North Park is one of San Diego’s most lively, exciting and vibrant neighborhoods. Hugely popular with local students, young professionals, hipsters, and the city’s ultra-cool fashionistas, North Park is also a must-see for tourists visiting San Diego.
Famous for its up-market restaurants, indie coffee shops and craft beer breweries, the entire neighborhood is a paradise for the discerning foodie. Home to the legendary Observatory North Park, a theater built in 1929 that now hosts some of the pre-eminent live music in the city, the district is a trendy hub of San Diego’s nightlife scene.
Other highlights of North Park include the weekly farmers’ market and the eclectic boutique stores where you can browse hand-made jewelry, vintage clothes, original artwork, books, and delightfully unique home decor.
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Where Is North Park Located in San Diego?
Bordered by University Heights and Hillcrest to the west, by Balboa Park, South Park and Switzer Canyon to the south, and Interstate 805 and City Heights to the east; North Park is right in the center of San Diego’s cultural life.
The main zip code for North Park San Diego is 92104, although this changes to 92116 at Meade Avenue and extends to Cherokee Avenue in City Heights. That means if you’re using your car’s Sat Nav to get to North Park, you can just type in the zip code 92104 and follow the directions until you reach the North Park neighborhood.
North Park, San Diego – Unleash Your Inner Urban Explorer
North Park Thursday Market – Organic Food For Your Soul
The Thursday Market is one of North Park’s most renowned events, and runs from 3 pm to 7.30 pm each week, regardless of the weather. There are more than 50 outdoor stalls selling farm-sourced organic produce, handmade crafts and baked goods, and there’s a fantastic community atmosphere with regular buskers and live music completing the idyllic scene.
At the market, you can find everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to eggs, cheese, yogurts, freshly caught fish, bread, fresh flowers, local handmade arts and crafts, tasty hot food and more. There are also activities for the children, making a trip to the farmers’ market a great option for a family outing. And after you’ve finished your shopping, you can always drop by a local restaurant for dinner before heading back home.
If you’re planning to drive to the farmers’ market, you can park in the nearby North Park Parking Garage, which costs $1 per hour or $5 for the day. Alternatively, there’s lots of public transport that will take you to the market, including the MTS Bus Lines 2, 6, 7 and 10.
North Park Beer Co. – Quench Your Thirst in Style
Located at 3038 University Avenue, the North Park Beer Co. is one of the finest brewpubs in San Diego. In fact, the North Park Beer Co. won more awards than any other brewery at the epic Great American Beer Festival in 2022. Serving food and, of course, superb craft beer, you can enjoy a succulent burger or other beer-friendly food in the huge dining lounge while sipping world-class beer that was brewed on-site.
The Observatory North Park – Catch A Show Before Painting the Town Red
The Observatory North Park is at the heart of the neighborhood’s party scene and hosts an amazing lineup of performances that range from niche electronica gigs to major rappers and rockstar icons. The retro decor and the intimate setting of the venue make for a truly unforgettable experience, allowing you to get much closer to the stage than you would at a larger concert. However, as a result of the relatively small size of the venue, tickets do tend to sell out fast – so if there’s an act you want to see you should book as early as you can.
Part Time Lover – Laid-Back Japanese-Style Listening Bar
If you love your music played on classic vinyl records, then you’ll really love Part Time Lover, or simply ‘PTL’ as it’s known in North Park. This opulent, and extravagantly decorated bar, at 3829 30th Street, has an unparalleled sound system and attracts discerning audiophiles from all over the city to gather for a drink and discuss the records that are spinning on the turntable.
As well as a fully stocked cocktail bar and the jaw-dropping sound system itself, which actually includes an authentic McIntosh tube amp, there’s also an on-site vinyl record store. The shop is run by Folk Arts Rare Records and is open from 4 pm to 10 pm each day, offering the music-savvy clientele some of the finest jazz and indie vinyl you’ll find anywhere. So if you’re in the neighborhood and would like to refresh yourself or your vinyl collection, then make sure you drop by Part Time Lover for a drink next time you’re in North Park.
Verbatim Books – Lose Yourself in the Written Word
As the largest independent bookstore in San Diego, you can’t afford to visit North Park without popping into Verbatim Books at 3793 30th Street. The majority of the books in the art-filled 5,000-square-foot store are second-hand, but in excellent condition, and include an inspirational collection of volumes in every genre under the sun; as well as collections of hard-to-find zines, small-press publications and even some rare tarot decks and other interesting literary and occult-related texts.
For any bookworm, Verbatim Books is an absolute treasure trove and should certainly be right at the top of your list of things to do in North Park. And with so much on display, anyone who visits is bound to find something that catches their interest – so what are you waiting for?
Ted Williams’ Boyhood Home – A Mecca For Red Sox Fans
Ted Williams, the legendary baseball left fielder, spent most of his high-flying career playing for the Boston Red Sox. Born in North Park, in a modest house at 4121 Utah Street, his rags-to-riches story is the stuff that dreams are made of. After a long and illustrious life, Ted Williams died in 2002 at the age of 83 and was cryogenically frozen in the hope that one day, when the technology existed, he could be brought back to life – perhaps to get back to playing baseball, or maybe just because he was curious about how the future would turn out.
It should be stressed that you can’t enter the house itself, but you can still see it from the outside to get a sense of the neighborhood that Ted Williams grew up in.
The North Park Murals – Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour
North Park is full of dozens of eye-catching street murals and works of art that help to give the neighborhood its distinctive vibe. Created by incredibly talented local artists, it’s worth making a trip to North Park just to see the murals.
These one-off works of art are dotted all over the neighborhood but luckily, to help visitors find the murals and to give the artist’s work the attention it deserves, North Park Main Street has put together a comprehensive Mural Guide. The North Park Mural Guide lets you walk around the neighborhood following a trail from one mural to the next. And of course, it goes without saying, there’s no reason why you can’t stop for lunch or a quick craft beer in a local brewery along the way.
The 3 Best Restaurants in North Park San Diego – Treat Your Tastebuds
North Park boasts some of San Diego’s finest restaurants so you’re spoiled for choice when you eat out in the neighborhood. Even so, there are a couple of restaurants that stand out, even amongst such steep competition. Most of North Park’s top restaurants are scattered along 30th Street and University Avenue, although some real gems are tucked away in smaller side streets too, so keep your eyes peeled.
Tribute Pizza – Award Winning San Diegan Pizzeria
Serving ‘Neo-Neapolitan’ pizzas in a beautifully renovated 1951 office building, Tribute Pizza has mastered the age-old art of wood-fired pizza making, cooking each pizza from scratch using carefully sourced ingredients. The pizzeria’s drinks list also includes lots of locally crafted beers and the family-friendly atmosphere is perfect for a late lunch or dinner in North Park. It’s worth noting that Tribute Pizza, located at 3077 North Park Way, is only open from Wednesday through Sunday each week.
Mabel’s Gone Fishing – A Seafood Bonanza
Mabel’s Gone Fishing is a classy seafood restaurant at 3770 30th Street that offers customers a spectacular menu of fresh-caught seafood that is constantly changing to reflect the seasonal catches and the availability of locally sourced ingredients. But fear not, wherever you eat at Mabel’s Gone Fishing you’re guaranteed to experience some of the most exquisite seafood in the state. Each weeknight at Mabel’s Gone Fishing, there’s a special Oyster Hour, while dinner is served from Tuesday through Saturday and there’s a super-tasty brunch on the weekends.
Zonkey Paletas – Chill Out with a Frozen Treat
Zonkey Paletas, at 3016 University Avenue, gets its name from the Tijuana pro-baseball team and is an enchanting wonderland of gourmet ice cream, frozen treats, agua frescas, and even personally customizable popsicles. An essential stop on your itinerary in the hot San Diegan weather, a visit to Zonkey Paletas will leave you feeling refreshed and revitalized, ready to continue your explorations of North Park.
Discover San Diego’s Vibrant Eccentricities in North Park
Few parts of San Diego boast such a diverse range of independently run restaurants, shops, art galleries, bars and one-off attractions. The bustling tapestry of the streets, the warm hospitality of the locals, and the delightful array of experiences that are available each day, all make North Park a San Diegan neighborhood that’s certain to leave a lasting impression.
