Even though Neighborhood in Downtown San Diego has barely been open six months, it is fast becoming a dining and nightlife staple for San Diegans that crave a hip and cozy bar that doesn't try to overstep their niche.

Happy hour in the Neighborhood is from 4 to 7 pm daily and offers 2 for 1 specials on beer and select bottles of wine. But don't get confused, Neighborhood is a serious beer bar. They have thirty beers on tap including many local brewery favorites. I don't claim to be a beer expert, but the sample I had of what I was told was the strongest ale found in East Village, made me feel the hair growing on my chest. The flights of ale are $6.50 to $7.50, and their beer is thoughtfully paired with cheese, adding an air of sophistication that justifies continuous flights into the night.

I'd have to say the most charming aspect of my Neighborhood experience was the strict no ketchup policy. When I received my mammoth artfully designed burger, I asked for ketchup, and was given a blunt non verbal response from the waitress that said, “You are in the wrong neighborhood for that!" At first I was turned off by the hospitality, but I soon realized that she was right and that Neighborhood's burgers are above ketchup, they are around ketchup, and more importantly, they see through ketchup. You only need a stack of napkins and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone and try new beers.

Insider tip: Be sure to check out the larger-than-life painting of Freud enjoying a burger.