50 Best Coffee Shops in San Diego

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

“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 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“

“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!“

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

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

“Enjoyed Madi again. Food is always great. Potatoes were a bit undercooked. Everything else was tasty. Started w churro waffles - always recommend them. One of the best waffles. Chicken fried steak was a 8 on a scale of 10. Shakshuka is delicious but it is not shakshuka anymore.. it is more of a carnitas w a poached egg and cheese. Name is misleading since it is a regional dish.. (check the recipe) Setting is great and simple. Service is always friendly. Our waiter was great - once he noticed that our coffee (2 cappuccinos) was not delivered on time.. he got us replacements asap. Very thoughtful.“

“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 🫶“

“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)“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“This place is so good! I live down the street and I highly recommend this coffee shop! Whatever you get, from a vanilla latte to their chiaroscuro, you can’t go wrong! I highly recommend to try their seasonal drinks, they are the best! If you go in the morning, you must order their pastries and burritos because they go fast! Look out for small collabs with local vendors!! Just by seeing their latte art, you know these are experienced baristas!!“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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!!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Loved my visit, All the women working there were so sweet and super quick they really keep things moving while still being super friendly. The vibe of the place is fun and cozy, and it’s beautifully decorated. I tried the Morning After Juice and I totally recommend it super refreshing and delicious. 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.“

“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!“

“Great tasting brew, yummy!“

“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 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!“

“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!“

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

“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. ❤🤍💙“

“The food here is so amazing, and the pricing is beyond reasonable. The egg sandwich? Life changing! I have been thinking about it all day since my visit. The sambusas are also so good as well as their cappuccino. The service was also great. The lady was so sweet and attentive and kept checking in on us. I will definitely stop by anytime I find myself in San Diego.“

“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! 🫰🏼“

“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!“

“Excellent service and the croissant was so good . Thank you so much. 😋“

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

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

“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.“

“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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“