I'm often asked to write about my hometown, San Diego, so if you picked up the April/May issue of Los Angeles Confidential, you might also have seen another of my articles in the Insider Escape section. This one is about some of the best places to hit on a weekend getaway down to the city. There's no link to it on the magazine's web site, so I wanted to include the text below since it's got so many of my favorite places to eat, stay and play. Enjoy!REDISCOVER SAN DIEGO
America's Finest City has everything you need for your next weekend getaway. By Eric Rosen
HOTELS
Green Scene: Beach casual meets tribal chic at the Hotel Solamar (hotelsolamar.com) It’s got all the amenities of the business-friendly Kimpton brand, plus eco-friendly policies, a fourth-floor pool and bar, and the gourmet J6 restaurant.
Business and Baseball: The Omni’s (omnihotels.com) elegant tower across from the Convention Center is the perfect setting for downtown business, and for quick access to Petco Park via a pedestrian bridge for Padres fans.
Urban Resort: It’s all about sunshine and the city at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort (loewshotels.com), a sprawling luxury property with perfect downtown views from across the Coronado Bridge.
Party Pad: Everyone comes to play hard at the Hard Rock San Diego (hardrockhotelsd.com), and the hotel even has a Vibe Manager who keeps things rockin’ on the sound system. There’s also a Nobu for when you need to refuel.
Designer Boutique: Housed in a building dating from 1890, the exclusive Keating (thekeating.com) has just 35 bright red, open floor-plan rooms designed by the firm behind Maserati and Ferrari, and the popular subterranean Sway Lounge.
RESTAURANTS
Steakhouses: Locals frequent George’s on Fifth (georgesonfifth.com) for prime cuts, swanky scenesters gravitate toward Suite & Tender (suiteandtender.com) at the Sé San Diego (sesandiego.com), and control freaks settle in at Strip Club (cohnrestaurants.com)to grill their own.
Little Italy: Mangia bone-in Sicilian rib eye with parmesan truffle fries at Po Pazzo (popazzo.com), or the al dente house-made pasta dishes at Zia’s Bistro (ziasbistro.com).
The New Kid: Top Chef favorite Brian Malarkey has brought his brand of ingredient-driven cooking (and crowds of fashionable foodies) to Searsucker (searsucker.com).
Speakeasy Sips: Sneak into Prohibition (prohibitionsd.com)through a hidden Fifth Avenue door for clandestine classic cocktails. Nearby, whimsical Syrah Wine Parlor (syrahwineparlor.com) feels like a cross between a wine bar and the Mad Hatter’s tea party.
Just Desserts: The mouthwatering pastries at Extraordinary Desserts (extraordinary desserts.com) make a sweet end to any evening.
Brunch Spot: Locals throng Hillcrest’s Hash House A Go Go (hashhouseagogo.com) for its “twisted farm food” like the fried chicken Benedict.
ACTIVITIES
Family Fun: Go wild at the world-famous San Diego Zoo sandiegozoo.org), or its North County safari-experience annex, the Wild Animal Park. For the more aquatically inclined, Sea World (seaworld.com)has special exhibits like Shark Encounter and Manatee Rescue.Museum Meanderings: With over a dozen museums, theaters and gardens, Balboa Park (balboapark.org) is the largest cultural city park in the country.
Comments