Book a sitter. Phone a friend. Here’s where to go.
There is something about hanging out with mom-friends that hits different.
Date night is wonderful. Time with your person matters. But mom-friends — they know. And there’s a specific kind of refreshing that happens when you sit down across from another mom who just gets it. She gets the juggling, the worries, the celebrations, the wondering if you did enough — and she can handle the potty training stories, because she’s in it too. Bring on the poop talk. Or don’t — it’s up to you, because you’re calling the shots.
Mom work is the best work and it’s all the time. It doesn’t stop for vacation or sleep. Attempting to go to the bathroom on your own? That’s cute. So when it’s time to make the call, book the sitter and get out with your mom friends — you want it to count. For many of us, going out like this is a luxury, but it feels really hard to live without and it’s worth prioritizing now and then.
These recs are inspired by places we love to take our kids — and worth a whole new look when you step out with your mom-bestie.
- Brunch at Shorehouse Kitchen
- Walk to the beach (nobody’s chasing anyone)
- Dinner at Jeff’s Beach Burgers
- Bonus: The Lot for a movie you actually pick
So if you’re a San Diego momma and you’re ready to phone a friend and set a time — here’s where we’d send you.
Shorehouse Kitchen, La Jolla
Brunch first, beach after
Shorehouse Kitchen sits a block-ish from the water at La Jolla Shores, and the prices are reasonable enough that you won’t spend the whole meal doing math about what you’re spending on childcare. Brunch is the move — good food, unhurried, the kind of meal where you actually finish a sentence. After, walk two minutes to the beach and enjoy a walk at your pace.
Jeff’s Beach Burgers, La Jolla
You won’t have to share your fries
Sometimes you just want a reservation and a prix fixe menu. And sometimes the right call is grabbing a ridiculously good burger — and fries, let’s be real — walking to the beach, sitting down and staying down (because staying down is the key — get up if you want, but not because your adorable and feral 3 year old decides he can swim). Jeff’s is a five minute walk from one of the prettiest spots in San Diego. And yes, it’s on the same street as Shorehouse. Make a day of Avenida de la Playa. You’ve earned it.
The Lot, La Jolla
Dinner and a movie, but YOU pick the movie
If your group wants a full evening and an activity that doesn’t require everyone to talk the whole time (valid), The Lot is worth knowing about. Dine-in theater, real food, and the very specific pleasure of watching something that was not made by Pixar. Mom-to-mom: the Lot’s convenient parking structure is $$$. Park on the street and walk.
Sometimes you just have to give yourself permission to do the thing. Mom-guilt is real, but you don’t have to wonder if you’re doing right by your kids when you know who to trust. Sitterwise has been placing vetted caregivers with San Diego families for 45 years. We are mom-owned and mom-run — we get it.
Get your date on the books. We got you covered.
Not a local? We provide San Diego babysitters for vacation rentals like VRBO and hotels throughout San Diego County.
The Kids Are in Good Hands
Sitterwise connects San Diego families with trusted, vetted caregivers. Book your night out — we’ll handle the rest.
