San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Leucadia
Leucadia is synonymous with pristine beaches and charming small businesses, with many venturing into the area to visit Pannikin Coffee & Tea and spend time at Grandview or Beacon’s beaches. Leucadia, which translates to “place of shelter, isle of paradise” in Greek, was named by English settlers who also named many local streets after Greek gods and goddess like Hermes and Orpheus.
“Keep Leucadia funky” is the unofficial slogan of this northern Encinitas community of about 16,000 residents. The main business corridor runs parallel to the Pacific along North Coast Highway 101, with each shop, restaurant, and gallery having its own distinct character and charm. Create your own Leucadia itinerary using our neighborhood guide to some of the best things to do in this laidback surf town.
Leucadia Restaurants, Bars, and Coffee Shops
Haven Farm + Table
Fresh vegetables, fruit, and herbs are plucked straight from the regenerative organic farm onsite at Haven Farm + Table so chefs can prepare dishes highlighting California’s seasonal ingredients. The dinner menu changes frequently in this light and airy dining room where the sommelier is quick to recommend wine pairings. Spring for the chef’s tasting menu to get a five-course meal showcasing the farm’s latest bounty.
1200 Fox Point Farms Lane
Atelier Manna
Health-conscious brunch goers will love Atelier Manna, a tiny restaurant with all patio seating and a globally-inspired menu. The Turkish eggs and Spanish-style French toast are among favorites, but it’s the wellness-driven mocktails (dubbed “vitality tonics”) that are often a topic of conversation here. Join the online waitlist and settle in knowing it’ll be worth the wait to taste food from Michelin-recognized chef Andrew Bachelier.
1076 N Coast Hwy 101, Suite 101
Leu Leu
Celebrity chef Claudette Zepeda’s restaurant-meets-music-lounge Leu Leu is a hidden gem with international flavors from Mexico, China, and the Mediterranean. The small menu is divided up between cold dishes like yellowtail crudo and ceviche tostada and hot entrees including duck confit and Wagyu char siu, plus a thoughtful wine list. There’s also plenty to feast your eyes on in the dining room, setting the tone for good vibes.
466 N Coast Hwy 101, Suite 1
Juanita’s Taco Shop
Hole-in-the-wall taco shop Juanita’s is the spot to go for California burritos, fish tacos, carnitas, and other Mexican staples. The dining area may be small but the red and green salsas are plentiful. Go ahead and add rice and beans to your order.
290 N Coast Hwy 101
Coffee Coffee
Located along a coveted stretch of Leucadia’s main business district, Coffee Coffee is a buzzy cafe with its namesake brew, tea, and other specialty drinks, plus breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and toasts. On the exterior of this trendy shop is the area’s most recognizable mural that reads “Welcome to Leucadia!” – perfect for colorful photo ops.
970 N Coast Hwy 101
Haggo’s Organic Taco
Find healthy Mexican food in the form of tacos, burritos, bowls, and quesadillas at Haggo’s Organic Taco, which was featured on Food Network’s Diner’s, Drive-Ins and Dives. Made with organic produce, grass-fed beef, free-range poultry, and wild-caught seafood, dishes here are cooked using avocado oil so you can feel good about your meal choices. Fish tacos filled with Haggo’s catch of the day are the most popular order here but you can’t go wrong with any choice.
1302 N Coast Hwy 101, Suite 101
Pannikin Coffee & Tea
A longstanding neighborhood institution and community hub, Pannikin Coffee & Tea’s location inside the former Encinitas train station is easy to spot. The large, historic yellow building resembles a lived-in house with cozy nooks and a large patio for hosting groups. Muffins and other fresh-made pastries line the counter where patrons wait for drinks such as the Jimi Hendrix made with four shots of espresso, Mexican chocolate, and hazelnut.
510 N Coast Hwy 101
Valentina
Spanish tapas like patatas bravas, grilled octopus, and garlic shrimp fill the menu at Mediterranean restaurant Valentina. Its charming dining room provides the perfect backdrop for a romantic date night, bolstered by a comprehensive wine list and killer Basque cake for dessert. Plan to order at least two or three tapas per person.
810 N Coast Hwy 101
Solterra Winery & Kitchen
Sip a bottle of vino produced onsite at Solterra Winery & Kitchen in aged French oak barrels, served alongside seasonal Mediterranean cuisine ranging from flat breads and charcuterie boards to burgers and paella. With 14 reds and three whites served on tap and in bottles, Solterra also produces rosé, port, and other dessert wines using grapes from locally-sourced vineyards. Check out one of its wine blending parties to create your own perfect blend.
934 N Coast Highway 101
Nectarine Grove
If someone in your party has a dietary restriction—vegan, paleo, keto, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.—look no further than Nectarine Grove. Its health-conscious menu of salads, bowls, fancy toasts, pizzas, tacos, and egg scrambles contain ingredients sourced from local farms and purveyors while catering to those with personal dietary needs. From the basic butter coffee and cinnamon roll to the crispy chicken salad and roasted veggie bowl, Nectarine Grove has you covered from morning to evening.
948 N Coast Highway 101
Leucadia Donut Shoppe
Leucadia Donut Shoppe is a family-owned bakery serving up sugar rushes and Kona coffee throughout the day. This old school dough shop has been slinging chocolate-glazed, old-fashioned, and cake donuts plus other specialties like apple fritters and ham & cheese croissants for more than 30 years.
1604 N Coast Hwy 101
Sip-N-Sea Coffee + Acai
Hit the walk-up window at Sip-N-Sea Coffee + Acai for a butterscotch latte—the scratch-made butterscotch sauce is a must-try—and organic acai bowl or fruit smoothie. The family-owned shop has covered outdoor seating and some cool murals that make for a vibrant morning of dining alfresco.
1488 N Coast Hwy 101
Fourtillfour Cafe
A rustic, tucked away coffee shop, Fourtillfour Cafe is an outdoor oasis surrounded by greenery and classic cars. Its high-quality, fair-trade coffee menu is straightforward without fanfare, sold with a selection of bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and biscuits. Two Saturday mornings per month bring events focused on Porsches and vintage cars—plus coffee—to Fourtillfour, which was named as a nod to the founder’s love of cars.
1114 N Coast Hwy 101
French Corner
Get your fill of croissants, crepes, baguette sandwiches, tartines, omelets, and other Parisian specialties at French Corner. Francophiles will be delighted to discover this street corner cafe where the only answer to Nutella crepes and café au lait is: oui.
1200 N Coast Hwy 101
Fox Point Farms
Things to Do in Leucadia, CA
Four Moons Spa
An outdoor sanctuary for wellness and healing, Four Moons Spa offers spa treatments, acupuncture, energy healing, astrology, and spirit readings. Services are performed in individual bungalows that are traditional Balinese bales, and afterward guests can relax on daybeds with a cup of tea and enjoy the tranquility and good energy here. This is the go-to place for massages, facials, body wraps and scrubs—plus New Agey events like sound baths and moon circles.
775 N Vulcan Ave.
Leucadia Farmers’ Market
Fill a shopping tote and your belly at the Leucadia Farmers’ Market, held Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with more than 90 vendors at Paul Ecke Central Elementary. Parking can be tricky in this residential area, but the fresh produce, prepared foods, specialty drinks, live music, and diverse vendors selling clothes, flowers, bread, dips, sauces, and more are worth the trip.
185 Union St.
Fox Point Farms
This mixed-use agricultural community has a three-acre regenerative farm, residential housing, farm-to-table restaurant, organic brewery, mini grocery store, event space, and plenty of green space for kids to run around. On weekends, guests can participate in Fox Point’s farm and animal encounters to get a firsthand look at the urban farm, including their mini Jersey cow, goats, pigs, chickens, and alpacas; garden and fruit trees; and take guided tractor tours through the farm fields. It’s open to the public but onsite parking is limited.
1200 Fox Point Farms Ln.
Grandview Beach
The aptly named Grandview Beach has picture-perfect ocean views from atop sea bluffs where a staircase lined by palm trees leads down to the sand. Located at the north end of Leucadia State Beach, Grandview’s discreet entrance is near a dedicated parking lot filled with mostly surfers.
1700 Neptune Ave.
Beacon’s Beach
Part of Leucadia State Beach’s south end, Beacon’s is a smaller beach hidden below sea bluffs with a long path and winding switchbacks as its main entrance. It’s in a residential area with limited parking, but Beacon’s is beloved by local surfers and those seeking out a mellow beach day.
919 Neptune Ave.
Stone Steps Beach
For a long walk on the sand or sweaty stair workout, head to Stone Steps Beach. Halfway down the stone-and-concrete staircase there’s a colorful mosaic that serves as the beach’s main landmark.
340 S El Portal St.
The Mudd House
Ceramics studio The Mudd House brings together potters of all skill levels for wheel throwing, hand building, group and private lessons, specialty workshops, and even happy hour classes. The studio provides clay, glazes, and all necessary tools, and will also trim and glaze your handiwork for a fully finished, usable piece of pottery.
802 N Coast Hwy 101
Leucadia Shops & Boutiques
Thread Spun
Thoughtfully curated boutique Thread Spun stocks clothes, accessories, gifts, home goods, bath & body products, books, and a selection of kids items. The fair trade shop sources sustainably produced merchandise, and holds fun classes like perfume making, poetry readings, and paint & sip nights.
1114 N Coast Hwy 101, Suite 4
Wild Wawa
The Peruvian mother-daughter team behind Wild Wawa children’s boutique works with artisans in Lima, Peru to create handmade, high-quality clothing and accessories for babies and little ones up to 6 years old. The high-end shop also has toys and custom-made decor, but their clothing made of extremely soft Peruvian Pima cotton is the real showstopper.
636 N Coast Hwy 101
Leucadia Floral & Plant
Check out indoor and outdoor plants, fresh-cut flowers, pottery, macramé, candles, and other homewares at Leucadia Floral & Plant. From succulents and cactuses to monsteras and ficus trees, they have you covered with all things green.
1114 N Coast Hwy 101
Caves Wine Shop
More than 150 different bottles of vino line the walls of this charming wine shop, each one hand-selected by a sommelier. Caves Wine Shop offers 3 or 5 oz. pours by the glass, or for a small corkage fee you can grab a table and enjoy a bottle onsite. Blind tastings are held every Tuesday with four wines for $25, and they also have a monthly wine club.
1410 N Coast Hwy 101
Child of Wild
Find your next statement piece at Child of Wild jewelry shop, where there’s gems, charms, chains, rings, layering necklaces, and handmade designs in many styles from coastal cowgirl to celestial goddess. The shop also carries a small selection of western-inspired vintage clothes, antique pots, candles, and other gifts.
1114 N Coast Hwy 101, Suite 1C
Coast Highway Trading
A collection of 20 local artisans and small businesses have their bohemian-inspired goods on display at Coast Highway Trading, selling clothes, home decor, gifts, jewelry, and accessories. Look for artwork and home accents that show hometown love for Encinitas, Leucadia, and Cardiff-by-the-Sea.
530 S Coast Hwy 101
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