San Diego is America’s Finest City for more than weather and beaches; it is a hub of cultures, people, and new experiences. San Diego’s Little Italy represents the area’s oldest continuous neighborhood-business district and the rich history shines throughout. During your stay at our beachfront inn, make your way to Little Italy to see for yourself the welcoming neighborhood of food, art and hidden gems waiting to be discovered!
Little Italy Mercato
Embrace your beautiful Saturday by visiting Little Italy’s outdoor Farmers’ Market. There’s no better place to sample fresh fruits and vegetables, appreciate work from local artists or enjoy live music. If you’re an adventurous eater, taste their just-caught sea urchin! Rain or shine, the artisans will take care of you.
For more information, click here.
Taste of Little Italy
June may be a few months away, but it’s never too early to plan a food trip! Every year, Little Italy’s top restaurants welcome food lovers to sample their most popular dishes –from appetizers all the way down to beverages. You will receive a “Taste Passport,” which lists participating restaurants and their menu offerings. Every restaurant visit equals a stamp on your passport. Don’t miss this opportunity to get a taste of Little Italy all in one night. All you have to do is decide whether to take the north or south route.
Check back for information about tickets here.
40Waterfront Park
Right along the harbor is a beautiful waterfront public space. Just a 10-minute walk from Little Italy, you will find large grassy areas, interactive fountains for kids, jungle gyms and picnic areas! Waterfront Park is the home of several public and private special events.
Shopping
A neighborhood isn’t complete without an assortment of remarkable shops! From clothing to swimwear to shoes, Little Italy has it all! The streets are lined with boutiques that are mostly unique to Little Italy, such as Azzurra Capri, Be Boutique and Q Swimwear.
For the list of shops, click here.
Piazza Basilone
This Plaza is a permanent public place built to honor the heroism of GySgt John Basilone and those lost to war in the 20th century. Piazza Basilone features a statue of the Sergeant, a stunning fountain, and plenty of space to sit and enjoy the day or to simply pay respects.
Here’s a tip: grab your lunch and sit at one of the tables available.
Firefighter’s Museum
Visit a historic downtown site and learn more about how firefighting has changed and grown over the last 100 years at San Diego’s Firefighters Museum! Founded in 1962, the museum features pieces such as La Jolla’s first engine, a horse drawn steamer, and pieces of steel from the World Trade Center.
For more information, click here.
$3/adults
$2/child & seniors
Monello
Feast on traditional Milanese street food and experience eating pasta from a cheese wheel in this timeless restaurant. Decide between 25 different kinds of pastas handcrafted daily, a signature pizza da monello, or drop in for their Italian Happy Hour! Monello is known to have the best pasta in Little Italy and was voted Best Happy Hour 2016-2017.
To make a reservation or to see the menu, click here.
Click here to view the hoursSunday – 10AM–9PM
Monday – CLOSED
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday – 11AM–9PM
Friday – 11AM–10PM
Saturday – 10AM–10PM
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto
Founded in 1950, the line of restaurants carrying the Dephilippi name continue to be owned and operated by original family members of the founders until today. Savor the same delicious, traditional dishes that promise to leave you satisfied as every customer has for over 60 years!
To view their menu, click here.
Ironside Fish & Oyster
Little Italy is more than just Italian food. Get your seafood fix at Ironside Fish & Oyster! You can order clam chowder or crab cakes from the small plates, as well as choose from a selection of salads and their raw bar. On top of that, the lobster roll is a must! Eater San Diego named the group behind the restaurant, CH Projects, Restaurant Group of the Year in 2016.
Crack Shack
There’s something for everybody in Little Italy. Check out the Crack Shack for fried chicken and egg fare in the sunny So-Cal spirit of inspired cuisine, spacious ambiance, lawn games and craft drinks for every occasion. It doesn’t matter who came first, the chicken or the egg, as you can have both! Did we mention they also serve sandwiches? You can thank Richard Blais, chef, TV personality, author and restauranteur, for coming up with this creative concept.
To view their menu, click here.
Click here to view the hoursSunday – 9AM-3PM
Monday-Thursday – 9AM-10PM
Friday & Saturday – 9AM-11PM
Juniper & Ivy
Right across from from Crack Shack is Juniper & Ivy. Both eateries are ran by Richard Blais, who finished runner-up in the fourth season of the popular cooking show, Top Chef, and went on to win Top Chef: All-Stars several seasons later. Juniper & Ivy offers refined American cuisine with unique iterations of the classics. The whimsical menu is constantly changing depending on the freshest seasonal ingredients provided by local purveyors and promises to be interesting and new every time.
To view their menu, click here.
Born & Raised
Get ready to be transported into the world of The Great Gatsby. Born & Raised is a steakhouse in the heart of Little Italy. Servers dressed in tuxedos roll out carts tableside to prepare cocktails, Caesar salads and steak Diane. Whether you’re looking for a ribeye, porterhouse or bone-in NY, this eatery has got it all. To top off your experience, order a seared foie gras on the side and sip on a Martini on their rooftop bar. Readers of Eater San Diego selected Born & Raised as Restaurant of the Year in 2017.
Here’s a tip: make sure you make a reservation in advance.
Herb & Wood
Receive the experience of a boutique restaurant in celebrity chef Brian Malarkey’s massive new restaurant, Herb & Wood, which was one of USA Today’s “Best New Restaurants” in 2016. This eatery promises sprawling, upscale locale serving rustic, wood-fired dishes and old-school cocktails.
To view their website and menu, click here.
Salt & Straw
We all scream for ice scream! Stop and embrace your sweet tooth at Salt & Straw. Choose from a variety of year-round or San-Diego exclusive flavors, made with SoCal-sourced fresh ingredients. This scoop shop is known for its distinct flavors, like Peanut Butter Stout with Chocolate Chicarrón and James Coffee & Bourbon. The widely popular Salt & Straw first opened in Portland, and now have stores in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well.
Here’s a tip: get a double scoop in a waffle cone. You’ll thank us later.
To view the list San Diego flavors, click here.
Pappalecco
Looking for the best gelato in San Diego? You’ve come to the right place! You can choose to have your regular scoop in a cup or cone, or you can get a gelato cookie sandwich, a gelato croissant or an affogato. You really can’t go wrong. Pappalecco also serves paninis, pizza and more. We promise this will add a little sweetness to your San Diego trip.
Click here to view the hoursMonday-Thursday – 7AM-10PM
Friday – 7AM-11AM
Saturday & Sunday – 7:30AM-11:30PM
Bottlecraft Beer Shop & Tasting Room
Craving a cold one while relaxing in sunny San Diego? Bottlecraft curates the best local, domestic, and international craft beer in the city. It’s a tasting room and bottle shop, so you can choose to sit and have a glass (or two), or take bottles or cans to go. Despite having several locations, Little Italy is Bottlecraft’s original home and will keep even the best beer connoisseur interested!
To find out what’s on tap, click here.
Click here to view the hoursSunday – 11AM-10PM
Monday-Thursday – 12PM-10PM
Friday & Saturday – 12PM-12AM