The locally owned concept has secured the former Influx Cafe space at on the base floor of the Q Lofts near Bencotto, Monello and Underbelly, where owners Victoria Robertson and Rosario Monetti are targeting a soft opening in early August, followed by a grand opening celebration in September.
Founded by professional opera singers, Divo Diva has carved out a niche by combining specialty coffee, Italian-inspired cuisine, wine, and live entertainment. The Hillcrest location regularly hosts ticketed Opera Dinner Shows featuring live performances paired with Italian food and wine, creating an experience that reflects the owners' shared passions for music and hospitality.
Monetti, a native of Naples, Italy, brings decades of restaurant and performance experience to the business. Before launching Divo Diva, he owned Zenith Cafe in Naples and later became owner of The Meshuggah Shack in San Diego's Mission Hills. Robertson's background spans opera performance, media production, and entrepreneurship.
According to Robertson, expanding into Little Italy was an opportunity the team couldn't pass up. The new location will continue serving Divo Diva's signature Italian espresso drinks alongside freshly baked pastries, croissants, paninis, pizzas, bruschetta, charcuterie boards, wine, and beer. Unlike the Hillcrest location, the Little Italy café will place a greater emphasis on grab-and-go offerings, fresh desserts, and casual Italian street food designed for neighborhood residents, office workers, and visitors exploring the area or relaxing at nearby Piazza della Famiglia.
Robertson said the owners had been working with the former operators of Influx Cafe for approximately three years before finally securing the highly sought-after location, which she described as a natural fit given the company's Italian roots and European-inspired concept. The expansion also adds two new partners to the business: Mauro Tomasino and Daniel Sanchez Bravo, both of whom bring years of experience in San Diego's Italian restaurant community.
Divo Diva first debuted in Hillcrest in 2023, taking over the longtime Pappalecco location at 3650 Fifth Avenue. While the new Little Italy café marks the company's first expansion, Robertson said the original Hillcrest location will remain open and continue hosting its popular Opera Dinner Shows.
Situated amid Little Italy's bustling mix of restaurants, cafés, apartments, hotels, and year-round pedestrian traffic, the neighborhood offers an ideal setting for Divo Diva's all-day European café concept. With morning espresso service, afternoon pastries, evening wine, and a touch of live opera, the café hopes to bring a distinctly Italian experience to one of San Diego's most vibrant culinary destinations.
Divo Diva Cafe will open in late summer at 750 West Fir Street in San Diego's Little Italy. For more information, visit divodivacafe.com.
Originally published on July 20, 2026. Information first reported by Joey Reams of WhatNow.
Originally published on July 20, 2026. Information first reported by Joey Reams of WhatNow.
