Ask a San Diegan where to brunch by the water and most will say Caroline’s Seaside Cafe, a La Jolla eatery nestled within UCSD’s Scripps Institute of Oceanography. As far as restaurant views go, I’m not sure I’ve seen a better one in the city. The cafe is perched above the popular wedding venue Scripps Seaside Forum, overlooking north La Jolla Shores by Scripps Pier. That means you get a view of surfers, SUPers, and in our case last Sunday, a wedding rehearsal. It was cloudy that day, and I imagine it could get toasty on a sunny day, but who are we kidding? It’s a comfortable 72 degrees here almost every day!
I had gotten the impression that Caroline’s was all view, zero taste, but I beg to differ. Is it a gastronomic adventure of epic proportions? No. It’s brunch. It’s basic. It’s fresh. It’s tasty. The Mediterranean eggs were a favorite, and my latte, a crucial brunch element in my book, was also top-notch. Yes, you go for the view, but the food doesn’t disappoint.
After brunch, with Teddy in tow—Caroline’s patio is dog-friendly—we stumbled upon a colorful flower garden and found ourselves walking north on what’s apparently called Gaylord’s Trail. It was a dead end but afforded us awesome ocean views and gave Teddy an opportunity to give us his best Simba-“Circle of Life” moment.
Check out that and the rest of Caroline’s ahead:
Disclaimer: Our meal was complimentary in exchange for a review. As always, all opinions are my own.
I am actually taking the in-laws there this weekend! Never been but I thought the menu looked good and the views great!
It’ll definitely impress them. Enjoy!
Aside from the perfect view, the weather makes it even better. There’s nothing better than admiring the gorgeous scenery with a nice cup of coffee in a weather that doesn’t make you want to run for cover. Definitely will bookmark this place for a must visit.