Have you heard of Vista, CA? San Diego County, located in Southern California, is well-known for its sprawling coastline, ocean views, and diverse communities. San Diego County has a number of cities within it, including Vista, California.

Where is Vista, CA? What County is Vista CA in?

The quick answer is that Vista, California is located in San Diego County, specifically Northern San Diego County. It is in Southern California.

Buena Vista Park

The city of Vista has natural beauty, a thriving arts scene, and a rich history. Vista offers visitors and residents alike a unique and charming experience. 

Vista is situated in San Diego County, approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of downtown San Diego.

Is Vista a town or City?

Vista is a city.

Vista, CA County

Where is Vista, CA exactly? Vista is bordered by the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, and San Marcos, providing a central position for exploring the northern part of the San Diego County region. If you're hungry near Carlsbad, check out Windmill Food Hall. The city is conveniently located near major highways and the Coaster commuter rail system, so it's accessible for both locals and tourists. Explore the Downtown area and Vista Village lined with boutiques, cafes, and other shops.  

Is Vista CA a Nice Place to Live?

Ultimately this is up to you, what you value, and what you consider "nice." Plenty of people do live here and plenty of them love it.

Vista Zip Codes

• 92081 
• 92083 
• 92084
• 92085

Weather

Like the rest of San Diego County, Vista has some pretty great weather and temperatures. Vista is a bit closer to the coast and the Pacific Ocean than if you go inland to places like Escondido. In Escondido and Temecula, you'll notice it can get much hotter. 

Parks and Gardens

Vista, California has plenty of nature views and parks to explore. Situated in the northern part of San Diego County, Vista has a prime location that offers both tranquility and easy access to nearby attractions. The city is home to an abundance of parks, open spaces, and outdoor activities. Vista is blessed with picturesque landscapes and a pleasant climate that attracts nature enthusiasts from far and wide. 

Some popular parks and gardens include:

• Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive - Alta Vista Botanical Gardens is located within Brengle Terrace Park.
• Buena Vista Park, 1601 Shadowridge Drive  - Great for hiking trails and diverse wildlife.
• Shadowridge Park, 2101 Lupine Hills Drive

Arts and Culture

Downtown Vista has a bunch of shops, eateries, and art in a concentrated area. There are theatres, art, murals, and sculptures. The Moonlight Amphitheatre (located in Brengle Terrace Park at the address: 1250 Vale Terrace Dr, Vista, California 92084) hosts quality productions under the stars, providing an unforgettable evening of entertainment. Check the Moonlight Amphitheatre website for the latest productions and shows. There's also AVO Playhouse.

Historical Significance and Museums

Steeped in history, Vista offers glimpses into the past through its historical landmarks and museums. The Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, a National Historic Landmark, is a must-visit site. Learn more about the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. (Address: 640 Alta Vista Drive, Vista, California). This beautifully preserved adobe structure provides insight into the city's early Californian history and offers guided tours for visitors. 

The Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum showcases vintage machinery and artifacts, offering a unique perspective on the region's agricultural and industrial history. Visit the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum website for more details on exhibits.

Community Events and Festivals

Vista has a strong sense of community, which you can find in its lively calendar of events and festivals throughout the year. The annual Vista Strawberry Festival celebrates the city's agricultural roots and offers a fun-filled day of live entertainment, food, and activities for the whole family.

The Vista food scene offers a range of options! The Vista Farmer's Market has grown exponentially over the years and provides a buzzing spot for food, vendors, and live music. 

Check out the Vegan Food Popup which alternates between Vista and Encinitas. For beer lovers, you might want to grab a craft beer at one of the many Vista Breweries: Craft Beer in North County San Diego. Learn more here.

The Wave Waterpark used to be a must-visit with kids and during summer but the Wave Waterpark has since closed.

There is also the Vista Unified School District, Vista Fire Department, Vista Irrigation District,  Vista Rod Run, public schools, breathtaking views, and more.

Census Data About Vista

According to data from the United States Census Bureau, the Vista population lies around 97,766, as of July 1, 2022.

People and Diversity

• White alone, percent 65.4% 
• Hispanic or Latino 50.2%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino 7.3%
• Asian alone 4.9%
• Black or African American alone 3.1% 
• American Indian and Alaska Native alone 1.0% 
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 0.9% 
• Two or More Races 17.2% 

Income and Poverty Median 

Where is Vista? What County is Vista in? Vista in Northern San Diego County, is a destination worth exploring for its natural beauty, thriving arts scene, rich history, and vibrant community. Nearby cities include Escondido, Encinitas, Oceanside, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Valley Center, Fallbrook, and Rancho Santa Fe. People often visit for shopping, business opportunities, work, schools, and family life. San Marcos has a downtown hub at North City San Marcos, CA with restaurants, Block C Apartments, parking, farmers market, and more. Learn more about it here.

Whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, an art lover, or a history buff, Vista offers something for everyone. So, the next time you plan a trip to San Diego County, be sure to venture north and experience the charm and allure of Vista. It's a place that will captivate your senses and leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

San Diego is well known for its sunshine & the sheer amount of breweries that freckle the county. North County San Diego has its fair share of breweries too, from Oceanside to Carlsbad to Escondido. But I know why you're here, you want to know about breweries in Vista, CA. 

* This list is updated as of May 2023. Enjoy Vista beer country!

San Diego is not only one of the craft beer capitals of California, but one of the top ones in the country. There are so many local breweries & brewers that you can support. Due to Coronavirus, many of these breweries have outdoor patio, socially distanced options. Make a trip to San Diego, California, where the brewers are passionate about their craft & find yourself endless craft beer to sip on. There are plenty of unique things to do in North County San Diego, California. Depending on the craft brewery and what's available, you might also be able to buy delicious beer by the bottle or beer cans to go.

There are quite a few Vista breweries to check out. Due to the long journey of COVID, the breweries now usually include food or some sort of food credit or ticket. Many are opened back up for events and other good times. Some breweries are still in production whereas some have not made it through & others are new! Come on down, there is a decent number of things to do in Vista and of course loads of beers to try! 

Related reading: Coffee Shops in Carlsbad, California

Breweries in Vista, CA

If you're in search of the most rated breweries in the city of Vista, California, Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern & Grill, Prohibition Brewing, Mother Earth Brewing Company, Belching Beaver Pub 980 have the most online reviews. These are the best local breweries in Vista! If a brewery has them, try to buy a gift card to give to friends, coworkers, or family, or just to use later for yourself! It's a great way to support local Vista breweries!

Related reading: Things to Do in Oceanside, California: Restaurants, Coffee Shops, What to See

Aztec Brewing Company

Aztec Brewing Company specializes in California style beers & good, local music. You could always count on them to have some groovy local bands or singers, although that has been postponed until further notice due to COVID. Some of their beers on tap consists of El Dorado (Aztec Blonde), Aztec Coffee Blonde (El Dorado Blonde with Mayan Blend Coffee), Macaroon (Nut Brown Ale with Coconut & Vanilla), Aztec Amber (Gold Ribbon Winner in 2014 & 2012), & Simrillo IPA (San Diego Style IPA). You can even get some cans to go.

Address: 2330 La Mirada Dr #300, Vista, CA 92081 United States

Website: Aztec Brewing

Phone: (800) 706-6324

BattleMage Brewing Company

Geeks rejoice, BattleMage is your cozy fortress. Some of their beers include the Divine Light w/ Cherry Light Ale 4.8% ABV, The Beer is Dark and Full of Terrors Milk Stout w/ toasted Cacao Nibs and Coffee 6.3% ABV, Hooded Assassin English Old Ale 10% ABV, Summon Ifrit American Amber Ale 6.1%, Shroud of Mist Hazy IPA 6.9%, Hopdouken West Coast IPA 7.7%. My personal favorite is Hopdouken! They recently updated their outdoor space with benches & heaters as well as a food vendor. Friendly team members, brewers, & service, great craft beer, good times. View the BattleMage website for a full brew list.

Address: 2870 Scott Street #102, Vista, CA 92081 United States

Website: BattleMage Brewing Company

Phone: (760) 216-6425

Beach Grease Beer Company * temporarily closed due to COVID

They may be temporarily closed but you can still shop online to support local. When open, peruse the hotrods as you sip on a West Coast style craft beer. Back when they were brand new, I went there with a couple friends & one of the beertender team members showed us around. Check out the Beach Grease Beer Company shop.

Address: 1280 Activity Dr, Vista, CA 92081 

Website: Beach Grease Beer Company

Phone: (760) 295-7984

Related reading: Encinitas Coffee Shops: Searching for the Best Coffee in Town

Bear Roots Brewing Co. 

There are a couple of Bear Roots Brewing Co. locations, one of which is in downtown Vista, California. Some of the beers on tap are Kolsch 45 Kölsch, Secret Garden American Pale Ale, Blitz Bar German Pilsner, American IPAs, & more. They also offer hard seltzer options such as Mango Apricot Seltzer or Pineapple Strawberry Seltzer. Bear Roots has inside/outside seating, pick up & delivery service through their website. They're dog friendly. The downtown location has an indoor area is woodsy & green with a welcoming feel. Their best seller is the Pineappless Express IPA. Wanna know a fun fact they told me? "We started off as a HomeBrew shop, and transformed into a local craft brewery. We still offer HomeBrew supplies."

Phone: (760) 726-4204

Bear Roots Brewing Downtown 

Address: 135 E Broadway, Vista, CA 92084 

Website: Bear Roots Brewing

Phone: (760) 726-4204

Belching Beaver Pub 980 Vista Breweries!

Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern and Grill

Belching Beaver is another one of the highest-rated breweries in Vista since they've been around since 2012.  They offer multiple locations with quality beers. The Brewery Tavern and Grill has an outdoor space with firepits & now with COVID there's a full-on outdoor area in the parking lot. Belching Beaver Pub 980 also has a popping outdoor area. Drinks encompass IPAs, Hazers Gonna Haze, Buenos Tiempos Mexican Lager, Blackberry/Raspberry Hard Seltzer, & more.

Address: 302 E Broadway, Vista, CA 92084 

Phone: (760) 295-8599

Belching Beaver Pub 980 

Address: 980 Park Center Dr Suite A, Vista, California 92081 United States

Website: Belching Beaver Pub 980 

Phone: (760) 599-5832

Booze Brothers Brewing Co.

Booze Brothers Brewing Co. has a captivating indoor space with plants & wood that give it a homey, cabin vibe. Run by a pair of brothers, Booze Brothers has an eye for business & expansion; they offer The Wood Shed wedding venue, they've opened up a second brewery location in Oceanside, & their pizza joint, Pizza Bros. Their merch & beer can designs are eye-catching & witty. You can buy beers such as Penny Blonde Blonde Ale & 1-800-Tropics Hazy IPA online with more on the taplist at the brewery.

Address: 2545 Progress Street Suite D, Vista, CA 92081 

Website: Booze Brothers Brewing Co.

Phone: (760) 295-0217

Dogleg Brewing Company

Beer buffs & golf groupies alike can find solace at Dogleg Brewing Company with their range of craft beers, putting green, golf simulator, TVs, & an outdoor patio. Dogleg has an epic outdoor area with lights, canopy, food, tables, you name it - perfect for social distancing away from fellow patrons. Some of the beers on tap are the Sunday Red red ale, Breakfast Ball chocolate milk stout, Persimmon Pilsner, Overlap Outlaw Hazy IPA. You can also buy their gift card!

Address: 1347 Keystone Way Suite A, Vista, CA 92081 United States

Website: Dogleg Brewing Company

Phone: (760) 295-0402

Ebullition Brew Works Tasting Room & Live Music Venue

Since the Vista Ebullition Brew Works location doesn't offer food options, the Ebullition Brew Works tasting room remains closed. You can order to-go & takeout beer at their Carlsbad location. You can also drink outside in the Ebullition Carlsbad location as they have a full food menu for the COVID-compliant mandates. You can find Double Hazy IPA, Hard Seltzer, Attaboy Irish Red Ale, & more on their tap list.

Address: 2449 Cades Way, Vista, CA 92081 

Website: Ebullition Brew Works

Phone: (760) 842-1046

Eppig Brewing - North County Brewery & Bierhalle

Get beer to-go from Eppig's Vista brewery! Order in person or online if you want to go touchless. Eppig's open space feels warm & light, like a comfortable, familiar second home. The tasting room actually overlooks the brewhouse, so you might spot brewers in action. From the complex Schwarzbier German Black Lager to the light-bodied Hoppy Pils Dry Hopped Pilsner, you can find barleywine, sours, stouts, ales, & other crafty delights at Eppig Brewing. 

Address: 1347 Keystone Way C, Vista, California 92081 United States

Website: Eppig Brewing - North County Brewery & Bierhalle

Phone: (760) 295-2009

Five Suits Brewing 

Five Suits Brewing address might seem familiar as they're based in the former location of Barrel Harbor Brewing. All seating is outdoors for COVID & they have quite a large setup with table, chairs, television, & a covered canopy tent if you want to stay out of the rain or shine. Al Toque Peruvian Kitchen comes in for food, so you can order at the table; the yucca frita was delicious. Five Suits draft list consists of Follow Suit West Coast IPA 7.3% ABV, Pit BOS Hefeweizen 5.5% ABV, Cover You Snout Stout 6.7% ABV, & more.

Address: 2575 Pioneer Ave STE 104, Vista, CA 92081

Website: Five Suits Brewing 

Phone: (760) 278-3483

Guadalupe Brewery Tap House 

Although the beer itself is born & brewed in Carlsbad, the tasting room lives in Vista. Hecho en Carlsbad, tomado en Vista. (Made in Carlsbad, Tasted in Vista.) It all started when the owner started brewing beers in Valle de Guadalupe, known as Mexico's wine country. I actually visited El Cielo Winery Resort on Ruta del Vino Valle de Guadalupe & it's a beautiful place. They ended up brewing again in North County & Guadalupe Brewery was born.

Address: 631 S Santa Fe Ave, Vista, CA 92083 United States

Website: Guadalupe Brewery Tap House 

Phone: (740) 302-3377

Helia Brewing Company 

Get a taste of Southern California craft beer at Helia Brewing Company with their mix of ales, pilsners, and lagers. The cheerful tasting room includes vibrant art, spacious & open ceilings, as well as ample indoor & outdoor seating to enjoy your brew. Perfect to savor one of those magnificent North County afternoons where the temperature is just right. Beers on the menu include Helia IPA, Helia Happy Pale Ale, Layers of Love DIPA, Helia Porter, Hazy Jae IPA, & much more. You can order for pick-up at the tasting room or order to get delivered to your house. 

Address: 1250 Keystone Way, Vista, CA 92081 

Website: Helia Brewing Company 

Phone: (760) 216-6023

Mother Earth Brew Co. 

The Downtown Mother Earth Brew Co. Vista Tap House is closed, but they're open for to-go orders out of their Mother Earth Thibodo Road Brewery in Vista three days per week. Browse your map app to make sure you're in the right spot located in Shadowridge Business Center. Mother Earth Vista offers Cali Creamin' Vanilla Cream Ale is one of their flagship beers with a cream soda bang. There's Hop Diggity Double IPA, Boo Koo IPA, Sin Tax Imperial Peanut Butter Stout, & more goodies available to order online or pick up at the Thibodo taproom.

Address: 2055 Thibodo Rd Suite E, Vista, California 92081 United States

Website: Mother Earth Brew Co.

Phone: (760) 295-3074 

Prohibition Brewing Company 

Founded in 2011, Prohibition Brewing Company is one of Vista's older breweries. The family-owned craft brewery serves craft beers with an extensive food menu filled with appetizers like fried avocado, soups, salad, burgers, & other specials & desserts along the way. Buy pints, 22 oz Bottles, Growlers, & Kegs from Prohibition's brew list including Derringer IIPA 8.6% ABV, St. Valentine Blood Orange IPA 7.6% ABV, Coconut Blonde 5.7% ABV, & more.

Address: 2004 E Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084 

Website: Prohibition Brewing Company

Phone: (760) 295-3525

Wavelength Brewing Company

Wavelength Brewing Company has prime real estate on the continuously buzzing downtown Main Street, near what was once Mother Earth Brewing Company prior to COVID. Wavelength mixes beer in an environment that welcomes education in science, engineering, technology, & math. I walked by one night & they had a telescope out to watch the moon phenomena that was occurring at the time. Their tap list includes White Walker 5.9% ABV Witbier, Subsonic 5.5% ABV Kolsch, Hop Squanch 6.7% ABV Juicy IPA, & more. Nice spot to visit if you're in downtown Vista craft brewery hopping.

Address: 236 Main Street, Vista, CA 92084 

Website: Wavelength Brewing Company

Phone: (760) 820-9283

WestBrew Brewery

WestBrew is a newer craft brewery in Vista, California. They have a solid outdoor set up in the back parking lot area with plenty of room to sip your beer & stay distanced from others. Get a brew & something to eat from their food-stocked fridge with sandwiches & other things to grub on. Stay a while as you view the place, taking in the art & open ceilings. They have beers such as the Hazy by the Sea New England Style IPA & the WestBrew Blonde American Blonde Ale.

Address: 1061 La Mirada Ct, Vista, CA 92081 United States

Website: WestBrew Brewery

Phone: (858) 412-4226

Distilleries: Misadventure & Company, 117 West Spirits, Henebery Spirits

The city of Vista is located in North County San Diego. The search for another craft brewery just got easier because I covered all the Vista breweries that exist (unless something has opened or closed in the meantime). Experience the beer, food, & views that San Diego has to offer. You will find an impressive list of beers on tap so please any taste. From family-owned businesses to buzzing hotspots, there always seems to a new business in the city of Vista!

Click here to visit the City of Vista, CA website.

Click here to visit the Downtown Vista CA website.

Thank you for reading; I hope you found a beer or brewery for you!