If you’re visiting San Diego, be sure to check out its thriving craft beer scene! Like loads of other places around the world, it’s getting a taste for these new flavours in brewing. San Diego now boasts more than 140 breweries and lots of areas have become hubs for craft beer lovers. If you fancy trying some out, head for the uptown neighbourhoods of North Park and South Park. Cheers!
What is craft beer?
Craft beers are being produced by independent breweries – offering different tastes and products from the traditional, mainstream ones.
As well as extra brews, different tastes, one of the big selling points is that they come from smaller, local breweries. Drinkers like to know they’re supporting a local business and, as a result, those who are running and working for it.
Craft beer – San Diego style!
If you’re looking for fun things to do in San Diego, head to the North Park and South Park neighbourhoods and you’ll find streets filled with all sorts of places to eat and drink – including craft beer pubs!
In hipster North Park, the area to head for is the intersection of University Avenue and 30th Street. It’s billed as the “best beer neighbourhood in the nation.”
Why? Well take a stroll around here and you’ll see plenty of craft-beer pubs and beer-loving restaurants to catch your taste buds in a frenzy. There’s even some breweries and tasting rooms to whet your palette!
Some of the places recommended to check out include Toronado and Tiger! Tiger! And it’s not all about beer – and that will be music to some people’s ears! There are also craft cocktails in full flow in North Park. Check out Bar Pink and Seven Grand if you’ve got yourself a taste for these.
Away from the beer and cocktails, North Park also offers some great places to eat and shop. There’s also an arts scene, including dozens of galleries in Ray Street.
A taste of the South
The South Park neighbourhood is also a favourite with craft beer lovers. You might want to check out the Hamilton’s Tavern. It’s won some high praise, being described as the “best beer bar” on the West Coast!
But it, like its North counterpart, offers lots more besides more. Make a visit, and you’ll also stumble across indie shops and galleries. And, for a foodie treat, check out some of the restaurants. There’s a big focus here on organic produce and sustainable meats and seafood.
South Park also hosts different events. Among them is the Walkabout, held quarterly. If you’re about when this is on, you’ll find shops and restaurants opening their doors until late – with some special deals and discounts thrown in for good measure!
Getting to North Park and South Park
You need to head for 30th Street. From downtown, follow Park Avenue to the north, going through Balboa Park and then turn east on University Avenue.
Once in the area, you can get around on foot – a bike makes it easier to get across the north-south route. But there’s also a good bus service, which runs along along 30th Street, stopping off near many of the best drinking places.