When people think of California and sports, the first locales that come to mind probably are Los Angeles and the Bay Area due to the sheer amount of teams they boast, but San Diego has a surprisingly long list of options for sports fanatics of all kinds.

Whether it’s baseball, football, basketball or something else entirely, San Diego has something to sate a sports fan. Here are some of the sportiest neighborhoods in the city.

East Village

Petco Park San Diego
Petco Park San Diego

You can’t talk about the San Diego sports scene without mentioning East Village, especially since the city’s NFL team defected to Los Angeles in 2017. This young, recently transformed neighborhood sits on the easternmost edge of the greater downtown San Diego area and is undoubtedly the sports hub of the city. 

While East Village is the official home of the Padres, San Diego’s only major league team, it’s so much more than baseball. This community is notable for its laidback atmosphere that draws people in from all over San Diego. The streets are dotted with its fair share of street art and lined with tons of independently owned stores, craft beer bars, restaurants, and coffee shops for the discerning hipster or young professional. 

Spots to check out:

  • Petco Park: Petco is where the Padres play their home games. Regardless if they win or lose, a cold beer and footlong hot dog are always a good way to spend a summer afternoon. And since San Diego is famous for its sunshine, it’s unlikely you’ll find yourself with tickets to a rained out game.
  • Bub’s at the Ballpark: Loud, bright, and always packed with fans donning Padres gear, Bubs at the Ballpark is on the same block as Petco Park, making it the perfect stop for a pre-game or post-game drink in the company of other fans.
  • Bottle Rocket: If you’d rather watch the game on TV than attend it down at Petco, Bottle Rocket is a brand-new East Village offering. Located in the building where the iconic pub Monkey Paw used to reside (may it rest in peace), this beer bar is serving up a similarly delicious but more simple menu of high-quality bar food. They pair it with plenty of TVs and a ton of beer options.

Mission Valley

SDCCU Stadium
SDCCU Stadium

When the Chargers left San Diego, they left a big hole in the hearts of San Diego’s sports fanatic community, but Mission Valley is still one of San Diego’s most prominent sports destinations.

Football fans hit up college games at the local stadium and enjoy everything else Mission Valley offers its residents. The neighborhood is affordable in comparison to many other similar communities in San Diego with tons of amenities like grocery stores, gas stations, and big-box stores to keep everyday life from interfering with game-day plans. 

Likewise, it’s located along most of San Diego’s major thoroughfares, putting it less than 15 minutes from a Padres baseball game or a San Diego State Aztecs baseball game.

Spots to check out:

  • SDCCU Stadium: While the Chargers might have jumped ship, SDCCU Stadium still hosts the SDSU Aztecs college football team during their season. From August through January, you’ll find the stadium packed with fans proudly showing their team spirit with all things red and black.
  • McGregor's: McGregors is the closest thing you’ll find to Cheers in San Diego. It’s just barely on this side of divey with burgers and lots of beer on tap. There’s always a game or two on the TV and a rotation of regulars the bartenders know by name. Since it is so close to the SDCUU stadium it often fills up with pre- and post-game revelers.
  • Mr. Peabody’s Burgers and Ale: Located all the way on the opposite side of Mission Valley from the stadium, Mr. Peabody’s is a great option for anyone looking to avoid game-day traffic and watch the Aztecs play from the comfort of a bar with good food and local beer on tap.

College Area

Viejas Area
Viejas Area

College Area gets a name from San Diego State University. The neighborhood that surrounds the sprawling campus is primarily residential in nature with a mix of houses and apartments. College Area is brimming with good taco shops and is close to grocery stores, lots of bars, coffee shops and quick-stop eateries of the chain and independent varieties.

Spots to check out:

  • Viejas Arena: Viejas Arena is where both the men’s and women’s SDSU baseball teams dominate pretty much every single season. On the nights when fast-paced up-court, down-court action isn’t on the docket, you’ll also find some of the country’s most coveted concerts here as well.
  • Dirty Birds: Dirty Birds is all about the wings—in fact, they have an impressive 37 flavor options. With specials almost every night of the week, chicken by the pound, and at least one game on the TV at all times, it’s a great spot to get some of San Diego’s best chicken wings while you cheer on your favorite teams.
  • Woodstock's Pizza: This pizza joint serves up pizzas with toppings from pepperoni to pepperoncini with a little bit of everything including vegetarian and gluten-free options. With several TVs spread throughout the restaurant, you can bet whatever your there to watch is on one of them. For those whose competitive streak goes beyond cheering for the home team, they’ve got a weekly trivia night and annual March Madness events.