At the Green Room Hotel, our South Oceanside location gives us unrivaled access to some of O-side's most beloved restaurants, beaches, coffee shops, and bars. From your front door at our boutique Oceanside hotel, you’re just a short walk or ride away from the beach, live music, delicious organic food, and some of our favorite local watering holes. People come to Oceanside from all over the world to sample the surf and sun that’s part of our daily lives in Southern California. Visitors may be surprised to learn that Oceanside is home to a thriving arts community. With the Pacific Ocean as their muse, artists and creators flock to town to produce and display unique works of art. If you have a free afternoon in Oceanside, dive into the art world. Continue reading below for Our Favorite Oceanside Museums and Galleries.

Oceanside Museums & Galleries

The Oceanside Museum of Art

The Oceanside Museum of Art, known locally as OMA, was founded in 1995 and has made a name for itself with bold contemporary art exhibits, modernist architecture, and unique offers across multiple mediums. The museum is housed in an iconic midcentury structure designed by Irving Gill in 1934 that has since been updated by notable architect Fredrick Fisher in 2005. Exhibitions and installations are wide-ranging and include light installations, paintings, sculptures, glasswork, and more. The OMA also maintains a public annex gallery at the nearby Seabird Resort. The OMA’s mission is to bring people together to explore the art and stories of Southern California artists.

The California Surf Museum

It doesn’t get more Oceanside than the California Surf Museum. The California Surf Museum has been a beloved part of the Oceanside community since opening its doors in 1986. The permanent display collection serves as a chronicle of surf and surf craft history, with an archive that explores wave riding and board designs from its earliest days to today. With temporary exhibits that dive deep into wave science and niche subgenres of surfing like body surfing and boogie boarding, it’s easy for surfers to spend an entire afternoon browsing the archives at the California Surf Museum.

Mission San Luis Rey

Dive into the colonial history of Southern California with a trip to Mission San Luis Rey. As the largest of all twenty-one California missions, Mission San Luis Ray is still operating today as the home to a community of Franciscan Friars and is open to the public. Visit the historic church and cemetery that date back to 1798.

Oceanside Murals

Art isn’t just for galleries and museums. Some of Oceanside’s finest works of art can be found proudly displayed on street corners. With about a dozen iconic murals, Oceanside is home to some of Southern California’s most celebrated street art. The Artist Alley and the 101 Café Mural are a few of our favorites. Take a stroll around town to find your own.

North Coastal Art Gallery

North Coastal Art Gallery exists to promote art education and cultural appreciation in the Oceanside and Carlsbad communities. Their primary purpose is to provide art enrichment to artists and display local works to the community. North Coastal Art Gallery hosts monthly and weekly events, like Art on the Green at The Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort and rotation art shows.

Oceanside is a diverse and lively community, and our art scene is small but mighty. Whether you’re shopping for a wall hanger or just want to learn more about the local artists, Oceanside museums and galleries are worth a look. Whenever you visit Oceanside, book your stay at the Green Room Hotel. Our South Oceanside location gives guests access to the best of our community and neighboring Carlsbad.