Posted by Just a stone’s throw north of the United States/Mexico border, I was ready to enjoy some authentic Mexican cuisine on our trip to San Diego. And believe me, I did! But one might not think that one of San Diego’s most vibrant districts would be… Little Italy? When my wife told me that she had booked a boutique hotel in this area, I too thought it was odd.
But the neighborhood played host to most of our evening (and sometimes morning) food and drink adventures. The most captivating stretch in area was a piazza that was steps away from where we stayed. Cafes, restaurants, food halls and bars lined this brilliant stretch of public space, and while the February temperatures often dipped into the 50s and even 40s, it was still a place of vibrancy. I can’t imagine what it must look like on an 85 degree evening in the summer.
The streets flaunted their post-COVID parking space re-allocations, as many restaurants spilled out into the streets.
But not everything was about he accent lighting and hip establishments. Amanda and I went to two amazingly authentic Italian mainstays where the food and the value blew our minds. Mona Lisa Italian Food and Filippis Pizza Grotto both had restaurants that could only be accessed by walking through tiny, narrow-aisled Italian markets. At Mona Lisa, we had a heaping helping of pasta and salad for $10, and it was probably some of the best pasta I’ve ever had.
At Filippis, we had the most insane cheese pizza. The Mozzarella cheese was so thick and so fresh… it ruined other pizza for us forever.
For breakfast one day, we stumbled into Morning Glory, a breakfast spot with all the visual appeal. And of course, I had a breakfast pasta dish. It was all amazing.
There’s a part of urbanism that I speak to with regard to mindset, policy, environmental health and social equity. But I’m also just a fan. I just love enjoying neighborhoods like Little Italy and seeing how true vibrancy, neighborhood identity and design that brings people together creates the most uplifting environments.
***I am an urbanist influencer and do not have a formal degree in urban planning. While I am deeply passionate about urban design, trends, issues and topics, I believe in this time of undisciplined media to be honest and transparent regarding my lack of any kind of formal journalism or urban planning education. I still believe in my ability to present my viewpoints on interesting topics, but I fully admit that I have not been trained in the higher-educational rigors of expertise on such perspectives. My goal is to challenge people to think differently, not to be the the cited source of unquestionable truth. This footer will now accompany every Urban Phoenix piece, and I am proud to offer this transparency in a time when opinion is often coveted over rigorously-tested fact.***