Hillcrest - San Diego, CA Area Guide

Restaurant options in Hillcrest include international cuisine as well as down-home favorites, while nightlife options include bars, a music venue, dance clubs and hookah lounges. Many of the dining and nightlife options sit along University Avenue, though some are scattered elsewhere throughout the neighborhood.

Tap and Press, located on University Avenue, serves a mix of over 25 craft beers and 12 different flavors of sweet and savory waffles. Unique waffle flavors include Tuna Tuna, a combination of albacore tuna, cranberries, walnuts and onions, and the First Sin, which has green apples, blue cheese, walnuts, honey and arugula.

At Kous Kous Moroccan Bistro, the decor matches the ethnic cuisine. Gaze at the light emanating from beautiful Moroccan lanterns as you listen to traditional music playing softly in the background, and enjoy a pot of tea and authentic Moroccan dishes, including zaalouk, shak-shouka and a selection of kebabs.

Salt & Cleaver, located on Fifth Avenue, is known for sausage and beer, but its menu is filled with other options too, including pretzels dipped in white cheddar cheese, bacon Brussel sprouts and tasty flatbreads. Grab a cheap drink during the weekday happy hour, when you can get a beer, cocktail or glass of wine for as little as two bucks.

At The Merrow, you can watch a local band play, or you can entertain the crowd yourself on Mondays during open mic night. This place serves over 15 varieties of frequently rotated craft beers, and the daily happy hour runs until 8 p.m. Be prepared to pay for parking though; the limited private parking is often reserved during the evening hours, so you may have to park in a nearby lot.

A less crowded option, 7th Ave Pub is located above Whole Foods Market. This establishment features a different happy hour special each day and a "beer flight" that includes your choice of four tap beers for $5.

Hillcrest is a very walkable neighborhood that also has plenty of bike infrastructure, with bike lanes and trails along parts of University Avenue, Third Avenue and a few other places around the area. This makes walking and bike riding viable and popular transportation options. Eight bus lines run through the community, including routes 1, 3, 10, 11 and 120, plus residents can call a cab or book a ride using Uber. State Route 163 runs north to south through the neighborhood, meeting I-8 just to the north and I-5 to the south, after crossing through Balboa Park. Plenty of public parking exists throughout the area and costs around $2 to $3 an hour, with validations available in some locations.

While Hillcrest does not house any parks, it does sit just north of Balboa Park. This 1,200-acre park has several museums, including the San Diego Air and Space Museum, San Diego Museum of Art and the San Diego Natural History Museum; attractions, such as the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Miniature Railroad and Balboa Carousel; and nearly 15 gardens. It also has three off-leash dog parks, 65 miles of hiking and biking trails and five playground areas for the kids.

The cost of living in Hillcrest dips lower than the San Diego average by as much as 25 percent. When taking public transportation, it takes about 20 minutes and costs $2.25 to travel from Hillcrest to downtown San Diego one way. An after-work beer can be had for as low as $2 a pint during happy hour at places like Salt & Cleaver, while gas prices hover around 11 percent higher than the national average. A one-bedroom apartment rental costs just under $1,700 per month, marginally cheaper than the San Diego average.

The center of commerce in Hillcrest sits on University Avenue, including several high-end and high-value specialty shops and boutiques. At Gioia’s Room, a women’s clothing boutique located on Sixth Avenue, the owner hands out sweet treats and beverages while helping her customers piece together the perfect outfit. At Cody’s Home + Gift, a full-service interior design studio, customers can find the perfect décor pieces to complement their home, plus high-quality furniture and unique gifts.

Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s and Ralph’s all sit in the heart of Hillcrest, while Vons and Albertsons lie just off to the west. Hillcrest Farmers' Market runs on Sundays, from morning to mid-afternoon, and is located on Normal Street.