I can't believe we have already celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary. Our lives have been pretty hectic lately and a Staycation in one of our favorite neighborhoods of Little Italy is just what we needed! With Mark working all different hours and me planning for baby boy's arrival and catching up with client deadlines prior to maternity leave, we have both been overly exhausted and had not had much time together. Last weekend we were grateful for the chance to check out Porto Vista Hotel and the Glass Door in Little Italy, San Diego.
Lunch at Kettner Exchange
We headed to Little Italy around lunchtime on Saturday and stopped in at Kettner Exchange for an appetizer and dessert. We snagged a cabana on the patio and quickly ordered a round of drinks. I had the delicious virgin mojito and Mark had a beer. We ordered the shrimp and grits and it totally hit the spot. It's one of the best I've had since traveling to Atlanta. And then there was the salted caramel Budino. My all time favorite dessert. It was the perfect meal to start off our mini Staycation, light and delicious. 
Staying at Porto Vista Hotel in Little Italy
We headed to Porto Vista to check in and drop off our bags. We stayed a little while to relax and enjoy the views. The rooms were nice and spacious. The view from our balcony was awesome. I loved looking out to see the water past the fun neighborhood city. The hotel is walking distance from the center of Little Italy. The rooftop has a cool patio area with lounge chairs and fake grass perfect for a moment of peace.
Walking Around the Neighborhood
Being 36 weeks Preggo at the time made me very happy to be so close to the heart of Little Italy. After relaxing in our room and checking out the hotel views we went for a stroll around the restaurants and shops. I love the feel of Little Italy. It is the perfect combo of city life and neighborhood gem. Not too fast paced and not too laid back. We stopped in a bar so Mark could grab a beer and I could take a rest. Then we shopped at the Buon Appettito Market. They have an assortment of Italian food and fresh market fare. 
Dinner at the Glass Door and Monello
After our walk we went back to the room to freshen up and get ready for dinner at The Glass Door. Again, the views were spectacular. The Glass Door is a great spot to grab a drink with friends and look over Little Italy to the bay. The food isn't too shabby either. I had the short ribs with mashed potatoes and veggies. Mark had the crab cake burger with duck fries. I'd skip the crab cake next time as it was a bit too salty. The salad was very refreshing after a heavy meal.
We popped in Monello later that night to satisfy my craving for pasta. We love their fresh made pasta with raspa dura cheese. We ran into Valentina, the lovely owner of Monello. She is always so welcoming and even gave us a bottle of their olive oil to take home. Perfecto!
Breakfast at Nonna's Cafe Zucchero
We called it an early night and went back to Porto Vista for a good nights sleep. We both slept well with full bellies and a quiet room. The next morning we took another stroll to breakfast and ended up at Nonna's Cafe Zucchero. The decaf coffee was perfect and the ham and cheese panini with bechemmel was fabulous. Mark really enjoyed his chorizo and eggs as well. I love the feel of the Italian cafes. I can't wait to visit Italy.
We had an awesome anniversary weekend! A night away alone in a foodie filled locale was just the fun we wanted.
We received a hotel stay from Porto Vista and dinner from the Glass Door. All opinions are my own.
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