A longtime bastion of sunny beaches and famous attractions, San Diego has also gained recent kudos as a hot nightlife destination due mainly to its appealing Gaslamp Quarter. And while this delightful district is more dynamic than ever, planners overlooking the rest of the city—and region—are passing up some golden group opportunities for evening adventure.
“The nightlife here is unique because you have so much to choose from,” says Margie Sitton, senior vice president of sales and service for the San Diego Tourism Authority. “Each neighborhood has its own special offerings.”
From exploring the charming streets of Little Italy to the compelling culture of Old Town, the city is alive with options—whether your group is looking to dance, dine, drink or all of the above. Here’s a look at some of the most enchanting evening options around town and beyond.
Downtown
At the heart of downtown awaits the Gaslamp Quarter and the East Village, vibrant districts that continue to simply burst with new offerings.
“Every time I go to the East Village, I’m amazed at all the new restaurants and clubs,” Sitton says of the burgeoning warehouse neighborhood that began taking off in 2004 following the debut of PetCo Park, home to baseball’s San Diego Padres.
Now a hotbed of colorful drinking and dining, East Village offers a plethora of options for groups seeking to quench their hunger or thirst for a good time.
Among the unforgettable dining establishments is Cowboy Star, a handsome steakhouse with a Wild West ambience that has won awards for its interior design. Group dining is highlighted by a private space for 18 with its own lighting and sound options.
Other East Village dining hot spots include Neighborhood, a hip gathering place inspired by the gastropubs of London, serving creative plates that take pub grub to the next level. Beer lovers will savor the 27 microbrews on tap, and the establishment is a real local favorite that visitors will appreciate as well.
While the East Village has plenty of watering holes, why not gather with your group at one of its more offbeat venues? East Village Tavern & Bowl is a hip and boisterous pub that just happens to have 12 lanes of pins for some friendly group competition, while the Noble Experiment is a secretive speakeasy that whisks visitors into a clandestine atmosphere with amazing cocktails. Plan ahead and check with someone at the CVB if you’re considering this uniquely hidden treasure.PageBreak
In the Gaslamp Quarter, Sitton advises working with the local planning group Restaurant Events for large-scale doings. The company can arrange block parties for groups of up to about 4,000 in the popular district. The group provides its services free to meeting planners and can also arrange shindigs in other areas of the city, including Seaport Village and Old Town.
When it’s dining time in the Gaslamp, foodies will savor the tasty fare at Searsucker, the brainchild of Brian Malarkey, a former finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef and a judge on ABC’s The Taste. The inviting eatery with an industrial-chic look offers “New American Classics” on a menu whimsically divided between such elements as Bites, Smalls, Ocean and Ranch. A private upstairs space can host up to 32 and even provide customized cocktails for a group upon request.
For some post-dinner fun, a pair of promising pit stops can take groups to new heights—or away from it all beneath the San Diego streets. Stingaree is a stupendous three-story enclave of evening electricity divided into four distinct party areas that include a Rooftop Lounge boasting cabanas and a large firepit. For something totally different but equally inviting, Vin De Syrah is a subterranean hideaway with offbeat offerings like Sangria Sundays and Tarot Card Wednesdays.
Groups gathering in the enchanting Little Italy section of downtown should gravitate toward India Street, of all places, the sector’s main thoroughfare and a hive of inviting Italian establishments.
And for a unique setting boasting a different perspective on the city, consider an event aboard the USS Midway, a massive aircraft carrier that now serves as a popular museum and event venue, with fun options ranging from flight simulators to firework displays.
Coronado
The beach community of Coronado is forever tied to the iconic image of the famed Hotel Del Coronado, a much-photographed property that has been showcased in such films as Some Like it Hot. But the laid-back beach town can also make an impression with its array of drinking and dining options.
One brand-new dining possibility with group appeal is 1887 on the Bay, a restaurant housed in a marvelous manse perched directly on the water. The whimsical structure was designed by Reid Brothers architects, the same group behind “The Del,” and actually predates the famed hotel by a year. The fare focuses on seafood, and a number of private dining possibilities exist, including a spacious banquet room, as well as the opportunity to host up to 300 via a full buyout.
For some casual nightlife fun, consider a stop at the Coronado Brew Pub, a popular local brewer that also boasts a tasting room and brewery in San Diego’s Tecolote Canyon realms. The Brew Pub is a lively place where groups can let their hair down for some unstructured fun, and its menu showcases plenty of shareable items such as pizzas, beer-sauteed mussels and beer-battered onion rings. PageBreak
Mission Valley/Old Town
San Diego’s Old Town is a haven of heritage and history, and the 12-acre enclave serves up some festive drinking and dining diversions to boot.
Two possibilities in particular offer attendees the opportunity to immerse themselves in the region’s rich Mexican flavors, literally and figuratively. Cafe Coyote offers an open-air ambience and tasty fare in a sprawling setting frequently traversed by festive mariachi bands. For something different, try the tequila-lime shrimp or deep-fried lobster—a popular Thursday special. Groups looking to let their hair down a bit will appreciate the 120-plus varieties of tequila on hand.
El Agave is a somewhat more elegant haven with South of the Border flair. The wood-paneled setting is a blend of regal and rustic, and there’s even a “Tequila Museum” showing off more than 2,000 different bottles.
In mellow Mission Valley, much of the offerings are found at Fashion Valley Mall, one of the largest in California and a decent stop for some unstructured group downtime. An AMC multiplex theater offers film fun for movie buffs, and casual dining options range from P.F. Chang’s to California Pizza Kitchen.
La Jolla/Mission Bay
The elegant beachfront community of La Jolla is best-known for its upscale shopping and ocean vistas, but when the sun sets groups do have some top-tier cuisine and compelling culture to consider.
For some of the most acclaimed farm-to-fork dining in America, groups can gather at A.R. Valentien at the elegant Lodge at Torrey Pines. For a truly special and memorable experience, smaller groups can partake in an open Artisan Table dinner held Thursday evenings on the terrace. A group table seats up to 24, and strangers can quickly become friends as they bond over the heralded food and wine of the region.
Another hot hotel dining spot can be found at Nine-Ten in the Grande Colonial. The restaurant, which focuses on fresh ingredients from nearby farms and the Pacific Ocean and has earned spectacular reviews, hosts a handful of superb private dining areas.
The evening cultural ops include the renowned La Jolla Playhouse, a springboard to national success that has witnessed nearly two-dozen of its creative productions making the leap to Broadway.
Outdoorsy Mission Bay isn’t exactly known for its nightlife, but an evening outing with plenty of promise can be had at Belmont Park, which even in the off-season stays open until 10 p.m. on weekends. While much of the fun is of the throwback carnival variety, groups can also take in a spectacular Wave Show at the park’s cutting-edge Wave House, with talented surfers providing a serious wow factor for an evening outing.
