North Beach/Little Italy San Francisco
Food and shopping guide
Little Italy, more locally known in San Francisco neighborhood North Beach, it a beautifully colorful area that has the most charm at night. Many, if not most, of the businesses in Little Italy are family owed and have charming stories. My most favorite of all is Sodini’s, stick around to the end to read about it.
Little Italy is a great place to walk in San Francisco. With many cafes, restaurants, and adjacent to Chinatown, the culture is ever so thriving. In the center of it all is Washington Square, right next to Saints Peter and Paul’s Church. This square is constantly filled with locals, usually enjoying a slice of Tony’s pizza.
Tony’s Pizza is right on the same corner of Washington Square and is without a doubt one of the most popular places to eat in all of San Francisco. My personal recommendation is the Classic American Vodka Pie. This is a great restaurant for those who like to sit outside, it is always lively and a great spot to people watch.
Also in Washington Square is Giovanni Italian Specialties, a small local store that provides high quality Italian items such as olive oil and Salami. This store also sells fresh pasta and has a full functioning deli.
Another great store in Little Italy is Luke’s Local. This is much more of a specialty store that has a slightly higher price range. However, it has a much larger selection of wines and also has a full meat counter. This store in located on Green street, right underneath Sodini’s.
Two other great restaurants in North Beach are Barbara’s and Calzones (Now called The Stinking Rose). Barbara’s is definitely a restaurant that you would want to get a reservation for, especially if going during dinner time. This is also a great restaurant for those who like to sit outside. Calzones is also great for those who like to sit outside, however, I recommend the inside as the decor is amazing.
The one and only Sodini’s
Now, if you have made it this far, you have finally reached my most favorite restaurant in the entire world. Sodini’s is a place where my entire family have spent many birthday’s, graduation parties, and just regular ole’ get togethers. The owner is often there and usually the one at the front door seating people. The other members of the staff have been there for many years and are honestly some of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen.
And this place at night??? So beautiful. They are open 5pm-9:30pm Monday-Friday and 4pm-9:30pm Saturday and Sunday. If you want a seat right in the front window, which I 100% recommend, you’ll want to get there around 30 minutes before opening as there is usually a small line. Other than that, the line often isn’t too long, but you never know.
In the above picture you can see their slogan “No Decaf, No Reservations, No Desserts, No Exceptions” and they mean it. But seriously, this is an absolute must try if you’re visiting San Francisco.
For the sports fans, this restaurant does have a bar and often is playing a game, usually baseball, and always the Giants.
Finally, I cannot express this enough, SIT INSIDE. The decor is UNBEATABLE. Even the bathrooms, while very small, tell such a beautiful story. And shall I mention, the many tributes to Frank Sinatra, my favorite.
Please I truly can’t say it enough, this is a must try.
Parking
There are parking garages in North Beach but they can often be expensive. Personally, I try to find street parking nearby, but of course that is always unpredictable. However, I have never once not been able to find it. I may have had to drive out 10 blocks, but it truly is worth it. Fair warning, parking in this neighborhood is unpredictable and if possible I highly recommend taking public transit or ride share.
Wrapping up
As always, I love to hear recommendations on what the readers what to read about next. While this is my complete North Beach guide, even after visiting for the last 22 years, there is still so much untapped for me. I highly intend to continue trying new restaurants and stores and writing a follow-up.
Until next time! Ciao