49 Best Cafes near Imperial Beach

“I am new to IB and am just so impressed with Katy's Cafe! They are busy (so you know they're good!), but they get your order out quick. The staff is friendly, inviting and accommodating! I had my dog and daughter and they could obviously tell that I had my hands full and brought my order outside to me without me even asking. I have definitely found my go to local coffee shop!“

“I love stopping by Arandas Café whenever I’m in Imperial Beach. It’s such a cute little spot and it always feels cozy. This time I got a matcha, their freshly squeezed orange juice, the Monte Cristo, and a parfait — everything was so fresh and honestly so yummy. The vibe is calm, the people are sweet, and it’s just one of those places you’re happy you found. Definitely one of my little go-to gems.“

“Really cool and unique coffee! I went in and just asked the barista to give me two coffees he recommended and it did not disappoint! We got the black nitro cold brew and the honey lavender and both were delicious! Also got a donut and it was also great. The barista was so friendly! I would totally make this my go to coffee spot when we visit Coronado.“

“Great food, fun and quirky vibe.“

“We had awesome service by Dern! He was polite, friendly and outgoing. (Killer now tie too!) He made our experience so fun! I even witnessed his care for his customers as I watched him ensure an elderly man did not fall walking to the bathroom. Also, he seemed to interact positively with his teammates too. Thanks Dern! The facility and restrooms were clean. It was like stepping back in time. There are a lot of nostalgic things to take in. My husband and I split a classic hamburger, crinkle fries and a strawberry malt. All of it was delicious. My husband said, “if we lived here, I’d be a regular.”“

“I’m a local customer for over 25 years. I love this place every thing is well prepare with love. The owners are always happy to see the customers! One of my favorite is the Mexican Mocha, the breakfast sandwich. To say the least everything on the menu is excellent. I’ve rather support this small family coffee shop, then Starbucks. Thank you so much for caring for you’re customers and the great food. Many Blessings!“

“highly recommend this place! AMAZING coffee, DELICIOUS acid bowls and incredible breakfast croissants. The owner is awesome and the staff is incredibly friendly. I will definitely be returning (:“

“Highly recommend- tell them it's your first and you get the tour of the menu and art. Great prices, food, drinks and outstanding service. See you there.“

“Love the bakery and matcha latte!“

“Amazing cultural events. Ongoing. Something for everybody: music, dance, celebration.“

“The food was amazing, with the exception of the mashed potatoes. The consistency was soft, smooth, and airy, however, there was absolutely no taste. No seasoning, no salt pepper no butter no nothing. Really bland would not order again. The service and staff were absolutely amazing. Only suggestion other than mashed potato fix is the ambience or the inside decor reminds me of late 1990s Seattle grunge. It just seems like the restaurant is stuck in the 90s decor wise. Food was absolutely phenomenal and staff as always were amazing.“

“Audrey was the best! We came from Maine and short notice we were able to get a dozen cupcakes ordered for pickup with 2 days notice. They were fantastic and gone quickly!! Thank you again!!“

“Nice place to relax and chill away from the house“

“Cannot wait to go back and enjoy the the food, excellent service and ambience of this restaurant. We often each brunch here and their chef events are amazing! I savor every bite 🤤“

“la nieve muy deliciosa(Gelato) matcha late no esta muy concentrado como ami me gusta, el pan que venden muy rico, la chicas que atienden muy amables, pero sobre todo una vista maravillosa... P.D. precios accesibles.“

“Great customer service great food Great coffee Highly recommended“

“amazing! I had their burger which was great! and their coconut shrimp on salad. which both were amazing! the salad dressing was so good. everything must be home made.“

“Charming atmosphere and wonderful tasting as well as beautiful dessert s.“

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

“Very easy walk from the courthouse on a lunch break from jury duty. Many light healthy lunch options and drinks fair priced and delivered with efficient kindness. My turkey avocado wrap was huge and fresh crunchy veggies paired with a nice container of tasty three color spiral pasta salad - al dente! Also nice clean roomy indiv restrooms. Comfy seating options indoors and patio. All can be boxed nice togo for you afternoon break snack.“

“was able to get my MexiMocha fix Tuesday. so good to see Jen and her dad. She makes the BEST MexiMocha 😋“

“Great little hidden cafe! Located on the 4th floor inside the civic center (must enter building). Tucked away in the back as you enter the 4th floor. Very decently priced food (best priced food I could find on Google maps for breakfast/lunch in the area) and nice options!“

“i frequent Lollicup for the Boba which is an option for any drink on their menu- hot, warm, or cold. The menu covers the usual flavored drink combos with just as many unique signature flavored drinks. Of course, like the Boba you have the option to get a traditional iced tea or hot cocoa But Why?? Lollicup also serves Slushies, Smoothies, Milkshakes, Snow, Dairy & Non-Dairy just ask the staff are always friendly and know their drink ??. Been here for 10+ years and Lollicup does not disappoint/hits the brain-freezing/warm-soothing spot Everytime.“

“Always great service and delicious food prepared fresh. Family atmosphere and worth the wait.“

“I hate this place. Coffee way too perfect, the toast tastes like spring, and even the wallpaper looks like it could solve my problems. A flower basically tried to give me life advice. The kindest service by SUPER models. Please, stay away so I can keep this hidden gem to myself.“

“Best coffee in San Diego!!!! ☕️✨“

“Great and friendly service and nice new iced coffee option.“

“Great service & good menu options! I’ll come back 😁😁😁“

“Omar is not only a coffee wizard, he is a pillar of the community. He has always been kind and caring when we’ve crossed paths at nonprofit events and boy does he know how to craft specialty drinks. Unique flavors, good vibes, and now a brick and mortar shop!

This is the spot. Go support an amazing local business!“

“I had the artichoke heart, red pepper and olive bagel, and it was very good. My wife thought her sausage and egg sandwich was average. The best part about this experience is the service everybody at the Gaylord is very helpful and friendly.“

“We loved our egg 🥚 and fruit 🍉 sando and grilled chicken onigri ! 🍙I had the taro 🧋tornado and my sister had the Kyoto matcha 🍵 it was so delicious even in the soft open. Authentic and creamy. Our new favorite spot. Beautiful cafe and lots of parking!“

“So delicious, sometimes I’m almost done with my🥤☕️ before I take a picture🤦🏻‍♀️ AND the pastries 🍩🥐 The donuts are yummy but don’t even get me started on the 🤤battery🤤croissants🤤👍🏼👍🏼.“

“I have walked my dogs past this cute cafe more times than I can count and we finally made it over for breakfast this morning. So happy we did - wish we had done it sooner. It’s a small cafe with (as I counted) 7 tables and six counter seats inside and another 7 tables outside. We were fortunate there was no wait for a table inside. Atmosphere feels a bit crowded because you are right on top of the next table over but that’s more a space issue and trying to fit more tables in than anything else. If you don’t like others hearing your conversation this isn’t the place for you. That being said the service was fantastic and the food was scrumptious. We had the Biscuits and Gravy and it was probably the best I’ve had in San Diego. Tastefully peppery and plenty of gravy for the dish. It also comes with potatoes covered in gravy which I’ve never really experienced before but were good. I might ask them to skip the potatoes and give another biscuit or two next time as the potatoes seemed heavier than the fluffy biscuits. We also ordered the Breakfast Burrito covered in “Mexican Sauce” (read red Enchilada Sauce) and served with retried beans. My partner loved this dish and I had a taste and concurred it was tasty. It has green chiles inside which are mild. My partner is super picky about anything claiming to be Mexican so the fact it was a positive review on that is saying something. Couple other menu items we are interested in trying next time are the Waffle with Fresh Strawberries and the Stuffed Banana Peanut Butter French Toast. We saw both dishes coming out to other tables and they looked delicious.“

“Best Cold Brew coffee! Baked items and burritos! Never disappointed.“

“Very friendly staff, quick service, and excellent coffee! Do yourself a favor and stop by this place.“

“Good coffee. Cute shop. Barista's were friendly.“

“Absolutely love Calypso Café food is great. Service is beyond excellent 10 star all the way.“

“Loved Parakeet Cafe! Came here with my family and had such a great experience. The All I Avo was fresh and delicious, and the vanilla matcha latte was perfectly smooth and not too sweet. Shoutout to Ava and Ari for the warm, friendly service—they made us feel so welcome. Can’t wait to come back!“

“recommendation from a friend. tried some Gelato, delicious.“

“I was in San Diego for work trip and stayed at Courtyard by Marriot. Tried this place for breakfast and OMG. This place is lovely. I had my dinner their too. I've had their Dalia's cappuccino, Pappalecco panini, Veggie Frittata, Quiche, Nutella muffin and the best in the world Tiramisu. I took that home and my husband was blown away. And the ambiance was beautiful. I'm coming back again.“

“FABULOUS ALL THE WAY AROUND!!“

“I really like the protein shakes and the food. They have all your macros spelled out for you so you know what you're getting out of every bite or sip. I'm just not super keen on the service. They often forget to check if you get a discount, stamp your card, and don't welcome you in. It's a quick stop shop. You don't really hang out there so it's fine.“

“The desserts are out of this world!! The ube crack cheesecake is a favorite!!! They ran out of pastrami and cheese the day we went for a sandwich, but we still enjoyed our visit. Customer service was great!!! A nice friendly place!!! Parking availability was fine.“

“Great food and fun with 2 Daughters and 1 Granddaughter.“

“my husband had a back issue that would make him for over 5 years hurt tremendously. Dr/ Lcdr Lawless did a laminectomy, a minimal invasive procedure surgery. After 2 weeks my husband started noticing 50% reduction on back pain, and after 1 month he has made 80% recovery and pain is minimal now. Dr./Lcdr Lawless patiently answered all of our 100 questions and was very thorough Thank you Dr. Lawless for blessing us with such carefully scheduled laminectomy. My husband is enjoying life again with very minimal manageable pain. God bless you dr./ Cdr Lawless, M.“

“The Well Deck is a hidden gem inside Navy Base San Diego. The atmosphere is clean, welcoming, and has a relaxing vibe that’s perfect after a long day on base. The staff is always friendly and professional — they really make you feel appreciated.

The food is fresh and well-prepared, with generous portions and great flavor. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or sitting down for a full meal, everything tastes like it’s made with care. Their burgers and pizzas are top-notch, and the drink selection is surprisingly good for a spot on base.

It’s definitely one of the better dining options around — great food, chill environment, and solid service every time. Highly recommend stopping by The Well Deck if you get the chance!“

“This is a tiny neighborhood eatery with mega upscale quality and service. The burger melts in your mouth and your taste buds explode. Simple, delicious, unique. The quality of the meat shines through.

The chorizo deviled eggs are exceptional with a dense but creamy texture, and so many wonderful flavors.

Fries are crispy and heavily seasoned with flavorful salt and pepper.

Minimal seating, like I said, tiny but inside a few and about the same outside. Extensive and excellent wine list.

Cash only, Venmo, CashApp, Zelle. Bring your tastebuds ready for exciting experiences.“