South Park is probably the most quaint and cozy neighborhood in San Diego which makes it the perfect place for a date night. It sits at eastern border of Balboa Park and is full of craftsman-style homes and quiet tree-lined streets. South Park can feel almost like an East Coast neighborhood with its walkable streets and small downtown commercial districts nestled right in the heart of the neighborhood.

There are two main commercial areas of South Park, one at Juniper and Fern, one near Buona Forchetta farther south. If you are in San Diego for a few days, or you live here but have never explored the neighborhood, South Park is one of the best neighborhoods for couples to spend a day and an evening. It is charming, inviting, and lively, while keeping a secluded, cozy feel

The Itinerary

1. Breakfast And Coffee At Communal Coffee
2. Cruise The Shopping On Fern Street
3. Lunch At Rose Wine Bar
4. Watch Sunset At Bird Park
5. Dinner At Juan Jasper
6. Optional: Head To A Bar

Morning

Get Coffee And Breakfast At Communal Coffee

There are a few places to get coffee and breakfast in South Park, but Communal Coffee is one of the best. Located in the heart of the neighborhood, they boast a lovely courtyard with plenty of seating. The location is right on Fern Street, so is great for people watching, or you can sit and focus on each other given you probably haven’t been able to do that in years.

They serve good coffee with a variety of coffee drinks, tea, matcha, and kombucha. The food is casual – sandwiches, granola, or acai bowls. If you are feeling like purchasing a succulent or a plate set with your breakfast they have a cute store attached, but the rest of your day will be spent shopping, so maybe hold off.

Cruise the Shopping on Fern Street

Fern Street (which turns into 30th Street) is the main thoroughfare in South Park and is packed with good shopping. The Book Catapult, just off Fern on Juniper Street, is a good place to start – an independent bookstore with a well-curated selection and helpful staff. Bookstores are a lost beauty in this world and it is always nice to peruse titles in a place that knows what they are doing.

Continue your support of the arts by heading to Vinyl Junkies, a block south of The Book Catapult, on Fern Street. Vinyl Junkies is an incredible record store, as well-curated as any, by its owner, a former music executive named Eric Howarth. Head to the back, Diggers Den, where there are cheaper bins to dig through and see if you can turn up a gem.

Honestly, a day perusing books and records would probably be enough, but if you cross the street to the Burlingame Garage building you will find Thread and Seed, a boutique clothing store, and Gold Leaf, a home goods store, both with a selection of high quality tailored goods to browse. Then why stop there – cross the street again, just to the south, and head to Bad Madge & Co, an antique store and vintage clothing store all rolled into one. We’ve bought plants, disco balls, a pair of sunglasses, and a chair from Bad Madge. They have it all.

By the end of your day you should have a novel to read, a record to listen to, a coffee cup to put your coffee in, a dress to wear, and some vintage decorations to place around the room. What else could you need?

Afternoon

Lunch At Rose Wine Bar

Rose Wine Bar is a modern and lively restaurant in South Park with an eclectic food menu alongside a wide array of curated wines. Like most things in South Park, this place is cute and discerning without being showy. Rose Wine Bar has the feel of a very well crafted neighborhood restaurant that would be worth traveling a few neighborhoods over to get to. Sit at the bar or out on the patio and let the knowledgeable staff treat you to a glass of wine you will likely not find elsewhere.

After lunch, consider purchasing a bottle of wine to go.

Evening

Watch The Sunset At Bird Park

Bird Park might not technically be in South Park, but anyone living in the nearby neighborhood will tell you it is. Located on the northeast corner of Balboa Park, Bird Park is a wide open grassy lawn with beautiful view west toward the city and the rest of Balboa Park. Locals and visitors alike gather here daily at sunset with blankets, chairs, and picnic baskets to see out the day, and it is the perfect activity to feel like you are part of the South Park neighborhood.

Bring a blanket, or just sit on the grass, and enjoy the community feel of the place. Walk along the sidewalk that borders the park and find the name of literally every bird species in the neighborhood. Then go see if you can spot them all. No don’t do that.

Note: alcohol is not permitted in parks or on beaches in San Diego, but if you don’t go overboard you are unlikely to be disturbed here at Bird Park.

Dinner At Juan Jasper

All the way at the southern part of South Park is Juan Jasper, a tiny wine bar and restaurant that serves delicious food and wine to match. The space itself is very small, with only a few tables and a communal seating bar outside, so be ready to be friendly with your neighbors. Juan Jasper feels more like having a meal at a friends house, if your friend was a rich Spanish gentry who knew a lot about wine, was an amazing chef, and an even better host.

While they serve good food in their own right, one of the best things you could do is buy a cut of meat from the butcher shop next door, Sepulveda Meats, and bring it to the chefs at Juan Jasper and have them prepare it for you. All you have to do is pick a bottle of wine (and maybe a side) and you will have one of the best dinners you can get in San Diego. Juan Jasper does not take reservations.

Optional: Head To A Bar in South Park

If all this romance and dining and community vibe has made you feel like you want to keep going, by all means South Park has plenty to do after dinner. We recommend either heading to Fernside, the go-to local watering hole, where they serve craft beer and delicious slushie cocktails in a large indoor/outdoor space.

If space (like outer space) is more your style, you can make a reservation at Mothership, an immersive, outer space-themed restaurant and bar, with a whole backstory about alien landings and an interior that is decorated like an alien planet. Tables are reservation only while the bar is walk-in, but this place gets a bit crowded so we recommend just making a reservation.

Finally, there is Whistle Stop, a longstanding bar and music venue in the heart of South Park that hosts gigs as variable as the history of music itself. Whatever is on that night just head in and enjoy it. Last time we went, there was a woman with a silver wig vocalizing what sounded like owl noises while a projector showed interstellar space travel behind her on the wall. Whatever is playing that night, it will be worth the five dollar cover charge.

Stay out as late as you want (Whistle Stop closes at 2am) then head home.