Isola Pizza Bar, an Italian restaurant specializing in Neapolitan-style pizzas and ingredient-driven cuisine, is getting ready to open a new location in Encinitas at 569 South Coast Highway 101.
The company’s third location is set to move into the former home of Death By Tequila, which closed in late 2024, according to signage on the building, first reported by SanDiegoVille. While an exact opening date has not been announced, the restaurant is likely expected to open in the first half of 2026, pending permits and buildout. Customers can expect Neapolitan-style pizzas, housemade pastas, antipasti, salads, desserts, gelato, and a full bar with beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails.
Founded by chef Massimo Tenino from Italy’s Piemonte region, Isola Pizza Bar started in Little Italy in 2012 and later expanded to La Jolla. The brand emphasizes traditional Italian techniques, including long-ferment dough made with Naples-style double-zero flour and high-temperature, wood-fired ovens imported from Italy. Isola has built a reputation for combining authentic Italian ingredients with a casual, approachable dining experience.
The Encinitas location will feature the same open-kitchen layout and visible wood-fired ovens as its sister restaurants, designed to accommodate both locals and weekend visitors. This location along South Coast Highway 101 provides easy access for customers and adds to the restaurant’s growing presence in San Diego County.
The menu focuses on wood-fired pizzas with fresh toppings, housemade pastas, antipasti, and desserts such as gelato. Signature pizzas include Margherita, Prosciutto e Arugula, and Salsiccia, while pastas range from Rigatoni al Ragu to Squid Ink Spaghetti with shrimp and saffron. The restaurant also offers weekly specials, takeout deals, and wines from Pietro Rinaldi, a family-produced label by Tenino’s brother in Italy.
Isola Pizza Bar’s expansion into Encinitas marks its third San Diego County location and reflects the brand’s ongoing growth in the region. The new restaurant will serve as a neighborhood destination for authentic Italian flavors in a casual, wood-fired setting.
