50 Best Cafes near Rancho Santa Fe

“Charming cottage has the best food and atmosphere!“

“My husband and I love INVITA!!! Don’t miss the avocado toast! It is absolutely delicious! Toasted sourdough bread covered with avocado, salted tomato, drizzled with olive oil and fresh cracked red pepper! The green ice tea is refreshingly good. Thank you for being open! Please support this local business! Super friendly staff.“

“I like Caffe Positano - coffee is good and convenient. They should get a microwave so croissants and muffins can be warmed up. It would improve the food experience immensely“

“Been wanting to try this place for a while and so glad we made the time to go!

We added our name to the waitlist online when we woke up so we can leisurely get ready and walk our pups. By then, our table was ready!

The food was fantastic. We loved everything that we ordered. Amazing service and a great tiny kitchen with fresh seasonal produce.“

“I love the coffee here!! 🤤“

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

“The very best Indian food I have ever eaten in all of San Diego county.“

“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!“

“Pipes in Cardiff is a hidden gem that perfectly combines a fantastic breakfast selection with a stunning location. Nestled in a vibrant area, this café offers an inviting atmosphere that makes it an ideal spot to start your day.

One of the standout menu items is the açai bowl, which not only looks absolutely amazing with its vibrant colors and fresh toppings but also tastes delicious. The blend of flavors and textures creates a refreshing and satisfying breakfast experience that leaves you wanting more.

What truly sets Pipes apart is the genuine warmth and friendliness of the staff. They go above and beyond to make every guest feel welcome, adding a personal touch to your dining experience. Their passion for great service shines through, making your visit even more enjoyable.

This review holds special meaning as it marks my first entry for a food review. If you’re looking for a delightful breakfast spot in Cardiff, Pipes is definitely worth a visit!

Thank you!
Dustin“

“Grilled Shrimp bowl….delicious“

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

“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!“

“The MOST magical coffee shop in San Diego. The staff and owners are the sweetest people ever. Always the best community vibes, amazing matcha, and wonderful pastries. Every time I wear my Rosehill hoodie I get endless compliments. Thank you for making our neighborhood coffee shop feel like stopping by a friend’s house 💗☕️“

“Best food i have had in my life. Nice people and good service. I have ate there so many times and order diffrent things every time. Best café in all of rb“

“Top 3 cafes on my list. California cafe hits the spot for a quintessential California cafe vibe. This girl must cook organic, cuz you’ll leave feeling satisfied and fulfilled without any guilt of getting your glucose shot up like with usually compared dishes or getting your immune rung up through the ringer from processed or “enriched” ingredients. You can tell she clearly paid attention in culinary school since she cares about quality.
On my first visit I had the tomato soup with a grilled cheese +bacon($2 added charge). The tomato soup seemed to be freshly made and the sandwich had 3 large crispy bacon slices on 2 large sourdough slices. Its snuggled inside a business complex, you’ll have the quiet rumblings of cars and on occasion small planes landing and taking off from Carlsbad airport next door if you sit outside. Inside sitting available. Great job ladies keep up the good work.

On my next visit I had the hot pastrimi and apple crisp. Whatever vanilla cream it comes with it’s absolutely delicious and a little goes a long way. The hot pastrami freshly pickled sauerkraut, hot mustard, white cheese on sourdough“

“Tasty, good flavors but used to be better. The teens are running the show and quality has gone down. When they are out of a topping, they won't sub or credit?? Just charge for another. It's just annoying. Lots of ice and not much tea at $8-10 Good bye

Thanks for responding. Unfortunately, this is the 2nd time this has happened. I asked them to sub and they won't until I explain that I should get a credit then since the topping is included in the price. She just said she isn’t in charge. Eventually, both times they begrudgingly removed the charge. Wait, why dont they just OFFER to sub another topping or take it off the menu? Its not my problem that you are out of a topping, right?. Also, Im tired of asking for lite ice. It should just come with regular ice not filled with ice and a little tea!. It's just annoying spending up to 10$, begging for an included topping explaining i would like tea with that cup of ice and the server rolling her eyes. No thanks“

“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.“

“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.“

“Came here to have lunch with my sister & mom. Lovely. Patio backs up to fletcher cove with shade for most tables. Had a bowl meal with steak, salsa verde & roasted potatoes. Harmony bowl I believe. Splendid. Thx Dixie for taking care of us.“

“Everyone there is so nice and helpful.“

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

“Pros: Food is delicious, the staff very friendly, and the atmosphere very nice. Great place to watch people, dogs, and cars. Cons: At busy times while you wait for a table, there isn't anywhere to sit, and once you're seated the food can take a LONG time (up to an hour) to arrive.“

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

“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 ❤“

“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.“

“Caffe Caffe is a fantastic spot that truly exceeded my expectations! I had the pleasure of trying their latte macchiato and cortado, both of which were superbly crafted—rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor.

The pastries were the real highlight of my visit. The beef burek was delicious, with a perfect balance of flaky pastry and savory filling. The crème brûlée croissant was hands down the best pastry I’ve ever had—flaky, decadent, and filled with rich custard that was simply divine.

The café itself is beautifully designed, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that’s perfect for enjoying a leisurely coffee or catching up with friends. The service was excellent, with friendly staff who were attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I can’t wait to return to indulge in more of their offerings!“

“A friend took me here for lunch. We had our dogs with us at the Del Mar dog Beach so we needed a place where they are welcomed. This place was perfect with shaded outdoor seating, free dog treats, and a water bowl.

We ordered at the front counter and food was brought to our table. We found a table in the back.
The drinks were delicious. My friends really like their matcha tea drink. The superfood bowl was quite big too. The croissant turkey sandwich I got was delicious as well. We were all pretty happy with what we ordered.

There is a small parking lot at the restaurant. I was lucky enough to nab the last spot. My friends weren't so lucky and had to seek parking elsewhere on the very busy Cedros Ave.“

“Absolutely the Best and most welcoming Coffee shop Ive enjoyed! To know that it's Mission oriented is so pleasing to the Lord♡! Great salads and of course coffee too!“

“Good food and coffee, perfect set up for business professionals, meetings, laptop work etc. good vibes overall, staff is super friendly as well. I randomly found this place on Google and a year later it is still my favorite place to work from. “

“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!“

“Great coffee and amazing staff“

“Parking is rough. Lox bagel was a bit salty beyond the capers. Passion fruit tea wasn't Passion fruit, they were nice and switched me out to coffee. Can't rember the sandwich we ordered but it was on a ciabatta bread. It was good but the bread was a little too hard for my taste. Beach is close but was expecting a bit more of a view. My daughter's been 3X's from Lakeside so I was expecting more. She said it's the breakfast you go for. I'll give it another go. We walked around after lunch and got a Parking ticket too. My fault, we went over the 3 hrs. I'll remember next time to move my truck.“

“Amazing place to go Very good venue“

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

“Amazing, delicious… Absolutely fantastic! Strong Americano, delicious sandwich, super fast service, and a completely outdoor dining area filled with green, trees, and a water feature…
And the prices are outstanding, if I lived nearby, I’d be a VERY regular customer“

“This is a delightful coffee shop, where I enjoyed a morning date with my wife. We only drank the house coffee, but the coffee hit the spot. To add to the atmosphere, Lofty Coffee played music (contemporary soft rock/ jazz). The service was kind and thoughtful, but the crew was busy. Several customers had their laptops, and they appeared to appreciate the environment. Lofty Coffee has an interesting pledge (please see photo).

Yes, I would take my wife back to Lofty Coffee for another coffee date.“

“Sindi's Snack Shack is a hidden gem. It's tucked away from the main strip in Solana Beach and easy to miss. Sindi is a warm and friendly woman who will brighten up your day. The food is just incredible, exactly what you would expect from street/snack food. The Vietnamese iced coffee will supercharge your morning.“

“I ordered the breakfast sandwich served on a pretzel croissant, and it was sublime! Eggs were cooked perfectly. The croissant just added an extra flavor profile I am hooked. This is a little hidden café, literally in front of the library entrance.“

“I would recommend the Belgian waffle, grilled veggie salad with grilled chicken and the salmon with roasted potatoes. Yummm“

“"Cat & Craft - Cafe" good“

“This spot is definitely gorgeous for a coffee break. Awesome view and clearly a local student/staff favorite. They grilled our egg salad sandwich in the panini maker and the iced matcha latte was delicious. The crew here helpful And warm. Also very quick. I only wish there was more “bar style” seating for those who tend to linger for hours on their own instead of taking up a whole table. It’s been super crowded with no seating the last few months bc people tend to stay for hours working. Which I totally understand. But for a UCSD alum like me, I may just wanna sit for half an hour maybe an hour at most and often there is no seating. That’s my only suggestion. Add single person searing. But I’ll definitely be back and hope to come before a “rush”. The line can get very long. (I get it. I used to work in a cafe at the Price Center and it was crazy there). Also would Love if they stayed open later. One can only hope.“

“What a fabulous new find, by every definition! * The people -- Jackie, her sister Jeanette, and Nicole -- superb service, perfectly personable, brilliantly bright, and fabulously fun. * The food -- such an interesting array of healthy, great quality, yummy , beautiful food choices for any meal or snack any time of day, worth every penny of the reasonable prices. * The vibe -- comfortable enough inside and outside to come as you are that you can hardly wait to go back again to be warmly welcomed and try something different than you did the last time. My monthly Lunch Bunch group resoundingly agrees that we'll be back here soon and often! BONUS - abundant, easy, free parking and easily accessible right off I-5.“

“Barefoot Coffee is a total gem right on Cedros - cool vibe, great people-watching, and even better drinks. The lavender latte and matcha were both on point and delicious. For breakfast, we had the avocado mash with egg and the breakfast tacos - both solid choices that hit the spot. Chill, tasty, and fun spot for a morning coffee and breakfast with family.“

“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. ?“

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

“I had the acai super berry bowl. Now, first things first, it IS pricey ($14.95!), BUT it is huge! Acts as a full meal or share it w someone. The best parts: it’s consistent (I had it 4 days in a row while visiting Del Mar), and you can add protein powder (I added whey), which a lot places don’t accommodate. The granola that comes w it is just the right amount and is super tasty - Total homerun!“

“great smores and also a strawberry and nutella crepe today. great size. flavor on both. will be back for sure.“

“The acai bowl was delicious and the customer was kind and caring.“

“Yummy food! Super friendly staff. The chocolate was also delicious!“