
Civico 1845
A taste of Southern Italy in San Diego, featuring fresh, authentic dishes and a renowned vegan menu.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Civico 1845

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A taste of Southern Italy in San Diego, featuring fresh, authentic dishes and a renowned vegan menu.
Reserve Ahead for Indoor Seating
Book your table in advance to ensure indoor seating, especially for popular times.
Don't Miss the Bread!
Enjoy the complimentary bread served in a brown bag with a delicious pesto dipping sauce.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Italian
Price
Mid-range
Phone
(619) 431-5990
Address
1845 India St, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Southern Italian Cuisine
Experience fresh, light, and authentic Southern Italian dishes, with a special vegan menu that impresses all.

Innovative Vegan Menu
Explore a comprehensive vegan menu featuring delicious Italian classics like Linguine al Verde and homemade Lasagna.

Unique Aperol Spritz Bar
Indulge in showstopping varieties of Aperol Spritz at their vibrant and stylish bar.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Reserve Ahead for Indoor Seating
Book your table in advance to ensure indoor seating, especially for popular times.
Don't Miss the Bread!
Enjoy the complimentary bread served in a brown bag with a delicious pesto dipping sauce.
Enhance Flavors
Consider adding balsamic glaze to dishes like Caprese or vegan lasagna for an extra taste dimension.
Ask About Off-Menu Items
Inquire about special dishes like spaghetti with meatball or gluten-free pasta options.
Tips
from all over the internet
Reserve Ahead for Indoor Seating
Book your table in advance to ensure indoor seating, especially for popular times.
Don't Miss the Bread!
Enjoy the complimentary bread served in a brown bag with a delicious pesto dipping sauce.
Enhance Flavors
Consider adding balsamic glaze to dishes like Caprese or vegan lasagna for an extra taste dimension.
Ask About Off-Menu Items
Inquire about special dishes like spaghetti with meatball or gluten-free pasta options.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Civico 1845 is praised for its authentic Southern Italian cuisine and extensive vegan menu, making it a standout in Little Italy. Diners highlight the cozy ambiance perfect for date nights and the complimentary bread with pesto. However, some guests have experienced rushed service and found the food to be good but not exceptionally outstanding compared to other Italian options.
"Civico 1845 stands out as a must-visit destination for Italian cuisine enthusiasts, especially those seeking plant-based options. Despite not being vegan myself, I've been drawn to their vegan menu time and again, and it never disappoints!
Their complementary bread that they bring out in a little brown bag and serve with a pesto like dipping sauce is incredibly tasty and is a must try!
The ambiance of Civico 1845 adds to its charm. It is cute, cozy, and perfect for date nights. The service has also always been good each time I've gone!"
Sarah D
"My wife and I have dined at quite a few Italian restaurants in Little Italy, but Civico 1845 stands out for one of my all-time favorite pasta dishes: the Pirro Pastificio Fileja. It’s infused with Calabrian chili pepper, guanciale, and pecorino crotonese—yes, it’s a mouthful, but so is the dish, in the best way possible. It’s served in an incredible red sauce, and the pasta itself is made in a very specific, traditional way—definitely ask your server about the story behind it.
Before I go on, I have to address something: Krystal Elizabeth left a 1-star review claiming she goes there often yet never left a positive comment. That just doesn’t add up—smh.
Back to the good stuff: the service was excellent. Marcelo, who waited on us at the bar, was super helpful and friendly. My wife had spaghetti with a meatball—not on the menu, but if you ask for it, they’ll make it. Trust me, it’s worth it."
Robert
"The food and atmosphere is superb. Lucas was our server and made the meal so enjoyable. We started with mussels and fried zucchini, which was a delicacy. We ordered the vegan lasagna, which was scrumptious, and a sausage pasta called casareccia tartufata. Flavors really sang. The pasta is homemade and even during a busy event like the Little Italy festival, the hostess and server went out of their way to take care of us."
J & M Schermerhorn
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Civico 1845 offers a comprehensive vegan menu alongside its traditional Italian offerings, being one of the first restaurants in California to do so.
Reservations are recommended, especially if you prefer indoor seating. Weekday visits or early evenings might offer a more relaxed experience.
Yes, you can ask your server about off-menu items such as spaghetti with meatball or gluten-free pasta options.
The restaurant serves complimentary bread in a brown paper bag with a delicious pesto-like dipping sauce.
Civico 1845 has a cozy and warm ambiance, ideal for date nights and intimate gatherings. It also features an outdoor patio.
Yes, Civico 1845 features an Aperol Spritz bar with various creative and showstopping varieties.
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Featured in these publications
Best Restaurants in San Diego's Little Italy to Eat at Right Now
Opened by brothers Dario and Pietro Gallo, who hail from Cosenza, Italy, this Calabrian eatery keeps its dishes fresh, light, and authentic as an homage to southern Italian cuisine. According to Civico 1845, they’re even the first restaurant in California with a full vegan Italian menu since 2015, which includes spinach-pesto-slathered Linguine al Verde, homemade Lasagna with Beyond Italian ragu, and Polenta with braised artichokes and seitan. Although the restaurant’s plant-based options are so tasty that even ardent carnivores won’t miss eating animal protein, the non-vegan menu also stars several heavy-hitters, like the Scialatielli Civico with Calabrian chili-pepper-infused pasta and Caledonian prawns or the mustard-honey-glazed Pollo e Patate.
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Address: 1845 India Street, San Diego, CA 92101 Phone: (619) 431-5990 Website. Civico 1845 serves traditional southern Italian dishes, an expansive menu, and a selection of cheeses and cured meats in addition to a separate vegan menu. Their outdoor patio offers a pleasant spot for al fresco dining.
10 Best Restaurants in Little Italy, San Diego in September 2025
Civico 1845–an authentic Italian restaurant with Southern Italian Roots–prioritizes natural and pure flavors, locally grown and seasonal ingredients, and proper cooking techniques. They are well-known for their Aperol Spritz bar where you can find a few showstopping Aperol Spritz varieties, such as their Cucumber mint vodka, Contratto Bianco, Elderflower, and Prosecco version called the Figurati Aperol Spritz. Their Italian pastas, fish, chicken, and slow braised cheek beef are all pristine choices that are gorgeously presented, reflecting the aesthetic decor surrounding their establishment.
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Tucked away in Little Italy, Civico 1845 is a charming eatery that serves a menu of contemporary Italian fare with a variety of vegan options. Furnished in reclaimed wood with comfortable tables and chairs and an outdoor patio, the restaurant has several signature dishes that have diners returning time and again. These include delights such as the Caprese Calda, which is a warm Caprese salad stacked with rice mozzarella, oven-roasted heirloom tomato, and arugula pesto.
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Conveniently located on India Street, Civico 1845 brings contemporary Italian cooking to San Diego’s culinary scene. A fixture in the heart of the city, this restaurant has become known for its focus on seafood and its dedication to Southern Italian cuisine. Notably, Civico 1845 stands out as the first Italian restaurant in the country to offer a full vegan menu, with options for any diner seeking an authentic and inclusive Italian dining experience.
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Mon-Thurs 4pm-10pm, Fri & Sat 12noon-11pm, Sun 12noon-10pm, 1845 India St, San Diego, CA 92101, www.civico1845.com. From Italy to San Diego, Civico 1845 is an authentic, yet contemporary Italian restaurant that features fresh flavours and a health-conscious menu. Dishes are made from scratch and the vegan menu focuses on locally grown and seasonal ingredients that are healthy, light and 100% vegan versions of Italian classics.
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It can be hard to choose from the sea of great Italian restaurants in Little Italy, but one place you’ll never go wrong with is Civico 1845. Located on bustling India Street, Civico is a go-to spot after you’ve wandered Little Italy’s Saturday farmer’s market. You can expect to find traditional Italian pasta dishes here, as well as vegan and gluten-free versions that are just as delicious as the original.
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Civico 1845 is a popular Italian restaurant located in the heart of San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood. Known for its authentic Italian cuisine and warm, inviting atmosphere, Civico 1845 offers a menu featuring traditional dishes made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant also offers a selection of wines and cocktails to complement the dining experience.
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Upon entering Civico 1845, I was immediately struck by the warmth and elegance of the atmosphere. The staff greeted me with genuine smiles, making me feel like a long-lost friend rather than a mere customer. As I perused the menu, my eyes were drawn to the standout dishes that had caught my attention: zucchini blossoms and gluten-free pasta.
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Civico 1845 in Little Italy and Civico by the Park are both owned by the same Calabrian family and feature Italian fare that goes back to their roots. The former made its mark as one of California’s first restaurants to offer an optional vegan Italian menu. They were recently able to extend their outdoor seating into the Piazza Basilone.
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If you're in the mood for Italian in San Diego, vegan or not - Civico 1845 is a go-to. Residing in the heart of Little Italy, this Italian gem makes fresh pasta daily, fresh bread daily and has an amazing menu. What's so great in particular about their menu, is that they have an entirely separate one just for vegans!
Highest-rated Italian Restaurants in San Diego, According to Tripadvisor
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (971 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 1845 India St, San Diego, CA 92101-2519- Read more on Tripadvisor. You may also like:Highest-rated seafood restaurants in San Diego by diners
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If your family likes Italian food, Civico 1845 is a fantastic family-friendly alternative in Little Italy. With a modern, lively environment and plenty of seating, the restaurant offers a wide range of classic Italian food. Their menu includes kid-friendly pasta options and cannoli for dessert.
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At the heart of Little Italy sits this Italian family restaurant, which pays homage to traditional recipes with a twist and offers a completely vegan menu. In a modern rustic setting, start with the wildly flavorful caprese calda, dine on scratch-made pasta dishes and save room for limoncello.
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Civico 1845 is the first restaurant in California with a full traditional and vegan-Italian menu. No need to skirt around modifications to get something delicious that suits your dietary preferences. Try the vegan, gluten-free shiitake risotto with a glass of chianti to start your evening.
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1845 India St, San Diego, CA 92101(619) 431-5990From Brunch to Dinner, Secure Your Table Here $$ | Italian. Personally, I have been to this restaurant a couple of times. I love it based on the fact that they use authentic techniques and fresh ingredients to bring the palate to Italy.
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Civico 1845 is located in the heart of Little Italy, and actually isn’t a‘vegan’ restaurant. But they do offer an incredible entirely vegan menu; from the salad and appetizers, to main course to dessert. And their cappuccinos are closest to authentic Italian I’ve truly ever tasted.
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Civico 1845 just celebrated its 10th anniversary in Little Italy. There’s a dish that’s been on the menu since the day they opened. The pappardelle brasato features homemade pasta with a slow-cooked short rib ragu and is some of the best pasta in San Diego.
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Civico 1845, #10 on our toplist of the best gluten-free restaurants in San Diego, welcomes you with a warm, rustic vibe. The Little Italy setting, with soft lighting, feels like a cozy trattoria straight from Italy. The menu redefines gluten-free Italian.
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We love this upscale café with alfresco sidewalk seating, so we can people-watch. Great for lunch or dinner, we always end up ordering the rich Pappardelle Brasato and buttered noodles for Duke. But, they also have a full vegan menu if that’s your thing.
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Civico 1845 is located at 1845 India St, San Diego, CA 92101, United States. This all-vegan restaurant focuses on calabrian food in the heart of Little Italy, San Diego. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the restaurant has a cozy atmosphere.
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Located in the heart of Little Italy, Civico 1845 serves authentic italian food set in a comfortable setting of white brick & pristine bar. They offer a special vegan menu for both lunch and dinner. My suggestion, try their Gnocchi Violetta.
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1845 India StSan Diego, CA 92101(619) 431-5990 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. This eatery with a covered and heated patio is a culinary mainstay in San Diego, serving amazing Southern Italian dishes in a homey space.
Best Italian food in San Diego
– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (965 reviews)– Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)– Type of cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean– Price: $$ – $$$– Address: 1845 India St, San Diego, CA 92101-2519– Read more on Tripadvisor
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Civico 1845 offers a new generation of Italian cuisine—fresh, light, and authentic—which makes it a great lunch option. And since it’s located in the heart of Little Italy, it’s the perfect spot to people-watch while you eat.
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Address: 1845 India St, San Diego, CA 92101(Little Italy Neighborhood). Civico 1845 has several unique qualities. It’s the first restaurant in California with a full Vegan Italian menu and they’ve been doing it since 2015.
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My celiac friend and I were in town and made sure to scope out all of the restaurants she could eat at. Civico takes gluten free very seriously. Her pasta was delicious and I couldn't even really tell it was gluten free.
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Civico 1845, 1845 India St. | This Little Italy restaurant is billed as the first in the US to offer a full vegan Italian menu. Find classics like Ragu Di Funghi and Vegan Lasagna.
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The menu at Civico 1845 focuses on locally grown and seasonal ingredients. And it shows – the dishes here are delightful. Adults will appreciate the broad Italian wine offerings.
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If it’s comfort you seek, Il Dandy and Civico 1845 can provide hearty Italian dishes to enjoy at home like rigatoni brasato with braised short ribs.
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1845 India St, San Diego, CA 92101Phone: 619-431-5990 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by CIVICO 1845 (@civico1845)
San Diego Good Eats Cheat Sheet
Don’t you hate it when you go to a really great restaurant and the person you are with drops the G bomb - Gluten Free.
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