San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Little Italy

Herb & Wood

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Chef-owner Brian Malarkey has Animae (downtown) and Herb & Sea (Encinitas) due this year, but the concept that reenergized the Malarkey name continues to impress in Little Italy. Beyond wood-fired dishes and off-menu Parker rolls for dinner, don’t miss brunch, where the huckleberry-topped Dutch baby soufflé shines.herbandwood

Little Italy Food Hall

Choose from paper-thin pizza, thick lobster rolls, Asian street eats, and more at this marketplace of local vendors. On March 20 you can watch a demo on how to cook a live lobster by Sam the Cooking Guy (the brains behind the hall’s Not Not Tacos) and the Wicked Maine Lobster team. littleitalyfoodhall

San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Little Italy

Little Italy Food Hall

Mikkeller Brewing

After success in Miramar, the Danish beer brand brought their hazy IPAs and fruit-forward beers along with their bright, funky cartoon art to a Little Italy taproom last year. Try the Raspberry Blush for a tart brew that goes down easy. mikkellersd

San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Little Italy

Mikkeller Brewing

Love & Aesthetics

Step inside this quirky shop for unqiue gifts, like brass raptor-talon candle holders and gin decanters shaped like rockets. loveandaesthetics

Born & Raised

Dine on dry-aged steak, omelets cooked tableside, and classic cocktails at this splashy steakhouse by CH Projects (Ironside, Craft & Commerce), where waiters don tuxedos and Converse and portraits of gangster rappers hang on the walls. Next up, CH is opening the brunch-focused Morning Glory in Little Italy. bornandraisedstk

San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Little Italy

Born & Raised | Photo by Sam Wells

Nolita Hall

The Euro-inspired beer emporium is anchored at the bar, where an old-fashioned train departures board lists the taps (there’s wine and cocktails, too). The menu has veggie starters with fried sage and other gourmet toppings, plus wood-fired pizzas. nolitahall

San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Little Italy

Nolita Hall

Carruth Wine Garden

Away from the bustle of Kettner Boulevard is this oasis of a winery with patio space dressed in string lights, brick facades, and trees aplenty. During their weekday happy hour, glasses are $3 off and bottles are $5 off. carruthcellars

San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Little Italy

Carruth Wine Garden

San Diego Neighborhood Guide: Little Italy

Herb & Wood