Del Mar

Del Mar is a seaside town of 4,000 people (2020) in the north of San Diego County in Southern California. It has a Bavarian style village and the prettiest beach in California next to Carmel, dotted with old cypresses and clean, light sand, along with views up the coast to Orange County and down the coast to La Jolla.

Get in

By car

Travelling by car, Del Mar is just off Interstate 5, 30 km north of San Diego.

By bus

NCTD runs hourly buses between Oceanside and La Jolla, in northern San Diego.

By train

While Amtrak and commuter Coaster trains pass by Del Mar, there has not been a station in the city for more than two decades. Instead trains call at nearby Solana Beach, three kilometres north of Del Mar.

See

Arial view of Del Mar Race Track

• 1 Del Mar Race Track. Thoroughbred horse racing venue with season running in July and August. Located at the Via De La Valle exit off the I-5. Other events during off season.  
• Holiday of Lights. At the Del Mar Fairgrounds in December. 

Do

• 1 San Diego County Fair. San Diego Fair running from June to early July. Other events in off season.  

Buy

• 1 Del Mar Plaza, 1555 Camino Del Mar, ☏ +1 858-847-2284. With three levels each opening to ocean-view balconies, Del Mar Plaza maximizes its scenic setting on the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean. A lifestyle center offering a mix of high-end shopping and dining. With 22 distinctive stores and boutiques, visitors can shop for designer clothing and shoes, fine jewelry, artwork, and home décor. For the food-minded, visitors can relax at one of the plaza’s nine restaurants of various cuisines. Services such as a food market, hair salons, spa, dry cleaners, financial and realty are also available. Most importantly, more than 160,000 sq. ft. of public space is incorporated with comfortable seating and panoramic ocean views. 

Eat

• 1 Pacifica Del Mar, 1555 Camino Del Mar, ☏ +1 858-792-0476. Seafood. (updated Mar 2017)
• 2 Bistro 39, 3939 Ocean Bluff Ave, ☏ +1 858-720-9500. Delicious eclectic cuisine (updated Mar 2017)
• 3 Poseidon, 1670 Coast Blvd, ☏ +1 858-755 9345. Tu-F 11AM-9PM, Sa Su 10AM-9PM, closed Mondays. A seafood restaurant whose tagline is "Coastal Cuisine on the Beach". (updated Jul 2022)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Indigo San Diego Del Mar, 710 Camino Del Mar, ☏ +1 858-755-1501. (updated Mar 2017)
• 2 Best Western Premier Hotel Del Mar, 720 Camino Del Mar, ☏ +1 858-755-9765. Classy boutique hotel set in picturesque seaside village (rooms with ocean, garden and pool view) located in the seaside village of Del Mar, within walking distance to beaches. 
• 3 Hilton Del Mar, 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd (located across from the Del Mar Racetrack), ☏ +1 858-792-5200. (updated Mar 2017)
• 4 Homewood Suites by Hilton, 11025 Vista Sorrento Parkway, ☏ +1 858-523-0500. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. An all-suite hotel with fully-equipped kitchens. Complimentary hot breakfast daily, dinner with beer and wine Monday-Thursday, high-speed Internet, and shuttle service within 5 miles. (updated Mar 2017)
• 5 L’Auberge Del Mar Resort & Spa, 1540 Camino Del Mar, ☏ +1 858-259-1515, toll-free: +1-800-245-9757. This spa resort is located one block from the beach. The resort offers championship golf courses, recreational activities, luxury spa, meeting & event facilities and fine dining at J. Taylor’s Restaurant. (updated Mar 2017)
• 6 San Diego Marriott Del Mar, 11966 El Camino Real, ☏ +1 858-523-1700. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. (updated Mar 2017)

Go next

• Solana Beach
• Encinitas
• Carlsbad
• San Diego/La Jolla

Routes through Del Mar

Santa Ana ← Solana Beach ←

N  S

→ San Diego → Tijuana