First Time in San Diego

Our Local Expert Says:

Parking is a real challenge in Little Italy, as it has become a popular residential district with a plethora of new condominiums and trendy restaurants and shops. Be sure not to let your parking meter expire--tickets are $4!

Description:

Just outside of Gaslamp, San Diego welcomes some of the most distinctive and delicious culture in the area - Italy. Though the strip downtown is small, Little Italy's street sign is flavored with just the right amount of garlic, Italian music and festivals that make any visit fell like you're away from home. Little Italy houses some of the area's finest Italian restaurants, but additionally you will find one of a kind art galleries, fountains reminiscent of the Tuscany countryside and holiday festivals that welcome all. The district is extremely small, lining over a few city streets in the heart of downtown San Diego, but it makes up for its small figures with extremely wide taste and heart.

Our Local Expert Says:

You can spend the whole trip in the Gaslamp district - with Petco, tons of exciting restaurants, shopping and elegant hotels!

Description:

Vibrant, eclectic, and endlessly entertaining, the Gaslamp Quarter covers more than 16 city blocks of downtown San Diego in the area once infamously known as Stingaree, with hundreds of specialty shops and dozens of trendy restaurants, bars and avant-garde playhouses. Most of the shops keep late hours, so delightful shopping, drinking, and dining can occur virtually simultaneously. Cutting-edge women's fashions elbow up against exclusive art galleries, and once- run down-hotels have undergone multi-million dollar makeovers and found new and chic lives. The San Diego Convention Center is just steps away from the Gaslamp, and during major conventions the flow of souvenir-hunting attendees floods the area. For an upscale shopping mall experience, the adjacent Horton Plaza offers major department stores and a hundred or so mall shops set in an architecturally amusing maze of bridges, stairways, and intricately tiled walls. If you have just a few hours to devote to shopping - or San Diego itself - spend the time and the money here. Credit card acceptance varies by business.

Description:

Since 1972, San Diego's Dog Beach has been a legal 24/7 off-leash paradise for dogs and their humans. It offers 38 acres of sand where the San Diego River meets the Pacific Ocean. Please pick up after your pet.

Description:

The Disneyland of shopping malls, Horton Plaza is the heart of the revitalized city center, bounded by Broadway, First and Fourth avenues, and G Street. Covering 6 1/2 city blocks, the multilevel shopping center has more than 130 specialty shops and kiosks -- there are clothing and shoe stores, fun shops for kids, and a bookstore. There's a performing arts venue (the Lyceum Theatre, home to the San Diego Repertory Theatre), a 14-screen cinema, two major department stores, and a variety of restaurants and short-order eateries. Horton Plaza opened in 1985 to rave reviews and provided an initial catalyst for the Gaslamp Quarter's redevelopment. It's almost as much an attraction as SeaWorld or the San Diego Zoo, transcending its genre with a conglomeration of crisscrossing paths, bridges, towers, and piazzas.

Anchor stores are Macy's and Nordstrom, while name outlets such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria's Secret, and Louis Vuitton are also in the mix; the top-level food court has a good variety of meal options. Three hours of free parking are available from 7am to 9pm; there are machines scattered throughout the mall where you can self-validate (validation in food court offered until 11pm)....

Description:

These absolutely lovely, tranquil grounds began their long history when the garden was built as part of the World Expo of 1915. Because the public enjoyed it, the garden remained cared for by volunteers for the next 30 years. The permanent spot has been maintained as, 'San-Kei-En', meaning 'our garden'. The Japanese gardens incorporate traditional elements and San Diego regional landscape. The exhibit hall includes objects of Japanese cultural arts.

Our Local Expert Says:

You can easily devote at least a whole day to wandering around this huge urban park. Package deals are available for museum entrances, and can include the San Diego Zoo, at the north end of the park, as well.

Description:

The world-renowned San Diego Zoo is only one part of this magnificent 1,200-acre city park that was built for the 1915-1916 Panama-California Expo. California's Hispanic roots were celebrated as the city erected breathtakingly ornate Spanish-style buildings, which were eventually permanently restored. So much more than just an urban park, it is home to the zoo, 14 museums, a pipe organ pavilion, botanical gardens, international cultural centers, theaters and performance venues, an antique carousel, off leash dog parks, sports fields, hiking trails, a tennis center, municipal pool, and a miniature-scale train. The December Nights Celebration is held the first weekend of December annually and this popular event is an opportunity for the whole family to enjoy pageants, plays, food and music all in the tradition of the Christmas holidays.

Our Local Expert Says:

The zoo isn't just for the kids - home to some of the most engaged species in the world, the San Diego World Famous Zoo is always welcoming new guests into its home!

Description:

This world-famous establishment is clearly no ordinary zoo. Walk or ride a double-decker bus throughout this expansive park, home to over 4,000 rare and exotic animals exhibited in beautiful garden habitats. More than a park, this zoo is a major research facility although it is cleverly disguised with entertaining shows and inspiring exhibits like Polar Bear Plunge and Hippo Beach. General Admission required.

Our Local Expert Says:

If the weather is fine, opt to sit on the garden patio!

Description:

Graciously housed in the House of Hospitality, this venue has hosted myriad weddings, parties and intimate dinners. Casual elegance with a Spanish-fusion flavor is on the menu in the heart of Balboa Park. Zesty seafood paella, wild mushroom risotto, or adobo braised pork will all have your taste buds shouting "olé." The Chicken Milanese is richly flavored with garlic and sage, served with rosemary-infused potatoes with arugula in a tomato concasse. If you want plainer food, try the Prado Cheeseburger. The luscious dessert tray varies daily.

Description:

Check out Firehouse Beach Cafe, a lively, fun place to eat. Located next to a firehouse, its menu is enormous, including nachos, burgers, pasta, chicken and seafood. A favorite item is the Martini Pasta, which boasts dry vermouth among the sauce ingredients. As the name suggests, this restaurant has many spicy dishes, which are indicated on the menu with a chili pepper next to the dish. Some dishes get two chili peppers, like the Firehouse Wings. There are several daily specials like Margarita Mondays and a Bloody Mary bar on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Description:

The indie set that eschews the glitz of the Gaslamp Quarter flocks to this club, located in a rather sketchy part of town. Part of a minichain that includes outlets in New York, San Francisco, and Austin, it presents live music, as well special events like burlesque and fashion shows. Martini manicures available, too. Open daily from 7pm.

Description:

This relatively new hot spot in downtown San Diego offers out-of-town guests a taste of big time city within casual-chic San Diego. The Envy at the Ivy Hotel is a four level nightclub perfect for anyone who just wants to escape - with a bottom level full of fist pumping beats, a rooftop for those looking to catch a great view and VIP guests galore.

Description:

Customize your glass of wine with the right cheese or pick up the bottle of your choice (even if it is a hard-to-find choice)-only at the Wine Steals. They have created the perfect backdrop for wine tasting that will take you to a European winery with the most knowledgeable of staff. Whether you are a well-seasoned drinker or a newcomer in the world of wines-there's something for each one of you at the Wine Steals.

Description:

As its name suggest, The Shout House is the place where you can scream, yell and just bellow your lungs out. This club offers unique entertainment. It has a dueling piano bar with talented musicians, who keep the night alive by playing all the audiences' requests. Sing along or just enjoy the night with some drinks and food. The restaurant is also available for private parties, events and receptions.

Our Local Expert Says:

This restaurant is a good option in the Gaslamp Quarter if you're looking for a somewhat sophisticated, low key ambience.

Description:

Named for the late, great singer Jim Croce, this trendy spot in the downtown Gaslamp Quarter run by his wife, Ingrid, is an ideal place for people-watching, while enjoying live jazz entertainment. From time to time, the late performer's son (now known in his own right), pops in with his friends to jam. The food is good, unpretentious American and you cannot go wrong with the selection of steaks and seafood, particularly the Grilled Ahi or Swordfish.

Description:

Right in the middle of Gaslamp, The Bitter End is a low-key dive bar that is threateningly deceiving from the front but surprises local and tourist patrons with its multi-entry level that offers a VIP lounge, dance floor and basement venue for local and national comedy acts. Earning some press for performances by national comedy acts put together by local act Mal Hall, The Bitter End entertains all audiences with its swift drink and pounding music. There isn't anything you aren't going to get at The Bitter End, so park at Horton Plaza and enjoy a night where the streets are filled with gas.

Description:

This relatively new entry onto the San Diego nightclub scene in the Gaslamp has attracted a loyal posse of followers. Striving for a classic decadence recalling the renowned clubs of Hollywood, the club also hosts celebrity events. The tapas-style snack prices are surprisingly reasonable and the standards of service are in sharp contrast to the idea of "laid-back San Diego". You can 'rent' a table for ten with a premium bottle, endless mixers, and a private VIP waitress for about $275 and up. Unlike most venues in San Diego, the dress code is self-defined as "upscale" and is strictly enforced.

Description:

As one of the favorite local spots in Ocean Beach, the Farmer's Market on Wednesday evenings is a place to enjoy both the beach location of OB and local performers, food and company. Celebrating the local, Wednesday evenings Ocean Beach's main drag (Newport Avenue) is closed off between Cable and Bacon streets where locals meander through festive foods favorites like flavored almonds, fresh panini's, mini donuts, sliced fruit and grilled corn on the cob. Ponies sometimes wander through the block, giving children rides, while musical acts entertain patrons at the edge of the streets with varying music - from punk-pop to jazz. The Ocean Beach Farmer's Market is often the most extensive of the traveling event with clothing and jewelry vendors.

Our Local Expert Says:

During the summer, there are concerts Tues.-Thurs. evenings performed by a variety of local bands, generally from 6:15pm-7:15 pm

Description:

Aside from Spreckel's Organ being one of the world's largest outdoor pipes, this centerpiece for downtown's Balboa Park plays at the city's tendencies toward outdoor adventure, as annual outdoor excursions to Balboa Park wouldn't be complete without a trip to Spreckel's. Whether there is a special performance happening or not, the benches that line the front part of the stage are great places to enjoy picnics or each other's company. Yet during the season, events happen nightly - from holiday events to national ballet companies, where patrons enjoy a picnic and a show under the bright stars or shimmering San Diego sky.

Our Local Expert Says:

If the weather is fine, opt to sit on the garden patio!

Description:

Graciously housed in the House of Hospitality, this venue has hosted myriad weddings, parties and intimate dinners. Casual elegance with a Spanish-fusion flavor is on the menu in the heart of Balboa Park. Zesty seafood paella, wild mushroom risotto, or adobo braised pork will all have your taste buds shouting "olé." The Chicken Milanese is richly flavored with garlic and sage, served with rosemary-infused potatoes with arugula in a tomato concasse. If you want plainer food, try the Prado Cheeseburger. The luscious dessert tray varies daily.