Summer in Little Italy

For more than two years my husband and I have been living in San Diego. We rode out the pandemic in quite possibly the best place. Yes there were a ton of shut downs during that time but we could at least eat outside when it was December. Now that life is back to normal, we have been doing everything we wanted to do and more exploring San Diego. Since Little Italy is the area we know the best and go out in the most, here is a little guide to my neighborhood.

Restaurants

Born and Raised- The Consortium Holdings restaurant group has a ton of amazing concepts in San Diego. Born and Raised is their upscale steakhouse and it is one of the most beautiful restaurants in San Diego. I recommend checking out their happy hour which is upstairs on their outside deck.

Herb and Wood- We have been here so many times I cannot count. The food is always incredible and the chef always changes it up. They also have a good brunch. It is one of the best restaurants in San Diego.

Kettner Exchange- We have also been here so many times, and the chef also loves to change it up, actually even more than Herb and Wood. I love the tapas style of plates, you can get small or larger dishes here.

Camino Riviera- A restaurant by the owners of Kettner Exchange, except the chef takes a Mexican spin on his tapas style dishes. The place is amazing to take friends, it feels like you are transported to Tulum.

Juniper and Ivy- Another favorite of ours and super popular restaurant. The food is always unique and delicious. I highly recommend the duck here if it is on the menu, it is huge but amazing.

Davanti Enoteca- My favorite Italian restaurant in Little Italy. They are known for their Foccacia Di Recco which is probably one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted. They also have one of the best brunches with a Bloody Mary buffet bar.. Make sure to get a table at their beautiful back patio.

Monello/Benecotto- Two incredible Italian restaurants that are back to back with fresh ingredients. They also have a great apertivo hour- whenever you order a drink they give you a small plate of appetizers.

Barabusa- Possibly the trendiest Italian restaurant in Little Italy, but the food is really delicious and fresh. The Granchio pasta is wow! We don’t come here that often because it is always packed but I still recommend it to out of towners.

Isola- I love this Italian place, it reminds me of places I have visited in Roma. The ingredients are very fresh and their pizza is delicious.

Ironside- The best seafood restaurant in the area. They have a beautiful bar and fun tiki inspired drinks. They also have one of the best lobster rolls I have ever tasted.

Rovino- I feel that this restaurant is very homey and it is never too busy but we love it. The portions are huge and the prices are very good.

Coco Maya- The newest restaurant to open up, located on a second floor rooftop overlooking Little Italy. This spot is super trendy already and loaded with influencers types. I was not a huge fan of that, however I really enjoyed the view, food, and decor. It is nice to have a different kind of cuisine in Little Italy to check out.

Seneca- Technically in the waterfront area, but still in the vicinity and worth a visit if you can get a reservation! From the same Consortium Holdings group and Born and Raised, this restaurant is at the top of the Intercontinental hotel. If you cannot get dinner reservations I highly recommend the brunch or lunch because it is never that busy and you can see the view during the day.

Anime- Also in waterfront but close enough. This is the best asian fusion restaurant in the area. The food is unique and the menu is always changing. The bar is gorgeous so even if you do not eat here definitely get a drink.

Bars/Breweries

The Guild Hotel Bar

False Idol/Craft and Commerce

Topsail

Wolfie’s Carousel Bar

Burgeon Brewery

Karl Strauss Brewery

Balhast Point Brewery

Coffee Shops/Cafe’s

Portal Coffee

Frost Me

Pappalecco

James Coffee Co.

Kuma Cafe

Extraordinary Desserts

What to Do

The Little Italy Mercato- Open every Wednesday and Saturday, this farmer’s market takes up multiple blocks and has everything from the most beautiful fresh flowers, local produce, fresh cheese, and food to go. I prefer the Wednesday market as it is smaller and less busy, but the Saturday market has much more so I go to both. Get there early because it gets crowded and places do run out of things!

Relax in the Piazza- The Piazza is the hub of Little Italy. It is a public area to relax outside with tons of tables and iconic fountain. There is a great food hall too to get some lunch, dinner, or gelato. It feels very European.

Go Antique Shopping- Further down toward the end of Little Italy there are a bunch of furniture, home decor, and antique shops. I have picked up a few great pieces here from furniture to home decor.

Go on a Brewery Crawl- From one end of Little Italy all the way to Broadway you can stumble upon multiple wonderful breweries. They are not the actual headquarters of the breweries but they are the store fronts where you can get all the local San Diego beer and great food too.

Art Walks- In April Little Italy hosts their largest art fair. It is so big that the farmer’s market has to be moved, so on that Saturday you have both the art fair and the farmer’s market, it is a great day! There is also an art walk every week in the month of June on a smaller scale.

The Little Italy Dog Park- If you have a dog this is a great dog park to bring them too. They also have a coffee cart if you want a pick me up or a treat in the morning.

Admire the foliage- In the spring and summer months Little Italy is blossoming with beauty. San Diego is known for their Jacaranda trees which are purple trees. Yes, all the city blocks in May are lined with literal purple trees.

Walk on the Waterfront- I am still going to include the waterfront in my guide because it is just a few blocks away from Little Italy. Everything that I mentioned is within walking distance. Do not miss the beautiful waterfront during sunset.