Little Italy

The story

Little Italy's shopping runs along India St and Kettner Blvd from Ash St to Laurel St, with more on Columbia St, W Fir St and W Date St. Kettner Blvd has the design showrooms and galleries, India St the boutiques and Italian food, and W Fir St a short block of small shops. The Green Line trolley stops at County Center/Little Italy, at the west edge of the shopping blocks.

Galleries and Design on Kettner

The Studio Arts Building at 2400 Kettner Blvd is the place to start for art. Meyer Fine Art (Suite 104) has been there since 2006, specializing in limited-edition prints and works on paper by international and local artists, plus the Clay Walker estate. The Blue Azul Collection (#102) shows emerging, mid-career and established artists. Further south, Adelman Fine Art in the Instrata Building shows original paintings, limited editions, art glass, sculpture and photography, with artists including Iris Scott and Jason Humphrey.

Kettner is also where you come with a project in mind. Studio Europa LEICHT is San Diego's exclusive authorized dealer for LEICHT and Pedini kitchen cabinetry, and showroom visits are scheduled with the design team. Irelia Fine Jewelry has made engagement rings and wedding bands in Little Italy since 2004, with design, CAD/CAM and manufacturing in-house; it sees clients by appointment.

Boutiques and Home on India Street

The 2300 block of India St has a small cluster. Stroll (2360) is a women's boho boutique with dresses, swim, outerwear, jewelry, handbags and hats, plus home gifts and maternity and bridal pieces, some made locally. Across the street, India Street Antiques (2361) has imported European antique and vintage furniture since 1991: armoires, sideboards, lighting and architectural salvage, with restoration in its workshop. Crema Boutique (2355) sells clothing, shoes and jewelry in the building it shares with James Coffee Co. Rosamariposa (611) and Vitreum (619) sit side by side on W Fir St, and Love & Aesthetics mixes Seletti, Jonathan Adler and Cire Trudon with niche fragrances, candles, handmade jewelry and kids' toys.

Food to Take Home

Food shopping is the other reason to come. Mona Lisa Italian Foods runs a market and deli next to its restaurant, with fresh ravioli, imported wine, olive oil and dried pasta, cheeses, cured meats and its own red sauce. Bottlecraft, the local craft beer shop's original location, sells hard-to-find bottles and cans plus wine, cider, spirits and kombucha, and has a tasting room. Salt & Straw, the ice cream chain's first San Diego shop, scoops daily from noon to 11pm.

The Little Italy Mercato fills six blocks of W Date St every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, year-round, with farm stands at the center selling produce, eggs, meat, fish, olive oil, bread and flowers, and artisans and gifts at each end. A smaller market runs Wednesdays 9:30am–1:30pm on W Date St from Kettner Blvd to State St.

Eating and Timing

Filippi's Pizza Grotto has been family-owned since 1950, and you walk through its Italian deli to reach the dining room. Morning Glory serves breakfast and brunch only, with soufflé pancakes and shakshuka, holds a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand (2026) and draws long waits. For dinner, Born & Raised is an art deco steakhouse with a rooftop bar, and Herb & Wood and Juniper & Ivy are side by side near the galleries.

Saturday is the day to come, for the Mercato. Shops that post hours mostly open around 10–11am and close 6–7pm; Meyer Fine Art is open Wed–Sun 11am–5pm, and Stroll stays open to 7pm on Friday and Saturday. Most other shops don't post hours, so call ahead. On Saturdays the Washington Elementary school lots at 248 W Date St and 400 W Fir St open for Mercato shoppers and are closer than the garages; the County parking structure at 1536 Kettner Blvd is another option.