Nightlife & the Arts in San Diego

The most obvious destination for visitors is the Gaslamp Quarter, a 16-block former red-light district gone glam. The downtown debauchery is slightly more modest these days—or at least legal, anyway. Between the Gaslamp and neighboring East Village, there's truly something for everyone, from secretive speakeasies to big, bangin' dance clubs and chic rooftop lounges to grimy dives. If you're staying in the Gaslamp, it's the perfect place to party. Some of the boutique hotels even have their own happening scenes. If you're driving from elsewhere, prepare to pay. Your best options: parking lots (prices start at $20) or valet (at some restaurants and clubs). If you don't mind a long trek—in other words, leave the stilettos at home—you can usually score spots 10 or more blocks from the action. Meters are free after 6 pm.

The epicenter of gay culture is Hillcrest, where you'll find bars and clubs catering primarily to the LGBT crowd—though everyone is welcome. East of Hillcrest is North Park, where hip twenty- and thirtysomethings hang out at edgy scenester hotspots (though locals complain that upscale new arrivals on the nightlife scene are ruining the underground vibe). Nearby South Park and University Heights also have a few cool offerings. A cab from downtown to any of these 'hoods costs about $15.

Pacific Beach tends to draw college kids who don't know when to say when, while Ocean and Mission Beaches pull laid-back surfers and their cohort. La Jolla, for the most part, is a snooze if you're in the mood to booze late at night.