"The nation’s oldest continuously family-owned and -operated bookstore is Warwick’s in La Jolla. That’s thanks to one William T. Warwick, who entered the book business in 1896 in Iowa. Life soon led him to this dreamy stretch of the Pacific coast, where he bought an existing bookstore, then married the widowed former owner, Genevieve Redding. The business—now run by their great-granddaughters—has become not just a local institution, but also a must-stop on any prominent national book tour. So check Warwick’s events listings whenever you’re in town, because chances are, so is an actor, politician, or celebrity chef who’ll be reading from a newly released book. And even on event-free days, a trip to this sprawling store is bibliophile heaven, with passionate staff recommendations for every genre. The San Diego–themed section is particularly good, with helpful hiking guides, gorgeous photography collections, and fascinating lessons on locals. (Leaf through Remarkable Women of San Diego: Pioneers, Visionaries and Innovators by Hannah Cohen and Gloria Harris.) On the second Tuesday morning each month, the shop hosts “coffee with a bookseller,” a free event where customers can talk books new and old over breakfast."

"At this colorful corner store in North Park, Mexican handicrafts reign supreme. Pick up such gifts as hand-embroidered pillows and table runners, hand-painted wooden stools, glassware, and rainbow huaraches. This wholly original store is the brainchild of Elexia de la Parra, who grew up in Tijuana, studied culinary arts in San Diego, and then globetrotted a bit before turning her passions into a business. Her goal was to create a shop that both celebrated Mexico’s vibrant artisanal culture and supported its makers—a percentage of each sale is donated to an organization that provides no-interest loans to female entrepreneurs in Oaxaca. When de la Parra’s not at the shop, she’s leading trips to Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende for lovers of market tours, cooking classes, and artisans’ studios. Dubbed Eat Drink Cook Mexico, the forays double as treasure hunts for her shop. Pro tip: Before you visit, check Artelexia’s events calendar for evening crafting workshops."

"Model, surfer, and designer Kahana Kalama co-owns this highly curated surf boutique in North Park, where he sells beach towels, surf gear, and some clothing. Many items are made in the United States, like Miansai leather bracelets and poppy-red Algae trunks fromMiami, and Kalama’s menswear collection is produced entirely in his home state of Hawaii. Ranging from aloha shirts to walk shorts, his pieces bring edgy prints and tailoring to traditional Hawaiian apparel."

"Gold Leaf cofounder Sonya Kemp worked at design collective SoLo in Solana Beach before fulfilling her lifelong dream of opening her own boutique. Now, she stocks her store with everything from kitchen utensils to kids’ toys, drawing inspiration from Zakka (a Japanese and Scandinavian movement that elevates everyday items). Shop for handblown glass lamps from France, midcentury modern furniture from Tijuana, and vintage clutches and jewelry. Then head next door to the Rose, the boutique’s neighbor here in the Historical 30th & Fern commercial center, for a glass of wine."

"Moniker General Located in Point Loma’s Liberty Station, this multi-concept boutique is as much a place to hang as it is to shop. There’s a café serving locally roasted coffee and artisanal toasts, as well as a 1950s-style cocktail bar with frosé and a variety of local beers. Still, it would be a shame not to peruse the retail space, which stocks everything from bar carts and Linus bikes to Steven Alan sunglasses and DRA women’s clothing. Featuring enormous windows and a clay-tile ceiling from the 1930s, the 4,200-square-foot boutique is made even more stylish by custom furnishings from its sister company, Moniker Made."

"Located in a renovated warehouse, this artsy gift shop is a dream for lovers of succulents and other cacti. In addition to pale-green air plants and coral-colored water bottles that match San Diego’s dusty color palette, merchandise runs the gamut from outdoor furnishings and locally designed children’s clothing to jewelry, cookbooks, and creative greeting cards. The boutique’s most popular attraction, however, may be the build-your-own terrarium or planter station, where staff members can help you select sand, pebbles, stones, greenery, and a container from which to fashion your own microcosm. Pigment has also opened locations in Liberty Station and Del Mar."

"In Solana Beach’s Cedros Avenue Design District eight women—all with a keen eye for design—make up this collective in a converted warehouse. Each vendor is unique. Ruby Lang sells antiques and oddities; Christie Napier sells children’s toys and gifts; and Carole Carden, the collective’s founder, stocks books and stationery. Fans include architects, designers, and visitors looking for a unique trinket to take home. Among the unusual items you can expect to find include Japanese furnishings, vintage perfume bottles, and handmade jewelry made with silver from Taxco, Mexico . (The other businesses along Cedros Avenue are worth exploring, too: furniture stores, art galleries, and restaurants.)"