Heart of San Diego: Tour the Historic Gaslamp Quarter

By Patricia Harrison

Every metropolis has a city center, an area that bustles with activity and commerce. The heart of San Diego—a city along California’s Pacific Coast known for its sun-soaked beaches, laid-back ambiance, and family-friendly attractions—is its downtown area. There, visitors will find the historic Gaslamp Quarter, a buzzing district brimming with bars and restaurants. While locals and travelers alike venture to the neighborhood to eat, drink and be merry, it has a rich history also worth exploring.

Gaslamp Quarter Entrance | Photo credit: bennymarty - stock.adobe.com

A Storied Past

In 1867, Alonzo Horton purchased 360 acres of waterfront property (just 27 ½ cents an acre at the time to boot) in San Diego, where he built a wharf and an area called New Town. However, the real estate developer from Wisconsin wasn’t the first to consider developing the district. In fact, Hawaii native and wealthy merchant William Heath Davis initiated plans for a neighborhood on San Diego Bay called New Town before the 1860s—but a fire in San Francisco destroyed most of his fortune before he could fulfill his dream.

Historic Buildings in the Gaslamp Quarter | Photo credit: travelview - stock.adobe.com

Since Horton came into the picture, the district—eventually named for the 50 gas-powered lamps that were installed to illuminate its streets—has transformed countless times. A red-light district called Stingaree (a nod to the stingrays in the bay) lined with brothels, gambling halls and bars emerged in its early days and thrived until 1912, when the city announced it would host the Panama-California Exposition and attempted to limit the debauchery. But the true transformation of what was once known as skid row into the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter District we know today wasn’t initiated until Tom Hom, a San Diego native and business and community leader, led efforts to unify business owners to change the area in the 1970s.

Things to See & Do

The Gaslamp Quarter District—which encompasses 100 historic buildings along 16.5 walkable blocks—was placed on the National Registrar of Historic Places in 1980. To learn more about the neighborhood’s history, visit the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House; from there, knowledgeable guides host walking tours of notable landmarks every Thursday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m.

For those seeking entertainment and places to eat and drink, the Gaslamp Quarter District has no shortage of excellent options. Enjoy a cocktail with a view at a rooftop bar such as Rustic Root, a twinkly light–adorned watering hole that offers New American fare through a California-inspired lens and classic and inventive drinks (we like the mezcal-forward Bold and the Beautiful). Or plan your night around entertainment: Tin Roof hosts nightly live music in casual, no-frills environs, while The Shout! House has dueling pianos and an energetic dance floor.

For upscale eats, try Greystone Prime Steakhouse and Seafood or The Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse to satisfy your cravings for perfectly cooked filets and rib eyes; Saltwater Fine Dining Cuisine for oyster, caviar and other fruits of the sea; and Osteria Panevino and Asti Ristorante for refined Italian specialties. Up late? Venture to Tacos El Cabron for killer carne asada and birria and an awesome salsa bar (it’s open until midnight on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends). Or grab a seat in a lawn chair at the aptly named Trailer Park After Dark for rib-sticking nibbles like Frito pie, sloppy joe sliders and loaded tater tots (serving until 12:30 a.m. on Thursday and 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday).

Where to Stay

Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
From tasting California wines at New Leaf Restaurant to lounging by the outdoor pool, travelers will find plenty of opportunities to unwind at this Hilton property, which is also surrounded by tons of bars and restaurants.

Hotel Indigo San Diego-Gaslamp Quarter
Perks at the Hotel Indigo include pet-friendly rooms; the Level 9 Rooftop Bar, which has gorgeous views of downtown San Diego and delicious sippers; and a location within walking distance of the San Diego Convention Center and Petco Park (home of MLB’s San Diego Padres).

Moxy San Diego Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter
At this modern Marriott property, clubhouse-like rooms with industrial-chic furnishings (think: metal accents and funky wall art) and access to amenities like gathering spaces with ergonomic seating are the draw.