Candice Eley (619) 557-2889celey@sandiego.org

Robert Arends (619) 557-2834rarends@sandiego.org

Edna Gutierrez (619) 557-2887egutierrez@sandiego.org

Sarah Weinberg (619) 557-2838sweinberg@sandiego.org

Twitter @VisitSD_PRwww.sandiego.org

JULY 2015FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DYNAMIC DOWNTOWN 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 VILLAGEDowntown’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 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, the 12-story, 210-room

Hotel Indigo San Diego 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

The 1,190-room Hilton San Diego Bayfront is nestled along the waterfront of San Diego Bay. 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 the bay and downtown San Diego. www.hiltonsandiegobayfront.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 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

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, more than 27 local microbrews are always on tap. www.neighborhoodsd.com

A small, lively bistro, Café Chloe offers light French fare with substantial breakfasts, svelte lunches and sophisticated dinners and bar nibbles. www.cafechloe.com

Bootlegger plays with the allure of the 1920s speakeasy. Their menu offers modern versions of comfort food classics and a good selection of craft beers and excellent cocktails. www.bootleggersd.com

The Blind Burro specializes in Baja coastal cuisine using local and sustainable seafood and produce. The venue also showcases a varied selection of tequila, mezcal and spirits. With a walk up outdoor bar, guests are able to eat and drink while enjoying the San Diego weather. www.theblindburro.com

Set overlooking Faultline Park, Halcyon and Stella Public House, share the same indoor-outdoor space. During the daytime, Halcyon, a modern coffeehouse and cocktail lounge, will serve breakfast, lunch, snacks and desserts. After 5 p.m., the “farm to pizza” concept, Stella Public House, takes over, offering Neapolitan-style pies, craft beer and wines. www.stellapublichousesd.com, www.halcyoncoffeebar.com.

Rare Form offers a modern take on the classic deli, with dishes like meat platters with pates and terrines and sandwiches stuffed with porchetta and house-smoked pastrami. Their not-so-classic items include a selection of waffle sandwiches like their crispy chicken and maple syrup waffle sandwich. The crafted cocktail menu revolves around cordials, eau de vie, fruit brandies, draft beer and boilermakers: cold draft beer with a shot of real schnapps. www.godblessrareform.com

Bottega Americano combines a moderately-priced sit-down restaurant with interactive culinary stations, a gourmet retail space, grab-and-go dining options, a bar, patio and private indoor/outdoor space for weddings, parties and corporate events. The restaurant and prepared food menu focuses on “urban Italian with an American twist,” with pizza, cured meats, fresh mozzarella, Italian wine and specialty coffees. www.bottegaamericano.com

Nightlife The East Village defines urban luxury with a bevy of rooftop

lounges overlooking the downtown skyline and sparkling San Diego Bay. Rooftop 600 at Andaz San Diego (www.sandiego.andaz.hyatt.com), Hotel Solamar’s LOUNGEsix

and the San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter’s Altitude (www.sandiegogaslamphotel.com) all offer guests breathtaking views along with libations, fire pits and glittering rooftop swimming pools.

Noble Experiment is a reservation-only speakeasy that can only be accessed by pushing through a faux wall of beer kegs in a local burger joint. A catacomb-like wall of golden skulls inside only heightens this quirky, hush-hush experience, where patrons sip creations from some of the finest mixologists in town. www.nobleexperimentsd.com

El Dorado Cocktail Lounge is a fashionable update on the traditional dive bar with funky Old West-inspired décor, a seasonally updated craft cocktail menu and live music spun by DJs. www.eldoradobar.com

With more than 25 TVs, an in-house basketball court, an expansive wooden deck and daily drink and food specials, Bub’s @ The Ballpark is a sports fan favorite. They offer 50-cent wings on Wednesdays and hold a bimonthly wing-eating contest. www.bubssandiego.com

Shopping

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

At Credible Thread, style-conscious men can pick up classic looks updated with modern twists, like basic button-downs with distressed buttons or a motorcycle jacket with tartan plaid accents. www.crediblethread.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, the Horton Plaza neighborhood is named

for 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 invokes an amusement park with colorful pathways, bridges and staggered levels. Opening in 2015 and currently under construction, the shopping mall will incorporate a new world-class urban plaza with an interactive fountain, food pavilions and an amphitheater.

Hotels Adjoining Horton Plaza, Westin Horton Plaza San Diego

underwent a $25 million property-wide renovation in 2012. With 450 guest rooms and suites, the hotel also offers a signature Italian restaurant, two lounges and health club with a swimming pool and whirlpool spa. 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, and their mussel bisque has been celebrated by Food Network star Marcela Valladolid. 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

On weekdays, local office workers line up for incredible deals at Sushi Deli 2, known for a large menu tasty sushi rolls and Japanese classics at a low price. www.sushideliusa.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 that maintains its original warmth and charm. 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 QUARTERIn 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.or g

Hotels

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

Composed 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 features elegant hand-crafted antique furniture with period decor and a gas marble fireplace. www.hortongrand.com

Restaurants

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

Rustic Root opened its doors in May 2015. Helmed by Executive Chef Antonio Friscia, the kitchen focuses on local,

farm-fresh and house-made ingredients; offerings include a full brunch, dinner and late-night menus. The main dining room boast a life-sized Sudoku wall, lighting features that include overhead colander lamps and street-style lamps that pay homage to the Gaslamp’s signature street lamps. Rustic Root’s even more recently opened a 2,500-sq.ft. rooftop space. www.rusticroot.com

The Vietnamese FoodShop offers casual, affordable Vietnamese street food such as bahn mi sandwiches and pho, along with other delicious grab and go fare while its next door fine-dining sister, Sovereign Kitchen + Bar, focuses on modern Vietnamese cuisine with rolls, salads, meats and poultry, noodles and rice options. www.sdfoodshop.com, www.sovereignkitchen.com

Quad AleHouse sits on the third floor of a 5,000 sq. ft. historic building once used by the U.S. Navy as a locker facility. The bar’s 28 taps include a wide selection of beers from San Diego County, while the food menu features slow-cooked, house-smoked meats, sandwiches, salads and shareable plates. The décor incorporates wood and brick elements, recycled beer growlers and kegs, and a wall-length map of San Diego denoting the county’s 100+ brewery locations. www.quadalehouse.com

Nightlife

FLUXX, a high-end dance club that often welcomes big name DJs, 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.

Hidden below street level, Syrah Spirit & Wine Parlor is an ultra-hip 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

Located in a historic warehouse, Omnia is a luxury restaurant and nightlife venue offering three stories, sumptuous leather lounge furniture and translucent floating staircases leading to a rooftop bar retreat that is popular with visiting celebrities. www.omnianightclub.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 barleymash, Whiskey Girl, Henry’s Pub, and the historic Tipsy Crow. 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 Tim Cantor Gallery features oil paintings, writings and conceptual works of art, www.timcantor.com; Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts displays fine art and works from emerging national and international artists, www.mjwfinearts.com; while Sudden Art Gallery highlights up-and-coming artists from the local art scene. www.industryshowroom.com.

Shopping Visitors looking to expand their wardrobe can find well-known

retailers like Urban Outfitters and Quicksilver alongside unique local contemporary boutiques like Dolcetti, Eden and Bubbles.

Modern pin-up wear at Bettie Page Clothing, hand-rolled cigars at the Cuban Cigar Factory and hats of all shapes and sizes at Goorin Brothers can also be found tucked into the Gaslamp’s Victorian architecture. www.gaslamp.org

Tours The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation offers a vivid

recreation 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

So Diego 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. Guests can

get the seamy details while sampling Gaslamp cuisine on the Brothels, Bites and Booze walking tour. www.sodiegotours.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

MARINAThe 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 San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, located next to the San Diego Convention Center, boast more than 1,360 renovated guest rooms and suites, expansive meeting facilities, multiple restaurants and grand public spaces as well as a 400-slip marina. Its $200 million recent renovation included an expanded pool area with waterfalls and pop-jets for kids. www.sandiegomarriottmarquisandmarina.com

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 40th floor, offering panoramic views of the city. www.manchestergrand.hyatt.com

Restaurants

Celebrating game meats, The Lion’s Share features a menu of elk, boar, pheasant and more, alongside upscale versions of traditional bar food and expertly crafted cocktails in a loft-meets-hunting-lodge setting. www.lionssharesd.com

Known for its refined flavors of Mexican street food, Puesto at the Headquarters at Seaport District offers a menu shaped with all natural and organic ingredients accompanied by an exotic selection of hand crafted cocktails in a stylish, open-air setting. www.eatpuesto.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

Arts & Culture 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

Aaron Chang Ocean Art Gallery features an assortment of nature and sport photographs in different sizes and art wrapped surfboards by Aaron Chang, a local award-winner San Diego artist. www.aaronchang.com

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

Formerly the site of the San Diego Police Department built in 1939, The Headquarters at Seaport District is an artfully designed open-air retail center featuring an elite collection of specialty shops, restaurants and entertainment venues highlighted by elegant fountains and colorful landscaping. www.theheadquarters.com

Events Occurring annually in November, the five-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

COREThe 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 Hotel Palomar San Diego features 184 luxury rooms and

suites with extensive room amenities, design and detail. The 22-story hotel offers a world-class restaurant, 5,500-sq. ft. spa, an outdoor pool, bar and lounge. www.hotelpalomar-sandiego.com

Originally established as the historic Pickwick Hotel, the Sofia Hotel is a modern and stylish boutique property. 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

THE US GRANT, a member of Starwood’s prestigious Luxury Collection, is an elegant and historic 270-room hotel restored to reflect its 1910 origins complemented by modern features like a 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 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 colorful jazz and Pop art-inspired décor. www.thebristolsandiego.com

Restaurants & Nightlife Saltbox in the Hotel Palomar San Diego hotel features top-

quality cuisine with a street food twist, like beef cheek tacos and whole roasted fish, plus a cutting edge craft cocktail menu designed by Erin Williams, formerly of New York’s famed Pegu

Club. www.saltboxrestaurant.com

The sleek and sophisticated Grant Grill in THE US GRANT serves contemporary California cuisine with fresh, locally harvested ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. A seasonally changing craft cocktail menu incorporates ingredients grown in the hotel’s rooftop garden. www.grantgrill.com

The extravagant and multifaceted House of Blues features a full-service restaurant complete with a contemporary menu designed by celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez.  www.hob.com

Hodad’s is a famous surf-themed burger joint serving truly amazing hamburgers for 40 years. The local hangout has garnered attention from celebrity chef Guy Fieri, who featured the restaurant on his “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” TV show. www.hodadies.com

Karina’s Mexican Seafood is a local favorite for Mexican food, featuring an expansive bar and lounge, private dining room, and seating for large or small groups and a menu of coastal and regional dishes like seafood cocktails, tacos, a variety of ceviche plates and grilled platters. Mexican-influenced design details include modern rustic elements with colorful accents. www.karinasseafood.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

COLUMBIALocated 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 258-room W Hotel recently underwent a $5 million

renovation, including the opening of Kelvin, the hotel’s new signature restaurant. 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 Wyndham San Diego Bayside features 600 rooms with panoramic views of the downtown skyline and the bay. http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/california/san-diego/wyndham-san-diego-bayside/hotel-overview

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

Karl Strauss Brewing Co. offers the craft brewer’s core lineup of seven delicious beers, plus a variety of specialty seasonal beers, each perfectly paired with the restaurant’s menu of Southern inspired cuisine. www.karlstrauss.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. A 90-seat Battle of Midway Theater is currently under construction and scheduled to open in 2015. 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

Flagship Cruises & Events 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 ITALYOnce 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, European-style La Pensione Hotel – Little Italy offers stylish accommodations in the heart of a lively neighborhood at budget-conscious prices. www.lapensionehotel.com

Hotel Vyvant is a boutique bed and breakfast with 23 rooms, each with their own style and décor. www.hotelvyvant.com

Restaurants India Street, Little Italy’s main thoroughfare, is lined with

several restaurants featuring cuisines of both Southern and Northern Italy; they include authentic dishes served with a modern flair at Davanti Enoteca (www.davantienoteca.com) and handmade pastas served with a cozy ambiance at Bencotto Italian Kitchen (www.lovebencotto.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.realcheesepizza.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

Underbelly offers a modern take on the traditional Japanese ramen bar; in addition to the time-honored ramen dishes, the menu features light appetizers such as kurobota sausage, shrimp gyoza and ginger beef brisket mushu. www.godblessunderbelly.com

El Camino Super Cocina serves up a kitschy spin on Mexican cuisine, where pink walls surround diners as luchador movies run on the television at the bar. www.elcaminosd.com

Bracero Cocina de Raíz by internationally renowned Chef Javier Plascencia is a modern Mexican restaurant featuring a raw/ceviche bar; a taco space with fresh hand-made tortillas; two bars featuring tequila, mescal, craft beer and wine programs; and a Caja China-fueled open kitchen where the chef creates Baja inspired small and large plates like, a shrimp and bone marrow sopes or a Caja China lamb roasted asado. www.bracerococina.com

Richard Blais, winner of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” season eight, is the chef behind Juniper & Ivy, a “left coast cookery” with cuisine focused on locally sourced products. The innovative menu is divided into categories such as “Snacks”, “Raw” and “Toast.” Highlights include vegetable “chicharron” with green garlic and lime salt; nasturtium with Dungeness crab, meyer lemon curd and dill pollen; charred pinot grapes with ricotta, hyssop and ice wine vinegar, and uni carbonara with pork belly and white truffles. www.juniperandivy.com.

Kettner Exchange features progressive American cuisine from Executive Chef Brian Redzokiwsky. Complete with its own parking lot, the two story eatery houses a bar, lounge seating, a chef’s table for custom dinners and events, a 250-seat dining area with communal tables and Little Italy’s first roof top patio with views of the Pacific Ocean. The menu changes seasonally and is complemented by a cocktail menu and a selection of 32 beers on tap. www.kettnerexchange.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 Subtext Gallery (www.subtextgallery.com) and Jett Gallery

showcase works by up-and-coming contemporary artists, while Josh Herman Ceramics displays one-of-a-kind texturized pottery and sculptures (www.joshherman.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 is 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

The Space features seven different shops in a loft- like layout. A few within are the James Coffee Company (www.jamescoffeeco.com), Ajax Shoppe for men’s fashion, and Homesteez with Mid Century modern furniture.

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

Inspired by Mexican folk flair, Casa Artelexia offers handcrafted gifts, art and home décor imported from many colorful regions of México. It features unique art exhibitions and holds weekly art workshops. www.artelexia.bigcartel.com

Events During the annual Mission Federal ArtWalk 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 transforms the streets of Little Italy for a traditional street festival with music, food, dance, culture, and the colorful Chalk La Strada, a classic Italian street painting exhibit with chalk. www.littleitalysd.com/events/little-italy-festa

Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2:00 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 150 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

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.electricbikecentral.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

San Diego Segway Tours offers interactive excursions to downtown’s Gaslamp Quarter, Waterfront or Balboa Park atop easy-riding two-wheelers. Tours include training, helmets and carry bag for personal belongings. www.san-diego.segwaytoursbywheelfun.com

Happiness is calling in San Diego. For more information on San

Diego’s offerings, including exciting vacation packages and valuable

coupons for attractions, restaurants and more, visit the San Diego

Tourism Authority's website at www.sandiego.. 

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“Funded in part by the San Diego Tourism Marketing District with City of San Diego Tourism Marketing District Assessment Funds.”