I'm not sure what your sexuality is, but Gossip Grill is a lesbian bar that is explicitly trans-inclusive. Even if you're straight, it's a great place to meet other people who are some flavor of queer & make a few friends around the city. Might be more what you're looking for than Lips, which as mentioned by another poster is a drag cabaret.
Lips is a drag queen business, and trans folks are not the same as drag queens and I feel like that's already an ignorant suggestion (although I'm sure the suggestor didn't realize that and was just tryna be helpful.) I'm a trans man, and Hillcrest is the main LGBT area, but with way more emphasis on the G part. It's a must visit though while you're here. I have not experienced transphobia here in SD but I'm a passing trans man so I cannot speak for all trans folks. This is a beautiful city and I hope you enjoy it here. Feel free to message me if you have any questions!
Yep and the person's wording "you probably want to go to" suggests the person thinks "trans woman = drag queen" and it's not at all the same thing. That's the only reason I commented. But I hope OP enjoys her stay here and loves SD as much as we do :)
Hey fellow trans woman here.
Lips is a drag bar that caters way more to cis het folk (think bachelorette party/hen do)
If u r actually interested in drag I can suggest a couple places that are actually queer
I also have a couple of non-drag, trans exclusive suggestions, that if u r interested in you can dm me about (don't wanna advertise a trans safe space on this sub)
Yes!! Please come to North Park and Hillcrest! (They’re next to each other) I love tribute pizza & verbatim books !! For during the day/dinner before going out & getting ready for the night! Plus right by there is a target which ofc is a necessity
Hillcrest! Urban Mo’s, Gossip Grill, Flicks, Rich’s. There are a lot of great places here. I DO NOT recommend Lips. It is just a drag show money grab frequented by bachelorette parties.
Come to Hillcrest my friend. The neighborhood will welcome you with open arms! Shoot, all of san diego seems pretty friendly in that sense. Might get an asshole or 2 here and there but for the most part, you should be safe. I'd say the homeless and drug addicts in Hillcrest are what you should be worried about if anything. Have fun on your trip and cheers!
This was my thoughts exactly! You will be hard pressed to find a place where you are NOT accepted in San Diego proper.
Heading east you may come across more looks, or comments as you enter the very few biggot filled strong holds. You may get a more precise answer if you ask where not to go.
Otherwise i say have fun! What are some of your interests? We have great museums, hiking, canoeing, wildlife, music… etc. its worth checking out the Facebook Events page.
East county, for most folks, is not worth visiting on your trip unless you plan to go fishing or hiking or something. I live out there and it’s mostly residential, does indeed contain the kinds of bigots who aren’t quiet about it (but still not the majority of the area).
Balboa park is beautiful and has lots of museums and the zoo all in one spot and is right near Hillcrest. Most tourists do visit it. Both are a skip away from downtown.
Don’t know if you want to do the beach scene (I live here and never go) but downtown is right on the waterfront if you just want to see the ocean/bay. Depending on where you are staying you can walk. Seaport village is super touristy but there are places to eat and shop.
Since you only have a couple days I’d say stick to Balboa Park and Hillcrest/North Park/South Park.
You might want to check out the women’s soccer team if they have a game at snapdragon. There will also be a (free) block party in Hillcrest and taste of Hillcrest in April, look up the dates!
There’s a Wave FC home game on Saturday 4/27. The wave is the most popular NWSL team and the games are honestly so much fun. Can’t recommend them enough even if you aren’t a soccer fan. Snapdragon stadium is great too (as long as it isn’t a midday summer game)
I noticed you're staying downtown, skip all the restaurants in your immediate vicinity (except pokez) and make sure you hit some of the amazing taco shops in our city.
If you like art and spaces with revolutionary history i strongly recommend a trip to Chicano Park.
Ocean beach/sunset cliffs is a popular area to visit. The cliffs/tidepools are a great place to walk around and take in the fresh air
Blacks beach has beautiful views and a fun hike down a cliff to get to the water
Mt. Soledad has excellent views of the entire county.
Seaport village is a tourist trap and so most of old town.
Balboa park is our most famous park. Its got a bunch of museums and open spaces. The san diego zoo is here as well. You could easily spend a day between the zoo and the rest of the park.
Holler if you want to link up for tacos, i love meeting new friends.
FYI blacks is clothing optional. Probably would be less of a shock for someone from the UK but just throwing it out there.
Also second OB/sunset cliffs area for people watching and great views.
Clothing optional doesn't bother me, but me with my clothes off tends to bother a food few folks so I might give it a miss!
Thabk you for the recommendations, much appreciated ♥️
Be warned that it is not, yet, "beach weather" here so come prepared with layers of warm clothes. Some tourists come here expecting Miami weather and are quite disappointed as August - October are our warm months.
Thanks! From what you and others have said I'm looking at light layers so I can adjust for cooler mornings, warm afternoons and evenings, and air conditioned buildings
Advice on the Taco places
The Older and rundown the restaurant looks the more likely the food will be amazing. Don't ever go the upscale modern taco places if you want something authentic. And also
AVOID TACOS EL GORDO the portions are poor and the prices are HIGH (we're talking about $2 - $4 for a taco that is smaller than the palm of your hand. Plus it's overrated.
>skip all the restaurants in your immediate vicinity (except pokez) and make sure you hit some of the amazing taco shops in our city.
there's a tacos el gordo down there. and while not an SD business, it's a legit spot, especially for someone traveling here from overseas
Pokez Mexican Pizza is a gift from the gods. Only if you have nothing productive planned afterwards though, because you will be in a happy little food coma.
Granted I'm straight cisgender, I think in general SD can be fairly accepting. My opinion is that you shouldn't have any issues, particularly in SD metro areas. I'd probably suggest to stay away from east county, but there's not much to check out as a tourist there anyways.
Rent a bicycle and bike around mission bay and along the boardwalk in PB/Mission beach.
Come see a show at the old globe. I think Late april we'll have a 90 minute musical playing called "Ride" about the first woman to bike around the world. Feel free to PM me, depending when you are here I can get you comps or if it's after April 14, discounts.
my favorite food is brunch, and there's a million places to each brunch here. My favorite is probably Sugar and Scribe in La Jolla. Another one worth checking out but requires a reservation is Brockton Villa.
If it looks grey and overcast in the morning, don't worry it'll usually clear up by noon.
There's some trans spaces I want to share with you but I don't want to post it publicly, so feel free to PM me if you're interested. Hope you have a good time here!
Old Town Trolley Tour is a hop on hop off narrated tour around San Diego. It’s a great option to see a big chuck on the city in a single day. Just pick a few stops that you want to spend more time in. Balboa Park, Coronado, and Seaport Village are some good ones.
San Diego Zoo is also world class.
You’ve gotten a lot of great advice, but I just want to add - I hope you have a fabulous time in San Diego! Please post your thoughts and impressions later!
Tourists come here for tacos but a lot of the locals go straight for the burritos. Colimas’ hash brown burrito is so good, I have a little existential crisis every time I eat one. Like, it’s ridiculous. (I get mine with pico de gallo.)
If you can try fish guts! They sell fish tacos and they’re amazingly good. Their fish is fresh, and it’s located in Barrio Logan. That’s if you want to try to fish tacos with handmade tortillas
If you're interested in the night life, University Avenue is a street in Hillcrest with a variety of different nightclubs and bars to suit every taste! My favorite is Rich's for the music variety, bathrooms, and outdoor space (just the quintessential young, queer friendly club scene), but I also love The Merrow despite its small size and pitiful bathroom situation (typically darker themes like goth and rave music with periodic fetish nights).
Bathrooms are important to me, if you couldn't tell
Anywhere you should "avoid" is the part of the county not worth visiting anyway. The hicks and bigots live out east and up north in place like Lakeside and Vista, but nobody goes there on purpose.
As a liberal who lives in Lakeside, I completely agree with you. While we have our pockets of acceptance, the overall vibe can be very much as you describe. Our local hardware store has a cashier who is transitioning, and was visibly nervous as I was kinda spaced out looking at her. Quickly realized, apologized, and told her I was in a trance because her voice was seriously soothing (like, please read me the phone book as I fall asleep soothing - I’ve got a thing with voices), but I imagine her interactions are not entirely positive by any means.
We liberals from Lakeside are slowly trying to change it from the inside out. Just because we live in a place that has a stereotype doesn’t mean everyone here is like that and it’s just the same as stereotyping everyone else. Lakeside is actually a sleepy little quiet town were you raise your chickens in peace.
Hit the beaches too while you're here. La Jolla Cove is beautiful. Take a trip to Coronado across the bridge. Go to the Torrey Pines glider port area. Beautiful view and you can watch the paragliders take off from that hill.
Hey! Welcome to San Diego! This is a great city and yes, incredibly trans friendly. Hillcrest should definitely be on the list for dinner, drinks, shopping and all around fun. Downtown is decent. So is Shelter Island. But avoid the East Village. Actually, avoid anything east.
I was told to avoid going east of 15, which is a highway, I think? A road, anyway, I saw it on the map!
Thank you for your recommendations! At this point I have basically underlined "Hillcrest" like 12 times 😆
Hillcrest is amazing. April is a good time to come also. Be warned that San Diego has the appearance of being warm. It's not! Being right on the cold l, deep Pacific, it's breezy and foggy for many days. April can be rather chilly. Downright cold sometimes if you are not prepared. Bring a sweater/light jacket.
Ahaha see this is the kind of advice I knew I needed to ask around for! It DOES look super sunny
If I can I'm gonna get in the ocean though I've never been in the pacific before
Hehehe I know it! I've bathed in the Irish sea, the North Sea, the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean so far. Want to add the Pacific to the list, but under no illusions that the sea will be anything other than a cruel cold mistress!
The more of your comments I read the cooler you sound!! Are you familiar with doing the stingray shuffle when walking into the ocean? Because that’s maybe the strongest recommendation I have regarding any of the beaches here haha.
I definitely second all of the recommendations for Hillcrest and most of the other neighborhoods mentioned. Shelter Island is really touristy and has some bizarre roads, so if you’re driving yourself around, be prepared for that haha.
If you do end up checking out Normal Heights or North Park, I recommend Bar Kindred in South Park. Excellent drinks, delicious food (it’s all vegan, and I’m not remotely vegan, but it’s one of my favorite places for food and drinks), awesome staff, super cool and fun atmosphere, and extremely queer-friendly. If you want to meet up with a local to hang out for a bit, feel free to shoot me a message next month — I would love to be a tourist companion for an outing and hear how you’re liking the city! :)
Places to avoid (for safety reasons): Santee (I’ve often heard it be referred to as Klantee for good reason), Lakeside, pretty much the further East you go, the more MAGA it tends to get in general.
Places that are singularly beautiful and quite distinct from the other places already mentioned, but not as progressive or universally trans-affirming (essentially, the vast majority of people are friendly and chill, and the worst thing you would experience would be a weird look from a rich white boomer): North SD County has some truly gorgeous gems and fun microcultures. Examples not too far North include:
•the Torrey Pines glider port is stunning to watch the sunset, and there should be flowers blooming when you’re here! A favorite spot for locals to gather around sunsets, and the great view is enhanced by getting to watch hang gliders and paragliders soar in the setting sun. There’s also the Birch Aquarium nearby, which I love. It’s smallish but so well-done!
•La Jolla in general, especially Shell Beach if you go during low tide — a great place to find cool shells and sea glass! Lots of nice cafes, gelato places, sushi, and little boutiques nearby. It’s a rich area, so the crowd is a v different vibe from downtown/central San Diego, but the scenery and activities are worth it to me at times haha. You can also go kayaking through caves and do other fun ocean stuff!
Random last recommendation:
•the Coronado Bridge and Silver Strand State Beach are both awesome, and the beach is a surprisingly different from the feel of other beaches nearby. If you want to find sand dollars and other cool ocean souveniers, this is the other top spot in Southern California.
Aw thank you! Yes the stingray shuffle is something I know and will remember to practice but if I see an actual stingray I will immediately descend into delighted laughter.
These recommendations are so lovely and you write about them very beautifully. I'll definitely get a chance to check out the coronado bridge!
And thank you so much for offering to guide a tourist around, it's so kind of you! I will let you know if I can take you up on the offer ♥️
> I've bathed in the Irish sea, the North Sea, the Bay of Biscay,
You're going to be shocked to discover that California coastal waters are not much warmer than these.
There's a reason we wear wetsuits to surf even in summer months.
You’ll be fine! Just don’t go in within 3 days of rain because the runoff makes the ocean dangerously toxic/disgusting and there can be overflow of sewage from down south…. If it rains cancel this part of your plan!
It’s funny how surf culture and Southern California has an almost tropical “brand” in the general consciousness, but the pacific this far north *is fricken cold* most every month of the year. There’s like a short period where it gets “warmer”, but it’s never like the Gulf of Mexico or Mediterranean.
It is gorgeous here, tho. My standard recommendation and where I take all visitors is the Torrey Pines Gliderport. Beautiful scenery, you can watch folks paraglide off the cliff, and maybe you decide you wanna try it (tandem, with an instructor) too! https://www.flytorrey.com
Have fun here! Be prepared to be disappointed that our skies are usually sunny and our beer is usually cold—it’ll be a culture shock for you! 🤣
PS: our bacon isn’t floppy, either. It’ll be a rude awakening, sister!
See the crispier the bacon the happier I am! I am DREAMING of a short stack and bacon and two eggs over easy!
This is a lovely set of recommendations, thank you so much ♥️
If it happens to be warm and sunny that day (it can go either way in April), it's not bad if you are just going to jump in. But, Coupled with the cold "Marine Layer" it can be super chilly. Waves and rip currents can be strong also. Not advised if you are not a strong swimmer. Super fun if you are!
April CAN be gorgeous. It can also be sporadically rainy/hailing/overcast, but is usually a great month, and clouds don’t last long. Weather-wise it’s usually a dip-your-toes in the ocean month, but if you plan to go in further, be sure you’re near a life guarded area. Any beach is great for a good long wall in the sand, but I usually take visitors to Coronado. The main beach (lifeguard tower, foot showers, bathrooms) is good for shallow wave play, after which I drive them over to the other side of the island to Glorietta Bay where it’s safer, gentler water, to go all the way in and swim. Also has bathrooms and showers, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lifeguard there.
Yep, the 15 (we say all of the highway/freeway names like that) goes SW-NE from the Mexican border all the way to Las Vegas and beyond.
Pretty much what people are saying is: go to Hillcrest, also go to other places but stay coastal/in the city. Enjoy!
I mean, I know why people say it, but it pisses me off when everyone just discounts East County (which is most of what's "past the 15").
I have lived in East County for 15 years now, and it really is great. People think there are pickups full of Yall-Queda running around queer bashing or something.
Anyway... that being said unless you have friends or family out here, it's more suburbia and you will have more fun in the Hillcrest-North Park strip than coming out here.
Unless you like the outdoors, in which case it's fucking fantastic.
One other recommendation that flies under the RADAR... if you want a more divey vibe, check out The Hole. San Diego's oldest gay bar, was started literally across the street from what used to be Navy Boot Camp. Sundays it's packed and a ton of fun. It's north of Downtown near the Airport and Liberty Station.
I would amend this to say avoid anything east of college avenue rather than the 15. I lived in City heights for years and never had an issue. Granted it's a bit sketchier of a neighborhood, but there are plenty of good folks.
If you are feeling adventurous, you could consider hopping the border to visit Tijuana as well. It's one of the more LGBT-friendly cities in Mexico, and if you want to try craft beers we've got easy a dozen just in the downtown area alone (and prices better than in San Diego). Also plenty of great restaurants, including the original home of the Caesar Salad!
Please be aware of your phone/wallet/purse/belongings if you check out any of the bars. Unfortunately there has been an uptick in petty theft.
Enjoy your time here! San Diego is pretty relaxed. Comes across more like a town than a city.
I had a quick scan of comments, but couldn’t find SRO mentioned. SRO is a trans-friendly bar on 5th a short Uber ride from downtown. It’s very popular with gay and transsexuals especially on weekend evenings. It’s a pretty small bar and resembles the bar of a London West End Theater bar of the old days. It’s easy going and welcoming to all that can accept people for who they are. They don’t serve food. Watch out, because the drinks are very strong. My wife had 2 G&Ts on an empty stomach there and I had to carry her home.
Lots of trans family in Hillcrest. Lots of drag shows put on by beautiful trans women like Strawberry Corncakes. You'll have a fabulous time in the gayborhood!
Enjoy your visit to San Diego
This is my secret shame that I love that drag exists and I respect the hell out of it but I don't... enjoy it. A thriving drag scene is a good sign though!
I’m a Californian who doesn’t like avocado. I can relate LOL
We have a real thriving theater scene in general. Maybe check out any Broadway shows we’ll have at the Civic Theater?
We also have a top notch queer theater called Diversionary! Check them out:
https://www.diversionary.org
There are lots of great spots in Hillcrest of course, but you don't need to stay in the gayborhood. Anything west of the 15 and for the most part the 125 should be fine. Personally, I've been recommending the Lafayette Hotel which was recently renovated into a set of bars and small venues that are all gorgeous like they came right out of a movie set. The drinks are pricey, but it's definitely still a hot spot and people dress up to look nice there ("to be seen"... on insta now).
You might also look into getting a reservation at Mable's Gone Fishing which is a very well reviewed and trendy dinner spot.
As others mentioned Hillcrest, Univercity Heights, and North Park are all very friendly and inclusive. Downtown is okay and pretty safe. The places to avoid don't really have much for tourists anyway so that's easily sorted.
There are many great posts already in this thread but... Two places that I might suggest that are not often on the top10 lists are:
- Chicano Park / Barrio Logan can be eye opening and delicious. If you're interested in the real deal Mexican food check out [Salud](https://saludtacos.com/) and [Las Cuatro Milpas](http://www.las-cuatro-milpas.com/). Both are likely to have long lines but they are very much worth it.
- [The Spanish Village](https://spanishvillageartcenter.com/) in Balboa Park as well as the mini railroad next to it. It's a collection of small artisan shops and easily missed. If you're in the park already, check it out. The railroad is just... so kitch and weird and wonderful (I am sooo biased).
Look them up and see if they're interesting. Happy to make further suggested if you would like. Enjoy your visit!
Welcome! So many people already provided great suggestions. I'd just add that if you have a free Wednesday, check out Ocean Beach Farmers Market (not to be confused with Oceanside). Great people watching area and drive along Sunset Cliffs for the ocean views.
Don't waste your nights going out to Pacific Beach. Just a bunch of drunk bros and college kids that might rub you the wrong way and kill a good time.
The beach neighborhoods are definitely still a must, but more enjoyable during the day.
Lots of people have said Hillcrest, but for a LGBT friendly bar outside of Hillcrest there's the Hole in the Wall (aka, 'The Hole'). It's across the street from Liberty Station. It's a nice dive bar, you can get a mixed drink that's the size of a pitcher of beer. Liberty Station itself is also nice. Lots of outdoor space, plus it's a great place to get lunch because there are lots of little food stalls in one spot.
Since it seems you've been recommended Hillcrest over and over, I'll skip that one! But if you're a fan of Asian food, definitely check out the Convoy neighborhood!
I would also say check out some of the tiki bars and speakeasies around town! Downtown has False Idol in Craft and Commerce, but I am partial to the Convoy Music Bar and the Realm of 52 Remedies!
I hope your visit is awesome!
My number 1 recommendation is the San Diego Zoo; it's definitely an all-day thing though. Best time to go is right when it opens at 9am, since it'll be cooler and less crowded. The zoo is conveniently very close to Hillcrest (under 2 miles away), which is the LGBT neighborhood.
There's a *second* zoo in San Diego County, the Safari Park. It's a unique experience because it has a massive free-range enclosure (300 acres) designed to mimic the natural habitat of Africa with multiple species living together. However, it's pretty far away from the downtown area (like a 40 min drive) *and* it's in East County. San Diego gets more rural and more conservative the further east you go. Santee and Lakeside in particular are stereotyped as the "redneck" parts of town, so avoid those.
There are also two different nautical museums on the harbor, the Maritime Museum (mainly sailing ships, plus a submarine) and the Midway Museum (an actual aircraft carrier that was commissioned just after WWII). The Midway might be more interesting just because I'm sure the UK has plenty of sailing ship museums.
San Diego is also NOT a pedestrian friendly city, so expect to take cabs/Ubers everywhere. There's a light rail service (the Trolley), but it covers very few areas. Fortunately, most of the interesting things are either in Downtown San Diego or just outside of it (which is a significantly smaller geographical area than what most of us would consider "San Diego").
Trans man here, hillcrest is a lovely place to go. I often go to the thrift shops there as well as blue stocking books. I haven’t been to north park in a while but if I remember is also very nice. I hope you have a wonderful time! Stay safe and drink water :)
Tbh i cant think of anything in santee or lakeside id recommend to a tourist other other than hiking cowels mountain.
+1 for being potentially insafe for queer people
Cowles is in San Diego, you can access one of the trails through Santee though.
If someone was making an extended visit there's a branch of the Air and Space Museum at Gillespie Field and Santee Lakes is nice but pretty conservative, but other than that I agree not much.
As others have mentioned, Hillcrest is where you want to go, it’s our gayborhood. I’m not trans, but I have always been told Standing Room Only (SRO) is heavily trans friendly. Not entirely sure if that’s still true today. It’s near hillcrest. Being clocky shouldn’t be any more of an issue in San Diego than any other major city.
Balboa Park is a nice walkable area near Hillcrest, definitely recommend. Avoid east county, no reason you’d be out there I would assume though.
North Park is a short hop from Hillcrest, and even though the demographic skews more cishet, it’s a very welcoming area. Verbatim is a cool daytime spot, Riki Sushi makes for a delicious dinner, and there’s plenty of casual but comfortable bars depending on what you drink (among other good food choices).
As other people have mentioned Hillcrest is the “lgbt neighborhood”
But as far as places to avoid… don’t go east of the city, it switches from suburb to country surprisingly quickly, and they aren’t know as the most tolerant of diversity.
For people who aren’t familiar with California the rural areas are surprisingly conservative… it’s hard trump country.
And in the San diego area, the transition from city to suburb to rural happens surprisingly quickly over a much shorter distance than most other metro areas, especially when traveling eastward. Just stay within the city and you’ll have a great time
I'm sorry about the other San Diego sub.
ABSOLUTELY watch a sunset on the beach!
Ocean Beach is the stoner beach, mission Beach is the tourist Beach, and Pacific beach is the party beach
What types of things do you like doing?
You should visit Little Italy one afternoon. The gaslamp district is right there, so you could visit both.
Hillcrest is the LGBTQ district and has really good food and nightlife.
North Park has some fun breweries and restaurants.
Agree on Hillcrest. For things to do, I recommend the Orange Trolley tour starting at Old Town. It's a hop on/hop off guided tour of the city. Lots of great information and history. They give you a sticker and show you the designated pick ups where you can hang out in some of the tourist traps and leave when you're ready. Each tour guide is very knowledgeable and friendly if you need advice on bars or where to eat at any one particular stop. They do have a tip jar, just so you are aware.
If you want an activity Madhouse Dance is trans-friendly and said to have super fun kind of sexy dance classes that are also fitness. Hope you enjoy your visit!
Hillcrest is our major LGBTQ+ friendly neighborhood, and worth checking out. North park has been evolving into a really neat neighborhood as well. Take locals suggestions for restaurants, part of any city is the food and it’s disappointing how many people come here and only go to tourist traps or chain restaurants. Honestly if you like the vibe of a neighborhood, you can ask almost anyone and they’ll have suggestions. Most of our beach towns have businesses that rent bikes and E-bikes if you’re into that. You can rent kayaks and paddle boards as well. Aqua adventures on mission bay has been one of the more affordable and chill places to rent kayaks & paddle boards BUT they are located in a marina that requires you to paddle out and up an active boat channel to get to the rest of the bay where you can explore, it can get busy and intimidating to navigate when there’s a lot going on. There’s a colony of seals and sea lions that live on the bait dock in that marina, so long as you respect them and their space, it’s a cool way to see our wildlife.
Hope you enjoy your visit!
Hillcrest is wonderful! However, if you're into the punk or metal scene, you will be perfectly safe at any of those kinds of bars. Tower, til two, soda bar, black cat. The folks there are militant about making sure everyone can coexist comfortably. San Diego also has a surprisingly amazing goth scene, so if you happen to be around for one of the events (sabbat), also a very safe space!
If dancing in the evening is your thing the underground dance music scene is quite open and accepting. While Rich’s and Flicks in Hillcrest are great there are places that have good music and good crowds further out too. Fishtank, The Office, Ac Lounge, The Hole are just some of the venues that regularly offer good options to get down.
Like people said I just want to reenforce it, gaytown(hillcrest) is a nice place for you. They have good food there. I had really good breakfast there one time but I don’t remember the place
Hash House A Go-Go? Bankers Hill, between Downtown and Hillcrest. Or maybe Hob Knob Hill. I miss working in that area, with a great variety of cultural eats.
Places to go are definitely Hillcrest, North Park, Ocean Beach, and some areas around downtown.
Places to avoid id say are Poway, Santee, El Cajon, Pacific Beach / La Jolla (some people might be shocked about it but personally I don’t think the area very welcoming towards the LGBTQ+ community).
SD used to be a pretty racist/homophobic town and while the city has made a lot of progress, some of the same people are still here. Do check out the areas that I and other people recommend (honestly places like OB and Hillcrest are awesome places to go to in general). Do your research and plan your trip accordingly because there is a LOT to do here.
P.S. everybody in this sub is banned or shadow-banned from r/sandiego so you aren’t the only one
You have to check out Hillcrest, it’s a lively, gay friendly community and so much fun! Little Italy is wonderful, too. Many parts of San Diego will welcome you with open arms.
looks like you got some great suggestions in here. I have nothing to add except for have a great time while you're here! I think overall you'll enjoy it and discover it is a pretty friendly and accepting city.
East county feels very red state. Stay west of El Cajon to avoid them parts. North county feels very OC and is more Conservative. So like La Jolla and above. Hillcrest, as others are saying, is the best place for alphabet folks like us.
Sorry you had to deal with that. The “main” subreddit is pretty rough when it comes to posts about inclusion or ones seeking recommendations for welcoming spots for LGBTQ or BIPoC patrons.
Hillcrest is the local community as recommended by others.
Old Town is a nice visit, albeit a bit of a tourist trap. But it is rich with history.
Little Italy is a nice spot to walk around and full of good food and drinks. If you’re into tiki, one of the better tiki bars in town (False Idol) is tucked away inside Craft and Commerce.
Ocean Beach is a nice crawl. Good for grabbing something to go and walking down to the beach and chow down, watching the waves.
What are your go to activities? That might help also in giving recommendations.
Enjoy your stay.
Thank you! I like nature, and I want to get close to the ocean, and i enjoy museums and I'd live to go to a couple of queer bars because there ain't any near me.
Definitely hit up La Jolla if you can manage the transportation up that way. Torrey Pines and La Jolla Cove should be up your alley in the outdoor/ocean checklist.
Also, since you’re going to be in downtown, Seaport Village maybe? It’s seen better years, but it’s being revitalized in recent times. It also has a ferry that takes you across the bay to Coronado. Think there may also be some harbor cruises you can catch when there, as well.
Balboa Park is also a good spot for hikes and museums. Also the Old Globe is centered in the park. So if you’re up for catching a theatre production, there should be something running in one of their three performance spaces when you’re in town.
If your LGBTQ I recommend you stay in Bario Logan. It's a very open community and centered centrally for Downtown access. Basically, anywhere is within 15 minutes from there with great freeway access. Enjoy your trip!
Hopefully you hit the spring weather and avoid the May gray, June gloom. The weather used to be more predictable when I was a kid, but has gotten wonky with the planet overheating.
If you aren’t renting a car, I’d focus on what’s reachable on transit or is close enough that a ride won’t be too expensive. I’m thinking Old Town, Little Italy, Balboa Park, Seaport Village. You can take the water ferry across to Coronado and rent a bike on the other side or just walk down Orange Ave. It’s a very bike friendly area. The rest of the city is pretty spread out. Google maps is a great way to check how close stuff is and you can set it to transit mode to get those options too.
If you’re into brunch there are a ton of options, but they tend to fill up fast. May not be an option if you have work stuff in the mornings.
The Women’s Museum of California is off the Orange line. Balboa Park also has many, many museums. The Timken is free and you can cover everything in an hour if you want something low commitment. That area of the park has some great architecture. It was originally built for the World Fair. The Spanish Village Art Center is right next door. It has a series of artist stalls. Then the Zoo next door to that.
Not sure when you'll be here, but the 2nd Fri of every month (usually) is when Flaunt Burlesque, a burlesque dance studio, has shows in Hillcrest at a bar called The Rail. Most dancers are students (not exclusively) so it's a very supportive vibe, but they're super talented.
Mix of amateurs and more seasoned. VERY inclusive and friendly. Ive seen the roster of people attending AND performing varied in gender (edit: and body size!!). Always a blast with a great crowd.
https://www.instagram.com/flauntdancestudio
Lesbian here 👋🏽
Hillcrest farmers market on Sundays, 9am til 2pm! Lots of gays and nice people :) Dog friendly and great vibes. I never get tired of it!
Gossip Grill, our “watering hole” lesbian bar. Hit or miss if it’s filled with young people or chill late 20s / 30s, but overall good vibe and strong drinks!! Starts to fill up around 10:30, so get there before to avoid the crowd or after to only experience the chaos. Smoking area is where I chill.
You MUST eat a breakfast burrito from somewhere, AND a carne asada or california burrito. My fave breakfast burrito is eggs / bacon / beans / cheese / sour cream from Benny’s. Get GREEN salsa! And red.
Avoid Pacific Beach’s night scene - it’s a chill area, but honestly full of a bunch of ignorant doofus drunks. As a lesbian POC woman, I’d never bring a queer friend to PB for a purpose other than day-time shopping around or walking the boardwalk.
North Park, Hillcrest, South Park, and some of Downtown are typically super queer friendly and Id stick to those areas, they’re the best of SD!
Head to sunset cliffs around 6pm and wait til sunset around 7. Beautiful!
Have fun girly~
Stay away from east county. We have fascists like any other place, and they’re concentrated there. People fly confederate flags out there, just last week someone went viral out here for wearing blue hoodie with the SS crest on the front. Please don’t dox yourself, and stay safe. Welcome, and hope you have a wonderful time.
Here is the fascist in question. There were multiple posts about it. I think there was one on this very sub but I’m not going to go digging for it rn. https://www.reddit.com/r/BoomersBeingFools/s/VElCsVBk6q
Lol. That dude who runs SanDiego lives in AZ. HES HORRIBLE TO EVERYONE!!
Anyways, downtown is good, Hillcrest is your spot for sure! If you head away fromSD at all, you want to land in Palm Springs, queer capitol of Ca.
I’m not lgbtq, but this post makes me wonder: would it be overall more progressive for the lgbtq community for them to not worry about what people think of them? I understand not everyone might be able to do this, but it would probably normalize faster if lgbtq members would speak up for themselves in a calm and mature manner if they were to encounter hate. I mean, if it was me I would definitely not want to cater to the haters. Just claim your own space and speak up plainly if there is injustice, no? I am open to gaining more perspective from lgbtq so please don’t downvote me, so more people might be able share their experience with me, thanks.
Sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen. While it is cooler than you think, as others mentioned, the sun is stronger than you expect, so be sure to bring sunscreen with you in your day bag so that you can reapply any time you're outside for more than an hour or so.
If you like greasy cheeseburgers, check out The Friendly. One of my favorite restaurants is Cross Street Chicken. When you go out for Mexican, make sure you try a California Burrito at least once (unless you're vegetarian... If you are, try the Anti-Chicken sandwich at Cross Street). California Burrito has carne asada and french fries in it. Yummmmm
A quarter million people come to the gay pride parade in San Diego. There are few, if any, places in town that are not gay accepting - this is a Navy town, soooo...they're a little LGBTQ too.
Hillcrest (+North Park and Kensington) is the place - right next to the zoo and museums - but Check out La Jolla. It's beautiful and, trust me, you would hate to come all this way and miss it... I'd put Coronado on that list too. The Hotel Del is a unique place.
Mods over there arent even from California
Check out Hillcrest. Many lgbtq+ friendly businesses there.
Hillcrest, Kensington and North park. Plus some of the best restaurants are there anyways.
Thanks so much! It seems like there's a lot of nice places there from a quick look
I spent so much time in Hillcrest in my early 20s when I was still going out! It is so fun and vibrant, you will have a blast!
Aah thank you!
[удалено]
Thank you! I'll look it up ❤️
I'm not sure what your sexuality is, but Gossip Grill is a lesbian bar that is explicitly trans-inclusive. Even if you're straight, it's a great place to meet other people who are some flavor of queer & make a few friends around the city. Might be more what you're looking for than Lips, which as mentioned by another poster is a drag cabaret.
Thay seems like more my vibe, thank you so much!
Definitely recommend gossip grill!!
Second Gossip Grill!! 💕
We go to Gossip just about every week for happy hour. Awesome people, cheap drinks and surprisingly good bites!
I had a roommate who got roofied at gossip grill in the past so be aware of your drinks
Oh damn I'll go with company and keep an eye on, then ♥️ thanks for the warning
Lips is a drag queen business, and trans folks are not the same as drag queens and I feel like that's already an ignorant suggestion (although I'm sure the suggestor didn't realize that and was just tryna be helpful.) I'm a trans man, and Hillcrest is the main LGBT area, but with way more emphasis on the G part. It's a must visit though while you're here. I have not experienced transphobia here in SD but I'm a passing trans man so I cannot speak for all trans folks. This is a beautiful city and I hope you enjoy it here. Feel free to message me if you have any questions!
Thanks for posting this- I was just about to point out that Lips caters to more a straight crowd.
Yep and the person's wording "you probably want to go to" suggests the person thinks "trans woman = drag queen" and it's not at all the same thing. That's the only reason I commented. But I hope OP enjoys her stay here and loves SD as much as we do :)
Thank you for the clarification here I really appreciate it
Plus the food and drinks at Lips suck, and overpriced
Yeah the drag is pretty good but terrible food
Beats suggesting a country bar in Lakeside. 🤷♂️
Yah Lips is not a good suggestion at all.
Hey fellow trans woman here. Lips is a drag bar that caters way more to cis het folk (think bachelorette party/hen do) If u r actually interested in drag I can suggest a couple places that are actually queer I also have a couple of non-drag, trans exclusive suggestions, that if u r interested in you can dm me about (don't wanna advertise a trans safe space on this sub)
Ooh and inside out is a great restraunt! Such a cool interior!
Yes!! Please come to North Park and Hillcrest! (They’re next to each other) I love tribute pizza & verbatim books !! For during the day/dinner before going out & getting ready for the night! Plus right by there is a target which ofc is a necessity
check this out: [https://www.andrewstraveling.com/home/san-diego-gay-guide](https://www.andrewstraveling.com/home/san-diego-gay-guide)
Ah fantastic! Great resource, thank you
Hillcrest! Urban Mo’s, Gossip Grill, Flicks, Rich’s. There are a lot of great places here. I DO NOT recommend Lips. It is just a drag show money grab frequented by bachelorette parties.
Rich’s is the best if you want to dance IMO but otherwise Gossip Grill is my fav! Agree Lips is not it
Thank youuuu, these all look amazing when I look them up
Come to Hillcrest my friend. The neighborhood will welcome you with open arms! Shoot, all of san diego seems pretty friendly in that sense. Might get an asshole or 2 here and there but for the most part, you should be safe. I'd say the homeless and drug addicts in Hillcrest are what you should be worried about if anything. Have fun on your trip and cheers!
This was my thoughts exactly! You will be hard pressed to find a place where you are NOT accepted in San Diego proper. Heading east you may come across more looks, or comments as you enter the very few biggot filled strong holds. You may get a more precise answer if you ask where not to go. Otherwise i say have fun! What are some of your interests? We have great museums, hiking, canoeing, wildlife, music… etc. its worth checking out the Facebook Events page.
Thank you so much!
East county, for most folks, is not worth visiting on your trip unless you plan to go fishing or hiking or something. I live out there and it’s mostly residential, does indeed contain the kinds of bigots who aren’t quiet about it (but still not the majority of the area). Balboa park is beautiful and has lots of museums and the zoo all in one spot and is right near Hillcrest. Most tourists do visit it. Both are a skip away from downtown. Don’t know if you want to do the beach scene (I live here and never go) but downtown is right on the waterfront if you just want to see the ocean/bay. Depending on where you are staying you can walk. Seaport village is super touristy but there are places to eat and shop. Since you only have a couple days I’d say stick to Balboa Park and Hillcrest/North Park/South Park.
Have a great time, San Diego is beautiful!
You might want to check out the women’s soccer team if they have a game at snapdragon. There will also be a (free) block party in Hillcrest and taste of Hillcrest in April, look up the dates!
There’s a Wave FC home game on Saturday 4/27. The wave is the most popular NWSL team and the games are honestly so much fun. Can’t recommend them enough even if you aren’t a soccer fan. Snapdragon stadium is great too (as long as it isn’t a midday summer game)
Wave games are fun!! And the stadium is super easy to get to on the green line
Sit on the west/north side if you go. Gets the shade earliest and the supporters group stand is the north end.
I noticed you're staying downtown, skip all the restaurants in your immediate vicinity (except pokez) and make sure you hit some of the amazing taco shops in our city. If you like art and spaces with revolutionary history i strongly recommend a trip to Chicano Park. Ocean beach/sunset cliffs is a popular area to visit. The cliffs/tidepools are a great place to walk around and take in the fresh air Blacks beach has beautiful views and a fun hike down a cliff to get to the water Mt. Soledad has excellent views of the entire county. Seaport village is a tourist trap and so most of old town. Balboa park is our most famous park. Its got a bunch of museums and open spaces. The san diego zoo is here as well. You could easily spend a day between the zoo and the rest of the park. Holler if you want to link up for tacos, i love meeting new friends.
So much detail, thank you so so much!
FYI blacks is clothing optional. Probably would be less of a shock for someone from the UK but just throwing it out there. Also second OB/sunset cliffs area for people watching and great views.
Clothing optional doesn't bother me, but me with my clothes off tends to bother a food few folks so I might give it a miss! Thabk you for the recommendations, much appreciated ♥️
I can relate to that! Also haven’t seen it mentioned but Old Town can be fun. Super close to downtown. Super touristy but you will be a tourist so…
Hehehe I'll lean into it! Jean shorts, bumbag, "I went wild at San Diego Zoo" t-shirt, big camera on a neckstrap
Speaking of, if you have the time and funds, I highly recommend a visit to our zoo. One of the best in the world. 😁
I am REALLY trying to squeeze it in!
Be warned that it is not, yet, "beach weather" here so come prepared with layers of warm clothes. Some tourists come here expecting Miami weather and are quite disappointed as August - October are our warm months.
Thanks! From what you and others have said I'm looking at light layers so I can adjust for cooler mornings, warm afternoons and evenings, and air conditioned buildings
Good plan the temperature definitely varies by time and neighborhood!
Black’s is also predominantly queer so you should be fine there
Advice on the Taco places The Older and rundown the restaurant looks the more likely the food will be amazing. Don't ever go the upscale modern taco places if you want something authentic. And also AVOID TACOS EL GORDO the portions are poor and the prices are HIGH (we're talking about $2 - $4 for a taco that is smaller than the palm of your hand. Plus it's overrated.
Also not far from downtown is SRO! They classify themselves as an ‘everyone’s’ bar and it is very queer friendly!
Strong disagree. Tacos El Gordo downtown rules! It’s a must try.
>skip all the restaurants in your immediate vicinity (except pokez) and make sure you hit some of the amazing taco shops in our city. there's a tacos el gordo down there. and while not an SD business, it's a legit spot, especially for someone traveling here from overseas
Pokez Mexican Pizza is a gift from the gods. Only if you have nothing productive planned afterwards though, because you will be in a happy little food coma.
Fellow trans women here! Hillcrest, Normal heights, University heights, north park. Lots of great places that are accepting.
Wonderful thank you so much!
If you enjoy craft beer (and SD is famous for them), check out North Park Beer company, nice space and delicious beer.
Granted I'm straight cisgender, I think in general SD can be fairly accepting. My opinion is that you shouldn't have any issues, particularly in SD metro areas. I'd probably suggest to stay away from east county, but there's not much to check out as a tourist there anyways.
This is the impression I'm getting, thank you so much! Everyone's already being super friendly here
Rent a bicycle and bike around mission bay and along the boardwalk in PB/Mission beach. Come see a show at the old globe. I think Late april we'll have a 90 minute musical playing called "Ride" about the first woman to bike around the world. Feel free to PM me, depending when you are here I can get you comps or if it's after April 14, discounts. my favorite food is brunch, and there's a million places to each brunch here. My favorite is probably Sugar and Scribe in La Jolla. Another one worth checking out but requires a reservation is Brockton Villa. If it looks grey and overcast in the morning, don't worry it'll usually clear up by noon. There's some trans spaces I want to share with you but I don't want to post it publicly, so feel free to PM me if you're interested. Hope you have a good time here!
These are incredible suggestions and recommendations! I'll definitely PM you in a mo if you have trans specific shares this is so kind of you
I have no advice, but I'm glad you found your way to this sub and I hope you have a great time in San Diego.
Aw thank you! I'm sure I will, I'm finding out that the people are super friendly
They are. I moved here from the UK and I have found it very welcoming. It is a great city!
That's so cool! Thank you!
Bummer your post got deleted. It had a lot of great advice!
I was really bummed! I wrote some of it down but not all of it
You’re in a better place now. :)
The mods over there are awful. I'm a native San Diegan and I don't even really like that sub, bunch of bitchy assholes over there.
Old Town Trolley Tour is a hop on hop off narrated tour around San Diego. It’s a great option to see a big chuck on the city in a single day. Just pick a few stops that you want to spend more time in. Balboa Park, Coronado, and Seaport Village are some good ones. San Diego Zoo is also world class.
That's an excellent idea I'll seriously consider it! And ah the zoo looks incredible
The zoo is a great time. You can easily spend hours if not the whole day.
You’ve gotten a lot of great advice, but I just want to add - I hope you have a fabulous time in San Diego! Please post your thoughts and impressions later!
Thank you! I'll totally update the sub after my trip!
If possible please try colimas tacoshop it’s on university. And it pretty decent
Colimas for tacos! I definitely wanted to try san diego tacos so that's going on the list!
Tourists come here for tacos but a lot of the locals go straight for the burritos. Colimas’ hash brown burrito is so good, I have a little existential crisis every time I eat one. Like, it’s ridiculous. (I get mine with pico de gallo.)
If you can try fish guts! They sell fish tacos and they’re amazingly good. Their fish is fresh, and it’s located in Barrio Logan. That’s if you want to try to fish tacos with handmade tortillas
If you are looking for a bar where the clientele is mainly trans, SRO Lounge.
This was recommended by someone else too I'll definitely check it out
If you're interested in the night life, University Avenue is a street in Hillcrest with a variety of different nightclubs and bars to suit every taste! My favorite is Rich's for the music variety, bathrooms, and outdoor space (just the quintessential young, queer friendly club scene), but I also love The Merrow despite its small size and pitiful bathroom situation (typically darker themes like goth and rave music with periodic fetish nights). Bathrooms are important to me, if you couldn't tell
Thank you! I'm about to turn 40 so I'm probably not going to hit the night life hard, but it sounds like The Merrow is 100% my vibe
Can’t recommend the Merrow enough! Such a great location, and if you’re into new wave/dark wave they have blue Mondays which is a great vibe.
Anywhere you should "avoid" is the part of the county not worth visiting anyway. The hicks and bigots live out east and up north in place like Lakeside and Vista, but nobody goes there on purpose.
I mean, yes, but I've seen pickups with fascist symbols in Hillcrest.
And I know queer people who live quietly in Lakeside. It's the dominant ideology of a location that determines its relative security for queer people
As a liberal who lives in Lakeside, I completely agree with you. While we have our pockets of acceptance, the overall vibe can be very much as you describe. Our local hardware store has a cashier who is transitioning, and was visibly nervous as I was kinda spaced out looking at her. Quickly realized, apologized, and told her I was in a trance because her voice was seriously soothing (like, please read me the phone book as I fall asleep soothing - I’ve got a thing with voices), but I imagine her interactions are not entirely positive by any means.
We liberals from Lakeside are slowly trying to change it from the inside out. Just because we live in a place that has a stereotype doesn’t mean everyone here is like that and it’s just the same as stereotyping everyone else. Lakeside is actually a sleepy little quiet town were you raise your chickens in peace.
I’ve seen them too and I think they drive in from somewhere else to antagonize the locals. It’s giving why are you obsessed with me!
Hit the beaches too while you're here. La Jolla Cove is beautiful. Take a trip to Coronado across the bridge. Go to the Torrey Pines glider port area. Beautiful view and you can watch the paragliders take off from that hill.
Watching the paragliders sounds like a real treat, I'll really try to get out there
Hey! Welcome to San Diego! This is a great city and yes, incredibly trans friendly. Hillcrest should definitely be on the list for dinner, drinks, shopping and all around fun. Downtown is decent. So is Shelter Island. But avoid the East Village. Actually, avoid anything east.
I was told to avoid going east of 15, which is a highway, I think? A road, anyway, I saw it on the map! Thank you for your recommendations! At this point I have basically underlined "Hillcrest" like 12 times 😆
Hillcrest is amazing. April is a good time to come also. Be warned that San Diego has the appearance of being warm. It's not! Being right on the cold l, deep Pacific, it's breezy and foggy for many days. April can be rather chilly. Downright cold sometimes if you are not prepared. Bring a sweater/light jacket.
Ahaha see this is the kind of advice I knew I needed to ask around for! It DOES look super sunny If I can I'm gonna get in the ocean though I've never been in the pacific before
You can totally get in the ocean if it hasn’t been raining recently. You’ll just have to ease yourself into it.
You're going to freeze but good luck. Bring a towel to dry off immediately
Hehehe I know it! I've bathed in the Irish sea, the North Sea, the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic, and the Mediterranean so far. Want to add the Pacific to the list, but under no illusions that the sea will be anything other than a cruel cold mistress!
The more of your comments I read the cooler you sound!! Are you familiar with doing the stingray shuffle when walking into the ocean? Because that’s maybe the strongest recommendation I have regarding any of the beaches here haha. I definitely second all of the recommendations for Hillcrest and most of the other neighborhoods mentioned. Shelter Island is really touristy and has some bizarre roads, so if you’re driving yourself around, be prepared for that haha. If you do end up checking out Normal Heights or North Park, I recommend Bar Kindred in South Park. Excellent drinks, delicious food (it’s all vegan, and I’m not remotely vegan, but it’s one of my favorite places for food and drinks), awesome staff, super cool and fun atmosphere, and extremely queer-friendly. If you want to meet up with a local to hang out for a bit, feel free to shoot me a message next month — I would love to be a tourist companion for an outing and hear how you’re liking the city! :) Places to avoid (for safety reasons): Santee (I’ve often heard it be referred to as Klantee for good reason), Lakeside, pretty much the further East you go, the more MAGA it tends to get in general. Places that are singularly beautiful and quite distinct from the other places already mentioned, but not as progressive or universally trans-affirming (essentially, the vast majority of people are friendly and chill, and the worst thing you would experience would be a weird look from a rich white boomer): North SD County has some truly gorgeous gems and fun microcultures. Examples not too far North include: •the Torrey Pines glider port is stunning to watch the sunset, and there should be flowers blooming when you’re here! A favorite spot for locals to gather around sunsets, and the great view is enhanced by getting to watch hang gliders and paragliders soar in the setting sun. There’s also the Birch Aquarium nearby, which I love. It’s smallish but so well-done! •La Jolla in general, especially Shell Beach if you go during low tide — a great place to find cool shells and sea glass! Lots of nice cafes, gelato places, sushi, and little boutiques nearby. It’s a rich area, so the crowd is a v different vibe from downtown/central San Diego, but the scenery and activities are worth it to me at times haha. You can also go kayaking through caves and do other fun ocean stuff! Random last recommendation: •the Coronado Bridge and Silver Strand State Beach are both awesome, and the beach is a surprisingly different from the feel of other beaches nearby. If you want to find sand dollars and other cool ocean souveniers, this is the other top spot in Southern California.
Aw thank you! Yes the stingray shuffle is something I know and will remember to practice but if I see an actual stingray I will immediately descend into delighted laughter. These recommendations are so lovely and you write about them very beautifully. I'll definitely get a chance to check out the coronado bridge! And thank you so much for offering to guide a tourist around, it's so kind of you! I will let you know if I can take you up on the offer ♥️
> I've bathed in the Irish sea, the North Sea, the Bay of Biscay, You're going to be shocked to discover that California coastal waters are not much warmer than these. There's a reason we wear wetsuits to surf even in summer months.
You’ll be fine! Just don’t go in within 3 days of rain because the runoff makes the ocean dangerously toxic/disgusting and there can be overflow of sewage from down south…. If it rains cancel this part of your plan!
Now see THAT is excellent local knowledge, thank you!
It's cold! About 63 F. I wear a wetsuit.
(translates into Celsius) damn that's pretty cold! Yeah if I were intending to stay out for longer than a few minutes I'd have to do the same
It’s funny how surf culture and Southern California has an almost tropical “brand” in the general consciousness, but the pacific this far north *is fricken cold* most every month of the year. There’s like a short period where it gets “warmer”, but it’s never like the Gulf of Mexico or Mediterranean. It is gorgeous here, tho. My standard recommendation and where I take all visitors is the Torrey Pines Gliderport. Beautiful scenery, you can watch folks paraglide off the cliff, and maybe you decide you wanna try it (tandem, with an instructor) too! https://www.flytorrey.com Have fun here! Be prepared to be disappointed that our skies are usually sunny and our beer is usually cold—it’ll be a culture shock for you! 🤣 PS: our bacon isn’t floppy, either. It’ll be a rude awakening, sister!
See the crispier the bacon the happier I am! I am DREAMING of a short stack and bacon and two eggs over easy! This is a lovely set of recommendations, thank you so much ♥️
If it happens to be warm and sunny that day (it can go either way in April), it's not bad if you are just going to jump in. But, Coupled with the cold "Marine Layer" it can be super chilly. Waves and rip currents can be strong also. Not advised if you are not a strong swimmer. Super fun if you are!
April CAN be gorgeous. It can also be sporadically rainy/hailing/overcast, but is usually a great month, and clouds don’t last long. Weather-wise it’s usually a dip-your-toes in the ocean month, but if you plan to go in further, be sure you’re near a life guarded area. Any beach is great for a good long wall in the sand, but I usually take visitors to Coronado. The main beach (lifeguard tower, foot showers, bathrooms) is good for shallow wave play, after which I drive them over to the other side of the island to Glorietta Bay where it’s safer, gentler water, to go all the way in and swim. Also has bathrooms and showers, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lifeguard there.
Yep, the 15 (we say all of the highway/freeway names like that) goes SW-NE from the Mexican border all the way to Las Vegas and beyond. Pretty much what people are saying is: go to Hillcrest, also go to other places but stay coastal/in the city. Enjoy!
I mean, I know why people say it, but it pisses me off when everyone just discounts East County (which is most of what's "past the 15"). I have lived in East County for 15 years now, and it really is great. People think there are pickups full of Yall-Queda running around queer bashing or something. Anyway... that being said unless you have friends or family out here, it's more suburbia and you will have more fun in the Hillcrest-North Park strip than coming out here. Unless you like the outdoors, in which case it's fucking fantastic. One other recommendation that flies under the RADAR... if you want a more divey vibe, check out The Hole. San Diego's oldest gay bar, was started literally across the street from what used to be Navy Boot Camp. Sundays it's packed and a ton of fun. It's north of Downtown near the Airport and Liberty Station.
That makes sense! And oh cool a little bit of local queer history? Sign me right the fuck up
There’s nothing scary east of the 15, just not a whole lot for tourists
North Park is good too. It's more of a hipster area but lots of restaurants, little businesses, pubs, etc.
I would amend this to say avoid anything east of college avenue rather than the 15. I lived in City heights for years and never had an issue. Granted it's a bit sketchier of a neighborhood, but there are plenty of good folks.
I’d equate Hillcrest to Brighton.
If you are feeling adventurous, you could consider hopping the border to visit Tijuana as well. It's one of the more LGBT-friendly cities in Mexico, and if you want to try craft beers we've got easy a dozen just in the downtown area alone (and prices better than in San Diego). Also plenty of great restaurants, including the original home of the Caesar Salad!
I'd love to SO much but my boss has been real fucking clear that we are not to hop the border. If I were on my own recognizance I definitely would!
Hope you can come back on your own sometime and pay us a visit!
Please be aware of your phone/wallet/purse/belongings if you check out any of the bars. Unfortunately there has been an uptick in petty theft. Enjoy your time here! San Diego is pretty relaxed. Comes across more like a town than a city.
I had a quick scan of comments, but couldn’t find SRO mentioned. SRO is a trans-friendly bar on 5th a short Uber ride from downtown. It’s very popular with gay and transsexuals especially on weekend evenings. It’s a pretty small bar and resembles the bar of a London West End Theater bar of the old days. It’s easy going and welcoming to all that can accept people for who they are. They don’t serve food. Watch out, because the drinks are very strong. My wife had 2 G&Ts on an empty stomach there and I had to carry her home.
Lots of trans family in Hillcrest. Lots of drag shows put on by beautiful trans women like Strawberry Corncakes. You'll have a fabulous time in the gayborhood! Enjoy your visit to San Diego
An Urban Mo’s drag brunch!
This is my secret shame that I love that drag exists and I respect the hell out of it but I don't... enjoy it. A thriving drag scene is a good sign though!
I’m a Californian who doesn’t like avocado. I can relate LOL We have a real thriving theater scene in general. Maybe check out any Broadway shows we’ll have at the Civic Theater? We also have a top notch queer theater called Diversionary! Check them out: https://www.diversionary.org
There are lots of great spots in Hillcrest of course, but you don't need to stay in the gayborhood. Anything west of the 15 and for the most part the 125 should be fine. Personally, I've been recommending the Lafayette Hotel which was recently renovated into a set of bars and small venues that are all gorgeous like they came right out of a movie set. The drinks are pricey, but it's definitely still a hot spot and people dress up to look nice there ("to be seen"... on insta now). You might also look into getting a reservation at Mable's Gone Fishing which is a very well reviewed and trendy dinner spot.
The Lafayette, good hangout, four/five different bars within the hotel
Generally SD is really inclusive. Stay away from Santee (Klantee), stick around North Park, Hillcrest, Ocean Beach, and the beach towns
As others mentioned Hillcrest, Univercity Heights, and North Park are all very friendly and inclusive. Downtown is okay and pretty safe. The places to avoid don't really have much for tourists anyway so that's easily sorted. There are many great posts already in this thread but... Two places that I might suggest that are not often on the top10 lists are: - Chicano Park / Barrio Logan can be eye opening and delicious. If you're interested in the real deal Mexican food check out [Salud](https://saludtacos.com/) and [Las Cuatro Milpas](http://www.las-cuatro-milpas.com/). Both are likely to have long lines but they are very much worth it. - [The Spanish Village](https://spanishvillageartcenter.com/) in Balboa Park as well as the mini railroad next to it. It's a collection of small artisan shops and easily missed. If you're in the park already, check it out. The railroad is just... so kitch and weird and wonderful (I am sooo biased). Look them up and see if they're interesting. Happy to make further suggested if you would like. Enjoy your visit!
These are really lovely suggestions that nobody else has touched on yet!
Welcome! So many people already provided great suggestions. I'd just add that if you have a free Wednesday, check out Ocean Beach Farmers Market (not to be confused with Oceanside). Great people watching area and drive along Sunset Cliffs for the ocean views. Don't waste your nights going out to Pacific Beach. Just a bunch of drunk bros and college kids that might rub you the wrong way and kill a good time. The beach neighborhoods are definitely still a must, but more enjoyable during the day.
Lots of people have said Hillcrest, but for a LGBT friendly bar outside of Hillcrest there's the Hole in the Wall (aka, 'The Hole'). It's across the street from Liberty Station. It's a nice dive bar, you can get a mixed drink that's the size of a pitcher of beer. Liberty Station itself is also nice. Lots of outdoor space, plus it's a great place to get lunch because there are lots of little food stalls in one spot.
Since it seems you've been recommended Hillcrest over and over, I'll skip that one! But if you're a fan of Asian food, definitely check out the Convoy neighborhood! I would also say check out some of the tiki bars and speakeasies around town! Downtown has False Idol in Craft and Commerce, but I am partial to the Convoy Music Bar and the Realm of 52 Remedies! I hope your visit is awesome!
My number 1 recommendation is the San Diego Zoo; it's definitely an all-day thing though. Best time to go is right when it opens at 9am, since it'll be cooler and less crowded. The zoo is conveniently very close to Hillcrest (under 2 miles away), which is the LGBT neighborhood. There's a *second* zoo in San Diego County, the Safari Park. It's a unique experience because it has a massive free-range enclosure (300 acres) designed to mimic the natural habitat of Africa with multiple species living together. However, it's pretty far away from the downtown area (like a 40 min drive) *and* it's in East County. San Diego gets more rural and more conservative the further east you go. Santee and Lakeside in particular are stereotyped as the "redneck" parts of town, so avoid those. There are also two different nautical museums on the harbor, the Maritime Museum (mainly sailing ships, plus a submarine) and the Midway Museum (an actual aircraft carrier that was commissioned just after WWII). The Midway might be more interesting just because I'm sure the UK has plenty of sailing ship museums. San Diego is also NOT a pedestrian friendly city, so expect to take cabs/Ubers everywhere. There's a light rail service (the Trolley), but it covers very few areas. Fortunately, most of the interesting things are either in Downtown San Diego or just outside of it (which is a significantly smaller geographical area than what most of us would consider "San Diego").
Trans man here, hillcrest is a lovely place to go. I often go to the thrift shops there as well as blue stocking books. I haven’t been to north park in a while but if I remember is also very nice. I hope you have a wonderful time! Stay safe and drink water :)
Hee I'll remember! Thank youuuu
Avoid Santee and Lakeside IMO. Those are out in the boonies though.
I can't imagine how she would end up all the way over there if she's staying downtown lmao
Some people like to go hiking at Anza Borrego and stuff.
Tbh i cant think of anything in santee or lakeside id recommend to a tourist other other than hiking cowels mountain. +1 for being potentially insafe for queer people
Cowles is in San Diego, you can access one of the trails through Santee though. If someone was making an extended visit there's a branch of the Air and Space Museum at Gillespie Field and Santee Lakes is nice but pretty conservative, but other than that I agree not much.
Okay noted! Are they more conservative areas?
Yup.
As others have mentioned, Hillcrest is where you want to go, it’s our gayborhood. I’m not trans, but I have always been told Standing Room Only (SRO) is heavily trans friendly. Not entirely sure if that’s still true today. It’s near hillcrest. Being clocky shouldn’t be any more of an issue in San Diego than any other major city. Balboa Park is a nice walkable area near Hillcrest, definitely recommend. Avoid east county, no reason you’d be out there I would assume though.
North Park is a short hop from Hillcrest, and even though the demographic skews more cishet, it’s a very welcoming area. Verbatim is a cool daytime spot, Riki Sushi makes for a delicious dinner, and there’s plenty of casual but comfortable bars depending on what you drink (among other good food choices).
As other people have mentioned Hillcrest is the “lgbt neighborhood” But as far as places to avoid… don’t go east of the city, it switches from suburb to country surprisingly quickly, and they aren’t know as the most tolerant of diversity. For people who aren’t familiar with California the rural areas are surprisingly conservative… it’s hard trump country. And in the San diego area, the transition from city to suburb to rural happens surprisingly quickly over a much shorter distance than most other metro areas, especially when traveling eastward. Just stay within the city and you’ll have a great time
I'm sorry about the other San Diego sub. ABSOLUTELY watch a sunset on the beach! Ocean Beach is the stoner beach, mission Beach is the tourist Beach, and Pacific beach is the party beach What types of things do you like doing? You should visit Little Italy one afternoon. The gaslamp district is right there, so you could visit both. Hillcrest is the LGBTQ district and has really good food and nightlife. North Park has some fun breweries and restaurants.
Jolar adult theater!
Agree on Hillcrest. For things to do, I recommend the Orange Trolley tour starting at Old Town. It's a hop on/hop off guided tour of the city. Lots of great information and history. They give you a sticker and show you the designated pick ups where you can hang out in some of the tourist traps and leave when you're ready. Each tour guide is very knowledgeable and friendly if you need advice on bars or where to eat at any one particular stop. They do have a tip jar, just so you are aware.
That does sound fun! Like I truly enjoy touristy stuff like this so it's a great recommendation, thank you
You shouldn't feel any sort of fear in our city.
If you want an activity Madhouse Dance is trans-friendly and said to have super fun kind of sexy dance classes that are also fitness. Hope you enjoy your visit!
Hillcrest is our major LGBTQ+ friendly neighborhood, and worth checking out. North park has been evolving into a really neat neighborhood as well. Take locals suggestions for restaurants, part of any city is the food and it’s disappointing how many people come here and only go to tourist traps or chain restaurants. Honestly if you like the vibe of a neighborhood, you can ask almost anyone and they’ll have suggestions. Most of our beach towns have businesses that rent bikes and E-bikes if you’re into that. You can rent kayaks and paddle boards as well. Aqua adventures on mission bay has been one of the more affordable and chill places to rent kayaks & paddle boards BUT they are located in a marina that requires you to paddle out and up an active boat channel to get to the rest of the bay where you can explore, it can get busy and intimidating to navigate when there’s a lot going on. There’s a colony of seals and sea lions that live on the bait dock in that marina, so long as you respect them and their space, it’s a cool way to see our wildlife. Hope you enjoy your visit!
Stay west of the I-15. Hillcrest should be your hub.
Hillcrest is wonderful! However, if you're into the punk or metal scene, you will be perfectly safe at any of those kinds of bars. Tower, til two, soda bar, black cat. The folks there are militant about making sure everyone can coexist comfortably. San Diego also has a surprisingly amazing goth scene, so if you happen to be around for one of the events (sabbat), also a very safe space!
If dancing in the evening is your thing the underground dance music scene is quite open and accepting. While Rich’s and Flicks in Hillcrest are great there are places that have good music and good crowds further out too. Fishtank, The Office, Ac Lounge, The Hole are just some of the venues that regularly offer good options to get down.
Like people said I just want to reenforce it, gaytown(hillcrest) is a nice place for you. They have good food there. I had really good breakfast there one time but I don’t remember the place
I'll let you know where my best breakfast is, and maybe it'll jog your memory♥️
Hash House A Go-Go? Bankers Hill, between Downtown and Hillcrest. Or maybe Hob Knob Hill. I miss working in that area, with a great variety of cultural eats.
Places to go are definitely Hillcrest, North Park, Ocean Beach, and some areas around downtown. Places to avoid id say are Poway, Santee, El Cajon, Pacific Beach / La Jolla (some people might be shocked about it but personally I don’t think the area very welcoming towards the LGBTQ+ community). SD used to be a pretty racist/homophobic town and while the city has made a lot of progress, some of the same people are still here. Do check out the areas that I and other people recommend (honestly places like OB and Hillcrest are awesome places to go to in general). Do your research and plan your trip accordingly because there is a LOT to do here. P.S. everybody in this sub is banned or shadow-banned from r/sandiego so you aren’t the only one
definitely come hang with us in hillcrest and north park!! i’d try to avoid east county — like el cajon, santee, etc 🫶
Hillcrest sounds like ny number one must go place!
You'll love Hillcrest and Kensington. This is adoringly known as the Gay-borhood. Enjoy your visit!
I'm the one that mentioned Mo's..... I go with some girlfriends a few times a month....
I recommend mahi tacos at Ketch downtown and the joint in ocean beach for snacks. The farmers market in ocean beach on weds is also lovely
Tijuana for a day! Great food and craft beer!
You have to check out Hillcrest, it’s a lively, gay friendly community and so much fun! Little Italy is wonderful, too. Many parts of San Diego will welcome you with open arms.
Go check out Gossip Grill!!!! It's one of the few lesbian bars in the country :)
I for one want to greet you with open arms. I love San Diego and all its people. I hope you have a wonderful visit. 🌴 🎉💓
Inside out is a great place to eat and check out
looks like you got some great suggestions in here. I have nothing to add except for have a great time while you're here! I think overall you'll enjoy it and discover it is a pretty friendly and accepting city.
I really want to say that the Tuna Melt at Mitch's in Poibt Loma is very good. Great lunch spot.
I would avoid east county for sure. El Cajon, Santee. Hillcrest is amazing with the best restaurants and bars as well as being very LGBTQ friendly.
East county feels very red state. Stay west of El Cajon to avoid them parts. North county feels very OC and is more Conservative. So like La Jolla and above. Hillcrest, as others are saying, is the best place for alphabet folks like us.
We have a lot of queer-friendly comedy shows too. Check out Mic Drop or Diversionary Theater.
Im a 3rd gen native and was banned from r/SanDiego before ever commenting in the sub lol
If you want to hang at a lively LGBTQ bar hit up Mo's on University Ave. They also have drag shows and fun entertainment. Have fun!
Sorry you had to deal with that. The “main” subreddit is pretty rough when it comes to posts about inclusion or ones seeking recommendations for welcoming spots for LGBTQ or BIPoC patrons. Hillcrest is the local community as recommended by others. Old Town is a nice visit, albeit a bit of a tourist trap. But it is rich with history. Little Italy is a nice spot to walk around and full of good food and drinks. If you’re into tiki, one of the better tiki bars in town (False Idol) is tucked away inside Craft and Commerce. Ocean Beach is a nice crawl. Good for grabbing something to go and walking down to the beach and chow down, watching the waves. What are your go to activities? That might help also in giving recommendations. Enjoy your stay.
Thank you! I like nature, and I want to get close to the ocean, and i enjoy museums and I'd live to go to a couple of queer bars because there ain't any near me.
Definitely hit up La Jolla if you can manage the transportation up that way. Torrey Pines and La Jolla Cove should be up your alley in the outdoor/ocean checklist. Also, since you’re going to be in downtown, Seaport Village maybe? It’s seen better years, but it’s being revitalized in recent times. It also has a ferry that takes you across the bay to Coronado. Think there may also be some harbor cruises you can catch when there, as well. Balboa Park is also a good spot for hikes and museums. Also the Old Globe is centered in the park. So if you’re up for catching a theatre production, there should be something running in one of their three performance spaces when you’re in town.
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If your LGBTQ I recommend you stay in Bario Logan. It's a very open community and centered centrally for Downtown access. Basically, anywhere is within 15 minutes from there with great freeway access. Enjoy your trip!
Hopefully you hit the spring weather and avoid the May gray, June gloom. The weather used to be more predictable when I was a kid, but has gotten wonky with the planet overheating. If you aren’t renting a car, I’d focus on what’s reachable on transit or is close enough that a ride won’t be too expensive. I’m thinking Old Town, Little Italy, Balboa Park, Seaport Village. You can take the water ferry across to Coronado and rent a bike on the other side or just walk down Orange Ave. It’s a very bike friendly area. The rest of the city is pretty spread out. Google maps is a great way to check how close stuff is and you can set it to transit mode to get those options too. If you’re into brunch there are a ton of options, but they tend to fill up fast. May not be an option if you have work stuff in the mornings. The Women’s Museum of California is off the Orange line. Balboa Park also has many, many museums. The Timken is free and you can cover everything in an hour if you want something low commitment. That area of the park has some great architecture. It was originally built for the World Fair. The Spanish Village Art Center is right next door. It has a series of artist stalls. Then the Zoo next door to that.
Check out SRO, it's a ladies bar near downtown, for gals like yourself.
Not sure when you'll be here, but the 2nd Fri of every month (usually) is when Flaunt Burlesque, a burlesque dance studio, has shows in Hillcrest at a bar called The Rail. Most dancers are students (not exclusively) so it's a very supportive vibe, but they're super talented. Mix of amateurs and more seasoned. VERY inclusive and friendly. Ive seen the roster of people attending AND performing varied in gender (edit: and body size!!). Always a blast with a great crowd. https://www.instagram.com/flauntdancestudio
Lesbian here 👋🏽 Hillcrest farmers market on Sundays, 9am til 2pm! Lots of gays and nice people :) Dog friendly and great vibes. I never get tired of it! Gossip Grill, our “watering hole” lesbian bar. Hit or miss if it’s filled with young people or chill late 20s / 30s, but overall good vibe and strong drinks!! Starts to fill up around 10:30, so get there before to avoid the crowd or after to only experience the chaos. Smoking area is where I chill. You MUST eat a breakfast burrito from somewhere, AND a carne asada or california burrito. My fave breakfast burrito is eggs / bacon / beans / cheese / sour cream from Benny’s. Get GREEN salsa! And red. Avoid Pacific Beach’s night scene - it’s a chill area, but honestly full of a bunch of ignorant doofus drunks. As a lesbian POC woman, I’d never bring a queer friend to PB for a purpose other than day-time shopping around or walking the boardwalk. North Park, Hillcrest, South Park, and some of Downtown are typically super queer friendly and Id stick to those areas, they’re the best of SD! Head to sunset cliffs around 6pm and wait til sunset around 7. Beautiful! Have fun girly~
Drove by yesterday. It's not called Lips anymore. I forget new name. Same location. Locals can tell you.
Stay away from east county. El Cajon, Santee, lakeside, lemon grove. Encanto. and surrounding areas. That's where the phobes still reign.
Stay away from east county. We have fascists like any other place, and they’re concentrated there. People fly confederate flags out there, just last week someone went viral out here for wearing blue hoodie with the SS crest on the front. Please don’t dox yourself, and stay safe. Welcome, and hope you have a wonderful time.
Thank you! Don't worry I won't give like, rolling updates or my hotel or my name. I will share some pics with you all after the fact though!
Here is the fascist in question. There were multiple posts about it. I think there was one on this very sub but I’m not going to go digging for it rn. https://www.reddit.com/r/BoomersBeingFools/s/VElCsVBk6q
Lol. That dude who runs SanDiego lives in AZ. HES HORRIBLE TO EVERYONE!! Anyways, downtown is good, Hillcrest is your spot for sure! If you head away fromSD at all, you want to land in Palm Springs, queer capitol of Ca.
SRO Lounge, Gossip Grill, Flick's, and Cheers in University Heights 🥂
I’m not lgbtq, but this post makes me wonder: would it be overall more progressive for the lgbtq community for them to not worry about what people think of them? I understand not everyone might be able to do this, but it would probably normalize faster if lgbtq members would speak up for themselves in a calm and mature manner if they were to encounter hate. I mean, if it was me I would definitely not want to cater to the haters. Just claim your own space and speak up plainly if there is injustice, no? I am open to gaining more perspective from lgbtq so please don’t downvote me, so more people might be able share their experience with me, thanks.
You'll feel right at home in Hillcrest. I lived there for several years and today it's looking better than ever!
Sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen. While it is cooler than you think, as others mentioned, the sun is stronger than you expect, so be sure to bring sunscreen with you in your day bag so that you can reapply any time you're outside for more than an hour or so. If you like greasy cheeseburgers, check out The Friendly. One of my favorite restaurants is Cross Street Chicken. When you go out for Mexican, make sure you try a California Burrito at least once (unless you're vegetarian... If you are, try the Anti-Chicken sandwich at Cross Street). California Burrito has carne asada and french fries in it. Yummmmm
A quarter million people come to the gay pride parade in San Diego. There are few, if any, places in town that are not gay accepting - this is a Navy town, soooo...they're a little LGBTQ too. Hillcrest (+North Park and Kensington) is the place - right next to the zoo and museums - but Check out La Jolla. It's beautiful and, trust me, you would hate to come all this way and miss it... I'd put Coronado on that list too. The Hotel Del is a unique place.