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1 AAA Destination Guide: Official AAA maps, travel information and top picks AAA Destination Guide: San Diego includes trip-planning information covering AAA recommended attractions and restaurants, exclusive member discounts, maps and more. San Diego calls itself “America’s Finest City,†a difficult slogan to live up to, but one you’ll likely agree with if for no other reason than the city’s marvelous weather. This is sunny Southern California at its best; the region centered about downtown very rarely sees temperatures above 80 in summer and below 40 in winter—courtesy of prevailing Pacific Ocean breezes—and only about 10 inches of annual rainfall. But while catching some rays on one of San Diego’s postcard-beautiful beaches is mandatory, it’s certainly not the only way to enjoy your stay. You could spend an entire day just wandering through Balboa Park even if you didn’t step inside a single one of its 15 museums; their ornate Spanish-style exteriors are worth a look just by themselves. And then there’s the park’s outstanding San Diego Zoo with its lovely, leafy habitats designed to appeal to both animal residents and human visitors alike. Hiking along Point Loma’s bluffs in Cabrillo National Monument will make your heart beat faster either due to the exercise or the stunning vistas; take your pick. And you won’t have to shun the sun just to go shopping either: Such locales as Seaport Village, Horton Plaza and the Gaslamp Quarter let you savor San Diego’s balmy climate while souvenir hunting in an eye-pleasing, alfresco setting. Essentials Hop aboard the San Diego-Coronado Ferry for a scenic 15-minute ride to Coronado, the peninsula separating San Diego Bay from the Pacific Ocean. If you’d rather drive there, the San Diego-Coronado Bridge stretches more than 2 miles across the bay and soars 200 feet into the air, providing you with a wonderful vantage point from which to survey the city, the bay and Once in Coronado, drink a toast to Victorian opulence at the “Del,†the grand Coronado. Hotel del Coronado, Take in the spectacular views from a San Diego landmark since 1888. Beneath its distinctive red, peaked roof are almost a dozen restaurants, cafes and bars, making this historic beach resort a perfect spot for an elegant repast or a beachside cocktail. Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma. The monument commemorating Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s 1543 exploration of the area is an interesting historical backdrop to the panoramic views of San Diego that are the real draw. Gray whales migrating offshore lure crowds of watchers to the monument and nearby Sunset Cliffs Peer into tidal pools at La Jolla Cove where crabs, snails and other sea creatures dwell. A sand beach nestles between picturesque sandstone cliffs, and the cove’s clear water is famous among snorkelers and divers. in winter. Wander along the Embarcadero, downtown San Diego’s waterfront, a celebration of all things quaint and nautical and home to many of the city’s best seafood restaurants. Just an oyster shell’s throw away is Seaport Village, a shopping center disguised as a 19th-century California harbor town. Destination Guide: San Diego 2 Essentials Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Rest up for an evening on the town in the historic Gaslamp Quarter, hub of San Diego’s nightlife scene. Crowded with restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and boutiques, this 16-block vintage business district adjoins eye-catching Westfield Horton Plaza, Essentials Details - Get additional information on the 5-story shopping and entertainment complex you can’t miss thanks to its eye-catching jumble of balconies, stairs and walkways painted a spectrum of festive colors. AAA.com - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members - Exclusive AAA member discounts available 1. San Diego-Coronado Ferry 1050 N. Harbor Dr San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 234-4111 2. Seaport Village 849 W. Harbor Dr San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 235-4014 3. Westfield Horton Plaza 324 Horton Plaza San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 238-8180 4. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park 4002 Wallace St San Diego, CA 92110 Phone: (619) 220-5422 5. Balboa Park El Prado & Pan American Rd San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 239-0512 6. San Diego Museum of Art 1450 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 232-7931 7. The San Diego Museum of Man 1350 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 239-2001 8. Mingei International Museum 1439 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 239-0003 9. San Diego Zoo 2920 Zoo Dr San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (888) 697-2632 Climb aboard the San Diego Trolley’s Blue Line and head for the border at San Ysidro where you’re just a short walk and a taxi ride away from duty free shopping along Tijuana’s For a taste of Mexico closer at hand, stop by Avenida Revolución. Whether you’re searching for cheap souvenirs or imported goods from around the globe, you’ll find them here and possibly at bargain prices. Added bonus: the vast majority of stores here accept U.S. dollars. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, a collection of structures—including seven original adobes—at the site of California’s first permanent settlement. The flavor is decidedly Spanish and Mexican here, and a handful of Mexican- themed restaurants and shops will satisfy your craving for south-of-the- border cuisine, art objects and handicrafts. Destination Guide: San Diego 3 Essentials Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Explore Balboa Park, the site near downtown where San Diego hosted two international expositions in the early 20th century. Balboa Park is like a theme park only the theme is Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture characterized by colonnades, red-tile roofs and elaborate plaster details adorning soaring entryways and towers. Within these lovely stucco buildings are more than a dozen museums, including the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Museum of Man and the Mingei International Museum. Essentials Details - Get additional information on AAA.com AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members 10. Coronado Visitor Center 1100 Orange Ave Coronado, CA 92118 Phone: (619) 437-8788 11. Hotel del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave Coronado, CA Phone: (619) 435-6611 12. Cabrillo National Monument 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr San Diego, CA 92106 Phone: (619) 557-5450 13. Sunset Cliffs Sunset Cliffs Blvd & Adair St San Diego, CA 92107 14. Tijuana, Baja California Talk to the animals at the San Diego Zoo San Diego in 3 Days —if you are so inclined—but be forewarned that your vocal cords are in for a real workout. More than 4,000 animals crawl, gallop, slither, fly and swing from limb to limb at this world-class Balboa Park facility. Ride the double decker bus for a 40- minute zoo overview or, for a different kind of overview, ascend above the treetops aboard the Skyfari Aerial Tram. Three days is barely enough time to get to know any major destination. But AAA travel editors suggest these activities to make the most of your time in San Diego. Day 1: Morning You can’t go wrong beginning your San Diego sojourn at the world- renowned San Diego Zoo, in urban San Diego’s picturesque cultural hub, Balboa Park. If you’ve missed breakfast, stop by the Flamingo Café just inside the zoo entrance where you’ll have a perfect view of the Flamingo Lagoon while you fortify yourself for the day’s activities with eggs and toast. Destination Guide: San Diego 4 San Diego in 3 Days – Day 1 Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com For a quick orientation, take the guided bus tour (included in the zoo’s Best Value ticket) aboard a double-decker bus departing from Flamingo Plaza. You’ll survey about three-fourths of the animal park during the 40- minute trip. Other buses displaying green signs offer express transportation to five stops throughout the park, something to keep in mind should you poop out on the zoo’s far side. The Skyfari Aerial Tram offers another way to get around, and the bird’s-eye view can’t be beat. The aerial tram drops you off near the Polar Bear Plunge, a highlight on the opposite side of the zoo from the entrance. An underwater window reveals that the bears are surprisingly graceful swimmers. The Monkey Day 1 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com; AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members - Exclusive AAA member discounts available Trails and Forest Tales habitat, one of the park’s newest attractions, beautifully re-creates the rainforest home of several rare species of monkeys including colorful mandrills you’ll identify by their bright red and blue snouts. Next door is Gorilla Tropics— another garden paradise—this one home to colobus monkeys, bonobos and, of course, gorillas. The Scripps Aviary continues the tropical theme with waterfalls and lush foliage providing a habitat for more than 100 colorful African birds. Afternoon If there’s more growling going on inside your stomach than in your surroundings, order lunch at the Treehouse complex adjacent to Gorilla Tropics and the Scripps Aviary. You have a choice of two restaurants 1. San Diego Zoo 2920 Zoo Dr San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (888) 697-2632 2. Balboa Park El Prado & Pan American Rd San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 239-0512 3. The San Diego Museum of Man 1350 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 239-2001 4. Mingei International Museum 1439 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 239-0003 5. San Diego Art Institute 1439 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 236-0011 6. Timken Museum of Art 1500 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 239-5548 7. Museum of Photographic Arts 1649 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 238-7559 8. Museum of San Diego History & Research Library 1649 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 232-6203 9. Botanical Building 1550 El Prado San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 239-0512 Destination Guide: San Diego 5 here, and both make the most of their leafy surroundings. The Treehouse Café is casual and sells salads, sandwiches and a few hot entrees, but what makes this eatery so popular is the view: the outdoor dining area occupies decks built out over a forested canyon. Adjacent to the café is Albert’s, which also boasts an open-air deck only this one faces a pretty waterfall. This full-service restaurant offers a more diverse menu complete with appetizers, pasta, steak and fish as well as beer and wine. Exhibits you should try to visit: the Absolutely Apes enclosure (orangutans and siamangs), the Ituri Forest (hippos, okapis and otters), Tiger River (tigers, tapirs and freshwater crocodiles) and the Giant Panda Research Station. If you have kids, then the Children’s Zoo near the entrance is a must, and the entertaining Sea Lion show is next door at the Wegeforth Bowl. As difficult as it might be, try not to linger too long among the zoo’s exhibits because you’ll want to see a bit of surrounding Balboa Park, an expansive jewel within sprawling San Diego just a few minutes from downtown. This all-purpose city park houses not only the zoo but most of San Diego’s big museums, as well as theaters, hiking and biking trails, sports facilities and formal gardens. After having walked along paths bordered by dense walls of vegetation, you might find it hard to believe that the area was once dry scrubland. Transforming a windswept mesa into a landscaped showplace and cultural focal point didn’t happen overnight. The park got its start more than a century ago and only approached its current character after serving as the site of two world’s fairs: the 1915 Panama-California Exposition and the 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition. Balboa Park’s signature buildings—its ornate Spanish Colonial Revival facades, its colorful, tile-inlaid fountains and charming arcades—were built for these events, and although many of them were temporary plaster and wood structures, San Diegan’s found them too beautiful to simply tear down after the exposition crowds had departed. Many were rebuilt of more durable materials as the park was developed. The California Building, housing the San Diego Museum of Man, is the park’s chief landmark by virtue of its elaborate 200-foot-tall tower and multihued tile dome. When visitors describe the setting as “romantic,†this is the image they usually have in mind. Stroll along El Prado, the main east-west thoroughfare of the 1915 Exposition, from the graceful arches of the Cabrillo Bridge at the park’s western entrance through the grand gateway formed by one wing of the California Building and past the Alcazar Garden; House of Charm (containing the Mingei International Museum and San Diego Art Institute); Plaza de Panama with its statue of the Spanish hero, El Cid; House of Hospitality (a visitors center); Timken Museum of Art; Casa de Balboa (Museum of Photographic Arts and Museum of San Diego History & Research Library); Casa del Prado (containing a theater); and the Botanical Building Evening Although it’s a bit pricey, eating at The Prado inside the House of Hospitality is worth it. The location is not only convenient but beautiful, with outdoor patios overlooking manicured gardens. The cuisine is a blend of Spanish and Italian and each dish brings together all sorts of subtle flavors. Entrees include center cut pork prime rib, rack of lamb and New York steak, and the desserts range from vanilla bean cream cheese flan to ultra-rich Belgian chocolate soufflé. Because it’s such a desirable dining locale, try to make reservations. As you approach the entrance, notice the fountain sculpture of a seated woman pouring water from a jug. Designed in 1935, “Woman of Tehuantepec†has become a park icon you’re likely to see repeated on publications and postcards. with its photogenic reflecting pool. You’ll end up giving your shutter button a workout as every few steps seems to yield a new vista begging to be preserved in a snapshot. Day 2: Morning It might not have the whimsical buildings and lush gardens of Balboa Park, but downtown San Diego, far from being just a workaday central business district, has a lot to offer out-of-towners, too. Here you’ll find the San Diego Convention Center, PETCO Park (home of the Padres), the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) Downtown, the historic Gaslamp Quarter, shopping centers, restaurants and the boat- and ship-crowded waterfront known as the Embarcadero, home to two of San Diego’s best museums. Destination Guide: San Diego 6 San Diego in 3 Days – Day 2 Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com The Maritime Museum of San Diego is a diverse collection of historic ships beautifully restored and maintained. The largest is the Berkeley, a more than 100-year-old steam ferry that in its heyday carried survivors of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to safety. Glass cases filled with sundry nautical antiques and photos recount different eras of San Diego’s maritime history. Did you know that San Diego was once one of the largest tuna fishing ports in the world and that it’s the largest U.S. naval port on the Pacific? You will after checking out the exhibits here. Day 2 Details - Get additional information on AAA.com AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members - Exclusive AAA member discounts available 1. Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) Downtown 1001 Kettner Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (858) 454-3541 2. Maritime Museum of San Diego 1492 N. Harbor Dr San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 234-9153 3. The USS Midway Museum 910 N. Harbor Dr San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 544-9600 4. The Fish Market & Top of the Market 750 N Harbor Dr San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 232-3474 5. Seaport Village 849 W. Harbor Dr San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 235-4014 6. Westfield Horton Plaza 324 Horton Plaza San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 238-8180 7. Coronado Visitor Center 1100 Orange Ave Coronado, CA 92118 Phone: (619) 437-8788 8. San Diego-Coronado Ferry 1050 N. Harbor Dr San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 234-4111 9. Hotel del Coronado 1500 Orange Ave Coronado, CA Phone: (619) 435-6611 10. Sheerwater Restaurant 1500 Orange Ave Coronado, CA 92118 Phone: (619) 522-8866 Destination Guide: San Diego 7 The prettiest ship in the collection is the Star of India, a sailing ship launched from the Isle of Man in the British Isles in 1863. Exhibits and hands-on displays on board give you an idea of what it was like to work on a wind-powered vessel back when the Star of India’s iron hull was cutting-edge technology. Among the other sundry ships in the museum’s collection: a 1904 luxury steam yacht and the H.M.S. Surprise, a Royal Navy frigate replica you might have seen in the Russell Crowe movie, “Master and Commander.†For an additional fee, you can cruise the harbor aboard a 1914 pilot boat or take turns manning the helm during a harbor excursion on the tall ship Californian, a replica of an 1847 schooner. Dwarfing all of the maritime museum’s vessels combined and bigger even than the cruise ships docking at the nearby terminal, the USS Midway, a few blocks south of the maritime museum, was the largest ship in the world when it was built in 1945. After serving her country for nearly 50 years, this behemoth is now The USS Midway Museum Afternoon For lunch, walk over to and you can spend hours exploring its decks with the help of an audio tour guide. You’ll see a couple dozen restored aircraft and all sorts of exhibits about naval aviation as well. The Fish Market & Top of the Market Spend the rest of the afternoon shopping and enjoying the scenery at next to the USS Midway. This local landmark has a prime location on the bay with great views, especially from Top of the Market, which is the full-service restaurant on the second floor. Downstairs is The Fish Market, the casualcounterpart to the restaurant upstairs, and like the name suggests, the fish is market fresh. Although particulars on the menu change according to what’s in season, you can expect an extensive selection of raw shellfish, seafood cocktails, sashimi and sushi as well as smoked and mesquite-grilled fish. The sushi and the fish and chips are done especially well. Seaport Village If Seaport Village only whets your appetite for more shopping, walk just a few blocks east to right next door to the Fish Market. The theme here is “quaint seaside village†with many shops imitating ramshackle bait shops and lighthouses. Some might find Seaport Village tries a little too hard to be cute, but mixed in among the souvenir vendors catering to tourists are some interesting little specialty shops selling everything from hot sauces to imported Scandinavian sweaters and jewelry. There are more than 50 stores in all along with several eateries and cafes, and Seaport Village makes the most of its waterfront location with fountains, trees and a walkway along the bay offering splendid views of Coronado and the Coronado Bay Bridge. There’s also a Looff carousel, horse-drawn carriage rides, and on the weekends, street performers. Westfield Horton Plaza, Since you’re in the neighborhood, check out San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, bordering Westfield Horton Plaza on the east. Signs arching over the street proclaim this district to be the “Historic Heart of San Diego.†Beautifully restored Victorian-era commercial buildings, brick sidewalks and and streets lined by old-fashioned,wrought-iron lamp posts with white globe lights give you a taste of what life was like here in the 19th century. You’ll find several shops and restaurants in the district, but this place really starts hopping after dark when all the bars and nightclubs open for business. a multilevel, open-air mall that’s one part traditional shopping center and one part carnival funhouse. A maze of walkways and terraces here connects a jumble of stores (more than 100), with stairs and escalators leading up and down to the various floors. Unwary shoppers tend to get lost, but if you approach it with the right frame of mind, wandering through its network of corridors can be fun. Head to the top floor for a great view of the whimsical complex and the rest of downtown. Evening Follow the setting sun to Coronado, an exclusive island enclave (actually it’s virtually an island but technically a peninsula). You have two options to get there: the San Diego-Coronado Ferry departs from the dock at Broadway and Harbor Drive near the USS Midway; crossing takes about 15 minutes and you’ll have a nice perspective of the city. But if you want a truly breathtaking panorama of San Diego and its surroundings, take the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge, a graceful ribbon of concrete that soars 200 feet above the bay allowing huge U.S. Navy ships to pass underneath and providing stunning views to drivers. Destination Guide: San Diego 8 Coronado is home to two naval bases, a few high-end resorts and some very well-heeled homeowners, so the atmosphere here is generally upscale. It’s the inviting beaches that first attracted visitors here, and with visitors came hotels and, in 1888, the grande dame of Coronado, the Hotel del Coronado. Cap off this day of sightseeing with dinner at the Del’s This rambling Victorian masterpiece, with its iconic towers, whitewashed walls and high-pitched red roofs, set the standard for luxury in San Diego and continues to do so today. From the swaying palms and lush landscaping to the rich dark wood interiors, “The Del,†as it is fondly called by locals, is a landmark you shouldn’t miss. And if you time it right, sipping a cocktail overlooking the beach at sunset will be a highlight of your trip. Sheerwater Restaurant, Day 3: Morning Drive out to which offers indoor seating as well as a large outdoor terrace with ocean views. Evenings in San Diego can get chilly, but don’t let that dissuade you from dining al fresco; the Sheerwater has plenty of fireplaces and strategically placed heaters to take the nip out of the air. The fare is California Coastal, appropriately enough, with seasonal seafood dishes including house specialties cioppino, a fish stew made with tomatoes, and fish and chips. You’ll also find steaks, burgers and pasta on the menu. Cabrillo National Monument A 14-foot sandstone statue near the parking lot honors Portuguese explorer Juan RodrÃguez Cabrillo, who was the first European to step onto what would eventually become the West Coast of the United States. Paved pathways lead to overlooks, a lighthouse, a military exhibit and a visitors center with displays about Cabrillo as well as general park information. The Bayside Trail on the park’s east side meanders through native coastal scrub, and a road branching off near the main parking lot leads down to a rocky shore with tide pools on the park’s Pacific side. on Point Loma, the spit of land separating San Diego Bay from the Pacific. The views from the point are spectacular, encompassing the city and the entire harbor as well as a sweeping expanse of the Pacific that includes migration routes used by Pacific gray whales in winter. Make sure your camera battery is charged because this is one of San Diego’s most scenic views. Afternoon For lunch visit Humphrey’s Continue north through the towns of Ocean Beach, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach to the tony seaside community of on Shelter Island, about a 5-mile drive north of Point Loma along the coast of San Diego Bay. You’ll have great views of a sailboat-crowded marina and the fine houses on Point Loma, and the dishes are beautifully presented and combine a variety of carefully chosen flavors to excellent effect. If you happen to be passing through on a Sunday, try Humphrey’s Sunday brunch, which is so popular that you might not get in without having made reservations first. And if you do have brunch there, one word of advice: you might want to watch how much of the unlimited champagne you consume. La Jolla. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon wandering among the marine exhibits at the Palm fronds swaying in the sea breeze above red-tile roofs and gorgeous ocean views characterize La Jolla, and downtown is known for its beach resorts, fine dining and upscale boutiques as well as lovely little La Jolla Cove with its steep rock bluffs and sandy beach. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, north of downtown on the University of California, San Diego campus. There are more than 60 habitats represented here. Don’t miss the huge Kelp Tank filled with schools of fish swimming among a swaying kelp tendrils or the Destination Guide: San Diego 9 San Diego in 3 Days – Day 3 Map Get maps and turn-by-turn directions using TripTik Travel Planner on AAA.com Tropical Seas Gallery with its colorful live coral. The Shark Reef exhibit, home to an array of shark varieties, is equally fascinating, and the Tide- Pool Plaza acquaints visitors with this habitat common to California’s coastline. You can even touch some of the marine critters that live in tide pools. An added bonus: The picture spot outside the aquarium from which you can see La Jolla Cove, Scripps Institute pier and the cliffs near the university campus. Evening Celebrate your third evening in San Diego with a sumptuous dinner in an equally sumptuous setting at George’s California Modern, Day 3 Details - Get additional information on part of George’s at the Cove, which is tucked in among the boutiques and art galleries of downtown La Jolla. You’ll have an amazing ocean view and AAA.com AAA Diamond Rating information available on AAA.com/Diamonds - GEM Attraction offers a Great Experience for Members - Exclusive AAA member discounts available 1. Cabrillo National Monument 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr San Diego, CA 92106 Phone: (619) 557-5450 2. Humphrey's 2241 Shelter Island Dr San Diego, CA 92106 Phone: (619) 224-3577 3. La Jolla 4. Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography 2300 Expedition Way La Jolla, CA 92037 Phone: (858) 534-3474 5. George's California Modern 1250 Prospect St La Jolla, CA 92037 Phone: (858) 454-4244 the sleek, elegant décor and carefully designed lighting creates an aura of luxury you’ll really enjoy. The menu changes daily, but be assured that the California cuisine is as sophisticated as the ambience. You’ll need reservations, and should a table not be available, consider the rooftop Ocean Terrace upstairs. It’s less pricey, more casual, the view is incredible and your chances of getting in without a reservation are better. George’s Bar, the third dining room at George’s at the Cove, serves from the same menu as the Ocean Terrace and has a balcony that also takes advantage of the building’s primo location. Destination Guide: San Diego 10 Restaurants Our favorites include some of this destination’s best restaurants—from fine dining to simple fare. Although most of San Diego’s major attractions lie outside the downtown area, the city center lures visitors with its trendy shopping areas, vibrant nightlife, sports and convention venues, dozens of hotels and many of San Diego’s top restaurants. Epicenter of all the colorful goings-on is the historic Gaslamp Quarter, which extends several blocks along 4th and 5th avenues. Among the Quarter’s carefully restored 19th- century buildings you’ll find Monsoon, As you’d expect from the decor, Monsoon serves authentic Indian cuisine—Northern Indian to be precise—with the chef’s specialty being malai kofta, vegetarian meatballs in a creamy sauce. There are entrees to please both vegetarian and meat-lovers alike. If you favor spicy food, try the jahl frezi, a dish seasoned with cumin seeds, ginger, onion and garlic. (Be sure to specify that you want your curry mild or medium if you’re not used to spice.) Monsoon is a great place for families, and the patio area will give you a front-row seat for the Gaslamp Quarter’s happenings. which welcomes guests to its spacious dining area with a bubbling fountain, subdued lighting and paintings of India. Just a few blocks south on 4th Avenue you’ll come to J Street and Oceanaire, Another block south in the Gaslamp Quarter, on K Street within walking distance of San Diego’s Convention Center and PETCO Park, is where the dark, rich interiors and nautical details evoke a 1930s ocean liner. Guests navigate a grand, winding staircase to the sprawling dining room filled with plush booths and tables. The oyster bar is very popular during the week thanks to its half-price oysters and shrimp cocktail, and traditional caviar service also is available. Seasonal specialties may include jumbo lump crab cakes, Alaskan halibut “T- Bone,†Gulf of Mexico red snapper and, of course, Maine lobster. Portions are generous so you may want to share a side dish—asparagus, green beans amandine or the sour cream and onion mashed potatoes. Be sure to save room for dessert like the classic 95-cent root beer float. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Just around the corner on 3rd Avenue, where cuts ranging from the 8- ounce filet mignon to the 20-ounce bone-in New York strip steak are served a la carte. And what meal at Fleming’s would be complete without one of the fit-for-sharing side dishes such as sautéed spinach or creamy jalapeno-cheese potatoes? Not a steak lover? Fleming’s also offers seafood, and the extensive wine list boasts more than 100 varieties by the glass. What’s more, the dining room’s dark, rich woods and soft amber lighting create a relaxing setting in which to enjoy the food. Candelas Although businesses along the nearby Embarcadero—downtown’s waterfront district between Market and Grape streets—tend to cater to out-of-towners, both locals and tourists alike enjoy offers an inviting Mexican hacienda-style atmosphere. The chef prepares dishes with Mexican ingredients utilizing French cooking techniques. His specialty is langosta baeza—lobster stuffed with mushrooms, chiles, onions and bacon accented with a hint of aged tequila. The menu also includes entrees featuring beef, fowl or seafood with select vegetables and spices. The wine list is modest and includes products of several Mexican vineyards. The Fish Market & Top of the Market. Two other seafood restaurants share the same address about a half mile farther north on the Embarcadero. There’s The downstairs market offers fresh fish takeout, while in the dining room upstairs an enormous menu printed daily lists more than a dozen fresh catches, all grilled over mesquite. Selections may include ahi, grouper, mako and mahi mahi. The oyster bar at the heart of the restaurant offers such favorites as bay shrimp and Dungeness crab cocktail and baked clams, as well as a sampler of their smoked fish. Anthony’s Fish Grotto, part of
