As Realtors, our jobs often take us from one end of San Diego to another – which means lots of stops for coffee! We have discovered so many hidden gems this way. While we love Starbucks as much as the next Realtor, we’ve compiled a list of eight of our favorite coffee shops in San Diego that are a little bit off the beaten path!
La Colombe
(UTC)
Since their remodel in 2017, the UTC mall has opened a slew of new stores and eateries – including the amazing La Colombe. While La Calombe is not a local company, their shop at UTC is their first location in San Diego! La Colombe was founded over twenty years ago by two gentlemen who wanted to bring better coffee to America. They source and roast their beans with care and have combined elements of ancient and modern brewing techniques to create an exceptional coffee experience. You can enjoy your drink in the store or purchase the beans, tea bags, and cans of their “Draft Lattes” to bring the experience home.
James Coffee
(Little Italy)
Whenever we are near Little Italy, we have to stop into James Coffee! Independently owned and operated, they specialize in serving handcrafted artisan roasted coffee. While the whole menu is delicious, you can’t go wrong with the Cortado or the Honey Cinnamon Latte! And don’t forget to make time to stroll around Little Italy – James Coffee is surrounded by unique shops that are perfect for browsing with a coffee in hand.
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters
(La Jolla)
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Bird Rock, this neighborhood is La Jolla’s quieter, trendier cousin! After an afternoon of showing homes or enjoying the view from Windansea Beach, we love to stop into Bird Rock Coffee Roasters for an afternoon pick-me-up before heading home. They actually have three locations across San Diego, but we love visiting the Bird Rock location. If you buy a bag of their coffee beans, they will give you a drip coffee on the house. In addition to their delicious coffee, we also love that they are so involved in the community! This coffee shop prides itself on participating in almost every local Bird Rock event and providing space for local artists to display their work.
Lofty Coffee
(Solana Beach)
Lofty Coffee is a North San Diego County favorite! They opened in Encinitas in 2011 and have since expanded to include locations in Solana Beach and Little Italy. We often visit the Solana Beach location for a Turkish Coffee or Salted Carmel Macchiato. It’s not far from our office in Carmel Valley. Lofty has a more extensive café menu than some other coffee spots on this list, which makes it the perfect stop for a work breakfast or light lunch!
Pannikin Coffee & Tea
(Encinitas)
If someone says the words “local coffee shop” your mind might immediately jump to Pannikin Coffee & Tea! They’ve been serving up great coffee in San Diego since 1968. Their original location is in Leucadia, but they had an outpost in Del Mar’s Flower Hill Mall for many years. These days, you can also find Pannikin in La Jolla and at the San Diego Airport. We love visiting the Encinitas café, which is located in the historic Sante Fe Railroad Station on Highway 101. We highly recommend any of their espresso drinks!
Mostra Coffee
(Rancho Bernardo)
Mostra Coffee is our go-to spot for cold brew coffee! Located in Rancho Bernardo, Mostra Coffee has a great atmosphere for working or catching up with friends. They have some unique menu options you won’t find anywhere else like the Bibinkga Crème Brulee Latte, which is Filipino-inspired and absolutely delicious! Mostra only has one location in San Diego, which makes them the definition of a small business.
Better Buzz
(Encinitas)
Better Buzz Coffee has quite a few locations across San Diego: Hillcrest, Pacific Beach, Encinitas, Fashion Valley, Point Loma, Mission Beach, and San Marcos. All of the locations serve a robust menu of coffees, including espresso and cold brew options. Our favorite menu items include the aptly-named Best Drink Ever, the Killer Bee, and the iced Moroccan Spice.
Philz Coffee
(Encinitas)
Philz Coffee is another one of our favorite spots that isn’t strictly local to San Diego – but we love it so much we had to include it anyway! Philz has three locations in San Diego: La Jolla, Encinitas, and Carmel Valley. Currently, we frequent the Encinitas location when we’re showing homes along the coast in North County. We like to order either the Ambrosia drip, the Mint Mojito, or the Julie’s Ultimate!
What are your go-to coffee spots in San Diego? Share them with us in the comments below – we’re always looking to discover more great coffee shops!