The Rubber Rose

Do I feel weird writing a review on a sex-shop…Nope! I’m docking a star because while a nice place, you can get most of the items they sell for way cheaper online.
The Rubber Rose is a boutique that sells a small selection of high-​end sex toys, lubricants, books, and DVD’s. Went to SD on an all-​girl weekend and went to check out the place just for the heck of it. The woman there was very knowledgeable on all the products (for us newbies) and explained and answered all our questions.
Sadly, I couldn’t see myself shelling out $ 150+ just to spice things up in the bedroom, however when I looked up most of the items online, they sold for way cheaper (even with shipping).
So my advice is if you wanna spice things up – go to the Rubber Rose and see the items, ask your questions, then buy online.

LOVE the new downtown Rubber Rose… super sexy new space.
New store, but business as usual with educated, friendly, comfortable staff. Always has new pieces and just great quality. (Check out Spare Parts)
Found a meter in a minute. Received concierge service. Great selection and resources for adventure or vanilla…
Thank you for bringing us this beautiful boutique!
Grateful to have this local lady to support!

The Rubber Rose was AMAZING. ok. so Mrs Munkey is a freak in the sheets. and so am I. however, we are not into the cheesy, gross, seedy sex shop thing.
This place takes the whole erotic lifestyle shop to another level. It’s amazing, has wonderful, friendly, helpful staff that make you feel at ease. They have excellent, high quality and «body friendly» toys that are great for those who are sensitive to certain materials.
What a wonderful shop, great location, events and staff. It’s a clean, fun, friendly candy store for the munkeys. and we would suggest it to you too!

Very pricey. Nice staff and higher end, but small selection.

I stopped by today to pick up a new toy and was helped by a really friendly, helpful clerk. She new all about the merchandise and was very easy to talk too. The store itself is cool looking… kinda romantic and dark, like a bedroom. Lots of options for vibrators, dildos, and harness attachments that I noticed. Also lots of reading material and other bedroom enhancements like oils and lubes. I was told they are in the process of developing a rental system too so we all can get our smut on! Great little store with lots of parking.

An unassuming friendly place that needs more condoms.
So my main squeeze and I wanted to have a nice weekend so we dropped by.
I must say that the setup is beautiful and not pornographic. Don’t let the lack of pornographic material fool you. There are plenty of toys and curiosities.
I will say that the erotica is a glad addition I have not seen enough. I have already told others.
When there is not an 18 inch dong and fake breasts plastered on the wall, it just feels a bit more classy.

Duders, do not be afraid of the Rubber Rose. Lea is amazing, and although the shop is more female oriented, that does not mean there is not some cool ass innovations for male stimulation.
I went in to spice up a gift basket that my girlfriend made for our friends wedding. Not that there was anything wrong with the basket as is, but it consisted of some nice towels, bath salts, scents, lavender products, and so on.
With that being said, I felt obligated to add some dude-​core broness to the basket, so instead of adding some AXE body spray, a Maxim subscription, and UFC’s greatest knockouts vol.2, I thought I would sex this b*tch up with some additions that would make their Honeymoon a little bit better.
Lea helped us out a lot, and went through some of the toys on display. We ended up going with a sex bible with pictures of all the positions, some massage oil, and a heart shaped box of naughty chocolates. Not only did I find exactly what I needed, but I got a good sex 101 lesson from Lea, and found out about some of the interesting Tenga products that she had available. BTW, Praise Jeebus for the Japanese love and dedication to stimulation. They are serious about their toys.
Rubber Rose is great, and if you have a question, no matter how wierd, kinky, or taboo it may be, you will find your answer here.

While The Rubber Rose is cut from the same cloth as Babeland, Good Vibrations, or Grand Opening, in that it is a female-​centric, sex-​positive store, it falls short. The atmosphere is very relaxed and upscale, the sales help is knowledgeable, friendly, and easy to talk to. But the store itself suffers from a lack of stock. They really don’t have a lot for sale. The items they do have are all top quality, but there’s not much of a selection. There are a few vibrators, dildoes, baskets of lube, corsets, and other toys scattered around the shop. Certainly there are intriguing items like stone dildoes and ornate leather cuffs, but the displays all looked a little bare.
If you’re a fairly shy woman looking for a comfortable place to buy a high quality sex toy, this certainly fills the bill. But if you’re more adventurous and want something to spice up your life, you’ll not have much to choose from.

Go for the experience and show not the toys!
My wife and I went to experience the rubber rose. While the store was very open there were several things that were lacking and some cool things at the same time.
My wife like the fact that it did not feel like a creepy porn store, they had what looked like an art show in the corner. Which was the main focus of everyone but me in the store.
At the same time the selection was very small. I almost felt like they have more adult items at spencers, what dose that say about spencers?
I think the best part of the store was the display of «Classic» or «Vintage» vibrators.

I used to live in Oakland, and my ex and I frequently visited Good Vibrations, a fabulous pleasure co-​op joint. I thought I would never find something as progressive and sex-​positive in conservative San Diego. The Rubber Rose proved me wrong.
Not only is it a woman-​friendly, queer-​welcoming, sex-​positive pleasure shack, but the women who own it (Leah and Carly) go out of their way to make sure that all of your pleasure needs are met. I love that their lube shelves include long descriptions about the different types of lube — and that there’s a sink so you don’t feel yucky about trying the lube!
Last year I was giving a presentation on pleasure to my graduate school cohort, and I stopped in on a whim to see if they would be willing to lend me a few items. To my surprise Leah said yes without hesitation and brought out this huge black bag filled with plugs, dildos, vibrators, bullets. and a harness. She didn’t even make me buy anything (which I did anyways) and was a great source of more information.
Yes, this place is pricey, but to be completely honest, I’d rather pay a little more to keep this radical, much needed safe and positive space available.

More like a little boutique than your average run of the mill F Street. I ventured inside here with a (platonic) friend as she was looking for a toy for herself. The salesperson seemed very knowledgeable about the various products that they carry. I learned more about dildos and vibrators during her few minutes of explanation than I would have ever imagined.
In addition to toys, they had a selection of different scented massage oils and such. I spent a few moments looking at this hand-​cuff /​restraint system that slip onto any bed mattress. To my surprise, my friend tells me «Yeah I got that at home». Well not really a surprise… come to think of it.
In any case… this place seems to be a classy and sexy joint. The staff seem very knowledgeable and make you feel comfortable.

And when I get that feelin’
I want sex-​ual healin’.
We could all use some sexual healing.
Don’t know where to start? Come to the Rubber Rose.
Not only do they feature a great selection of toys aimed to please every taste, they got some organic lubes, books, erotica, an awesome gallery space and provide informational workshops.
Feel free to touch the displays and ask any and all questions.
Leah is very knowledgeable and helpful.
She will help you find whatever tickles your fancy.
While the Rubber Rose is pricier than your average F Street, it’s definitely worth it, not only is it a woman-​positive, woman-​owned, queer-​friendly, safe space, and the toys are made form safe, non-​porous, non-​toxic materials.
I don’t know aboutt you but I really care about what I put in my body.
I love this place.
The possibilities of healthy positive sexualities in a heteronormative world of shame-​shame, abstinence only, patriarchy are endless and I am glad the Rubber Rose helps folks begin to explore those.

I finally went here with my girlfriend after spending months with the intent to go. and the trip completely changed what i thought going to a sex store is all about.
The woman who was working there (forgot here name) was extremely warm and welcoming and definitely did a good job of breaking any awkwardness I was feeling. The way she explained each toy we had a question about made me feel good about myself and not like a pervert. She also did a great job of trying to suite our needs and desires, asking us what we were looking for and explaining the pros and cons of each toy, whether it be the speed of vibration or even just material.
Most importantly, in regards to the toys we did purchase, she gave us a lot of tips on how to use and clean them.
Beware — the toys here are quite expensive because it is an independent business and their return policy is close to non-​existent so make sure you really want what you get!

I’ve been here a few times to visit their gallery, when they had one…
…but I hadn’t dropped by in a while. After stopping in yesterday, I have to say — I really like what they’ve done with the place after the remodel.
…to top it off they have really awesome historical pieces on display that scare the beejeeezus out of me. Up until yesterday, I had never bought anything — but those that work here are always SUPER nice and have never made me uncomfortable while browsing.
So, yesterday I came in with the intent to purchase… you know, look into an «investment» for when the hubby leaves for basic training, etc… and it was nice to be able to talk with their associate — who was very knowledgeable, patient and understanding.
I personally like that they sell gratifying products that are safe for your body, in terms of composition… and that you can handle the various items without feeling like a sleaze wad.
I think this is the only store of its kind that I’m actually comfortable being in… thank goodness it exists — because I’m the kind of shopper that likes to see what they’re getting in person, rather than take a stab at it on the internet :)
Even more so, I think it’s awesome to support the local businesses, especially one that does such a fine job at keeping it classy.

GREAT store! :-) I will try to keep it classy.
This is a great place to come when you can’t get a b*ner to use from your guy. I came here to replace my broken.“neck massager” cuz I have a VERY sore and stiff neck.
I was shown many, many «massagers» by a lovely lady who explained why plastic is not good for your body and dangerous. This is good information for you to have when you go buy yourself a «massager» there. This place is classy and the staff are so professional, they don’t make you feel stupid or gross.
So that is my review of the Rubber Rose, I have to go now because my «neck» needs a good rubbing down.
Thank you Rubber Rose!!! (oh they even sell cool looking batteries too, I asked for a solar powered massager but they don’t carry those. LOL!)
:-)

I should feel funny writing a review of a sex store… but I don’t. You know why? This place isn’t a sex store, it’s the Rubber Rose.
No matter how progressive our culture becomes, sex will always be an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a puzzle. To some, the idea of walking into an adult store to buy some fuzz bumpin’ accouterments is completely uncomfortable and out of the question. I would tend to agree with those statements if we were talking F-​Street or some other seedy sex shop around town… but not Rubber Rose. It’s the Bentley of sex shops, whereas F-​Street could be considered the Ford Festiva of this vagtastic voyage.
If you feel any hint of awkwardness about visiting an adult store of this nature, trust me… your reservations will melt away from the second you walk through the front doors. The store is clean, hip and sexy. You won’t find a gigantic wall ‘o dildos or an array of ridiculous vibrating gadgets that could blast a hole through the runway surface of an aircraft carrier… instead, you’ll find classy products, sensual oils, fun and discrete toys, sexy lingerie and more. In many ways, it’s the anti-​sex store. If every joint where as nice as this operation, there would be no weird stigma attached to spending money at sexually charged retail outlets.
If you have questions, you don’t have to worry about consulting some Chester with lubed up hands, three outstanding warrants and a bus pass… the women working this place are normal, genuine gals who enjoy the finer things in life, if you catch my drift. They’ll never make you feel like a weirdo or pervert if you have questions. Instead, they’ll take the time to help you nail down exactly what you’re looking for, and they’ll ensure you leave there a happy camper.
If you’re looking to spice things up in the bedroom, bathroom, RV, mobile home, backseat, car garage, front lawn, abandoned Weinerschnitzel, or wherever else you crazy kids like to have sex… a visit to Rubber Rose will surely keep things hot. Tapitio hot, yo!

I love women-​owned sex toy shops.
I was so freakin excited when this opened in San Diego. It was just what this lil conservative So Cal town needed.
The ambiance inside is beautiful and cozy. Nothing swarmy like a normal F Street style sex shop, and not overly bright and cheesy like a Hustler-​style shop. You feel like you could happily browse for hours, and no one will leer at you if you play with everything in sight.
You will find adorable, unique lingere, a variety of high-​quality vibrators (not the cheapy ones that break on you after a month– ladies, you know what I mean!), a selection of nice kinky props, and lubes and melty candles (that make excellent naughty gifts). My favorite thing they’ve ever carried was the pink wild west gun holster strap-​on harness. It’s gotta be one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen.
One flaw about this place is that while everything in it is awesome and high-​quality, there isn’t enough variation in price-​point.
Yes, the $ 60 vibrator is better quality, BUT, sometimes a girl just wants to buy the cheesy bunny rabbit shaped vibe. Or perhaps someone is looking for a fun Bachlorette gift that won’t break the bank. I’m just sayin’…
I really miss the gallery space here, but, the ladies still put on rad events from time to time.
So go support your neighborhood sex shop!

The Rubber Rose is more like a burlesque show than a porno. I would describe as a speciality sex toy shop. They have a completely different selection of goods than Hustler. It’s more cutting edge, intimate and refined. You can tell everything in the store was specially chosen. They also offer a wide variety of sex ed workshops. My only critique is that I think they need greater inventory. More to sell, more profit to make, right?
Overall, a fun place to explore with your honey.

There are only two ways to make me jealous of silicone and rubber. Take me to an adult store or have me watch a Batman movie… damn, I need a suit like that (in both cases).
The Rubber Rose is a very nice boutique-​style store that carries a small, but well selected assortment of sex toys, books, dvds and other items to up your pleasure to 11. I checked the store out while volunteering at the Legion Creative booth during Craft and Destroy, an event that was hosted in The Rubber Rose’s parking lot. That is a noteworthy aspect of the business. The Rubber Rose hosts art shows, gives adult oriented classes and just all around adds value to the community. You’ve likely seen some of their events posted here on Unilocal.A good local business reaches out into the community and The Rubber Rose is that sort of place.
So until they start selling dildos at Target, get yourself over to The Rubber Rose. They treat your sexuality with respect and they expect sex to be enjoyable. Now that’s a philosophy I can get behind… wait, that’s not what I meant.

These chicks know how to throw a party!
Not only do they carry a GREAT selection of parabene-​free, health-​conscious, wellness-​sexy products, they also offer their large conference area to the community at awesome rates. (I attended a Passion Party there today. I learned a LOT about picking the right kind of… EVERYTHING)!
Even before you enter, the ambiance is notably cool. Approaching the doors, you can notice cute detail thoughtfully placed throughout the building’s exterior, and even more in the interior décor.
Snoot has (to my knowledge) never originated here. The owners really like what they do, and they keep an open ear to patron’s suggestions. However, they probably know a lot more about the sexual health field than you do, so it would be wise to solicit their advice and follow it well.
I LOVE their lube-​testing station – the only one around town – that lets you feel/​smell/​taste products before purchase AND lets you wash off right there at the custom sink! You will also want to check out the well-​appointed, ultra-​deluxe-​super-​badass bathroom. It’s like a snazzy hotel lounge in there! Cool beauty quote on the wall too. It escapes me, but I remember it was cool.
Anyway, this is an AWESOME, high-​quality alternative to the yucky array of «novelty» shops littered throughout the Hillcrest/​North Park area.