Happiness Happens In San Diego

Downtown San Diego is one of the most dynamic metropolitan areas in the country, drawing both visitors and residents to a sophisticated city center.  Framed by inland mountains and a beautiful natural harbor, downtown San Diego’s alluring cityscape is a testament to years of redevelopment and urban revitalization.

Downtown is composed of eight distinct neighborhoods ― Columbia, the Core, Cortez Hill, East Village, Gaslamp Quarter, Horton Plaza, Little Italy and Marina ― each with their own personality and allure.

EAST VILLAGE

Downtown’s largest neighborhood, encompassing 130 city blocks, East Village burst into life in the past 5-10 years. The revitalization of this once blighted warehouse district was ignited by the building of PETCO Park, the San Diego Padres’ state-of-the-art baseball stadium that opened in April 2004. Today, visitors can enjoy luxury hotels and restaurants, rooftop bars, cafes, boutique shops, galleries and live music venues scattered throughout the neighborhood. www.sdeastvillage.com

Hotels

• San Diego’s first LEED-certified hotel, Hotel Indigo San Diego opened in August 2009.  The 12-story, 210-room hotel features spa-inspired touches throughout the property and a rooftop terrace with a reflection pool, fire pits and views of PETCO Park. www.hotelindigo.com

• In December 2008, the 1,190-room Hilton San Diego Bayfront opened as San Diego’s newest waterfront hotel. Located adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center, the 30-story hotel features a sun-and-sea inspired design that complements its stunning panoramic views of San Diego Bay and downtown San Diego.  www.sandiegobayfront.hilton.com 
• The 159-room luxury Andaz San Diego features 16 suites, two presidential suites and one signature suite boasting two levels with a spiral staircase leading to a private poolside cabana.  Additional amenities include a rooftop bar, upscale restaurant, wine bar and underground nightclub.  www.sandiego.andaz.hyatt.com

• The luxury 511-room Omni San Diego Hotel spans views of San Diego Bay and neighboring PETCO Park baseball stadium.  In addition to the hotel’s sophisticated rooms and suites, guests can enjoy special amenities like a private pedestrian skywalk to PETCO Park. www.omnihotels.com
• The San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter offers stunning views of downtown San Diego and stylish comfort in its 306 guestrooms and suites, all appointed with custom made furniture, granite countertops, rich wood tones and premier bedding.  www.sandiegogaslamphotel.com

• The 235-room Hotel Solamar, a Kimpton lifestyle hotel, serves as a “gateway” from the East Village to the historic Gaslamp Quarter.  Here, the city’s laid-back attitude blends with the hotel’s contemporary design creating a fresh, coastal-inspired vibe.   www.hotelsolamar.com

Restaurants

• The Hilton San Diego Bayfront’s signature restaurant, Vela, features a nautical theme and a menu that offers experiential journeys to the finest culinary regions of the world.  www.sandiegobayfront.hilton.com
• Combining a restaurant, bar and adjoining butcher shop, Cowboy Star offers foodies a unique dining environment.  Here, the highest quality meats and local produce are served up in contemporary American cuisine with a Western flare. www.thecowboystar.com
• Neighborhood serves a creative take on upscale classic American dishes like burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches paired with homemade gourmet sauces and sweet potato fries.  In addition, over 27 local microbrews are always on tap.  www.neighborhoodsd.com
• BASIC is an industrial lounge serving New Haven, Connecticut-style thin crust, brick oven pizzas and top-shelf cocktails. www.barbasic.com
• Soleil@K in the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter serves delicious and innovative dishes inspired by the culinary styles found in California’s Napa Valley wine country. www.soleilatk.com
• Jsix Restaurant in Hotel Solamar focuses on local seafood and farm-fresh ingredients from area growers. www.jsixsandiego.com
• Quarter Kitchen in the Andaz San Diego serves California cuisine with flavors and influences from around the world. www.quarterkitchen.com
• A small, lively bistro, Café Chloe offers light French fare with substantial breakfasts, svelte lunches and dinners and sophisticated bar-nibbles. www.cafechloe.com
• The Fleetwood serves up a menu of modern American dishes against a backdrop that marries an upscale sports bar with a chic lounge.  www.thefleetwood.com

• The Japanese-inspired The Dragon’s Den offers a raw bar, sushi menu and an array of authentic Asian small dishes, complemented by a selection of fine sake, craft beer and specialty cocktails made with organic and gluten-free spirits. www.thedragonsdensd.com
• The luxury Andaz San Diego boasts popular hot spots like Ivy Rooftop, a sultry rooftop lounge with a swimming pool, swinging chairs and beds, and Ivy Nightclub, a two- level underground lounge. www.sandiego.andaz.hyatt.com

Nightlife

• Hotel Solamar’s LOUNGEsix is a rooftop oasis where sexy singles sip fresh fruit cocktails and lounge by a sparkling pool and roaring fire pits. www.jsixsandiego.com
• Located on the 22^nd floor of the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter, Altitude offers guests breathtaking views of PETCO Park and the San Diego waterfront, along with music and martinis. www.sandiegogaslamphotel.com

Shopping

• Bacchus Wine Market, a secluded wine shop and tasting room, features a wide variety of Italian wines, cheeses and caviar, along with weekly wine tastings and wine accessories. www.bacchuswinemarket.com
• 5&A Dime is the hottest stop for street wear, featuring men’s and women’s apparel and accessories from urban designers. www.5andadime.com
• Scott James, a trendy and cutting-edge boutique, offers a creative combination of home accessories, jewelry and designer gifts like hand-made retro suitcases, Italian CDs and Red Monkey watches. www.scottjameseastvillage.com

• The District appeals to the young and young at heart with some of the hottest names in today’s fashion. www.thedistrictsd.com
• Dianne O Studios features high-fashion clothes, accessories, cosmetics and more from the world’s top fashion Meccas, including Milan, New York and Paris. www.dianneo.com

HORTON PLAZA

Occupying 15 blocks, Horton Plaza is named after its main resident, Westfield Horton Plaza Shopping Mall, a multi-level, outdoor shopping and entertainment center. Opened in 1985, Horton Plaza offers 130 specialty shops, restaurants, a movie theatre and performing arts theatre.  Well-known for its whimsical and vibrantly colored design, Horton Plaza was created to resemble a European market place and function like an amusement park with colorful pathways, bridges and staggered levels.

Hotels

• Adjoining Horton Plaza, Westin Horton Plaza San Diego offers 450 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, sports bar and grill, two lounges and health club. www.westin.com/hortonplaza

Restaurants

• At Dobson’s Bar & Restaurant, guests are served house specialties like pan-roasted Chilean sea bass and chicken breast stuffed with olive tapenade. www.dobsonsrestaurant.com
• Local chain Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza specializes in pizzas with unique ingredients like Thai chicken and peanut sauce or duck sausage. www.sammyspizza.com
• Exotic and healthy food awaits at Bandar, downtown’s award-winning Persian restaurant. www.bandarrestaurant.com
• Hard Rock Café serves up American comfort food and classic tunes amongst rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia and décor.  www.hardrockcafe.com

Arts & Culture/Entertainment

• The Lyceum Theater is home to the San Diego Repertory Theatre, which annually produces a six-play season featuring comedies and dramas that explore cultural diversity.  www.sdrep.com

• The 1,446-seat Spreckels Theater was built in 1912 and features neoclassical and art nouveau architecture; it currently houses everything from rock concerts to dance performances by the City Ballet of San Diego along with a healthy diet of special theater performances.  www.spreckels.net

• The historic 1920’s vaudeville Balboa Theatre was rehabilitated into a 1,534-seat facility in December 2007.  The venue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and hosts a year-round line-up of diverse arts and cultural performances.     www.sdbalboa.org

GASLAMP QUARTER

In the historic Gaslamp Quarter, consisting of 16½-blocks around Fourth and Fifth Avenues, grand Victorian-era buildings are home to more than 100 of the city’s finest restaurants, 40 bars and nightclubs and 100 retail shops, as well as theaters, art galleries, offices and residential/work lofts.  When the sun sets, this downtown neighborhood attracts thousands of diners, shoppers, theatergoers and nightclub patrons. www.gaslamp.org

Hotels

• Opened in November 2009, the 14-story, 240-room Residence Inn San Diego Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter provides a residential feel with a strong sense of space and comfort. Amenities include pet-friendly guestrooms, a rooftop pool, fitness center, full-service lounge and bar.  www.marriott.com
• Embracing its trademark rock ‘n’ roll attitude, the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego features cutting-edge design, 24-7 service and high-octane nightlife for which Hard Rock is famous.  Guests can take pleasure in 420 guestrooms, the hotel’s rooftop bar, a downstairs nightclub, two restaurants and the Rock Spa.  www.hardrockhotelsd.com

• The boutique-style 35-room Keating Hotel features modern and expressive Italian design by Pininfarina, the world-renowned Italian design firm behind famed luxury brands Ferrari and Maserati. Guestrooms, called “stanzas,” are outfitted with exposed brick, wood trim, stainless steel lining, crimson plush bedding and hand-crafted Pininfarina furniture.  www.thekeating.com

·         Comprised of two hotels dating back to the 1880s, the Victorian-style 132-room Horton Grand Hotel was once home to Wyatt Earp during his seven-year stay in San Diego.  No two guestrooms are decorated alike, and each room futures elegant hand-crafted antique furniture with period decor and a gas marble fireplace. www.hortongrand.com

• The 282-room Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter offers a selection of guestrooms and suites with signature Hilton amenities, in addition to 30 residential-style lofts that provide a “hotel within a hotel” environment. www.sandiegogaslampquarter.hilton.com
• The restored late-Victorian Gaslamp Plaza Suites was San Diego’s first skyscraper at 11 stories when it was built in 1913.  Today, the 64-room hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a welcoming reminder of downtown San Diego’s vibrant past. www.gaslampplaza.com

Restaurants

• Originally built in 1974, the family friendly Old Spaghetti Factory is a San Diego institution for residents and visitors alike.  www.osf.com

• A new neighborhood bar, The Lincoln Room pays respect to the 16^th president of the United States with a penny-laid bar, log cabin-like walls and simple American fare influenced by San Diego’s seasonal produce. www.thelincolnroomsd.com

• MerK Bistro Italiano in the Keating Hotel radiates a sleek sophistication while offering an affordable menu of rustic Italian dishes infused with a cool, California twist.  www.themerk.com
• The Marble Room offers a unique menu of California Tapas-style cuisine and innovative selections that are seasonal, delicious and adventurous. www.marbleroom.com

• La Puerta welcomes guests with an affordable menu of classic Mexican fare and an expansive tequila selection in a hip, neighborhood atmosphere.  http://taco619.com

• Set in the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, Nobu, the signature restaurant from world-famous Nobu Matsuhisa, serves Matsuhisa’s classic sushi and modern Japanese cuisine. www.noburestaurants.com

• Croce’s Restaurants & Bars, established by Ingrid Croce as a tribute to her late husband ‘70s singer/songwriter Jim Croce, is a local landmark combining live jazz and fine dining for more than 25 years. www.croces.com

• BICE San Diego offers a skillful mix of traditional and contemporary trends in Italian cuisine.  Using fresh local and seasonal ingredients, the menu includes a selection of homemade pastas, and its sophisticated Cheese Bar offers a variety of Italian cheeses, salumi plates and appetizers. www.bicesandiego.com

• Visitors can embark on culinary journeys around the world when dining in the Gaslamp Quarter’s 100 restaurants.  Cuisines to be savored include Afghan, Brazilian, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Mexican, Persian, Spanish, Thai and more. www.gaslamp.org

Nightlife

• FLUXX, a high-end dance club, opened in March 2010.  The venue incorporates organic décor amidst bright, bold colors and playful design elements including a large-scale adult tree house, a 15-ft. custom rope chandelier and eye-catching art. www.fluxxsd.com.

• Opened in May 2009, Syrah Spirit & Wine Parlor is a subterranean hideaway that evokes an Alice in Wonderland setting in look and feel.  Syrah offers hand-made cocktails, unique beers and a diverse wine list.  www.syrahwineparlor.com
• Side Bar reopened in May 2009 after an extensive $1 million remodel.  Guests can drink and dance in this intimate and stylish club or grab a table and enjoy small bites from a delicious late-night menu. www.sidebarsd.com.

·         Located in an historic warehouse, Stingaree is a luxury restaurant and nightlife venue offering three stories, floor-to-ceiling waterfalls and translucent floating staircases leading to a rooftop bar retreat.  www.stingsandiego.com

• Voyeur offers a seductive nightclub setting with a unique gothic-inspired design and house music pulsating from its multiple sound systems and stages. www.voyeursd.com

• At Thin, partygoers perch on polished steel barstools and sip Cadillac margaritas in a futuristic setting.  In the Onyx Room, located directly downstairs, urban beats move an energetic dance area and swinging lounge.  www.onyxroom.com
• At Café Sevilla, the DJ plays Latin disco and hip-hop music while flamenco dinner shows heat up the stage on Friday and Saturday nights. www.cafesevilla.com
• Overlooking the Gaslamp Quarter, Float is a rooftop bar and lounge atop the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego that serves as a stylish hangout with a poolside bar, fire pit seating and private VIP cabanas.  Downstairs adjacent to the hotel lobby, 207 is a laid-back bar and lounge, perfect for cocktails and conversation.  www.hardrockhotelsd.com
• Located throughout the bustling blocks of the Gaslamp Quarter, numerous bars and taverns offer patrons a friendly, laid-back atmosphere where award-winning local and national brews are on tap.  Popular venues include Nicky Rottens, Jimmy Loves, Whisky Girl, Henry’s Pub, the historic Tipsy Crow and many more.  www.gaslamp.org

Arts & Culture/Entertainment

• The William Heath Davis Historical House Museum, a saltbox-style home shipped around Cape Horn and assembled in San Diego in 1850, is the Gaslamp Quarter’s oldest surviving structure. www.gaslampquarter.org/history/thehouse.php

• The Shout! House features dueling piano players sitting face-to-face at grand pianos and performing classic rock ‘n’ roll hits from the 50s to the present, driven by audience requests. www.theshouthouse.com
• The Tim Cantor Gallery features oil paintings, writings and conceptual works of art, www.timcantor.com; CJ Gallery showcases the works of contemporary Asian artists, www.cjartgallery.com; Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts displays fine art and works from emerging national and international artists, www.mjwfinearts.com; and the Brokers Building Art Gallery offers one of the largest gallery spaces in downtown, www.brokersgallery.com.

Shopping

• Visitors looking to expand their wardrobe can find cutting-edge fashion in quirky independent boutiques and retailers like Urban Outfitters, The Puma Store, Volcom and Quicksilver. Unusual shopping opportunities also abound, from the latest in skateboarding gear at Street Machine, to cigars hand-rolled on-site at the Cuban Cigar Factory, to outrageous pet fashions at Lucky Dog.  www.gaslamp.org

Tours

·         The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation offers a vivid re-creation of the Gaslamp Quarter’s colorful history with a guided walking tour. Foundation guides share stories from the late 1800s when the area flourished as a red-light district. www.gaslampquarter.org

• Back Alley Tours highlights the naughty secrets and scandals that took place in the Gaslamp Quarter during the early 1900s when the buildings housed brothels and gambling halls and the naughty ladies of the Stingaree roamed the streets. http://backalleytours.com

Events

• Mardi Gras in the Gaslamp Quarter on Fat Tuesday is the largest Mardi Gras party on the U.S. West Coast and features a Mardi Gras parade and outdoor block party with several stages offering live musical acts. www.gaslamp.org/mardi-gras
• The annual Monster Bash in the Gaslamp Quarter on Halloween weekend is an outdoor music festival in the streets featuring bewitching live bands and an extreme costume contest. www.sandiegomonsterbash.com
• Occurring every St. Patrick’s Day, shamROCK is an evening of Irish food, live music and lucky libations including “green beer” and pints of Guinness. www.sandiegoshamrock.com

MARINA

The Marina district is home to the Embarcadero, Seaport Village and the bayside San Diego Convention Center with its unique architecture and sail-roofed Pavilion.

Hotels

• The 1,362-room San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina’s two curved and glass-sheathed towers lend their distinctive features to the San Diego skyline. www.marriott.com/sandt
• The double-towered, 1,625-room Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego features three restaurants and four bars, including The Top of the Hyatt on the 40^th floor, offering panoramic views of the city. www.manchestergrand.hyatt.com
• Located across the street from Seaport Village, the Embassy Suites Hotel San Diego Bay offers 337 spacious suites and a seafood restaurant. www.essandiegobay.com

Restaurants

• Sally’s Seafood on the Water at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego offers a dynamic menu of the freshest flavors from both sea and land with special emphasis on seafood and sushi.  www.sallyssandiego.com
• Roy’s at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina features exciting and innovative Hawaiian fusioncuisine by noted chef Roy Yamaguchi; the menu features local ingredients, European sauces, bold Asian spices and a focus on fresh seafood. www.roysrestaurant.com

• A local breakfast favorite, the funky Café 222 serves up a menu of stuffed omelets, various benedicts and their signature peanut butter waffles. www.cafe222.com
• The Fish Market offers a casual dining experience with oyster and cocktail bars; the fine-dining menu served at the second-floor Top of the Market is paired with spectacular views of Coronado and San Diego Bay. www.thefishmarket.com
• The restaurants at Seaport Village can satisfy any craving with more than a dozen small eateries and restaurants that offer everything from surf and turf to burgers and pizza. www.seaportvillage.com/restaurants

Arts & Culture

• Opened in May 2008, The New Children’s Museum offers an interactive arts destination for children and families. The museum encourages children to think, play and create with innovative, hands-on art opportunities, along with classes and exhibitions designed by emerging and established contemporary artists. The museum is downtown San Diego’s first public ‘green’ project with environmentally friendly architecture and infrastructure practices.  www.thinkplaycreate.org

Shopping

• Seaport Village, a 14-acre waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex, recreates a California harbor setting of a century ago with four miles of meandering cobblestone pathways, ponds, fountains, lush landscaping, 57 themed shops, restaurants and cafes. www.spvillage.com

Events

• Occurring annually in November, the three-day San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is the region’s largest wine and culinary extravaganza; it includes events held in various downtown venues and culminates with the Grand Tasting Event, set at the waterfront Embarcadero Park North.  www.worldofwineevents.com

CORE

The Core is downtown’s central business district, home to government and arts-related venues like City Hall, the World Trade Center, Copley Symphony Hall and the Civic Theatre.

Hotels

• The Sé San Diego features 184 luxury rooms and suites with extensive room amenities, design and detail.  The 22-story hotel evokes a “zen-chic” theme with Asian elements throughout the property.  Sé San Diego also offers a world-class restaurant, 5,500-sq. ft. spa, an outdoor pool, bar and lounge.  www.setaisandiego.com
• After a $16-million renovation, the historic Pickwick Hotel reopened in December 2006 as the modern and stylish Sofia Hotel. Built in 1926, the 212-room hotel now features a fine dining restaurant and spa-inspired amenities, including a 24-hour fitness center and yoga studio. www.thesofiahotel.com.

• After a $52-million renovation, THE US GRANT reopened in November 2006 as a member of Starwood’s prestigious Luxury Collection. The historic 270-room hotel was enhanced to reflect its 1910 origins and now features roof-top gardens; original, one-of-a-kind art by noted French artist Yves Clement, and its signature 95-seat Grant Grill.  www.usgrant.net

• The elegant 223-room Westgate Hotel transports guests to a world of classic art and refinement with Baccarat crystal chandeliers, French tapestries and Persian carpets. www.westgatehotel.com
• The Bristol Hotel offers 102 casual and contemporary rooms with jazz-inspired décor. www.greystonehotels.com/bristol

Restaurants & Nightlife

• Suite & Tender in the Sé San Diego hotel features a seasonally changing menu of fresh seafood, steaks, salads and signature surf and turf dishes.  www.sesandiego.com
• The charming and sophisticated Grant Grill in THE US GRANT serves contemporary California cuisine with fresh, locally harvested ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. www.grantgrill.com
• At The Yard House, known for its extensive menu and self-proclaimed “world’s largest selection of draft beer,” guests can find a wide range of brews, including classic lagers and obscure ales and stouts, served in authentic goblets, pints and half-yard glasses.  www.yardhouse.com

• Located on the ground floor of the Sofia Hotel, Currant serves up chic bistro fare for lunch and dinner daily.  www.currantrestaurant.com

• On Broadway is located in a two-story historic bank building where multiple rooms, luxury décor, a VIP lounge, sushi bar and giant dance floors make up the ultimate club experience. www.obec.tv
• The extravagant and multifaceted House of Blues features a full-service restaurant and a multi-level Music Hall featuring national and local live entertainment.  www.hob.com

Arts & Culture

• Broadway/San Diego, presenter of national touring Broadway shows year-round, and the San Diego Opera, Southern California’s longest established opera company, present lavish productions at the San Diego Civic Theatre.  www.broadwaysd.com, www.sdopera.net
• The San Diego Symphony Orchestra presents world-class orchestral works year-round in the historic Copley Symphony Hall.  www.sandiegosymphony.org

COLUMBIA

    Located along Broadway and stretching towards San Diego Bay, Columbia is comprised mostly of commercial development with residential condos dotted throughout the neighborhood.

Hotels

• The stylish 259-room W Hotel incorporates a sunny coastal theme, especially apparent in its popular rooftop Beach Bar featuring heated sand and cabanas. www.thewsandiegohotel.com
• Built in 1924, the historic Armed Services YMCA Building is now 500 West, an affordable, European-style hotel with 260 small and impeccably furnished rooms. www.500westhotel.com
• Located directly across from San Diego Bay and San Diego’s cruise ship terminal, the Holiday Inn on the Bay features 600 rooms with panoramic views of the downtown skyline and the bay. www.holiday-inn.com/san-onthebay

Restaurants & Nightlife

• Established more than 60 years ago by the Ghio family, Anthony’s Fish Grotto on the Bay serves fresh seafood cooked with secret family recipes.  The full-service restaurant is complemented by its quick-service Fishette, which offers patio dining. www.gofishanthonys.com
• At the W Hotel, guests can dine at RICE where meals include a contemporary take on global cuisine with flavors from around the world.  After dinner, guests can head to BEACH, the hotel’s rooftop bar, with a heated sand floor, fire pit and private tented cabanas that bring a seaside vibe downtown.  Downstairs, LIVING ROOM is a bustling lobby bar with high-energy music that caters to the see-and-be-seen crowd. www.whotels.com

Arts & Culture

• The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) offers 10,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space within its downtown gallery, along with the ‘baggage building’ of the active Santa Fe Depot, a Nationally Registered Historic Landmark, located across the street.  MCASD presents an ever-changing line-up of internationally recognized artists, contemporary art exhibits and site-specific installations. www.mcasd.org

• The USS Midway Museum invites the public to learn about America’s longest-serving aircraft carrier with 35 exhibits and tours exploring its rich 47-year history. Many of the story-telling docents are veterans who served aboard the carrier. www.midway.org
• The floating Maritime Museum of San Diego features one of the finest collections of historic ships in the world, including the Star of India, the oldest active sailing ship. www.sdmaritime.org

• Thirty-one abstract tree sculptures are positioned along the North Embarcadero of San Diego Bay showcasing the talent and visions of local San Diego artists.  Titled Urban Trees, this fascinating display of tree art includes colourful and creative representations.  www.portofsandiego.org/sandiego_publicart/urbantrees

Activities

• San Diego is a popular cruise port on the U.S. West Coast and welcomes passengers on a variety of cruise lines.  Ships docking in San Diego offer itineraries that include the Mexican Riviera, Hawaiian Islands, Pacific Coast, Central America and the Panama Canal. www.portofsandiego.org
• Hornblower Cruises & Events offers three-hour nightly dinner-dance cruises, Sunday champagne brunch cruises, daily one- and two-hour narrated harbor tours and seasonal whale watching adventures. www.hornblower.com.
• San Diego Harbor Excursion features daily one- and two-hour narrated harbor tours, seasonal whale watching adventures, dinner-dance and Sunday brunch cruises with live entertainment and excursions to Los Coronado Islands in Mexican waters.  www.flagshipsd.com

LITTLE ITALY

Once home to San Diego’s flourishing tuna fishing industry and generations of Italian families who made their living on the sea, Little Italy is a quaint and lively neighborhood filled with patio cafes, restaurants, pubs, art galleries, shops, hotels and the beautiful Amici Park. www.littleitalysd.com

Hotels

• The Porto Vista Hotel & Suites offers 193 rooms and suites, a top-floor restaurant and lounge, 30-person Jacuzzi, fitness center and business center.  www.portovistasandiego.com
• The 75-room, Mediterranean-style La Pensione Hotel – Little Italy offers quaint accommodations along with a bistro, open-air courtyard and Italian restaurant. www.lapensionehotel.com
• Little Italy Inn is a boutique bed and breakfast with 23 rooms, each with their own style and décor. www.littleitalyhotel.com

Restaurants

• India Street, Little Italy’s main thoroughfare, is lined with several restaurants featuring cuisines of both Southern and Northern Italy; they include Sicilian dishes served with a modern flair at Trattoria Fantastica, www.trattoriafantastica.com, and sophisticated Italian food with a cozy ambiance at Buon Appetito, www.buonappetito.signonsandiego.com. Filippi’s Pizza Grotto features an old-fashioned Italian dining experience along with a delicatessen and market, which offers everything from prosciutto to mascarpone. www.filippispizzagrotto.com
• Indigo Grill’s varied colorful motifs and cuisines of the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and Oaxaca, Mexico provide a unique dining experience. www.cohnrestaurants.com

• Craft & Commerce serves up made-to-order libations with an inventive menu of comfort food classics. www.craft-commerce.com

• Opened in June 2009, Burger Lounge serves organic burgers in a retro-meets-modern setting.  Burger Lounge is open for lunch and dinner and offers a menu of organic salads, homemade cupcakes, hand-cut fries and all-natural Tallgrass Beef burgers on house-made buns. www.burgerlounge.com

• The Glass Door, atop the Porto Vista Hotel & Suites, offers panoramic views of San Diego Bay and a creative menu of New American cuisine. www.glassdoorsd.com
• Anthology embraces the spirit of a classic supper club from the 1940s with a decidedly modern spin; it draws renowned local and international musicians of jazz, classic rock, blues, Latin and world music to its stage. www.anthologysd.com

• Caffé Italia offers street-side tables and a serene courtyard atrium along with paninis, salads and a wide selection of Italian gelato. www.caffeitalialittleitaly.com
• The menu at Extraordinary Desserts is an innovative melding of the owner’s classic French background and her experiences in the tropics of Hawaii and Mexico. www.extraordinarydesserts.com

Nightlife

• Since 1934, the Waterfront Bar & Grill has been a favorite local watering hole serving locally brewed ales and great burgers. www.watefrontbarandgrill.com
• British-owned and -operated, the British Princess Pub serves British and Irish beers along with traditional pub fare like fish and chips; patrons can also watch soccer and rugby via satellite TV. www.princesspubandgrille.com

Arts & Culture

• Art galleries include Scott White Contemporary Art, which promotes the works of emerging and mid-career artists, www.scottwhiteart.com, and Perry L. Miller Fine Art, specializing in everything from 18^th-century art to contemporary works on paper, www.plmeyerfineart.com.

Shopping

·         The Kettner Art & Design District along Kettner Street encompasses a group of retail shops and art galleries that feature selections of home furnishings and fashion accessories. Among its 21 shops are Mixture, featuring a young and fresh take on contemporary furniture, www.mixturedesigns.com, and Boomerang, featuring an ever-changing selection of quality vintage home décor items from America, Scandinavia and Europe, www.boomerangformodern.com.

• Also on Kettner Street, Architectural Salvage is a haven of vintage home décor and accessories like antique drawer handles. www.architecturalsalvagesd.com

• On Fir Street, a block of colorful cottages house boutiques that offer ultra-stylish options including independent designers of women’s clothing, accessories and shoes.  On India Street, shoppers find imported accessories of all kinds in an array of stylish boutiques.   www.littleitalysd.com

• Italian-inspired retail includes contemporary Italian-designed house wares at Disegno Italiano, www.disegno-italiano.biz, and elegant Italian ceramics and gifts at Bella Stanza, www.bellastanzagifts.com.

Events

• During the annual Art Walk in April, guests enjoy a variety of art displayed in outdoor venues, studios, galleries and local businesses, along with live entertainment. www.artwalksandiego.org
• Every October, the Annual Little Italy Festa, a traditional street festival with music, fine foods and specialty crafts, and the colorful Chalk La Strada, a classic Italian street painting exhibit with chalk, take place. www.littleitalysd.com/events/little-italy-festa
• Every May, the Annual Sicilian Festival comes to the streets of Little Italy with music, dance, culture, a parade of costumed dancers, Sicilian cuisine and more. www.sicilianfesta.com 
• Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., guests can enjoy the Little Italy Mercato, an artisan farmers market that sells everything from organic pet food to sea urchin fresh from the ocean. Among its 90 booths that line Date Street, guests can find food from more than a dozen certified California producers, specialty items, artworks, flowers and more.  www.littleitalysd.com/mercato 

GETTING AROUND

With short city blocks and most streets running one way in a grid pattern for easy navigation, downtown San Diego is best explored on foot.  However, for visitors looking to give their weary feet a rest, downtown also offers fun alternative modes of transportation.

• The San Diego Trolley’s light-rail system offers routes running to various points in downtown; it operates seven days a week from 5 a.m. to midnight and runs every 15 minutes.  www.sdcommute.com
• Numerous pedicabs are available daily along most downtown streets, particularly in the Gaslamp Quarter and along the Embarcadero in the Marina and Columbia neighborhoods. Pedicabs are a unique alternative to taking a taxi and the next best thing to riding a bike around downtown. www.vippedicab.com
• Ivan Stewart’s Electric Bike Center rents electric bikes to guests interested in exploring the city in a new and environmentally friendly way.  Located in Little Italy, the Bike Center offers two-hour, half-day and full-day rental packages that include an electric bike, helmet and lock.  www.iselectricbikecenter.com
• GoCar Tours offer a fleet of three-wheel mini-cars designed for guests wanting to escape tour buses. Up to two people can jump into the open, miniature vehicles and enjoy a GPS-guided audio tour highlighting 100 San Diego sites. www.gocartours.com
• Cinderella Carriage Co. offers horse-drawn carriage rides along the Embarcadero and through the Gaslamp Quarter. www.cinderella-carriage.com

Happy happens in San Diego.  For more information on San Diego offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Web site, www.sandiego.org, or call (619) 236-1212.  In San Diego, visit the International Visitor Information Center, located along the Embarcadero at the corner of West Broadway and Harbor Drive in downtown; the La Jolla Visitor Center, located at the corner of Herschel Avenue and Prospect Street in La Jolla; or the California Welcome Center, located at the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine.