Apartments for Rent in Little Italy, San Diego, CA

Little Italy is downtown San Diego’s most culturally rich neighborhood. After a few quiet decades, Little Italy is currently experiencing its own renaissance as it ushers in stylish apartments, celebrated restaurants, and shared community spaces. Little Italy is the perfect choice for renters seeking a more refined urban lifestyle.

Transportation

• I-5
• I-805
• SR 163
• SR 94
• Walkable

Demographic

• Young professionals
• Established artists

Contains:

• Washington Elementary School
• Mercato Farmers’ Market
• Amici Park

Close to:

• Downtown San Diego
• Balboa Park
• Gaslamp Quarter
• Waterfront Park
• San Diego International Airport

Little Italy in three words: sophisticated, thriving, culture

Located just north of downtown San Diego, Little Italy is a stylish neighborhood that feels miles (if not oceans) away from downtown living. Little Italy has traded high-rises for palazzos and parking garages for piazzas, and in doing so has maintained cultural traditions while growing as a modern, urban neighborhood.

While the Italian fishermen who originally inhabited the region might not recognize bustling India Street today, plenty of Italian-American culture has been preserved in the form of food, festivals, and art. Little Italy brilliantly straddles the line between red-checkered tablecloths and Milano elegance, and residents can’t get enough of its lively flair.

As the area grows, and especially after being named one of the best neighborhoods in the US for millennials, the demand for apartments is increasing. Little Italy is a more peaceful alternative to East Village and attracts a mixed demographic of young professionals, established artists, and married couples. Renting in Little Italy is the perfect way to enjoy downtown living in a less hectic way.

Little Italy is a small neighborhood and most of its residential properties are occupied by renters. Little Italy has really blossomed in the last decade, so you’ll find that most apartments and condos in the area are new. Most of the neighborhood is under the flight path of San Diego International Airport which means that there are fewer high-rise apartment buildings than other downtown neighborhoods. Although there are some bigger complexes in southern Little Italy, you’ll mostly find modern mid-rise apartments and smaller condos. Little Italy rents are on the rise as the neighborhood continues to rebuild, but most properties have luxury amenities and bay views. When you’re ready to start your Little Italy apartment search, it’s easy to cover the small region on foot. There’s no bad location to rent in Little Italy, but India Street is the most active so you might want to start in that area first.

Much of Little Italy’s recent popularity is credited to its thriving dining scene. In addition to Italian classics, modern chef-driven restaurants like Juniper & Ivy, Bracero, and Ironside Fish & Oyster have achieved critical acclaim. Little Italy has more fine dining than wild nightlife, and some younger residents say that Little Italy is sleepy after 10:00pm. But most residents are perfectly happy to be able to sleep peacefully after enjoying one of the area’s many restaurants. For Little Italy renters who are looking for after-dinner fun, it’s a short walk to the lively Gaslamp Quarter for bars and clubs.

Little Italy is most vibrant during one of its many festivals. Most of the festivals focus on the neighborhood’s art scene or Italian heritage, and popular festivals include Taste of Little Italy, FESTA, Ferragosta, Stickball Tournaments, Little Italy Summer Film Festival, and Mission Federal ArtWalk. When Little Italy residents aren’t attending one of the many festivals, you’ll likely find them gathering at public spaces like the Amici Park Dog Park or one of the neighborhood’s open piazzas. But the Saturday Mercato Farmers’ Market is by far the most popular destination for Little Italy renters. It’s the perfect way to start your weekend and stock up on fresh produce, fish, crafts, and gifts.

Little Italy is the ideal downtown neighborhood if you want to rent an apartment that’s closer to art galleries and wine tastings than bars and clubs. Renting in Little Italy means that you can walk to work downtown but come home to the comforts of a peaceful luxury apartment. Due to the many public open spaces, Little Italy has a strong sense of community, and it’s a great choice for young professionals who want to share experiences with their neighbors. Little Italy is booming right now, so renting here now allows for first access to all of the neighborhood’s exciting development and growth.