Visiting the Gaslight Quarter in San Diego
Only a short walk from San Diego Bay, the Convention Center and Petco Park (where the San Diego Padres play), is this charming little neighborhood in San Diego. And, now it’s HIP!
Filled with boutique hotels, shops that stay open late into the night, various eateries and galleries and busy rooftop lounges, this is the place to go, to dine in, and to stay at while in San Diego.
For a good and reasonably priced restaurant, try Sammy’s Wood Fired Pizza right across from the outdoor mall. If you’d like to visit an “authentic Irish Pub” try the Dublin Square Irish Pub on Fourth Avenue. The Horse Shoe Bar is a replica of Kilkenny’s 19th Century Tinyan Bridge House Bar. Made from solid Irish oak, with every detail painstakingly reproduced, right down to the moldings, panels, and hand carvings it’s a beauty to behold. You’ll find corn chowder, smoked salmon and the house favorite, – beef crostini, and other delicious items on the menu.
There are several annual events held in the Gaslight Quarter – Fat Tuesday’s Mardi Gras presented by Southern Comfort. This is a ticketed event and you must be 21 to attend. At Easter time you can participate in the Easter Bonnet Parade and Contest. It’s open to kids of all ages and includes an Easter Egg Hunt. May is the Cinco de Mayo celebration, July is the Taste ofGaslight and October sees the Monster Bash.
The hotel closest to the beach and the convention center is the 300+ room Marriott with 22 stories of deluxe hotel rooms and suites. Called the San Diego Marriott Gaslight Quarter, this property offers views of Petco Park below or the quarter itself, with the Bay and Coronado Bridge in the background. Take your binoculars along because some of the rooms have a view of the diamond and you can catch some of the plays of the game. Each room is equipped with two phone lines and a data port, high-speed and wireless internet access, a desk, pillow topped mattress and 300 thread count sheets. There is no pool on the property but you’re given privileges at another Marriott a short walk away. Be sure to visit the rooftop lounge, the Altitude Sky Bar which Conde Nast Traveler named one of the best new nightclubs. There is sometimes a line to access the specific elevator for that floor, but as a hotel guest you can reach the floor by using your room key in other elevators.
The Horton Grand Hotel welcomes you with the special charm and personal service that will makes your stay a memorable one. In 1986, two turn of the century hotels were rebuilt brick by brick, in the Gaslamp Quarter. Now, you can enjoy the elegance of the Victorian Era at the Horton Grand Hotel, a superbly crafted re-creation of San Diego history and Victorian architecture.
This luxury hotel has 132 unique, beautifully appointed rooms and suites. Each room is furnished with antique queen size beds, a gas fireplace, hand carved armoires and lace curtains. Some rooms have balconies overlooking the charming New Orleans fashioned courtyard, while others have fabulous city view balconies or bay windows and all units are completely air-conditioned. Each room has a diary with handwritten testimonials from previous guests.
You’ll find a Comfort Inn, a Courtyard and several other properties including a hostel in the district also. Lodging books up quickly in this popular area so make reservations in advance of your trip.
Have a great time enjoying the Gaslight Quarter in San Diego..
