Encinitas is a laid-back coastal town in North County San Diego, with sandy beaches, blooming gardens, excellent restaurants, and a relaxed pace that suits couples who want time to reconnect. A weekend here combines ocean views, good food and wine, and quiet moments together. This itinerary takes you from Friday arrival to a Sunday spa day, with a cozy bed and breakfast as your home base.
Key Takeaways
- The Kate Stanton Inn, an intimate, adult-oriented bed and breakfast, is a peaceful base for a couples’ getaway.
- Encinitas is accessible via car or public transportation.
- Encinitas offers lots of activity choices from sunny beach time to blooming gardens and wine country to relaxing spa time.
- Romantic restaurants are plentiful in the area including Chart House and Pacific Coast Grill.
Friday: Arrive, Unwind, and Settle In
Getting There
Your weekend begins with the trip to Encinitas. If you’re driving, the Kate Stanton Inn provides free parking for guests. You don’t need a car to enjoy your getaway, though. Encinitas is easy to reach by public transportation, and the inn has a helpful guide to getting there without a car. Leaving the car at home also means one less thing to think about once you arrive.
Why the Kate Stanton Inn Is Perfect for Couples
The Kate Stanton Inn is an intimate, adult-oriented bed and breakfast for guests who want a peaceful, sophisticated atmosphere. With just three guest rooms, it feels more like a private retreat than a hotel. If you arrive in time, join the informal sundowner of wine and light bites with the other guests. Because the inn is so small, afternoon wine time is a pleasantly small gathering, a relaxed way to ease into the weekend.
Friday Dinner at Chart House
For your first evening, Encinitas has many excellent restaurants to choose from. One strong choice is Chart House in nearby Cardiff, known for some of the best steak and seafood in the area. If your visit lines up with one of its multi-course wine dinners, make that your first choice. These special dinners are memorable enough that you could plan an entire getaway around one.
A Cozy Night In or Live Music Out
After dinner, return to your room, where a fireplace sets the scene for a quiet evening before Saturday’s adventures. If you aren’t ready to call it a night, head to Mr. Peabody’s or Le Papagayo where you can find live music nearly every Thursday through Saturday evening.
Saturday: Sun, Gardens, Lobster, and Wine
Breakfast at the Inn
Start your first full day with breakfast at the Kate Stanton Inn. Guests often mention the quality and variety of the morning meals, so take your time and enjoy it before heading out.
Morning Option One: Moonlight State Beach
Saturday morning offers two lovely options, and both are great for taking photos together. For a classic Southern California morning, grab a beach blanket and a couple of beach chairs provided for guests by the Inn and spend a few hours watching the waves at Moonlight State Beach. The beach is wide and sandy and popular for swimming, surfing, and fishing. Whether you dip your toes in the Pacific or just relax side by side, it’s an easy way to slow down.
Morning Option Two: San Diego Botanic Garden
If beach time isn’t your thing, visit the San Diego Botanic Garden. This 37-acre urban oasis has four miles of winding trails and ocean views across 29 themed gardens. Because this is Southern California, something is always in bloom. Walking the paths hand in hand is one of the most romantic ways to spend a morning in Encinitas.
Lunch at Lobster West
By midday you’ll be hungry, so head to Lobster West, widely considered the best place on the West Coast for an authentic Maine lobster roll. If you spent the morning at Moonlight State Beach, the restaurant is only half a mile away, close enough for a short walk.
Afternoon Wine Tasting at Carruth Cellars
Spend the afternoon tasting wine together, and consider picking up a bottle or two to open at home as you remember the trip. Carruth Cellars offers an urban winery experience with tasting rooms in four locations. The two closest are each about 15 minutes away, in Solana Beach to the south and Carlsbad to the north. Reservations are neither required nor accepted, so you can stop by whenever it suits your schedule.
For More Time: Temecula Wine Country
If you’d like a longer wine outing, Temecula Wine Country is about an hour north of Encinitas. Many visitors make it a full day trip, but you can easily visit a winery or two in an afternoon. With nearly 50 wineries producing award-winning wines, you’ll have plenty to choose from.
Sunset Dinner at Pacific Coast Grill
Cap off your Saturday with dinner at Pacific Coast Grill. The restaurant’s sunset views add plenty of romance to the meal, making it a fitting setting for the highlight of your weekend. Reservations are recommended, so book ahead to make sure you get a table.
Sunday: A Relaxing Spa Day for Two
One Last Breakfast
Enjoy another breakfast at the Kate Stanton Inn before easing into the final day of your getaway. After a full Saturday, Sunday is about relaxing together.
Couples’ Treatments at Four Moons Spa
Four Moons Spa offers several options for couples. Book a Duet Side by Side Massage in the Amethyst Couples Suite and leave feeling calm, connected, and restored. You can also try the Soak and Sauna Ritual for Two, in which you alternate between an outdoor mineral soaking tub and an infrared sauna. Either choice is a peaceful end to the weekend and sends you home refreshed.
Plan Your Romantic Encinitas Getaway
From a fireside room at an intimate bed and breakfast to beach mornings, garden walks, wine tastings, and sunset dinners, Encinitas has everything a couple needs for a memorable weekend. Use this itinerary as a starting point and adjust it to your interests, whether that means more time on the sand or a longer drive through wine country. Then book your stay at the Kate Stanton Inn and start planning your escape.
