Where to stay in San Diego

You’ll find plenty of bachelorette parties and recently turned 21-year-olds celebrating downtown, but there’s so much more to the area than that. Home to the San Diego Padres Petco Park, the Civic Theatre and many incredible restaurants and bars, visitors can find something for everyone in this very walkable area. And if you don’t want to walk, just grab a pedicab.

Eat: Animae is a Wagyu steakhouse restaurant in the Marina District of downtown. Opened by celebrity chef Brian Malarky in 2019, it’s a chic Asian fusion cuisine restaurant that is wildly popular (ahem, make those reservations!). For something slightly more casual, with all the San Diego flavor, visit Puesto at the Headquarters for unmissable tacos, and their famous Puesto Perfect margaritas.

Drink: Hidden behind a keg wall inside the Neighborhood restaurant, Noble Experiment is a craft cocktail lover’s dream. The dimly lit and intimate space has no menu and is based on the imbiber’s likes. They are open daily from 6pm to 2am and reservations for this remarkable bar are highly recommended.

Do: The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park was a welcomed addition to San Diego’s music scene when it debuted in 2021. Located on the Embarcadero Marina Park South, if you’re fortunate enough to visit in the summer, catch the San Diego Symphony’s Summer Pops series. These concerts have featured various famous artists and popular movies with the Symphony providing the soundtrack under the stars.

Stay: Located in the Gaslamp Quarter, the Pendry San Diego features 317 guestrooms and suites and is one the chicest and most centrally located hotels downtown. Enjoy the spa, rooftop pool, six restaurants and bars, and even the Oxford Social Club. The AC Hotel in the Gaslamp is another new, ideally located hotel by the Marriott Bonvoy group. The 147-room hotel is walkable to many restaurants, bars and nightlife locations. It includes Techo Beso, a rooftop bar with stunning views and refreshing cocktails.

If you do just one thing…splurge on a pedicab. While San Diego’s downtown is not as overwhelming as most major cities’ downtown areas, getting from East Village to the Gaslamp and over to the Marina can be a bit of a walk (especially in heels). There’s no better way to get around than with a hardworking pedicab driver blasting your favorite tunes.

This evolving neighborhood has seen drastic changes over the last few decades. It now bursts with new breweries, cafés, restaurants, shops and more. On weekend nights, the amount of people who walk up and down the main drag of University Avenue looks just as busy as any given night in downtown. If you’re looking for a hip place to be, near one of its annual festivals, this might be your neighborhood.

Eat: Since its debut in 2010, the Smoking Goat has rarely disappointed. The California-French-inspired food is served in a cozy bistro on 30th Street, a part of North Park that has seen significant development since the goat’s opening. For brunch, don’t miss the Mission Café, with its Mexican-inspired and healthier take on classic breakfast dishes.

Drink: North Park Beer Co. is just one of several not-to-be-missed breweries in this neighborhood. Centrally located, it’s an ample, welcoming space with various beers on tap. Seven Grand is a dark den of a whiskey bar for cocktails that will make any non-whiskey lover a regular patron. The cozy space serves a variety of cocktails that have been consistently delicious since its opening in 2012.

Do: The Observatory North Park is a historic theatre in North Park that sees a variety of musical talents throughout the year. Before your concert, enjoy a drink or happy hour at the West Coast Tavern, the restaurant and bar at the front of the observatory.

Stay: The Lafayette Hotel & Club recently underwent a massive makeover. Re-opened in the summer of 2023, the 31-million-dollar transformation of this historic hotel includes eight new food and beverage outlets, 139 rooms and glamorous interiors. The signature swimming pool remains the hotel’s focal point, but now with a new poolside bar. A game room called The Gutter features a two-lane bowling alley, pool tables and shuffleboard, while a new spa is expected to open in the fall of 2023.

If you do just one thing… Shop small and support local stores like Artelexia, where you can find Mexican gifts, home décor and Spanish-language books for the little ones. Pigment is a wonderland of a shop with everything from fine jewelry to Voluspa candles, and potted plants for the home. Finally, don’t miss the Instagram-worthy used bookstore, Verbatim Books.

More than 6,000 Italian families once lived and worked in Little Italy, mostly fishermen and their families. With the addition of the 5 freeway in the 1970s and the population growth of San Diego, it’s no longer the quaint Italian-led neighborhood—although plenty of delicious Italian eateries can still be found—and more of the hip place to find the newest restaurants, bars and nightlife.

Eat: It’s difficult to choose just one or two places to eat in Little Italy, but if you’re looking for high-end steak, choose Born & Raised, where the interiors' glamour matches the food's flavors. For delicious Italian with vegan options, visit Civico 1845, a charming restaurant with craft cocktails, homemade pasta and a small outdoor patio in the heart of Little Italy.

Drink: Kettner Exchange has one of the few rooftops in Little Italy, and it doesn’t disappoint with its views of the harbor and neighborhood below. It has ample seating and an impressive cocktail menu. For a fun tiki-style cocktail experience, visit False Idol inside the Craft & Commerce restaurant; reservations are highly recommended at this intimate bar.

Do: Visit during one of the neighborhood’s many festivals. Art Walk San Diego in the spring brings thousands of visitors to purchase artwork and enjoy music. The Taste of Little Italy allows visitors to sample what many restaurants and bistros in the area offer, and the weekly Little Italy Mercato is one of the city’s most popular farmers’ markets.

Stay: Carte Hotel, while a bit of a distance from India Street—Little Italy’s famous dine and drink area—is an upscale hotel with plenty of amenities and a lovely rooftop bar. Its rooftop also features a large screen to showcase popular games and other significant broadcasts. Plenty of lounge seating offers imbibers a chance to enjoy a drink with beautiful bay and downtown skyline views.

If you do just one thing… Listen to opera singers and other musicians belt out their favorite songs in the Piazza della Famiglia. Opened in 2018, the piazza has plenty of seating, umbrellas and great opportunities for people-watching.

This sleepy neighborhood is home to the Cabrillo National Monument, the formal Naval Training Center, Liberty Station, a large Portuguese population and plenty of military history. If you’re looking for a place for the family to gather, enjoy a festival or two, or do outdoor activities with impeccable scenery, Point Loma is an area to consider.

Eat: Liberty Public Market is an excellent go-to for those who can’t decide what to eat. Opened in 2016 in Liberty Station, it is San Diego’s first public market, with 35 vendors selling everything from ramen noodles to wine to trinkets for your pet. Plenty of outdoor seating makes this a very family and dog-friendly spot.

Drink: Bali Hai Restaurant is known for its incredible seafood and fantastic views, but it also has a bar area serving the stiffest Mai Tais in the city since its opening in 1954. The beer at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens is world-renowned and their gorgeous restaurant and event space can be found inside Liberty Station’s historic location. Gather with friends around their outdoor fire pit, play bocce ball with family, or have dinner with one of their 40 brews or a glass of wine inside their enormous but welcoming space.

Do: Enjoy one of Liberty Station’s many outdoor events. From book festivals to food festivals, marathons and more, the station has seen it all and continues to hold incredible events in its park and patios. Check their calendar for year-round activities for adults and kids alike.

Stay: The Pearl Hotel was originally a sportsman lodge in the 1960s and is now a cute boutique-style, 23-room property with a central swimming pool and restaurant bar called Charles + Dinorah. American fare and classic cocktails can be found, and their dine-in movie nights, where movies are shown on an outdoor screen by the pool are wildly popular.

If you do just one thing… take a drive up to the Cabrillo National Monument, pay the $10 parking fee and enjoy the unparalleled views of San Diego’s Bay, its downtown and beyond. You can visit the historic lighthouse while you’re up there, visit the whirlpools at the peninsula’s base, or take a hike down one of its easy trails.

Famous for its college crowds, Pacific Beach has seen some maturity in recent years. If you are looking to lay on the beach all day and bar hop at night, this is still the place for you, but if you’d like a little variety (maybe a nice sit-down dinner after basking in the sun all day), we got you covered.

Eat: Head to Pueblo for stellar Mexican seafood and a lively rooftop with a bar. Vegan and vegetable items and classic and freshly made margaritas are available. For casual and quick tacos, visit Oscars Mexican Seafood. Their ceviche is not to be missed, and the perfect meal after a long day on the beach.

Drink: The Grass Skirt is a tiki bar and lounge that has not lost popularity since opening in 2016. This speakeasy-style bar has fire and other theatrics to keep guests entertained, large booths for your crew, and even a dinner menu with Southeast Asian dishes. Crushed is a great place for a good brunch but is also known for its mimosa flights, beer flights and margarita flights. Get a little bit of everything in one spot.

Do: Stop whatever you’re doing and watch a sunset. No matter the time of year, everyone gathers around the sand to watch the unmatched beauty of the sunset dipping into the Pacific. Whether you’re strolling the boardwalk or enjoying a brew on a rooftop, take a deep breath and appreciate the natural beauty that San Diego provides.

Stay: The Tower 23 Hotel is a beachfront boutique hotel on the famous Pacific Beach boardwalk. The rooms offer gorgeous ocean views in a modern, high-end design. It also features the popular JRDN restaurant, perfect for brunching while people-watching. Sip on a chili mango margarita while eating a BLT lobster sandwich on the outdoor patio.

If you do just one thing… Lay on the beach. This is one of the most famous beaches in San Diego, and for a good reason: If you want to be seen, want a nice tan, or feel like going for a swim, this is where to do it. And best of all? It’s free.