Like an urban renewal mashup, Little Italy mixes old-world charm (it’s a former Italian fishing village) and new-school planning (some of San Diego’s most progressive architects were commissioned by the city to build contemporary retail/residential structures while preserving the neighborhood’s charming vibe). Today, octogenarian Italian men playing bocce ball give friendly nods to the stylish young urbanites who live there or at least visit often for the mix of ethnic markets and eateries and cutting-edge galleries and design stores.
