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 👌 😀“

“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 🫶“

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

“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!“

“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)“

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

“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.“

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

“Not a huge fan of the window artwork/covering. The artwork is fine and someone did an awesome job. It has just always been part of the attraction to sit inside with the big open glass from floor to ceiling and people watch sitting anywhere inside, now you can’t see outside except certain areas.“

“We recently hosted our engagement party at Surf Lounge...and it was epic! Derek, the owner, went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. The space had such a cool, laid-back vibe — the perfect mix of cozy coffee shop and surf culture — and it created the most memorable setting for our celebration having the back deck to enjoy with our closest friends and family.

From the delicious drinks to the super friendly service, every detail was spot on. Our guests couldn’t stop complimenting the space and the overall vibe of the location.

Huge thanks to Derek and the whole Surf Lounge team for helping create such a memorable night for us. If you're looking for a spot that combines great coffee, good energy, and genuinely awesome people — this is it. ☕🌊“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Great atmosphere, awesome people, amazing service, high-end equipment, and the prices were very reasonable. Went there twice in a week and have super pleasant experiences. Cannot recommend highly enough and am sad my hometown has nothing close to it's caliber.
Pastries are a tad pricey but you get a lot out of it and they are very well made. Fork and knifing it easily yielded 6-8 solid bites.“

“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!“

“Todo riquisimo muy amables y atentos“

“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!!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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“

“This coffee shop is walking distance from my house and I absolutely love it every time I come in for coffee. I appreciate their consistency with how my coffee tastes the same every time. The staff is always so nice and kind. It’s also very cute inside and is dog friendly! 10/10 recommend!“

“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!“

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

“Great tasting brew, yummy!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“KOS Coffee is one of my go-to spots! I always order their Açaí bowl and they never disappoint. Fresh, delicious, and perfectly made every time. The vibe is great, welcoming and relaxing. The owners are always so nice and attentive. You can really tell they care about their customers and the quality of what they serve. Highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area!“

“Absolutely lovely ambience and food! Loved the decor and seating both inside and out. And I have been to many many cafes and this has one of the nicest vibes I have come across! The masala chai was wonderful. The egg burrito was also delicious as well as the cakes. To top it off the service was wonderful. This is a must visit cafe in San Diego don't miss it !“

“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. ❤🤍💙“

“Love this place. Great owners, great coffee, great food, fair pricing, go small business!“

“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.“

“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! 🫰🏼“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Delicious coffee drinks and handmade baked goods. Check out the stan of Anthony Bourdain in all aspects of this charming spot.“

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

“Great little coffee oasis off the beaten path in Old Town. The thrift store furniture gave it a homey feel and I couldn’t stop staring at all the BEAUTIFUL plants!! 😍 The coffee flight is a MUST DO for any coffee lover. The variations of flavors were so unique and tickled my tastebuds. Just say YES to this spot! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“