Probably the best neighborhood in San Diego for a food crawl. You can walk from coffee to fresh…read morepasta to wood-fired pizza without moving your car. The Mercato on Saturday is packed but worth it, and everything feels clean and lively at night. It's gotten expensive and parking is a battle, but the energy, patios, and actual quality restaurants make it my go-to when people visit.

AUTHENTIC ITALIAN FOOD & CULTURE! I came to decompress and explore Little Italy on a Friday…read moreafternoon. My main goal was to explore the walkability, public transport options, and lodging choices. I would give Little Italy an A+ in all three categories! Throughout the district you'll find Italian restaurants at every corner, mini-marts, and boutique stores. If you'd like to vacation here, you can literally spend a couple of days in Little Italy and have everything you need in one spot. A trolley station is available near the center of the main hub and there's plenty of hotels! I wouldn't stay over the Summer as prices are exorbitantly high, I'd visit during the off season. July would be the worst month to stay in my opinion! Little Italy has a massive plaza with bistro-style tables and chairs open to the public. I couldn't help but notice the fact that I felt transported to Italy! Several restaurant owners had an Italian accent or spoke Italian. Additionally, the aroma of pizzerias and pubs were quite enticing. If you're into sports, there's several locations with screens for watching live events. My only issue with Little Italy is the lack of parking. Everywhere you go, street parking and paid parking is FULL. You'll be lucky to find a spot during the summer season. I found a spot after half an hour of circling the vicinity like a San Diego shark. The city needs to create more underground lots or more street parking.

I absolutely love the atmosphere at Balboa Park. There's something truly special about this place…read morethat is hard to put into words. Whether you're visiting one of the museums, taking a leisurely stroll, enjoying the gardens, or simply exploring, you can always find yourself in awe of the incredible views and beautiful surroundings. From the unique architecture and historic buildings to the botanical gardens, museums, restaurants, and charming little cafés, there really is something for everyone. Every corner seems to offer another beautiful backdrop or something interesting to discover. It's also an amazing place for photography--whether you're taking wedding photos, professional pictures, or simply capturing memories with family and friends. The architecture, greenery, and warm tones throughout the park create some absolutely gorgeous backgrounds. Hands down, San Diego has some of the most beautiful parks, and Balboa Park is definitely one of those places that deserves to be experienced. The people working throughout the museums, restaurants, and cafés also add to the overall experience and make it worth stopping by. You can spend a few hours here or an entire day and still feel like there's more to explore. If you're in San Diego, Balboa Park is a must-see!

A Beautiful Experience at Balboa Park!…read more Balboa Park is truly one of the most beautiful places to visit in San Diego! We especially loved exploring the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages. The International Cottages are such a unique part of the park. Each cottage highlights a different country and culture, giving visitors the opportunity to learn about traditions, history, food, music, and so much more from around the world--all in one beautiful setting. We loved walking around, learning about the different cultures, and experiencing the welcoming atmosphere. It's a wonderful way to expose children to the diversity of our world and encourage curiosity and appreciation for other cultures. The beautiful architecture, gardens, cultural displays, and friendly volunteers made the experience even more special. It's definitely one of the areas of Balboa Park that shouldn't be missed! A wonderful place for families, culture lovers, and anyone who enjoys learning and exploring. Highly recommend adding the International Cottages to your Balboa Park visit!

North Park is my fave neighborhood in SD! Amazing food scene, rad bars, and eclectic shops. From…read more30th St to Ray St, there's always something new to discover. Can't get enough of this vibrant community

Everything you need is right here. Good food, beer, bars, music venues, beautiful people and even a…read moredistillery! Oddly enough, everything you don't need is here too. Such as, dog poop left on the ground, (no stray dogs here..) urine scented sidewalks, thefts, car break-ins, rude and smelly folks, paid parking in residential neighborhoods. I still go, but even my 20 year old daughter has witnessed the transition since we've been going for about 15 of those years. Everyone thinks it's cool to own a dog but they lack the decency and or common sense to care for them. Carry those little baggies and keep them leashed. Simple right? Apparently not for some. This happens in my neighborhood too, so possibly this is a millennial thing.. Wait, maybe I shouldn't generalize and blame a generation- all ages really do apply here. Pick up after yourself AND your dog. I could name the numerous establishments here, but I do have a few favorites that I particularly like. Sicilian Thing pizza, Crazee burger, Spirits 619, Lefty's, City Tacos, Yog-Art and a few others I can't think of right now. So if you live here you may take Yoga classes that you actually pay for. I couldn't resist taking a snapshot of the sign on the power pole, which suggests your Yoga could be free if you just bend over and pick up that doggie doodoo. Are you up for the challenge or not?

Tasting Event We…read morewanted to combine my birthday and my friend's birthday by having a September birthday celebration! I've been seeing these tasting events throughout San Diego so we decided to check out the Taste of North Park. North Park is in hipster neighborhood with fun energy. They have really cute boutiques, cozy coffee shops, trendy bars, and craft breweries. Each restaurant has so much character and charm! We only managed to complete 32 out of 50 restaurant tastings in 3 hours before tapping out. It was such a fun experience exploring each place and seeing what kind of food they have to offer. Now I'm intrigued to check out the other neighborhood tasting events too!

Pleasantly surprised with Taste of North Park. The event was incredibly organized. People are given…read morewristbands and a passport book that includes a map that shows all participating locations. It was even color coded if the business was giving out food or drinks. Pros: -great way to visit and sample different venues in North Park -lots of businesses were really generous with their portion sizes -there was a good mix of food and alcoholic beverages -although I am not vegan, I appreciated that they had places that gave out vegan friendly items -some venues were a little further than others so I was happy that they had a complimentary EV ride that came on a regular basis. Cons: -none Overall, solid event! In the future, I'll need to remember to bring water.

The food is delicious here and the place is cute, however, they are consistently understaffed and…read moreit's a problem. If you need a job waiting tables maybe hit them up. If this were the first time, we might understand, things happen and sometimes you have to work shorthanded, but this wasn't the first time, more like 4th or 5th time over a period of several months and every time we come they are clearly understaffed and this place gets packed so it's not like they don't need more people. An entire restaurant is run by 2 servers, seems like maybe the owner and her son, and we could only see 2 kitchen staff working their asses off behind the glassed in kitchen, which likely means no breaks for any staff and everything takes forever. If you don't mind sitting and waiting for your food and drinks, by all means go here. The first time we were almost late for a show because dinner for 4 of us took almost 2 hours. We hope this review might inspire them to expand their staff because the food is delish and we want to keep coming back!

This is probably the longest overdue review I have ever written, but at this point, not writing it…read morealmost feels selfish because I would very much like to always be able to get a table here. But alas, Carbon Angela's Kitchen deserves every flower, every reservation, every "you have to try this place" text thread, and every bit of love. This place has become one of my absolute favorite hidden gems in San Diego. Easily top five for me, and as someone who dines out a lot for a living, that is not a casual statement. There are places you like, places you recommend, and then there are places that start to feel woven into your actual life. Carbon Angela's Kitchen is that for me. Angela is truly the heart of this place. She has this way of making you feel like you are not just coming in for dinner, but being welcomed into something she deeply cares about. And Emanuele is absolutely part of that magic too. Together, they have built something that feels warm, generous, soulful, and so special. They feel like long-lost friends and family now, and I am honestly just so proud of them and all they are creating. The food is the kind that makes you want to order with the whole table in mind. The griglia mista is hands down one of the best investments you can make if you are dining with a group. It is the meat platter, it is the moment, and it is absolutely worth ordering. Four to five people can split it, especially if you are also doing appetizers, salad, wine, and a few extra things for the table. It is such a perfect nod to what Carbon was before Angela took over, when the space leaned more BBQ, but now it feels beautifully married with Angela's warmth, Italian influence, and the kind of hospitality that makes the whole meal feel like an experience. And please do not sleep on the rest of the menu. The short rib is fire. The arancino trio is always a yes. The eggplant croquette? Obsessed. The crespelle? So good. The Everything Salad is my favorite salad on the menu, and the street corn should never, under any circumstances, be skipped. I said what I said. The wine selection is top tier, the appetizers are memorable, and the whole place has that rare magic of feeling cozy, intentional, and completely unpretentious. You can come for a low-key dinner, a girls' night, a celebration, or one of those "we just need a really good meal and a really good glass of wine" kind of evenings. And the back patio? Perfect for an evening under twinkling lights. It is one of those spaces that just begs for a long table, good conversation, clinking glasses, and the kind of night that accidentally turns into a core memory. They also have catering menus available, which is very important information to keep in your back pocket if you are hosting anything soon. What Angela has built is honestly something to behold. One of the hardest-working restaurateurs doing the dang thing in a city like San Diego, and now opening Bedda across the way too? I am in awe and wonder watching it all unfold. It takes so much courage, grit, taste, excellence, and heart to build what they are building, and you can feel all of it in the room. Carbon Angela's Kitchen is a true labor of love, a hidden gem, and one of those places I will keep cheering for again and again. Go hungry. Order the griglia mista. Get the Everything Salad. Do not skip the street corn. Share Share Share, so you can try a little bit of everything and do a tried and true family style meal, you won't regret it.

There's a new weekly international market in town, and I have a weird feeling it might not last…read morelong. I went yesterday and saw about 20 vendors but less than 20 people attending. I had never heard of any of the food vendors, so I tried one randomly. I was able to get some sort of Mexican dish I've never tried for $3, which is a hell of a bargain for the amount of food that I got. I'll probably go back here semi-weekly to try new food vendors out. There are a few clothing/knick knack vendors, but nothing amazing. And a guy was playing guitar and singing when I stopped by. Could use a bit more press, but would be a nice addition to San Diego if it stayed.

This is such a fun fair! Delicious food and games for kids (and adults). Happy to have it in the…read moreneighborhood!!

Home of Petco Park, mornings are pretty quiet, and easier to get parking…read more A typical downtown venue, it has its varieties of peoples. Cute little bistros with sidewalk dining. As the day progresses, the activity amps up. Weather was warm and awesome as San Diego can be.

We attended our FOURTH Taste of the Gaslamp, this is 2025!!! We have been coming since 2022!!!…read more It's a FUN San Diego Event. We started at Goodnight John Boy, which is a 1970's Nightclub!!! It was also STOP 1, serving PIZZA. We stopped at in on 16 RESTAURANTS!!! HERE IS HOW OUR DAY WENT: We proceeded over and up. We ate PIZZA again at PIZZA ON FIFTH. THEN, back down, BACK AND FORTH, and down some more. Back and Forth, AND UP!!! We had pizza and more pizza, a couple places had sliders. CHEESE BALLS at The Field!!! I ate both of our Cheese Balls, and they were large and filled with soft, creamy white cheese. When we walked into THE FIELD, the Staff approached us and took us to a table, the only empty table in the place!!! After that, they even exchanged the stool that was there with a backed chair. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! YUMMY, yummy Truffles at Sugarbear!!! We then ran into the MEXICAN REGION, with Rockin Baja and Hasta Manana, and Baja Rick's Cantina!!! We loved HASTA MANANA, in particular. It went all out MEXICAN FOOD, we had three different things to eat, including Chips and Guacamole, a Potato Taquito, and Arroz Con Leche. HASTA Manana was the HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY!!! At ROYAL India, we tried Chicken Marsala!!! We were thrilled to see CAFE SEVILLA again serving Paella!!! We were also thrilled to see SUGAR BEAR again serving DELICIOUS DESERTS!!! I have to say this about SUGARBEAR, we were greeted warmly by the owner, who was standing outside. It was JUST LIKE LAST YEAR. WHAT A DAY!!! I mean, this is a Classic San Diego LOCATION, location, location, the Gaslamp Quarter. Then, DID I MENTION, you get to taste the food at 16 Restaurants!!! TELL ME, what is better???

Barrio Logan is an amazing part of San Diego with bn it's amazing art painted on the bridge…read moreunderpass. The art is by incredible, their is a small playground, ocasional car shows. Their are many artists in be little divided storefronts along the main drag plus good restaurants and a coffee shop. You can also drive across the bridge with no tolls. A great way to spend a few hours.

As a Mexican American I loved to see a whole area represent us . I loved everything about Barrio…read moreLogan I can't wait to go back . Barrio Logan is full of culture and so much history . It has so many restaurants, shops , breweries and so much more . There is Chicano park and a museum also . The Chicano park has so much art on the walls . This place is just a must visit . Check out por vida coffee for a great coffee too . Can't wait to go back ..

Who we hang on cause you're comes while bus driver to drive all around town and scare you and put…read moreyou up for oh riproaring good time

The Baron is back!…read more Now that the Baroness and I are freeholders, I feel that my review needs an update, so here we go: Bosforo - Haven't been, but heard good things. Turkish pizza? Worth a try. Get a reservation; this place is always crowded. Sahara - Mediterranean takeout (with a couple of sidewalk tables). Decent beer selection, but read the label. They sell some NA brews. Caveat emptor! Nozaru - Their vegan ramen is on my list to try. Thai Joint on Adams - This jawn never disappoints. Their roots go back to Plumeria in University Heights, but they have vegan as well as omni menus. Dos Palmas Cafe - My sister said that this was the best breakfast sandwich that she has ever eaten. Hopnonymous Brewing Company - A welcome addition to the neighborhood. See my review. Rosie O'Grady's - They are back, and so are $5 draft Tuesdays! But, do they have live music anymore? Miss Shelly's Shack is slinging the grub, but if you are vegan, don't come hungry. See my review. Ska Bar - RIP Uptown Bicycles - Game Over Community Fridge - A free resource where we can share food and other resources with those of us who are less fortunate. It is in front of Normal Heights United Methodist Church. Adams Avenue Theater - Event space that sometimes hosts free comedy shows. I love Normal Heights. Normal Heights loves cool visitors. The Baron has spoken!

We randomly and luckily stayed at an Airbnb in this neighborhood…read more There are great coffee shops, breakfast sandwiches at Lestats, ice cream and plenty of craft beer and hard liquor bars. Look carefully and there are custom painted electric boxes around this walkable neighborhood. Plus, there is a grocery store and pharmacy at the east end of the neighborhood. The name Normal Heights cracked me up every time I saw the sign. Why be normal?! Life is good!