San Diego - Downtown (Petco)

Downtown beer spots:

• Neighborhood
• Downtown Johnny Brown's
• Monkey Paw

There's a bunch of decent other spots that have craft beer as well (Tipsy Crow comes to mind.)

 

Mission Brewing is walking distance (few blocks) from Petco and worth a visit.

 

Coronado is decently close also. you will be in a prime spot.
Hit up Blind Lady, Mission Brewery, Hillcrest brewing, and ballast point if you want to stay near Petco and the airport. Obviously if you venture to north county, or have the ability, your options grow.

 

He's going to have to take a cab for your list of places.

If you were so inclined, you could take the trolly and take the green line north and exit the Morena stop. From there Ballast Point and the new Coronado Brewing location are within walking distance. Mind you, Coronado is a 20min walk, but it's there with 20 beers on. A bit further walk is the High Dive. But this would consume a big chunk of a day with all the walking.

Mission Brewing has a really cool space and really average beer. Neighborhood or DTJB's, Best Damn Beer shop for bottles to go.

 

All three of these are good recommendations. Karl Strauss is somewhat close to Downtown Johnny Browns and has casks on thurs (I think).

You can take the #2 bus from downtown and get to Hamiltons, Toronado and the other North Park beer spots pretty easily and efficiently (for SD public transportation). Plenty of great choices without having to deal with a rental car.

Boo cardinals

 

You must hit Monkey Paw > everything else downtown. They have a full license so you can have cocktails as well.

If you hit the Neighborhood and wants some expensive cocktails, talk to your server about the Nobel Expirement.

If you're going to be the Zoo area, then that opens up 30th St to lots of options. Still a short cab ride but you're pretty much there.

 

good points... I gracefully forgot to notice his mode of transportation.

With that being said... scratch my ideas, unless you get bored and want to rock a cab for an adventure.

for non beer activities, like you mentioned, you will probably end up at the zoo. A quick walk along the board walk along the marina can lead you to the USS Midway which is impressive by itself... but will also lead you south to the convention center and essentially right across the street from Petco.

P.S. just north of the Midway you can ferry over to Coronado.

 

first rule about Noble, don't talk about Noble! haha

 

Last call at Mission. Right across the street in parking lot. You cant lose. Hit the others and finish @ Mission. Top it off with some Ballast Point or others inside petco. Last Padres game I went to we hit ABC then Mission and some deserts inside the ballpark.

 

We stay at the Marriott Gaslamp every year when we go down for Dodgers / Padres

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sangl-san-diego-marriott-gaslamp-quarter/

Its right next to Petco and has a great rooftop bar for after the games. All the bars mentioned are good places too, and I highly suggust Mission before the game. Just on the other side of PetCo from the hotel. 5 dollar pints before games

 

I would just relax at Mission Brewing literally next to Petco before going to a game. They are as local as you can get. If not Neighborhood is in walking distance. Monkey Paw is a bit of a walk but not far at all. Same with Downtown Johnny Brown's. I will mention the Beer Co because they do have "some" good brews and the menu is huge. F the Yard House, place is a joke.

You will hear the rest if you want to travel by car or take a cab for other great places.
Toronado
Hamilton's
O'Brien's
Blind Lady Alehouse
ect...

 

i always go to monkey paw before games. easy walking distance! sometimes go to neighborhood after

hotels that are neat downtown i like are the us grant and hotel solamar. also the palomar hotel is nice and in the middle of everything! all those you can walk to tons of stuff

something walking distance if you stay downtown that is touristy is sea port village!

 

also the zoo is an absolute must. there is a baby panda and hippo right now!

 

Another note: to experience fully experience San Diego during the short span of a Padres game, once inside Petco be sure to get a burger from Hodad's where you can also get a pint of a great local beer (often see Pizza Port, Coronado, and Ballast Point in there). You can also find several beer carts with local beers (usually Stone and Ballast Point) and there is a "craft" beer section with the Widmer conglomerate. If the Padres lose the experience is complete.

 

Hodad's is inside Petco?

 

Yeah, it is easier to get a Hodad's burger in Petco than the one in OB haha (although there is a Hodad's downtown somewhere also). I don't consider it the best burger in SD, but still very tasty , same as the OB location, very well priced, and way better than the slop you normally get at the Park. The owner is local so that is a big plus IMO. There is also a Bull Taco close by (at "the Pier" area) but my results have been mixed at the Petco location.

 

I've eaten at the one downtown, it's off Broadway (I think) and sort of in the hood. Didn't realize there was a 3rd location.

Name the best burger joint and do they have good beer?

 

The Waterfront makes the best burger in town IMO. The tap list usually leaves a lot to be desired though.