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University Heights

William Routtupdated May 2026

The short version

A central San Diego neighborhood of restored Craftsman bungalows and historic landmarks, walkable to Park Boulevard's restaurants and Adams Avenue's shops.

University Heights is a small central neighborhood in San Diego, bounded roughly by Mission Valley to the north, North Park to the east, Hillcrest to the south, and Mission Hills to the west. The neighborhood is built around two walkable corridors: Park Boulevard, which holds restaurants, coffee shops, and the Lafayette Hotel, and Adams Avenue, which runs east-west toward Normal Heights with antique shops and longtime neighborhood bars.

The neighborhood preserves several historic markers from San Diego's streetcar era, including the 1898 Mission Cliff Gardens stone wall at Park and Adams. Trolley Barn Park hosts free Friday-night summer concerts on the site of the original streetcar barn. Housing is primarily restored Craftsman bungalows, Spanish revival cottages, condominiums, and apartments.

Walkable bungalows
Trolley Barn Park
Park Boulevard
Lafayette Hotel

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Madison on Park: Live Jazz Four Nights a Week in a Mid-Century University Heights Room

Four nights of live jazz a week, a mid-century room, and a Michelin-recognized chef — plus the reservation detail that determines whether you can actually hear the band.

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Kairoa Brewing: A New Zealand Rooftop in University Heights, and the Name Is a Clue

Ten thousand square feet, 24 taps and a rooftop in University Heights — built by a family from New Zealand, with the name hidden in two towns back home.

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