50 Best Coffee Shops in San Diego

“The ambience is terrific and the service was spot on and friendly. I really enjoyed the thoughtful update of the old building! The food was good but my scrambled eggs were a tad over cooked. The biscuit and gravy was good, I just wished for a bit more gravy. Gravy has to be about the cheapest thing on the menu to make so why scrimp? The potatoes were excellent as was the bacon and the sausage. I look forward to coming back for the pancakes!“

“We really enjoyed our recent dinner at Elvira (our first time). Graham provided excellent service. The food was exceptionally good. The pasta is fresh. The Caprese salad made a great appetizer to share. The Lamb Chops are excellent. A little on the noisy side due to the concrete walls. We'll be back.“

“My adult son and I attended the Romanian dinner and it was FABULOUS! Four course delicious and innovative! We will return:) Artifact is mot to be missed. I've enjoyed several lunches before theatre and last night's Romanian themed dinner. One of my fave restaurants:) thanks you and see you soon.“

“Absolute best donuts in the world. 100/10“

“I normally drink 200mg of coffee or more a day and feel nothing. I was wired and shaky from the normal Vietnamese coffee in not a great way. Even at night I’m feeling it. It’s really delicious just be careful. How much caffeine is in this? Genuinely curious haha“

“I generally get take out. The best is they have real sugar and flavors made in house...and their prices cheaper than Starbucks...id rather have higher quality and specialized variety of flavors for less than an inconsistent Starbucks experience.

Their is space to study..depending on time of day...and if an order is messed up it is fixed with apologies.

One of my favorite spots!“

“I ordered the Oaxaca (washed) and Puebla roasts for espresso. Both are out of this world! Hands down some of the best coffee I’ve ever enjoyed. I can’t wait to order more! (Photo taken before opening the second bag)“

“Love the bakery and matcha latte!“

“I get the pleasure of coming here frequently for meetings and absolutely love the staff! Highest quality coffee I’ve seen locally and my body appreciates that 🫶“

“Our reason for coming here was their coffee flight! ☕️

My sister-in-law and I are avid coffee enthusiasts, so we dedicated an entire day to exploring new coffee spots we hadn’t tried before. The only thing we regret is not getting to try their “Bear Waffles” — we didn’t notice it on the menu until later!

Getting to sample four different coffees was such a treat, and honestly, I’ve never seen a flight that wasn’t for alcoholic drinks before —
So this was a fun twist. The vibe here is friendly and comforting, perfect for hanging out with family, friends, or even your coffee buddies (yes, that’s totally a thing!).

If you ever need a coffee buddy, invite me — I’d love to join your next outing! 🫰🏼“

“Visiting from Michigan! I loved my hot lavender oatmilk latte and poached eggs were amazing! I went 2 days in a row! Lol“

“Long Play HiFi is pure magic. You wait outside until the owner welcomes you in, kind of like a secret show for caffeine heads. Instant VIP energy. Inside it’s warm light, vinyl spinning something you’ve never Shazam’d, and the air smells like perfectly roasted beans.Tokyo ice that hits like a chilled daydream. Heads-up: if you’re in a hurry, skip it. This spot is for people who want to post up, talk, and let the records run.“

“Excellent service and coffee, highly recommend their pistachio vanilla latte. Also tried the bagel with egg and cheese and açaí bowl, both were a hit! Casual place with outdoor patio seating. Not fancy but lots of heart and worth a visit if you’re a coffee lover!“

“Best Coffe shop in San Diego Is really good quality Coffe and their baristas are very good“

“When we visit San Diego, we eat here at least 3 times. We absolutely LOVE their bagels (they are heavenly and actually give you a good amount of cream cheese!)I love the look of their merch, my only complaint is that we visit yearly, every single year I try to get merch and they are always “sold out” 😔 I dunno how everything is always sold out every-time I ask the last 8 years. Online they tend to be sold out as well the few times I have looked. It is such a dang bummer. I’d love to support with wearing merch. Still hoping one trip I’ll get lucky and they will have something in stock 😅. Also, their lemonade is super super tart. So if you like it sweet like I do, dont get it. The sugar did not help it at all and I added a ton 😂 The other drinks are good!“

“I came into Bica for a coffee and a sandwich, not expecting much. But the latte and veggie sandwich I got were both excellent. It’s a small place but has a nice side patio, shaded, good chill atmosphere. The servers were fantastic. I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to come back, earlier in the morning for a pastel de nata.
Addendum: I’ve since been to dinner at Bica, three times. Everything has been delicious, the seafood especially, but also the side dishes, such good flavors. They know how to season and know how to make sauces. This is one of my favorite dinner restaurants now.“

“Todo riquisimo muy amables y atentos“

“My favorite cafe in San Diego. I had an Iced Mexican chocolate mocha is out of this world. My boyfriend had an Iced horchata matcha dirty latte, he absolutely love it. The atmosphere is truly familia and festive. Don't miss this hidden gem.“

“Got the ceremonial matcha latte with sweetener (simple syrup) & the honey cream top matcha with sweetener (simple syrup) and both were excellent. A lot of people on here complaining of the size but in all honesty, if you truly love matcha I’d rather pay $7 for authentic matcha with smaller volume vs. $7 for a large cup of sweet milk.“

“Growing up in Hampstead, spending a lot of time in Golders Green and Finchley it was funny to hear how the Deli got its name. Rugeleh was excellent. My wife and mother-in-law who was over from Hendon liked those plus their corned beef.“

“This coffee shop is wonderful! Not only is the coffee top of the line with flavor but the staff are incredibly kind. I had a work trip that took me to San Diego recently and I would walk a few miles to this shop every morning just for the beautiful experience this place gives. It was the perfect way to start the day! When I came back I actually ordered bags of coffee as gifts for family for the holidays and a few for myself as well (it's that good yall!) but somehow mine never came so I wrote the staff and they sent me two bags just to make up for my lost package. These are the sweetest people. Thank you for being such a great coffee shop!“

“The Dojo provides a sense of community and acceptance to all, coffee is delicious, it’s a great addition to the neighborhood, love Tootie her kindness is immeasurable.“

“We loved this place so much we already have made plans to go back. The food was delicious and portion size is great. Friendly crew, helpful and great service. You can also purchase frozen pies to take home which we will be doing“

“I love James in North Park and Bankers Hill. One is by my home, and the other my work! I have made lovely connections with the staff at both locations and they always provide a chill atmosphere to meet friends, work on your computer, read, and simply enjoy the neighborhood fresh air! Daily and satisfied customer! Great espresso and pastries. 🥐 ☕️ 😃“

“This was my first time having rolled ice cream. It was really flavorful. I got the strawberry with cheesecake bites.“

“I visited the Good News Bar for the first time last week and returned again today. The customer service is phenomenal. Feli helped me both times and was incredibly patient while I decided on my order. She even remembered my drink from my last visit! Everyone here is welcoming and friendly, and the atmosphere is super chill—perfect for hanging out or studying.“

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

“Best coffee in San Diego!“

“Tastylife™️. Would buy treats again.“

“A no frills, old fashioned donut shop that does a very decent job. My wife and I will often each order the Country Breakfast Croissant combo (I prefer the old-fashioned Cake Donut and she the Sugar-Twist) with a cup of coffee. The prompt and friendly service is hallmark. It probably won't knock your socks off, but the taste is just so comforting, that you can't help but wanting to come back again and again. Given how much overall costs have risen in the past few years, the value is still quite competitive, if not better, than going to the common fast-food alternatives that are around. If there was something I could speak to improve, the tables and chairs are often all squeezed together in order to make room for the off-and-on lines to the door of the place with the customers. Some additional time spent organizing or adjusting the seating, along with the more occasional bussing and cleaning in-between customers would certainly improve the atmosphere.“

“awesome mexican mocha! love ya’lls coffee and gluten free options.“

“Big menu, great service, food presentation awesome and very testy,“

“Orange Cardamom Iced Latte is my favorite coffee in the entire WORLD!!! Sooooo addicting!“

“The very best. Best customer service and music. Most importantly coffee and beverages.❤️⚡️❤️🦉“

“My friends and I drink a LOT of milk tea – we always go back to Camellia Rd. The quality of the tea and boba is unrivaled – both in San Diego and the Bay (where I live now).

I’ll always try their seasonal flavor, and my go-to order is usually the camellia blend or matcha milk tea. Staff are always so nice, and the shop is really fun to sit in with the quirky decor and artwork. Nice to have outdoor tables, too.

Always look forward to my next SD trip so I can carve out time to make a pit stop (or two or three) at Camellia.“

“This cafe is a lifesaver for anyone wanting a reliable work environment with WiFi after hours. I find my best focus at cafes but most close mid-afternoon. Lestats is the exception and provides a dependable spot for burning the midnight oil. They also serve real food, not just coffee so you can be properly fueled. Wish there was a Lestats in every city!“

“This was my first time visiting this café, but it definitely won't be my last. It is a spacious and quiet space away from the liveliness of Pacific Beach, with bomb tunes, plus a friendly and efficient staff. They even had a nice restroom outside and a rooftop deck area that I'll have to explore on my next visit. And a drive-thru to boot. You've gotta check it out!“

“Best coffee ever had. So many delicious choices. Really recommend and it’s local in Southbay.“

“You can't beat the view if you can secure a window seat. Waiting here at the restaraunt is not hard as there is plenty to see as you walk around. Food was good. View was better. I wouldn't hesitate eating here for a great experience.“

“I had a salad which was perfect except the chicken I ordered with it was excessively salty. Nobody seemed to apologize or even try to make things right. I tried one piece of chicken and it felt like I was eating a salt pack. I tried another in case I just happened to get the saltiest piece, but each of the pieces of chicken were very salty. After I told the waitress, I ordered it next with a side of shrimp. It was kind of disappointing because they give you a few baby shrimp and some of the pieces were also pretty salty, but I didn’t want to call them out on it. My daughter had the curry udon. The taste was great, but because they put the beef on top of it, it was quite oily. The salmon onigiri was fantastic and well worth the price. It was my favorite savory item we ordered.

The best part was dessert. We had strawberry and mango shaved ice. It was enormous and they use fresh fruit. I think they make their own flavored sauces too. It comes with whipped cream which adds a nice touch.

I also tried the 3 mochi sticks. It was not what I expected. I got it to go, and the three skewers of mochi were very puny soggy and wet. They packed the sauces on the side. It was not very appetizing for the price that you pay. You can get better mochi in the Japanese markets.

Overall, I think it’s a really great place to go for a beverage and dessert. The shop is very cute and beautifully decorated. It is like stepping into Japan and savoring the beauty of the cherry blossom season. It’s definitely worth trying as an overall experience.“

“Best service I've ever received. The staff that was working yesterday (8/2/25) at 2:20 pm gave the best customer service I've received in a long time! I just want to give you all a big thank you for being so welcoming, warm and caring. It's refreshing!“

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

“I’ve been here 3x.

I got
Taro fresh milk tea - not too sweet
Omomo matcha - weird clouds of salty something (edit - was cheese clouds, I am not a fan but my friend is. They're like these rich, slightly salty dairy blobs that surprise you when you stick your straw over them)
Angry matcha - I did not see the espresso shot at the top, so it seemed like a regular matcha drink to me.
Itchy Peach - same cheese clouds but with a peach slush, pretty nice if you like those 2 things
Second Momo - peach drink with tea base, has a nice tea after taste and small cut peaches, refreshing and not too heavy

There is no inside seating. There is often a line, but it moves pretty fast. The drinks are still $5-8, but for the quantity and quality, it’s a deal compared to the places that use powders. I almost think the drinks are too big because it’s a lot of milk, sugar, and depending on what you order, caffeine. These drinks have kept me up all night. Usually I wouldn’t complain because more is better, but this is a little too much.

The quality is good, and the drinks are well executed. Still not the most amazing tea drinks I’ve ever had but a good choice if you want something to sip on.“

“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!!“

“Located right on Logan Ave in the heart of Barrio Logan, Por Vida is a cool little cafe with loads of artsy local style.

Everywhere you look you’ll find colorful artwork, including the glittery table tops which reminded me of cool low riders.

I enjoyed my iced De La Olla Latte, although I didn’t pick up the orange flavor. It was delicious nonetheless.

This is a great cafe to sit and soak up the neighborhood vibes.“

“they always have great food“

“hands down best salted caramel latte ever“

“As a long-time fan of Japanese curry, I was thrilled to finally visit a Curry House CoCo Ichibanya – my first time at this particular chain, though I'm no stranger to the style, having frequented a beloved (and now sadly closed) Curry House in Westwood pre-pandemic. I was so happy to find the menus quite similar, with all my old favorites present and accounted for!
We started with the Garlic Cheese Naan, which was absolutely delicious fresh and hot, though it did lose a bit of its magic as it cooled – so definitely enjoy it quickly! It was also my boyfriend's very first foray into Japanese curry, and I'm happy to report he absolutely loved it. He opted for the spicy teriyaki fried chicken, while I indulged in my classic chicken cutlet. Both dishes were just as rich and flavorful as I remembered, hitting all the right notes of comforting deliciousness.
My only minor disappointment was that they were out of iced coffee, which would have been a perfect complement. Nevertheless, the overall experience was fantastic, and I'm already planning my next visit to have my old favorite, the keema curry! I'll definitely be back when I'm in San Diego.“

“This place has good coffee and a beautiful location. Unfortunately the service is fairly slow. The line gets long and they only have one barista. Also rather expensive. $8 for a coffee. Parking signs were unclear if you are allowed to park in the lot or have to walk over from a different lot. Seems many people parked and walked to get coffee. It says it’s for beach club members, but super bloom is open to the public.“

“Best coffee in San Diego!!!! ☕️✨“