DiscoverSD: Hillcrest Hot Spots Make the Gayborhood Sizzle
While gayborhood tastes and times have forced the bowing of one nightlife impresario’s ‘omnisexual’ masterpiece (Universal,) the bustle and bastion that is Hillcrest still beckons San Diegans by the droves, all clamoring for a fun night of easy, unpretentious revelry.
Teeming with everything from cafes and coffeehouses to kitschy gift shops and the not-so-random psychic storefront, the popular Hillcrest enclave of San Diego – known predominantly as the city’s gay epicenter – has matured with the times, welcoming denizens of every race, religion, creed, sexual orientation and gender identity, both the ‘house-proud’ and ‘home-challenged.’
The neighborhood’s constant evolution has seen its fair share of eager business owners come and stay, and come and go. But, through the test of time, one thing’s remained true: there is never a shortage of hot spots to belly-up, bob your head, lounge in the wine vibe, mack on some mean cuisine or hit the dance floor to get your Single Lady on. So, grab some friends, call a cab and hit up the pride of Hillcrest’s nightlife scene. No matter your style, be it Levis, leather or little black dress, just be ready to party because all’s well and welcome in the gayborhood…as long as your mind is open to it.
Oenophiles have options for a cool night out in the neighborhood. Bamboo Lounge & Sushi Bar (pictured) offers a casual, eclectic Far East vibe with ambient tunes and multiple rooms to enjoy varietals by the bottle or glass.
And both Jake’s on Sixth and the flagship Wine Steals are the quintessential everyman’s wine bars where gone are the pomp and posturing of the ‘swirl, sniff and sip’ set and welcome are the laidback and likeable groups of good folk eager to taste some great vino and vittles without an ounce of pretension in the lot.
Rich’s – If Hillcrest were a circuit party, Rich’s would definitely be its DJ. State-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, modelesque eye candy slinging hootch and gaggles of half-naked gym bodies elbowing for dance floor real estate make this warehouse-turned-world-class-discotheque one of the most popular nightclub venues in the city. Rich’s has played host to some of the biggest names on the global dance music scene, from top DJs to international drag divas to American Idols. People come here for one thing and one thing only: to dance…on a box, on the floor or leaning at the bar. Rich’s is a pure, unadulterated, nightclub experience where everyone’s VIP. Here, its cushy booths, bottle service and private party loft overlooking the frivolity are all optional. A wait in line for the restroom is not.
Chris Shaw and crew are the undisputed funtrepreneurs of Hillcrest, offering up a trio of neighborhood mainstays: Baja Betty’s, Urban Mo’s Bar & Grill and newly opened ladies’ lair, Gossip Grill. Urban Mo’s is an always-happening drink, dine & dance destination featuring elevated comfort eats, stiff drinks and something different on the dance floor every night of the week. Drag reviews, country line dance lessons and Sunday’s original ‘funday’ t-dance keep this place hopping while the electric ‘jitney’ shuttles the bar-hopping set up to its salsa-flavored sister, Baja Betty’s (pictured), for some good, old-fashioned MexiCali fare. At Betty’s, tequila’s tops, as its signature margaritas are the libations of choice. Across the street, estrogen levels increase at Gossip Grill with an eclectic mix of mod-pop décor, girl-centric beverage concoctions, posh pub food and a welcoming indoor/outdoor atmosphere that keeps its primarily female staff and clientele fraternizing and flirting well into the wee hours. (Baja Betty’s paintings, murals, and artwork, as pictured left, are the creation of 33 Ben Brough.)
Numbers – Hip-hop, latin, urban and pop rule the speakers in both of the two rooms at this refreshed neighborhood dance club. Numbers gives the 20-something, young scenesters two distinctly different options each night its open. The club’s rotation of local and resident DJs spin tunes on theme nights the likes of Club Papi, Pan Dulce, Club Vibe, Lush, Barracks and Bad Bears Club. At Numbers, cover is cheap, drinks are strong and the party vibe comes replete with an array of go-go boys dancing for dollars.
Fiesta Cantina – Cheap. Fun. Period. This little social haven is a drinker’s paradise. And, in paradise, Fiesta Time is king. Fiesta Cantina is a Cabo-SoCal, restaurant-pub fusion where their version of happy hour offers 2-for-1 drinks twice a day (4-8PM and 10:30PM-12:30AM,) seven days a week. An MP3 jukebox and sports on the big screens keep patrons occupied while fun and feisty servers focus on the task at hand – another round, please. Fiesta is more about imbibing and socializing than hunger satisfaction, so the more you drink, the better the food gets. Unbeatable prices, a laid-back vibe and easy, edible nachos-style nosh are the hits keeping this joint popular almost every night.
Bite – This modern bistro/lounge (pictured) is the brainchild of popular chef Chris Walsh, the pioneer of San Diego’s small-plates (tapas) movement. Think ultra-contemporary, Ikea-chic meets mid-town Manhattan, where Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha would feel right home dishing ‘sex’ and the other city over a muddled raspberry cocktail and some sumptuous morsels ideal for pairing and sharing like duck liver pate, saffron risotto croquettes and a deconstructed Ahi nicoise. Bite is a choice ‘linger and lounge’ enclave, yet is walking distance to the nightclub action a mere two blocks away.
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