Carlsbad Premium Outlets

Who doesn’t love a shopping outlet?!
The Carlsbad outlet is an outdoor shopping center with various discounted brand name stores. They have clothing, athletic, cooking/​home and sunglasses stores. Over the years they have added more high end brands like Theory, Vince, and Eli Tahari which makes it more attractive. Why go to the mall when you can get 20−60% off for brand name items?
If you work up an appetite after shopping, they have a few restaurant in the shopping center including Blaze Pizza (new!!), Sansai Grill, Rubios and Haagen Dazs (yum!!). Across the street there are more restaurants like PF Chang’s and King’s Fish House.
Tip: if you have AAA card, you can get the VIP coupon brochure for free at the information center (in the middle of the shopping center) which includes additional discounts for select stores. If you don’t have a AAA card, its $ 5. It’s worth it if you plan to buy a lot.
Beware it can get crazy busy here on the weekends and holidays and parking can be a hassle. If you don’t like crowds it’s best to come during the day on a weekday. You’ll have the stores to yourself :)

I like going to Chico’s outlet store more than the store in the Forum, beside the lack of service in the Forum store, the fashions are always into the next season, the outlet store has the outfits that are in the actual season. I also find the sales personal more polite and helpful, the store more organized, all in all, a good place to shop.

I like going to Carlsbad because I feel that it’s cleaner and less chaotic than the San Ysidro outlets. While these outlets can get pretty hectic, I say either come early on a weekend or an obscure hour so you don’t have to creep behind somebody to their car. I guess that’s why they offer valet. While the stores are upscale, I only care about a handful of stores whenever I go here, but man, when they have sales they are good sales.

I like this outlet mall, one being that it’s outside and you can enjoy the weather as your walking from store to store. The other reason because they have a variety of stores to fit the family needs from baby, mom, dad, teen, etc. There’s a store for clothing, shoes, cast iron dishware (Le Creuset), jewelry, watches, purses, hats, and much much more. Not only that but this mall is right next to the flower fields which is an added bonus as your passing by. It can be crowded during the holidays but what mall isn’t? I like how most of the stores have a cheaper price since they are an «outlet mall» and charge differently? I like to go here to find a good deal. I love how they have starbucks, wetzel’s pretzels, ruby’s diner, Godiva just to name a few to cater to us shopers who need a pick me up after a long day of shopping.

Over priced… but it is a nice place to walk around and enjoy some widow shopping. The parking is fine.

Bottom Line: A great place for stylish apparel and most enjoyable if you skip the busy times.
Being very convenient to home and work, I have made many trips to the Carlsbad Premium Outlets over the years. As coastal North County residents know, there are not a ton of options for clothing shopping in this area so the Carlsbad outlets are a convenient place to freshen up the wardrobe. Some of my favorite stores here are Banana Republic, Lucky and Coach but there is plenty for men, kids, and home too.
The outlet is center is very well maintained with lovely decorative water fountains and clean restrooms. You can tell that management takes great pride in the appearance of this outdoor shopping center.
What I don’t like about the outlets is when there are masses of people and no where to park. For those reasons, I only visit the outlets on weeknights. If you visit the outlets on the weekends, expect to park down the street and hike in or with any luck you can get to the valet stand to valet your car.
Something else I wish was different about this outlet center is the food options. There are a handful of places here to get a bite to eat but they are all on the south end of the long strip mall. So if you are on the north end of the strip and want to get a drink, your options are to either find a vending machine or hike down to the south end for Starbucks, Subway, Blaze Pizza, Rubio’s, etc. For me, the lack of food options throughout the center is the biggest downside to this shopping center because its not like you can get a bite to eat half-​way through your shopping trip without having to go out of the way and then backtrack.
Over the years there has been some controversy about the prices at this outlet center. The perception was that the stores were too expensive for outlets. Perhaps that was the catalyst many years ago for incorporating the word «Premium» into the name. Anyway, I think there is something here for all price points. Some of the more expensive stores include Barney’s, Theory, Bose and Tumi but there are less expensive options here too like Gap, Gymboree, Converse and Nike. Under Armor is the newest addition to this outlet center.

I have to say I love this outdoor mall.
It’s convenient, has plenty of parking, and is near my home. They have a Starbucks and Godiva. I can drink my coffee as I walk around people watching and eat my monthly free chocolate truffle at Godiva when I’m all done with my visit.
I love that there is also a Barneys, Sunglass Hut, Crate & Barrel, and a Kate Spade store.
For petite ladies, like me: they have a BCBG outlet that always has xs and xxs sizes!
For puppy parents, like me: most stores let your baby in and don’t ask you dumb questions like, «is your dog a service dog?»
For flower lovers, like me: in the Spring/​early Summer you can see the flower beds in full colorful bloom!

This is an outdoor outlet mall with a great variety of stores — I’ve been coming here for years and I never get tired of coming! I love to shop here! My favorites are the Kate Spade, Adidas and Crate and Barrel. They’re both huge and they have great deals!
If you’re looking for a place to spend the whole day you may not be in luck, I feel like it’s still pretty small and you can walk around the stores quite quickly. But I love coming here at night for a quick stroll around.
There are a lot of great dining options as well — there’s a Ruby’s and Blaze and more across the street too!
One star off because parking is literally the worst nightmare unless it’s a weekday night or something. Otherwise sometimes I have to park across the street or circle around forever to find a spot.

My wife worked at the MK and Guess outlets here for years. She recently stopped working but we live nearby and stop here occasionally.
The outlets are great, but PARKING is terrible. Be prepared to experience a little road-​rage, middle-​fingers, slow-​poke old ladies and skateboarding kids. They do have valet on the weekends. And be careful parking across the street near the restaurants. I see tow-​trucks all the time over there.
During Christmas, Santa occupies a little house in the middle of the mall ;)

You might think that north county SD locals would shop at this upscale outlet mall because it is right in our back yard. Home to many great brands like Barneys, BCBG, Guess, Calvin Klein, Clarks, Crate&Barrel, DKNY, and VANS, this ois no longer a local shopping center. At Carlsbad Premium Outlets you are going to find high end merchandise, comfort and fast food.
This is more than a place to shop, I would consider it a shopping destination. Unfortunately I am not alone! Carlsbad is a lovely beach community with so much to offer that it has become a major tourist town. People come for the beautiful beaches, fine dining, Legoland, breweries, and, you guessed it, to shop at Carlsbad Premium Outlets.
The outlet mall has literally been invaded by rich tourists who flock to it in tour busses. Parking trolls abound and unless you are a creeper stalking spent people exiting or really lucky then parking is going to be a challenge.
Maintenance crews stay busy keeping up with the grounds, especially the large central bathroom area sinks and stalls. They even have family bathrooms, which are helpful if you are busy practicing making babies, changing diapers, or nursing those little ones.
Of course all of the tourists like to eat, and Carlsbad premium outlets has that covered with food and clothing en masse.

I absolutely looooove the Carlsbad Outlets. It’s a huge mall, with all your great, durable, long standing brands. Not to mention the awesome Barneys New York smack dab in front of the mall (which is perfectly placed for serious shopping).
Now, the Carlsbad Outlet has everything you could ever think of to buy, and in every brand you could think of to buy it in. At usually, a discounted rate. Which makes it always an awesome visit! :)
For some reason, all the vendors & staff at the stores are all very well versed in customer service etiquette. I’m serious folks, it’s legitimately unreal. I absolutely recommend shopping at the Carlsbad outlets for the single reason, that you are treated with the exact customer service you would want anywhere. It’s a totally awesome experience. Especially now, around the busiest time of the year, all the staff in all the stores I visit are all very genuinely happy to be of assistance. So go check it out, there’s plenty of great little eclectic places as well as well known diners to grab a bite for fuel while shopping. Happy Holidays!

Lots of great brands, all located in place = 5 stars.
Parking and access to handicap parking = 1 star
People’s holiday attitude = 1 star
Overall rating a 3 star.

First time visiting this outlet. We braved it on Thanksgiving day.
Surprisingly well organized, not overly crowded
We Found good specials at gap, Nine West, osh, Nike store. We didn’t have to wait too long in lines.
Nice well light walkways, I like the lay out of the 4 buildings
Lots of parking.
There were some star lights use as décor hanging on central area

I spent HOURS here so it gets 5 stars for sucking me in! Nike, Under Armour, Adidas and Ann Taylor made money on me. That’s all!
Unilocalers… when you check in, you get a free VIP coupon book at the information desk. With the additional discounts, you’ll probably get sucked in too!

Make sure you check in on Unilocal to get the free VIP coupon book at the information desk!
This is one of the two only outlets we have in San Diego County, the other being the Las Americas by the border. Although between the two I prefer the one in the south due to its bigger capacity and wider selection, the Carlsbad outlet serves it purpose for being an outlet!
A few Unilocalers mentioned the limited parking space. Yes, indeed. For an outlet, the parking spots are quite few. For the many times I was here, there was only one time that it happened on a weekend so most of the time parking was not a problem for a weekday shopper.
This outlet offers a good selection of popular brands including Coach, Nine West, Gap, BCBG, Bebe, CK, Kate Spade, Guess, Converse, Lacoste, Lucky Jeans, even Crate and Barrel and Le Creuset… you name it. For an updated list of shops, go to their website at
. Their new addition includes Under Armour which is one of my favorite sports clothing brands! Yay!
Grounds are kept pretty well. I wish there are more restrooms though. Sometimes I found myself walking quite a distance before I could get to one.
There are probably only 2 formal sit-​down restaurants in the outlet but tons of fast-​food options such as Blaze Pizza, Panda Express, Rubio’s, San Sai. The fast food option covers a wide range of cuisines. If you prefer a non fast-​food meal, there are also lots of options across the street such as BJ’s, King’s Fish House, Claim Jumper, etc.
Happy shopping!

Not too far from Legoland is this shopping center. It seems to mimic other outlet venues, plenty of shops where outlet prices really don’t exist. Nicely decorated and clean with good roominess.

I tend to come here a few times a month because well… I’m addicted to shopping, window shopping included.
Parking lots always full unless you’re lucky! I tend to go to the back and always luck out over there-​where the old Belfleur was located. If there’s absolutely no parking they offer valet at times.
There’s a lot of good «outlet» stores here that offer great deals on last seasons styles. I mean who really pays attention anyways.
If you’re taking the kids they have a few of those coin operated machines and a train ride that’ll cost you $ 3 per rider. Took my goddaughter and niece the other day ended up spending $ 20. I took the deal 8 rides for $ 20 with 2 kids. Definitely a come up! Granted it did take a longgggg time the kids sure did have a blast.
Christmas shopping is steadily approaching so I’ll be frequenting this place less than usual-​I hate crowds and I hate impatient customers going nuts for 50 percent off bags. It’s better to know people that know people that work there that get better discounts haha.

I like this outlet very much! Muuuuch more than the one next to the border. This outlet has more brands.
My first year in San Diego I went crazy when Thanksgiving arrived, I spent over $ 1000 in cloths! But now I can say without a doubt that the best weekend for shoppingholics is Labor Weekend.
This specific Mall has very good deals and famous brands. It is not just about Banana Republic, but Coach, Kate Spade and more.
I can’t talk about the food court because I did not have lunch there, but the bathroom is clean and the mall looks nice.

Service — Great
Food — OK
The options here are decent. I like going here for Crate and Barrel, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and Nike. We saw the other day that Under Armour is opening soon in the corner where an old restaurant used to be. We like going here because its has pretty much has all the shops I like and the weather is always good because its nearer to the ocean.
My bf likes going here because of Nike, Oakley, Reebok. He’s always going into Oakley and I have never seen him buy one thing. I guess he likes how the place looks. We recently go more often into Reebok because they sell crossfit apparel. It seems like all the outlet Reeboks have the same sale, which is good and we took advantage of that.
This place is simple, good location if were going to pass through as we go to San Diego.

I love this place, it’s a Simon Mall so I’m here on a very regular basis. You know you’re a regular when the staff asks, «Where have you been?» if you miss a day or two…
With teenage boys, we’re at the Vans store all the time. And because they are always offering buy 1, get 1 for 50%, you can pick up two pairs for cheap.
Bummed that some stores left. And I would love if they could get Hurley, Quiksilver, and Volcom.
Generally clean but gets packed with tourists wielding large suitcases for all their purchases. If you see a tour bus in the parking lot, turn around and come back another time.
Parking: Avoid the mall on the weekends or holidays when the flowers are in bloom because parking will be a nightmare.
Discounts: Make sure you stop by the information office (across from the restrooms towards the back) and pick up a coupon booklet. Offers change so stop by frequently.
Know your prices before you come. Sometimes things are the same price at the retail store. And if you buy from the outlet, the quality may not be the same and you won’t be able to return it except at the outlet store.
Best time to come if first thing in the morning on a weekday during the school year. Plenty of parking, hardly anyone else, and you can get in and out quickly.

Das Carlsbad Premium Outlet fällt am ehesten unter die Kategorie klein aber fein. Für US-​Amerikanische Verhältnisse sind 90 Shops durchschnittlich, europäische Käufer geraten da schon mal an Ihre Grenze :-)
Für dieses Ouletcenter sprechen neben dem erstklassichen südkalifornischen Wetter die freundlichen Menschen und die gelassene Stimmung. Außerdem erfordert die Lage unmittelbar am Highway zwischen LA und San Diego für viele Touristen keinen Umweg (In LA mit leerem Koffer landen, in Carlsbad füllen und weiter in den perfekten Urlaub)
Mit Jetlag zwischen zig Einkaufstaschen in der Sonne sitzen und Frappuccino trinken unbezalhlbar!

Wir waren 2009 dort. Für deutsche Verhältnisse groß, für amerikanische eher winzig.
Für den Touristen gibt es hier (fast) alles, was das Herz begehrt.
Die Mall liegt unweit Legoland California, direkt an der Autobahn zwischen San Diego und LA.
Die Preise sind gewohnt niedrig.

Ein schickes und recht kleines Outlet, verkehrsgünstig direkt an der Interstate 5 gelegen.
Die wichtigsten Shops gibt es hier, aber man darf nicht die Auswahl der wirklich großen Center erwarten. dafür ist es auch nicht so stressig.
Wenn man von LA nach San Diego unterwegs ist, ein lohnenswerter Abstecher!