Sometimes it’s fun to be a tourist in your own town. I’ve always heard about the Stingaree District downtown—a former red light district—but didn’t know any of the colorful history until going on a walking tour called Brothels, Bites and Booze. Organized by So Diego Tours, the 2.5-hour tour covers much of the Gaslamp Quarter and East Village, and is about 1.5-miles along flat terrain with several stops. The $50 ticket (oh, hey Groupon!) includes food and drink samples from various restaurants. The tour guide was very knowledgeable – telling us about San Diego’s early history, stories behind many of the popular buildings that were former brothels, and some Prohibition-era shenanigans for good measure. I learned a lot, and even discovered a few new restaurants.
The following restaurants are currently participating in the tour:
If you didn’t get enough to eat during the tour, head to Rustic Root afterward to check out the Gaslamp’s only rooftop restaurant. Rustic Root opened last summer, and is a great place to grab a drink and watch the sun set. But the rustic American restaurant also has a tasty menu – try the Firecracker Shrimp, Rustic Fried Chicken, or Lobster Pappardelle. Cheers to the women who once ruled the streets below you!
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