Little Italy
Come for the Mercato, stay for old-guard deli counters, public spaces, and big-night dining.
Start here
23 in total
Neighborhood DiningThe 9 Best Restaurants in Little Italy, Ranked9
Neighborhood GuidesThe 5 Best Things to Do in Little Italy, San Diego, Ranked5
Restaurants20 CH Projects Restaurants and Bars in San Diego, Ranked20
Date NightThe 12 Best Private Dining Rooms and Big-Group Restaurants in San Diego12
Bars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Cocktail Bars in San Diego10
Bars & NightlifeThe 8 Best Wine Bars in San Diego, Ranked8
Every list that covers Little Italy
Updated as places change
9 rankedNeighborhood DiningThe 9 Best Restaurants in Little Italy, RankedUpdated Jul 27
5 rankedNeighborhood GuidesThe 5 Best Things to Do in Little Italy, San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
20 rankedRestaurants20 CH Projects Restaurants and Bars in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 23
12 rankedDate NightThe 12 Best Private Dining Rooms and Big-Group Restaurants in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
10 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Cocktail Bars in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
8 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 8 Best Wine Bars in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
9 rankedDate NightThe 9 Best Anniversary Restaurants in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
10 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Beer Gardens in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
13 rankedMarketsThe 13 Best Farmers Markets in San Diego, by Day of the WeekUpdated Aug 2- 10 rankedDate NightThe 10 Best First-Date Bars in San DiegoUpdated Aug 2
14 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 14 Best Happy Hours in San Diego, RankedUpdated Aug 2
10 current entriesRestaurantsThe Best New Restaurants in San Diego: 10 Places to KnowUpdated Aug 2
12 rankedPizza, Burgers & SandwichesThe 12 Best Sandwiches in San DiegoUpdated Jul 30
9 rankedArts & CultureThe 9 Best Live Music Venues in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
9 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 9 Best Sports Bars in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Late-Night Eats in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 27
7 stopsItinerariesOne Perfect Day in San DiegoUpdated Jul 27
12 stopsItinerariesThe Perfect 3 Days in San DiegoUpdated Jul 27
10 rankedBars & NightlifeThe 10 Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 26
9 rankedSeafoodThe 9 Best Seafood Restaurants in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 24
7 rankedRestaurantsThe 7 Best Steakhouses in San Diego, RankedUpdated Jul 24
10 rankedMexicanThe 10 Best Fish Tacos in San DiegoUpdated Jul 19
12 rankedBreakfast, Bakeries & SweetsThe 12 Best Bakeries in San DiegoUpdated Jul 18
The neighborhood itself
27 verified places · 19 eat & drink and 4 things-to-do listsLittle Italy's appeal is density: a market morning, a public square, and several very different meals can fit into a few blocks. On Saturday, start at the Mercato, get coffee at Bird Rock, and pause at Piazza della Famiglia. Mona Lisa is the old-guard deli lunch; Ironside shifts the plan toward oysters, while Born & Raised is the dinner splurge. False Idol needs its own booking if cocktails are the main event. Take the trolley or use a garage—street parking is the least interesting gamble in the neighborhood.
If you only do 5 things
Know before you go
Parking: garages on Kettner and India — street parking is a lottery
Transit: the trolley’s County Center/Little Italy stop is two blocks in
Don’t miss: the Mercato, Saturdays 8am–2pm
Where they are — 27 verified places
The index
Ranked places pulled from all 23 listsMorning Glory in Little Italy is the breakfast pick of the CH Projects lineup, and the soufflé pancakes are the reason.
Born & Raised on India Street is Little Italy's steakhouse production, and dry-aged beef is the reason to book.
For a neighborhood that grew up on the tuna fleet, Ironside Fish & Oyster is the seafood answer, and it sits in a prominent spot on India Street.
Mona Lisa Italian Foods started out supplying the tuna fleet.
Rum is the reason to come to False Idol, and the room is the reason you stay for another round.
Somebody has to organize the birthday, and Ballast Point Brewing on India Street in Little Italy makes that job easy.
M Winehouse is the answer when it's 11:30 and nobody's ready to go home.
Amici Park, at State and Date Streets, is where the piazza walk ends and where Little Italy gets to play.