'''Downtown San Diego''' [http://www.sandiegodowntown.org/] is the central business district of San Diego. It is a hub of business and entertainment, with plenty of restaurants, shops, and nightlife, as well as a few intriguing attractions to boot.
Understand
History
Downtown or Centre City San Diego began in 1867, when Alonzo Erastus Horton bought 960 acres of land by the San Diego Bay after he decided that this should be the center of the city rather than Old Town, the site chosen by the Spanish for security reasons. Soon Horton found himself in the midst of an economic boom, resulting in the development of the southern Downtown neighborhoods, site of the present-day Gaslamp Quarter. However, in the late 1880s Horton's fortunes ran out and the Gaslamp Quarter began to deteriorate. At the same time, John D. Spreckels, a wealthy entrepreneur who had created a transportation and real estate empire in San Diego, began to develop land north of present-day Broadway, further contributing to the Gaslamp Quarter's decline.
Over the decades, Downtown fell into a state of disrepair as investment in the suburbs took its toll on the central city. In the 1970s, redevelopment efforts began taking off, and in the '80s Centre City began to rebound with the completion of Horton Plaza, the San Diego Convention Center, and the start of revitalization efforts in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Neighborhoods
Downtown or Centre City San Diego is divided into a number of neighborhoods, each with its own attractions and personality.
'''Columbia''' -- The western neighborhood of downtown, Columbia runs along Broadway as it approaches the harbor. Columbia is mostly a commercial district and contains One America Plaza (San Diego's tallest building), the historic Santa Fe train depot, as well as a sizable chunk of the waterfront which includes the USS Midway Museum, the Maritime Museum, the cruise ship terminal and the ferry landing.
'''Core''' -- Just as the name implies, Core is at the center of downtown, and is the commercial and governmental center of downtown.
'''Cortez Hill''' -- Located on the hill at the north side of downtown, Cortez Hill is a sleepy, mostly residential neighborhood named for the historic El Cortez Hotel, which is easily the tallest building on the hill.
'''East Village''' -- A former industrial neighborhood, the east side of downtown is undergoing a construction and redevelopment boom, spurred in part by the Padres' new ballpark, PETCO Park, which is also located within the neighborhood.
'''Gaslamp Quarter''' [http://www.gaslamp.org/]-- A historic district located in south downtown, near the convention center and the ballpark, Gaslamp Quarter is where the first development of downtown took place in the 1870's and was the focal point of the first revitalization efforts in downtown during the 1970's. Today, Gaslamp Quarter is a thriving district of historic buildings, art galleries, boutique shops, specialty stores, theaters and restaurants.
'''Horton Plaza''' -- At the heart of downtown, Horton Plaza is comprised almost entirely of the remarkable Horton Plaza shopping center and its adjacent buildings.
'''Little Italy''' [http://www.littleitalysd.com/splash/index.asp]-- At the northwest end of downtown, this neighborhood, originally a home to Italian fishermen, is now a very active district of shops, restaurants, and parks, with an Italian theme. Little Italy is also home to a number of annual events.
'''Marina''' -- At the southwest corner of downtown, Marina is a highly gentrified district of waterfront, highrise condos, hotels, parks, the San Diego Convention Center, and the Seaport Village shopping mall.
Get in
If you're arriving in San Diego by bus, train, or cruise ship you're likely to be getting off in Downtown. Even arriving by plane basically puts you in Downtown, given how close the airport is to the city center. Detailed info on arriving via those modes can be found in the Get in section of the San Diego article.
By car
Downtown is served by three freeways. Be warned though, Southern California is notorious for its confusing interchanges and freeway systems. You may exit off the freeway thinking you're going one direction, when it fact you'll find yourself heading in a completely different direction. So careful examination of a street map is recommended.
'''I-5''' wraps around downtown to the north and west, providing access from the north and the south. From the north, the Ketner Blvd. exit will provide you with the most direct access into Little Italy, while the Front St. exit will be your best bet for getting right into the thick of downtown. From the south, exiting onto 19th St., which acts as a frontage road to I-5, will get you to a number of east-west streets, including Market St., that upon turning left onto will take you right into downtown.
'''SR-163''' enters downtown from the north, turning into 10th Avenue/11th Avenue in downtown. SR-163 connects downtown to the northcentral and northeastern areas of San Diego.
'''SR-94''' connects to areas east, and turns into F Street/G Street upon entering downtown.
Get around
By car
Downtown is easily accessible and traversed by automobile, but it is one of the very few areas of San Diego where it makes sense to get around by other means. Parking is expensive and can be very hard to find during special events (like Padres games at PETCO Park).
By foot
Centre City is dense enough that it can be usually be easily walked. Certain intersections (basically anything along Harbor Drive) can feel a little risky with the high volume of cars, but for the most part walking is quite safe, even at night. Just keep in mind that Downtown is fairly large, so if you're planning on hoofing it from Little Italy to PETCO Park, keep in mind it's a long walk.
By public transit
Bus
The '''Metropolitan Transit System (MTS)''' [http://www.sdmts.com/home1.asp] operates bus service to almost all parts of the county, and downtown is the hub of the system, so bus service is pretty good in these parts. All bus routes that serve downtown intersect with Broadway Street at some point. The MTS has offices in downtown at 102 Broadway (at the intersection of Broadway and First Avenue) where you can purchase passes, find schedules, and get information about the bus system.
Trolley (light rail)
The '''San Diego Trolley''' [http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/Trolley.asp] is a light rail system operated by the MTS, which serves Centre City quite well. There are two trolley lines which serve downtown: blue and orange. The '''Blue Line''' comes up from the US-Mexico border at San Ysidro to the south and travels up Park Blvd. in the East Village neighborhood before turning west onto C Street, where it runs through the Core to the Santa Fe Depot before heading north through Little Italy to Old Town. The '''Orange Line''' connects the eastern cities of El Cajon and La Mesa with Downtown. It follows the same route as the Blue Line (Park Blvd and C Street) until it gets almost to the Santa Fe Depot, then it turns south and runs along Harbor Drive, stopping at the convention center and PETCO Park before ending near the 12th/Imperial Transit Center, where it then turns around and circles back around downtown before heading east.
Standard one-way fares vary depending on how far you travel, but for Downtown alone there is a special $1.25 fare which allows unlimited rides (including round trips) within the downtown area for two-hours from the time of ticket purchase. Day passes run at $5, and there are 2, 3, and 4 day passes available. Tickets have to be purchased from the vending machines at the station before you board the train. There's no formal system to check if you've purchased a ticket, but there are trolley guards that may come around and ask to see your ticket, and the fine is normally around $120 for not having a ticket.
See
'''Children's Museum of San Diego''', 200 West Island Avenue, ''+1 619'' 233-8792, [http://www.thinkplaycreate.org/]. Th-Th 9AM-4PM (closed Wednesdays). $10 adults/children, $5 senior/military.
'''Chinese Historical Society and Museum''', 404 Third Avenue, ''+1 619'' 338-9888 (fax: ''+1 619'' 338-9889), [http://www.sdchm.org/]. Tu-Sa 10:30AM-4PM, Su Noon-4PM. A museum dedicated to Chinese history, culture and art. Includes exhibits on the Chinese experience in America. $2 adults, children under age 12 free.
'''Gaslamp Quarter''', ''+1 619'' 233-4692, [http://www.gaslampquarter.org/]. Home to a number of historic Victorian-era buildings, such as the Louis Bank of Commerce, the Backesto Building, the Old City Hall, the Yuma Building, and a whole bunch of other beautiful old structures. The Gaslamp Quarter Historical Foundation, headquartered in the '''William Heath Davis House''' at 410 Island Avenue offers information for self-guided tours of the district as well as a guided walking tour of the district that leaves from the Davis House every Saturday at 11AM. Tours cost $10 adults, $8 seniors/students/military. Admission to the William Heath Davis House is $5 adults, $4 seniors. The Davis House is open Tu-Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 9AM-3PM.
'''Maritime Museum of San Diego''', 1492 North Harbor Drive, ''+1 619'' 234-9153, [http://www.sdmaritime.com/]. Daily 9AM-8PM (''open until 9PM in the summer''). Home to a number of historic sea vessels, including the ''Star of India'', the world's oldest active sailing ship, the ''Berkeley'', an 1898 steam ferryboat, the ''Californian'', a replica sailing ship, the ''Medea'', a 1904 steam yacht, the ''HMS Surprise'', another replica sailing ship, and a B-39 Soviet Attack Submarine. $12 adults, $9 seniors/military, $8 youth, free for children 5 and under (''packages which include sailing excursions are available'').
'''Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego''', 1001 Kettner (''between Broadway and B Street''), ''+1 858'' 454-3541, [http://www.mcasd.org/home.asp]. 11AM-6PM Sa-Tu, 11AM-9PM Th-F. Located in One America Plaza, San Diego's tallest building, this museum holds a part of the museum's collection over 4,000 works. $10 adults, $5 seniors/military, 25 and under free (''free admission the third Tuesday of the month'').
'''San Diego Firehouse Museum''', 1572 Columbia St. (''in Little Italy''), +1 ''619'' 232-3473, [http://thesdfirehousemuseum.org/]. Th-F 10AM-2PM, Sa-Su 10AM-4PM. Dedicated to the history of firefighting in San Diego. $2 adults, $1 seniors/military, $1 teens, free for children under 13.
'''USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum''', 910 N. Harbor Drive, ''+1 619'' 544-9600 (fax: ''+1 619'' 544-9188), [http://www.midway.org]. Daily 10AM-5PM. Take a self-guided tour of the USS Midway (CV-41), a former aircraft carrier of the US Navy. The Midway is home to a collection of former naval aircraft housed on her expansive flight deck. Guided tours and displays offer a unique look into the life aboard and of a powerful old warhorse. $15 adults, $10 seniors/students/military, $8 youth, children 5 and under and active duty (''in uniform'') are free.
'''Villa Montezuma''', 1925 K Street (''at 20th and K streets, just east of I-5''), ''+1 619'' 239-2211, [http://www.sandiegohistory.org/mainpages/locate5.htm]. Located just outside of Downtown, on the other side of I-5, Villa Montezuma is a gorgeous yet bizarre historic home, built during the boom years of the 1880's and furnished with towers, a dome, and art glass windows. At the moment, it is temporarily closed to the public.
Do
'''San Diego Padres''', PETCO Park (''in the East Village neighborhood, near the Gaslamp Quarter''), [http://www.padres.com/]. See the Major League Baseball Padres play at the brand new '''PETCO Park'''. The stadium, modeled after other "retro" ballparks, has many unique elements, such as the Western Metal Supply Co. building (a historic warehouse) which is incorporated into the left-field seats. Price range for seats varies widely, from $5 for a spot on the grassy lawn beyond the outfield wall (the "Park at the Park") to nearly $50 for a seat behind home plate. $5-$60.
'''San Diego Repertory Theatre''', 79 Horton Plaza (''in the Horton Plaza shopping mall''), ''+1 619'' 544-1000, [http://www.sandiegorep.com/].
Parks
'''Amici Park''', at corner of Date and State Streets. A small park located in Little Italy, notable for its bocce (a popular sport in Italy) courts. You can also find Italian recipes engraved onto the sidewalk plaques and tables around the park.
'''Children's Park''', south of Island Avenue between Front St. and First Avenue. An unusual park with lots of grassy hills, shade trees, and a large water feature.
'''Embarcadero Park''', south of Seaport Village behind the convention center. Also known as the Marina Park, Embarcadero Park is split into two parts, north and south, which shelter the marina. Very pleasant, with lots of trees, grass, and good views of the harbor. You can access the north park by walking through the Seaport Village shopping center, and you can reach the south park by going around the back side of the convention center.
'''Gaslamp Quarter Park''', at Fifth Avenue and L Street. A small square located next to the Gaslamp Quarter trolley station with a small water fountain. Good views of the convention center.
'''Horton Plaza Park''', south of Broadway between Fourth and Third Avenue. A historic square located just north of the shopping center of the same name. A large fountain marks the center of the park.
'''Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade''', along the north side of Harbor Drive between First Avenue and Fifth Avenue. A linear park honoring the late civil rights activist.
'''Pantoja Park''', on the north side of G Street between India and Columbia. A small park surrounded by a residential area.
'''Park at the Park''', south of J Street between Seventh and Tenth Avenue. For the 81 Padres home game days, this grassy berm overlooking PETCO Park is shut down and open as a place to view the game for $5 a person. But for the other 284 days of the year, the park is open to the public. The park has a small baseball diamond, a playground, and there are various monuments to the achievements of the Padres, such as a statue of star player Tony Gwynn nearby.
Buy
'''Horton Plaza''', 324 Horton Plaza, ''+1 619'' 239-8180, [http://www.westfield.com/hortonplaza/]. A massive five-story outdoor shopping mall unique for its appearance, with lots of bright colors, architectural tricks, and interesting spaces. Even if you're not planning on doing any shopping, it's worth coming here just to ''see'' the place. Horton Plaza contains nearly 200 stores and restaurants, including a couple of department stores, a food court on the 4th floor, and entertainment options such as a movie theater. From March to October, a '''farmer's market''' takes place every Thursday from 11AM-3PM on the square just north of the mall.
'''Seaport Village''', 849 West Harbor Drive, ''+1 619'' 235-4014 (Events Hotline ''+1 619'' 235-4013), [http://www.spvillage.com/]. Daily 10AM-9PM. A shopping and dining complex overlooking the bay, with a recreated historic "seaside village" look. Nearly 70 shops and restaurants and an antique carousel.
*'''Seaport Fudge Factory''', 859 West Harbor Dr (''in Seaport Village''), ''+1 619'' 239-3100, [http://www.seaportfudgefactory.com]. 9AM-10PM. Gorgeous shop with very well priced and excellent chocolates. All candies are made fresh daily on premises.
Eat
Acqua al 2. 22 5th Avenue. 1 619 230-0382. ttp://www.acquaal2.com/. A pleasant Italian restaurant somewhat removed from the heaviest congestion of downtown with an outdoor dining patio.
Anthony's Fish Grotto. 360 N. Harbor Drive. 1 619 232-5103. ttp://www.gofishanthonys.com/. aily 11AM-10PM. Anthony's Fish Grotto is co-located with Anthony's Fishette, a quick and informal outdoor eatery. Try the Anthony's Amber Ale.
Athens Market. 09 W. F Street. est of Horton Plaza. 1 619 234-1955. ttp://www.athensmarkettaverna.com/.
Blue Ginger. 17 4th Avenue. 1 619 232-3888. ttp://www.bluegingersd.com/.
Blue Point Coastal Cuisine. 65 5th Avenue. 1 619 233-6623. ttp://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/bluepoint/.
Buster's Beach House. 07 W. Harbor Drive. n Seaport Village. 1 619 233-4300. ttp://www.bustersbeachhouse.com/.
Cafe Chloe. 21 9th Avenue #1. 1 619 232-3242. ttp://0044fcb.netsolhost.com/. o-Fr 7:30AM-10:30PM; Sa 8:30AM-10:30PM; Su 8:30AM-9:30PM. Very cozy wine bar/restaurant. Prices are more on the expensive side, however quality is excellent.
Cafe 222. 22 Island Avenue. 1 619 236-9902. ttp://www.cafe222.com/. aily 7AM-1:45PM.
Candelas Restaurant. 16 3rd Avenue. 1 619 702-4455. ttp://www.candelas-sd.com/.
Cheese Shop. 27 4th Avenue. 1 619 232-2303. ttp://www.cheeseshopdeli.com/. o-Fr 7AM-4PM; Sa-Su 8AM-4PM.
Chive. 58 4th Avenue. 1 619 232-4483. ttp://www.laurelrestaurant.com/. appy Hour: Daily 5PM-7PM. 15-$26.
Dakota Grill & Spirits. 01 5th Avenue. 1 619 234-5554. ttp://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/dakotagrill/. unch: Mo-Fr 11:30AM-2:30PM. Dinner: Nightly 5PM. 14-$33.
de'Medici. 15 5th Avenue. 1 619 702-7228. ttp://www.demedicisandiego.com/. inner: Daily 5PM.
The Field. 44 5th Avenue. 1 619 232-9840. ttp://www.thefield.com/.
Filippi's Pizza Grotto. 747 India Street. 1 619 232-5094. ttp://www.realcheesepizza.com/.
The Fish Market. 50 N. Harbor Drive. 1 619 232-3474. ttp://www.thefishmarket.com/.
Greystone the Steakhouse. 58 5th Avenue. 1 619 232-0225. ttp://www.greystonethesteakhouse.com/.
Indigo Grill. 536 India Street. 1 619 234-6802. ttp://www.cohnrestaurants.com/restaurants/indigogrill/.
Le Cake Chateau. 152 7th Avenue. 1 619 325-0977. ttp://lecakechateau.com/. This quaint cafe has an excellent selection of cakes and other confections. The cafe also serves lunch and a great breakfast. Try the French Toast.
Lou & Mickey's. 24 5th Avenue. 1 619 237-4900. ttp://www.louandmickeys.com/.
Mimmo's Italian Village. 743 India Street. 1 619 239-3710. ttp://www.mimmos.biz/.
The Mission. 250 J Street. 1 619 232-7662. ttp://www.themissionsoma.signonsandiego.com/. Third and newest of the popular locally owned breakfast restaurant. Avoid the lines at the North Park and Mission Beach locations by coming here. Vegetarian offerings for the diet conscious.
Mona Lisa Restaurant & Deli. 059 India Street. 1 619 239-5367. Enjoy Sicilian style favorites and the best pizza in town at this family oriented restaurant. Deli has largest selection of Italian imports.
Osteria Panevino. 22 5th Avenue. 1 619 595-7959. ttp://www.osteriapanevino.com/.
'''Panda Inn''', 506 Horton Plaza, ''+1 619'' 233-7800, [http://www.pandainn.com/].
'''Rainwater Restaurant''', 1202 Kettner Blvd, ''+1 619'' 233-5757, [http://www.rainwaters.com/].
'''Red Pearl Kitchen''' 440 J Street, ''+1 619'' 231-1100, [http://www.redpearlkitchen.com/].
'''Rei Do Gado''', 939 4th Avenue, ''+1 619'' 702-8464, [http://www.reidogado.net/].
Drink
Cafe Noir. 47 9th Avenue. 1 619 235-0075. Cafe Noir is a hidden gem in a Victorian house that somehow managed to survive the crazed development in the East Village that has taken place since the ballpark opened in 2004. Free wireless internet and you will have the place virtually to yourself in the afternoons.
Fumari Hookah Lounge. 30 G Street. 1 619 238-4949. ttp://www.fumari.com/fumari-lounge/. u-Th 7PM-1AM; Fr-Sa 7PM-3AM.
Gaslamp Tavern. 68 5th Avenue. 1 619 239-3339. ttp://www.gaslamptavern.com/.
Henry's Pub. 18 5th Avenue. 1 619 238-2389. ttp://www.henryspub.com/.
Minus 1 Lounge. 32 F Street. 1 619 814 5777. ttp://www.thekeating.com/. One of San Diego's top boutique nightclubs and lounges. Great mixologists & tapas. Open until 4am Friday and Saturday. Features an eclectic mix of top DJs.
Princess Pub. 665 India Street (in Little Italy). 1 619 702-3021. Traditional British pub.
Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery. 01 G Street. 1 619 231-700. ttp://www.rockbottom.com/.
Sogno Divino. 607 India Street (in Little Italy). 1 619 531-8887. ttp://www.sogno-divino.com/. aily 11AM-11PM. Wine bar and appetizers, relaxing environment.
Waterfront. 044 Kettner Boulevard (in Little Italy). 1 619 232-9656. ttp://www.waterfrontbarandgrill.com/. One of San Diego's oldest drinking establishments and best dive bars.
Sleep
Hotel Indigo San Diego. 50 Island Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101. 19-727-4000. ttp://www.hotelsandiegodowntown.com. The Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter hotel is located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, close to Petco Park and the San Diego Convention Center.
Budget
500 West Hotel. 00 West Broadway. 66-315-4251. 19-234-5272. ttp://www.500westhotel.com. YMCA-affiliated Hostel in downtown San Diego, right next to Amtrak railway station. Free Wifi. Dorms from $44 per night.
'''Golden W Hotel''', 720 4th Ave (''north of G Street''), ''+1 619'' 233-7594. Rooms from $40.30 per night.
'''Hostelling International San Diego Downtown''', 521 Market Street, ''+1 619'' 525-1531, [http://www.sandiegohostels.org/downtown.shtml]. Check-in: 2PM. Located in Gaslamp Quarter, clean, friendly, offering 24-hour desk service, free breakfast, laundry facilities, lockers, and wifi. Rates start at around $20 for a dorm room, up to around $50 for a private room and $80 for a large family room (plus $3/night for non-members). Has a deal with a local bike shop for $10/day rentals (normally $22).
'''Lucky D's Hostel''', 615 8th Ave (cnr 8th and Market Street), phone +1 619-5950000, [http://www.luckydshostel.com]. Fun Hostel in San Diego's trendy East Village - dorm beds start around $20/night, privates around $50-$60/person. The hostel offers free breakfast, free dinners, free internet, free house phone, free pub crawl and free use of linens and towels. They also run a weekly tour to Tijuana.
'''La Pensione Hotel''', 606 West Date Street (''at India''), ''+1 619'' 236-8000 (fax: ''+1 619'' 236-8088, toll free: ''+1 800'' 232-4683), [http://www.lapensionehotel.com/default.htm]. Located in Little Italy, this lovely hotel has 75 small guest rooms with views of the bustling neighborhood. Parking is quite tight here, but the place is quite affordable at around $80/night.
'''Rodeway Inn & Suites Downtown''', 719 Ash St, ''+1 619'' 232-2525, [http://www.rodewayinn.com/hotel-san_diego-california-CA465]. Centrally located near the Gaslamp Quarter.
'''USA Hostels San Diego''', 726 5th Avenue, ''+1 619'' 232-3100, [http://www.usahostels.com/sandiego/index.html?lang=10]. Small hostel in the Gaslamp Quarter - dorm beds start around $20/night, privates around $50-$60/person. The hostel offers free breakfasts, wireless access, lockers, a laundry room, and bike rentals. They run a tour to Tijuana on Saturdays.
Mid-range
'''Bristol Hotel''', 1055 1st Avenue, ''+1 619'' 232-6141 (fax: ''+1 619'' 232-0118), [http://www.thebristolsandiego.com/]. A contemporary and casual hotel, the Bristol features an unusually large pop art collection. $150-$200.
'''Gaslamp Plaza Suites''', 520 E Street, ''+1 619'' 232-9500 (fax: ''+1 619'' 238-9945), [http://www.gaslampplaza.com/]. Check-in: 4PM, Check-out: 11AM. Housed in a beautiful historic building, this hotel offers lovely guest rooms and complimentary breakfast - served on the rooftop terrace (weathering permitting). $120-$275.
'''Horton Grand Hotel''', 311 Island Avenue, ''+1 619'' 544-1886, [http://www.hortongrand.com/]. A luxurious Victorian era hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter. $175-$300.
'''The Pearl Hotel''', 1410 Rosecrans Street, [http://www.thepearlsd.com]. An inexpensive modern mid-century hotel with discount boutique lodging accommodations.
'''Porto Vista Hotel & Suites''', 1835 Columbia Street, ''+1 619'' 544-0164, [http://www.ascendcollection.com/hotel-san_diego-california-CA822]. This boutique hotel is ideally located in Little Italy.
'''San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina''', 333 West Harbor Drive ''+1-619'' 234-1500 (fax: ''+1-619'' 234-8678), [http://www.marriott.com/sandt]. Located on San Diego Bay, good views, and resort atmosphere. Situated adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center and the Gaslamp Quarter.
'''W Hotel''', 421 West B Street, (619) 231-8220, [http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/sandiego]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 12PM. A trendy and modern hotel. Prices start around $180 a night.
'''Penny Realty San Diego Vacation Rentals''', 4444 Mission Blvd., 800-748-6704, [http://www.missionbeach.com]. See listings for vacation rentals in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Splurge
'''The Keating Hotel''', 432 F Street, ''+1 619'' 814-5700, [http://www.thekeating.com/main.asp]. Check-in: 2PM. Located in Gaslamp Quarter, this modern luxury downtown San Diego hotel offers an on site bar, spa services, and Italian designed rooms. Rates start at around $200 for a Stanza, up to around $1200+ for a luxury suite.
Manchester Grand Hyatt. ttp://manchestergrand.hyatt.com. , 1 Market Place, (619) 232-1234, This hotel has over 1600 rooms, making it the largest hotel in San Diego. Located off Harbor Drive next to Seaport Village and the San Diego Convention Center, consisting of two towers that are connected on the bottom four floors. Prices start around $280 a night.
'''Omni Hotel''', 675 L Street, ''+1 619'' 231-6664 (fax: ''+1 619'' 231-8060), [http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/SanDiego.aspx]. A modern luxury hotel connected to PETCO Park via a skybridge across the street, the Omni was built along the new ballpark and has a few baseball relics inside, such as Joe DiMaggio's cleats in the lobby, Babe Ruth's 1932 contract with the Yankees in the Presidential Suite, and a broken bat autographed by Willie Mays in the fifth-floor hallway.
Surfer Beach Hotel. an Diego Beach Hotel. 11 Pacific Beach Dr. ttp://www.surferbeachhotel.com. 240-320.
'''U.S. Grant Hotel''', 326 Broadway, ''+1 619'' 232-3121, [http://www.usgrant.net/]. A luxurious and historic hotel located across the street from the Horton Plaza Square. $270-$500.
'''William Penn Hotel''', 511 F Street, ''619'' 231-1500, [http://www.wpennhotel.com/] A historic all suite hotel in the middle of the Gaslamp Quarter.
'''San Diego Urban Retreats''',''619'' 284-2371, [http://www.sandiegourbanretreats.com/] San Diego vacation rental company.
Contact
In the area of the Westin Hotel, there is free WiFi. The SSID is "turbonet".
In the Little Italy area, there is free WiFi.
Get out
Drive northeast on Park Boulevard to get to the beautiful '''Balboa Park''', one of San Diego's greatest attractions and home to lovely gardens, numerous museums, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Head due north on 5th or 6th Avenue to get to the western entrance to Balboa Park, or continue to the hip urban neighborhood of '''Hillcrest'''.
To the northwest of Downtown and easily accessed via I-5 or the San Diego Trolley is '''Old Town''', the original site of the center of San Diego.
'''Coronado''' is a lovely little city that lies on a peninsula just across the bay, accessible from downtown by a ferry ride (departs from the Broadway Pier) or by driving just a bit south of Downtown to get to the Bay Bridge.