North Park - San Diego, CA Area Guide

Originally planned as a lemon grove, James Hartley purchased the land in 1893 and called the area Hartley’s North Park. Hartley’s son created the neighborhood’s first real estate firm in 1905 and developed the land into San Diego’s first commercial and residential area in 1911. Within five years, the community had a public transportation system of street cars connecting it to other neighborhoods in the area.

The J. A. Cooley Museum sits in the northwestern corner of the neighborhood. This museum features relics from the 1900s, such as pre-1930s cars, player pianos, model railroad trains and typewriters.

North Park features a well-recognized arts scene that includes art galleries and schools, comedy clubs and performing arts venues. Elevated celebrates the art of spoken-word and slam poetry, providing an open mic for anyone who has something to say. Finest City Improv hosts classes and shows so you can learn the art of improv comedy or laugh as other comedians give it their all on stage. Expressive Arts presents a place to let it all go and transform your stress, anxieties and worries into art that can be appreciated by others.

One Saturday each month the shops, restaurants and galleries in the neighborhood participate in Ray at Night Art Walk, an event where residents experience art, music, performance, food and drinks in locations throughout the area.

In North Park, you can find Lebanese and Russian eateries alongside the more common choices like French, Italian, Mexican and American. Nightlife options include several bars and clubs clumped around the intersection of University Avenue and 30th Street. Dining options span the length of both University Avenue and 30th Street, with additional choices scattered throughout the neighborhood.

The Smoking Goat serves French-inspired cuisine paired with red or white wine. Nosh on a variety of creations from Chef Fred, owner and Le Cordon Bleu Paris-trained head chef, such as duck fat truffle fries, cassoulet and griddled banana bread. Stop in for Wine Wednesdays to enjoy a half-priced glass of wine.

If you like your burger topped with premium ingredients such as arugula, prosciutto, goat cheese and balsamic syrup, then head to Twist, where even the Boring Burger has fried shallots, smoked gouda and bacon aioli. Watch a game on TV while waiting for your burger masterpiece, or have your food delivered.

Big Front Door provides more than just the usual side dishes of chips and potato salad to pair with its sandwiches, with selections such as presto orzo. Have an early or late lunch to snag one of the limited parking spaces.

The neighborhood’s premier music venue is the Irenic, an old church on Polk Avenue that holds all-ages concerts. If the small venue gets too loud, you can always hang out in the courtyard area instead.

Bar Pink, located on 30th Street, features live music most nights and cheap drinks, such as $2 Tecates and $3 to $4 well drinks. You can play a game of pool on one of the two pool tables or work the pinball machine. U-31 Cocktail Lounge offers a different feel each night of the week. You can catch a local blues band on Mondays, try your luck at trivia questions on Wednesdays or partake in the crazy dance party that happens on Friday nights. On Tuesdays, you can save some cash with $2 tacos and beer drafts.

With most shops and restaurants centrally located on University Avenue and 30th Street, walking remains one of the most popular transportation options. Bike lanes and routes on the main thoroughfares, such as Utah and 30th Streets and Orange and University Avenues, make bike riding a safe and popular way to get around.

Bus lines 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, 18, 170 and 215 run through the neighborhood, and residents can also call a cab or book a ride through Uber. University Avenue has three public parking garages, ranging from $2 an hour to $5 for all evening. Several highways and expressways, including I-805, I-8, I-5, CA-15 and State Routes 94 and 163, are within short driving distance of the neighborhood.

Free to visit, Bird Park, North Park Community Park and Morley Field Dog Park all reside in the North Park neighborhood. Morley Field Dog Park features hills and open grassy areas where dogs can run and play without being confined by a leash. Poop bags and trash cans sit scattered throughout the park so that owners can easily clean up after their furry friends.

North Park Community Park features a playground for the kids and a recreation center that houses basketball, tennis and handball courts. Bird Park features an open, grassy area where you can have a picnic, kick a ball or just enjoy the scenic views.

The cost of living in North Park hovers just above $55,000 a year, about $20,000 lower than the city average. While the costs of expenses like food and entertainment remain comparable, housing costs dip significantly lower in North Park. Here a one-bedroom apartment costs just $1,250 a month, compared to the San Diego average of nearly $2,200.

The center of commerce lies in the heart of North Park at the intersection of 30th Street and University Avenue. This area has all kinds of shopping, including high-end specialty shops and boutiques. Pigment, a home furnishings and accessories specialty shop on North Park Way, features everything from succulent plants to stationery. The cheekily named Frock You, a vintage clothing boutique on Park Boulevard, carries gently-used clothing from the past. Save some money during their Huge Frocking Sale.

Many locals enjoy heading to Bottlecraft, located on University Avenue. This small shop carries a gigantic selection of microbrews, brewed locally and internationally. Grab a draft while perusing the shelves. Bottlecraft's employees are extremely passionate about beer and they love to help with recommendations. Beer aficionados should look into joining the monthly beer club.

Among the Vons and Albertsons in the neighborhood, you also find smaller grocery options. Parkside Market, located on Thorn Street, looks like a simple convenience store from the outside, but inside you can find items like gluten-free pastas, steaks, bread, spreads, garnishes and craft beer. North Park hosts a farmers market that runs on Thursday afternoons in the parking lot of the CVS on North Park Way.