16 Best Cafes in La Jolla

“Popped in here for a mocha and was greeted by friendly people! Family run and very welcoming. Both my mocha and blueberry muffin were excellent!“

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

“Stopped in to grab a four pack of decent craft beer while in town on a work trip - very pleasantly surprised by the friendly, inviting vibe and the careful selection of provisions! Firstly, Lisa is super friendly and chatty and makes you feel like family - she even invited me for dinner the next night (they do different themed dinner menus each week!). The baked goods were delicious and the beer recommendation was spot on. Highly recommend stopping in!“

“Beautiful space in the heart of La Jolla . Delicious lattes and great customer service from owner Patricia . Highly recommend to make the drive or if you are in the area . Very chic decor , it feels like you are in Mexico City having a great latte with a view by the sea . A must visit when in the area .“

“Delicious, hot, Chai latte. Love to stop in while visiting LaJolla.“

“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!“

“Love what they have brought to our San Diego farmers markets!!!! A must for exceptional American artisanal cheeses!!!“

“I have worked and eaten in hospital and medical center complexes for more than 30 years, and this place has the best food and service of any such place by far. The menu is far-ranging, including great salads, sandwiches, wraps, burritos, pizzas, pasta, soups, smoothies, coffee, and more. They are always busy because employees and patients come from all the hospitals to eat here, but they are unfailingly professional, friendly, and fast. Food is served hot with good quality ingredients. Try the chipotle chicken rice bowl, penne bolognese, turkey wrap, or a tuna salad sandwich on wheat. I have eaten lunch here most days since the building opened new (seven years ago), and everything I've had is honestly good. Not your typical hospital cafeteria food! The staff is impressively hard working and remembers everyone's names and special orders, always working to provide whatever you want. Give them all raises, for goodness sake! Gotta go now. My black bean chili and strawberry banana smoothie await. ?“

“Got the Turkey Avocado Sandwich made by the wonderful Stoney!! Beyond delicious !
Danielle created this amazing mocha protein shake that I’ve been craving ! Love how creative she is and on point with her flavors. Such an inviting atmosphere, I can’t wait to come back!“

“I got the ube pancakes and sourdough breakfast plate, sooo good! The price is reasonable, since the seating is first come first dibs. No wait time since you order up front and free to find a seat. The inside can be cooler if the windows are open but they said it’s broken, so it was pretty toasty. Not a kid-friendly place, so don’t bring a bulky stroller unless you find a spot outside to eat.“

“NEW MENU AND NEW HOURS!For the first time since the pandemic, the Bean has extended their hours! A great place to get work done and meet up with friends or even colleagues! The café is INSIDE the Jewish Community Center, tell the front desk you want to go to the Bean and they will allow you :)“

“We came over for the Wed/Thurs happy hour, and were served delicious taco at $2 a piece, with a half bottle of bubbles that fit just right! The only let-down was that we had the entire place to ourselves, but hopefully word of this great find will get out soon ?“

“My favorite place for breakfast & lunch in La Jolla! The freshest food & yummiest freshly baked goods. My favorites: cornmeal pancakes, basil & Parmesan chicken salad sandwich, arugula salad, chicken Caesar wrap, almond cake & banana cake! Everything is delicious!“

“The most adorable setting serving absolutely delicious food. Fast friendly servers are all smiles and so sweet. The coffee is incredible and if you like Unicorns, well, that's doable here too! Don't miss it. Loved our experience.“

“The problem with the matcha latte was 90% milk 10% matcha I felt I was drinking a cup of milk. It’s a large cup so they didn’t think about the ratio normally one scoop of matcha is fine for a small cup but not large. I went back add another scoop of matcha but idk I think it was either too late because he had to add more water to the extra scoop to mix it throughly and it still tasted bland overall. Maybe next time I need to try 2 scoops right away and if it’s not sufficient add a third scoop.

My matcha latte was lacking and useless at that point so I went back and ordered an iced coffee with extra shot espresso and it tasted way better.

I read another review commenting on how their coffee sucked so I could see how this coffee shop has their challenges.

If you like traditional Japanese matcha, down the road at Blue Whale their matcha latte was perfect and because I like it strong I still did add another scoop but the powder they use the flavor was there right away.

I’d be hesitant to try that again here but I did like their iced coffee, and my boyfriend enjoyed their cold brew. Their burrito looks good so I’ll give that a shot one day.

Front desk cashier man was kind so service was fast and efficient nonetheless. And I enjoyed it being a quieter cafe not loud. I hate hearing loud conversations.“