Headed to San Diego next week on business... I always like to spice up my business trips by going out to good restaurants and bars the locals might know, etc. (i.e. not tourist traps)
Someone sent me a link about the gaslamp (gaslight?) area. Is that touristy?
Where are some cool places to go for dinner or drinks? We'll be in the convention center area, but can cab it anywhere (or take the hotel shuttle).
Also, good running trails?
Thanks!
~dc
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~ dc
"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination" - Oscar Wilde
The gaslamp is basically the main center of nightlife in SD. It is not touristy in a sense that only tourists go there. It is only a few blocks from the convention center, so you should be able to walk. Another area is Pacific Beach, which also has bars and clubs, but more casual atmosphere ( everyone in jeans ) and it is mostly college students. Hillcrest/North Park also has great restaurants, but not as many lounges. As for clubs/nightlife in Gaslamp, you could try the W hotel, great lounge. For something louder, try On broadway or Onyx Room. Stay away from the Bitter End ( it really is the Bitter End...40 year old single bitter women trying to hook up ) uck...HTH!
For drinks and/or dinner I highly recommend the Hotel W. Any of the restaurants and bars there are great. It's a bit of a walk, but it would be a cheap cab ride.
"Seen and be scene" type places: Chive, Thin, Sidebar, Airport Bar, Aubergine Pub: the Field, the Local Clubbing: On Broadway, Onyx Room
There are tons of restaurants with every type of cuisine you can think of: Persian, Indian, Thai, Japanese/sushi, Vietnamese, Italian, Spanish ...
Great steak w/ great wine list: Greystone
All of these places will be in the phone book, or the concierge can give directions. All of this is in about a 10 square block area.
Running: on the other side of Harbor Drive from the convention center, there is a long path that starts at Petco Park (the Padres ballpark, hard to miss) and ends up at the bay. Or start where Harbor Drive runs into the bay, and there is a long path that starts at the Midway museum (the aircraft carrier) and follows along the bay for about 3 or 4 miles.
If you go to the W, check out the Beach Bar - it's on an outdoor deck on the second or third floor of the hotel with heated sand floors, fire pits and couches for lounging. The restaurant at the W is good, but not great in my opinion. The last time I was in San Diego, we ate at the W one night and at Chive the next - I thought Chive was a much better restaurant.
i agree with LA Gal's recs--you really won't get better mexican food than in old town--very authentic. i've been to the W a few times and it is nice--the beach bar is on the roof and if it's nice out, really pretty to go up there and watch the sunset. the club/lounge thing is the most "hollywood" scene happening in SD--it gets really crowded. i like the sidebar, which is right around the corner from there, and the local (like escrime said, more of a low-key pub).
thanks, girls! this is all so helpful - I'll print it out. Another q... what to wear? (aside from my stupid work/convention clothes)? I guess the weather will be in the 60s... what do people wear out at night (dinner/drinks)? I don't want to look all uptight and overdressed.
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~ dc
"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination" - Oscar Wilde
It has been raining a lot lately, so be prepared. As for going out, there are lots of black pants and designer jeans paired with cute camis..etc..not too dressy but not casual either. I guess its the same going out attire as in any other city..
I'm in SD frequently (my boss is in SD). Anyway, we always have lunch at Jakes in DelMar. Yummy, yummy, yummy hula pie (macadamia nut ice cream in cookie crust, fudge, whipped cream--need I say more?) with great views of the ocean. Also like Georges at the Cove. This is in La Jolla, which is also a good place to check out. There is a jewelry store not far from Georges in La Jolla called the Artful Soul that I would check out if you get a chance.
You can get great Mexican in Old Town. There is a place with the most yummy guacamole, but I can't remember the name...ARGH! If I think of it, I'll re-post. It is in the middle of the main drag on the west side of the street...
Finally, if you get a chance go to Balboa Park. In the Artists Spanish Village area they have a gem & mineral museum. There is a guy that sells his jewelry in the corner of the museum. Anyway, he has some nice items (I bought the most gorgeous Larimar ring from him that every jeweler comments on because of the quality and color of the Larimar--the guy knows the owner of the only Larimar mine in the Dominican Republic). Anyway, he has a bunch of jewelry and it is very, very reasonable.
quote: Originally posted by: jah "I'm in SD frequently (my boss is in SD). Anyway, we always have lunch at Jakes in DelMar. Yummy, yummy, yummy hula pie (macadamia nut ice cream in cookie crust, fudge, whipped cream--need I say more?) with great views of the ocean. Also like Georges at the Cove. This is in La Jolla, which is also a good place to check out. There is a jewelry store not far from Georges in La Jolla called the Artful Soul that I would check out if you get a chance. You can get great Mexican in Old Town. There is a place with the most yummy guacamole, but I can't remember the name...ARGH! If I think of it, I'll re-post. It is in the middle of the main drag on the west side of the street... Finally, if you get a chance go to Balboa Park. In the Artists Spanish Village area they have a gem & mineral museum. There is a guy that sells his jewelry in the corner of the museum. Anyway, he has some nice items (I bought the most gorgeous Larimar ring from him that every jeweler comments on because of the quality and color of the Larimar--the guy knows the owner of the only Larimar mine in the Dominican Republic). Anyway, he has a bunch of jewelry and it is very, very reasonable. "
I love Georges for great food and Old Town Mexican Cafe for food. I lived in San Diego through school, La Jolla High School and then UCSD. In fact, below is an email I wrote to my friend recently who was planning a visit to SD (I have included all my recs):
Must go to La Jolla (of course, since it’s my hometown), check out the underwater park in La Jolla Cove and check out the seals also in La Jolla Cove but little more south. I would go check out the seals at night but the underwater park in the afternoon. In fact, I would spend one day in La Jolla. Morning: surfing lesson (highly recommended, www.surfdiva.com), afternoon underwater park, lunch at the Marine Room (food is ok, but the best part is the view, it’s as close as you can get to the water). Dinner at George’s (the upstairs is more casual, and the dining room is more formal) I think food is good at both. Then after dinner stroll through the beach to the Seals area. That’s what I would do if I had one day in San Diego.
Coronado. Check out the hotel (this is where I’m getting married J), seriously! And the town. Very cute, other than hotel it looks sorta like La Jolla.
Old Town San Diego… Must go…. And when there must go to Old Town Mexican Café for food. It’s famous for their carnitas (chunky) and their tortillas (made right in front of you)… Bill Clinton has been there and I always go there when I’m in town. Shit, can you freeze some and ship to Shanghai???
All the night life is in the Gaslamp Quarter, where your hotel is. There are only 2 nightclubs (I don’t think you guys would be going dancing tho), one is called E Street and one is called On Broadway. Now you know why I moved to New York? Some neat bars and lounges in your area too as well as some good restaurants. Can’t think of any right now.
If you want the best sushi in California (for cheap too), go to Sushi Ota 4529 Mission Bay Dr. (Bunker Hill) San Diego (858) 270-5670It is some seriously excellent sushi. People from Japan fly over here to eat there. It’s very casual so don’t worry about dressing up.
If you must, or if you are curious. I could take a side trip to Mexico. DO NOT go to Tijuana, it ’s disgusting. But if you go to Puerto Vallarta (30 min South of Tijuana) there’s excellent lobster. It’s called lobster town. Other than that, there’s nothing else worth it in Mexico.
Ok, now if you want great and cheap food. The stuff I miss when I’m not in California. You must try a real Carne Asada Burrito from El Cotixan (it’s the best you will ever have). Don’t have their address, but you can look them up in the yellow pages. If you’ve never tried In and Out Burgers, then that’s a must as well (order the animal style, which is not in the menu, but they know what you are talking about).
I second Coronado...you must go to Coronado. Go to the Hotel Del Coronado for brunch on the patio...it's beautiful and the food is good too!
A stroll through the hotel is worth the trip. All of the wood, the turrets, it is truly an awesome site...and Joina--it would be a bee-you-tea-full place to get married!