North Park is at the center of it all—art, food, and music. When you’ve outgrown the glitz of Downtown San Diego’s pricey dance clubs and the raucous bar scene of Pacific Beach, North Park will still be there.

I first started spending time in North Park when I was in college. Most nights you could find me at an open mic night at Queen Bee’s, fawning over rock stars at North Park Theater (which is also known as The Observatory), and occasionally drinking cheap whiskey and jamming to 1990s hip hop at Bluefoot. Now, as a mom of three, you’re more likely to catch me eating a plate of crispy polenta at Waypoint Public while my kids make new friends at the onsite play area. Centrally located within the city, North Park is the neighborhood where San Diegans go for all things local. 

Eat Local

Rachel Brandt

For me, the hardest thing about spending any time in North Park is deciding where to eat, and this neighborhood is a prime foodie destination. Luckily, many of the eateries are located along University Avenue and 30th Street, making it easy to walk from one restaurant to the next.

If you’re looking for street tacos, City Tacos is a must. You can’t really go wrong with anything on their menu, but don’t skip the birria de res taco, if you’re a meat-eater. It’s one of the most traditional tacos on the menu, and they do it right. For my veggie friends, I recommend the aguacate frito taco, which is basically fried avocado.  

Drink Local

Four Brewers - CC BY-SA 2.0

Known worldwide for being one of the largest craft beer producers, San Diego is synonymous with microbreweries. North Park does its part to maintain the title with several successful breweries, most of which are located along 30th Street. Dark beer lovers should head to Belching Beaver for a Liquid Gold float made with the ever popular peanut butter milk stout and a scoop of peanut butter ice cream. If you prefer something less sweet, try the fruit sour beers at Modern Times Flavordome.

If craft beer isn’t your scene, North Park is also densely populated with coffee shops that aim to keep you wide awake. Dark Horse Coffee Roasters is a local gem that roasts its own beans and only sells fair-trade coffee. It’s definitely the place that will turn coffee newbies into coffee experts. But if you prefer both beer and coffee, Young Hickory is the perfect spot to have some craft beer or cold brew.

Shop Local

Rachel Brandt

Beyond the breweries that have made San Diego a craft brew Mecca and the locally owned coffee shops that keep us all happily caffeinated, North Park is also a community that supports small businesses.

Verbatim Books is a recent addition to the neighborhood that opened in 2016. Not only does this independently owned bookshop have an awesome selection of fiction, non-fiction, and rare first editions, they also lean into the San Diego writing scene by promoting local authors and hosting readings for the community.

Pigment is another shop I can never skip, and it’s just around the corner from Verbatim Books. Owned by a local artist, this shop is open and airy, which is what I wish my house looked like. They sell everything from one-of-a-kind art and jewelry to furniture and home decor.

These two shops are just a few of the many boutiques and local art galleries sandwiched between all the restaurants and breweries in North Park. I love spending the day wandering down 30th Street, popping into different stores and checking out some of the local art. One of my favorites is the mural on the side of Belching Beaver that beautifully displays the sand, surf, and skate culture of San Diego.

Play Local

Balboa Park | Osbornb - CC BY 2.0

North Park is home to several small community parks sprinkled throughout the neighborhood. If you have a pup, they’re more than welcome at the Montclair Park dog run or you can swing by Bird Park for a summer concert or movie night.

But the biggest attraction here is Balboa Park. North Park shares a border with the 1,200-acre Balboa Park, which offers plenty of outdoor space as well as numerous museums, gardens, restaurants, hiking trails, and the famous San Diego Zoo.

Balboa Park in San Diego is kind of like what Central Park is to New York City, and it’s one of the reasons why some homebuyers pay the big bucks for homes in North Park. Like in any big city, space to roam and proximity to greenspace comes at a premium in an urban neighborhood. Most residences in North Park are single-family homes priced starting in the high $500s. I personally know people who have bought homes for $1.5 million in North Park just for the sole purpose of being within walking distance of Balboa Park. If living next to a large urban park is a selling point, then North Park may be your best option.