50 Best Cafes near Del Mar

“Not only does Drew knowledge of coffee exceed your expectations, but the service is always friendly and the product is on point! Not to mention the merchandise is well priced and the t-shirts are super soft. He even delivers so there’s no need to worry about when you’re going to get it! A little joy is exactly what you feel when you’re doing business here!“

“This was our first time eating Peruvian The food was tasty, fresh and great portions.“

“delicious food, lovely atmosphere, great service“

“The breakfast burrito is the best!! The bagel with lox also delicious and fish and fries as well. The atmosphere is cozy and the service kind and helpful. I didn’t give a 5 because my chicken sandwich had a very tasteless piece of chicken breast. This was so in contrast to the bun, the fresh avocado and tomato I added. I suggest they use a better type of chicken. This looked like a frozen flat mass produced product with bad texture and no flavor. Hope this is helpful as otherwise the cafe is super nice with many tasty drinks and food.“

“We stopped by Darshan Bakery hoping to grab a cinnamon roll, but they were out at the time. We ended up getting the pull-apart cinnamon roll instead. The flavor was good, but I do wish it had been served warm or at least offered the option to warm it up. The bakery itself has a cozy vibe, we went at 9:20am, we’d definitely give it another try earlier in the day next time.“

“It is a beautiful location with amazing food and service 🤗👏“

“We have been looking for a place that served tasty Acai Bowls…Our favorite Acai bowl places either, closed down, burned down or changed the way they made their Acai bowls…We found Liquid Bean Café on the internet and decided to give it a try…Well, we both had the Acai bowls but I added an Egg Salad Sandwich pressed in a Panini press to our order…The Acai Bowls were fresh and totally delicious!!!…I really liked the Egg Salad Sandwich and loved the way it was pressed and toasted in the Panini press…We highly recommend Liquid Bean Café if you are ever in the Del Mar area…We will definitely be back again!!!…Five Stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“This bustling place has been growing. I’d love to see one or two up North in Oregon. Good skate parks and beers. Or maybe I just have enjoy the SOCal that much.“

“First time visiting. This is a must visit for all food lovers who also appreciates quality Californian ingredients. I had all tonics on the menu, the Turkish eggs & the Spanish French toast. Absolutely yummy! I was super nervous to try the French toast so a super sweet couple sitting next to me shared some their French toast with me & I’m so glad they did. I’ll be coming back for sure for the French toast! I absolutely loved the ambience and customer service. I felt at home and I can’t say that for half of the restaurants in San Diego. Definitely a must visit! I highly recommend! I will definitely return!!

Reservation is better but not required
Accepts Applepay
Free street parking
Most seating are outside so bring a jacket“

“I love the coffee here!! 🤤“

“I met Marcela and Amina at an industry event recently and they were AWESOME! They have the cutest cart, the most delicious drinks, and best of all - they are just incredibly fun to hang out with! Highly highly recommend for a holiday party, wedding, industry event... seriously anything. Love them!“

“Locally owned, by Lisa. She's wonderful, we've been stopping by pre-covid and post-covid for years, from Surprise, AZ. Great spot to chill at during your vacation. We will always come back by! ✌🏽❤✊🏽“

“Authentic and genuine staff. Friendly and welcoming. Guided us to new drinks that were the 💣!!“

“Rose Hill Café in Cardiff is fantastic. The coffee is excellent every time. Rich, smooth, and clearly made by people who care about the craft. You can tell they use quality beans and know how to brew them right — no bitterness, no shortcuts.

The food is just as great. Everything we’ve ordered has been fresh, well-prepared, and full of flavor. You can taste that it’s made with good ingredients and real attention to detail, not just thrown together. Portions are generous and it always hits the spot.

The café itself has a cozy, welcoming feel. Service is friendly without being overbearing, and you’re made to feel at home whether you’re grabbing a quick coffee or settling in for brunch.

If you’re in Cardiff and want a place that does both coffee and food really well, Rose Hill Café is it. Already planning our next visit.“

“I live in San Diego, and a member of LA Fitness. After my workout I was going to head to a smoothie shop, but I decided to stopped at this small business smoothie shop. The service was solid, not over crowded, and the protein shake.. I tried the Salted Caramel protein shake...
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS AND I ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND TRYING THIS SHOP!“

“Great coffee and convenient. Always pleasant staff. ☕️🌈“

“This is a family favorite. We come here every time we visit Cali“

“This is a cute little restaurant to eat breakfast or brunch! I like their options and they’re all super yummy! You order at the cashier and then sit and they bring the food to you. They also have a cute coffee bar for their coffees! I got a veggie burger which was interesting because they used hatch chile as the “veggie patty” vs an actual veggie patty, but it got the job done and was yummy!! 😋 portions are good bang for your buck as well“

“Greasy Spoon Series, Part 2
When I reflect on my childhood, I suppose that many aspects of it were pretty normal. While I had individual interests and priorities, the adults in my life imposed a certain amount of structure for my well-being and development. However, a recurring period of time when I was permitted some “me time” was Saturday mornings. Back in those days there were no cable channels devoted entirely to kid centric programming, so Saturday mornings were a youngster’s “primetime” and the cartoons that were featured would become the fodder of deep playground discussions the following week.

Madison Avenue knew exactly who their target audience was during those hours, so we were “fed” a steady stream of cereal commercials. While all of us kids were focused on the glorious sugary aspects promised by those cereals, our parents were likely horrified by our behavior after being primed with hyperactive jet fuel. In order to assuage those parental fears, the ad campaigns frequently included the phrase “part of a complete breakfast.” That phrase (clearly recommended by the legal department) absolved the product from contributing any nutritional value whatsoever (because the other items visible in the background provided ALL of the nutrition for that breakfast).

While I don’t intend to comment on the nutritional value of the breakfasts that I’ve enjoyed at the Encinitas Cafe, I can assert that a breakfast here is “complete.” For me “a complete breakfast” within the “greasy spoon” genre must prominently and unabashedly feature unlimited coffee, eggs, bacon, hash browns (extra crispy), and pancakes. 😋

I salute the Encinitas Cafe for remaining faithful to the cause of proudly serving a simple breakfast, offered at a fair price, with friendly service included at no extra charge. 🫡

If you choose to visit you may find parking a challenge along South Coast Highway, but there is a parking lot directly behind the restaurant that offers convenient access to a back entrance.

And that’s…Henry’s Take.

#greasyspoonseries“

“I come here almost daily because I am obsessed with their match Tres leches with matcha boba and egg pudding. It's a combination that lives in my taste buds memory. like the marriage between a matcha frappe with flan. At the family table came boba and a snow cap that easily translates to tantalizing flavors jumping for joy! Then the Bahn mi is packed with the perfect ratio of meat, picked carrots, cucumber, and JALAPEÑOS!!! I love a jalapeño that delivers and these always hit the mark. The fact that the ingredients are fresh and natural are major brownie points.“

“Grilled Shrimp bowl….delicious“

“I don't know what to say about this place except it WAS short lived for me yet MAGICAL🤩
WAS, meaning she's looking for a new building to plug into & coexists with!! If you're a Lucadia business woman or man looking for an amazing community coffee cart ran by a community driven badass boss babe, REACH OUT TO REM!!
Legit has a massive community following for such a tiny entity💓 I've made forever friends (pun intended) thanks to her & her mini wknd event popups. SAD to see her leave her 1st space, yet eagerly excited to help find a new community gathering space with her! Looking for a business equally appreciative as we would be to them.
2026 won't be the same 😒 ... Unless we help her find a new parking spot 💖🙏🏽👀“

“I love this place and the sweet people who work here! My favorite meal is the trifecta of a basil chicken wrap, naked salad, and the best carrot ginger soup ever! It’s not on the regular menu anymore, but can be requested as it’s still in their computer listing. The new back grass patio dining area beneath giant old pines is a hidden treasure that opened during CoVid.“

“We go to Donutopolis a couple times a month and they are always so friendly and the donuts are delicious! ❤❤“

“Great venue and Great service“

“Simply the absolute best. Everything is ridiculously amazing and the owner ROCKS!“

“Amazing coffee! Wonderful Baristas! Will absolutely be back whenever I'm in San Diego!“

“Yummy drinks at GuilTea Cravings in Clairemont! Nice, chill vibe great for working on the laptop or playing many of the available games with friends. We enjoyed the strawberry matcha bliss, coco-matcha milk tea, and hibiscus strawberry tea. Going to need to try some of the pastries next time. Along with games you can use, there are also some books and children’s books. Very friendly and helpful staff. Recommend!“

“I love this place! You can stop by and get everything always with all the attention of the employees and taste the best things 😋♥️“

“April Cardenas is the skill behind the scenes/in the kitchen. 100% respect to her commitment to this long standing little gem of Leucadia. The personal touch she infuses in everything she does cannot be quantified in dollars nor words. And the beautiful women at the counter are professional and nice.“

“Very delicious and fresh! Its hard to find a place that offers both gluten free, dairy-free and tastes so fresh. Had the fish tacos (cod) and they were amazing! Absolutely will come here again!“

“The food and service is magnificent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“The only thing more incredible than the view at this local hotspot is the food. The setting cannot be beat. The seasonal menu from renowned local female chef offers the freshest selections with many healthy and vegetarian options— as well as the decadent French toast, which I highly recommend to start your meal. Excellent coffees, smoothies and juices as well. This is our go-to place. Pro tip, make reservation on OpenTable. Sit up top for a great view and excellent service by Dakota.
Today we had the salad w/ skewer of delicate steak, the French toast, egg sandwich, a harvest bowl, yogurt & fruit parfait, and potato pancake w smoked salmon. Yum😋 Enjoy!“

“Hidden gem in Del Mar! Tucked behind a charming Spanish-style hacienda, this café has the coziest ambience with gentle water drizzles. The panini was the best I’ve ever had—perfectly grilled and flavorful. Their soups are incredibly delicious too. A must-visit lunch spot for great food and relaxing vibes!“

“the coffe and the pastries. i need to go back and try more delights from the menu.“

“I have only been here a handful of times, but each time I have come here everyone has been exceptionally kind and accommodating. Juliette in particular was the barista one time and made my coffee really well. I was unsure of what to get and she made some really good recommendations and customizations to make sure I was happy with what I ordered. When I am in the area I will be back.“

“Currently (March 29th)… I JUST found out that this place is closing. I’m so heartbroken. 💔 I just started coming more often for coffee in the morning before work. The place itself is absolutely gorgeous, bathrooms are super cute and clean, seating is great, and I’ve never had any issue with staff. This really was such a great place to just hang out, so sad to see it go.“

“The Naked Cafe serves delicious food. The morning we visited was very chaotic, saying they were short staffed. One staff member got a little snippy with a customer asking where to wait as there was no hostess. It was awkward for the people already seated. Their Encinitas location seems less busy and the staff seems less stressed and more friendly.“

“Truly fantastic coffee. I’m a New Yorker and truthfully Californians just don’t seem to do coffee well. Drip coffee seems to have America in a chokehold and getting a great espresso or any derivative of such (cortado, flat white, etc.) is worthless. We happend upon Lofty coffee and my boyfriend ordered the cortado. It came out perfect. To describe it in words would do it an injustice but I will still attempt: the espresso itself was so smooth and mixed with the milk perfectly - there was no separation at all. The milk was delicate - steamed but not airy nor watered down. The whole drink experience was so velvety - almost like sipping straight warmed cream. Truly I’ve never experienced anything like it.
I’m a daily coffee drinker and am deeply heartbroken I can’t have a Lofty’s cortado daily at home. Thank you for the wonderful experience.“

“I love coming to this café! The lattes are always perfectly made, and the atmosphere is so cozy. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, which makes every visit a pleasure. It's my go-to spot for a great cup of coffee. Highly recommend!“

“Always a fun visit. Every location has been great.“

“The owner, Isabelle, is friendly, helpful, and works very hard. I obviously love this bakery as I have been going for years. The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is like being in a small town. I highly recommend going to Isabelle's often ❤“

“Love this spot inside the UTC Westfield mall. Great coffee :)
Outdoor seating with counter space for working and chilling. Love the courtyard vibes with lot of hustle bustle. The barista ladies were all amazing and so friendly and helpful when I needed to charge my phone too.“

“Everything I’ve tried has been delicious, filling, and healthful. Sometimes I grab a smoothie or coffee after working out so I don’t have to settle for overpriced fast food while I’m on the road. I order ahead and it’s always ready!“

“A nice little Cafe overlooking the view. I feel like the Cafe is more for people who work here rather than open to public but you can still definitely get something. No coffee though, you can get coffee from thecoffee stand in front of the institute instead.“

“A truly hidden café tucked between office buildings, it’s a bit tricky to find on Google Maps, and locating the parking lot can be confusing. I ended up parking on the street and walking in.

Once inside, I was surprised by how spacious it is, with plenty of both indoor and outdoor seating. They even offer discounts for employees working in the surrounding offices, which is a nice touch. The staff were very friendly, and they have free Wi-Fi, making it a great spot to work or study.

I ordered a latte, which was excellent, along with the classic avocado toast, easily one of the best I’ve had. Highly recommend this place, and I’m definitely looking forward to coming back!“

“Fresh, delicious and affordable“

“Found parking -it's free!
There was a line out the door which made me think twice about going but because of time i choose to wait.
They had St Patty's theme drinks which were very creative including a Thin Mint Cold brew with Foam, a matcha drink, and can't remember the last one.... 😓

I got a Chacoinno .... a mushroom, cacao, plus more mix. It was such a good coffee I would Definitely“

“Delicious healthy food. Coffee is amazing. Shelley’s homemade granola with cinnamon bark essential oil is to die for. The staff is always friendly and attentive. They always ask me how I liked everything. They really care about their customers!“

“Excelent Hot chocolat“