San Diego Visitors Guide - San Diego Official Visitors Guide

Downtown
Head to the East Village’s
Quartyard, a grown-up play-
ground with food trucks, flicks,
libations, live music and more.
THREE GREAT RIDES
Historical buildings, eclectic public spaces and a booming dining scene infuse
downtown with endless energy. By day, it’s family friendly. Later, the area’s many
bars and clubs draw an animated crowd of nighttime revelers.

NEIGHBORHOODS

20 | sandiego.org Fall/Winter 2015-16 BIKE IT

1Harbor Island 3. 4 miles from downtown Take the bike path that runs parallel to North Harbor Drive to this two-mile peninsula. Snap some pics at Harbor Island Park before heading to Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (2150 Harbor Island Drive) or

C Level (880 Harbor Island Drive) to refuel
with happy hour bites and drinks (and
enjoy an amazing view of the bay).

2 Liberty Station and NTC Park 4. 7 miles from downtown Shopping, dining, art and history can be found at this former naval training center. Stop for a leisurely lunch at one of the many local restaurants or pick up snacks from one of two grocery stores and then picnic at

NTC Park.

3 Shelter Island 5. 7 miles from downtown Located just east of Harbor Island, this 1.2-mile-long peninsula is home to public art pieces like the Tunaman’s Memorial, the Yokohama Friendship Bell and Pearl of the Pacific, a mosaic fountain. Before you ride back, visit the Bali Hai (2230 Shelter Island Drive) for a tropical mai tai.

DINING DESTINATIONS

From a quick bite to full-on fine dining, you’ll find what you’re looking for in downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter. Hot new spots include Rustic Root (535 Fifth Ave.), with hearty New American fare and a rooftop patio; Water Grill (615 J St.), the multimillion-dollar seafood stunner; and Sovereign Vietnamese Kitchen and Bar (467 Fifth Ave.), a dual-concept modern Vietnamese restaurant with an attached casual kitchen, called Food Shop, slinging affordable banh mi, pho and wok dishes.

PARTY AFTER DARK

Dress up and get down at Omnia (454 Sixth Ave.), San Diego’s shimmering new nightlife destination, or Parq (615 Broadway), where an Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant gives way to a

38,000-square-foot dance club. EDM fans should head to Bassmnt

(919 Fourth Ave.), where top DJs spin for a packed house. For a more relaxed vibe, hang at Quad Alehouse (868 Fifth Ave.), a newly minted second-story craft beer haven, or roast s’mores and sip coffee cocktails on the patio at Halcyon (1429 Island Ave.).

PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES Downtown’s East Village is booming like never before, with new public parks and creative spaces to soak in the scene. Hang with the locals (and their pups) at Quartyard (1102 Market St.), a pop-up park with free Wi-Fi, a dog run, beer, sausages, coffee and a rotating selection of food trucks; or kick back at the brand-new Fault Line Park (14th and Island Ave.), complete with reflective spheres, grass moguls and two playgrounds.

GET HAPPY Budget-friendly booze and bites abound downtown, where restaurants and bars roll out discounts as early as 3 p.m. A few standout steals include Bice’s $5 deals on beer, wine, cocktails and an array of small plates (425 Island Ave., 5–7 p.m. daily) and 21 tapas priced at

$5 apiece, along with sangria specials at Café 21 (802 Fifth Ave., 3–6 p.m. daily). On Tuesdays, get $4 tostadas and Mexican beers all night long at Común Kitchen & Tavern (935 J St.).