The Top Places to Go in San Diego’s Little Italy

There’s nothing I love more than playing tourist in my own city. No matter how much traveling we do, where we go, or what we see, there’s nothing better than coming home to San Diego. We’re truly so blessed to live here, and I swear, every time I step outside, I discover something new.

Our friends came into town recently, and we decided to take them out of our Carlsbad hub and head down to Little Italy, located in Downtown San Diego. In just a few block span, you can see and do SO much! I wanted to share a few of our favorite stops and bites to inspire your next visit to Little Italy.

Walk Along the Waterfront

The next best thing to the beach is San Diegos’ impeccable bay views. Downtown, you have a front-row view of the shimmering water and boats along San Diego Bay. The waterfront also has a great, easy walkway that takes you down to Seaport Village.

Visit the Little Italy Mercato Farmers Market

Make sure you’ve packed your reusable bag and go wild in this massive farmers market. Flowers, fresh produce, honey, cheese, food trucks, music — it truly has it all! This is my favorite farmers market in San Diego, full of so much good stuff and right in the heart of Little Italy. You’re truly in the hustle and bustle of it all.

Enjoy lunch at Davanti Enoteca

The best thing about Little Italy is, of course, the food. There are so many amazing restaurants, and Davanti Enoteca is for sure one of our favorite Italian spots. Everything is great — and they have an awesome outdoor area in the back — but their ricotta honeycomb bread is to die for.

Tour the San Diego Firehouse Museum

If you’ve got little ones in tow, the Firehouse Museum is a great stop full of vintage firetrucks to check out. The building is over 100 years old and filled to the brim with rich firehouse history.

Visit Our Lady of the Rosary Church

Known as the jewel of Little Italy, this Catholic Church does a lot of good for the community, including giving back to assist marginalized communities. We always love stopping in and honoring their efforts.

Take the Pups to Little Italy Dog Park

Date Street’s dog park is the perfect place for your pups to run off some energy and socialize with other friendly dogs. We like going in the morning or late afternoon to avoid big crowds, but our dogs always love it.

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Grab a Slice at Sorrento Ristorante or Isola Pizza

Pizza is a must if you visit Little Italy. We often switch between Sorrento’s or Isola’s, both found right on India Street. Sorrento is known for their ultra-thin, crispy pizzas, and Isola specializes in Napoli-style woodfired. Either way, so delicious!!

Enjoy Fresh Seafood at Ironside

Little Italy isn’t just home to great Italian food — some of San Diego’s best restaurants are also located here, making it so easy to try new flavors with every visit. Ironside is a must if you’re a shellfish fanatic like me. Their menu has an extensive raw bar, fresh oysters, and clam chowder I dream about!

Sunday Brunch at Wolfie’s

A carousel inside a restaurant? This is the kind of magic you can find in Little Italy. I love brunch at Wolfie’s — it’s delicious food, signature drinks, and an incredible ambiance to kickstart your Sunday. Be sure to get the beignets for the table!

Explore on Your Own Two Feet

Get your steps in and enjoy the day! It’s truly a treasure trove of architecture, boutiques, restaurants, and so much more. Of course, your last stop should always be ice cream, and your order should be stracciatella! The perfect ending to a perfect day.

Have you been to Little Italy? This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but a few of our favorite spots. Let me know your favorites, and enjoy your next outing in Little Italy, San Diego!

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