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This weekend: CRSSD Fall · Sat Doors noon both days · Tickets on sale

The San Diego List*
WEEKEND
A packed shelf of vinyl records seen edge-on, spines in every colour
Neighborhood guide · 26 of 59

Normal Heights

Old vinyl, beer-hall pizza, cocktails, and an Adams Avenue pub from 1940.

9 lists14 ranked placesFri–Sat evenings

Every list that covers Normal Heights

Showing 9 of 9

The neighborhood itself

Normal Heights is an Adams Avenue night for records, pizza, and a late pint. Browse out-of-print vinyl at Nickelodeon Records, then choose beer-hall pizza at Blind Lady or cocktails at Sycamore Den. The Ould Sod, pouring since 1940, is the natural final stop; Mariposa Ice Cream handles the earlier sweet detour.

Lestat's is the coffee stop, and the neighborhood's old institutions are the draw even as former fixtures have closed. Parking is on the street, and Adams fills first, so try the numbered side streets.

Know before you go

Street fair: Adams Avenue Street Fair, Sep 19–20 — SoCal's biggest free music festival; the street closes

Parking: street only — Adams fills first, so try the numbered side streets

Tuesdays: Blind Lady is closed Tuesdays; vinyl DJ nights run Fri–Sat 7–11pm

Where they are — 14 verified places

Ranked locations · Linked to the guide
Boundary map · every numbered pin links to its entry
Focus spotsHover, focus, or tap

The index

EAT1 ranked
1
Mariposa Ice Cream
homemade scoops · Wed–Sun only · $

"Grandpa Pete said if there's eggs in it, it's custard." That's the family rule behind Mariposa Ice Cream on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights, where the ice cream…

DRINK4 ranked
1
Blind Lady Ale House
beer-hall pizza · $$
2
Sycamore Den
cocktails in a ’70s living room · $$
3
The Ould Sod
pouring since 1940 · open til 2am · $
4
DO1 ranked
1
Nickelodeon Records
out-of-print vinyl only · since 1984