The park is home to 16 museums and performing arts venues, ornate Spanish-Renaissance architecture, 1,200 acres of beautiful gardens and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Just south of Hillcrest sits Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in North America and a hub for recreation, arts and culture, and community gatherings. Thrown into the mix are vintage clothing shops, book outlets and the multiplex Landmark Cinemas for taking in independent and foreign films. On intersecting Fifth Avenue, you'll find a concentration of new and established restaurants, as well as a few dessert-centric eateries.
University Avenue leads into the neighborhood's "village" area designated by the historic, neon "Hillcrest" sign. A great place to shop for local produce, arts and crafts, the market also offers a wide range of gourmet stalls with hot and cold cuisine. This lively stretch also hosts one of the largest farmers markets in San Diego from 9AM – 2PM on Sunday. You'll also discover home decor shops, distinctive boutiques, the Uptown District shopping plaza and the country's only openly gay brewery, Hillcrest Brewing Company. Spanning a dozen blocks west from the Pride flag along University Avenue is a colorful mix of ethnically diverse restaurants, nightclubs and acclaimed wine bars. A block away, down Harvey Milk Street, is where the San Diego LGBTQ+ Community Center resides. Urban MOs Bar & Grill, the self-proclaimed best gay bar in the world, is a Hillcrest classic and the best place to get into the spirit of the Hillcrest. The landmark serves as the starting point for San Diego LGBTQ+ Pride's annual mile-long parade held each July. Lauded for its welcoming vibe and pedestrian-friendly streets and sidewalk patios, the area's east end is marked by a towering rainbow Pride flag just off Hillcrest's main thoroughfare of University Avenue, at the corner of Normal Street. Sunday through Thursday 12-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12-10:30 p.m.Located only a few miles north of San Diego's bustling downtown, the vibrant uptown neighborhood of Hillcrest stands as San Diego's LGBTQ+ central hub, offering an array of bars, restaurants, coffee houses, boutiques and unique shops. Sunday through Thursday 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.Įnjoy handmade ice cream and yummy waffle cones at this small batch ice cream shop using real ingredients. Southern California’s go-to fast casual restaurant and artisanal bakery for all things encased in crust. This tea bar hosts memorable tea tastings for groups of all sizes. San Diego’s first gay bar, The Rail opened in 1903 and moved to Hillcrest in the 1960s.Īdditional LGBTQ-owned bars and restaurantsĭeja Brew Lounge is a coffee house near North Park. Monday-Thursday 4 p.m., Friday through Sunday 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday 8 p.m.-2 a.m., Friday and Saturday 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Sunday 7 p.m.-2 a.m.Īn intimate leather gay bar featuring a pool table and events in a low-key atmosphere. San Diego’s largest and most popular gay nightclub Sunday through Thursday 12 p.m.-12 a.m., Fridays and Saturday 12 p.m.-2 a.m.
North Park’s premier neighborhood bar with pool, darts, digital jukebox and free wifi. Monday through Friday 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-11 p.m.Ī gay dive bar with friendly staff and stiff pours. Urban MO’s is a hetero friendly gay bar with burgers in the heart of Hillcrest and 7 p.m.Ī neighborhood gay bar with pool tables, karaoke and Saturday brunch. Tuesday through Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 6 & 8:30 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. Lips is the ultimate in drag dining, providing dinner and drag shows six nights a week. Thursday 4-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 4 p.m.-12 a.m., Sunday 12-8 p.m. The friendliest dive bar in San Diego has been open since 1924. Tuesday and Wednesdays 4-10 p.m., Thursday 4-11 p.m., Friday 4 p.m.-12 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The safe oasis is open for outdoor dining. InsideOUT is a casual elegant restaurant that is part of the MO’s Universe Group. Monday through Friday opens at 2 p.m., weekends open at 11 a.m. It is famous for its handcrafted beer, stone oven pizza and to-go beer.
Hillcrest Brewing Company is the world’s first gay brewery. Hillcrest Brewing Company Joey Arruda is the managing partner of Hillcrest Brewing Company (Photo courtesy MO’s Universe) Monday and Tuesday 2-8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday 2-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Since 2009, Gossip Grill has blossomed into a full patio bar and restaurant with a dance floor. Gossip Grill is Southern California’s only seven-days-a-week, Nicky-Award-winning women’s bar. Cheers is an unpretentious neighborhood gay bar hosting seasonal events, serving daily drink specials.