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Best of San Diego
New vinyl, used crates, and in-stores
Last updated · See what changed
The Winner
The best-run record store in the city and the hub for local music.
M-Theory Music in Point Loma is the best record store in San Diego for new vinyl and in-store performances. Folk Arts Rare Records in City Heights is the best for deep crate digging, and Record City in Hillcrest has the most used stock per dollar.
| # | Place | Neighborhood | What to get | Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M-Theory Music | Point Loma | New releases and local artists | $ | 89 |
| 2 | Folk Arts Rare Records | City Heights | Blues, jazz, and pre-war 78s | $ | 89 |
| 3 | Record City | Hillcrest | Cheap used LPs and 45s | $ | 86 |
| 4 | Vinyl Junkies Record Shack | South Park | Soul, funk, and reissues | $ | 86 |
| 5 | Taang! Records | Ocean Beach | Punk and hardcore pressings | $ | 85 |
Scores here are weighted against this list's criteria. A place that appears on several lists can score differently on each; its review and /spot page always show one canonical score, taken from the list it scores highest in.
The best-run record store in the city and the hub for local music.
M-Theory balances new pressings, a solid used wall, and genuine involvement in the San Diego music scene. Staff know their stock.
Read our full M-Theory Music review — scored 89/100 with pros, cons and what to order.
Local tip: In-store performances are free — follow their calendar.
The most serious crate-digging in San Diego, full stop.
A specialist shop with genuine rarities in blues, folk, jazz, and early American music. The owner's knowledge is the real inventory.
Read our full Folk Arts Rare Records review — scored 89/100 with pros, cons and what to order.
Local tip: Hours are limited — check before driving over.
The best dollar-per-record value in the city.
Big, cluttered, and priced to move. Condition varies, so inspect before buying, but the volume of used stock is unmatched.
Read our full Record City review — scored 86/100 with pros, cons and what to order.
Local tip: Dig the unsorted bins near the back for the best finds.
The friendliest place to start a collection.
A tidy South Park shop with strong soul, funk, and hip-hop sections, plus a steady flow of well-priced reissues.
Read our full Vinyl Junkies Record Shack review — scored 86/100 with pros, cons and what to order.
Local tip: Ask what just came in — turnover is fast.
The punk specialist — the deepest hardcore section in town.
A small OB shop tied to the long-running punk label, with a focused selection that rewards fans of the genre.
Read our full Taang! Records review — scored 85/100 with pros, cons and what to order.
Local tip: Label-affiliated reissues show up here first.
These picks earned a standalone review — verdict, what to order, pros, cons and price. Each review shows the place's canonical score, which comes from the list it scores highest in.
Every revision to this ranking, newest first — additions, removals, and rank moves.
Latest
Our rankings are editorial. This part is yours — vote for your favorite record stores in San Diego. One vote per reader.
Experience
How good the core food, drink, or experience actually is.
Consistency
Repeatability across visits, staff, and seasons.
Value
Price relative to what you get.
Atmosphere
Setting, crowd, and comfort.
Uniqueness
Something you can't get anywhere else in San Diego.
We scored new and used inventory depth, pricing against Discogs medians, condition grading accuracy, and in-store programming.
M-Theory Music in Point Loma for new vinyl and events; Folk Arts Rare Records in City Heights for rare and vintage pressings.
Record City in Hillcrest has the largest volume of low-priced used stock.
Yes — M-Theory Music runs free in-store performances regularly, especially around new local releases.
Every list is scored with the same methodology. See all rankings → See every 2026 winner →
Hour-by-hour itinerary, taco stops, parking notes, and a packing list — sent to your inbox, plus one weekly email of new spots and events.
Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.
