Is there parking at Seneca Trattoria?

The restaurant is located on Level 19 of a building on Bayfront Court in Little Italy, so parking is handled through the building's structure. We recommend asking about parking options when you make your reservation, as availability and procedures may vary depending on the building.

Should I make a reservation or can I just walk in?

Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for dinner and groups. The spot takes reservations and diners report variable wait times—some have experienced 15-minute delays even with confirmed bookings during peak hours, so arriving early gives you a buffer.

What should I order when I first visit?

Start with the pizza—reviewers consistently call it some of the best they've had. Follow with the whole fish or the steak if you want to go savory, or ask your server Jamie (or another staff member) for recommendations based on what's fresh that day. The desserts are also worth saving room for.

Is Seneca good for special occasions?

Absolutely. The rooftop views and refined atmosphere make it a natural pick for anniversaries, birthdays, and date nights. The team has been noted for going out of their way for celebrations—give them a heads-up when booking so they can plan something thoughtful.

Do you have vegetarian options and outdoor seating?

Yes to both. Seneca offers vegetarian options on the menu and has outdoor seating on the rooftop with views, which is ideal for good weather. Just note that table placement varies—if you have a preference for quieter seating versus high-traffic areas, mention it when you call to reserve.

What's the vibe—casual or dressy?

It lands in that sweet spot between casual-weeknight and special-occasion. You don't need a suit, but this is a refined Little Italy spot where people dress nicely for dates and business lunches. Jeans and a nice shirt work fine.

Is there a wine list worth exploring?

Reviewers call out the wine selection specifically, so yes—it's worth asking your server for pairing suggestions or browsing if you're into wine. The spot takes beer too, so you're covered either way.

Seneca Trattoria — Pizza in Little Italy, San Diego

“Seneca Trattoria trades India Street's sidewalk energy for a 19th-floor perch where Little Italy's red-sauce lineage meets white-tablecloth occasion dining.”

Where Buon Appetito stays ground-level with generational marinara and Ironside works the warehouse-casual seafood angle, Seneca commits to the view-and-occasion format—this is the neighborhood's vertical outlier, literally rising above the piazza to deliver anniversary dinners and business lunches with bay-window panoramas. The formula skews traditional Italian (whole branzino, lasagna, pizza) but polished for the high-rise setting, which means plating that photographs well and portions sized to match the check.

The pizza earns consistent praise—thin-crust, properly charred, the kind that justifies ordering a second even after the steak. That steak, incidentally, holds its own against the seafood-forward competition, cooked to temp and aggressively seasoned. The whole fish is the sleeper hit, arriving tableside with enough theater to justify the price point. Desserts follow the same script: refined execution, zero risk-taking.

The catch—and it's consistent across reviews—is operational friction. Reservations don't guarantee prompt seating (budget 15 minutes), and table placement matters enormously. Request window seating explicitly or you'll end up in the server corridor, which kills the entire premise of paying for elevation. The rooftop section delivers on atmosphere; the interior tables feel like expensive waiting rooms.

Park at the Intercontinental garage if you're driving—Seneca shares the building, so validation is straightforward. For a neighborhood built on walkable trattorias and passeggiata dining, this spot works when you want Little Italy's culinary credibility without the sidewalk proximity, but only if you secure the view and manage expectations around pacing.

Seneca Trattoria

FAQ

Google Reviews

BonVivant Reviews

Similar Spots

Ironside Fish & Oyster

Tribute Pizza

Juniper & Ivy

Complementary Spots

Coffee by Malibu Farm

The Fish Market

Contact & Hours