Spanish Village Art Center

Discover San Diego’s coveted secret for art lovers at Spanish Village Art Center. The Village is located between the Zoo and the NAT. These quaint buildings and colorful courtyards were originally built in 1935. They depicted a charming old village in Spain for the second California Pacific International Exposition. In 1937, the Village was reopened as an art destination by a group of dedicated artists. During World War II the U.S. Army used the village for temporary barracks, and in 1947 it was reclaimed and restored by the artists.

Over the last 60+ years, San Diego artists have continued to preserve and enhance this historical landmark by adding to its beauty with colorful concrete tiles, flowers, and unique studio entryways. Today the Village continues to be a thriving community for over 200 local artisans who share their talent and the love of all things that are art with you.

Spanish Village Art Center

4.7

Based on 2309 reviews

Sharla Riead

13:39 27 Nov 23

I would love to come back and visit again! The artists are in residence and very willing to talk with you. Every type... of art you can think of is here. It is great as a place to wander around and see beautiful things for free. The prices are very reasonable. We were able to find several gifts and would have purchased more, but getting it all gone would have been an issue. If I am ever back in the area, I will return.read more

Marialejandra Rivera

15:59 05 Nov 23

I HIGHLY recommend squeezing this little village into your SD vacation. There’s free parking in all of Balboa Park.... Multiple studios open daily starting at 11am. Artists display their craft while actively working on new pieces. Everyone is so sweet and kind. We loved our time here. Keep in mind there’s nowhere to eat in the village but they do have a coffee cart with pastries and juices/smoothies etc. They also do historical tours.read more

Sara celis

09:09 02 Nov 23

The Spanish Village Art Center in San Diego is a colorful and vibrant enclave within Balboa Park. It's home to a... community of artists who work and display their creations in charming studios. The village exudes a Spanish-inspired charm with its tiled courtyards and diverse range of art, from paintings to sculptures. It's a unique and lively spot for art enthusiasts to explore.read more

Zuri

20:49 13 Oct 23

Such beautiful art exhibits with the friendliest local artists. You can tell they absolutely love their craft with the... art they produce. The cat lady was my favorite 🥰read more

The_Ardent ShutterBug

23:22 11 Oct 23

Very cool Museum! First time seeing a Mammoth and Saber-tooth Tiger Skelton. Great family outing or day date.

art junkie

14:02 12 Sep 23

The Spanish Village Art Center is always on my list when I visit San Diego. I love the handmade art, the funky vibe,... and the beauty of this place. I highly recommend it!read more

Sam Ch

05:02 07 Sep 23

Lots of art stuff. Mango Pineapple smoothie at Daniel's is great. Most shops close pretty early at around 4pm on the... weekdays though. 5pm weekendread more

Ayala Gerendasi

21:38 23 Aug 23

Amazing Artists and their art pieces. You get to meet the person behind the beautiful art in the diverse studios. I... went Saturday afternoon and it was a wonderful experience. I am stunned by Bedazzled By Mindy's handmade jewelry at Studio 40.read more

Kyla Joy

18:09 01 Aug 23

I absolutely love this space, and my whole family loves it more and more as my kids become young adults. We are all... artists, and really appreciate seeing what others have created in this space. I love chatting with the local art guild members and listening to what they have to say about their techniques or how they got started. Truly wonderful! I also love the beauty of the outdoor area. The tiles with all the colors are simple and lovely. The atmosphere is it cheerful and fun. There is a small café you can walk up to and order a little snack or drink. They had great options for our family.read more

Lina Leyda

04:52 19 Jul 23

I can be here all day! It's a place for artists who can showcase their own expertise and individualism. Thankfully I... was good and did not buy anything - next time for sure. If that beautiful gourd that makes those thunderous sound after being shaken a bit is still there the next time I visit, that gourd is meant for me lol! It's wonderful to watch people who create their own products make them right in front of your eyes 👀 - what a day! I'll definitely be going back.read more

Maria Flores

16:46 28 May 23

I visited on a weekday and some of the shops where closed, there’s little coffee and art shops. There was still a lot... to see and enjoy, I loved all the vibrant colors, beautiful art and sculptures.read more

Heather Skale

19:27 13 May 23

It's my favorite place for art in SD. Cute cottages filled with vibrant works by local artists. Glass paintings,... sculpture, mixed media, and more. Southwest Artist Assoc. is one of my favorites. Coffee cart in the back. Parking lot close by.read more

Jo Moss

07:45 11 May 23

An art lovers paradise with lots of artists to talk to and see their paintings in the studio/shops all around the... colourful square. You can also buy the most delicious hot drinks and sit around watching the world go by. Balboa Park is just fantasticread more

N B

21:08 08 May 23

One of the gems in Balboa park. Lots of history and interesting artifacts. Would recommend for all ages.

Rengesh K

01:10 02 Feb 23

If you like art this is one of the must-do places to visit while in downtown San Diego. The artists show case their... creations in various "studios". Located right next to San Diego zoo entranceread more

Maltesh K

00:53 04 Dec 22

Spanish village is very much native. You get the feeling of village homes and hand looms. One of the best thing I... visited was the artist who draws the scenes on canvas in front of you, it was so exciting although pricy. Trees and small plants mostly all are desert plants cactus and alovera families I suppose. People are friendly and I enjoyed my time. It is pretty close to zoo, if you go to zoo, plan a short visit to this village. Nearby there are many old buildings, if you like historic features, then just down the faint fig tree there are plenty of building, balboa park and museums. You may need another day apart from visiting the zoo.read more

Claudia Ortiz

14:54 20 Sep 22

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum is located in Balboa Park and it’s the only accredited model railroad museums in... the country. The museum showcases the history of railroading across Southern California.When visiting the museum ask for the Scavenger Hunt sheet at the front desk and search for items on the list throughout the museum. There are many interactive trains with interesting information that staff in the museum are more than happy to share. There are so many tiny modeled towns, trains and farms.The museum was very interesting but my little one did get a little distracted after a while because my son is more of a hands on child and began running around and jumping. As for my 8 year old daughter, she was not very interested in the small trains either. I suppose if your children love trains and are more of the visual learners then this museum is perfect!This Summer The Model Railroad Museum Exhibit, Circus Trains, is full of fascinating and colorful model trains, railroad cars, and animals.read more

Joseph MacMillan

19:47 01 Sep 22

Lovely and quaint, the Spanish Village Art Center is a cute local arts pavilion with several local artists booths. They... also have art workshops, local artists exhibits and live music. The quaint architecture and ambiance is quite fun. Not bad for a free to do time.read more

Thom Hiatt

21:32 30 Aug 22

This is an inspiring environment jam packed full of talented small business owners who are passionate about their... crafts. From pottery to blown glass and painting to gemstones, this place is incredible! Free parking and free entry. Plenty to see and do...all for free! Oh, and feel free to buy some COOL one of a kind stuff, too!read more

Estela Ortega

04:14 25 Jun 22

There were a lot of arts, crystals shops. Along with a coffee shop, very cute. It was sweet in a lay back and take in... the place in. Also if you want to make your daily steps goals, come here, you won't notice.read more

Nicole Paige

14:30 28 May 22

So interesting. I saw a man painting with such detail and his studio was filled with all of his work. It was amazing!... We saw statues and jewelry.read more

Christine Wong

00:21 23 Apr 22

What a treasure—a bit of a quieter, more colorful part off of Balboa Park. Lots of different art studios to visit and... plenty of areas to sit and take in views. I loved the colorful buildings and walkways! If you have pets or friends/family with pets, stop by Lucy Wang’s Chinese Brush Painting Gallery to pick up these art pieces for $5 a pop.read more

Pattie Kromrey

04:35 22 Mar 22

I love wandering around this place. It has such a wonderful creative feel. Our friend Joel is a stained glass artisan... in one of the shops. It was our first time seeing him there. Love his work and everything is reasonably priced! His handle on IG is seminomaticartisanread more

Jessica Riggleman

22:39 19 Feb 22

Wow, what an unexpected, very cool place! My boyfriend and I were visiting for the weekend and I wanted to visit Balboa... Park. We randomly ran into the Spanish Village Art Center. I am not sure if it should be advertised more or if it is Balboa Parks best keep secret. My boyfriend is a glassblower and surprisingly there was another one there. We walked through like 8 times! Love it and the artisans are amazing.read more

Frank Juhasz

21:35 07 Feb 22

This collection of working artist shops is unique in my experience and a treasure.After the 1935 exposition the... Spanish Village was reopened as space for local artists to create and sell their work and has continued in that spirit to this day. Artists must be recommended to the self governing board by two independent members of the local artist community. Once accepted an artist is there for life.read more

Brian Ammanna

22:29 03 Jan 22

Definitely worth walking thru this village if you plan to visit Balboa park.Has a lot of small shops selling crafts,... jewellery n artread more

Keven Jeffery

13:21 15 Aug 21

Artists can rent a little shop to show their handmade goods. It's a nice place to find a gift or souvenir that's a... little different. There's lots of variety, so something for everyone. The prices didn't seem outrageous.read more

Chris Gilligan

16:30 03 May 21

I was pleasantly surprised by this little Art Village. I visited on a Friday and it was pretty empty due to the heat... but it was so worth it. I bought the cutest earrings from one of the artists and I have not stopped received complements when I wear them. All the artists were so nice and eager to talk about their STUNNING works. I will definitely come back here next time I'm in San Diego.read more

Pamela Hope

02:05 05 Apr 21

Gorgeous art center/village, a man does woodwork here,.including mini child size benches you can have a name chiseled... into, but also incredible quill pens with the handle made out of wood, beautiful. (Must buy your own ink) .read more

D Hanks

21:06 14 Sep 20

It was ok. We were there on a Monday so not every shop was open.

Jeff Lee

22:26 05 Sep 20

Cool little village with lots of arts and crafts

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