Once you secure Padres tickets, educate yourself on East Village lifestyle.
The district surrounding PETCO Park, East Village is home to countless restaurants and bars ready to welcome your crew this spring. From pre-game brunch feasts to celebratory post-game beers that lead to area-wide bar crawls, let’s face it -- East Village partying plays a huge role in the allure of Padres baseball season.
Some people may call us fair weather fans, but chances are they’re just jealous of our pristine downtown stadium, flawless summer weather, and endless variety of pre and post-game party options. From BASIC and Neighborhood, to Tavern & Bowl, FleetWood, Bootlegger, El Dorado, Toast and Bub’s at the Park, get to know our favorite East Village bars and restaurants for Padres season entertainment.
Home Opener: Padres take on the Dodgers at PETCO Park on Thursday, April 5 starting at 4:05pm.
BASIC Urban Kitchen + Bar: BASIC is living proof that when it comes to San Diego lifestyle, less is more. As soon as BASIC slides open its industrial garage doors, locals swarm in to dig into New Haven-style thin crust brick oven pizza while sippin’ signature cocktails or swiggin’ pitchers of craft beer. Whether you prefer Stone Pale Ale on tap, or a delish made-to-order Urban Iced Tea (Hound Dog Sweet Tea vodka and homemade lemonade), you must try the Mashed Potato Pizza. Don’t ask questions, just do it. This 5,000-square-foot raw warehouse boasts original brick walls, high ceilings, and laid-back urban lounge appeal. VIP bottle service is available, but stuck-up dress codes are never enforced. For afternoon beers by day, dance parties by night, and pizza slices by late-late night; visit BASIC for pre and post Padres fun.
Neighborhood: Watching the game can sure work up an appetite. End your search for the best burger at Neighborhood – San Diego's response to fast food made epicurean. In fact, the bad boys in the kitchen are so confident, they down-right refuse to serve ketchup. This urban eatery is decked out in graffiti-style décor, with a casual-cool daily menu written in chalk, overseen by the second coming of Jesus himself. Keep it real with The Neighborhood Burger – caramelized onions, blue gruyere cheese and pepper greens; or eat extreme with The Local Animal – Berkshire dog, braised pork, fried egg, mustard, molasses glaze, gruyere and arugula. I hope you’re thirsty; Neighborhood boasts over 20 craft microbrews on tap, including Avery White Rascal, Craftsman Heavenly Hefeweizen and AleSmith Nautical Nut Brown. Although nearby, Neighborhood is far enough away from PETCO to remain a tourist-free zone. If you’re lucky, you may just get a sneak peek at Neighborhood’s craft cocktail-fueled speakeasy, Noble Experiment.
East Village Tavern & Bowl: Why do the Padres players get to have all the fun? Play your own game at East Village Tavern & Bowl. Sports bar doesn’t begin to explain this hot spot, featuring 12 bowling lanes, pool tables, thirty 50 inch HD flat screen TVs, and a menu of upgraded bar bites. Celebrity Chef Kevin Roberts (aka the Food Dude) knows what sports fans want to grub on, and designed everything from juicy Big League Burgers and Wiz-filled Cheesesteak Hoagies to hot ‘n spicy Tavern Wings and BBQ smoked Chicken Paninis. Located just blocks from PETCO, Tavern & Bowl is a guaranteed good time. Take my word for it--call ahead for bowling reservations on game days. For more information, call 866.731.0595.
Bootlegger: We swore the space was either cursed or haunted, until Bootlegger transformed the scene in 2011. The local industry brains behind Bootlegger know what the party people want, and it didn’t stay a secret for long. The design vision was to take the comfort of your best friend’s living room and pair it with the allure of the 1920s-style speakeasy. If you’re looking for a quick bite, share a few small plates with friends, from the House Baked Pretzel, to the Cajun Prohibition Prawns and Southern Fried Pickle Chips. Behind the bar, Bootlegger is prepped and ready to party, with microbrews on tap and Fireball shots always on special.
Bub’s at the Ball Park: Face it, some bars just suck. When in dire need, don’t you wish you could pick up your favorite bar and transport it to a city near you? Well, my friends, you are in luck. Last year, the ultimate PB dive bar brand spread its wings to the East Village scene. Bub’s at the Ball Park boasts the same chill party vibe, cheap prices, and irresistible menu staples as its beach-side brother, but now sits on the edge of PETCO Park. Before or after you catch the game, chow down on Steaky-Steakums – flavorful tender chunks of marinated steak grilled and spiced up to perfection, served with garlic toast points and chipotle chili aioli; or Chubbies – the mini version of Bub’s infamous Woody Burger, topped with aioli, cheese and pickles, served with a pile of Haystack onions.
ALTITUDE Sky Lounge: Located just 90 steps from PETCO Park, the Marriott Gaslamp Quarter is one of our favorite spots for Padres partying, offering a venue for everyone. Maybe your wife is searching for a posh outdoor rooftop lounge perched 22 stories in the air that looks directly into the Park. Or, perhaps you and your buddies want to grab a few beers and appetizers while people watching and soaking up the fan-infused energy right on the downtown city streets. Head up to ALTITUDE for luxury lounge appeal and great views, and take advantage of happy hour specials at Latitude Lounge down below.
El Dorado Cocktail Lounge: To see a different breed of tight pants-wearing divas in action, head over to El Dorado Cocktail Lounge. The ultimate hipster haven, El Dorado is grunge-chic with just the right touch of western flair, featuring 1940s wooden décor, old cowboy movies, a white buffalo-head trophy hanging from the wall, and a firm commitment to forever be “run by locals for locals.” If you’ve had enough tourist-mingling while supporting your Padres, escape the lost herd and check into El Dorado, home of delish handcrafted cocktails, including my favorite: the classic Moscow Mule – a blend of vodka, lime, ginger beer, and aromatic bitters. Need to clear your head from the horrid Top 40s Jams blasting all day at PETCO? Well, let’s just say El Dorado’s hard-hitting electro jams should do the trick.
The Dragon’s Den: Finally, sushi in East Village. The Dragon’s Den is a relatively new addition to the downtown scene, serving Asian-fusion cuisine, sushi and specialty cocktails in a swanky setting just steps from PETCO Park. After a big game, fill up on Chicken Gyoza, Chicken Yakisoba, Hamachi Sashimi and Albacore Nigiri. Signature sushi rolls include the Dragon’s Den – shrimp tempura roll topped with spicy tuna; PETCO Roll – spicy California roll topped with salmon and yellowtail; and the Seafood Blossom – tuna, yellowtail, salmon and avocado wrapped in soy paper. Wash it down with a Yin & Yang Mangosteen Mojito or Karl Strauss Red Trolley draft. Head in early to grab a spot by the fire on the outdoor patio lounge.
The FleetWood: If you’re like me, you’re always in the mood for a chill bar, can’t stand Gaslamp pretention, but still have unshakeable standards for upscale lifestyle, and absolutely refuse to eat greasy dive grub. We want the best of both worlds, and time and time again, we find it at The FleetWood. Boasting plush lounge décor, a sophisticated menu, venue-wide plasma TVs, a down-to-earth demeanor, and hot local DJs by night, The FleetWood is the ultimate East Village neighborhood bar. Sit on the huge outdoor patio and tease rowdy Padres fans, or recline in your oversized indoor booth and chow down in style.
Café Chloe: If you’re a more sophisticated game-goer who prefers to soak in a touch of elegance before succumbing to beer-fueled debauchery at PETCO Park, check out Café Chloe. This quaint bistro serves delicious French cuisine, delightful spirits, and an international wine list for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For your pre-game breakfast fix, enjoy the Brie & Herb Omelet with grilled boudin blanc sausage; Poached Eggs with wild mushrooms and sage-truffle buerre blanc; or House-Cured Salmon Gravlax Tartine with crème friache and cucumber-dill salad, paired with a pomegranate or lavender-lemon mimosa. Café Chloe is where quirky East Village charm meets classy Parisian chic.
Toast Enoteca & Cucina: While PETCO Park is overflowing with entertainment, the rowdy crowd can get overwhelming. For an intimate escape, seek refuge at Toast, located just a block from the stadium. Toast offers 400+ wines served by the glass, by the bottle or from wine dispensing Enomatic machines. Pair your wine of choice with gourmet Italian bites, such as Pollo Arrosto Al Funghi – oven roasted chicken served on top of sautéed mushrooms; and Pizza Al Prosciuto – pizza with pomodoro sauce, mozzarella and prosciutto di parma. This cozy Italian wine bar boasts an upscale indoor lounge as well as outdoor seating. New this season is an on-site wine shop. For more information, call 877.562.9533.
El Vitral Mexican Cuisine & Tequila Lounge: El Vitral sits on the edge of the Park and offers a great ground view of game time entertainment. But that’s not all you’ll want to look at. El Vitral – meaning stained glass in Spanish – is bathed in cultural colors of blue, purple, orange and yellow amid agave plants and glass doors that open to the outside patio. Authentic menu highlights include Cochinita Pibil – a Yucatán dish of spicy pulled pork with orange Achiote sauce and bright red pickled onions, served atop a decorative banana leaf; and Ravioles En Nogada – Poblano pasta with ground pork, dried fruit, walnut sauce and pomegranate reduction that is smothered in flavor. Our favorite part? El Vitral offers over 200 brands of Tequila.
Tilted Kilt: A little bit of Irish luck may be on the Padres’ side when you stop in to the Tilted Kilt’s East Village location before the game. The kilt-clad ladies are there to show locals a good time, serving up some Tilted specials while showing a little leg, all in the Irish spirit. On Monday and Tuesday Padres games, stop into the Tilted Kilt from 3-6pm for $3 20 oz. Miller Lite or Coors Light Drafts, $3 1 pound of wings and $3 Svedka cocktails. At all Padres home games, fans can stop in for $5 20 oz. Miller Light or Coors Light Drafts, $5 Svedka cocktails and $5 Fireball shots. And if you’re rolling deep with a party of 10-50, book the Kilt Clubhouse for customized menu and drink packages, 5 HDTV’s and a private entrance.
Broken Yolk Café: Breakfast is the essential key to surviving long days of drinking in the hot sun during Padres games. Before you start the party, visit Broken Yolk Café, located just blocks from PETCO Park. Best known for its omelet selection, Broken Yolk features 20 different options to choose from, including The Rancher with bacon, home fried potatoes, bell peppers, tomato and green onion topped with real sour cream; or The Border Check with beef chorizo, jalapeno, and Jack cheese topped with guacamole and salsa. If you’re getting a later start to the day, Broken Yolk also serves lunch. For more information, call 866.877.4396.
Over Time: More of the best East Village businesses include: Tivoli, Smashburger, Knotty Barrel, Hotel Indigo, The Corner, Cowboy Star, The Mission Café, Pokez Mexican Restaurant and Zanzibar Café.
Game Time: Keep up to speed with 2012 Padres season in our San Diego sports blog
