Welcome to The Gaslamp Quarter

Tucked away in the bustling Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, Star Bar stands as a beloved neighborhood institution known for its unpretentious charm and welcoming atmosphere.

Located at 423 E Street, this storied establishment has earned a reputation for being a laid-back haven, where locals and visitors alike can unwind and socialize.

A Drink for Everyone

In particular, Star Bar is a hub for both whiskey lovers and craft beer enthusiasts too.

The drink selection is anything but ordinary, as Star Bar patrons are treated to a vast array of uncommon bourbons and whiskeys, meticulously curated for connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike.

Complementing their impressive whiskey collection, Star Bar also offers a dynamic lineup of innovative cocktails and ice-cold craft beers, ensuring there’s something to satisfy every palate.

As they’ll even tell you themselves –

“We’ve got uncommon bourbons and whiskeys, an innovative menu of original cocktails, and the cheapest ice-cold beer in the Gaslamp — all served by the friendliest bartenders you’ve ever met!”

Where Local Really Meets Local

With nightly events, special weekly events, and a nonstop array of specials, there really is “something going on every night” at Star Bar. Their vibrant schedule keeps the atmosphere lively and engaging all throughout the week.

From Industry Night on Mondays to Karaoke Night on Tuesdays, there’s literally always something happening. Wednesday evenings are dedicated to whiskey aficionados, while Thursday nights provide tempting drink specials to kickstart the weekend.

Here’s a link to the full slate:
https://starbarsd.com/events/

Also, for pool sharks, the last Wednesday of each month features spirited pool tournaments. You can check those out right here.

Oh and speaking of local really means local… Star Bar partners with Coastal Cantina and Tony’s Pizza, right next door, if you’d like to order in some food while enjoying the Star Bar vibe. Both establishments deliver right to the bar! Just scan the QR code you’ll see on the bar or table top, and they’ll bring it right to your seat!

Star Bar Hosts Parties Too

By the way, if you’re not feeling the events on the calendar at Star Bar, they welcome you to bring your own event in, so feel free to host your next celebration at Star Bar.

With “the cheapest PBR in Gaslamp Quarter” and booth bottle service, this little gem is a great place to host your own party. Click here, or the link below, to book your event at Star Bar:
https://starbarsd.com/book-your-party/

Pets Welcome

Last but by no means least, in addition to its spirited events and extensive drink menu, Star Bar is also renowned for its pet-friendly policy, making it an ideal spot for patrons who wish to enjoy a night out without leaving their furry friends behind. As they’ll tell you themselves –

“We love pets too, so bring your dog out for a night of fun!”

How to Visit Star Bar

Whether you’re a San Diego local or a visitor exploring the city, Star Bar promises a memorable experience with its unique blend of good drinks, friendly service, and vibrant community spirit.

To get in touch, call (619) 234-5575, or swing by the Star Bar website to learn more about what this charming bar has to offer.

Star Bar truly embodies the essence of a classic neighborhood bar, fostering a sense of camaraderie and providing a welcoming retreat in the heart of San Diego’s lively Gaslamp Quarter.

Cheers! You may have just discovered your new favorite haunt!

— Billy Crafton

Where Healthy Meets Delicious

One thing you’ll see here at Billy Crafton San Diego, when it comes to finding the best of the best places to eat, healthy eating is always a big focus. I’m pretty much always in training for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu here in San Diego, and that means treating my body like a temple. You don’t win easily in Jiu Jitsu competitions, and the path to victory always starts with a good, clean eating.

That said, eating clean doesn’t mean eating without enjoyment, especially when you find a great healthy cafe like Nectarine Grove here. One of my favorite places in the entire San Diego area, it’s a must-visit if you’ve yet to make the trek. Here are the reasons why I love Nectarine Grove…

Beach and Surf Friendly Location

Before I dive into the food aspect, let’s talk location. Although Nectartine Grove has two locations (the other one is in Del Mar), we’re only covering the Leucadia cafe here. It’s located just a hop, skip and a jump away from Leucadia State Beach, a sweet beach area known locally as Beacon’s, or Beacon’s Surf Spot.

A pretty steep staircase leads down to the sandy shoreline, a short walk away from the Grove. If you’re eating light, or simply grabbing a drink, you can walk right down to the beach and enjoy the view. My favorite part, however, comes from one of my occasional hobbies – surfing.

As I’ve covered over at Billy Crafton Surfing, Beacon’s is a great surf spot, not just a great beach. I won’t speak to that here, but feel free to jump over to my surfing site to learn more about Beacon’s Surf Spot.

A Menu That Shines… For Vegans and Gluten-Sensitive Too

That’s the good stuff, but now let’s get into the great stuff – the food at Nectarine Grove. First and foremost, the Grove puts a very strong on emphasis on healthy. As they note prominently on their website even –

“Pesticides and Herbicides are Bad for You and Our Planet. That is why we opt for organic in all things we do. We are about 80% organic, with all produce being organic, all the time.”

They’re also well aware of the potential issues associated with gluten, addressing this issue completely by completely eliminating from their menu. Nectarine Grove is 100% gluten-free.

Another big win is their focus on “keeping it local.” Much of their produce and ingredients are sourced locally from organic farms and artisan suppliers in San Diego and Los Angeles.

It all culminates in a phenomenally inclusive menu that’s friendly to vegans, vegetarians, even paleo and keto diets too. As Nectarine Grove proudly proclaims –

“We support your diet while keeping it delicious and sustainable for our earth.”

Next Level Health Conscious

When it comes to heatlthy eating, the Grove also takes it another level, truly showing a commitment to the concept, not just throwing around buzzwords.

They only use healthy oils, and they avoid all GMOs, refined sugars, and processed ingredients. And speaking of ingredients, in a very, very rare occurrence, Nectarine Grove offers complete transparency here, actually sharing all of their ingredient in their Ingredient Book. It’s most impressive, and all these little things add up quickly to set this amazing cafe apart from the competition.

Oh So Delicious

Truth be told though, none of the above really matters if the food itself doesn’t taste great, and here Nectarine Grove delivers in spades. I can personally attest to it, as my wife and I love it as one of our favorite breakfast spots anywhere, but plenty of other have chimed in with the exact same refrain.

Lots of love for the baked goods, particularly the cinnamon rolls, which I highly recommend ordering warm. This time of year they’re also known for an outstanding pumpkin maple cake.

Some common threads for favorites from reviewers are the Boss Burger, the Falafel Taco Plate, and the Roasted Veggie Bowl.

Speaking of the Roasted Veggie Bowl, this gem includes bell peppers , sweet potatoes, zucchini, artichokes, spinach, mushrooms, and some ridiculously good vegan herbed cashew cheese.

Nectarine Grove is so good, even the coffee receives high praise. The cafe uses Libra Coffee as their supplier, a local roaster in Oceanside. Libra is well-known in the area for outstanding organic coffee.

Plus, Libra’s beans are not only ethically-sourced, the company gives back to coffee growers as well. They donate a portion of each sale to LifeStraw, a nonprofit organization that helps communities in coffee-growing regions access clean drinking water.

Making a Difference in the Community

Speaking of helping communities, Libra Coffee isn’t the only difference maker in this equation. One final notch in the Nectarine Grove cap – the cafe supports the Encinitas community it’s a part of by making a monthly donation to the Encinitas Community Resource Center.

This center helps feed, house, and provide support to north county residents every day, making it a great local cause and resource. The Grove also donates monthly to the World Food Program and Feeding San Diego as well.

All these little things add up to make Nectarine Grove one of the best restaurants in San Diego, and it was an easy call for us to cover it first here at Billy Crafton San Diego. I hope you’ll stop in and enjoy the great food and great vibe, whether you’re local or just in the San Diego area for a visit. You won’t be disappointed.

— Billy Crafton

Pain Before Petco

There are many, many wonderful aspects to San Diego, CA, but one thing you won’t often hear it referred to is a sports town, at least not at the professional level. They were cursed with their NBA team leaving for Los Angeles way back in 1984… and then in 2017, the NFL’s San Diego Chargers also fled up north to LA.

That proved to be an even more painful saga, as the Chargers called San Diego home for 56 years before the brutal exodus. Indeed, the Chargers fielded some legendary squads over the years, including championship caliber teams with Dan Fouts and Kellen Winslow, and even a Super Bowl team in 1995, unfortunately losing to another California team, the San Francisco 49ers, in the legendary Jerry Rice’s final Super Bowl victory.

However, with the loss of both its NFL and NBA teams over the decades, one sport’s loss is clearly another sport’s gain, as evidenced by the incredible support San Diego gives to its very own San Diego Padres, the Major League Baseball franchise that’s called the city home since 1969 (and actually dating all the way back to 1936, where the squad began as a Pacific Coast League baseball team.

Venue Envy

Although you’ll find very few cities jealous of the Padres status in the record books (they’re one of only five teams to never win a World Series, and are sadly the oldest team in that bunch as well), pretty much every other fanbase in the country is a little green with envy upon getting a closer look at the Friars’ home: Petco Park.

Jealous you say? Yes, yes I do. And don’t just take my word for it – according to the latest stadium rankings from the USA TODAY earlier in 2024, Petco Park ranks as the number one MLB stadium in the country.

If you live in San Diego of course you already know this, but if you’re planning on paying a visit to the city during baseball season (and even if it’s outside of baseball season), you’ll want to make a slight detour from the Gaslamp Quarter to take in Petco Park. Here are five big reasons why…

#1 – Location, Location, Location

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this season, arguably the biggest contributor to its long-lasting success is one simple word: location. Why? Because Petco Park isn’t only located in San Diego, it’s located in Downtown San Diego.

The ballpark is essentially nestled in the heart of downtown, with the gorgeous skyline basically right there above you. In addition, two other words really help this venue shine: Gallagher Square. Earlier this year, during their annual FanFest, the Padres organization unveiled an epic $20 million makeover of the Square, completed just in time to commemorate that 20th anniversary.

Here’s a quick breakdown of all that you can do in Gallagher Square, which by the way, is often open, at least partially, even when Petco Park itself is closed. Gallagher has basically grown to be part of the neighborhood, a special place for nearby residents.

INSIDE GALLAGHER SQUARE

• Expanded Playground
• Fenced, Off-Leash Dog Park
• Play Ball Field – a mini-baseball field for kids
• Temporary Pickleball Courts
• Tony Gwynn Terrace Viewing Deck and Picnic Space
• Sycuan Stage – a premier concert venue that frequently features smaller concerts taking place outside the ballpark itself.

Learn more at the two links below:
https://www.mlb.com/padres/tickets/concerts
https://www.mlb.com/padres/tickets/events

#2 – The View

Ask about the view at Petco Park, and the two words you’ll hear most frequently are “purely spectacular.” Offering San Diego skyline views from pretty much every single seat in the stadium, Petco Park simultaneously combines some of the best sight lines in baseball with breathtaking city views.

Not only will you enjoy the game and the natural beauty of San Diego, you can also sit in the shade during any day games, pretty much all year round.

Petco Park’s upper deck is another big differentiator between the San Diego park and other ballparks across the country. We already covered the usual points, applying to the whole park essentially, but if you’re sitting upstairs, do yourself a favor and turn around (yes, look away, look away).

If you walk all the way to the top of the upper deck, you’ll get an incredible view of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge behind the staidum. On a pristine clear day, you can even see Mexico and two of its islands far off on the horizon. 

#3 – Food & Drink in the Park

Many Major League Baseball parks offer some good food options, but very few offer the unique combination you’ll find at Petco Park. Both the food and drink selections are incredibly varied, and they’re also relatively reasonably priced too (by American ballpark standards of course).

You’ll find some great local finds, including Hodad’s, Grand Ole BBQ, and San Diego’s Finest Hot Chicken. Hodad’s even includes a vegan option, the Veggie Burger, which can even be made and gluten-free when lettuce-wrapped vs. a bun.

And then there’s arguably the crown jewel of the stadium, a little local gelato joint known as Ans Gelato. There’s a lot to their San Diego story, so feel free to click here to learn more about Ans, but for now just know, it’s a MUST TRY at Petco Park. In another surprise, they even have a vegan option as well, a rarity for a gelato shop.

Oh and speaking of vegan, another local gem is Negihama Sushi, who offer a vegan option as well with their Veggie Roll.

Then of course there’s the beer. San Diego is home to some incredible breweries, including legends like Ballast Point (makers of the cult favorite Piper Down, which they really need to bring back) and Coronado Brewing Company. Other local brews featured in Petco include AleSmith Brewing Company, Karl Strauss Brewing Company, Coronado Brewing Company, Hodad’s Brewing Company, Pizza Port Brewing Company, and WestBrew.

If this is truly your scene, make sure you check out Craft Row, located behind home plate. Craft Row is a complete row of beer stands, featuring unique selections from some of San Diego’s best breweries.

In addition to beer in the park, you’ll also find some great, local, hard kombucha with JuneShine Hard Kombucha and Nova Kombucha.

Last, but certainly not least, I can’t forget to mention the friendly staff at Petco. Apparently there’s something about being in the good weather all the time while working in such a beautiful place… as it simply brings out the happy in everyone.

Click here for the full Petco Park Food Guide (https://www.mlb.com/padres/ballpark/food).

#4 – Amenities

This certainly won’t come as a surprise at this point, but Petco Park also features some state-of-the-art amenities for fans. In addition to the aforementioned perks of Gallagher Square, you’ll also find great hospitality spaces like the Kona Patio, offering unique views and private areas. Then there’s the Skyline Patio and the Picnic Terrace too.

Then there’s the Toyota Terrace, which you’lll find on the second level. Here you can find shade on hot days, and you’ll also be near some of the best amenities at the ballpark.

Perhaps the best choice, however, is the Western Metal Supply Building, dating back to 1909. If you’ve ever been to Petco Park or even caught a Padres game on TV, you’ve definitely noticed this historic red-brick building in left field (which is now officially part of the park’s left-field line). Once an industrial warehouse, the beautiful building now holds seating areas, as well as event spaces and a bar too, including high top tables and chairs.

Then there’s the specific area of Gallagher Square that most certainly deserves its own special mention – the one and only Tony Gwynn Terrace and Tunnel. This area honors the late, great Padres (for his entire 20-year career) and major league legend himself, known universally as one of the greatest hitters to ever play the game.

A 9.5-foot bronze statue commemorates “Mr. Padre” and sits as the epicenter of the Terrace. The area features picnic tables plus the Tony Gwynn Deck Tower, including a video board and food and beverages stops too.

Arguably the best part though is the Tony Gwynn Tunnel, sitting below the terrace, where visitors can dive into all the facts and figures on Tony’s incredible life and career in San Diego, both on and off the field.

For more baseball lore, you can also pay a visit to the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame, situated behind the left-field stands in the ballpark. The Padres Hall of Fame showcases dozens of Padres players and other prominent people in the teams history, including Hall of Famers Dave Winfield and Trevor Hoffman.

Finally, a couple of honorable mentions… Petco Park offers daily tours, taking you behind the scenes at MLBs #1 park for 2024, and lastly, the park does of course also offer Wi-Fi.

#5 – The Park Design & Architecture

Sports stadiums in general span quite the spectrum when it comes to architrecture and design, oftentimes even in the ame city,

For example, in Chicago, you’ll see Soldier Field where the Bears play gets compared to an other-wordly venue now, looking like a spaceship… while Guaranteed Rate Field, where the White Sox play, tends to feel more like a shopping mall.

Then there’s the legendary Wrigley Field, however, home to the Chicago Cubs. Wrigley is steeped in history and much more aesthetically pleasing with its red brick and vines – making it one of the Top 3 baseball stadiums in the major leagues.

So it’s even more impressive that Petco Park now ranks above Wrigley Field in the realm of MLB stadiums. Petco’s magnificent architecture does a phenomenal job of honoring baseball tradition and packing in up to over 42,000 fans, all while somehow retaining an intimate feel. The park celebrates San Diego… with an incredible combination of the city skyline and the natural beauty of California.

A big part of this stems from the well-known mission of the Padres’ ownership to integrate the park into the community, while also trying to give the park some new looks every year.

There’s also the sustainability bonus – Petco Park is powered by the largest solar panel installation in Major League Baseball, sitting atop the stadium. Combined with other efforts, in 2022 Petco became the first National League ballpark powered by 100% percent renewable and carbon-free energy.

The Bottom Line

It’s a pretty simple equation for Petco Park – get your tickets, come out to a Padres game, and have a great, great time. In fact, I’d challenge you to NOT have a great time visiting Petco Park – unless maybe you’re a Dodgers lover, and if so, my condolences.

A Quick Thanks

One last thing before I wrap up here… I just want to give a quick shout-out and thank you to Chocolate Connoisseur Magazine for their recent article on me: Chocolate Connoisseur Profiles: Billy Crafton. If you haven’t read it yet, I hope you’ll give it a look right here. Really appreciate the great write-up!

USA TODAY – Top 10 MLB Stadiums for 2024

1. Petco Park – San Diego Padres
2. Oracle Park – San Francisco Giants
3. Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs
4. PNC Park – Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Coors Field – Colorado Rockies
6. Fenway Park – Boston Red Sox
7. Target Field – Minnesota Twins
8. T-Mobile Park – Seattle Mariners
9. Citi Field – New York Mets
10. Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles Dodgers

Coronado Beach

Ask me what my favorite San Diego beach is, and I’ll promptly suggest you pay a visit to Coronado. And if you’ve seen Marilyn Monroe’s iconic 1958 film “Some Like it Hot,” you’ll likely feel a sense of deja vu upon arrival.

That’s because the beach’s backdrop is the famous Hotel del Coronado, prominently featured in the film.

Of course, while the hotel serves as the sentimental backdrop, the water with an abundance of beach space is what really makes Coronado a standout — and the sparkling sand, courtesy of the mineral mica’s natural occurrence, adds a cherry atop this sundae.

Not to mention that Coronado itself is arguably the best place to visit in all of San Diego, and speaking from experience, is one of the best romantic getaways in all of California.

Learn more about Coronado Beach over at the official San Diego website.

— QUICK NOTABLES —

• No Alcohol or smoking allowed.
• Coronado tends to be very, very crowded at varying times. It’s an island, with very limited real estate, so anytime you can walk to your destination (including the beach), versus driving, stick with walking.

Pacific Beach

There’s a lot to love about Pacific Beach, let me tell you. First, for my part, it’s a great surfing beach, something I of course go into much more over at Billy Crafton Surfing. It’s definitely one of my favorites in the San Diego area.

But there are plenty of unique little quirks that really help Pacific Beach stand out… like the exceptional three miles of boardwalk, as you see glimpses of in both the incredible sunset photos featured here.

It also has quite an impressive offering of local businesses, so there’s plenty to do. When the day moves to night, however, the P.B. turns into more of a party atmosphere than you’ll likely find at any other beach in the area. That’s what plenty of bars, restaurants, and nightclubs will get you, so it’s a favorite for many young adults and college students.

In addition, Pacific Beach is arguably like no other beach in the San Diego area, thanks to all of its “extras.”

First, there’s a Farmers Market every  Tuesday from 3-7 pm. It takes place on Bayard between Garnet Ave and Grand Ave.

According to Pacific Beach’s official website, you’ll find “fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, cheeses, eggs, breads, flowers, sauces, dips, and spreads, along with gourmet dining options & handcrafted artisan works.” It’s a pretty impressive display overall.

Second, there’s the Pacific Beach EcoDistrict, a “community committed to advancing sustainability by targeting eight performance areas: community identity, health and well-being, habitat and ecosystem, access and mobility, appropriate development, energy, water, and materials management.” (again, per the official Pacific Beach website) 

It’s a very local community-focused endeavor, and one that will hopefully keep Pacific Beach at the top of the San Diego beach game for many years to come.

For more on Pacific Beach, visit the official San Diego Pacific Beach site, and for more on San Diego itself, click here for our full San Diego Blog.