I visit often and have come to love this spot. I'll be back for sure. read more

We've been dining at restaurants in Del Mar Plaza for over 20 years ... back to when there was a small market on the first level. Del Mar Plaza has three stories of restaurants, boutiques, and indoor parking in the heart of Del Mar. You can find upscale Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, and seafood restaurants here. The second and third level patios and dining rooms offer spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Our favorite is Il Fornaio for its food and view. We recently celebrated a cousin's birthday here on their covered patio ... corner table overlooking the Pacific. The open air patio and Enoteca on the third level is also a favorite place of ours to enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine while watching a sunset. Pacifica Breeze Cafe is a nice spot to enjoy breakfast with a view. read more

We went for LUNCH sat had drinks then a shock at the parking machine $21.00! Ridiculous when parking cost more then an entree! I should have parked at a meter then moved the car. You should get 3 hrs free with a validation- Monarch doesn't validate I don't think any place does. read more

Whenever we're in Del Mar, we always try to stop by here. We love having lunch, browsing the cute shops, and enjoying those wonderful views. We were here right after Christmas, and it was fun seeing all the pretty decorations still up. We enjoyed lunch at Il Fornaio and shopped at a few of the stores. This plaza is cute even though it's a bit of the smaller size. What it doesn't have in size, it makes up for in those great views and fun shopping. We like stopping by the Michael Seewald Gallery when we're here. We like all the beautiful photography and even took a class here last summer. For a good spot to grab lunch and enjoy some shopping, this a lovely little plaza when visiting the cute town of Del Mar! read more

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Underground parking, make your way to the top level for a great view of the water in the distance and a coffee or cocktail. Plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy the fresh air. read more

Five Stars all the way around! Aside from the beautiful location and surroundings, this place is a little gem! We had lunch at Pacifica, and it was delicious fresh and great service. We shopped at a few stores and bought souvenirs to bring back home to family and friends. One shop that I did like very much is the Coco Rose, they also have other locations. The lady that attended us was very charming nice and helpful. She even suggested a few colors I would of never thought of. I bought lots of their earrings and tops and dresses. Such a lovely place and their bags are so cute with big roses on the print. There is also fountain that is quite interesting. It's so lovely to just stroll thru and take a nice break by the fountain. I love the hacienda and Old mission feel to it. Very nice for sue. read more

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The first "Lifestyle" shopping mall I ever visited, long ago. Overlooking the Pacific under perpetual sun, amidst flowers, fountains and flamenco / reggae- inspired music, it's a sensory delight. Never actually shopped here though, but you don't need to. Just relax with a drink -- healthy or alcoholic -- and enjoy the vibe at one of the several open air bars or restaurants. read more

Del Mar Plaza - Shopping Centers Near Me - Del Mar, California

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It's been a while since I've just taken the time or had a reason to come visit this space and it's clear its been updated - and what a nice update! The space is open with lots of seating for an airy space that still encourages gathering to enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather and vistas. There are plenty of restaurants to try and some boutiques to browse which are more upscale so it fits into the Del Mar landscape but can still provide a great time to chill and relax for all! read more

Del Mar Plaza is nestled in posh Del Mar, minus the attitude. This shopping center-restaurants hub has one of the best views of Del Mar beach. It has some of the best boutiques for ladies out there (if you can afford the prices) and is the home of the first Smashburger I ever tried (my favorite burger chain) on the fast food track, and home of upscale restaurants on the other side. The relax you can experience chillin by Il Fornaio fountain and benches is something to try. Sometimes I go there not even with the intention of shopping anything or eating, just to enjoy the view, draw a bit and enjoy even a cloudy day (which happen more often that not in that corner). Parking structure is a mess, though. I don't like it, people drive very bad here, is confusing even though is not a big parking lot. Elevators just don't seem to work or are extremely slow. You can get 2 hour validation parking at most businesses. read more

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What a great comeback. The new owners did a great job. Opening the deck for cocktails was the Big Thing. The music, the ambience have returned. The restaurants are fantastic and people are back. read more

The views from the balcony at Del Mar Plaza are phenomenal. Parking is easy and validated for two hours. My hairdresser, Jamie, who is at Salon Republic is fantastic. And Il Fornaio is a great restaurant. The mall is always so empty though and I can't understand why because it is lovely and in a very touristy area. So many stores come and go here all the time and I assume it because there is just not enough foot traffic. I hope they can do something to make it more dynamic because the location is fantastic and it just should be a whole lot busier and more fun than it is. read more

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The view overlooking the Pacific is worth five stars alone, and that's one of the main allures of this plaza. Built in the 80's, it's drawn architects the world over to study it's design and beauty, as it fits into the hillside with three level of underground parking and you'd hardly notice there is a 'mall' here driving by! Top level has a huge open deck for anyone to sit and relax while taking in the view of the coast half way to Orange County. It hosts one of the top four restaurants in the county, Pacifica Del Mar, as well as Il Fornaio Italian, a sushi restaurant (SHIMBASHI, hidden on second level, and overlooking the ocean too), an Asian fusion (Rendezvous) and now an upscale burger joint (Smashburger) for the in and out crowd. Plenty of shops, incl. Banana Republic, Gary's men's, three art galleries, a few boutiques, etc.. Sunset with a glass of wine and Hors d'oeuvres from the 'Enoteca wine bar' on top level... heaven. Free two hour parking, minimal charge per hour afterwards. Well worth a visit. read more

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Been visiting this plaza for about four years now and it's always been for Shimbashi, but I like this plaza because it offers a lot of outdoor seating and a phenomenal wine bar which is also outdoors. Parking is validated for 2 hours if you eat, which is plenty of time. If you come for the wine patio and live music, two hours might not be enough. Sunset views are not exactly optimal despite the location because you have L'auberge across the street along with several tall trees, so you'll see the sun setting, but you won't see it set. But it's still a beautiful view and a very pleasant place to spend some time. The surrounding area is bustling and offers a nice place to wander around and people watch. I make it a point to come down at least a few times a year, and if I have the time, I'll get a glass of wine on the patio while waiting for my table at Shimbashi. read more

Del Mar Plaza is a beautiful upscale outdoor center with a European flair. Think Tuscany. It features a truly eclectic mix of shops as well as some of the best restaurants in San Diego. It's worth the drive up or down as the food at any one of these places is amazing. IL Fornaio, Epazote, J.F. Japanese Cafe, Pacific Del Mar, Enoteca Del Fornaio all sport an ocean view. It doesn't really get any better than this. Java Kai located on the street level is a great Hawaiian coffee house with the friendliest staff around. Of course the clothing shops have a nice variety and Harvest Ranch Market carries high quality meats, produce and a wonderful selection of wines. Visit the Website for more info:http://www.delmarplaza.com/ DEL MAR AT DUSK takes place on the first Tuesday of Every Month, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Shops offer specials including the restaurants. Music is also a part of this fun evening. And during the summers on the DEL MAR PLAZA DECK - enjoy a bit of jazz every Sunday night from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m read more

Del Mar Plaza - Shopping Centers Near Me - Del Mar, California

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I truly love the Plaza. Gorgeous views and fantastic places to eat. Choose from Il Fornio, Pacifica, Pacifica Breeze, El Agave, Mola. All fantastic. I enjoy ordering a cocktail from the outside Wine Bar and some food from Il Fornio. They bring you everything you need while you sip and dine with some of the best views in SD. Overlooking La Buerge and the ocean. It is definitely a locals hangout and live music on the weekends. The best time to go is in the summer to hang outside but you can enjoy this place all year round! read more

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Nice shopping center with spectacular views..however i don't have too many reasons to come here...i have no idea who would actually shop for clothes and gifts here...but there are a few good restaurants. Flavor, Il Fornaio, and Smashburger... only negative is that you get 2 hrs validated parking then $2 for each 1/2 hr after! does not make for a relaxing dinner...i sometimes feel rushed...so occasionally (if it's close to 6 pm) i'll opt for meter parking which i only have to pay until 6 then free for the rest of the night.... read more

Hard to believe there's validated two hour parking here in downtown Del Mar. But this place deserves two stars just for that. BUT. The parking here is downright atrocious on weekends and some evenings. Valet ppl are slow and they park the cars so crazy close to each other it's insane. We often joke the parking here is the 'Convoy style' parking for Del Martians. Ppl have no consideration of how they park their cars here - not even if they're driving a BMW, benz, Porsche, etc. (At least in Convoy you get regular ghetto cars that ppl don't mind getting dingies in)... My favorite place to visit at the Plaza is Flavor del Mar. Everything else, well, it's just whatever for me. The outside patio that looks toward the ocean is nice - but not sure what all the hype is all about. I've been there many times but never understood how the outside patio works - do you order food/drinks from one of the restaurants and wait for the food? Or is it served to you? Il Fornaio took our order once outside and served the food to us - not sure about the other places thou. So in short , come early if you want decent parking. It's only 2 hours that are validated but hey , it's better than nothing . read more

i love the patio at the plaza. ocean view, nice chairs with umbrellas and plenty of restaurants to choose from.

Cute plaza but really not too much to do here. I was expecting more shops and dining options when we came, didn't take longer than an hour to get through all the stores and that included grabbing a bite to eat. Parking can be a pain and is also not free, best off finding something in the area and walking a bit. Clean and upscale look to it, nice for a short stroll while in the area, but not worth going out of your way for. read more

So Brixton owns the Del Mar Plaza in Del Mar, CA. My wife and I got stuck in the elevator there last Saturday. Inside the elevator, it has a button to push to call for an emergency. It was only around 7pm and it went directly to a management's voice mail? Why wouldn't it go directly to security and/or a 24/7 operator? Luckily our cell phones worked and the fire department got there in less than 10 minutes. Then it took them another 40 minutes to get the doors open and get us out. So I called Brixton in Solana Beach HQ and asked to speak with someone about this matter as the licenses were also expired in the elevator. I was told to speak to "Tyler" and he was there. He wasn't there, got his voice mail and left a detailed message for him. He never called me/us back to even apologize for anything. This company obviously has millions of dollars in investor money, but zero customer service skills whatsoever? I run my own company and wouldn't treat any of our customers like this! What a freaking JOKE! read more

There's nothing here! Has really gone down hill over the years. Restaurants and shops changing constantly. So much empty space. A shame really. read more

A charming little shopping center in the heart of Del Mar. You can shop, dine or booze it up in this shopping center and take in all the great ocean views in the process. Plenty of seating to take it all in and you can even order drinks on the patio which makes a perfect spot to watch the sunset. I'm not sure if they do it every day of the week as I've only done it on the weekends (and it's been awhile), but definitely an experience. There aren't a lot of shops but you'll find Black House | White Market, Sunglass Hut, BR and a few other little boutique shops as well. There's even a jeweler (Loghman) on the top level that sells beautiful watches and jewelry. I actually bought a watch her several years ago and it still remains a favorite. Parking is validated if you purchase anything in one of the plaza retail shops or restaurants so you if you can't find parking on the street, know that the parking garage is an affordable option. If you're in the area and need to do a little shopping or grab a bite to eat, I'd recommend stopping in here and checking it out. You can even venture out of this plaza and head a few blocks to the beach or south for other random restaurants and shops. All within walking distance. This is a strip worth getting to know. read more

Nice shopping center with some cute shops. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon with a parent, either, as you can go to the beach, enjoy some food (and/or chocolate and/or icecream), walk around town, and go into some shops too. There are at least 3 beach stores between the Del Mar Plaza and the surrounding shops right near 15th. So if you're looking for a suit, a waterproof watch, towel, etc., it's a nice place to check out that's not in a mall, cheesy, or isolated from other stores. Makes for some easy going shopping. They've got a nice parking structure, too, with 1 hour free with no validation, 2 hours with validation, and not bad rates beyond that too. In case you can't find (or don't feel like looking for) a free street spot that's more than 2 hour parking, this is a great alternative. read more

The Del Mar plaza is a nice shopping center with great restaurants, nice atmosphere, and that ocean front scent. We ate at the vegetarian restaurant, Del Mar Rendezvous, and were happy to see so many vegan options on the menu. The parking garage is big and we didn't have any trouble finding a spot. We got our parking validated for 2 hours I think, which was plenty of time to eat and walk around. Will definitely be back. read more

I went to Del Mar plaza for dinner at pacifica, and I lost my parking ticket. I got the validation ticket from the restaurant but I did not have the original ticket. So the guy at the parking garage said that I have to pay $40 bc of a lost ticket. Are you kidding me? And I was looking for my ticket in the car and he (his name is Endale) said sir if you dont pay I will call the police. Is this a joke? Really? Shame on you Del Mar plaza! This kind of management? I am not coming back to any of your restaurant or stores! I will never recommend any of my friends to go there! read more

Love this adorable shopping center with cute shops and nice eats. There is free parking close to Seagrove Park - I think at 15th street.

The Plaza is great. Right in the heart of Del Mar. Shops, restaurants and a gourmet market. What else could you want?

Love this place. Not only does it have great restaurants and one of my favorite breakfast spots from over the years... but it has an incredible view of the ocean that always brings me a sense of peace and well being... sounds corny, but it's true. Years have I enjoyed this place. read more

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Beautiful little grouping of upscale restaurants/bars/boutiques with an ocean view on the upper level. There's a parking garage attached (not free), but I've also had no trouble parking a few blocks away in the surrounding neighborhood. The plaza is just a few minutes walk from the ocean and a wonderful location to enjoy a meal on a sunny day. read more

Is a gorgeous place.favolous sunsets. The $8 Valet mafia on the weekends is a shame though! Bummer it lost a star! read more

I really appreciate an upscale town center with an immaculate view. I love coming here during the day for lunch or to window shop after a day at the beach. Tbh, you may have a hard time finding the parking entrance on the north side of the building, thus the 4 stars, but you most likely won't pay a fee anyways. And locating the elevator is a bit of a task unless you already know where it is. It's a very pretty stroll if you're having dinner in the neighborhood or a nigh cap at the pub across the street. The lights at night are really inviting and Del Mar is always a sweet treat because the air is ocean perfect!! There are Art galleries and cute boutiques that'll keep your interest. There's also Chinese, Italian, seafood & good old smash burger downstairs. So if you haven't already made a day at Del mar, you should come on down and check it out. Even the night comes alive and the people are awesome. :) read more

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I have written reviews of every other place at the Plaza but since I went to opening day at the races yesterday, I had to review my plaza experience. All summer long I have been waiting to see the plastic surgery that has been so vividly described in everything written about the Del Mar Cougar. IT seems like opening day at the races really puts the cougar in her element and brings them all out to play. Early in the night I see some older women talking to a bouncer and ask her where she's from. Turns out she's from Brazil, and I'm moving there in 9 days for 6 months. She says "you knew I was Brazilian." I said "kind of yeah." She said "how'd you know, it's because of my ass huh?" So truthfully said "yeah"(imagining how easy it would be to bounce quarters off her ass. After that we all just got trashed and enjoyed the scene of numerous drunken people who had been drinking all day. read more

I'm really liking this place lately for the shops, the restaurants, and the view...they've cleaned the corridor on the street level so I don't have to hold my nose when I go to Del Mar Rendezvous! yay! read more

The parking situation at this place is ridiculous. First of all, if you want to park any decent sized car, good luck. Their parking garage has a pillar just about every other spot, and the spots are small. Second (and more importantly), my experience today was a disaster. I wanted a quick burger, so I figured I'd go to my local Smashburger. When I got there, I turned into the parking lot, and it said "full, valet only" on a fold up sign. I didn't want to valet my car to go get an $8 burger. Someone was right behind me, so I was trapped. There was a line of 5 cars leaving, so I figured there HAD to be parking. I took a ticket (the first hour is free), and planned to make a U turn, and immediately leave, and not pay a penny. Nope. Not possible. The valet guys cone off a path and make sure you stay in it. I told the guys I just wanted to leave, and asked if they could move a cone, and he opened my door, gave me valet ticket, and said "Sorry, no U turns allowed." Yes, that's right, he wouldn't let me leave. Whatever, I paid anyway. I went to Smashburger, which was a disaster (but that's for another review). On my way out, things only got worse. The valet couldn't find my keys. He asked my what kind of car it is, but still couldn't find the keys. What kind of an incompetent valet looses your keys? After asking his friends, one of them knew where it was. I explained to whole situation to them, he apologized and told me that it was non-refundable. I was glad to be out of there. TL;DR: Once you enter, the valet's will trap you, and if they don't, you will have a hard time parking. read more