Today we’re talking about all of the great neighborhoods in downtown San Diego! Keep reading to check out what each area has to offer and if you’d like to take a look at any available properties, just reach out.
Little Italy
Little Italy is one of my favorite areas in downtown San Diego. This neighborhood has grown over the last few years and has become a very walkable, trendy area with some of the best restaurants in San Diego including Kettner Exchange, Juniper & Ivy, and The Crack Shack, just to name a few. There are also great breweries, wine tasting rooms, and coffee shops to visit in Little Italy. It’s also home to Waterfront Bar & Grill, which is one of the oldest bars in San Diego! Legend has it that Wyatt Earp himself was a frequent guest at Waterfront Bar & Grill.
Local parks include Amici Park and Waterfront Park, which host concerts and other events throughout the year. Little Italy is a great neighborhood for younger people as there is a good nightlife presence and it is very centrally located in downtown. Forbes Magazine even ranked it one of the best places for Millennials to live in the US!
Columbia District
This area is mostly a commercial district, but in recent years it has expanded to include residential housing and other amenities as well. Savina is one of the new luxury condo buildings in this area that has become popular as the Columbia District continues to grow.
Marina District
The Marina District is home to the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego’s Embarcadero, and Seaport Village. Seaport Village is a large attraction for this area, with fourteen acres of walkable cobblestone streets lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes to enjoy.
Looking for a great view of the city? Be sure to stop into the Manchester Grand Hyatt in the Marina District for a panoramic view of the city! Then visit Café 222, one of my favorite breakfast and brunch spots in the area. It’s a mustptry! And if movie nostalgia is your thing, you’ll want to stop by Kansas City Barbecue, which is where many bar scenes from the movie Top Gun were filmed!
Cortez Hill
Cortez Hill is another great area of downtown San Diego! Mostly residential, it has more of a cozy, neighborhood feel than other areas of downtown. It’s also a very historic area, with beautiful architecture including the St. Joseph’s Cathedral and the California Western School of Law, which has been in Cortez Hill since 1973. Also, because Cortez Hill isn’t in the heart of downtown, parking isn’t as difficult to find in this area.
Core District
This area is home to many government buildings, the San Diego Civic Center, and the Symphony Towers. Keep in mind there is not much, if any, residential space in this area of downtown. On any given day, you’re likely to see lots of business professionals rushing out for lunch during the day and theatre lovers heading to the Civic Center in the evening. Horton Plaza also used to anchor this neighborhood of downtown, but we’ll have to wait for the revitalization work to be done to see what will go up in its place!
Gaslamp Quarter
The Historic Gaslamp Quarter is probably the most popular area of downtown San Diego. This area is frequented by many tourists and is often the place to be on any given weekend. Because of this, there are plans underway to turn the busy 5th Avenue into a pedestrian-only street, making it an even more walkable neighborhood. There are many restaurants, bars, clubs, shops, and more to enjoy year-round here. We also host San Diego Comic Con every year, along with other seasonal events that turn Gaslamp into a hub for both visitors and locals alike.
East Village
East Village is another one of my favorite neighborhoods in downtown San Diego! This neighborhood is home to the beautiful Petco Park, which opened in 2004. Since then, the area has grown and expanded because. You can even live in a condo that has a birds-eye view right into the ballpark from your balcony! How cool is that? I would love to own one of these one day.
East Village is also home to some unique restaurants, art galleries, and coffee shops, with more popping up each year. This is a very walkable neighborhood that is great for people of any age or lifestyle!
