11 Best Places to Shop in Coronado, San Diego

At the gift shops within the peninsula's main historic attraction, you can purchase sportswear, designer handbags, jewelry, and antiques. Spreckels Sweets & Treats offers old-time candies, freshly made fudge, and decadent truffles. Monroe has designer fashions and accessories, inspired by its Hollywood namesake, while Brady's for Men, with its shirts and sport coats, caters to well-dressed men. S.R.F. is the spot to hit up for outdoor and action sports accessories. En Route is a haven for travelers, offering a selection of top-quality luggage and leather goods.

Customize your correspondence with products from Seaside Papery, including high-end wedding invitations, greeting cards, luxury personal stationery, and wrapping papers.

This independent bookstore is the spot to sit, read, and sip coffee on an overcast day by the sea. Great for international travelers, there's a large selection of foreign-language magazines and newspapers, and for youngsters, there's a section in the back devoted to children's books and games. Because of its close proximity to the Navy bases on Coronado, the shop has a large stock of books dedicated to military history. Bay Books also has regular book-signing events; it has hosted a wide array of authors, from Newt Gingrich to Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. While you're there, grab an espresso or a pastry from the sidewalk-facing Buona Forchetta café within the bookstore.

A staggering view of San Diego's Downtown skyline across the bay and a dozen boutiques make this a delightful place to shop while waiting for a ferry. La Camisa ( 619/319--5826) is a fun place to pick up kitschy souvenirs, T-shirts, fleece jackets, and postcards. Lisa's Boutique ( 619/550--7366) specializes in comfy women's shoes and affordable casual wear. Vom Fass ( 619/534--5034) is a shop and tasting room full of olive oils, vinegars, spices, and other foodie essentials. There's a farmers' market every Tuesday 2:30–6, and some restaurants offer a daily late-afternoon happy hour.

The walls are lined, front to back, with countless flavors of olive oils and balsamic vinegars, from more standard fare to creative infusions. Some of the varied choices include lemon and lime, chilies, currants, garlic, harissa (hot chili pepper paste), chipotle, and herbes de Provence, all of which are available to sample with bread inside the shop.

Stepping into D Forsythe is like taking a quick spin around the world. The one-of-a-kind jewelry sold here features sapphires, emeralds, moonstones, and baroque pearls from such faraway places as Denmark, Cambodia, Turkey, Bali, India, England, and Thailand.

For more than 30 years, Emerald City has provided Orange Avenue shoppers with a broad selection of swimwear, clothing, sunglasses, and hats from beachy brands like Billabong, Roxy, Vans, and O'Neill. The shop also offers surfboard, bodyboard, and swim fin rentals.

A sleek new boutique on Orange Avenue, Française offers a selection of housewares in a modern industrial motif with a touch of class imported from France itself. The shop is stocked with attractive items for every room in the house, including cookware and serving utensils, posters and stationery, and even a variety of kids' toys. Before departing, make sure to peruse the backroom, which is stocked with edible treats like honey, hot sauce, chocolate bars, and floral salts.

Affordable handmade jewelry and American-made home accessories like tea towels, candles, and glassware fill the shelves at this whimsical boutique and design studio in Ocean Beach. NOON also stocks fresh-smelling soaps, lotions, and perfumes, as well as letterpress greeting cards.

Presenting a more chic, yet still casual alternative to the beach attire available throughout the island, Wild Dove offers a selection of fashion-forward apparel appropriate for both work and play.

Part store and part wine bar, the popular Wine A Bit carries hundreds of boutique wines, along with craft beers, appetizers, and decadent desserts. Cigars, gifts, and wine-related accessories are also for sale.