If you’re hunting for food near the San Diego Convention Center, Pizza on 5th is a short walk away at 734 5th Avenue in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter. We’re a family-owned NY-style pizza and Italian spot serving hand-tossed pizza, homemade pasta, sandwiches, and salads from late morning until 3AM most nights and 4AM on weekends. Whether you’re badge-tired after a trade show, herding coworkers to dinner, or out with a big group, we’re close enough to walk to and open late enough to catch you after the last session.
How Far Is Pizza on 5th From the Convention Center?
The convention center sits right on Harbor Drive. Head up 5th Avenue into the Gaslamp and you’ll reach us in about 10 to 12 minutes on foot — roughly half a mile, no rideshare required. That walkability is the whole point. When you’re tired and your phone’s at 12%, the best restaurants near the convention center in San Diego are the ones you can reach without sitting in event-day traffic.
The San Diego Convention Center spans about 2.6 million square feet and hosts roughly 160 events a year, drawing more than 825,000 attendees, according to the San Diego Tourism Authority. That’s a lot of hungry people pouring into the same few blocks at once. Knowing where you’re headed before you’re standing on a corner at 9PM makes the whole night easier.
Comic-Con 2026 and the Big Convention Weekends
Comic-Con International returns to the convention center July 23–26, 2026, with Preview Night on July 22, per Comic-Con’s official event schedule. During that week the Gaslamp turns into one long block party, and tables fill up fast. The same crush happens during big medical conferences, ESRI, and trade shows the rest of the year.
We keep a full kitchen running all day and deep into the night, so whether you want a quick slice between panels or a sit-down dinner after the exhibit hall clears out, the kitchen’s open. If you’re searching where to eat comic-con week, your best bet is to come a little before or a little after the dinner rush — 5 to 6PM or anytime after 9PM tends to move quickest.
What to Order When You’re Short on Time
Our NY-style pizza is the fast, foldable answer — thin crust, real char, stretchy mozzarella, sold by the slice or the whole pie. If you want something heartier, the kitchen also turns out homemade pasta, Philly cheesesteaks, gyros, and big salads. You can scan the whole spread on our food menu before you walk over so your group already knows what they want.
Pair it with a cold drink from the drink menu — beer, wine, and cocktails — and you’ve got a real meal, not a vending-machine snack between sessions.
Feeding a Group or Hosting a Work Dinner
Conventions move in packs. If you’re the one who got volunteered to pick dinner for ten coworkers, we make that easy. Our private events space handles team dinners, client groups, and after-meeting gatherings without the stiff hotel-ballroom feel. Call ahead for larger parties and we’ll have a table and a plan ready when you arrive.
It’s a practical pick for restaurants near convention center San Diego attendees actually want to be at — casual, affordable, and built for sharing pizza around a table.
After the After-Party: Late-Night Food in the Gaslamp
The convention doesn’t really end when the floor closes. The mixers, the badge swaps, the “let’s grab one more drink” all run late — and so do we. Our full menu is available on the late-night menu until 3AM Sunday through Thursday and 4AM on Friday and Saturday. Not reheated slices. Real plates of pasta at 2AM.
We wrote more about that scene in our guide to late-night pizza and food in the Gaslamp Quarter if you want the full rundown on what’s open when everything else has locked the doors.
Delivery and Takeout to Your Hotel
Some nights you don’t want to leave the room. If your hotel is in the convention district or anywhere downtown, you can get the same menu sent over through delivery on DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates. Order a pie, a pasta, and a few sides, and dinner shows up at the lobby while you stay off your feet.
More Gaslamp Guides Worth a Look
Eating near the convention center is only part of a good downtown trip. Our Gaslamp Quarter page covers what’s around us, and if your visit lines up with a ballgame, our guide to where to eat after a Padres game points you to the right spots. Petco Park, the convention center, and the Gaslamp all sit within a few walkable blocks of each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Pizza on 5th from the San Diego Convention Center?
About a 10 to 12 minute walk — roughly half a mile up 5th Avenue into the Gaslamp Quarter. You won’t need a car or rideshare.
Do you take reservations for groups during Comic-Con and conventions?
Yes. For larger parties during busy convention weekends, call us at (619) 231-7582 ahead of time and we’ll set up a table. Our private events space is available for bigger work dinners.
What are your hours during convention weekends?
We’re open until 3AM Sunday through Thursday and 4AM Friday and Saturday, with the full menu available the entire time — so you’re covered before, during, and after the show.
Can I get food delivered to my hotel near the convention center?
Yes. We deliver across downtown through DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Postmates, so you can eat in your room if you’d rather stay put.
Convention week is a marathon. Whether you need a fast lunch between sessions or a late dinner after the floor closes, book your table at Pizza on 5th and eat well a few blocks from the action.
Ready to Get Started?
Planning your convention trip or a group dinner near the San Diego Convention Center? We’ll have a table and the full menu ready whenever you walk over.
Book Your Table or call us at (619) 231-7582.