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Hot ‘Hood: Adams Avenue

New restos, bars, more in Normal Heights

By Dayna Crozier

Hot 'Hood: Adams Avenue

Normal Heights sign

Hot 'Hood: Adams Avenue

Sycamore Den

William Ullman

1. Sycamore Den

This bar revives a decade other drinking establishments have forgotten: the ’70s. New father Nick Zanoni (Thrusters Lounge) pays homage to our once-young dads with a Bells & Whistles-designed hideout made to feel like you’re taking a break in the family den (while sipping craft cocktails by Eric Johnson of Noble Experiment). 3391 Adams Avenue, Kensington

 

Hot 'Hood: Adams Avenue

Polite Provisions

2. Soda & Swine and Polite Provisions

The corner of Adams and 30th is bustling thanks to Consortium Holdings’ (Craft & Commerce, Neighborhood, etc.) two stunning Paul Basile-designed spaces. Polite Provisions serves craft cocktails (including a few on draft) in a sort of Victorian Euro-inspired bar with marble and brass fixtures (4696 30th Street, University Heights). Eat your meatballs and pie there, or order them next door at the cobblestoned Soda & Swine, where house-made sodas, egg creams, and shakes will make you forget they don’t serve liquor.  2943 Adams Avenue, University Heights

 

Hot 'Hood: Adams Avenue

Heights Tavern

3. Heights Tavern

Over a dozen screens and a DJ booth grace this new sports bar, which serves quality pub grub like poutine fries, burgers, salads, and shrimp poppers with good beer and Blind Tiger Cocktail Co.-crafted libations. Enjoy all this on one of their two patios. 3377 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights

 

Hot 'Hood: Adams Avenue

The Haven Pizzeria

4. The Haven Pizzeria

Kensington Café’s Lauren Passero has a friendly new pizza spot with regular, whole wheat, and gluten-free crusts; meatballs, breadsticks, and salads; and wine and beer. While Passero has a talent for restaurants, her husband, Kelsey Brookes, is a successful local artist, so make sure to check out his paintings in the space. 4051 Adams Avenue, Kensington

 

Hot 'Hood: Adams Avenue

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

5. Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

Stop by Dark Horse for a house-roasted coffee—cold-brewed, French-pressed, or poured over—and vegan doughnuts. If an Automatic Brewing Co. collaboration is the new San Diego craft café rite of passage, then the Automatic Dark Horse beer proves this coffee is worth tasting. 3260 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights

 

Hot 'Hood: Adams Avenue

Adams Avenue Map

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