Golden Hill

Neighborhood Spotlight

Situated directly east of downtown San Diego, bordered by the 5 and 94 freeways and Balboa Park to the north, lies one of our favorite neighborhoods and one that is close to our hearts. Golden Hill, another one of San Diego’s oldest neighborhoods and one that is known for its great architecture, has seen a lot of transformation in the recent years. This is the neighborhood that we moved into when we first came to San Diego in 2013. At that time, we were just starting to see the first hints of change and gentrification. Since then, the transformation in Golden Hill seems to have accelerated, and it has quickly become one of San Diego’s hottest neighborhoods. It wasn’t always this way, though.

Being one of the older neighborhoods in San Diego, there are still many homes standing today that were built in the early 1900’s. With that comes much of the charm and character that is unique to older style homes that you don’t often see in today’s new builds. If you walk the streets of this neighborhood you will come across many larger old homes that are now being used as multi-family units and apartments. You will also see traditional craftsman style homes that have become increasingly desirable over the years. Golden Hill was, at one point, a diverse working class neighborhood. It was also a hotspot for many artists and musicians who found themselves unable to afford areas like Little Italy and Hillcrest. With Golden Hill’s close proximity to the city, it still offered the convenience of being able to walk or ride a bike into town, but without as high of a price tag. The neighborhood was also home to the first Gay Center in San Diego, the second in the entire nation in the early 1970’s.

Check out this property tour where Team Steele shares why they love Golden Hill:

The Golden Hill you see today has become a very trendy area. The main drag where you can find many of the restaurants and bars, is 25th street, at the crest of the Hill. Here you will find one of Golden Hill’s original restaurants, the Turf Supper Club, which was established in 1956. Still a local favorite to this day, the Turf Supper Club has maintained much of its original feel and character. Aside from being a cocktail lounge, the club is known for customers being able to cook their own food on the grill. However, if you’re looking for a place that will cook and serve you delicious food like a traditional restaurant, check out Counterpoint. One of the more recent additions to the neighborhood, Counterpoint has made a name for itself serving up classic American dishes like biscuits and gravy, cheeseburgers, and macaroni and cheese. If you’re in the mood for something quick, you have a couple great options on 25th Street. Los Reyes is your classic SoCal taco shop and is the perfect go to spot in the neighborhood for some great Mexican and late night eats. A little further up 25th, is one of our all time favorite spots, and the first meal that we had in San Diego when we first got here, Pizzeria Luigi. We wandered into this little pizza shop the night we moved into our Golden Hill apartment and it quickly became a go to spot. Melissa, being born and raised in New Jersey, is a bit picky when it comes to Pizza. However, Pizzeria Luigi has some of the best New York style pizza you can find. It passed her high standards “test” and exceeded our expectations. If you’re looking for a great spot to start your day in the morning, check out Krakatoa or Influx, two local coffee & tea shops in the area that also serve up a great breakfast.

If you find yourself in the neighborhood on a nice day, which is most days in San Diego, you should check out Golden Hill Park. Located at the north end of 25th Street, Golden Hill Park is a beautiful open green space with palm trees, old oaks and other beautiful foliage. The loop around the park is a great spot for those who enjoy walking, running, or biking. You also have great views of downtown from atop the hill. Tour de Fat, a local Mardis Gras type of bicycling event is also held annually in the park.

Downtown San Diego is seeing exceptional growth in the recent years and the only area to really expand is East. It’s because of this that Golden Hill has become such a desirable area for residents. Have you had the chance to visit Golden Hill? If so, let us know what you think of the area and your experience there!

The above real estate information on Golden Hill was provided by John and Melissa Steele. John and Melissa can be reached at steelesandiegohomes@gmail.com or by phone at 619-887-4429.

Considering buying or selling a home? John and Melissa of Steele San Diego Homes have a passion for Real Estate and would love to share their expertise with you!

Steele San Diego Homes services all of San Diego county and also works with out of area clients to connect them with a strong local agent. Whether you’re interested in buying, selling, investing, or just want to learn more, John and Melissa Steele are here to help you.