Downtown
WHO will love living in downtown?
As one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in San Diego, downtown is brimming with professionals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s who primarily work in the tech, life sciences, and marketing industries. Since the area extends to Little Italy, East Village, Marina, and Cortez Hill, the condos can’t be built fast enough to house everyone who wants a slice of the downtown good life.
WHAT will you see?
Downtown is a fairly walkable area and due to expensive parking, it’s common to walk, scooter, trolley ride, or rideshare in and around the area. You’ll find a broad mix of personalities from suited-up attorneys near the Marina and Cortez Hill areas to younger execs, artists, and activists hanging out closer to East Village. Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, sits on one side of downtown next to the beautifully designed, nine-story Central Library. But tucked in between, you’ll find stylish restaurants, craft cocktail bars, local shops, and oh, did we mention high-rise condos?
WHERE will you eat?
Downtown can be a bit fickle when it comes to eateries with “the next best restaurants” rotating in and out along the main streets. However, Little Italy is home to rooted favorites, as well as soon-to-be neighborhood staples. Go-to spots include Monello (make sure you ask for your pasta to be mixed in the cheese wheel), Indigo Grill, and Filippi’s Pizza Grotto (locations vary, but this one is the OG; plus it has an Italian grocery store in the front). Also, make a point to try out the new(er) kids on the block: Morning Glory for a brunch place that cares as much about the decor as it does the food and Born and Raised for when you’re in the mood for a $50 steak.
HOW will you spend your time?
Hanging out at a rooftop happy hour after a long week of work, watching a baseball game from the lawn or nearby at Bub’s, and brewery hopping to all of the tasting rooms popping up all over downtown will likely find a place on your social calendar. Alternatively, sitting quietly on the perimeter is the Marina district is where you can get your fix of bayside views and the various pop-up food and music festivals the Embarcadero area is known for. On Saturdays, you can take a stroll through Little Italy’s Mercato Farmer’s Market with more than 150+ local vendors.
WHY you’ll love living here?
The “spice of life” is what draws waves of residents to downtown. It’s alive with entertainment and energy every weekend and amped up even more when significant events like Comic-Con come to town. Since the area encompasses multiple neighborhoods, you’ll see how the charming simplicity of the Marina area and Cortez Hill mixes well with the trendsetting discoveries found in East Village, Little Italy, and beyond. There’s never a dull moment when you live downtown. It’s one of the more enviable places to be in San Diego, if you want to be in the middle of all the action.
