Gaslamp District - San Diego

Nineteenth Century Charm Persists in San Diego's Gaslamp

• Location: Downtown from Broadway to Harbor Drive and from Fourth to Sixth Avenues
• How Long: Allow a few hours
• Best Time to Visit: Liveliest at night, go in the day for the historic tours
• See It Now: Photo Tour

San Diego's Gaslamp District draws San Diegans and visitors alike to its shops and restaurants. On streets filled with beautifully-restored, nineteenth-century buildings, shops such as the Cuban Cigar Factory, Lucky Dog Pet Boutique and Le Travel Store vie for attention. When your energy fails, over 70 restaurants and clubs can refuel and refresh you.

Why Go to the Gaslamp District?

Historic buildings have been relocated to the Gaslamp Quarter from other parts of the San Diego, their nineteenth century architecture restored to its original exuberance. Restaurants, shops and clubs now occupy former brothels and saloons. A random walk will give you a sense of the place and it's only a few blocks in each direction - enjoy the nice buildings, do a little shopping and have a meal.

For a deeper look into the Gaslamp's roots, take a self-guided guided walking tour from the William Heath Davis House at 410 Island Avenue (Fourth and Island). Ghostly Tours in History also offers a night-time ghost tour of the area.

Gaslamp District History

The San Diego Gaslamp District got a slow start. The city's earliest residents chose the elevated location of today's Old Town to build their homes and shops. An early development venture nearer the waterfront failed, so utterly that the area came to be called Rabbitville, in honor of its primary inhabitants. In 1867, entrepreneur Alonzo Horton built a new downtown near the water and soon, the area was booming. Gamblers and prostitutes moved in. The legendary, but by then retired Old West sheriff Wyatt Earp ran three gambling halls here. Over the years, commerce moved toward Market Street and all that remained was a redlight district known as the Stingaree. The Gaslamp District languished for many years before its current renaissance.

Practicalities

Public restrooms are located at the corner of Third and C Streets.

There are lots of restaurants in this small area. Use a practical approach to choose one: stroll around and preview the menus. Unfortunately, a full restaurant is not always a good place to eat in the Gaslamp, with many eateries spending more energy to get people in the door than on providing them a good value for money once they're inside.

Getting to Gaslamp District

San Diego Gaslamp District
San Diego, CA
619-233-4692
Gaslamp District Website

The Gaslamp District (its official name is "Gaslamp Quarter") is a sixteen-square-block area on Broadway and K Streets between Fourth and Sixth Streets. There is a 550-space parking garage at Sixth and Market Streets.

To avoid traffic and parking hassles, take the San Diego Trolley to Gaslamp Station or 5th Avenue Station and walk.