Top Best Italian Restaurants in La Jolla Shores

"Buona Forchetta is all about pizza—Neapolitan-style, specifically—with blistered crusts, San Marzano tomato sauce, and five-star olive oil (Italian-born owner Matteo Cattaneo hails from a line of olive oil producers, and ships in his family's liquid gold by the barrel). Pies are simple, allowing high-quality ingredients like fresh buffalo mozzarella, basil, and the much-beloved spicy salami to shine. Grab a seat on their oft-packed patio, illuminated by string lights and filled with leafy trees, and soak in the warm California night while you wait."

"One of San Diego’s most beloved Neapolitan-style pizzas can be found at Buona Forchetta, which now has multiple locations throughout San Diego County in addition to its original location in South Park."

"This cozy Tuscanesque cafe is as popular a hangout for surfers as it is with the more senior members of La Jolla society. Terra-cotta tiled floors, bottles of chianti, and a Roman fountain all contribute to the setting for an authentic Italian menu. Highlights include gourmet wood oven-fired pizzas, Saffron Pappardelle and House-Made Ricotta-Spinach Basil Ravioli."

"Blocks from the beach in La Jolla Shores, this comfortably modern dining room and shaded patio hits all the right notes—affordable, polished...Read More"

"This restaurant is not local to San Diego but is California based. They boast some of the best views of the bay and downtown San Diego as well as the Coronado Bridge. Using traditional cooking techniques, they serve up authentic Italian cuisine and have an extensive wine list."

"This farm-to-table restaurant located in the village serves breakfast 7 days a week from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm. It features open-air windows, a small outdoor patio, and the servers are friendly and attentive. The menu is ever-changing to reflect what the executive chef can get from local farms and purveyors, and everything is made from scratch."

"This farm-to-table restaurant features happy hour specials daily from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Come from work, the beach or one of many San Diego adventures and unwind with specially priced happy hour menu that includes appetizers, salads, wines, beers, and cocktails. The restaurant features open-air windows and a small outdoor patio."

"With a farm-to-table approach, Whisknladle succeeds in making simple food taste extraordinary. The menu changes with the season and is void of fuss. Everything is made from scratch, including the tonics and purees for the artisanal cocktails."

"Extremely kind and funny servers, always felt taken care of and like we had friendly banter. Food was incredible as always."

"Formerly known as Giulio's of Pacific Beach, Jack & Giulio's Italian Restaurant has been providing guests with authentic, high-quality Italian food since 1961. The specialty here is the shrimp scampi, but the menu also offers a good assortment of delectable appetizers, freshly made salads, meat entrees, and other seafood dishes. There are also a number of specialty pasta dishes that the restaurant makes from scratch; gluten-free substitutions are offered for some of these dishes."

"The San Diego Union Museum enables visitors to see where the San Diego Union, the first newspaper in the city, got its start. Visitors can tour the recreated editor’s office and the original print room to see how they looked in 1868. The prefabricated wooden building was manufactured on the East Coast, shipped to California and reassembled in 1851."

"The museum showcases the region’s unique, colorful, and diverse history exhibiting artifacts, costumes, textiles, art, and photographs detailing life and development of the local area."

"Therefore, it’s possible to walk into this museum to learn about California’s mission history (the museum sits on the first European settlement site in California) for free. If you did enjoy your visit and feel compelled to donated upon exit, this is possible. (Location: Presidio Park / Old Town)"

"Within Old Town don’t miss Casa de Estudillo, which is one of the few original buildings (many are reproductions), Whaley House and Museum, which is believed to be haunted and Junípero Serra Museum, literally the place where California began. You can get more information here."

"The House of Pacific Relations International Cottages showcases the traditions of 34 national groups, some of which have their own cottages (build originally for the 1935 Exposition). The goal is to promote multicultural understanding through exhibits and programming. (Location: Balboa Park)"

"It comes complete with cupcakes, frosting, sprinkles, spatulas and decorations for you to decorate your own unique cupcake treats at home."