San Diego’s Best Beach Breakfast

Picnic tables at Snackropolis overlook the ocean and Scripps Pier.

Author’s Note: Snackropolis closed when Caroline’s Seaside Cafe opened nearby. However, the picnic tables and ocean view remain – which maks this a great spot for brown baggers or smart folks who pick up sandwiches at the Cheese Shop on nearby Avenida de la Playa.

Original post: Snackropolis, tucked away on the SIO campus in La Jolla, serves an awesome ocean view and a large helping of fresh air with every meal. Once known only to Scripps Institution of Oceanography employees, it is now a favorite early morning stop for surfers, beach walkers, and others who live nearby.

Picnic tables overlook the beach, ocean, and Scripps Pier, so it’s possible to watch for dolphins, whales, and flocks of pelicans while enjoying a breakfast burrito or deli lunch. The salmon burgers are my favorite.

Snackropolis’ address is listed as 8632 Kennel Way, but that won’t be very helpful when you try to find this semi-secret snack bar.

I suggest you park at La Jolla Shores Beach (free) and walk north (towards the pier) until you see a driveway that leads up to SIO. Walk up that drive and look for the picnic tables with umbrellas.

Alternatively, you could park on El Paseo Grande in La Jolla Shores and walk north to Kennel Way, which winds through the SIO campus. The ocean and Snackropolis will be on your left across from Ritter Hall. If you get lost, ask directions from the first friendly oceanographer you encounter.

Snackropolis is open for breakfast and lunch Monday – Friday and closed weekends.

Order at the counter and feast on the view while you’re waiting for your meal.

If it happens to be raining when you are in San Diego, you’ll find a great beach view at the nearby Shores Restaurant in the La Jolla Shores Hotel. If you’re visiting La Jolla on a weekend (when Snackropolis is closed), head up to the Cliff Hangar Café at the Gliderport.

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Photo credit: ADAMS / HANSEN STOCK PHOTOS

Tags: breakfast, Cliff Hangar Cafe, dining with a view, La Jolla Shores Beach, La Jolla travel information, lunch, ocean view, outside, picnic tables, San Diego, Scripps Pier, SIO, snack bar, Snackropolis

Category: dining with a view, kid-friendly dining