If you’re looking for things to do in Gaslamp Quarter San Diego and the surrounding Downtown area, take some advice from a local San Diegan!
Where does someone who grew up in San Diego take visitors? In this post you’ll find ideas of things to do, places to stay and restaurants you CANNOT miss when spending a night (or a weekend!) out in Downtown San Diego.
Start your day in Downtown San Diego with an excellent cup of coffee
The perfect way to start your day in the Gaslamp San Diego? Coffee (well, and donuts, scroll down to read more about Donut Bar)!
Known for it’s fantastic coffee, checkout Blue Bottle Coffee. Originating in a garage in Hayes Valley, San Francisco, this coffee shop now has many locations serving it’s well made coffee and Blue Bottle Cold Brew.
What is Blue Bottle Cold Brew? It’s a method for making iced coffee, but better. Learn more in their brew guide here.
In their Downtown San Diego coffee shop you’ll find a simple design, perfectly made coffee (with options for alternative milks such as oat milk) and a small selection of pastries.
You might be wondering: Why is Blue Bottle Coffee so good?
Blue Bottle Coffee is known for its high-quality, specialty coffee that is carefully sourced, roasted, and prepared. There are several reasons why many people consider Blue Bottle Coffee to be so good:
- Quality sourcing: Blue Bottle Coffee sources their beans from high-quality, sustainable sources, often working directly with farmers to ensure that they are paid fairly and that the beans are of the highest quality.
- Freshness: Blue Bottle Coffee roasts their beans in small batches and ships them to their cafes within 48 hours, ensuring that customers receive the freshest coffee possible.
- Careful preparation: Blue Bottle Coffee is known for its precise brewing methods and attention to detail, which helps to bring out the unique flavors and characteristics of each coffee.
- Commitment to excellence: Blue Bottle Coffee is committed to providing exceptional customer service and creating a welcoming and inviting atmosphere in their cafes.
All of these factors contribute to the overall quality and reputation of Blue Bottle Coffee, and help to make it a favorite among coffee lovers.
Find the best donuts in Downtown San Diego at Donut Bar
Forget about the gym and eat all the donuts at Donut Bar.
This famous donut shop doesn’t just carry your average donut. So what’s on the Donut Bar menu? Expect over the top flavors (such as the Big Poppa Tart Donut, which is a giant, rectangular donut filled with strawberry jam and topped with a Pop-Tart, or the Creme Brulee Donut, which is filled with a vanilla bean custard and topped with caramelized sugar or the “Homer” which literally looks like something out of The Simpsons cartoon except it’s as large as your head) and enough options to make you hold up an entire line of people while you scramble to make a decision.
Donut Bar in San Diego is a popular destination for donut lovers for a few key reasons:
- High-quality ingredients: Donut Bar uses high-quality, locally sourced ingredients to make their donuts, including organic flour, fresh fruits, and premium chocolate.
- Freshness: Donut Bar makes their donuts fresh every day, ensuring that customers get to enjoy them at the peak of their flavor and texture.
- Social media presence: Donut Bar has a strong social media presence, which has helped to create buzz and generate excitement around their donuts. They frequently share photos of their creative flavors and limited-edition specials, which has helped to generate interest and keep customers coming back.
All of these factors contribute to the popularity of Donut Bar in San Diego, and have helped to establish it as a destination for donut lovers both in San Diego and beyond.
Donut Bar Menu
One thing to consider? Pre-order your donuts!
Many flavors will run out if you don’t go first thing in the morning. In theory you’ve stayed out late (and had late night tacos .. see that recommendation below) so rolling in minutes before the donut shop closes at 1pm might feel a little more convenient.
Indulge in pork belly benedicts at this San Diego Gaslamp brunch spot
Werewolf American Pub is a popular restaurant located in downtown San Diego, known for its casual atmosphere and American pub-style cuisine.
Take one peep at Werewolf’s Yelp page and you’ll notice EVERYBODY is ordering the pork belly benedict. There is a reason. Take a fatty piece of pork and put it on top of a perfectly crispy potato cake and top it with a poached egg and some maple glaze and a bit of cilantro. It’s literally magic.
Not only that, the fun isn’t limited to just the weekend. This Gaslamp brunch spot is open daily serving breakfast and brunch items.
Pair your brunch with the Werewolf bloody mary and now we are in business.
This is a casual restaurant where the entire staff will greet and wait on you. It’s incredibly friendly with loud (often hip hop) music and fun approachable vibes.
Come late night for karaoke or DJs on the weekends and some wings, fries and free popcorn from the serve-yourself machine in the back.
Imbibe at the best speakeasy in San Diego
Actually it’s not just one speakeasy, but it’s two speakeasies that are side by side.
Catch dinner at Neighborhood then duck into one of their two speakeasies: Young Blood or Noble Experiment
Have you ever been to speakeasy? If not, look no further than these two san diego speakeasy spots that are literally hidden behind a “door” of kegs (it tricked my boyfriend!). Both locations do it right: they are exclusive, the ambiance is fantastic and they make custom drinks.
However, don’t skip over the restaurant!
On it’s own, Neighborhood is a fantastic cocktail bar and restaurant serving delicious bone marrow, pirogies, mac and cheese (with Doritos on top) and so much more.
But head into the back area and you’ll find two speakeasies that aren’t so “easy to get into”.
Young Blood is very difficult to get into as a walk in. Make sure to make reservations on their website well in advance and be at your reservation exactly on time (they will not hold your table for long given the high demand).
OR cross your fingers and try to do a walk-in like I did to Noble Experiment. The wait wasn’t short (90 minutes), but is it worth it? Yes.
You’ll find great service and bartenders that will take their time to understand what you like so they can cater a drink to you (or find really fun options on their set cocktail menu).
However, I recommend to roll the dice if you’re feeling lucky, tell them what you normally like to drink (gin? whisky? and let them decide what to create for you).
Note: like many “true” cocktail bars and speakeasies, they do not serve vodka (gin only).
Stop adulting and go to this San Diego bar arcade
Want another unique bar experience? Try Coin-Op, which is an ARCADE bar.
Think pinball machines, skee ball, tons of old school (and brand new, modern) video arcade games. What’s most important? It has a full bar (and food) with great bartenders slinging up anything that fits your fancy.
Bring your dollar bills for the change machine and find a full bar and food menu at this bar arcade located right in the heart of the Gaslamp quarter.
Want to SEE what this bar arcade looks like (plus find MORE helpful tips)? See the FULL video below!
Dance the night away at a San Diego Nightclub
The Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego is known for its vibrant nightlife scene and has several popular nightclubs and bars and there is no shortage of places to cut a rug in San Diego, read on for some hot spots to consider!
Oxford Social Nightclub at The Pendry Hotel San Diego
For a more mature and sophisticated vibe, consider the nightclub within the newly built Pendry Hotel San Diego. A luxury boutique hotel with a fantastic location in the heart of the San Diego Gaslamp district. Oxford Social nightclub is mainly tables for bottle service only (with no central dance floor).
There are two bars in the space (one in the front and one the back) and it’s a fantastic atmosphere for having drinks and dancing.
Onyx Nightclub
With 3 rooms spinning different music, you have a great chance of finding the vibe that’s right for you. The night I was there the had hip hop/reggaeton in one room, spanish music and salsa in the next, and club/electronic music in the main room.
Tip: add yourself to the guest list and go early to enjoy the bar and get discounted entry.
While this may or may NOT be the case for you, the night I was there, the speakers were completely blown out in the main room and the crowd in all rooms was VERY young (i.e. early to mid 20s). I won’t be back, but I still enjoyed my night out.
Other popular nightclubs in the Gaslamp
- Omnia San Diego: This large nightclub is known for its high-energy dance floor and impressive lighting and sound system. It hosts weekly events featuring top DJs and performers.
- Parq Nightclub: Parq is a multi-level nightclub with a sleek and modern design. It features a large dance floor, VIP sections, and a rooftop lounge area.
- FLUXX Nightclub: This nightclub has a unique and ever-changing decor, with themes that range from futuristic to whimsical. It features a large dance floor, multiple bars, and VIP seating areas.
- ALTITUDE Sky Lounge: Located on the rooftop of the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, ALTITUDE offers stunning views of downtown San Diego and a sophisticated lounge atmosphere. It features a large outdoor terrace and an extensive drink menu.
- The Tipsy Crow: This popular bar and nightclub has a vintage-inspired design and features multiple levels with different music and entertainment options, including a dance floor and a speakeasy-style lounge area.
Nightclub suggestions from Jay of Jaycation
I asked my fave San Diego Vlogger Jay of Jaycation what nightclubs he would recommend and he suggested these two:
Want more from Jay? Here are his suggestion for top things to do in the San Diego Gaslamp quarter!
A few more of his suggestions:
- Casual bars with an easy vibe like Bub’s at the Ballpark or Bar Basic (both located near Petco Park)
- Breweries like Half Door Brewing or Bay City Brewing
- If you’re looking for rooftop views consider The Nolen
Eat the BEST tacos in San Diego
If you’re looking the most authentic taco, look no further than Tacos El Gordo in Downtown San Diego.
Open till 4am, this popular taco spot now has a location in the Gaslamp quarter. Instead of getting in line and ordering, you make your way through a cafeteria-like experience. There is a separate area for each taco type and choose wisely because they are ALL delicious.
There is some seating upstairs, but expect a long line out front at all times of the day (and night).
Side note: it’s difficult to find DECENT late night pizza and it’s generally $6+ a slice
The thing to do in Little Italy is eat and drink
Located a short 5-10 minute drive from The Gaslamp Quarter OR San Diego Airport, Little Italy is the perfect spot for dinner and drinks and more!
Little Italy is a vibrant neighborhood in downtown San Diego known for its Italian heritage and culture, as well as its wide array of restaurants, shops, and art galleries. Here are a few things to know about Little Italy:
- History: Little Italy was originally settled by Italian immigrants in the early 1900s, who established a strong community in the area. Today, Little Italy pays tribute to its heritage with annual events like the Festa!, which celebrates Italian culture with food, music, and entertainment.
- Dining: Little Italy is known for its excellent dining options, with a variety of restaurants serving Italian cuisine, as well as other international dishes. Some popular spots include Civico 1845, Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, and Ballast Point Brewing.
- Art and Culture: Little Italy is home to a number of art galleries, including the Little Italy Art Walk, which is held twice a year and features over 100 artists. The neighborhood is also home to the Piazza della Famiglia, a public square that hosts events and activities throughout the year.
- Shopping: Little Italy has a variety of shops and boutiques, including clothing stores, jewelry shops, and specialty food stores. Visitors can find everything from handmade pasta to imported olive oil to artisanal gelato.
A few favorites restaurants in Little Italy
- Craft and Commerce – This is a FUN restaurant and bar (with a tiki bar, called False Idol, hidden inside!) with over the top decor. You’ll find fun cocktails and a delicious menu. Don’t miss sitting outside with each table having it’s own fire pit. See their latest menu here.
- Cloak and Petal – A hip atmosphere serving up Japanese food, cocktails, sake and Japanese Whisky, this spot is trendy, but welcoming. Pull up a bar seat underneath the cherry blossom tree in the middle of the bar.
Where to stay in Downtown San Diego
If you’re looking for hotels in Downtown San Diego or an Airbnb San Diego Gaslamp there are endless options. In my experience, if you are looking to stay somewhere in The Gaslamp Quarter and you’re looking for a location that is in the heart of things and allows you to walk, often it is more cost effective to use a hotel than an airbnb or other rental (even if it’s a nicer hotel).
I’ve stayed at The Hilton Gaslamp quarter a few times and while the location is fantastic, depending on your room type and rate you lock in at, it can be an underwhelming experience. I had a very basic room that was not inexpensive when I last stayed there. Click here to read more about that experience.
Why is it called the Gaslamp Quarter?
Where did the name come from given it’s referred to as the “Historic” Gaslamp Quarter?
The Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego got its name from the gas lamps that used to line its streets in the late 1800s. At that time, the area was known as New Town and was a bustling center of commerce and entertainment. In 1867, the city installed gas lamps along the streets to provide light for pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages, which quickly earned the neighborhood the nickname “the Gaslamp District.”
Over time, the neighborhood went through several periods of decline and revitalization, with many of the original gas lamps being removed or replaced. However, in the 1980s, a major restoration effort began, aimed at preserving and restoring the historic buildings and infrastructure of the Gaslamp Quarter. Today, the area is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, known for its nightlife, dining, and shopping options, as well as its rich history and architecture.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a fun night (or weekend!) out in Downtown San Diego, there is no shortage of options of things to eat, drink or places to dance the night away at. Consider staying the weekend to enjoy dinner in Little Italy, a speakeasy bar and then a night out on the town.