By Colette Mauzeralle

The historic community of Bankers Hill remains a hidden gem among San Diego’s quickly growing neighborhoods. While the area initially earned its name by being home to the city’s early affluent residents, in recent years it has become a trove of new restaurants, boutiques, wellness centers and more.

Among the new commercial growth, visitors will also find architecturally notable houses from the late 19th century, sweeping views of San Diego Bay and two of San Diego’s historic pedestrian bridges: the swinging Spruce Street Suspension Bridge and the Quince Street Bridge, crossing high over the Maple Canyon Open Space Trail.
In the past year, modern restaurants like The Corner Drafthouse, Hachi Ramen and Royal Stone Bistro have opened, as has James Coffee next door to the soon-to-launch Thread and Seed boutique on Fourth Avenue.

With commercial and residential growth going hand-in-hand, additional residential complexes continue to boom and bring style to the community, including the affluent The Park Bankers Hill, the newly remodeled Barcelona and the ultra-modern Louie Lofts. Rounding out the experience, new gym Orangetheory Fitness and local favorite Club Pilates have become popular with health enthusiasts.

San Diegans will have a prime opportunity to explore the neighborhood at the second annual Bankers Hill Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 1–5 p.m. This walk-around event invites all ages to discover Bankers Hill through restaurant samples, wellness demos, art galleries and more. Ticket holders simply grab a map and follow a fun trail of more than 20 restaurants, fitness studios, med spas and other establishments showcasing their fare and wares inside their doors and upon sidewalks along Fourth and Fifth avenues. Streets will remain open to traffic and parking.

The Bankers Hill Fall Festival is organized by the Bankers Hill Business Group, partially funded by the city of San Diego’s Micro District Program and managed solely by volunteer business owners. The group’s mission is to promote and advocate for area businesses and increase awareness of Bankers Hill as a destination neighborhood.

Community events such as the Bankers Hill Fall Festival encourage San Diegans to explore the community and commercial features of the area. For further information about the Bankers Hill Business Group and Bankers Hill Fall Festival, visit bankershillbusinessgroup.com/events.

—Colette Mauzeralle is public relations & marketing manager for the Bankers Hill Business Group.