Ocean Beach
San Diego, 92107
Easy Living in Wonderland
Ocean Beach ("OB" to the locals) is a historic San Diego beach community loaded with bohemian charm. It's all about the low-key vibe. Arts & music abound, everything's within walking or biking distance, you watch the sunset and all is well in the world.
We specialize in Ocean Beach homes & investment properties, and we cannot complain—it's a great place to live, work and play!
We've prepared this page to share a local's perspective on one of San Diego's most famed neighborhoods. So read on for unique tips and insights about OB, and if you're curious about Ocean Beach homes for sale or how much your Ocean Beach home could sell for, start by claiming your free San Diego MLS account!
OB History & Location
Ocean Beach keeps a level head despite occupying one of the most stunning stretches of coastline in California, along the north west side of the Point Loma peninsula.
It's a community bound together by art, music, and a sense of being more "real" than anywhere else in San Diego. "OBecians" (as the locals style themselves) are fiercely loyal to their beloved community. They work hard to promote local businesses over chain stores and prevent any development which would threaten the village character of the community.
OB's Main Beaches Are In The Northern Part of Town
Ocean Beach was founded in 1887 and initially was a popular resort town and tourist attraction. An oceanfront amusement park was built called Wonderland, but it washed away into the ocean after a few years.
During the 1920s the number of visitors to Ocean Beach continued to grow, and people began to stay and build houses in the area. A sense of community started to develop as more people called Ocean Beach home.
Ocean Beach Is on the Top Left Side of the Point Loma Peninsula
As development continued around the rest of San Diego, Ocean Beach became more cut off from the tourist scene than most of its beach neighbors, which was fine with OBecians, who preferred to keep the community's hometown feel.
The 1960s brought a huge hippie movement to Ocean Beach, as people liked that it was off the beaten path. This group of new residents ultimately became the community leaders of the coming decades, developing new schools, food co-ops and community programs that helped improve the neighborhood.
The Ocean Beach Sign Welcomes You to This Vibrant Community
Ocean Beach has continued to grow their business district and keep old traditions alive, all while maintaining a true sense of community and a unique atmosphere that can only be found in Ocean Beach.
If you get the chance, we highly recommend paying a visit to this charming beach community. You'll feel the local pride immediately, and with the relaxed and inviting atmosphere, you might not ever want to leave. For specific details on what to do, see, eat, and what the Ocean Beach real estate market is like, check out our Local's Guide to OB, below!
A Local's Guide to Ocean Beach
Table of Contents
OB Beaches, Parks, Trails, & Activities
Moving from north to south, the first notable outdoor space is Dog Beach. This was one of the first official leash-free beaches in the country, and remains one of the best known attractions in OB. Surfers, beachgoers, and pets all take advantage of this large open stretch of beach. It's one of the most popular areas in town because many OBecians have dogs, and they love playing in the ocean!
Tourists & Locals Alike LOVE Dog Beach!
Saratoga Park & Beach is the next beach over, situated between Dog Beach and the Newport Avenue downtown area. It has parking, a large grassy area right off the beach that is popular for picnics or just hanging out, and of course, a gorgeous stretch of beach which is a local favorite for surfing and boogie boarding.
Surf Lessons at OB's Main Beach, OB Pier in the Background
The OB Pier is a well-known San Diego landmark, located at the end of the downtown shopping area on Newport Avenue. It was opened in 1966 and designed to allow local fishermen to fish without interference from the kelp and rock beds near the shore. Extending 1,971 feet, the Pier allows fishermen to fish in 25-30 feet of water. It is the second longest pier on the west coast, and held out to be the longest concrete pier in the world.
Check out what's going on at the Pier right now on this awesome live-cam hosted by the OB Hotel!
A Not Very Good Photo of OB Pier from Above--But You Can See How Long It Is! Saratoga Park is in the Foreground.
Just because OBecians are laid back does not mean that they're lazy. Many locals take advantage of the numerous available outdoor activities and sports, and Robb Field provides an awesome hub for those active go-getters. There are basketball courts, tennis courts, softball fields, multipurpose fields, permanent soccer & rugby goals, an athletic club, skateboarding park, playground area, picnic area & more.
And after a good workout there is no better way to unwind and recharge than the weekly Farmer's Market, held on Newport Avenue Wednesday evenings from 4:00-8:00 pm (7:00 pm in the winter). This is probably the liveliest farmer's market in all of San Diego, with live music, artisan-crafted goods, fresh produce, meat, fish, and everything else you could possibly imagine. Check out the video below to get a feel for it and go check it out!
On the southern end of Ocean Beach you'll find Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, a favorite for tourists and locals alike. Stretching over one mile along the southwest side of the Point Loma peninsula, Sunset Cliffs provides breathtaking ocean views along unique cliff formations and caves. There are hiking trails and plenty of places to just sit and take it all in. It's a great place to watch the sunset, hence the name!
Beaches and Lookout Points at Sunset Cliffs
No trip to OB would be complete without getting in touch with your inner hippie, and there are lots of ways to do that. One great option is the oceanfront sunset yoga classes hosted at the Inn at Sunset Cliffs! There is nothing quite like ending your day with a little exercise and meditation with the waves crashing just below you.
Sunset Yoga at the Inn at Sunset Cliffs
Ocean Beach Events & Other Fun Stuff To Do
There's never a shortage of a good time in OB. For the latest local events, news and Ocean Beach homes, follow us on social media using the icons below. And don't miss out on these classic recurring OB events:
Annual Kite Festival: A free family event at Dusty Rhodes Park in May. Free kite making for kids, a carnival, street fair, and of course it wouldn't be OB without live music!
Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off: A rockin' good time each June with multiple stages of live music, food, art, crafts, a beachside beer garden & chili cook-off. What more could you ask for?
4th of July Fireworks off the OB Pier.
Oktoberfest: Enjoy great beer, food, contests, & of course, live music! Every October.
OB is a community built on music, so there's always a great show to catch, usually for free. Check the schedules for Mother's Saloon, Winston's, Gallagher's Irish Pub, and the Harp.
The OB Christmas Parade: One of the best holiday parades around, this ones starts at 5:00 pm, so it's ok to be a little naughty and a little nice.
Get Excited About the Holidays at the OB Holiday Parade!
Ocean Beach Schools
Ocean Beach has a strong sense of community and great public schools. In San Diego Unified School District, schools in each community are organized into "clusters," which consist of a high school, and the middle and elementary schools which feed into it. Click the link for more information on San Diego Unified School District Clusters.
The group of schools serving Ocean Beach is part of the Point Loma Cluster, and consists of Ocean Beach Elementary (K-4th), Silver Gate Elementary (K-4th), Sunset View Elementary (K-4th), Dana Middle School (5th-6th), Correia Middle School (7th-8th), and the highly sought-after Point Loma High School. For a map of the schools in this cluster, click here.
Kids Playing in the Waves After School - Life is Good in OB!
Where to Eat, Drink & Enjoy Happy Hour In Ocean Beach
There are a ton of great places to eat, drink, and get a little tipsy (responsibly!) in OB. The big names can be found with a quick Google search, so instead of reiterating those here, we've hand-selected some the lesser known local treasures. Listed in no particular order. Call us anytime for a locals-style tour! 858-230-8644
The 3rd Corner: Wine shop & bistro with excellent food. Great for brunch and dinner alike, or just order a bunch of apps and share. Cheers!
OB Noodle House: Ridiculously good Vietnamese food. Try the pho, their signature friend rice, hot wings, and everything else. Great beer specials too! They have a second location at Bar 1502.
BO-Beau: No reservations allowed at this trendy yet low-key neighborhood bistro. A homey feel and satisfying fare keep this place packed.
Pizza Port: A San Diego favorite, its newest location is in OB. Great pizza and house-crafted beer. What more could you ask for?
Mother's Saloon: A lively bar & restaurant on Bacon Street with a bacon-insired menu. They have live music & great happy hour specials! Try the bacon wrapped shrimp.
Shenanigans at Mother's Saloon, Ocean Beach
BBQ House: Serving up homestyle BBQ for over 20 years, this restaurant was recently renovated and has a new bar!
Hodad's: In the running for best burger in San Diego. It's between Hodad's and Rocky's Crown Pub in Pacific Beach, and each team is fiercely loyal. Try both and pick a side!
Arizona Cafe: A great local's spot with stiff drinks and quality food. This place is a longtime favorite. They also have a window where you can order to-go.
Sunshine Company: One of the most popular bars on Newport, this place somehow manages to never sell out. Sports, pool, great bartenders, & amazing Mexican food from the place next door.
Wonderland: Overlooking the beach and the Pier, this place is pretty amazing. And the food is as good as the location, offering nachos to fresh spring rolls and everything in between.
Pac Shores: If you're looking for a dive bar, this is the place. One of a kind.
Ocean Beach Real Estate
The Ocean Beach real estate market is unique, and heavily in demand. One of the cool things about Ocean Beach for buyers is that it's one of the few places left in the beach areas where you can still get a "deal," i.e., an older home that you can fix up and gain value through both sweat equity and a constantly improving market.
If you own a home in Ocean Beach, you might be surprised at how much you could sell for. There is a severe shortage of homes for sale in Ocean Beach, and overwhelming demand. This market gives you incredible leverage during the initial contract negotiations, which you must take advantage of in order to make the escrow process as smooth and predictable as possible. If you'd like a free home value analysis or to discuss the strategies you should employ when it's time to sell your home, give our broker Lauren a call today!
858-230-8644
Ocean Beach Real Estate By the Numbers
We update these stats each month. The numbers you see below represent last month's sales activity.
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