Little Italy was *truly* the perfect spot to stay as first-time visitors to San Diego. We were…read morecentral to so much by staying in the La Pensione. The farmer's market was right outside on Saturday, and there were dozens of top-tier restaurants and bars within short walking distance. I'm so glad we stayed in this neighborhood over Gaslamp, as that was on my radar too but sounded like it may have been too wild. We didn't have a car, so parking wasn't a problem, and public transportation was close by. It was also easy to call for a Lyft. I also appreciated how close it was to the airport. I'd absolutely stay in Little Italy again in the future if the price permits!

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 have so many fond memories of Balboa Park and I look forward to making more, from Halloween…read moreparties at the San Diego Air and Space Museum and my friend's wedding to exploring Spanish Village Art Center for the first time, visiting the Botanical Building, going to the Japanese Friendship Garden, discovering the museums, and experiencing December Nights. San Diego wouldn't be the same without this beautiful landmark!

Word to the wise, do your research and know where you're going beforehand. Unfortunately we just…read moredecided to come spur of the moment and didn't really know what we were doing. So apparently there are a lot of parking lots which are not free, $10 unless you're a native and have a pass. We found one lot, called lower inspiration that's free for 3 hours. Also, we didn't realize how big that place is, with so much to see! There are museums, places to eat, the zoo, a playground for kids and I'm sure so much more. The museums are not free, they do sell passes or individual tickets. It's a nice place to spend a day or even a few hours.

Lots of interesting shopping and food in this area. Parking is easier here than downtown or little…read moreItaly. $1 parking before 6pm across from Verbatim Books... at least on Sunday.

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

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.

We dined on Sunday for the first time and tried their Sunday Funday Feast. This Sunday the feast…read moreincluded a Choice of one Pasta Dish; Fresh baked Focaccia and fresh salad. It's served Family-Style and is enough for 3-4 people which was only $60. The restaurant is small and charming with a window into the kitchen. They make their pasta fresh (be sure to include your pasta texture preference when ordering (Al Dente or Softer, etc.) We were greeted by Angela (the owner) and she made us feel welcome (as if we were dining over a friend's home which I absolutely loved). She started us off with some fresh baked Focaccia which had herb + cheese baked into the top (of course it was delicious). We added an appetizer called Crespelle which was a really yummy spin on a Manicotti made the right way (with a Crespelle). The salad was fresh and tasty. We order the Rigatoni Sugo which has a Tomato based sauce and assorted meats (Meatballs, Sausage, Cubes of meat) and was delicious along with the meats as well. We also added the Picanha Steak Entree with the Brie Fondue and that was so different while being soooo yummy. We enjoyed some wine with our meal and we finished with this really delicious Bavarian Cream Filled Napoleon with a Berry Coulis (desserts do change so check with restaurant to see what they have available the day you want to visit).. We can't wait to come back and try their Grigliata Mista (Meat Feast for 3-4 people).

I had a really solid dinner at Carbon Angela's Kitchen in South Park. The atmosphere is warm and…read moreinviting, and the team makes you feel welcome, like you're at a neighborhood spot rather than a generic chain. The menu leans into Italian-inspired dishes with grilled meats, fresh pasta, and seasonal plates that are generally flavorful and well-executed. Reservations are a good idea because it gets busy on weekends. Service was friendly and attentive throughout the night. A few dishes stood out more than others, but everything we had was well prepared and clearly made with care. Portions were satisfying, the wine list was thoughtfully curated, and the happy hour offerings added nice value. While not every bite was a personal favorite, the overall experience was enjoyable and consistent, and it's a place I'd happily return to and recommend for a relaxed night out with good food and a welcoming vibe.

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!!

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???

Very charming neighborhood of downtown San Diego! I stayed at the Sofia Hotel so walking and…read moreexploring the area was convenient and so easy. I loved getting to pass by all the historic buildings, most were constructed in the Victorian era. Also lots of restaurants and shops along the way to Harbor Drive

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!