Best cafés in San Diego

40 people recommend, 9 warn against itvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Lestat's is recommended across its San Diego shops, and the Park Boulevard shop is the one most people name. Many point to its late hours: those who mention the 24-hour shop mostly mean Park Boulevard, while others note that the Hillcrest and Adams Avenue shops stay open until at least eleven. Several diners say it suits studying or working, and one says its back room is good for reading. Caveats: a few find the drinks or food underwhelming, a couple find the coffee weak or subpar, one says every location is loud, and a couple say it can get warm without air conditioning, though another says the Park shop's air conditioning has since been fixed.

University Heights

33 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Most people who weigh in recommend Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, a local roaster with several shops. It is recommended across its outlets, with no single shop dominating: diners name its Little Italy, Torrey Pines, La Jolla and North Park shops, and one suggests the Little Italy shop for coffee before a stroll through the neighborhood. One diner mentions its African single-origin beans, and another a berry matcha. Caveats are about strength: one diner found the blends weak and diluted, and one says it does not roast especially dark.

Little Italy

28 people recommend, 2 warn against itcounted across its outletsvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Most people recommend The Living Room Coffeehouse, and it is recommended across its outlets: the La Jolla shop and the College Area shop near SDSU are both named often. A couple mention its couches and several its food, and its late hours come up often: several say the La Jolla shop is open until midnight or later. One diner likes its indoor room with a jazz-club, old-school feel, and one suggests it for a lunch stop on the coastal walk. Caveats: a couple of diners say the vibe changed after the shop moved, one calls the room small and warm, one says it is loud, and one says parking is hard near the College Area shop.

La Jolla

17 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/sandiego

Many people recommend Cafe Calabria, a North Park roaster and cafe, and several name its beans, roasts or espresso. One commenter calls it their regular spot, one likes its many nooks and seating areas, and one adds that it serves pizza in the evening. A couple of commenters note it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays or has very limited hours on some days. One long-time bean buyer stopped because parking in the area got difficult, and one visitor says part of the back room became an alcohol bar and no longer offers cafe seating.

North Park

17 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/sandiego

Many people recommend Jaunt Coffee, and several call it a favorite or one of the best coffee shops, with one diner saying its beans are their current favorite. It is recommended across its shops: one commenter names the Mira Mesa one and another the Miramar location. One diner uses it as a workspace and finds it fairly calm with outlets, though getting a seat is a matter of luck, and another likes its rosemary latte. One visitor tried it and was not impressed, so it does not win over everyone.

Mira Mesa

16 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Most people who mention Mostra recommend it, and several praise its coffee, with a couple naming it among their go-to coffee shops. It has more than one shop and is recommended across them; one diner calls the Bankers Hill shop their favorite San Diego coffee roaster and suggests pairing it with a brewery. One diner likes the choconana cold brew, one says it has the best fresh beans to take home, and one calls it quaint with plenty of outlets. The caveat is that a couple of commenters say the quality has been inconsistent or has faded.

Bankers Hill

16 people recommendvia r/asksandiego, r/sandiego

Most people recommend Azucar, a small bakery and cafe on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, and several praise its coffee and pastries. One diner still returns for pastries after moving away, one says they order a milk coffee there instead of a latte, and one suggests picking up coffee and pastries before a Sunset Cliffs walk. It also has a Pacific Beach shop, and the main caveat comes from one commenter who left that shop because the lines were so long.

Ocean Beach

16 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

People recommend Dark Horse Coffee, and many commenters include it in their lists of good local coffee shops. It has several shops and is recommended across them, with commenters naming the Normal Heights, Park Boulevard and South Park ones. One visitor found the drip good, one says the Park Boulevard shop suits remote work, one found the South Park shop pleasantly cool inside, and one praises the steady temperature of its espresso. Another says it is interchangeable with James Coffee for French press.

13 people recommend, 6 warn against itvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

People recommend Better Buzz more often than they warn against it, but reactions are mixed. It is recommended across its outlets: the Hillcrest shop is the one named most often, and its Point Loma shop and the airport terminal are also named. Several name it as a coffee stop, one lists it among places for sitting and working, and a few name it when asked for coffee with an artificial taste. In Hillcrest one diner says it gets noisy at times, while another says the upstairs tables sit a little away from the bustle. Critics call the drinks sugary, watered down or poor, a couple compare it to a Starbucks-style chain, a couple call it just acceptable, and a couple say to skip it.

Hillcrest

12 people recommendvia r/sandiego

Many people recommend Hinar Cafe, a dessert bar and cafe in downtown's East Village, and a couple of commenters praise its desserts and sweets. One calls it a nice, aesthetic spot, one finds the matcha enjoyable, one says it is close to the library and good for working, and one notes it stays open until nine in the evening.

Downtown

12 people recommend, 2 warn against itvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Many people recommend James Coffee, and several list it among their favorite local shops. It has more than one shop and is recommended across them; Little Italy is the one named most, with one suggesting a stop there after the farmers market and another calling it the best bet for coffee nearby, while one suggests the downtown shop. One commenter says it is interchangeable with Dark Horse for French press. Caveats: one diner finds it uncomfortable and loud, and another is critical of its model.

Little Italy

11 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Most people recommend Zumbar, a coffee shop in the Sorrento Valley area, and its coffee earns praise. One diner calls its latte the best they have had, another calls it excellent and worth the detour, and one recommends it for medium-roast French press beans. A few call it their favorite or their top local roaster. One diner says it sits in a small shopping center by the Sorrento Valley train stop.

Sorrento Valley

11 people recommendvia r/sandiego

Most people recommend Cafe Bassam in Bankers Hill, and a couple praise its cozy, old-world feel and one its antique-shop-style interior. A few mention a good tea selection, and a couple say it stays open into the evening or suits late-night study. One commenter fondly recalls its former downtown location.

Bankers Hill

11 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/sandiego

Most people who weigh in recommend Subterranean Coffee in North Park. A couple of diners like its music, one says it isn't too loud and has good food, a couple mention comfy or cushioned seating, and a couple say it works for studying. Others are critical: a few say the coffee or food falls short, including one commenter who had a bad cortado but likes the artwork and the idea behind the place.

North Park

11 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Most people recommend Cafe Moto, a Barrio Logan roaster and cafe, and several say the coffee or beans are great, with one calling it the original. A couple mention a drive-through, one says its beans are used by restaurants around town, a couple like it for dark roasts, and one praises its lattes. The main caveat, from one diner, is that its roasting is old-school and heavier than newer roasters.

Barrio Logan

9 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

People recommend Rikka Fikka, a downtown cafe, and several commenters mention its coffee. It also comes up in answers about matcha, one commenter recommends it for baked treats, and another suggests stopping in for coffee or tea after a photo walk. One suggests it for trying beans from well-known roasters.

9 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Most commenters recommend Moniker Coffee, particularly its Liberty Station shop, and one names it as a Point Loma coffee stop to start a study day. One commenter says the coffee is good, one likes the room to walk around Liberty Station, another the patio, and a couple suggest it for a date. Caveats are noise and crowds: a couple mention planes overhead, one found the open-air design too loud, one says it is crowded all week, and one who uses it for work says the inside gets loud at times while the patio is nice.

Liberty Station

9 people recommend, 3 warn against itvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Many commenters recommend Saigon Coffee, a North Park Vietnamese coffee shop, and several call it excellent or a favorite, with one ranking its coffee above anything else they have tried. One praises its family recipe, one says it is well liked for Vietnamese iced coffee, and one strongly endorses it for bean-forward coffee. Caveats: a few criticize the taste, with one calling it dessert-style rather than bold and one finding too much cream, a few prefer another shop's version, one wishes it opened earlier, and one notes it has no hot drink option.

8 people recommendvia r/sandiego

Many people recommend Provecho, a coffee roaster and cafe, and a few commenters name its Barrio Logan location. One thinks its espresso is probably the best in the city, one calls it the city's top coffee in a Barrio Logan art gallery setting, another likes the building it occupies, and one recommends it for light-roast pour-overs. A couple name it among the local roasters they recommend.

Barrio Logan

8 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Many people recommend Asa Bakery, a bakery cafe, and it comes up in coffee, pastry and downtown threads; a couple name it as a late or downtown coffee stop. One commenter singles out its custard-filled pastries, such as a custard cream, banana custard and chocolate orange croissant, and another notes a cocktail speakeasy on site.

8 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Many people recommend Wayfarer, a bakery in Bird Rock, and several name it for its pastries. One diner suggests picking up pastries there as the first stop of a morning out, another suggests taking them to a nearby park, and one describes it as a Bird Rock bakery for breads and sweets near their La Jolla lodging. It also comes up in answers to trip-planning questions.

Bird Rock

7 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Most people recommend Muri, a North Park coffee and dessert cafe, and several praise its pastries and desserts; one singles out the kouign-amann and another suggests the San Sebastian cheesecake. One diner calls it cozy with padded seating and outdoor chairs, another says getting an indoor seat can be a matter of luck, and one says it is a bit further away than Communal.

7 people recommendvia r/sandiego

Many commenters recommend Mnemonic in Bankers Hill. One diner calls it wonderful, with unusual light roasts, and says they have bought beans there, and another loved a Costa Rica coffee the shop was carrying. One suggests it with a walk through Balboa Park afterward, and one believes it works with several local roasters for its beans.

Bankers Hill

6 people recommendvia r/sandiego

People recommend Lazy Eye, a North Park coffee shop. A couple of commenters point to plenty of seating and outlets for working, one mentions couches and cushioned booths, and one likes its house-made seasonal syrups and says its peanut butter latte is on the standard menu. One calls it the top coffee shop in North Park, and one names it while noting every coffee shop is chatty.

North Park

6 people recommendcounted across its outletsvia r/sandiego

Lofty Coffee is recommended across its outlets, which people name in two settings: the Little Italy shop and Terminal 1 at the airport. Two diners tie Little Italy to dates: one praises the salty caramel latte and says the area is great for a walk after a date, and another recalls a Saturday morning date that started there. A couple name the Terminal 1 outlet as a coffee option, one noting it is before security; another says it is great for simple regular coffee. One lists it among solid multi-location spots with good coffee, food and vibes.

Little Italy

6 people recommendvia r/sandiego

People recommend Seven Seas, a local roaster, and a few name its South Park shop. One diner has been enjoying it lately, one prefers its coffee and says it is among the best roasters in the city in their view, and one names its espresso roast beans with some uncertainty. A couple list it alongside other local shops they recommend.

South Park

6 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

People recommend Cafe Madeleine, with one commenter calling it quaint and another cute. Those who name an outlet mean the El Cajon Boulevard shop. One praises its pastries, one says it has comfortable reading and working nooks and another agrees the chairs look comfortable, and one calls it a great laid-back spot.

6 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Commenters recommend Ultreya as a coffee spot. It is recommended across its shops: a few name the College Area shop near SDSU, and a couple name it in answers about Ocean Beach.

5 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Overall, people recommend Finjan, and one diner ranks it among their top spots. A couple of diners single out the Turkish coffee, made using the hot-sand method: one says watching the process is a great experience, and the other says it is the spot if you enjoy Turkish coffee. One often stops for the pistachio baklava, and one suggests it for coffee and working.

5 people recommendvia r/sandiego

Diners recommend Cali Baguette Express for Vietnamese coffee. A couple name its Mira Mesa branch on Mira Mesa Boulevard, one of them seconding it for Vietnamese coffee, and a couple point to its City Heights branch, where one goes for iced Vietnamese coffee with boba. One calls it legit.

Mira Mesa

5 people recommendvia r/sandiego

Lovesong is a North Park cafe and market that diners recommend: one suggests it for a date, finds the space cute and notes Verbatim Books and Pigment are within walking distance. Another praises unusual flavors such as sage, fig and bourbon maple, a different diner calls the drinks unique and really tasty, and it comes up as a matcha suggestion.

North Park

5 people recommendvia r/sandiego, r/asksandiego

Harland's South Park location serves coffee and pastries in the morning and early afternoon, and beer, wine and food through the rest of the day. People recommend it, and a couple of diners say it is a good place to work, with outlets, while one adds that it has plenty of seating. Another calls it a gem.

South Park

5 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/sandiego

People lean toward recommending Em Coffee House, and a few diners back it for Vietnamese coffee, with one naming its Mira Mesa shop and one wanting it ranked at the top. One liked its many options and tasting flight, and one lists it among coffee shops that are open. One diner calls it dessert-style coffee that is less bold than other options.

Mira Mesa