Toscana Cafe & Wine Bar, a Gaslamp Quarter mainstay since 2007, has closed its doors, at 238 Fifth Ave. The restaurant quietly announced the news on its website with ownership citing the pandemic as the reason for shuttering.
“Due to the pandemic, Toscana is unfortunately closed permanently,” the note states. But Toscana fans have a new option from the same owners across the street called Il Sogno, at 314 Fifth Avenue. Il Sogno offers a “similar atmosphere and cuisine!”
The 2,369 square-foot corner Toscana space — which is part of the Bridgeworks building — was listed for lease Thursday. The rate and lease term are “negotiable.” Already built-out as a restaurant thanks to the Toscana folks, a new tenant could also lease adjacent spaces for a total footprint of up to 6,569 square feet.
When What Now San Diego spoke with Owner Sean Shoja about the restaurateur’s plans for Il Sogno, there was no indication that Toscana would close in the process. It’s unclear why Shoja decidedly opened Il Sogno across the street as opposed to transforming Toscana into the new concept.
