Downtown Oceanside - Oceanside, CA Area Guide

Oceanside became part of the United States with the rest of California in 1848, but was not incorporated until 40 years later in 1888. The residential area of downtown was developed in the 1890s and became home to many military personnel when Camp Pendleton was established in 1942.

The California Surf Museum and the Oceanside Museum of Art both lie in downtown Oceanside. The Surf Museum features exhibits that celebrate surf culture, including a Bethany Hamilton exhibit, and the Museum of Art features four galleries with rotating exhibits, which highlight local artists. See a play at the Star Theater Company, a 400+ seat community-based theater in downtown Oceanside, or experience downtown's entire arts scene during the First Friday Art Walk. The First Friday Art Walk, held on the first Friday of each month, features art and music by local artists, with food and shopping opportunities from local vendors. Annual events in the area include Oceanside Harbor Days, the Oceanside Fall Festival, and the Oceanside International Film Festival.

American eateries such as barbecue joints, delis, and steakhouses make up the majority of dining options in downtown Oceanside, but Peruvian, Italian, Vietnamese, and Thai options also dot the area. Nightlife in the neighborhood consists mostly of bars and dance clubs that run up and down Coast Highway and the beach, along with most of the area's restaurants.

Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen, located on Tremont Street, serves a farm-to-table seasonal menu amid funky decor. From the unmatched chairs and tables to the menus stuffed into old record album covers, you can enjoy the unusual theme that makes this eatery feel like a cozy backwoods home.

That Boy Good Southern BBQ Joint features an eclectic mix of barbecue and soul food dishes, where you can get both a pulled pork sandwich and chocolate chip waffles. While you eat, you can listen to a little blues music or watch a New Orleans Saints football game. Before you leave, grab a pen and make your mark on the hallway leading to the restrooms or read the messages from past guests.

Curb your hunger after a morning of riding the waves with a stop at the Beach Break Cafe. You can get omelettes, scrambled-ins, or other breakfast specialties, along with sandwiches and burgers. If you can't find a parking spot in the restaurant's small lot, you can park along the street behind the building.

If you're in the mood to see a concert, head on over to the Pier Plaza Amphitheater located on the beach next to the Oceanside Pier. Bring seat cushions if you plan to sit on the concrete bleachers. The Basement Night Club features live musical acts and drink specials. Two dance floors, each with its own DJ, allow you to show off your skills on the larger dance floor or find a little more privacy on the smaller dance floor. Plus, for two hours each Thursday night you can get two-for-one cocktails and drafts. The Pour House features eclectic decor, along with truffle mac 'n' cheese and specialty drinks served in canning-jar shaped mugs.

In general, the area of Oceanside is a car-dependent place, but the downtown area itself remains very walkable due to the majority of retail and dining establishments being located along Coast Highway and the beach. The pier and beach areas also provide safe and accessible accommodations for bike riders. Bus lines 302, 303, 313, and 318 run through the downtown area, plus residents can hail a cab or book a ride through Uber. I-5 runs along the boundary that separates downtown from the rest of Oceanside, meeting State Route 76 to the north and State Route 78 to the south, making all three easily accessible from downtown.

While Oceanside as a whole offers many park options, downtown does not house many of them. Buccaneer Park, a small green area, sits along the beach featuring a playground for kids. You can also jog or walk your dog along the trail. Marshall Park, located off of Marshall Street, is another small green area with a children's playground.

The cost of living in Oceanside hovers at $63,000 a year, over $10,000 a year less than the average cost of living in San Diego. While the yearly costs of expenses such as food and entertainment remain comparable, housing costs hover a bit higher. Renting a one-bedroom apartment in Oceanside costs around $1,300 a month, compared to $1,700 a month average throughout the rest of San Diego.

As with dining, most retail establishments in downtown Oceanside sit along South Coast Highway. While chain establishments do exist, high-value specialty shops and boutiques dominate this area. Kit N Caboodle, a thrift store and second-hand shop, specializes in children's clothing, gear, and toys. Originally a traveling boutique, Royalie carries an indie-inspired style that is also free-spirited. According to the owner, the shop caters to intelligent, creative, and adventurous women who have a bohemian edge and who are the life of the party. Potpourri Thrift & Resale Shop has unique and unusual items that you may not be able to find anywhere else.

Besides the regional Fresh & Easy, you can also grab groceries from a few smaller markets. Cream of the Crop, located on Coast Highway, is a natural food store that offers an assortment of gluten-free, vegan, kosher, organic, local, and non-GMO produce and other products. Red & White Market, located on Vista Way, carries just about anything you could want, plus its employees bake fresh bread and roast meats for specialty sandwiches in-house. Oceanside Farmers' Market runs on Thursday mornings at the corner of North Tremont Street and Pier View Way. Sunset Market runs on Thursday evenings and features live music, which makes it feel like a street fair instead of a farmers' market.