How to Plan the Ultimate Bachelorette Party in San Diego
San Diego is known as the birthplace of California, but evidence goes to show it’s also the birthplace of the ultimate bachelorette party. There’s no shortage of places to go, whether that’s in La Jolla, San Diego Bay, Palm Spring, and many more. From sunny beaches to 2 am nightclubs to fun San Diego tours, this city is riddled with adventures waiting to happen, inspiring a catalog of lifelong memories.
But when is the best time to visit San Diego? You should know to schedule your bachelorette party. Whether you’re looking for an epic weekend that puts The Hangover to shame or a relaxing weekend getaway with the girls, we’ve got you covered. But instead of Las Vegas, here’s a list of San Diego bachelorette party ideas.
Beauty Sleep & Beyond
The first bachelorette party idea on our list of delights is where your posse will be staying. There’s plenty of hotels in the San Diego area that can host a memorable bachelorette party. However, here are some options we’ve chosen specifically as top-level hosts for bachelorette parties in San Diego:
Kimpton Hotel Palomar
This highrise hotel takes elevation to the next level. The Palomar boasts a top-of-the-line culinary and cocktail experience, lush and modern decor, rooftop pool, a fully equipped gym, and a range of gorgeous hotel rooms and suites to choose from. Standing sentinel in the heart of Downtown, this hotel is also perched in a prime location with a variety of restaurants, theaters, shops, and nightlife venues in the area.
The Guild Hotel
Photo Courtesy: The Guild
A boutique hotel that dons a retro European feel. Perfect for grabbing delectable bites at their historic, Riviera-style courtyard restaurant or sipping Instagrammable cocktails at the trendy Guild Bar where your squad can lounge on velvet furnishings. Or take a seat in Downtown San Diego’s only urban garden amongst trees and greenery in The Guild Hotel’s Grace Garden. With six different room styles available, there’s something for everyone whatever your budget may be.
The Andaz Hotel
Photo Courtesy: Andaz San Diego
The Andaz is a stylish, contemporary hotel dripping in color and chic hangout spots. With two fine dining restaurants and a rooftop bar rocking a breathtaking view of the historic Gaslamp Quarter, you may find yourselves lingering at the hotel longer than you’d planned. Their wide selection of rooms and suites varies drastically in decor and may even have you trading places to enjoy the change in scenery.
Hard Rock
Between their rooftop bar and pool, the world-renowned restaurant, Nobu, and the endless good vibes in their lobby bar, this classic staple hotel gives you few reasons to ever leave. Hard Rock offers fully decked–out, traditional rooms and VIP suites that will have your party encompassing the rockstar lifestyle.
Grab the Girls & Get Out There
Now, onto the fun stuff! Every mythic bachelorette party is jam-packed with memorable daily activities that get you and your closest friends out there living your best life. Here are some options to get those creative planning juices (AKA mimosas) flowing:
Sail Before the Veil
What better way to get away from potentially crowded locations than to be on the open seas? Book a boat trip on San Diego Sailing Tours, hop on a yacht, and cruise around in style while taking in the picturesque shoreline sights and living it up with your shipmates. You also get the most out of San Diego Bay.
Wine Time
With a bounty of San Diego wine tours to choose from, you can indulge in the more traditional vineyard escape with beautiful mountain views and rolling hills in the San Pasqual Valley area or head out on the fun, urban Vino! Vino! walking tour of Little Italy wineries.
SCAVENGER HUNT
With so much to do in the San Diego area, it’s no surprise one of the best ways to see as many attractions in the city as possible is with a scavenger hunt. Link up with a local tour company to be your guide on a foodie scavenger hunt, or add these spots to your agenda for a DIY California Wonderland adventure:
- Don’t look down and take a stroll over the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge.
- Channel your inner child by hunting down the “Secret Swings” by La Jolla Cove.
- Take an edge-of-the-earth selfie on Potato Chip Rock on Mt. Woodson Trail.
- Cap it off with a hush-hush, underground craft cocktail at the Prohibition-themed mainstay bar Oculto 477.
Exotic Dance Class
Most people associate pole dancing with bachelor parties, but it’s high time bachelorette parties get in on the action. With several expert classes and pole fitness studios running in San Diego, you can book a session for you and the gang to take an exotic dance class that explores female empowerment through sensual movements and sexy outfits and footwear.
Looking for something different?
Private Tours
Learn how to cook!
Private Cooking Classes San Diego
There is always room for improvement when it comes to cooking.
- Sushi Cooking Class
- Pasta Making Class
- Mexican Cooking Class
Local Brews and Views
Carlsbad Food & Drink
Tour
Journey through time and space on our Carlsbad food tours. Enjoy notable San Diego cuisines.
- History on the move
- A pour de force
- A tour designed for you
Craft Breweries, Local Flavors!
San Diego Brewery
Tours
Tour San Diego on foot, and you’re sure to find a tasty brew in your hand!
- North Park Brewery Tour
- Ocean Beach Brewery Tour
- Little Italy Brewery Tour
The heart of Downtown San Diego
Balboa Park Walking
Tours
Immersive walking tour with insights into the park’s extensive history and architectural marvel.
Sip Around Town
san diego Urban Winery
Tour
Taste great wine from the best urban wineries in San Diego.
- Wine Production
- Taste Award Winning Wine
- Explore San Diego
Coronado Island Bike Ride
Feeling more like basking in the sun with the ocean breeze on your wings? The legendary island of Coronado, just off the coast of San Diego, is encircled by a 6-mile bike path that allows you to ride at your own speed and drink in the wonderful ocean sights. Take a pit stop and explore Hotel Del Coronado along the way and make a whole day out of it.
A Spot of Tea
For the fancy among us, pick up your fascinator and laced gloves and head to one of the several lavish tea rooms, such as Coral Tree Tea House or The AubreyRose Tea Room, where you can enjoy a selection of finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, and most importantly, teas, and spend the afternoon like British royalty.
Picnic in the Park – The historic Balboa Park is the perfect place for a group picnic. You can get set up outside of the Botanical Building on the East and West lawns for an illustrious view of the lily pond. Or check out the International Lawn in an alcove of quaint little cottages representing different countries.
Spa Day
Photo Courtesy: Spa Kingston
What better way to end your weekend than hitting the spa to relax? With plenty of day spas to choose from that can cater to larger groups, such as Spa Kingston, Alleviating Whispering Waters, Bella D’ora, Spa Pendry, or The Catamaran, you can lounge the day away in fluffy robes and pamper every inch of your body.
PRE-WEDDING BRUNCH SPOTS
Few meals leading up to the nuptials are as crucial (or as relaxing) as brunch. Be sure to head to one of the following spots to guarantee the vibes will be on until your last mimosas runs dry:
- Flamingo Deck (Mission Beach) – Breezy, exotic bird-themed Flamingo Deck is ideal for seafood-meets-brunch classics (and some ultra cute pink pics)
- Breakfast and Bubbles (University Heights / North Park) – Vibrant bites, incredible cocktails, and a lushly decorated ambiance that’s a feast for the eyes as much as the belly.
- Coco Maya (Little Italy) – Little Italia’s favorite Caribbean spot for a balmy outdoor brunch experience with out-of-this world cuisine you didn’t know you needed to try.
- Brian’s 24 (East Village) – Chicken and waffles, steering-wheel-sized pancakes—this mainstay is perfect for ladies who aren’t afraid to lose a button when it’s chow-down time.
- Waverly (Cardiff) – Feel like royalty and dine like it too in this warm, modern eatery led by a classic American menu done right.
- Firehouse (Pacific Beach) – Ocean views, intimate ambiance—somehow, Firehouse manages to nail the yin-yang fusion of opposites with panache. Impeccable architecture, impeccable food, and plenty of room if your bachelorette party’s on the bigger side.
- Kettner Exchange (Little Italy) – This hot Little Italy spot has garnered awards for the architecture alone. Dark wood, high ceilings, and a seasonal brunch menu that’s sure to impress your palate no matter what you order.
ULTRA-CUTE COCKTAIL BARS
Grains of sand may be the only thing more abundant than adorable cocktail bars in San Diego. But if you need a spot that guarantees to start your night off on the right foot, head to:
- Whiskey Girl (Gaslamp Quarter)
- Vistal Bar & Restaurant (Downtown San Diego)
- Madam Bonnies (Gaslamp Quarter)
- Understory (Carmel Valley)
- Dija Mara (Oceanside)
Just be sure to make a reservation ahead of time—these are some of the trendiest haunts of the moment, and you and your girls deserve a front row seat for your special night.
THE FARMER’S TABLE
If you and your girls need to fine tune some details for the wedding, you can do your planning over brunch in The Farmer’s Table. Not only does it serve the most delicious food, it’s served as fresh as it gets. It is one of the premier farm to table restaurants in San Diego.
Raising Hell Before Wedding Bells
The final and perhaps most important ingredient to a killer bachelorette party (let’s be honest) is where the gang can really let their hair down. The best part? San Diego nightlife is notable for bachelorette parties. Here are some specially curated clubs in San Diego:
Parq
Photo Courtesy: Amanda Ivko
Located in Downtown, this heavily art–directed nightclub and farm-to-table restaurant with fairytale trees and a remarkable dance floor is always one for the books. With roll-up garage doors and a working tunnel, Parq takes the cake when it comes to environmental design and atmosphere.
Vin de Syrah
Photo Courtesy: Vin de Syrah
This eccentric and endearing bar lounge in Downtown offers the perfect precursor to your nighttime activities with a burlesque show at 9:30 pm every Friday.
PB Bar Crawl
Pacific Beach, San Diego’s debaucherous strip of beachfront bars and restaurants, comes to life in the evening. If you’re looking for a pub crawl approach, take a trip down Ocean Front Walk or Mission Blvd and explore the Pacific Beach bars. Starting at Lahaina Beach House, you can make your way up toward PB Shore Club, Firehouse, Fat Fish, Tower23, JRDN, The Duck Dive, and finish off at Dirty Birds. Once you’ve made your rounds at these places, you’ll see that there’s definitely no shortage of things to do in Pacific Beach.
Pool Parties
For a sunny, more relaxed, pool party vibe, head to Float at the Hard Rock Hotel or Level Four Pool Deck & Lounge for an atmospheric rooftop pool bar and lounge with craft cocktails and chilled music.
BACHELORETTE PARTIES IN SAN DIEGO
Similar to any weekend in San Diego, your bachelorette party can range from classy and casual to wild, and where’s Susan!? How you choose to celebrate your party depends on what you want out of it. Just remember… this is your bachelorette party…
So make it count.
Sources:
San Diego Tourism Authority. Picnic Perfection in Balboa Park. https://blog.sandiego.org/2018/04/picnic-balboa-park/
Written by: Melissa
Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do … In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.
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