12 Italian Restaurants to Check Out in Little Italy
Little Italy in San Diego is a cultural hotspot with some of the best Italian restaurants in the country. Located downtown-adjacent, there are plenty of eateries and shops to take in throughout this bustling Italian village. Here are the top Italian restaurants you can’t miss while on a Little Italy walking tour.
Ristorante Illando
Think of the old world with a new feel. This fresh-faced, boutique style, Tuscan trattoria specializes in house-made pasta dishes, pizza, and antipasti. Make it a date night or head out with some friends and enjoy a bottle of wine with one of their fantastic, fresh seafood pastas. Considering its size, we highly suggest making reservations well ahead of time. Although not easy to spot, you’ll find Ristorante Illando upstairs from their sister, Landini’s Pizzeria. Happy Hour runs from Monday to Thursday, 4pm-6pm, and features discounted small plates, select wine and beer.
Bencotto Italian Kitchen
Courtesy of This Tasty Life
Although presented as a modern, sleek Italian restaurant, Bencotto Italian Kitchen’s menu takes me back to a small mom-and-pop eatery in Tuscany I once visited. Try their braised lamb shank for a taste of the old world, or indulge in the Ravioli al Tartufo to satiate that mouth-watering hunger for truffles. Their “Aperitivo” Italian Happy Hour runs from Tuesday to Friday from 3pm-5pm, offering complimentary bites with the purchase of a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine.
Barbusa
Described as modern Sicilian, Barbusa offers authentic Italian cuisine with a flare. Try one of their showcased, southern Italian wines and go seafood-centric with their ahi tuna crudo as a starter before moving onto Linguine Vongole. Or even try one of their amazing boards, so the table can enjoy the meal, family style. Everything is good here! In addition to being one of the best restaurants in Little Italy, San Diego, Barbusa is also open late: 10pm Sunday through Thursday nights, and 11pm Friday and Saturday nights. Stop by to experience a truly fun vibe!
Civico 1845
Civico 1845 is the first restaurant in California with a full traditional and vegan-Italian menu. No need to skirt around modifications to get something delicious that suits your dietary preferences. Try the vegan, gluten-free shiitake risotto with a glass of chianti to start your evening. Owner & Chef Pietro Gallo’s love of Italian cooking, growing up learning from his mother in Italy, along with his passion for healthy living, inspired the delectable vegan and gluten-free menu options. Taking your omnivore out to eat? No worries, they’ve got you covered with their equally fantastic traditional menu.
Monello
For vegetarian and gluten-free options, try Monello—a Milanese kitchen. Start off with the burrata antipasti before moving onto building your own handmade pasta dish. Revel in watching your fresh pasta being tossed in their infamous 60lb cheese wheel. Finish dinner off with a tiramisu for adults, a scoop of gelato, or a limoncello digestif. I myself opt for the espresso martini. Yum! Aperitivo—Italian Happy Hour runs from 3pm-5pm Tuesday through Friday, offering complimentary bites with a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine.
Davanti Enoteca
Courtesy of Bite San Diego
We love Davanti Enoteca for lunch on the patio, in the fresh air. But what makes this one of the best Italian restaurants in Little Italy San Diego? Their goat cheese honey flatbread is tremendous and the best way to start your meal. Then, try the vodka rigatoni or the branzino before moving onto dessert with a cannoli, or two. Happy Hour food and drink specials are from 3pm-6pm every day, with exceptions.
Buon Appetito
For another vegetarian and gluten-free friendly restaurant, try Buon Appetito. Start with a glass of prosecco with a Caprese salad while you sit out front and people-watch. Then, enjoy the porcini and truffle Risotto alla Piemontese or Linguine allo Scoglio with white sauce as your main course before finishing your meal with a Tartufo Gelato. It’s a wonderful experience to watch the city stroll by with great Italian food to savor.
Piazza della Famiglia & the Little Italy Food Hall
Courtesy of San Diego Explorer
If you’re looking for things to do in San Diego by yourself, take a stroll through this 10,000 square foot Piazza della Famiglia connecting India and Columbia Streets. This beautiful piazza in the heart of Little Italy is truly a cultural hub of the neighborhood which hosts farmers markets, cultural events, concerts, and more. This mix of residential, retail, and restaurant space gives you a feeling of being in Europe while never leaving San Diego. On the Columbia Street end of the piazza, you’ll find the Little Italy Food Hall. Grab a thin Milanese gourmet pizza from Amborgio15 and sit at one of the café tables on the sidewalk or enjoy gelato from Bobboi Natural Gelato by the fountain as you mingle, mix or be. You could spend an entire day at Piazza della Famiglia, visiting the shops and trying all the stations at the Food Hall.
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Mona Lisa Italian Foods
You can’t visit Little Italy without stopping at the iconic Mona Lisa. The San Diego restaurant was opened in 1956, with the expansion of an additional deli in 1973. Having spanned three generations thus far, this family-managed establishment is an authentic Italian food institution here in downtown San Diego. Stop into the deli to pick up all the traditional Italian foods you love, and ingredients to cook authentic Italian dishes at home, order a Pizza Bianca from the restaurant to go, or sit down in the restaurant to delight in Gnocchi alla Vodka or Frutti de Mare. Any way you choose, you can’t go wrong.
Isola Pizza Bar
Courtesy of Isola Pizza Bar
A day without pizza is like a day without sunshine. Isola Pizza Bar serves up wood-fired pies in style. Try their traditional Margherita or even their Salamino Piccante before topping it off with an affogato. Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 2:30pm to 5pm, however, their current revised hours have them closed on Tuesdays.
Pappalecco
Looking for breakfast? We’ve got you covered. Start your day off with one of Pappalecco’s breakfast croissants, maybe the Prosciutto or Caprese options paired with a cappuccino or marocchino for that rich, Nutella twist. Or get yourself a scoop of gelato to enjoy while you take in the area. Pappalecco opens at 7am, Monday through Friday, and 7:30am on the weekends, so you can get your morning fix.
Solunto Restaurant & Bakery
This casual little Italian restaurant specializes in handcrafted breads, pastries, pizza, and gelato. Solunto is a farm-to-table experience that offers both indoor and patio dining so you can enjoy your fresh pastry and espresso in the fresh air. With a Happy Hour that runs Monday through Friday from 4pm to 6pm and again on Saturday and Sunday from 3pm to 5pm, there are plenty of opportunities to stop in for their specials on drafts, wines, and craft cocktails along with a selection of appetizers. Stick around for dinner and try one of their mouth-watering entrées. Solunto is also open late, Sunday through Thursday until 10pm and Friday and Saturday until 11pm.
There is so much going on in Little Italy, and we know it can be a lot to take in, which is why we also have professionally guided tours to help you understand the history and current vibe of the city, while you delight in tasters from top chefs and craft cocktails. Choose either our Pizza, Pastas and Piazzas Little Italy food tour or our Vino! Vino! wine tour as a great way to enjoy the sites while taking in the blend of local and traditional cultures. You won’t go hungry, that’s for sure!
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This blog was written by Aleezah Davenport. Aleezah is a native San Diegan, and a second-generation PLNU alumna. She enjoys exploring the city and taking her girls out for dinner on the cliffs at Sunset Cliffs. Writing about San Diego provides her the opportunity to learn more about the local scene, and share her newfound knowledge about her hometown – two of the things she loves most. She enjoys sharing her passions with readers, and is excited to be writing for a platform that provides fun information to a large audience.
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Hi, I’m Bianca, San Diego native, tour guide, and founder of So Diego. From food tours to customized private events, we provide travel tips, places to eat, and more to help you explore the city like a pro. Let us show you the best of San Diego!
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