San Diego
History
Center
Through
January 2020,
the San Diego
History Center
Archives will
present LGBTQ+
San Diego:
Stories of
Struggles and
Triumphs. The
moving tribute
to the city’s
queer community
explores themes
of identity,
overcoming
persecution,
the families
we choose,
the power of
community
and the people
who’ve helped
make it what
it is today.
SANDIEGOHISTORY.ORG
LGBT
ALTHOUGH THE HILLCREST
NEIGHBORHOOD, FILLED WITH
LIVELY BARS, EXCEPTIONAL
SHOPPING AND SOME OF THE
BEST RESTAURANTS IN TOWN,
IS TRADITIONALLY CONSIDERED
THE HUB OF SAN DIEGO’S LGBT
SCENE, THERE’S FUN TO BE HAD
ALL OVER TOWN
EAT
Hillcrest is home to a robust and growing international food scene. Seriously,
you could eat your way around the world
without ever leaving the neighborhood.
Francophiles should hit Au Revoir French
Bistro or La Bonne Table; Bombay is the
place to go for upscale Indian fare, and
Taste of the Himalayas focuses on subcontinental eats. For Japanese, try RB
Sushi, Rakitori or Ramen Izakaya Ouan;
for Vietnamese, head to Saigon on Fifth or
Pho Fifth Avenue. In the mood for Mexican? Check out La Fuente, Ortega’s, or
La Vecinidad. Khyber Pass serves Afghan
cuisine, Kous Kous is Moroccan, and
Espettos dishes out Brazilian skewers.
Arrivederci and Maestoso serve Italian
cuisine and Amarin Thai, Taste of Thai
and Lotus Thai all serve—you guessed it—
delicious Thai food. Aladdin serves Middle Eastern fare, Micho’z Fresh Lebanese
Grill serves Lebanese and Mediterranean
cuisine, and Taste of Denmark focuses on
the Scandinavian country’s favorites.
STAY
The cozy Hillcrest House Bed and Breakfast is perfect for a romantic getaway. The
historic Lafayette Hotel in North Park
exudes Old Hollywood glam. Lounge
by any of the three sparkling pools (one
adults-only) at the 439-room Loews Coronado Bay Resort before getting pampered
at the spa or working up a sweat in a
group exercise class. Minutes from Hillcrest, downtown and Balboa Park, Inn
at the Park offers oversized suites and
a rooftop sun deck. Soak up the vintage
vibes at The Pearl Hotel and check out
what’s playing poolside at their “dive-in
theater” or dine at the much-buzzed-about
Charles + Dinorah.
PLAY
Drop by Martinis Above Fourth for one of
their namesake cocktails (there are over
100 to choose from) and a cabaret show.
There’s no place else like InsideOUT, a
chic indoor/outdoor craft cocktail spot
nestled amid a ring of live/work towers.
Pick up a pint at Hillcrest Brewing Company, the first openly gay-owned brewery
in the world; or put on a show at low-key Redwing Bar & Grill in North Park:
There’s karaoke every night. Check out
women’s bar Gossip Grill, then party the
night away at The Rail, Flicks, or Rich’s.
Catch a show at Diversionary Theatre, a
cozy venue, which has been telling complex LGBT stories for over three decades.
Watch glamorous drag queens lip sync and
dance their hearts out during nightly dinner shows and Sunday brunch at Lips or
join RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner
Chad Michaels for the weekly Dreamgirls
Revue at Urban Mo’s.
88 | SAN DIEGO VISITOR GUIDE Fall/ Winter 2018
LOEWS CORONADO
BAY RESORT