Things to do in Downtown San Diego
Updated September 7, 2023
Downtown is the heart and soul of San Diego, always bursting with activity, energy, and excitement. There are plenty of things to do in Downtown San Diego, and it’s easy to get immersed in a San Diego scavenger hunt with all the landscape of restaurants, bars, and nightlife activities that beckon you around every corner. Never fear! We have highlighted a number of popular and unique spots to check out and things to do in downtown San Diego!
SIGHTSEEING AROUND SAN DIEGO
Get out and enjoy the beautiful sites America’s finest city has to offer. Whether it’s day or night, Downtown San Diego is a visually striking community with several different quirky neighborhoods, a beautiful path along San Diego Bay, and much more.
- San Diego Tours — What better way to get an all-encompassing tour of downtown San Diego than… taking a tour! Hang with an expert who knows the ins and outs of downtown and can showcase the best this unique neighborhood has to offer. If you’re looking for things to do in San Diego’s Gaslamp District specifically, you must check out So Diego’s Gaslamp Food Tour: Brothels, Bites, and Booze tour, which takes you through the interesting buildings and history of the Historic Gaslamp Quarter while providing plenty of delicious food and drinks along the way. You’ll also love the Old Town Trolley because you can hop on and off a myriad of included stops San Diego attractions, such as the San Diego Zoo, the USS Midway, Little Italy, and many more. Speaking of Little Italy, you will want to check out So Diego’s pizza, pasta and wine walking tour to get a taste of some of the most authentic Italian dishes and vino in all of California.
- If you want to explore greater San Diego County, be sure to check out our San Diego neighborhood guide! We highlight the top experiences in our favorite neighborhoods like La Jolla, Coronado Island, North Park, Point Loma, Ocean Beach, and more!
- Walk Around — Downtown San Diego’s ideal weather and convenient walkability factor make exploring by foot an achievable feat. It may take up a whole afternoon, but you can easily access Little Italy, Seaport Village, the Gaslamp Quarter, Portside Pier and more by foot—three highly recommended destinations that could take up a whole day individually. The USS Midway Museum is also reachable by foot and a definite “must” if you’re a museum fanatic. During your walk to the USS Midway Museum, you will also be able to see the San Diego Convention Center and Seaport Village.
- Scoot Around Town — Bird Scooters (and their knockoffs) can be found all around town. Wherever you start off downtown, you can find a scooter to do a loop all around to enjoy all that downtown has to offer. This includes a visit to a slew of coffee shops and breweries in the East Village, taking a ride through Petco Park (when there’s not an event), exploring Gaslamp, Little Italy, and pausing for a nice scenic lunch at one of the many new restaurants at Portside Pier. Enjoy a leisurely “scoot” along the embarcadero to enjoy interesting boats and historical ships or brave the busier streets of downtown to explore shops, restaurants, live music, and interesting characters. Not too far from the East Village is Balboa Park. This historic park is home to the San Diego Zoo and is one of the best places in Southern California for museum hopping!
DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO DINING
Don’t know what to do Downtown San Diego? Well, you can’t go wrong with food! The culinary landscape in Downtown San Diego has a delectable variety of options—everything from casual comfort food to classy upscale restaurants can be experienced while on a San Diego food tour. Here is a taste of some trending dining options in the area.
- The Neighborhood — Enjoy creative burgers, local craft brews, and some classic pub dishes such as brussel sprouts, steak frites, and mac n’ cheese! There is also a hidden speakeasy in the back that pays homage to the era of prohibition with clever drinks such as the “Siesta”, a refreshing, citrusy agave base with a quick shock of Campari to wake you up.
- Callie — Chef Travis Swikard brings his love for a myriad of different foods along the Mediterranean coast from abroad to influence his unique menu for Callie. He then combines them with the fresh local produce from San Diego.
- Brigantine — Since opening the first location in 1969, The Brigantine has brought family vibes and quality seafood together under one roof. They’re most known for their delicious fish tacos, marinated swordfish, and a wide variety of other fresh seafood dishes.
- Seneca — At Seneca, you’ll get a taste of the Mediterranean, with dishes inspired by the flavors of Greece, Italy and Spain. Seneca is the perfect destination for a romantic evening or a special celebration. Sample delectable dishes are the wood-fired octopus and slow-roasted lamb.
- Little Italy is a lively neighborhood just north of Gaslamp District bustling with outdoor cafes, a farmer’s market on Saturdays and Wednesdays, boutique shops, galleries, and more. Alongside Barbusa and Bencotto Italian Kitchen, Buon Appetito is a very well-reviewed restaurant in the heart of Little Italy, featuring traditional Italian courses and an extensive wine list.
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Most PopularNIGHTLIFE IN THE GASLAMP QUARTER
Downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter make up the best landscape of San Diego nightclubs and bars in the area. From classy wine bars and live music to hip, happening clubs, you’re sure to find a spot that fits your mood, occasion, and more. Here’s a look at a few of the unique nightlife spots San Diego has to offer to all of its guests. Want to plan a San Diego pub crawl for your friend’s bachelor or bachelorette party? We’ve got just the tour for you!
- Vin De Syrah — Considered a hidden gem in Gaslamp, Vin De Syrah is an underground wine bar with an Alice in Wonderland theme, starting from the hidden door entrance to the décor inside. The interior design is truly fantastical, whether it’s the wine barrels being used as lighting, the faux trees coming out of the walls, or the suspended umbrellas from the ceiling. Enjoy the cheese and dessert selection as you appreciate the ambiance inside.
- Salvatore’s — Located outside the Gaslamp Quarter, Salvatore’s offers craft cocktails and dishes fused with Italian and SoCal stylings, such as the truffle pizza and penne al arrabiata (Spicy Vodka Tomato Sauce, Mascarpone, Romano Cheese, Basi). On the weekends, guests can enjoy dinner and dance the night away in the lounge with a live DJ.
- Moonshine Flats — This country-styled bar features line dancing classes, live music, and DJs playing country, pop, and rock hits. The venue has 2 levels and a spacious lounge. If you’re wanting a more chill vibe, head to the adjoining Deck at Moonshine Flats for a fresh-air dining experience featuring BBQ, craft beer and moonshine. There’s even some games ‘on deck’ to play like corn hole, shuffleboard, and ping pong.
- Altitude Sky Lounge — Perched on the rooftop of the San Diego Marriott Hotel overlooking Petco Park, Altitude offers breathtaking views of the skyline of historic Downtown San Diego, the San Diego Bay, and Coronado Island. The rooftop’s modern lounge furniture and cozy fire pits give it a trendy, comfortable atmosphere for any social gathering. And to top it off, there is no cover to get in!
ENTERTAINMENT
- The Shout House — Popular for all types of special occasions, The Shout House is the go-to entertainment place for its dueling pianists playing music from the 90s to now. The whole audience gets to participate in the show through song requests, helping to drive the entertainment and good vibes. If you’re looking to switch it up from the typical nightlife scene, The Shout House will keep you entertained all night long!
- The American Comedy Company — This locally owned comedy club hosts nationally acclaimed stand-up comedians, and you can expect a different experience every day. Get your daily dose of hearty chuckling or tears of laughter! You can check out the upcoming lineup and show times from their website, and pricing for show tickets usually range from $10-$30.There’s always something fun and exciting to do in San Diego’s beautiful downtown. Whether you’re new to the area, a long-time local, or a traveling tourist, get out and enjoy what America’s Finest City has to offer!
- WNDR museum – The WNDR Museum combines the finest of art and technology to make one-of-a-kind exhibits. The exhibits change throughout the months, so check out their site to see what’s currently happening.
- Events at Petco Park and The Shell — Another way to spend some time downtown is attending an event at Petco Park, the home of the San Diego Padres, or The Shell. You have a wide variety of options to choose from — baseball games, live performances by the San Diego Symphony, music, festivals and much more. Check out the Petco Park and The Shell websites for a list of what’s going down.
- Watch a live show — Downtown San Diego also has a thriving theater and performing arts scene. You can catch a show at Balboa Theatre, the Civic Theater, the Music Box, and the House of Blues.
- Catch a SD festival — San Diego is also home to many amazing festivals. Just a few of them are:
- Bayfest: Located at San Diego’s beautiful Embarcadero Marina Park, Bayfest features a lineup of top artists from various genres, as well as food and craft beer vendors.
- Wonderfront: This 3-day music festival showcases a diverse range of musical acts across multiple stages. It takes place along the San Diego waterfront, offering stunning views of the city skyline. Previous acts to have graced the stage are Gwen Stefani and the Zac Brown Band.
- CRSSD: This biannual electronic music festival held at Waterfront Park attracts top DJs from around the world and offers a unique experience for electronic music enthusiasts.
- Taco Fest: This annual event brings together some of the best taco vendors in San Diego County, along with live music and entertainment.
- Boots in the Park: For country music lovers, Boots in the Park is the perfect choice. This outdoor festival features live performances by top country artists, along with food and drinks.
- San Diego Bay Food and Wine Festival: This festival is a must-try for foodies. The event showcases the culinary stylings of local chefs and offers a huge array of food and wine tastings. If you love wine, be sure to check out our wine tasting tour in Little Italy!
Downtown San Diego is jam-packed with entertaining things to do. It can be daunting to choose from so many places to pick out your top list of places to explore. But, have no fear! We at So Diego can assist you in curating the perfect experience for your group in Downtown. Hope to see you soon!
Written by: Melissa
Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do … In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.
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