The Best San Diego Surf Shops

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Best Surf Shops in San Diego

Bird's Surf Shed, one of San Diego's best surf shops

Looking for surf gear? These are the best surf shops in San Diego for those looking for some wave riding action.

Whether you are a tourist, local, or new transplant, chances are that at some point you will find yourself asking “Where can I buy a surfboard in San Diego?” It might be the great surf breaks, the warm water, or the draw of the city itself, but whatever it is, San Diego has become one of the West Coast’s preeminent surf meccas. San Diego surfboard companies have sprung up everywhere and the number of surfboard shops in San Diego has exploded as well.

The Best Surf Shops in San Diego

It is this very popularity that makes it all but impossible to navigate the hundreds of surf shops in San Diego, so if you are wondering “where can I find some surf shops near me?” you are not alone. Lucky for you, we have compiled a list of the best surf shops in San Diego. Below you can search for shops that meet your needs and are in your neighborhood.

Mitch’s

Mitch’s Surf Shop has just about anything you could possibly need to have a great time on the beach. Their expertise extends well beyond just surfboards in San Diego. The La Jolla surf shop even has paddle boarding and spearfishing gear. Both locations offer rentals too, so if you just want to try something out or if you are just in town for a few days, they have you covered. Finally, Mitch’s has a great selection of blanks and resin-shaping supplies for all you San Diego surfboard shapers out there.

  • La Jolla: 631 Pearl St., La Jolla, CA 92037.
  • Phone: (858) 459-5933
  • Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., closes at 5 p.m. on Sundays

  • Solana Beach: 363 North Highway 101, Solana Beach, CA 92075.
  • Phone: (858) 481-1354
  • Hours: Solana Beach 10:15 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., closed on Sundays

Bird’s Surf Shed

Bird’s likes to say that it is “way more than a surf shop. It’s a San Diego surf destination.” And, in this case, that is not just hyperbole. Bird’s has been around for decades and is a cornerstone of San Diego surf culture. They even have surf film premiers and hands-on board shaping clinics from the best in the business. The store is covered with surfboards – from floor to ceiling… literally! They have boards all the way up the walls and all over the ceiling.

  • Bay Park: 1091 W. Morena Blvd., San Diego, CA 92110.
  • Phone: (619) 276-2473
  • Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., closes at 5:00 p.m. on Sundays

PB Surf Shop

Pacific Beach Surf Shop is not quite like the other surf shops in San Diego. Yes, they have boards, wetsuits, and everything you would find at any other shop out there, but they also run one of the most affordable surf schools in the San Diego area. The shop (and school) are well-established, to say the least: they have been open since 1962 and show no sign of closing any time soon.

  • Pacific Beach: 4208 Oliver Ct. San Diego, CA 92109
  • Phone: (858) 373-1138
  • Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. all week long

Clairemont Surf Shop

Clairemont Surf Shop is definitely not a newcomer to the San Diego surfing scene. This family-owned and operated shop has been helping people enjoy San Diego’s breaks since 1976. If you need something, they will probably have it. No matter what their shelves look like when you visit, the one thing that they are 100% certain to have is expertise.

  • Clairemont: 6393 Balboa Ave. San Diego, CA 92111
  • Phone: (858) 292-1153
  • Hours: Mon-Fri: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Weekends: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Mission Surf

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Here is a surf shop that really thinks outside of the box. Other surf shops can offer you what you need to surf, but Mission Surf can also help you be where you need to surf. The shop rents two Airbnb apartments out directly over the store. You can roll out of bed, get everything you need for the day downstairs, and be out the door and on the beach faster than you could say “surf store San Diego.” From there you can choose to surf right on Mission Beach or head up a few minutes north to Tourmaline Beach. You really can’t go wrong.

  • Mission Beach: 4320 Mission Blvd., San Diego, CA 92109
  • Phone: (858) 292-1153
  • Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. all week long

Solana Surfboards

This surf shop is a bit of an outlier insofar as it is an online surf shop. All the same, Solana is local and makes extremely high-quality custom hand-built surfboards. If you want the best and are willing to pay for what you get, this might be the place for you.

  • Torrey Hills: 11211 Sorrento Valley Rd Ste. H San Diego, CA
  • Phone: (858) 876-2120
  • Hours: Online sales only, so no hours listed

South Coast Surf Shop

This shop has a strong local history and dates back to 1974. Its local charm and its business success have led to it opening four sister stores scattered across San Diego. They have a great online store and are very well-stocked.

  • Ocean Beach: 5023 Newport Avenue Ocean Beach, CA 92107 
  • Phone: (619) 223-7017
  • Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. all week long

  • Pacific Beach: 740 Felspar St., San Diego, CA 92109
  • Phone: (858) 483-7660
  • Hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. all week long

Sun Diego Boardshop

These guys have way more than just surfboards; actually, if you can think of anything that ends in the word “board,” they probably have it: surfboards, skateboards, paddleboards, and even snowboards! They have three locations, so be sure to pick the one closest to you.

  • Belmont Park | Mission Beach: 3126 Mission Blvd. Suite A, San Diego, 92109
  • Phone: (858) 866-0108
  • Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. all week long

  • Fashion Valley: 7007 Friars Rd #844 San Diego, CA 92108
  • Phone: (619) 268-2295
  • Mon-Thurs: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Fri-Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sun: 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

  • Westfield UTC 4465 La Jolla Village Drive Suite #H-14, San Diego, 92122
  • Phone: (858) 646-0632
  • Mon-Thurs: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Fri-Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sun: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Rip Curl Surf Center

Rip Curl is one of the most recognizable names in surfing and has tons of stores and outlets around San Diego, but the best is the surf center in Pacific Beach. If it has anything to do with surfing, chances are that Rip Curl will have it. They also have an extensive line of clothing for all ages and genders.

  • Pacific Beach: 4287 Mission Blvd. #A CA Pacific Beach, 92109
  • Phone: (858) 273-8070
  • Everyday Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. all week long

Surf Diva Surf School

This school is run by the experienced surfers (and twin sisters) Izzy and Coco Tihanyi. They have won a bevy of awards for their work, and have done a great deal to introduce women and girls to surfing over the years. Regardless of your gender, however, if you are looking for surf lessons in La Jolla, this is your place. The school doubles as a surf boutique that is filled with surf-related knick-knacks, and you are sure to find something that strikes your fancy inside. If you are interested in La Jolla surfing, this is the spot for you.

  • La Jolla: 2160 Avenida de la Playa, San Diego, CA 92037
  • Phone: (858) 454-8273
  • Hours: Mon-Thu: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Fri-Sun: 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Cheap Rentals

If you are looking to rent any kind of surf-related gear, this is the place to go if you want to save a few bucks. Don’t let the name fool you though; even though it says “cheap,” the store gives off a classy and fun vibe and the things they rent out are all in good shape.

  • Mission Beach: 3689 Mission Blvd., San Diego, California 92109
  • Phone: (858) 488-9070
  • Hours: Mon-Sun: 10:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m.

Surf Ride

The two locations for this shop are both in the Solana Beach/Oceanside area, so if you live a bit north of downtown San Diego, this could be the place for you. In addition to stocking all of the latest accessories, boards, and brands, they also run a popular surf camp.

  • Oceanside: 1909 South Coast Highway Oceanside, CA 92054
  • Phone: (760) 433-4020
  • Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. all week long

  • Solana Beach: 325 North Highway 101 Solana Beach, CA 92075
  • Phone (858) 755-0858
  • Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. all week long

Emerald City

They call themselves the premier surf shop of Coronado for a very good reason: they are. Named after Coronado’s evergreen barrels, the shop opened in 1988 and has been going strong ever since. They have everything you could ever want to buy, as well as a large selection of rentals if you are just in town for a few days. If you are looking to buy, however, they have a price matching guarantee that can save you the trouble of having to shop at all the surf shops in San Diego to find a great deal.

  • Coronado Island: 1118 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118
  • Phone: (619) 435-6677
  • Hours: Mon—Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Sun: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Atacama Surf Shop

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The shop chose the name Atacama after the driest place on the planet earth: the Atacama Desert. The people who have lived in and around the desert have had to use ingenuity and creativity to eke out an existence in that hostile terrain, and the store holds these same values. They pride themselves on constantly innovating. Their central location allows them to partner with all kinds of local San Diego businesses, and the result is that they always have something new and exciting going on.

  • Harborview: 2165 India St, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Phone: (619) 795-6178
  • Hours: Mon-Fri: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Weekends: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

One of the great perks of living in San Diego is access to some of the best surfing beaches you can find. Luckily, surf shops in San Diego can be found in nearly every neighborhood and can cater to all levels of surfer. If you are just starting out, then you might want to gravitate towards one of the shops that offer surf lessons and rentals. If you are an experienced surfer, then head on over to an old-school surf shop where you can hang out and learn about new breaks from other surfers. Whatever your skill or interest level, if it has to do with surfing the surf shops in San Diego have got you covered.

About the banner photo: This IG photo of Bird’s Surf Shed is courtesy of @lightspeed_outdoors

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