Spanish Village Art Center

This place is a very attractive spot to experience Spanish culture. Beautiful art, decorative elements, and exotic streetscapes reflect Latin heritage. You should stop by here when traveling to San Diego, as it strongly represents the city’s identity.

Can not describe how wonderful this was! So many artists working on their craft right then & there, great for gifts to take back home. They close early so give yourself plenty of time to explore all the nooks & crannies.

This place is a must visit! The Spanish Village Art Center is a vibrant spot in the middle of downtown San Diego that houses an eclectic mix of art studios, shops, and unique trinkets. It’s easily identifiable from its multi-colored stones, and colorful shops scattered about. There is also a cute coffee cart at the back of the village, which has a nice variety of unique drinks to choose from. I got the lavender chai, which I definitely recommend! It was fun to just walk around and explore each store; you can easily spend a whole afternoon there. You can take the cutest pictures there too. Definitely check this place out!!

Beautiful! Filled with colors, art, and plenty of things to keep you interested. Very photogenic! Loved browsing all the talented artists' displays, enjoyed some drinks from the coffee truck, and took lots of photos. Free activity - spent about 30-45 minutes walking through on a Saturday during Pride Parade, and it wasn't too overcrowded.

The park is absolutely beautiful; however, weekend traffic can be overwhelming. We spent an hour searching for a parking spot, so be prepared for this if you plan to visit on the weekend. Once we arrived, we loved the park—its architecture, flowers, and restaurants are stunning.

Visiting the Spanish Village Art Center was a great experience! If you want to see a mix of cultural history and beautiful art, this is definitely the place to go. It’s a unique spot full of charm and creativity, and I highly recommend it to everyone. Absolutely worth the visit!

Always a must. Here every other week, nine months a year from Burlingame, South Park. Love the art, the coffee, cool breezy vibes, and kitchy coo coo; local art and amenities. I get paintings, pens, mugs, framed art, table art, jewlery art, and prints galore. Very relaxing, parking is pretty good and the environs are just wonderful. RJ

This sis my Favourite Place in Balboa !!! The coffee stand in the back all of the art walks and fun trinkets!! I made a totem with my friends it was so fun and a great way to learn about local artists !!!

When visiting Balboa Park in San Diego, be sure to visit the Spanish Village Art Center. This historic complex features colorful studios for local artists, who create and sell a wide variety of art, including paintings, pottery, and glasswork etc. The village is open daily, offers public classes, and is a popular destination for visitors exploring the park. There's a public bathroom and a few food vendors. Check it out when in the area. Happy Yelping :)

This place is a must visit! The Spanish Village Art Center is a vibrant spot in the middle of downtown San Diego that houses an eclectic mix of art studios, shops, and unique trinkets. It's easily identifiable from its multi-colored stones, and colorful shops scattered about. There is also a cute coffee cart at the back of the village, which has a nice variety of unique drinks to choose from. I got the lavender chai, which I definitely recommend! It was fun to just walk around and explore each store; you can easily spend a whole afternoon there. You can take the cutest pictures there too. Definitely check this place out!!

What a cool little area in Balboa Park!! The Spanish Village Art Center has many artists studios nestled in a beautiful courtyard. When you enter, the courtyard is painted in all different bright colors. The different studios have different styles of art. You can find paintings, photos, glass, pottery, jewelry and much more!!! The building itself and the surrounding space is beautiful. There are seating areas and public bathrooms, too. We went into several different shops. It's absolutely amazing to see everyday stuff through the eyes of different artists. Overall, it's a nice stroll through this part of Balboa Park. I have missed seeing this area in the years past.

It was a cute square. I love the colorful tiles. There are plenty of cute little shops that sell different types of artwork. The cool thing is that there are some shops where people are doing the art in real time. It was a cool experience. You can see them sculpting, painting, and drawing. I recommend that people check it out.

The Spanish Village Art Center is nestled in the north eastern corner of Balboa Park between the San Diego Zoo and the Natural History Museum. The buildings were constructed originally in 1915 to depict an old Spanish village for the Panama-California Exposition. Today, the Village Art Center is home to artist's studios and stalls, as well as live art demonstrations, and art-making activities. I just love this place. We come here often with our-of-town guests to browse and buy hand-crafted souvenirs. One of that noted attractions here are the painted walkway pavers.

When you're exploring Balboa Park, this area is a must see. Not only is the village, bright and colorful, there are plenty of spots to grab a seat under some shade or a bite to eat. I didn't know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised when I wandered in and saw so many local artists shops in the area. I could have easily spent a full day here going in and out of the small shops and talking with each of the artists about their craft. The area also has a small plaza with tables and seats that you can enjoy a drink or a snack from the food carts located further in the back. It was so much larger than I expected that I didn't even get a chance to see all of the shops before I had to leave. Balboa Park is huge with lots of different areas to explore, but make sure that you include the Spanish village on your itinerary.

I love all the studios tucked into this little art village of Balboa Park. Every studio has a different medium used to create the art and its own personality to go along with it. I enjoyed looking through the studios with my mom and son on an early Monday afternoon. Not an overly busy day so we were able to find parking in the lot near the carousel (act like you're going to the zoo, but turn left into the parking lot). Public restroom is also available in the vicinity!

Awesome place. So beautiful ! I love this place it's Balboa Park in San Diego! All the stores are open and they have amazing art to choose from . I see so much I don't know what to select . The people in the stores are friendly and not pushy . Each store has different types of art . The prices vary . It's a beautiful place to browse and relax .

Cute creative area of Balboa Park. The courtyard has art galleries, outdoor art, and a ceramic studio. The colorful painted tile floor is cute for photos and gives a bright happy vibe. There used to be an artist named Bonnie Chance who painted murals here, but I think she has moved on. Hope she is doing well.

Stunning!! You feel like you're transported to another county, so much beauty from the ground up with the painted tiled walkway. The art and culture is breathtaking, so glad we visited to see the many vendors and items being sold.

My favorite thing about Spanish Village are the beautiful multicolored tiles. Did you know you can have your wedding reception here? The pictures look beautiful! The village itself is filled with small local art shops. Support local and give them a visit!

One stop during my San Diego Walks tour of Balboa Park. Loved visiting all the little art studios and getting to talk to some of the artists themselves! Everything from ceramic to woodwork to paintings, steampunk to metal sculptures, blown glass, jewelry and gems. I bought a couple of prints/postcards from local artists such as Mike Watson, Doreen Mattingly, and one other featuring subjects such as Balboa Park imagery and Sunset Cliffs. It was so bright and colorful, so many shops around every corner! Daniels Coffee cart and public restrooms and some table seating available too.

I definitely suggest stopping here to look around. It's a gorgeous area of balboa surrounded from art from the rainbow sidewalks to the local painters whose canvases spill out from the shops.The painted cobble stone is beautiful, colorful, and very eye catching. Very unique and great for photos.

Through the many trees and the small bushes, you may see at the San Diego Zoo there are many other pathways you can take and discover the many areas of Balboa Park and the connections to the many areas of the park and the connections to the Zoo. Back on Tuesday I was able to take the day out and get some firsthand looks at the many areas over near the Balboa Park and the pathways that connect to the many areas near the main parts of the Prado and the museums. The trip to the many areas of the Balboa Park and the great finds that take you to the museums of Discovery and to the Spanish Village of the Artists that come to the amazing of art and the skilled and local painters come to do their work. The Spanish Village can be summed up as the great place where the artists come and the many studios that are open to the public to come and see the art and you can purchase the pieces you like. There is such a great mix of art from the many that make fine jewelry and the ones that create art with pottery and the use of glass blowing the longest running art culture you can see back from the geeks and the early days when glass was being designed for churches. The many trees and the painted courtyard you can see the many colors that decorate the main plaza and the street area as one large easter color day. The many studios they have their have several artists that rent the same space and many artists you can see about the grounds and the areas near the memory pond that is located at the center of the park that has views of the many museums. The many colors of the Spanish Village it will have the many colors of the sky colors and the rustic paintings that you can find from the many artists. Spanish can be one place where you can have the best time and bring friends and family the many studios, they have there do have art shows and exhibitions where many artis do show there many pieces at the larger studios. There have been college and the school students that have come to the Spanish Village over the years to have art classes and the many artists do have art classes that teach the many areas of the world of Artistic art and ceramic making. It's one of the most incredible places you can go to and spend the day getting into the art creations and the designer classes you may also find ones that are working with colored stones and the colored gems of marble and the granite textures. You can see the world of art is such a great thing at a place that has such great history you can come and have coffee or the espresso they do have food items that you can purchase over near Spanish Village to have lunch. The true history of the Spanish Village the art center located within the buildings was designed for the California Pacific International Exposition. Constructed in 1935 to resemble a village in Spain, these building were latter used by artists during the great depression and were used to house soldiers during World War 2. As a Yelp Elite Reviewer, the many great art works you can find at Spanish Village are the artist's own works and the many that spend days on the works of art to see the works it's like you see through their eyes of the beauty and the colors they bring art to life. To find the great works and to appreciate the time and the artistry of so many create its like looking at the Statue of David or the Mona Lisa .

Now this was more along my line of things to do vs the Air museum. The Art Center is meant to appear like an old village in Spain. It's loaded with Artists centers with activities and demos of art. The art you see here is sculptors, painters, clay and jewelry as well as many glass art displays. They do charge admission and it's not inexpensive but when you compare it to some things in NYC like paying to go up to the top of Tower One, it's not all that bad.

Balboa Park is already really stunning, but stepping into the Spanish Village Art Center took my breath away ! The painted cobble stone is beautiful, colorful, and very eye catching. Very unique and great for photos. All along the art village are several different vendors and kiosks from eco friendly clay art, jewelry, painted eggs, glass blown items (you can even see the kilns), Asian water color art (if you have pets you'll love this vendor), and even free arts and crafts! Trees had some ornaments on them for the holiday vibe. It's free to walk through, so take a look !

Really cool spot in Balboa Park with interesting and beautiful art. There are bathrooms and a small cafe cart and sitting areas. Definitely recommend to check out some cool art.

What a treasure! Located in Balboa Park , there are many art studios with a variety of interesting artwork by many local artists. I enjoyed this more than the San Diego Museum of Art!

If you're in Balboa I definitely suggest stopping here to look around. I spent probably 15-20 minutes just watching the glass blowing. It's a gorgeous area of balboa surrounded from art from the rainbow sidewalks to the local painters whose canvases spill out from the shops. They have so many different kinds of artists. I think some are permanent, but some rotate every few months. There is a little coffee shop cart if you want to get some tea or lemonade to enjoy while you explore. It's a great place to pick up a gift or to just enjoy on a sunny afternoon.

Great selection of local artists' products, and the prices are not awful either! Very pretty place to take your out-of-town friends!

Accessibility: this place has accessible parking in the parking lot around the corner but it still might be a tiny bit too far if someone was walking slowly and with pain. The ground that this is on is like individual concrete squares and it is uneven but a wheelchair can still make it on this. The art galleries and stores are all on one level so that's nice, and there is a bathroom but it all closes at 4PM. There are cement stables with attached chairs (so you cannot move them), and there are string lights hung up that turn on after dark even though the shops are closed. Experience: I love this section of Balboa Park. Many people do not know this exists so I have not really ever seen it too crowded. It is a peaceful, cute, quiet place to come and relax as well as enjoy the creations of local artists when they are open. There is so much beautiful color here too, and trash and recycling bins.

This small plaza has several novelty stores and art shops. The motif and decor are definitely reflective of the Spanish Influence. Located close to Balboa Park and the Zoo, many tourists stumble into it. With tons of parking surrounding it and transit drop off within walking distance it is conveniently located. It is clean and well maintained. The walkways make for beautiful pictures day or night. The colors remind me of the iconic atrium inside the Wynn Las Vegas. Do you agree with me!? I'll visit again when in the area. Another hidden gem minutes from Downtown.

Best place to buy local gifts in San Diego. It's great to be able to meet the artists and sometimes to see How they make glass or metal. They have gorgeous and unique earrings which is my main reason for coming here but also lots of other things like pottery or glass or necklaces or paintings. There's also a cute little café and the atmosphere is fun. This is in the part of Balboa Park between the zoo and the Fleet Center. One of my favorite places to spend a few hours and come home with memorable and affordable earrings!

you like art? Here you will find over 50 shops of: - Glass - Metal - Jewelry - painting - pottery - wall art - guilds (one with over 50 artists - wood - sculptures - and on and on and on... You will find something that is of interest to you, here!

This is my favorite place in Balboa Park. My head was turning left and right bc there was so much to see. There's local artists here that sell a variety of goods like original artworks, glass works, pottery, jewelry, etc. Some of the artists also offer classes as well.

One of my favorite places. The scenery is beautiful and all the shops have so much character. Local artists sell their arts, jewelry and crafts. It is amazing to see all their work. I went there in September and got half of my holiday shopping complete. There is something so special about giving gifts when you know exactly who made them. Also, the calmness I feel as I walk through is so surreal. It's a win win on many levels

For the art aficionados, this is a great visit. Colorful and full of art for sure. For the not-so-much, it's meh.

Smaller than expected. The art was similar to the kind you'd find at every shopping center craft fair. I would have hoped to see stores with something more original. The only good thing was Daniels Coffee.

Love the place- so colorful. We will definitely visit again. The parking wasn't so bad especially when it was the December nights weekend when we visited from Las Vegas.

The village was cute and very colorful. It honestly brightens your day to see so much life in the colors of the floor and the remarkable paintings that these artist do.

Very neat place to come visit, lots to see. Plenty of unique ships with art and decor to see.

This was such a lovely marketplace! Loved the colorful pavement and all the artist gallery's and shops. Was a pleasant find on the walk over to the zoo.

This review is just for Studio 31. Ramon Villon. You live up to your last name. We walked by and stopped to take a picture of a wall next door and he told us to leave and not block his entrance. Even though it was an hour before opening hours. He wasnt even nice about it. It made little sense why he even felt the need to do that considering 1) We weren't even blocking his studio, 2) Spanish Art Center was not even open yet 3) not sure what business he felt he would have missed out on during the 5 mins we would have stood there off to the side. Ramon Villon at Studio 31, you have poor people skills. And its unfortunate for you that you missed out on potential opportunities for free advertising had we took our photo near your studio. But now you get the advertising of your horrible business. Your customer service reflects your craftsmanship and sadly, it sucks.

Stroll along an enclave of local artist working studios in a Spanish Village setting. Very colorful part of Balboa Park. Some pretentious artist and some down to earth. There's nooks to explore so don't hesitate to venture in. Be nosy and see what's happening in each studio. Some basic typical art such as glass and painting to some interesting art like gourd & feather art. It's a dog friendly area with some seating throughout. It's free and you can meet the artists. Mel M Yelp 17:67

One lovely thing about San Diego is the great variety of free things there are available to us. For both the poor students and rich Scrooges among us, it means that we always have interesting things to do. When we think of free activities, we often think of the beach and Balboa Park, and for the latter, it's usually the gardens, lawns, weekly organ concerns, "Free Tuesday Museums," and the Timken art museum. Somehow often overlooked is Spanish Village, in spite of its idyllic Spanish buildings and multi-colored walkways that just ooze charm. Spanish Village is a center for local artists sandwiched between the zoo and the Prado. You best bet is to park in the zoo lot and make the short walk over, passing between the zoo's entrance and the kiddie railroad. Within a minute, look to your left, and you will stumble upon a collection of art studios, shared by local artists and artisans. It's all quite adorable, even if the art isn't going to find its way to a museum anytime soon. Still, in spite of seemingly hundreds of paintings/watercolors/photographs of California Tower and other obvious tourist scenes, there are often quite a lot of interesting things to see (and buy if you're so inclined!), including outdoor sculpture studios, a gem gallery, jewelry makers, and live glass blowing, along with the more usual two-dimensional art. All in all, it's a great stop during your walk through the park. Also, for the chemically-needy, check out the coffee cart here, as many of the zoo's employees swear by it for their daily caffeine fix.

This place is definitely worth a visit when going to San Diego! Along with being a very unique place to explore and beautiful backdrops to take pictures with friends and family, the shops themselves are run by local artists and beautiful and one of a kind pieces. There was art of every kind from woodwork, prints, post cards, and original paintings. There were also art displays such as a fairy house, a diorama from the Victorian era, and people's collections of precious gem stones. There is even art work and paintings on the ground! One of the favorite stores we popped in was Lucy Wang's, sure to be a hit if you want beautiful art of your pet since she has card prints of many different types of dog and cat breeds. It's within easy walking distance of the zoo too!

What a neat place! I came by here on a Thursday shortly after it opened with a few ladies and we really enjoyed it! I loved the architecture and all the bright colors around the Art Center. Parking was a bit of a pain, even with a handicap placard. I dropped the ladies off in the front and drove around for about 15 minutes or so before I found a spot. When I walked back to the Spanish Village, we really enjoyed walking around and exploring the different art exhibits. Admission is free, which means you have more money to spend on some of the amazing art that is there! My favorite was by far the glass blowing! It was really neat to watch them make different pieces and a lady came out to explain the process and show us finished pieces while they were making them. It was really cool. We only stayed for about 45 minutes, but we could easily have stayed an hour or more. There are also a ton of other points of interest nearby that could take up your whole day. I definitely recommend stopping by here if you are in the area!

Absolutely terrific day trip in San Diego!!! If you are really interested in art - whether just to look or to buy - it will take you a few hours to make your way around. There are drink and snack areas available, so it makes for an even more pleasant ramble :) Would not call it 'kid' friendly - too many irresistible breakables. But the vendors themselves seemed universally friendly, informative, and helpful.

The Admission: FREE It is across from San Diego Natural History Museum. It has very cute courtyard. Many local artists displaying their arts/products. They are all very original. It is fun to check out their own unique galleria.

Located in Balboa Park, this Spanish village is a great place to stop and see. Grab some ice cream from a booth called "Niederfrank's Ice Cream." It was soooo good. I got the Pineapple Sorbet, yum yum yum! But back to the Spanish Village Art Center, it's a cute courtyard with colorful step stones, my kids love it because it's colorful and it makes it fun for them hopping around on each color. Pictures come out really cool too. They have a lot of cute little artsy shops if you're into that. It's a beautiful plaza, it's cheerful and a fun atmosphere for everyone.

Go check these art galleries out. Balboa Park is historic and beautiful. The Spanish Village art galleries are amazing! You can find lots of interesting handmade presents here as well! There a huge courtyard with seating and umbrellas. A great place to even meet for coffee for there's a place in the Spanish Village that serves drinks. Free parking.

We always try to stop by Spanish Village Art Center whenever we're in Balboa Park. We really enjoy the unique art and good music when we're here! We got the chance to come by Spanish Village last week when my son was on spring break. Although we got here right before closing when people were starting to put stuff away, there's usually live music and tons of people walking around. The stores have the artist's own work, and it's fun looking at all the beautiful jewelry and paintings. Spanish Village is a cute little art center in the very busy Balboa Park. We try to spend the mornings and early afternoons in the museums when it's hot outside. In the late afternoons, we'll grab some water and snacks and find a nice shady spot here to relax at. My son is an artist and loves seeing all the paintings by the other artists. Whether you like art, music, or just need a break while visiting the museums in Balboa Park, Spanish Village is really fun. You'll enjoy the art and music, and it's great talking to all the shop owners about the work they're so proud of!

Loved this place even tho everything was closed it looked beautiful so cute! Great for pictures! Very colorful!

Really unique art experience with a lot of talented artists showing/selling beautiful art from the local community. You can even watch professional glass blowers performing their craft. Super neat stuff!

Such a cute and colorful place to transform into a beautiful wedding venue or even being a tourist while at balboa park. My friend got married here over the weekend and this place and wedding itself was just beautifully amazing! From the entrance, dance floor, dj, bars, taco stations, flowers, tables, chairs, pillows, cabanas, seating areas, EVERYTHING. I was in another country. The bright colorful flowers and festive decor was perfect of an outdoor wedding in July. Everyone involved did an amazing job.

The cutest art co-op I've ever seen! The village courtyard is charming and so colorful--seriously, my mood just elevates just being in this environment. The artists in the shops were super friendly and informative about their passions and the center. This place is a close walk from the SD National History Museum or any of the other museums in the immediate area. It is also very close to the SD Zoo entrance. I stumbled upon this place on my walk through Balboa Park on my way to the zoo. I returned again the next day to see the village without agenda and for some coffee. There are many different types of artists and all the shops minus the gem and mineral shop are required to only sell original artwork, which is different than some other art co-ops who sell items bought at wholesale (i.e. tchotchke souvenirs from East Asia). Drawings, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, glass art, etc. This place has so much to offer and if you're not in the market for anything it's also a nice place to grab a cup of coffee/tea and enjoy the atmosphere; there are quite a few outdoor seating areas.

Wow, I loved this place. Now to be frank, I loved EVERYTHING about Balboa Park, so I'm not surprised that I also fell in love with Spanish Village. I love the courtyard and the Spanish architecture, with the bougainvillea it's just plain gorgeous. The art studios are all interesting and each artist is so talented. If you're looking for a beautiful place to stroll through and maybe pick up some very price friendly works of art or crafts, this is the place to go.

Adorable location with cute shops and pop up vendors. Nice food stalls too. Great to walk around and escape the city.

Awesome place, definitely worth checking out if you're in balboa. This part of the park has a number of little shops that feature local artists. I was surprised by how many shops were there and they had everything from painting and sculpting to jewelry, pottery, etc. very impressive