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Welcome to

Little Italy

Where top chefs and brewers have set up shop

Photo By Paul Body

Once home to San Diego's flourishing tuna fishing industry and generations of Italian families who made their living on the sea, Little Italy is now a lively neighborhood with cozy patio cafés, international restaurants, craft brew stops, urban wineries, art galleries, sophisticated shops, boutique hotels, and the festive Piazza della Famiglia.

Italian Restaurants in Little Italy - San Diego's Dynamic Culinary Hot Spots

Today, San Diego's most dynamic food and drink scene is centered in Little Italy. It's a place where the past meets the present, where Top Chef alums have set up shop next to old-school eateries that remain treasured landmarks.

A slew of luminary chefs have gravitated to Kettner Boulevard, giving it the moniker of "Top Chef Alley" with distinctive eateries including Juniper & Ivy, Cloak & Petal, Born and Raised, The Crack Shack, Herb & Wood and Kettner Exchange. India Street is lined with restaurants featuring cuisines of both Southern and Northern Italy, including the classic Filippi's Pizza Grotto, featuring an old-fashioned Italian dining experience.

No Little Italy neighborhood would be complete without a true Italian market and Mona Lisa Italian Foods fits the bill. The deli offers a selection of foods, wine and delicious deli sandwiches.

Since 1934, the Waterfront Bar & Grill has been a favorite local watering hole serving locally brewed ales and burgers. And the British-owned and -operated Princess Pub and Grille serves British and Irish beers, along with traditional pub fare such as fish and chips for patrons watching soccer and rugby via satellite TV.

Craft Beer is also in the spotlight here, with establishments such as Ballast Point Brewing and Bottlecraft  Beer Shop & Tasting Room. And for wine lovers, Carruth Cellars Wine Garden and Pali Wine Co. are perfect places for local wine tasting.

The Heart of Little Italy, San Diego

The central gathering point in Little Italy is a European-style piazza known at Piazza della Famiglia. The 10,000-square-foot plaza connects India and Columbia streets and features a dramatic tiled fountain. Enjoy an afternoon stroll across the cobblestone street while relaxing before dinner. The piazza, in the "heart" of Little Italy, is dedicated to the past, present, and future families of the Little Italy neighborhood.

Things to Do in Little Italy - Shopping and Farmers Markets

Little Italy also features some great local boutiques including Rosamariposa, Vocabulary Boutique, and Stroll, where you can find fun women’s fashions and handmade local items, and the NoLi Art & Design District, which encompasses a group of retail shops, design stores and art galleries. Klassic and Architectural Salvage are both worth a visit for home goods and unusual finds.

Each Saturday from 8:00 AM until 2:00 PM, several blocks of Little Italy are shut down for the weekly Little Italy Mercato — a dynamic farmers market where locals shop for fresh produce along with gourmet goods, flowers, crafts and ready-made foods.

Events in Little Italy, San Diego

Little Italy San Diego is also known for several fun festivals, including the Mission Federal Artwalk each Spring.

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Getting to Little Italy

The aroma of fresh baked bread and Italian seasonings should be enough to get you close to Little Italy. But on a more practical sense, Little Italy is nestled between the downtown core and San Diego's glistening waterfront. If you're arriving from the North, exit on Front Street, and immediately turn right on Cedar. Welcome to the neighborhood! From the airport, take Harbor Drive to Grape Street (turn left) - you're in the center of Italian cuisine bliss. You could walk from downtown, or grab a pedi-cab for a romantic ride to your favorite Italian spot, but however you get there, save room for cannolis. Mangia!

 

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Walk to the Waterfront

Little Italy is just a short walk from San Diego's big bay and the activities along the embarcadero. 

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Ciao! Little Italy

Little Italy is a place where the past meets the present, where Top Chef alums have set up shop and old-school eateries remain as treasured landmarks.

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San Diego Farmers Markets

Don't miss Saturday mornings at the Little Italy Mercato farmer's market. 

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Walk to the Waterfront

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Ciao! Little Italy

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San Diego Farmers Markets

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What's On

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Step-On Guide Services

Aug 19, 2024 - ongoing
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Pizza, Pasta and Piazzas - Little Italy Food Tour

Oct 22, 2024 - ongoing
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Mission Fed ArtWalk

Apr 26 - Apr 27, 2025
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Happy Hour

Aug 26, 2024 - ongoing
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Little Italy on Instagram

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Related Articles and Features

Explore theNeighborhood

Areas of Interest

Where to Stay

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Hotels & Resorts

1. Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayside

Stunning San Diego Bay Views in Little Italy!

Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayside
2137 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 819-0082
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Featured
Tours & Sightseeing

2. So Diego

Food & Drink Tours, Corporate Group Experiences

So Diego
(619) 233-8687
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Hotels & Resorts

3. Homewood Suites San Diego Downtown/Bayside

Stunning Bay Views in Little Italy

Homewood Suites San Diego Downtown/Bayside
2137 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 819-0082
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Restaurants

4. Herb & Wood

Chef Brian Malarkey's Mediterranean Restaurant

Herb & Wood
2210 Kettner Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 955-8495
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Breweries

5. Ballast Point Brewing Company - Little Italy

Handcrafted in San Diego, CA since '96

Ballast Point Brewing Company - Little Italy
2215 India Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 255-7213
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Restaurants

6. Kettner Exchange

Progressive American Cuisine with Rooftop Views

Kettner Exchange
2001 Kettner Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 255-2001
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Hotels & Resorts

7. Residence Inn San Diego Downtown

Residence Inn San Diego Downtown
1747 Pacific Hwy
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 338-8200
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Restaurants

8. The Lion's Share

eclectic restaurant and craft cocktail bar

The Lion's Share
629 Kettner Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Hotels & Resorts

9. Best Western Plus Bayside Inn

In Downtown San Diego near the Bay & Little Italy

Best Western Plus Bayside Inn
555 W Ash Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 233-7500
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Restaurants

10. Glass Door - Porto Vista Hotel

Where margaritas and views are waiting for you!

Glass Door - Porto Vista Hotel
1835 Columbia St
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 564-3755
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Restaurants

11. Coco Maya

Fall in Love with the Coco

Coco Maya
1660 India Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 943-9439
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Wineries

12. Carruth Cellars Wine Garden

stop and smell the rosé

Carruth Cellars Wine Garden
2215 Kettner Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101
(858) 847-9463
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Restaurants

13. Allegro Restaurant and Bar

A True Amalfi Dining Experience in Little Italy

Allegro Restaurant and Bar
1536 India Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 310-6996
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Festivals

14. ArtWalk San Diego

ArtWalk San Diego
2210 Columbia Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 615-1090
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Restaurants

15. Bayside Kitchen + Bar-Homewood Suites San Diego Downtown

Eat. Drink. Chill

Bayside Kitchen + Bar-Homewood Suites San Diego Downtown
2137 Pacific Highway
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 819-0090
Neighborhood: Little Italy

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