Andrew and Courtney's Downtown to North Park Guidebook
Neighborhoods
Hillcrest is widely known as San Diego's "gay" district, the center of of the LGBTQ scene. What we consider the Northwestern corner of central San Diego, Hillcrest offers great variety restaurants from Japanese to Danish.
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Hillcrest
3960 Normal StHillcrest is widely known as San Diego's "gay" district, the center of of the LGBTQ scene. What we consider the Northwestern corner of central San Diego, Hillcrest offers great variety restaurants from Japanese to Danish.
Little Italy, what we consider the most Western portion central San Diego and the Downtown area, is one of the most energetic and lively communities in San Diego. Restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops are all within walking distance. Check the Farmers' Market on weekends, where the main street is closed off to traffic and dozens of vendors setup their stalls.
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Little Italy
Little Italy, what we consider the most Western portion central San Diego and the Downtown area, is one of the most energetic and lively communities in San Diego. Restaurants, bars, clubs, and shops are all within walking distance. Check the Farmers' Market on weekends, where the main street is closed off to traffic and dozens of vendors setup their stalls.
The Southeastern corner of what we consider the central San Diego and Downtown area, South Park is a charming indie residential community scattered with boutiques, restaurants, and a few antique shops. This is the neighborhood to hop around and explore pockets of restaurants and shops.
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South Park
The Southeastern corner of what we consider the central San Diego and Downtown area, South Park is a charming indie residential community scattered with boutiques, restaurants, and a few antique shops. This is the neighborhood to hop around and explore pockets of restaurants and shops.
Hipster, up-scale, and trendy, North Park along University Ave. and 30th St. is filled with restaurants and cafes worth exploring. We consider North Park the Northeastern corner of the central San Diego and Downtown area. If you're looking for cocktails and good eats among the younger professional crowd this is the place to be.
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North Park
Hipster, up-scale, and trendy, North Park along University Ave. and 30th St. is filled with restaurants and cafes worth exploring. We consider North Park the Northeastern corner of the central San Diego and Downtown area. If you're looking for cocktails and good eats among the younger professional crowd this is the place to be.
Sightseeing
Balboa park is to San Diego what Central park is to New York or what Golden Gate Park is to San Francisco. Sure, it may not be as big, but it has lots to offer. You definitely can't miss the architecture or the museums, but there are tons of interesting things you might miss if you don't explore.
Spanish Village is a must see for some local arts and crafts. Resident artists sell their creations or teach classes from glass blowing to painting and everything in between.
Japanese Friendship Garden looks small from the outside, but is actually quite a large garden hidden in the valley. In our opinion it is worth the entry fee. Beautiful gardens, bridges, waterfalls, ponds, and koi fish await you in the valley.
Check out other points of interest in this guide for more specific recommendations.
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Balboa Park
Balboa park is to San Diego what Central park is to New York or what Golden Gate Park is to San Francisco. Sure, it may not be as big, but it has lots to offer. You definitely can't miss the architecture or the museums, but there are tons of interesting things you might miss if you don't explore.
Spanish Village is a must see for some local arts and crafts. Resident artists sell their creations or teach classes from glass blowing to painting and everything in between.
Japanese Friendship Garden looks small from the outside, but is actually quite a large garden hidden in the valley. In our opinion it is worth the entry fee. Beautiful gardens, bridges, waterfalls, ponds, and koi fish await you in the valley.
Check out other points of interest in this guide for more specific recommendations.
Spanish Village is the perfect burst of color everybody needs and a must see for some local arts and crafts. Resident artists sell their creations or teach classes from glass blowing to painting and everything in between.
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Spanish Village Art Center
1770 Village PlSpanish Village is the perfect burst of color everybody needs and a must see for some local arts and crafts. Resident artists sell their creations or teach classes from glass blowing to painting and everything in between.
Japanese Friendship Garden looks small from the outside, but is actually quite a large garden hidden in the valley. In our opinion it is worth the entry fee. Beautiful gardens, bridges, waterfalls, ponds, and koi fish await you in the valley.
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Japanese Friendship Garden
2215 Pan American Rd EJapanese Friendship Garden looks small from the outside, but is actually quite a large garden hidden in the valley. In our opinion it is worth the entry fee. Beautiful gardens, bridges, waterfalls, ponds, and koi fish await you in the valley.
Located at the center of Balboa Park, the Botanical Building offers a nice picnic area in front of live music, performers, and a pond with koi fish. Inside the building, which has free entry, you'll find a variety of plants that may pique your interest.
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Botanical Building and Lily Pond
1550 El PradoLocated at the center of Balboa Park, the Botanical Building offers a nice picnic area in front of live music, performers, and a pond with koi fish. Inside the building, which has free entry, you'll find a variety of plants that may pique your interest.
Family Fun
If you've never been to a zoo before we highly recommend San Diego Zoo. Unlike some zoos, San Diego zoo seems to be very ethical and offers great habitats for its huge variety of animals. If you're traveling with kids or just have a love for nature and wild life don't miss San Diego Zoo.
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San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo DrIf you've never been to a zoo before we highly recommend San Diego Zoo. Unlike some zoos, San Diego zoo seems to be very ethical and offers great habitats for its huge variety of animals. If you're traveling with kids or just have a love for nature and wild life don't miss San Diego Zoo.
Waterfront park is a small free waterpark and playground with San Diego bay and sunset views. Bring your kids here on a hot day and just splash around before exploring the numerous ship and maritime museums minutes walk from the park.
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Waterfront Park
1600 Pacific HwyWaterfront park is a small free waterpark and playground with San Diego bay and sunset views. Bring your kids here on a hot day and just splash around before exploring the numerous ship and maritime museums minutes walk from the park.
Seaport village is a touristy dining and shopping plaza in San Diego Harbor facing Coronado. A great place for families to enjoy the carousel and a few delicious snacks while walking around the beach, park, and gardens. Be sure to check out the dock area early weekend mornings for fresh seafood directly off the fishing boats. It's also within walking distance to all the maritime museum's in the harbor area.
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Seaport Village
849 W Harbor DrSeaport village is a touristy dining and shopping plaza in San Diego Harbor facing Coronado. A great place for families to enjoy the carousel and a few delicious snacks while walking around the beach, park, and gardens. Be sure to check out the dock area early weekend mornings for fresh seafood directly off the fishing boats. It's also within walking distance to all the maritime museum's in the harbor area.
Food scene
Located in Spanish Village inside Balboa park, Daniel's Coffee is our favorite coffee place in San Diego. Grab some delicious and refreshing coffee drinks and sit in the colorful courtyard under the trees and just enjoy the peace. Or walk around and enjoy all the different arts and crafts offered by the village resident artists.
Daniel's Coffee
1770 Village PlLocated in Spanish Village inside Balboa park, Daniel's Coffee is our favorite coffee place in San Diego. Grab some delicious and refreshing coffee drinks and sit in the colorful courtyard under the trees and just enjoy the peace. Or walk around and enjoy all the different arts and crafts offered by the village resident artists.
If you've been reading through our restaurant guidebook you can probably tell we love "authentic" Japanese food. HiroNori serves some of the best Ramen we could find in San Diego, and the only place that served Hiroshima style spicy dipping ramen. Regardless of which ramen you order the ramen broth will be perfect.
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HiroNori Craft Ramen
3803 Fifth AveIf you've been reading through our restaurant guidebook you can probably tell we love "authentic" Japanese food. HiroNori serves some of the best Ramen we could find in San Diego, and the only place that served Hiroshima style spicy dipping ramen. Regardless of which ramen you order the ramen broth will be perfect.
As the name implies, desserts here are absolutely extraordinary. If we are ever in Downtown it is hard to stop us from grabbing another coffee and a slice of cake from this place. If you want beautiful desserts, this is the place to be.
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Extraordinary Desserts
2870 Fourth AveAs the name implies, desserts here are absolutely extraordinary. If we are ever in Downtown it is hard to stop us from grabbing another coffee and a slice of cake from this place. If you want beautiful desserts, this is the place to be.
Ironside is always bustling with energy. Although a bit pricey, their cocktail drinks and fresh seafood are hard to beat. Located in the center of Little Italy, it is hard not to have a good time grabbing a bite to eat here and just exploring all the shops and desserts nearby.
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Ironside Fish & Oyster
1654 India StIronside is always bustling with energy. Although a bit pricey, their cocktail drinks and fresh seafood are hard to beat. Located in the center of Little Italy, it is hard not to have a good time grabbing a bite to eat here and just exploring all the shops and desserts nearby.
Piacere Mio is our favorite Italian restaurant in all of San Diego. Serving sizes are large, service is friendly, and sometimes dessert is free. Their bread is also house-made and absolutely delicious. Although not as glamorous or busy as some of the other options, Piacere Mio is still our favorite for a relatively easy Italian meal.
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Piacere Mio
1947 Fern StPiacere Mio is our favorite Italian restaurant in all of San Diego. Serving sizes are large, service is friendly, and sometimes dessert is free. Their bread is also house-made and absolutely delicious. Although not as glamorous or busy as some of the other options, Piacere Mio is still our favorite for a relatively easy Italian meal.
A Georgian (the country, not the state) style restaurant with unique dishes that we had never seen in San Diego before. This places offers a cozy setting for trying some dishes you may never had before.
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Pomegranate
2312 El Cajon BlvdA Georgian (the country, not the state) style restaurant with unique dishes that we had never seen in San Diego before. This places offers a cozy setting for trying some dishes you may never had before.
Ocean 97 is food-truck located in South Park with Mexican/South American style seafood dishes that will blow up your expectations. Careful though, portion sizes are large and wait time can get quite extensive if you come at peak hours. Can't go wrong with a few tacos and a refreshing ceviche here.
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Ocean 97 Seafood
3030 Grape StreetOcean 97 is food-truck located in South Park with Mexican/South American style seafood dishes that will blow up your expectations. Careful though, portion sizes are large and wait time can get quite extensive if you come at peak hours. Can't go wrong with a few tacos and a refreshing ceviche here.
Curryosity is a modern and hipster take of Indian food and cocktails. Our favorite place when we're craving some curry and a mojito with spice.
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CURRYOSITY
3023 Juniper StCurryosity is a modern and hipster take of Indian food and cocktails. Our favorite place when we're craving some curry and a mojito with spice.
There are multiple Salt & Straws in San Diego, but if you're in Little Italy and looking for some awesome ice cream and unique flavors like Pear and Blue Cheese go to Salt & Straw.
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Salt & Straw
1670 India StThere are multiple Salt & Straws in San Diego, but if you're in Little Italy and looking for some awesome ice cream and unique flavors like Pear and Blue Cheese go to Salt & Straw.
Menya Ultra isn't our favorite place in San Diego for ramen but it is a close second. Who can say no to perfectly cooked noodles and heart-warming broth?
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Menya Ultra
8199 Clairemont Mesa BlvdMenya Ultra isn't our favorite place in San Diego for ramen but it is a close second. Who can say no to perfectly cooked noodles and heart-warming broth?
Looking for some Belgian waffles with some sweet and savory toppings? Atypical Waffle Company serves waffles almost like a street vendor, but there's plenty of seating in the alley area.
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Atypical Waffle Company
3519 30th StLooking for some Belgian waffles with some sweet and savory toppings? Atypical Waffle Company serves waffles almost like a street vendor, but there's plenty of seating in the alley area.
The Lion's Share serves a variety of different and more unusual meats (if you didn't catch the implication from the name). If you're looking for venison, lamb, frog, pheasant, rabbit, along with a good whisky or a strong cocktail, this is the place for you.
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The Lion's Share
629 Kettner BlvdThe Lion's Share serves a variety of different and more unusual meats (if you didn't catch the implication from the name). If you're looking for venison, lamb, frog, pheasant, rabbit, along with a good whisky or a strong cocktail, this is the place for you.
Bar Scene
False Idol is another Tiki Bar speakeasy in downtown. With seasonal menus, unique décor, and exciting signature drinks, this is a great place to visit for small parties of 2-6 people.
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False Idol
675 W Beech StFalse Idol is another Tiki Bar speakeasy in downtown. With seasonal menus, unique décor, and exciting signature drinks, this is a great place to visit for small parties of 2-6 people.