bro. i used to live in Vista.. I gotchu.
Food:
The Yellow Deli (hippie cult that has bomb deli food, and great coffee and tea. open 24/5. closed on their sabbath)
Pizza Port :  Delicious Pizza and brewery in Carlsbad.
Lamp Post Pizza:  also has a good beer selection. great happy hours usually.
Albertacos : off sycamor and the 78.. awesome carne asada fries, CA burritos and breakfast burritos.
Oscars :  In san marcos.  awesome fish burritos.
Peppertrea ice cream. delicious.
Slaters 50/50
Beer:
Booze Bro's.  Small brewery off sycamore and the 78.  Great atmosphere, I probably know half the people there.
Mother Earth :  across the parking lot of the yellow deli.  great beer as well.
Iron Fist Brewing : its close to Booze Bro's.
Pizzo Port :  great beer, great environment, close to beach.
Belching Beaver: never been, heard its good tho
Stone Brewery:  if you like stone, then sure, but its overpriced.. food and everything.
Places:
Downtown Carlsbad has some really cool spots to walk around.
Oceanside Pier
Oceanside Harbor.  At night is pretty fun, have a bon fire, walk out on the north jetty and drink
Carlsbad has some great cougar bars if you're into that.
Coffee:
Yellow Deli
Old California Coffee House
Vinaka's Cafe
Lush Lounge
Lofty Coffee (south in Encinitas)