South Park

South Park is a charming residential area with popular neighborhood restaurants that range from innovative vegan food to upmarket Italian eats. Tree-lined Fern and 30th streets, the main thoroughfares, are also home to indie boutiques and cafes, while nearby Grape Street Dog Park has views over the downtown skyline. The adjacent Golden Hill area is known for its classic bungalow homes and artisanal coffee bars.

South Park is located east of Balboa Park and was one of the first suburbs of Downtown San Diego. Serious development in the South Park neighborhood started around 1905 with the extension of streetcar service by the Bartlett Webster developing company.

South Park is a haven for indie shops, progressive galleries and restaurants that give top priority to seasonal organics and sustainable meats and seafood with cuisine ranging from contemporary and healthy to rustic and downright sinful. Craft beer is also celebrated here at bars like Hamilton’s Tavern, consistently rated “best beer bar” on the West Coast, and the family friendly Station Tavern where burgers and beer are served in an old trolley station. Local art, fashions and one-of-a-kind treasures, that can’t be found at any mall, make shopping in South Park a true treat. Stores like Make Good, Bad Madge & Company, Junc Life and Graffiti Beach Boutique, are all found on Fern Street. And, events like the quarterly Walkabout, with local shops and restaurants open late and offering special deals and bites, highlight the neighborhoods’ diversity and pride in the local arts, crafts and culture.

When taking a stroll through the neighborhood you feel the heart and soul that goes into the eclectic mix of over 70 independently owned small businesses that chose to reside in this quaint, tree-lined town. The South Park business owners take pride in their businesses and what they have to offer. South Park has been gaining repute for its small businesses since the 1990s, and has long been home to a diverse group of residents.