1

AAA Destination Guide: Official AAA maps,
travel information and top picks
AAA Destination Guide: San Diego includes trip-planning information
covering AAA recommended attractions and restaurants, exclusive
member discounts, maps and more.
San Diego calls itself “America’s Finest City,” a difficult slogan to live up
to, but one you’ll likely agree with if for no other reason than the city’s
marvelous weather. This is sunny Southern California at its best; the
region centered about downtown very rarely sees temperatures above 80
in summer and below 40 in winter—courtesy of prevailing Pacific Ocean
breezes—and only about 10 inches of annual rainfall.
But while catching some rays on one of San
Diego’s postcard-beautiful beaches is
mandatory, it’s certainly not the only way to
enjoy your stay. You could spend an entire
day just wandering through Balboa Park even
if you didn’t step inside a single one of its 15
museums; their ornate Spanish-style exteriors are worth a look just by
themselves. And then there’s the park’s outstanding San Diego Zoo with
its lovely, leafy habitats designed to appeal to both animal residents and
human visitors alike.
Hiking along Point Loma’s bluffs in Cabrillo National Monument will make
your heart beat faster either due to the exercise or the stunning vistas;
take your pick. And you won’t have to shun the sun just to go shopping
either: Such locales as Seaport Village, Horton Plaza and the Gaslamp
Quarter let you savor San Diego’s balmy climate while souvenir hunting
in an eye-pleasing, alfresco setting.
Essentials
Hop aboard the San Diego-Coronado Ferry for a scenic 15-minute ride to
Coronado, the peninsula separating San Diego Bay from the Pacific
Ocean. If you’d rather drive there, the San Diego-Coronado Bridge
stretches more than 2 miles across the bay and soars 200 feet into the
air, providing you with a wonderful vantage point from which to survey the
city, the bay and
Once in Coronado, drink a toast to Victorian opulence at the “Del,” the
grand
Coronado.
Hotel del Coronado,
Take in the spectacular views from
a San Diego landmark since 1888. Beneath its
distinctive red, peaked roof are almost a dozen restaurants, cafes and
bars, making this historic beach resort a perfect spot for an elegant
repast or a beachside cocktail.
Cabrillo National Monument on Point
Loma. The monument commemorating Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s 1543
exploration of the area is an interesting historical backdrop to the
panoramic views of San Diego that are the real draw. Gray whales
migrating offshore lure crowds of watchers to the monument and nearby
Sunset Cliffs
Peer into tidal pools at La Jolla Cove where crabs, snails and other sea
creatures dwell. A sand beach nestles between picturesque sandstone
cliffs, and the cove’s clear water is famous among snorkelers and divers.
in winter.
Wander along the Embarcadero, downtown San Diego’s waterfront, a
celebration of all things quaint and nautical and home to many of the
city’s best seafood restaurants. Just an oyster shell’s throw away is
Seaport Village, a shopping center disguised as a 19th-century California
harbor town.
Destination Guide: San Diego

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Essentials Map
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Rest up for an evening on the town in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, hub
of San Diego’s nightlife scene. Crowded with restaurants, cafes,
nightclubs and boutiques, this 16-block vintage business district adjoins
eye-catching Westfield Horton Plaza,
Essentials Details - Get additional information on
the 5-story shopping and
entertainment complex you can’t miss thanks to its eye-catching jumble
of balconies, stairs and walkways painted a spectrum of festive colors.
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1. San Diego-Coronado
Ferry
1050 N. Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 234-4111

2. Seaport Village
849 W. Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 235-4014

3. Westfield Horton
Plaza
324 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 238-8180
4. Old Town San Diego
State Historic Park
4002 Wallace St
San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: (619) 220-5422


5. Balboa Park
El Prado & Pan
American Rd
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 239-0512


6. San Diego Museum
of Art
1450 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 232-7931

7. The San Diego
Museum of Man
1350 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 239-2001


8. Mingei International
Museum
1439 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 239-0003

9. San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (888) 697-2632



Climb aboard the San Diego Trolley’s Blue Line and head for the border
at San Ysidro where you’re just a short walk and a taxi ride away from
duty free shopping along Tijuana’s
For a taste of Mexico closer at hand, stop by
Avenida Revolución. Whether you’re
searching for cheap souvenirs or imported goods from around the globe,
you’ll find them here and possibly at bargain prices. Added bonus: the
vast majority of stores here accept U.S. dollars.
Old Town San Diego State
Historic Park, a collection of structures—including seven original
adobes—at the site of California’s first permanent settlement. The flavor
is decidedly Spanish and Mexican here, and a handful of Mexican-
themed restaurants and shops will satisfy your craving for south-of-the-
border cuisine, art objects and handicrafts.
Destination Guide: San Diego

3
Essentials Map
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Explore Balboa Park, the site near downtown where San Diego hosted
two international expositions in the early 20th century. Balboa Park is like
a theme park only the theme is Spanish Colonial Revival-style
architecture characterized by colonnades, red-tile roofs and elaborate
plaster details adorning soaring entryways and towers. Within these
lovely stucco buildings are more than a dozen museums, including the
San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Man and the

Mingei International Museum.
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10. Coronado
Visitor Center
1100 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA 92118
Phone: (619) 437-8788

11. Hotel del Coronado

1500 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA
Phone: (619) 435-6611


12. Cabrillo National
Monument
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr
San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: (619) 557-5450


13. Sunset Cliffs
Sunset Cliffs Blvd & Adair St
San Diego, CA 92107
14. Tijuana, Baja California


Talk to the animals at the San Diego Zoo
San Diego in 3 Days
—if you are so inclined—but be
forewarned that your vocal cords are in for a real workout. More than
4,000 animals crawl, gallop, slither, fly and swing from limb to limb at this
world-class Balboa Park facility. Ride the double decker bus for a 40-
minute zoo overview or, for a different kind of overview, ascend above
the treetops aboard the Skyfari Aerial Tram.

Three days is barely enough time to get to know any major destination.
But AAA travel editors suggest these activities to make the most of your
time in San Diego.
Day 1: Morning
You can’t go wrong beginning your San Diego sojourn at the world-
renowned San Diego Zoo, in urban San Diego’s picturesque cultural hub,
Balboa Park. If you’ve missed breakfast, stop by the Flamingo Café just
inside the zoo entrance where you’ll have a perfect view of the Flamingo
Lagoon while you fortify yourself for the day’s activities with eggs and
toast.
Destination Guide: San Diego

4

San Diego in 3 Days – Day 1 Map


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For a quick orientation, take the guided bus tour (included in the zoo’s
Best Value ticket) aboard a double-decker bus departing from Flamingo
Plaza. You’ll survey about three-fourths of the animal park during the 40-
minute trip. Other buses displaying green signs offer express
transportation to five stops throughout the park, something to keep in
mind should you poop out on the zoo’s far side. The Skyfari Aerial Tram
offers another way to get around, and the bird’s-eye view can’t be beat.
The aerial tram drops you off near the Polar Bear Plunge, a highlight on
the opposite side of the zoo from the entrance. An underwater window
reveals that the bears are surprisingly graceful swimmers. The Monkey
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Trails and Forest Tales habitat, one of the park’s newest attractions,
beautifully re-creates the rainforest home of several rare species of
monkeys including colorful mandrills you’ll identify by their bright red and
blue snouts. Next door is Gorilla Tropics— another garden paradise—this
one home to colobus monkeys, bonobos and, of course, gorillas. The
Scripps Aviary continues the tropical theme with waterfalls and lush
foliage providing a habitat for more than 100 colorful African birds.
Afternoon
If there’s more growling going on inside your stomach than in your
surroundings, order lunch at the Treehouse complex adjacent to Gorilla
Tropics and the Scripps Aviary. You have a choice of two restaurants
1. San Diego Zoo
2920 Zoo Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (888) 697-2632



2. Balboa Park
El Prado & Pan
American Rd
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 239-0512


3. The San Diego
Museum of Man
1350 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 239-2001

4. Mingei International
Museum
1439 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 239-0003


5. San Diego Art
Institute
1439 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 236-0011

6. Timken Museum
of Art
1500 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 239-5548


7. Museum of
Photographic Arts
1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 238-7559


8. Museum of San
Diego History &
Research Library
1649 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 232-6203


9. Botanical Building
1550 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 239-0512

Destination Guide: San Diego

5
here, and both make the most of their leafy surroundings. The Treehouse
Café is casual and sells salads, sandwiches and a few hot entrees, but
what makes this eatery so popular is the view: the outdoor dining area
occupies decks built out over a forested canyon. Adjacent to the café is
Albert’s, which also boasts an open-air deck only this one faces a pretty
waterfall. This full-service restaurant offers a more diverse menu
complete with appetizers, pasta, steak and fish as well as beer and wine.
Exhibits you should try to visit: the Absolutely Apes enclosure
(orangutans and siamangs), the Ituri Forest (hippos, okapis and otters),
Tiger River (tigers, tapirs and freshwater crocodiles) and the Giant Panda
Research Station. If you have kids, then the Children’s Zoo near the
entrance is a must, and the entertaining Sea Lion show is next door at
the Wegeforth Bowl.
As difficult as it might be, try not to linger too long among the zoo’s
exhibits because you’ll want to see a bit of surrounding Balboa Park, an
expansive jewel within sprawling San Diego just a few minutes from
downtown. This all-purpose city park houses not only the zoo but most of
San Diego’s big museums, as well as theaters, hiking and biking trails,
sports facilities and formal gardens.
After having walked along paths bordered by dense walls of vegetation,
you might find it hard to believe that the area was once dry scrubland.
Transforming a windswept mesa into a landscaped showplace and
cultural focal point didn’t happen overnight. The park got its start more
than a century ago and only approached its current character after
serving as the site of two world’s fairs: the 1915 Panama-California
Exposition and the 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition.
Balboa Park’s signature buildings—its ornate Spanish Colonial Revival
facades, its colorful, tile-inlaid fountains and charming arcades—were
built for these events, and although many of them were temporary plaster
and wood structures, San Diegan’s found them too beautiful to simply
tear down after the exposition crowds had departed. Many were rebuilt of
more durable materials as the park was developed.
The California Building, housing the San Diego Museum of Man, is the
park’s chief landmark by virtue of its elaborate 200-foot-tall tower and
multihued tile dome. When visitors describe the setting as “romantic,” this
is the image they usually have in mind. Stroll along El Prado, the main
east-west thoroughfare of the 1915 Exposition, from the graceful arches
of the Cabrillo Bridge at the park’s western entrance through the grand
gateway formed by one wing of the California Building and past the
Alcazar Garden; House of Charm (containing the Mingei International
Museum and San Diego Art Institute); Plaza de Panama with its statue of
the Spanish hero, El Cid; House of Hospitality (a visitors center); Timken
Museum of Art; Casa de Balboa (Museum of Photographic Arts and
Museum of San Diego History & Research Library); Casa del Prado
(containing a theater); and the Botanical Building
Evening
Although it’s a bit pricey, eating at The Prado inside the House of
Hospitality is worth it. The location is not only convenient but beautiful,
with outdoor patios overlooking manicured gardens. The cuisine is a
blend of Spanish and Italian and each dish brings together all sorts of
subtle flavors. Entrees include center cut pork prime rib, rack of lamb and
New York steak, and the desserts range from vanilla bean cream cheese
flan to ultra-rich Belgian chocolate soufflé. Because it’s such a desirable
dining locale, try to make reservations. As you approach the entrance,
notice the fountain sculpture of a seated woman pouring water from a jug.
Designed in 1935, “Woman of Tehuantepec” has become a park icon
you’re likely to see repeated on publications and postcards.
with its photogenic
reflecting pool. You’ll end up giving your shutter button a workout as
every few steps seems to yield a new vista begging to be preserved in a
snapshot.
Day 2: Morning
It might not have the whimsical buildings and lush gardens of Balboa
Park, but downtown San Diego, far from being just a workaday central
business district, has a lot to offer out-of-towners, too. Here you’ll find the
San Diego Convention Center, PETCO Park (home of the Padres), the
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) Downtown,

the
historic Gaslamp Quarter, shopping centers, restaurants and the boat-
and ship-crowded waterfront known as the Embarcadero, home to two of
San Diego’s best museums.
Destination Guide: San Diego

6
San Diego in 3 Days – Day 2 Map


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The Maritime Museum of San Diego is a diverse collection of historic
ships beautifully restored and maintained. The largest is the Berkeley, a
more than 100-year-old steam ferry that in its heyday carried survivors of
the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to safety. Glass cases filled with
sundry nautical antiques and photos recount different eras of San Diego’s
maritime history. Did you know that San Diego was once one of the
largest tuna fishing ports in the world and that it’s the largest U.S. naval
port on the Pacific? You will after checking out the exhibits here.

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1. Museum of Contemporary Art
San Diego (MCASD) Downtown
1001 Kettner Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (858) 454-3541


2. Maritime Museum of San Diego
1492 N. Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 234-9153



3. The USS Midway Museum
910 N. Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 544-9600


4. The Fish Market & Top
of the Market

750 N Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 232-3474

5. Seaport Village
849 W. Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 235-4014
6. Westfield Horton Plaza
324 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 238-8180

7. Coronado
Visitor Center
1100 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA 92118
Phone: (619) 437-8788

8. San Diego-Coronado Ferry
1050 N. Harbor Dr
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 234-4111

9. Hotel del Coronado

1500 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA
Phone: (619) 435-6611

10. Sheerwater Restaurant

1500 Orange Ave
Coronado, CA 92118
Phone: (619) 522-8866

Destination Guide: San Diego

7
The prettiest ship in the collection is the Star of India, a sailing ship
launched from the Isle of Man in the British Isles in 1863. Exhibits and
hands-on displays on board give you an idea of what it was like to work
on a wind-powered vessel back when the Star of India’s iron hull was
cutting-edge technology. Among the other sundry ships in the museum’s
collection: a 1904 luxury steam yacht and the H.M.S. Surprise, a Royal
Navy frigate replica you might have seen in the Russell Crowe movie,
“Master and Commander.” For an additional fee, you can cruise the
harbor aboard a 1914 pilot boat or take turns manning the helm during a
harbor excursion on the tall ship Californian, a replica of an 1847
schooner.
Dwarfing all of the maritime museum’s vessels combined and bigger
even than the cruise ships docking at the nearby terminal, the USS
Midway, a few blocks south of the maritime museum, was the largest ship
in the world when it was built in 1945. After serving her country for nearly
50 years, this behemoth is now The USS Midway Museum
Afternoon
For lunch, walk over to
and you can
spend hours exploring its decks with the help of an audio tour guide.
You’ll see a couple dozen restored aircraft and all sorts of exhibits about
naval aviation as well.
The Fish Market & Top of the Market
Spend the rest of the afternoon shopping and enjoying the scenery at
next to the
USS Midway. This local landmark has a prime location on the bay with
great views, especially from Top of the Market, which is the full-service
restaurant on the second floor. Downstairs is The Fish Market, the
casualcounterpart to the restaurant upstairs, and like the name suggests,
the fish is market fresh. Although particulars on the menu change
according to what’s in season, you can expect an extensive selection of
raw shellfish, seafood cocktails, sashimi and sushi as well as smoked
and mesquite-grilled fish. The sushi and the fish and chips are done
especially well.
Seaport Village
If Seaport Village only whets your appetite for more shopping, walk just a
few blocks east to
right next door to the Fish Market. The theme here is
“quaint seaside village” with many shops imitating ramshackle bait shops
and lighthouses. Some might find Seaport Village tries a little too hard to
be cute, but mixed in among the souvenir vendors catering to tourists are
some interesting little specialty shops selling everything from hot sauces
to imported Scandinavian sweaters and jewelry. There are more than 50
stores in all along with several eateries and cafes, and Seaport Village
makes the most of its waterfront location with fountains, trees and a
walkway along the bay offering splendid views of Coronado and the
Coronado Bay Bridge. There’s also a Looff carousel, horse-drawn
carriage rides, and on the weekends, street performers.
Westfield Horton Plaza,
Since you’re in the neighborhood, check out San Diego’s Gaslamp
Quarter, bordering Westfield Horton Plaza on the east. Signs arching
over the street proclaim this district to be the “Historic Heart of San
Diego.” Beautifully restored Victorian-era commercial buildings, brick
sidewalks and and streets lined by old-fashioned,wrought-iron lamp posts
with white globe lights give you a taste of what life was like here in the
19th century. You’ll find several shops and restaurants in the district, but
this place really starts hopping after dark when all the bars and nightclubs
open for business.
a multilevel, open-air mall
that’s one part traditional shopping center and one part carnival
funhouse. A maze of walkways and terraces here connects a jumble of
stores (more than 100), with stairs and escalators leading up and down to
the various floors. Unwary shoppers tend to get lost, but if you approach
it with the right frame of mind, wandering through its network of corridors
can be fun. Head to the top floor for a great view of the whimsical
complex and the rest of downtown.
Evening
Follow the setting sun to Coronado, an exclusive island enclave (actually
it’s virtually an island but technically a peninsula). You have two options
to get there: the San Diego-Coronado Ferry departs from the dock at
Broadway and Harbor Drive near the USS Midway; crossing takes about
15 minutes and you’ll have a nice perspective of the city. But if you want
a truly breathtaking panorama of San Diego and its surroundings, take
the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, a graceful ribbon of concrete that
soars 200 feet above the bay allowing huge U.S. Navy ships to pass
underneath and providing stunning views to drivers.
Destination Guide: San Diego

8
Coronado is home to two naval bases, a few high-end resorts and some
very well-heeled homeowners, so the atmosphere here is generally
upscale. It’s the inviting beaches that first attracted visitors here, and with
visitors came hotels and, in 1888, the grande dame of Coronado, the
Hotel del Coronado.
Cap off this day of sightseeing with dinner at the Del’s
This rambling Victorian masterpiece, with its iconic
towers, whitewashed walls and high-pitched red roofs, set the standard
for luxury in San Diego and continues to do so today. From the swaying
palms and lush landscaping to the rich dark wood interiors, “The Del,” as
it is fondly called by locals, is a landmark you shouldn’t miss. And if you
time it right, sipping a cocktail overlooking the beach at sunset will be a
highlight of your trip.
Sheerwater
Restaurant,
Day 3: Morning
Drive out to
which offers indoor seating as well as a large outdoor terrace
with ocean views. Evenings in San Diego can get chilly, but don’t let that
dissuade you from dining al fresco; the Sheerwater has plenty of
fireplaces and strategically placed heaters to take the nip out of the air.
The fare is California Coastal, appropriately enough, with seasonal
seafood dishes including house specialties cioppino, a fish stew made
with tomatoes, and fish and chips. You’ll also find steaks, burgers and
pasta on the menu.
Cabrillo National Monument
A 14-foot sandstone statue near the parking lot honors Portuguese
explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who was the first European to step
onto what would eventually become the West Coast of the United States.
Paved pathways lead to overlooks, a lighthouse, a military exhibit and a
visitors center with displays about Cabrillo as well as general park
information. The Bayside Trail on the park’s east side meanders through
native coastal scrub, and a road branching off near the main parking lot
leads down to a rocky shore with tide pools on the park’s Pacific side.
on Point Loma, the spit of land
separating San Diego Bay from the Pacific. The views from the point are
spectacular, encompassing the city and the entire harbor as well as a
sweeping expanse of the Pacific that includes migration routes used by
Pacific gray whales in winter. Make sure your camera battery is charged
because this is one of San Diego’s most scenic views.
Afternoon
For lunch visit Humphrey’s
Continue north through the towns of Ocean Beach, Mission Beach and
Pacific Beach to the tony seaside community of
on Shelter Island, about a 5-mile drive north of
Point Loma along the coast of San Diego Bay. You’ll have great views of
a sailboat-crowded marina and the fine houses on Point Loma, and the
dishes are beautifully presented and combine a variety of carefully
chosen flavors to excellent effect. If you happen to be passing through on
a Sunday, try Humphrey’s Sunday brunch, which is so popular that you
might not get in without having made reservations first. And if you do
have brunch there, one word of advice: you might want to watch how
much of the unlimited champagne you consume.
La Jolla.
Enjoy the rest of the afternoon wandering among the marine exhibits at
the
Palm fronds
swaying in the sea breeze above red-tile roofs and gorgeous ocean views
characterize La Jolla, and downtown is known for its beach resorts, fine
dining and upscale boutiques as well as lovely little La Jolla Cove with its
steep rock bluffs and sandy beach.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, north of
downtown on the University of California, San Diego campus. There are
more than 60 habitats represented here. Don’t miss the huge Kelp Tank
filled with schools of fish swimming among a swaying kelp tendrils or the
Destination Guide: San Diego

9
San Diego in 3 Days – Day 3 Map

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Tropical Seas Gallery with its colorful live coral. The Shark Reef exhibit,
home to an array of shark varieties, is equally fascinating, and the Tide-
Pool Plaza acquaints visitors with this habitat common to California’s
coastline. You can even touch some of the marine critters that live in tide
pools. An added bonus: The picture spot outside the aquarium from
which you can see La Jolla Cove, Scripps Institute pier and the cliffs near
the university campus.
Evening
Celebrate your third evening in San Diego with a sumptuous dinner in an
equally sumptuous setting at George’s California Modern,
Day 3 Details - Get additional information on
part of
George’s at the Cove, which is tucked in among the boutiques and art
galleries of downtown La Jolla. You’ll have an amazing ocean view and
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1. Cabrillo National Monument
1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr
San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: (619) 557-5450


2. Humphrey's

2241 Shelter Island Dr
San Diego, CA 92106
Phone: (619) 224-3577

3. La Jolla

4. Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Institution of Oceanography
2300 Expedition Way
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 534-3474



5. George's California Modern

1250 Prospect St
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 454-4244

the sleek, elegant décor and carefully designed lighting creates an aura
of luxury you’ll really enjoy. The menu changes daily, but be assured that
the California cuisine is as sophisticated as the ambience. You’ll need
reservations, and should a table not be available, consider the rooftop
Ocean Terrace upstairs. It’s less pricey, more casual, the view is
incredible and your chances of getting in without a reservation are better.
George’s Bar, the third dining room at George’s at the Cove, serves from
the same menu as the Ocean Terrace and has a balcony that also takes
advantage of the building’s primo location.
Destination Guide: San Diego

10
Restaurants
Our favorites include some of this destination’s best restaurants—from
fine dining to simple fare.
Although most of San Diego’s major
attractions lie outside the downtown area, the
city center lures visitors with its trendy
shopping areas, vibrant nightlife, sports and
convention venues, dozens of hotels and
many of San Diego’s top restaurants.
Epicenter of all the colorful goings-on is the
historic Gaslamp Quarter, which extends
several blocks along 4th and 5th avenues.
Among the Quarter’s carefully restored 19th-
century buildings you’ll find Monsoon,
As you’d expect from the decor, Monsoon serves authentic Indian
cuisine—Northern Indian to be precise—with the chef’s specialty being
malai kofta, vegetarian meatballs in a creamy sauce. There are entrees
to please both vegetarian and meat-lovers alike. If you favor spicy food,
try the jahl frezi, a dish seasoned with cumin seeds, ginger, onion and
garlic. (Be sure to specify that you want your curry mild or medium if
you’re not used to spice.) Monsoon is a great place for families, and the
patio area will give you a front-row seat for the Gaslamp Quarter’s
happenings.
which welcomes guests to its
spacious dining area with a bubbling fountain, subdued lighting and
paintings of India.
Just a few blocks south on 4th Avenue you’ll come to J Street and
Oceanaire,
Another block south in the Gaslamp Quarter, on K Street within walking
distance of San Diego’s Convention Center and PETCO Park, is
where the dark, rich interiors and nautical details evoke a
1930s ocean liner. Guests navigate a grand, winding staircase to the
sprawling dining room filled with plush booths and tables. The oyster bar
is very popular during the week thanks to its half-price oysters and shrimp
cocktail, and traditional caviar service also is available. Seasonal
specialties may include jumbo lump crab cakes, Alaskan halibut “T-
Bone,” Gulf of Mexico red snapper and, of course, Maine lobster.
Portions are generous so you may want to share a side dish—asparagus,
green beans amandine or the sour cream and onion mashed potatoes.
Be sure to save room for dessert like the classic 95-cent root beer float.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar,
Just around the corner on 3rd Avenue,
where cuts ranging from the 8-
ounce filet mignon to the 20-ounce bone-in New York strip steak are
served a la carte. And what meal at Fleming’s would be complete without
one of the fit-for-sharing side dishes such as sautéed spinach or creamy
jalapeno-cheese potatoes? Not a steak lover? Fleming’s also offers
seafood, and the extensive wine list boasts more than 100 varieties by
the glass. What’s more, the dining room’s dark, rich woods and soft
amber lighting create a relaxing setting in which to enjoy the food.
Candelas
Although businesses along the nearby Embarcadero—downtown’s
waterfront district between Market and Grape streets—tend to cater to
out-of-towners, both locals and tourists alike enjoy
offers an inviting
Mexican hacienda-style atmosphere. The chef prepares dishes with
Mexican ingredients utilizing French cooking techniques. His specialty is
langosta baeza—lobster stuffed with mushrooms, chiles, onions and
bacon accented with a hint of aged tequila. The menu also includes
entrees featuring beef, fowl or seafood with select vegetables and spices.
The wine list is modest and includes products of several Mexican
vineyards.
The Fish Market &
Top of the Market.
Two other seafood restaurants share the same address about a half mile
farther north on the Embarcadero. There’s
The downstairs market offers fresh fish takeout, while
in the dining room upstairs an enormous menu printed daily lists more
than a dozen fresh catches, all grilled over mesquite. Selections may
include ahi, grouper, mako and mahi mahi. The oyster bar at the heart of
the restaurant offers such favorites as bay shrimp and Dungeness crab
cocktail and baked clams, as well as a sampler of their smoked fish.
Anthony’s Fish Grotto, part of