Downtown San Diego keeps evolving and expanding as different parts of city find their identities and offer exceptional experiences. In recent years, the East Village has truly transformed into a dynamic part of town with a mélange of new restaurants, coffee houses, cafes and bars fueling the scene. From fast casual
to fancy, here’s a guide to local favorites in the East Village.
A Day of Dining in East Village
Copa Vida
Start the day with a single origin espresso or exotic tea, along with an order of chorizo egg hash with jalapeno cilantro sauce. Lunch means turkey melts, Mediterranean couscous salads, and Croquet Monsieurs. The airy bright modern space also offers barista classes in coffee brewing, latte art and tea education.
Where: 905 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Copa Vida
Lucky Lunch Counter
For breakfast all-day or a low-fi lunch, retro diner Lucky Lunch Counter is home to a seriously good pastrami sandwich, ballpark hot dogs (nodding to the baseball-themed interior) and build-your-own salads.
Where: 338 7th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Lucky Lunch Counter
Rare Form & Fairweather
The Petco Park-adjacent deli and bar, Rare Form, serves up grilled cheese on rustic sourdough, seasonal sausages, and Cuban sandwiches, along with innovative craft cocktails like their herbaceous Basil G&T. After dining, trot upstairs to their gorgeous tropical bar overlooking Petco Park, Fairweather, for a rum grog or planter’s punch.
Where: 793 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Rare Form & Fairweather
Padres Game Day Eats
Bub’s at the Ballpark
A bustling hub for Padres’ fans that serves food late! Bub’s boasts the best chicken wings in the city – recommended with their Carolina Gold (barbecue with honey) or mango habanero sauces. There’s also corn dogs, sliders, tater tots, indoor basketball hoops, beer galore, game day specials and flat screens at every turn.
Where: 715 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Bub’s at the Ballpark
Quartyard
Before heading over to Petco, stop by Quartyard,an Urban Park constructed from repurposed shipping containers, for pre-game eats from food trucks and Sausage & Meat, craft beer, cocktails, and backyard games.
Where: 1102 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Quartyard
The Blind Burro
The Blind Burro, another high energy, bar-centric spot, spins out Baja-style coastal cuisine, cervezas and fine tequila. Try the salsa flights, rib-eye carne asada tacos, Mexican white shrimp and scallop ceviche, and their sweet potato-chorizo taquitos, paired with a Burro margarita with muddled jalapeno.
Where: 639 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about The Blind Burro
Salazar’s
For traditional Mexican, Salazar’s has been a family owned institution in the East Village since 1972. Think cheap beers, pollo asada burritos and shredded beef tacos.
Where: 1502 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Salazar’s
Hive Sushi Lounge
College kids flock to the Hive Sushi Lounge (1409 C St.), a cheap and cheerful haunt open nightly.
Where: 1409 C St, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Hive Sushi Lounge
Basic
Another East Village anchor, Basic, is a lively lounge-y warehouse packed with locals enjoying thin-crusted pizzas, craft brews, cocktails, billiards and good music into the wee hours of night.
Where: 410 10th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Basic
On the Edge of East Village
Monkey Paw Brewing Company
On the outer edge of the East Village, Monkey Paw is a casual brew pub with gold medal beers spilling from the taps and is known for their Philly cheesesteaks, waffle fries and old-school jukebox.
Where: 805 16th St, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Monkey Paw Brewing Company
Stella Public House & Halcyon
An artisanal farm-to-pizza concept coupled with 20+ craft beers and an open-air chill vibe makes Stella Public House another East
Village favorite. Not to mention it shares the space with Halcyon, a hipster coffee spot and bar that serves up breakfast, paninis, and coffee-based cocktails. Stella sports communal tables, wood-fired pizzas, and small plates like lamb meatballs, beet towers and speck-wrapped asparagus. Both spots overlook the greenery and public art of Fault Line Park.
Where: 1429 Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Stella Public House
> Find out more about Halcyon
A Bit More Upscale Dining
Water Grill
A mecca for seafood with a rockin’ raw bar, succulent shellfish platters, fresh line-caught fish and sophisticated wines.
Where: 615 J St, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Water Grill
Bottega Americano
Bottega Americano also charms as a vibrant urban food hall with a whirlwind of visuals-chefs throw pizza dough and pull pies from the wood-fired ovens, ribbons of rainbow colored pasta hang on display, oysters beckon from the raw bar, salumi hangs from above, picture perfect pastries tantalize from the bakery, gourmets goods fill the market place, diners share plates at communal tables and mixologists sling scintillating sippers behind the bar. Floor-to-ceiling, black-and-white images fill the walls with 1950s glam shots from Italy. It’s a scene with gorgeous décor and truly reflects the best of the best in the East Village.
Where: 1195 Island Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
> Find out more about Bottega Americano