Nation

lazyllama/Shutterstock

Travel

Explore adventure guides and design a custom itinerary for the destination of your choice in and around the city.

Best Travel Guides, Cool Hotels and Interesting Events - Thrillist

Brazil’s Laid-Back Coast Is a Beach Heaven You’ll Want to Revisit Again and Again

Chicago

Choose Chicago

The 9 Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Spend a Weekend

New York

Lifestyle

New York City was first gifted cherry trees over a century ago by the Committee of Japanese Residents as a gesture of friendship between the two countries.

NYC’s Cherry Blossoms Are a Stunning Sight to Behold

Houston

LMPark Photos/Shutterstock

You may not notice it but if you look closely, Houston’s got an artsy, Bohemian side.

Shop for the Best Vintage at These Thrift Stores in Houston

Los Angeles

Photo by Don Riddle, courtesy of Sendero

Find the best spots daily to eat and drink in hipster neighborhoods. Hit the roof, drink a beer and eat delicious at top-tier restaurants. Plan your nightlife adventure with maps and reviews of unknown micro-brews, rooftop parties, and independent drink.

Best Restaurants & Bars - Places to Eat & Drink - Thrillist

The weather has not exactly delivered on the promise of a gorgeous California spring.

10 Exciting New Restaurant Openings in LA to Try This Week

Philadelphia

Photo courtesy of Fairmount Park Conservancy

The sight of blooming cherry blossoms is a surefire sign of spring.

Philadelphia’s Cherry Blossoms Are a Stunning Sight to Behold

Washington DC

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Spring in DC is all about one thing: cherry blossoms.

DC’s Stunning Cherry Blossoms Are a National Treasure to Behold

Boston

Photo by Mel Taing, courtesy of MassArt Art Museum

Boston is home to some of the most famous museums in the country—from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Museum Exhibits in Boston to Check Out Before They Disappear

Denver

Leadville and Twin Lakes, Colorado

What’s better than driving through the majestic Colorado landscape, the sun shining, windows down?

Perfect Spring Road Trips for When You Need to Escape Denver

Nasa/Carla Thomas/Wikimedia Commons

They call it the airplane boneyard, where once high-flying craft are dropped off when they’re no longer needed, temporarily out of service, in need of refurbishing, or marked for cannibalization of their parts (RIP).

The Boeing 747 Might Be Gone, but It's Not Forgotten

Las Vegas

cpaulfell/Shutterstock

The Best Road Trips from Las Vegas 

It turns out it’s not just the celebrity residents of La La Land who undergo a nice glow up occasionally.

The Best Retro, Revamped, and Redesigned Motels and Hotels in Los Angeles

Rock Steady Real Jamaican Restaurant

United States

Rock Steady Jamaican Food

We’ve done the work of compiling a list of our favorite Black-owned restaurants, breweries, and bars in San Diego, for you to enjoy all year long.

San Diego

Cane Patch Kitchen

February is Black History Month, when we remember the history of the African Diaspora, honor the achievements of Black Americans, and pursue the goal of racial justice and equity. Supporting Black-owned individuals and businesses is one of the most effective ways to make real, ongoing progress. To help you get started, we’ve done the work of compiling a list of our favorite Black-owned restaurants, breweries, and bars in San Diego, for you to enjoy not only during Black History Month, but all year long.

February is Black History Month, when we remember the history of the African Diaspora, honor the achievements of Black Americans, and pursue the goal of racial justice and equity. Supporting Black-owned individuals and businesses is one of the most effective ways to make real, ongoing progress. To help you get started, we’ve done the work of compiling a list of our favorite Black-owned restaurants, breweries, and bars in San Diego, for you to enjoy not only during Black History Month, but all year long.

This multifaceted joint offers up several styles of chicken, starting with its signature russet-brown, Southern-style cult favorite, as well as Nashville hot, buttery maple, honey dipped, and smothered, available by the piece, whole bird, or sandwich. The extended offerings here evoke Southern comfort food, including Grit Fritters, Chicken Skin, Gizzards, and Jumbo Bar Wings, naked or tossed in one of a dozen different sauces. Your sweet tooth will be delighted with the huge number of dessert offerings, including a half dozen varieties of cheesecake, plus pies, sky-high layer cakes, and chocolate chip cookies made to order and served warm from the oven. How to order: Seating is on a first-come basis. Call 619-546-9010 for pickup or delivery directly from the restaurant, or via <a href="https://www.ubereats.com/store/streetcar-merchants-of-fried-chicken-waffles-%26-pie/no-xfXcPQXCmVCa54Q3IZA?utm_source=ue_referral&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=smb_nerb_0320&amp;ue=ue" target="_blank">Uber Eats</a>&nbsp;and other delivery apps.

Photo courtesy of StreetCar Merchants

Streetcar Merchants 

Streetcar Merchants Of Fried Chicken, Doughnuts & Coffee

This former food truck turned Pacific Beach brick-and-mortar took a simple chicken and waffle sandwich, upped the ante by loading on bacon and cheese, and the rest is history. You can still get the original, or opt for chicken sliders or tenders, a variety of sandwiches, loaded fries, burgers, and hot dogs. Their Rhythm Poppers, deep-fried chicken and waffle bites topped with syrup and a flurry of powdered sugar, are just about the perfect mid-afternoon snack. How to order: Order at the walk up window, call ahead at 858-246-6276 or order online via&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ubereats.com/san-diego/food-delivery/rhythms-chicken-and-waffles/VZZ38U_rTN-l8OUQOtasDw" target="_blank">UberEats</a>&nbsp;or other delivery apps.

Rhythm's Chicken & Waffles

It’s a terrible dilemma that you’ll face every time you drive into the parking lot at Brad “Coop” Cooper’s restaurants—do you want melt-in-your-mouth slabs of brisket and Texas-style, dino-sized beef ribs from <a href="https://www.coopsbbq.com/" target="_blank">Coops West Texas BBQ</a>, or tender, buttermilk-dredged, crispy fried chicken, catfish, and whiting with screaming-hot fries and fried okra from <a href="https://www.coopsbbq.com/menu/da-chicken-coop-menu/" target="_blank">Da Chicken Coop</a>? Why choose? They’re literally steps from each other and you’ll thank us the next day when you spy those leftover chicken wings in the fridge. Delivery is a tad more complicated if you’re ordering from both, as third-party services treat them separately. How to order: Stop in or call 619-589-0478 (Coop’s West) or 619-460-0837 (Da Chicken Coop) for pickup or check their website&nbsp;for third party delivery options.

Coop's West Texas BBQ

A trip to the Big Easy for Mardi Gras might not be in the cards this year, but Louisiana Purchase has you covered with lemon pepper wets, gator bites, a savory alligator-andouille cheesecake in crawfish cream, and all the requisite sides for your own personal Fat Tuesday celebration. Pair your dish with earthy saffron-infused gin and passionfruit in a Fleur-de-Lis or a spirit-forward Oaxacan on Sunshine, featuring Abasolo Corn Whiskey, espresso balsamic, and a mezcal rinse. How to order: Reservations can be made via <a href="https://www.exploretock.com/louisianapurchase/" target="_blank">Tock</a>. Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available. Order online for pickup via <a href="https://www.toasttab.com/louisiana-purchase/v3#d400000000503415017d0c24dea2-5eb7-4c99-a56a-6305b4ed5fdc" target="_blank">Toast</a>.

Lousiana Purchase

Louisiana Purchase

Oxtails slow-cooked with white beans, brown-stew chicken, and curried goat are the standouts at this Grant Hill favorite. Be sure to stop by on Saturdays, when they serve up long-simmered beef and red kidney beans with spinners, a dense, torpedo-shaped Jamaican dumpling. How to order: Stop by or call 619-431-5937 for takeout, or order for pickup or delivery via <a href="https://www.yelp.com/order/v2/cart/15de783c3566121f3b00e55bf0e1d4a4" target="_blank">Yelp</a>.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays—the restaurant’s designated “Surf Days”—you’ll find classic catfish, shrimp, and wing baskets with fries and garlic toast, blackened shrimp, and crab rolls, and popcorn shrimp and grits. Friday and Saturday, it switches to “Soul Days” featuring comfort plates of catfish, wings, or pork chops alongside smoked turkey collard greens, baked mac and cheese, or bay rice with smoked turkey gravy. It comes with cornbread and dessert from the ever-rotating lineup: keep your fingers crossed that the classic butter pound cake is on the menu. Follow them on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/surfandsoulspot/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> for daily specials and updates. How to order: Stop by or call 619-439-8801 for takeout.

Support Locals SD

Surf & Soul

Chef Hanna Tesfamichael has been a mainstay of the Adams Avenue culinary scene for more than a decade, bringing you recipes from Poland one week, Tunisia the next, and later in the month perhaps Georgian cuisine. These days, you can still get her beloved Moroccan Chicken with apricots, dates, and olives over couscous, or Meat Lasagne smothered in Bolognese sauce, ricotta, spinach, tomato and creamy pesto sauce, along with a large selection of soups (the creamy Tomato Bisque is highly recommended), stews, and salads. Do splurge on dessert: carrot cake enthusiasts won’t want to pass up Hanna’s special version. How to order: Order online by Thursday for pickup on Sunday between 2–6 pm.

Hanna's Gourmet San Diego

Hanna's Gourmet

US Navy veteran Timothy Parker and his wife, Dali Parker, opened Chula Vista Brewery nearly five years ago, winning awards and the hearts of beer drinkers across the county. A second venue in Eastlake followed in 2021, with a kitchen that turns out succulent ribs, tri tip, hot links, and other bbq favorites, served as plates or as loaded fries or baked potatoes. The tap list includes hazy, West Coast, double and session IPAs, chocolate porter, and a handful of ales, including their bronze medal winning Browner Than Ivan Brown Ale. How to order: Seating is on a first-come basis. Call the individual location or stop in for carry out.

Chula Vista Brewery

Feast on Southern cuisine at Cane Patch Kitchen in the <a href="https://bluebridgehospitality.com/libertypublicmarket/" target="_blank">Liberty Public Market</a>, where owners Ebony Broadway and Tony Smalls turn to their family recipes, dating back to the early 1900s, for classics like Seafood Gumbo, Jambalaya, Po’boys, grilled or fried gator, hot links, oyster and catfish baskets, and Tony’s trademark sweet potato pie. How to order: Seating is on a first-come basis. Order <a href="https://www.canepatchkitchensd.com/order" target="_blank">online</a> for pickup or delivery.

Spring Valley’s best kept secret is tucked into a strip mall, but don’t let the modest surroundings stop you. Chicken comes fried, baked, smothered, or BBQ’d, fish is baked Mississippi-style or fried, and all plates come with two sides (think black eyed peas, collard greens, and candied sweet potatoes), cornbread, and a drink. Check their <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bankheadmississippi/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> for specials like gumbo, oxtail stew, and meatloaf. How to order: Seating is on a first-come basis. Order <a href="https://www.bankheadmsstyle.com/#/" target="_blank">online</a> or call 619-773-7269 for pickup.

Bankhead Mississippi Style Cooking

University Heights You’ll love everything you taste at Muzita Abyssinian Bistro, but the stars of the menu are vegetarian and vegan dishes, like Hamli, softly sauteed spinach and collards; Shiro, Eritrean-style chickpeas; or Mama’s Fool, a dish with fresh fava beans, tricolor peppers, and herbs cooked with temsi, a warm, spiced butter, all served over a soft, spongy sourdough crepe called injera, which also doubles as your plate and eating utensils. How to order: Reservations can be made via <a href="https://www.yelp.com/reservations/muzita-abyssinian-bistro-san-diego" target="_blank">Yelp</a>. Walk-ins are accepted if seating is available. Call 619-546-7900 or order online&nbsp;for pickup or delivery <a href="https://muzita.com/to-go/" target="_blank">via third-party services</a>.

Muzita Abyssinian Bistro

You know and love their donuts, in globally inspired flavors like Ube Taro Coconut and Tamarind Banana Caramel, but don’t count out their Montreal-style bagels, made fresh daily in their wood-fired oven. Choose from an array of sweet and savory spreads, or use one as a base for an egg or house-cured salmon sandwich. Keep up with current flavors and specials by following the shop on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nomaddonuts/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. How to order: Seating is on a first-come basis. Call 619-431-5000 or order online&nbsp;for pickup.

Nomad Donuts

Balboa Park’s organic cafe is the perfect weekend stop after a hike or for an impromptu picnic. The all-vegan menu features international dishes like African Coconut Peanut Curry, a Jerk Rasta Burger, and Costa Chica Chile, plus fresh-pressed juices, salads, and raw kombucha on tap. How to order: Seating is on a first-come basis. Call 619-230-1190 or order online&nbsp;for pickup, or via <a href="https://www.ubereats.com/san-diego/food-delivery/one-world-beat-cafe/5klfY3hrT4ygHmkyxMJ2ZQ" target="_blank">UberEats</a> or other delivery apps.

One Worldbeat Cafe

Worldbeat Cultural Center

Longtime homebrewer Sean Hallman, a US Navy veteran, and his wife, Lisa Ireland, are the founders of Shadow Ridge Spirits Company, a small-batch distillery in Oceanside specializing in grain-to-glass bourbon, rye, peated single malt, and American single-malt whiskeys that feature specialty grains and malted barley, aged in charred American white oak barrels. They also offer a silver and a barrel-aged rum, and recently released a gin with hand-selected botanicals. How to order: Shop <a href="https://www.srdistilled.com/online-store" target="_blank">online</a> for pickup at the distillery or delivery within California only.

Shadow Ridge Spirits Company

Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream offers over 300 flavors of <a href="https://www.tropicaldreamskapaa.com" target="_blank">Tropical Dreams</a> super premium Hawaiian ice cream and sorbet, which is the perfect excuse to skip dinner and go straight for indulgence. Having a hard time deciding between Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut, Lilikoi (passion fruit) Sorbet, or Peanut Butter and Guava Jelly? Opt for flights of your favorites in adorable mini cake or waffle cones, to share (or not). How to order: Order in person.

Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream

<a href="https://www.thrillist.com/authors/mary-beth-abate">Mary Beth Abate</a> is a San Diego-based freelance writer by way of Chicago and Los Angeles. Her hobbies include yoga, pickling and fermenting stuff, reading cookbooks and drinking fabulous gin. Keep up with her experiments @MaryBeth_Abate.

Black History Month

Thrillist is celebrating Black History Month in February with a collection of profiles and features on Black-owned businesses, as well as guides to neighborhoods around the country curated by locals.

Thrillist Celebrates Black History Month With a Spotlight on Black-Owned Businesses

Black-owned

15 Essential Black-Owned Restaurants You Should Know in San Diego

San Diego Black-Owned Restaurants: Essential Places You Should Know

Support these spots during Black History Month and beyond.

February is Black History Month, when we remember the history of the African Diaspora, honor the achievements of Black Americans, and pursue the goal of racial justice and equity.

Rock Steady Jamaican Food

Featured In

15 Essential Black-Owned Restaurants You Should Know in San Diego

More From Thrillist

Brazil’s Laid-Back Coast Is a Beach Heaven You’ll Want to Revisit Again and Again

One travel writer makes the case for why Bahia is a repeat vacation destination.

The 9 Best Neighborhoods in Chicago to Spend a Weekend

Dive headfirst into the City by the Lake.

NYC’s Cherry Blossoms Are a Stunning Sight to Behold

From Central Park to Roosevelt Island, the best places to see cherry blossoms in NYC this spring.

Shop for the Best Vintage at These Thrift Stores in Houston

You can score some great vintage finds and throwback threads at these Houston thrift stores.

10 Exciting New Restaurant Openings in LA to Try This Week

Your new dining plans include breakfast burritos in Montebello, Moroccan brunch in Los Feliz, and more.

Philadelphia’s Cherry Blossoms Are a Stunning Sight to Behold

The best places to see cherry blossoms in Philly this spring and details on the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival 2023.

DC’s Stunning Cherry Blossoms Are a National Treasure to Behold

From the iconic Tidal Basin to hidden gems, the best places to see cherry blossoms in DC this spring.

Museum Exhibits in Boston to Check Out Before They Disappear

From the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Perfect Spring Road Trips for When You Need to Escape Denver

From cozy towns to stunning vistas, there are plenty of good reasons to take a quick break from Denver.

The Boeing 747 Might Be Gone, but It's Not Forgotten

Here's how to sleep, eat, and explore inside the Queen of the Skies.

The Best Road Trips from Las Vegas

Pack your bags and check your tires; it’s time for a road trip from Las Vegas.

The Best Retro, Revamped, and Redesigned Motels and Hotels in Los Angeles

Check into these newly updated spots for a spectacular stay.