50 Best Coffee Shops in San Diego

“I have an unfortunate addiction to the khanafeh cold foam matcha. Please don’t ever get rid of it! This is also one of the easiest places to get a quick lunch/snack in Kearny Mesa under $15 that feels more nutritious. I also LOVE the blackberry sumac lemonade, especially bc they give you the rest of the Topo Chico with it.“

“In a city where coffee is mediocre and the shops are performative, Saigon Coffee stands among the few offering truly delicious selections. I ordered their original and was delighted and how bold and rich the flavor is. As someone who suffers from phlegm coughs, the drink gave me no such issue.“

“Very nice environment and outstanding food and entertainment 👌 😀“

“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)“

“we tried several samples! very refreshing and taste good❤ I got Mint and Mango habenero chile..yummy“

“First time there for lunch and I'll be going back again. Food was tastey. I had the Oklahoma onion burger and fries... tasted similar to a patty melt in best of ways. Friend had the Madi wrap and enjoyed it. It was loud with all the tables filled but could still have convos. Sat on the patio.“

“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 🫶“

“Stumbled upon this place looking for a coffee like an hour ago. Had good reviews, decided to try it without any recon on what I wanted to order. I asked about the Kos latte and Owner/Cashier said something I didn’t quite hear except pistachio and cold foam. I said yeah, two of those, one for me and one for my wife. Received the drinks and realized it was matcha, which is fine. I wanted coffee coffee but matcha for caffeine would suffice. Took one sip and almost busted. Holy heck was it amazing. Literally one of the best drinks I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying. Easily best matcha I’ve ever had. Perfectly sweet but stayed true to the pistachio and matcha flavor. Amazing. Sadly I don’t live close enough to visit often but I need to come back to try other drinks. Definitely recommend.“

“Absolutely LOVE Ultreya! Both locations are top notch. We love it so much that we get coffee beans sent to us in Illinois. Great staff, great coffee, great tea, delicious food and pastries, and amazing owners. If you haven’t been here, you will be in love after you go!“

“The coffee is here is excellent. Cold brew is spectacular black. It needs no sugar or milk. Smooth and sweet all by itself. Iced Aztec Mocha is a perfect blend of espresso, chocolate and milk. Skip Starbucks. Highly recommend!“

“Super cute place, lots of coffee options, very friendly staff support your local coffee shops with love.“

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

“I had a great experience at Mnemonic Coffee. The place was quiet and relaxing perfect for enjoying a peaceful moment. The service was friendly and efficient, which made the visit even better. My latte was excellent, it had a rich, flavorful coffee base complemented by a smooth well crafted topper. Deffinatly a spot worth visiting for a quality coffee and atmosphere.“

“Boards n’ Beans is such a little gem in Pacific Beach. The atmosphere of their family business is welcoming the moment you walk up. You can feel the sense of community right away with friendly, laid-back staff and regulars.
The coffee itself is amazing. The drinks are made with time and care, and their own house-made simple syrups making their spot stand out from others. I took home a bottle of their coconut vanilla syrup, it was that good.
You can also hang out & work from their shaded back patio! Worth stopping by.“

“Good coffee, located in very quiet area and perfect cafe to chill.
I had a hot latte here and it was really good.

Menus are kept simple and easy to order.

By far the most quiet and safest neighborhood/cafe in Bay Park area, also there’s parking space in front of the cafe and around the block as well.

Easy to access by car and also dog friendly.“

“Great coffee, friendly staff and an excelent European breakfast alternative with croissants instead of the traditional mountain of fried stuff.“

“One of the best coffees I’ve ever hard. Crafted art, true passion, excellence and love for the world of coffee. If you love great coffee or you’re a coffee aficionado, this is a must-do cafe experience. The staff are friendly and courteous and the artists chilled and cool without being pretentious. You won’t be disappointed, probably one of the best coffees in the world. Roasted on site.“

“Very friendly staff. I got a monkey mocha and it was delicious. I saw the orange coconut cake and had to go back later to get some. It was amazing also.“

“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.“

“Customer service and knowledge/quality of their product is stellar! Oh, yeah...and the coffee is amazing, too! My first time experiencing horchata and I strongly recommend! If I lived in San Diego, this would be a regular!“

“OMG! BEST FOOFY COFFEES that aren't too sweet. Morgan and the crew turned us on to white coffee. our world has been rocked. the Toasted Turtle is off the charts! And, it isn't often in retail that the service is so personalized and friendly, but it is at California Bean. We felt like family, and drove out of our way several days while on vacation to partake in this hidden gem! can't wait to get back to San Diego. this will be our first stop!“

“Shell Yeah! 🐚 Im in San Diego at Trident Coffee on Mission Boulevard and it's been a phenomenal experience! From the food, the drink, the atmosphere and the staff! Sydney was an amazing representative of Tridents Coffee's core values and really went above and beyond to deliver the best possible service. She connected and greeted every customer that came in with a buzzing energy and served each and every customer with her full effort. I would highly recommend Trident Coffee on Mission Boulevard! Thank you Sydney and thank you Trident Coffee!“

“Kind Corner felt like a refreshing, feel-good spot. The food tasted clean, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared, with flavors that were simple but really satisfying. I liked the calm, welcoming vibe—it made the whole experience more relaxing. It’s a great place when you want something light, healthy, and genuinely enjoyable.“

“AMAZING!! My husband and I went to San Diego for a quick getaway and wanted to try Chiefy Cafe based on the reviews. We were so glad we did as the coffee and food is Amazing! We ordered the Open Mind Fat Burner, Mexicano Latte, Acai Bowl, and Turkey Bacon Avocado Croissant. Everything tasted so fresh and delicious - we wanted to savor every bite!! The staff is so friendly and Camile customized the Turkey Bacon Avo without the bread for me, as I am gluten free. We only had 2 days left in SD and went back to Chiefy Cafe and ordered the same thing each day. Camile & Larissa assisted us and were awesome! HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHIEFY CAFE!!“

“Todo riquisimo muy amables y atentos“

“Great fun to be had at Coffee Cycle. Fun people, great coffee and if you ride a bike to the shop you will receive praise!“

“Third time coming in here! Ordered an espresso and a cortado of their Anaerobic Natural Costa Rica Black Diamond this morning, and the whole order was absolutely delicious it hit all the flavor notes! Torque Coffee is the place to go if you’re looking for a specialty espresso or pour-over. Shoutout to Michelle & Taylor, who show such care and attention to detail that’s rare to find it truly comes through in both the taste and presentation (they even preheat the SPRO cup if you’re ordering in-house!). It’s easy to see why Torque is a neighborhood favorite — I always look forward to my next visit!“

“If you are looking for quality coffee, service and atmosphere this is your place.
I waited outside with a group of friends for 15/20 minutes before they opened the door for us. Once seated, not only did they make it clear but encouraged us to take our time, enjoy the space and the drinks. We spent 3hrs spending quality, undistracted time with each other. The coffee, matcha and avo toasts we ordered were exceptional.

The atmosphere made the experience feel intentional. Not once did I wonder “where is my coffee or server…” or felt like we were being rushed out.

This was THE BEST San Diego coffee AND restaurant experience I’ve had in years.

If you are going to give this place a shot (and I recommend you do), you are going to wait and that’s okay. Enjoy it.“

“Absolutely LOVE Ultreya! Both locations are top notch. We love it so much that we get coffee beans sent to us in Illinois. Great staff, great coffee, great tea, delicious food and pastries, and amazing owners. If you haven’t been here, you will be in love after you go!“

“Really cute cafe. With really tasty smoothies! And breakfast/healthy bowls. Staff are super nice. The ‘Adulting’ smoothie has coconut milk, can add protein, coffee, banana, peanut butter, frozen cauliflower (yes being serious!), topped with coconut whipped cream and cacao nibs! SO GOOD!

Coffee is made fresh in house too.. tasty“

“We were in town from the East coast for 5 days. Achilles was our go-to breakfast place. It is exceptional. Friendly staff and great food and lots of excellent coffee choices.“

“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!“

“Great tasting brew, yummy!“

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

“Bica was excellent. We ordered the crudo, prosciutto cotto, tuna sandwich, ricotta toast, and the vegetable sandwich, and every single dish was a hit—fresh, well-balanced, and clearly made with care. Everyone in our group loved their food, which almost never happens. On top of that, the employees were incredibly friendly and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. Can’t wait to come back.“

“Love this little neighborhood coffee shop. Super nice people and top quality coffee!“

“Might I say one of the best lattes I’ve had on my many visits to California. The banana latte was incredible. The banana matcha was pretty good but didn’t have a bang like the banana latte. It was still absolutely delicious. Oh and I really liked the structure of the sip lid. Will be back some day, thank you.“

“You’re all sleeping on the food options. Not only do they have interesting slow bar and espresso drinks, but their food is INSANE. So much attention to details when it comes to ingredients and food offerings. It also feels like a community coffee shop. RB is lucky to have them!“

“My son and I came here for the first time for a mini date. We shared an acai bowl and banana bread. I ended up getting an Hawaiian Hawaiian Creme Brulee Latte too. Everything was delicious and the staff was super friendly. There was even a little kids corner for entertainment. we will definitely be going back.“

“I went to this cafe restaurant as part of a Meetup with an international group. There were 13 of us and the owner, Jordan, is also the chef so I am impressed with how she was able to serve our group efficiently on her own! Her daughter was the waitress and patient with all of us. I ordered the fish sandwich, that was so delicious! The tilapia fish and potato slices were both warm, the bread was toasted, and the veggies fresh. Portion is generous and price is decent. Was lovely to meet the owner when she introduced herself to our group, and you can tell she works hard living her dream of opening this East African cuisine restaurant.“

“Nice place, and great variety of snacks, pastries and drinks. Middle Eastern coffee places are my favorites and this one is as well.
It’s a nice place to work too, the tables near the door have better lighting for work the one on the end are a little darker and better for hanging out.

The staff were really nice and helpful.“

“I really love this cafe. The vibe is always calm and welcoming. It’s also super cute and has great outdoor seating. I had the pistachio iced latte last week and I think I nearly died and went to heaven. It is a must try! The food is good as well! I am hoping they add more plant based protein options so I can go there even more! It’s really my favorite cafe! Also the owners are super nice and friendly!“

“Staff is very friendly & welcoming. awesome yoga class!“

“I had the Mexican Mocha Espresso as a Frappuccino....oh my gosh it was so tasty. San Diego winter warm enough for a cold coffee. I'm feeling so spoiled and lucky. ❤🤍💙“

“You can create your own drink even if its not on the menu. Sweetness level is adjustable. Great place to study since they have WIFI.“

“Mystic Mocha has always been a favorite place of mine. It's one of the many coffeehouses in my neighborhood. Although it's changed hands a few times, I was impressed with the breakfast I had yesterday. Yum! AND they certainly have a great sense of humor!“

“great coffee and watching dogs play at the dog park.“

“First time here !! I can’t believe I work so close to here and I just walked in. Coffees are delicious… the Mazapán iced latte is the best I’ve ever had ! Bagels are delicious and they hook it up with the cream cheese. Very friendly service that makes you feel like you are a regular. Do not pass up on this gem !“

“Probably one of the best looking cafes their are. Truly so comfortable anywhere you sit. The prices are so good and they have Dark horse, so can't fo wrong! The owner is so nice and seems to be very hands on and part of the team. I like the consistency in service and cool barista vibes. Thanks for always being there.“

“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!“