North Park

Welcome to North Park

Hip neighborhood with unique homes adjacent to Balboa Park.

North Park is a trendy San Diego neighborhood located within four miles of Downtown San Diego and adjacent to the sprawling, 1,200-acre Balboa Park. It was first developed in the 1870s, making it one of the oldest neighborhoods in San Diego. Despite its long history, North Park has a youthful vibe with many craft beer breweries, coffee shops, and live music venues.

North Park has an eclectic real estate mix with varied architectural styles reflecting different eras of development. The Morley Field area near Balboa Park features distinctive 1920s Craftsman and California bungalows—many of which were designed by noted local architect David Owen Dryden. Other housing options include many Spanish-style properties and several Huffman-style mid-century apartment complexes.

What to Love

Trendy youthful atmosphere
Craft beer pubs and live music
Distinctive architecture
Balboa Park

People & Lifestyle

North Park is both trendy and family-friendly. This neighborhood has a relaxed residential atmosphere and a vibrant commercial area. North Park’s proximity to Balboa Park provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

North Park’s main commercial area is concentrated around the intersection of University Avenue and 30th Street. This area is packed with trendy places to shop, dine, and drink. Waypoint Public serves tasty burgers, tacos, and other gastropub eats alongside an extensive selection of signature cocktails and craft beers. Other spots pouring a wide choice of craft beers include Mike Hess Brewing, True North Tavern, North Park Beer Co., and Coin-Op Game Room. Bar Pink is a vintage cocktail lounge that regularly hosts live music performances. University Avenue’s adjacent Lucha Libre Taco Shop and City Tacos each offer an elevated contemporary twist on classic Mexican street food while innovative Zagat-rated The Mission North Park fuses the flavors of Mexico and Asia. Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, Holsem Coffee, and Subterranean Coffee Boutique compete for coffee lovers’ attention with sublime espresso blends served alongside a variety of light bites and lunch eats. Breakfast Republic is your all-day go-to for hearty breakfast and brunch fare while Swami’s Café is a popular choice for lunch. The ornate red-lined interior of repurposed 1920s movie palace The Observatory provides a dramatic backdrop for live music concerts. West Coast Tavern adjoins The Observatory and is a popular spot to enjoy drinks and dinner before or after a show.

Things to Do

To North Park’s immediate south, Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s most popular destinations. The many attractions and amenities within this expansive green space include 16 museums, numerous performing arts venues, and the San Diego Zoo. Other interesting sites include landmarks left over from the 1910s California-Panama Exposition and the 1930s California Pacific International Exposition. Balboa Park features many themed gardens containing more than 350 plant species. One of the most popular gardens is the Japanese Friendship Garden, which was originally created for the California-Panama Exposition. North Park Farmers Market is held each Thursday evening and features vendors selling farm-fresh produce as well as other specialty foodstuffs and handicrafts. There’s also live music and cooking demonstrations from professional chefs.

Schools

North Park is served by the San Diego Unified School District.