San Diego Offers World-Class Cuisine From Seafood to Hamburgers

Welcome to San Diego—it’s America’s finest city! There are the obvious reasons as to why we San Diego residents love our city. One just has to look out the window and see the gorgeous weather year round, beautiful downtown area, miles of beaches and hiking trails, friendly locals, historic Balboa Park, and many other progressive venues. We treasure it, and we are happy to welcome our friends and colleagues from around the world to our fine city.

Our city boasts world-class cuisine and wonderful views to match. I want to take this chance to point out some restaurants that are within walking distance of the San Diego Convention Center. However, I would be remiss to not point out some areas that are a short drive away.

Old Town San Diego is the oldest settled area in San Diego. It boasts Mexican heritage foods, arts, craft, and music. If you are looking for authentic Mexican food, the Old Town area is worth a visit. Little Italy of San Diego is well known for excellent food, bars, and lounges. It has recently become one the more popular areas for a night out. A bit further north is the famous La Jolla area whose restaurants are often cited as some of the best in San Diego. Hugging the Pacific Coast, you can expect spectacular views and ever-present seals and sea lions lounging on the beach.

Now, a bit more about the area surrounding the convention center. The Gaslamp Quarter is the main downtown entertainment area of San Diego. How do you find it from the convention center? Simply walk outside, and you are there! The Quarter is lined with multiple entertainment and food options and boasts five-star dining as well as quick stops for a bite. Many places have live music and entertainment.

While in San Diego, you must take advantage of the bountiful, fresh seafood available throughout the year. I recommend Blue Point Coastal Cuisine, Water Grill, Spike Africa’s Fresh Fish Grill & Bar, The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Nobu, and Mariscos El Pulpo.

For meat lovers, look for the Gaslamp Strip Club, Morton’s Steakhouse, Donovan’s Steak and Chop House, Greystone Prime Steakhouse & Seafood, Fogo de Chao, and Rei Do Gado. For internationally influenced and modern cuisine, look no further than Cafȳ Sevilla, Meze Greek Fusion, Double Standard Kitchenetta, La Puerta, and Searsucker. Some other staples are the Werewolf for good burgers, Barleymash to watch the game, Gaslamp Tavern for American fare, and famous Hodad’s burgers.

Another great feature of San Diego is that it is a craft beer lover’s paradise. Some locally brewed craft beers you should consider are Societe Brewing Company, Ballast Point Brewing, Green Flash Brewing Company, Latitude 33 Brewing Company, Second Chance Brewing Company, The Lost Abbey, and Stone Brewing Company. You can find them at many local restaurants and even visit their breweries.

There simply is not enough room to describe all the things that the Gaslamp Quarter offers. Some other areas deserving of a visit are Petco Park, where the San Diego Padres play, and nearby tourist attractions like the Seaport Village and USS Midway Museum. Also worth a visit are rooftop bars and lounges such as Altitude Sky Lounge, The Nolen, The Omni, and J Six.

There is no need for motor transportation as everything is a short walking distance from the convention center. So get out there, explore, and sample some of what San Diego can offer.

We are excited to have you join us in San Diego! I know that you will fall in love with our city and enjoy your time at APA’s Annual Meeting! ■