The 11 Most Instagrammable Places in San Diego

Much of what makes California great is represented in San Diego, from the perfect climate and miles of coastline to the Mexican influence reflected in food and architecture. San Diego is brimming with creative energy, and since it also sports a laid-back vibe and gorgeous scenery, you don’t have to look far to find amazing photo ops. Our list of the 11 most Instagrammable places in San Diego features not only some of the classic public must-‘gram spots around the city but also a selection of spaces custom-built for maximum beauty.

Most of these spaces are available for you to book today on Peerspace. If you’re new to Peerspace, it’s the largest online marketplace for event spaces by the hour. And yes, that includes many, many Instagram-worthy spots in San Diego and beyond! You’ve got to be in-the-know to be aware of these places, so if you want to take your Instagram game to the next level, check ‘em out.

1. This tropical casa in Sunset Cliffs

Located in sleepy Sunset Cliffs, this enchanted house does full-time duty as a photoshoot and event space. As such, the owners have curated every object, piece of décor, and lush houseplant to be photogenic. Here, the lines between outdoors and indoors are blurred, giving every room a sense of flow and energy. Of course, it’s all draped in natural light, and just down the road, you can catch a snap of an epic sunset from a beachside cliff.

One of the best things about booking a venue on Peerspace is that you get to read genuine reviews from past renters. And this house has tons of five-star ratings! Like this one: “It was such a smooth & easy experience at the Tropical Casa! We were informed with parking and house details before the day of our shoot. Plenty of parking. We were greeted & given a full tour of the space upon arrival. The space was even more beautiful than the photos on the space listing. Tons of space & different backdrops throughout the whole place. I’d recommend Michelle’s space to anyone looking for a beautiful & unique space!”

2. Barrio Logan Mission Church

If you like your pictures to have a little extra vintage grit, look no further than the neighborhood of Barrio Logan and this converted historic church. Now a mixed-use space, the venue has both indoor and outdoor areas. The aesthetic features a combination of color, patterns, and the kind of aging wood that makes a great Instagram backdrop. This is the sort of place that pops off of the screen. As a bonus, it’s also conveniently located just minutes from downtown and adjacent to the bridge to Coronado.

In the words of one Peerspace reviewer: “Wonderful host. Easy to communicate with and very accommodating. Interesting backdrops, colors, and textures. Freely allowed to move furnishings and plants around. Can experiment with props. Very friendly environment. A pleasure!”

3. This backyard tropical oasis

One of the best things about San Diego is the convenient access to so many different landscapes. You’ve got historic, mission-style architecture; thriving urban neighborhoods; breathtaking beach views; and desolate desert landscapes all at your fingertips simultaneously. If you’re looking for some poolside shots, head over to this custom-built tropical oasis in Escondido. Post up under one of its miniature waterfalls and let your hair down. Or sip a rum drink in a pool chair beneath a palm tree. Better yet: take some action shots while heading down the awesome waterslide.

4. Potato Chip Rock

People hike for hours just to ‘Gram a shot of their buddies standing on Potato Chip Rock, a thin stone outcropping near the top of 2,881-foot Mount Woodson. One of the more popular poses is to jump while standing on the edge of it, which appears much more treacherous than it actually is. By and large, photographs at Potato Chip Rock are about playing with perspective; it’s all pretty safe. The site is along an 8-mile trail hike, and that path features beautiful overlooks of Lake Poway and some impressive boulders along the trail, offering plenty of additional Instagram opportunities. Hikers, this day trip’s for you. 

5. This picturesque rural villa

This lovely villa is a bit off of the beaten path, and with its seclusion comes some perks. For example, there’s a winery vineyard just outside its walls, a great place to take some shots among the grapes. And, of course, the building itself is a knockout, providing ample opportunities for serious ‘Grammin — poolside, catching a sunset from the balcony, or posing at the vintage wrought-iron gates.

6. This bright, modern beach house at Solana Beach 

If you’re into the charming mix of boho and mid-century modern aesthetics, this might be the spot for you. This contemporary residence leverages stylish furniture and minimalist walls for a clean, design-forward look that lends itself to classy, timeless shots. But the complex this home is in also has direct beach access; merely a stone’s throw from the front door, you can capture the perfect Golden Hour selfie while waves crash in the background.  

7. This indoor/outdoor art gallery in Logan Heights

Art galleries are always among any city’s best Instagram spots. After all, they’re buildings primarily designed to attractively present art and intriguing objects. That also means they’re full of beautiful photo ops, ready for the making. This gallery is perfectly lit with both natural light and pendant lighting. Plus, it contains murals, striking sculptures, and quirky furniture, the perfect backdrops for your own portraits. 

8. Scripps Pier at La Jolla Beach

Scripps Pier is one of the most recognizable visual icons of San Diego, and you’ve probably seen shots of Scripps Pier before, even if you didn’t recognize them. The pier’s located at La Jolla Beach, which has plenty of other Instagrammable locales as well, but the pier shot is the shot. While many Instagrammers capture great photos of the length of the pier, we’re partial to this ground-level angle beneath the pier. The wooden slats seem to extend forever, and the white foam of the waves provides a stark contrast against the crisp blue of the water. 

9. This East Village lifestyle loft

This sun-drenched downtown San Diego loft was designed with lifestyle photography in mind. Everything’s set up to catch the ample natural light, and the setup is perfect for staging whatever scene you need: there’s plenty of open space, but with small pockets of furniture, making it easy to mix and match elements. It’s even got some free-standing wall sections on wheels to roll around for different backdrops. 

One of many happy Peerspace reviewers shared their experience here as the following: “This is the most PERFECT space to use for everything you need. We used Kirk’s space for taking professional photos for our company – needing personal/lifestyle branding shots for our website and social media. It was perfect – and had everything we needed. In one afternoon we were able to take a variety of scenes and hundreds of images for GREAT content. And Kirk is the most incredible host to work with – super fast to reply and very friendly.”

10. This oceanfront luxury villa

We’d be remiss if we didn’t throw another oceanfront space into the mix. This one is a spacious, elegantly decorated waterfront villa. A professional decorator has worked their magic here, and it shows — the furnishings and art have a clean modern-art feel. However, all of this pales in comparison to the breaking waves just outside the back door, perfect for a beachside shot.

In the words of a location manager who booked this beach house: “Sylvia was more than accommodating. She handled every detail with a plus to make our filming a total success. She gave perfect instructions on the use of the house and even helped with parking. (Plus) she was always there and answered all my questions within minutes. I’d give Sylvia 10 stars. Thank you very much Sylvia.”

11. This backdrop-filled indoor studio

This production space is basically an Instagram factory. They provide an arsenal of professional lighting equipment, as well as dozens of backdrops and a cool mix of furniture. You could spend all day here, mixing and matching to create hundreds of perfectly lit interior shots — enough to fill up an Instagram feed for months.

According to one photographer who booked the studio on Peerspace: “Wonderful space! Space was kept clean. Use of Bluetooth speaker is a nice extra. Owner was very polite and very helpful. Various props and backdrops to choose from. Definitely will book again”

The most instagrammable places in San Diego are on Peerspace!

Go on and take every picture you can of San Diego’s historical landmarks and beautiful public spaces. San Diego’s best Instagram spots are often hidden away within the walls of its plentiful studios and hip houses. The 11 most Instagrammable places in San Diego are where you as a photographer can feel the happiest and most creative. Instagram was made to capture and share those moments.

But Peerspace also exists to help create those moments, and we’re always on the lookout for beautiful places to share with the world. Perfect moments — whether you’re taking pictures of them or not — don’t just happen to you: they’re made. Let’s get busy. 

Find production spaces in San Diego on Peerspace