Little Italy, CA

San Diego

Little Italy
Little Italy
Little Italy
Little Italy
Little Italy
In this vibrant enclave of Downtown San Diego find chic bars, boutiques and galleries, a weekly food and handicrafts market and a bayside park.

Laidback and pedestrian-friendly Little Italy is a magnificent showcase of thriving European customs and an innovative drinking and dining scene. Little Italy was once the lifeblood of San Diego’s tuna fishing industry. It attracted immigrant Italian and Portuguese families, many of whom set up business and restaurants. Today their traditions flourish around piazzas and alongside modern bars, cafés and restaurants.

At the heart of the neighborhood is the elegant Piazza della Famiglia, a square framed by pavement cafés. Sit by the piazza’s Little Italy Fountain and watch locals coming and going. Sample delicious gelatos, pizzas, Maine lobster rolls and tacos at the Little Italy Food Hall.

Stroll through the neon-lit Little Italy Landmark Sign to India Street and find authentic Italian restaurants and fast food joints. Note the artwork on the sign’s pillars, which portrays the community’s fishing and culinary heritage. Nearby Kettner Boulevard is the place to hop between brewpubs, delicatessens, wine bars and restaurants owned by celebrity chefs.

Plan your visit on a Saturday for the Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market. With over 200 gourmet food, fresh produce and handicraft traders, this is San Diego County’s biggest farmers market. Chefs convene at the Little Italy Wednesday Market to stock up on fruits, vegetables, eggs, meat and fish.

For an insight into the history of the city’s fire department, browse displays of antique rescue equipment and vehicles at the Firehouse Museum. Attend a service at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, notable for its interior frescoes and stained-glass windows.

Make your way to the Waterfront Park to relax on lush lawns, have fun in interactive fountains and enjoy picnics with bay views. Here, the Maritime Museum of San Diego has historic ships and boat tours. Play bocce and attend the Little Italy Summer Film Festival at Amici Park.

Little Italy occupies the northernmost corner of Downtown San Diego. It’s just a 10-minute drive from San Diego International Airport and easy to reach by public buses and trolleys.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Little Italy Hotel Deals

The Little Italy Hotel Downtown San Diego

The Little Italy Hotel Downtown San Diego

4 out of 5
1646 Front St, San Diego, CA
$131 nightly
The price is $152 total per night from Sep 3 to Sep 4
$152 total
Sep 3 - Sep 4
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,030 reviews)
"nice area"

Reviewed on Aug 25, 2025

The Little Italy Hotel Downtown San Diego
Little Italy Inn - Limited Service Apart Hotel

Little Italy Inn - Limited Service Apart Hotel

2.5 out of 5
1736 State St, San Diego, CA
$99 nightly
The price is $113 total per night from Aug 28 to Aug 29
$113 total
Aug 28 - Aug 29
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this aparthotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Port of San Diego and USS Midway Museum ...
7.8/10 Good! (49 reviews)
"Nothing fancy and very small but clean and easy. Location can’t be beat"

Reviewed on Aug 22, 2025

Little Italy Inn - Limited Service Apart Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayside

Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayside

3.5 out of 5
2137 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA
$135 nightly
The price is $157 total per night from Sep 1 to Sep 2
$157 total
Sep 1 - Sep 2
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,132 reviews)
"Great location walkable to lots of restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Been staying here for years and plan on returning."

Reviewed on Aug 24, 2025

Hilton Garden Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayside
Hampton Inn San Diego-Downtown

Hampton Inn San Diego-Downtown

2.5 out of 5
San Diego
$154 nightly
The price is $179 total per night from Sep 1 to Sep 2
$179 total
Sep 1 - Sep 2
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a rooftop terrace. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8/10 Very Good! (2,099 reviews)
"Great place to stay"

Reviewed on Aug 21, 2025

Hampton Inn San Diego-Downtown
Porto Vista Hotel Downtown

Porto Vista Hotel Downtown

3.5 out of 5
1835 Columbia St, San Diego, CA
$121 nightly
The price is $141 total per night from Aug 28 to Aug 29
$141 total
Aug 28 - Aug 29
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
6.4/10 (1,177 reviews)
Nice choice if you don’t want to spend a lot.
"Very nice boutique hotel. Staff was friendly the hotel was clean, bar was open late enough to grab a drink after the game and it’s 1 block up from the Little Italy strip with tons of restaurants and places to grab a drink. We walked to Petco park, it’s a pretty decent distance maybe 20-25 min walk, ..."

Reviewed on Aug 24, 2025

Porto Vista Hotel Downtown
La Pensione Hotel

La Pensione Hotel

3 out of 5
606 West Date Street, San Diego, CA
$143 nightly
The price is $163 total per night from Sep 8 to Sep 9
$163 total
Sep 8 - Sep 9
Total with taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in San Diego. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,820 reviews)
"The hotel is right in the heart of the action in Little Italy. Plenty of excellent food choices within a few steps of the front door."

Reviewed on Aug 23, 2025

La Pensione Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighborhoods around Little Italy

US Grant Hotel

Downtown San Diego

4.5/5(8,497 area reviews)

Cultural and financial hub, Downtown San Diego boasts the Symphony, Opera, theaters, museums, and historic sites like Gaslamp Quarter. Enjoy diverse shops, dining, nightlife, and convenient public transport options.

Downtown San Diego
Gaslamp Quarter showing signage, night scenes and street scenes

Gaslamp Quarter

Downtown San Diego's historic district boasts Victorian-era buildings, now housing vibrant restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues. Stroll from Broadway to Harbor Drive, and 4th to 6th Avenue, admiring the newly installed gaslamps at Market Street.

Gaslamp Quarter
Petco Park featuring a statue or sculpture

East Village

Travelers choose East Village for its lively bars. Hop aboard the metro at City College Trolley Station or Park and Market Trolley Station and check out top sights like Petco Park.

East Village
Loads of Loafs

Hillcrest

3.5/5(53 area reviews)

Visitors to Hillcrest enjoy its restaurants, and if you want to do some exploring, Marston House is worth a stop.

Hillcrest
Old Town San Diego State Park showing signage

Old Town San Diego

4.5/5(877 area reviews)

The ample dining options and beautiful seaside views are top of the list for many visitors to Old Town San Diego. A stop by Old Town San Diego State Park or Whaley House Museum might round out your trip.

Old Town San Diego
Try the tamale eggs Benedict!

North Park

4/5(78 area reviews)

North Park is well-liked for its restaurants. You can also take some time to explore sights in the surrounding area like San Diego Zoo and San Diego Natural History Museum.

North Park

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Little Italy, CA

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