Let your heart leap with joy at La Jolla, one of the most gorgeous beach destinations in California. Located about 18 km (11 mi) from San Diego, this picturesque city is home to awe-inspiring ocean views, sandy beaches, spectacular shopping, and fabulous food. Travellers flock to La Jolla to visit its popular art galleries, historic museums, upscale shopping boutiques, and lovely cafes that line the beach and flourish in the city. There are plenty of things to see, enjoy, and discover in La Jolla, from water sports to wonderful dining. However, if you just want to go somewhere relaxing, read on further to explore the top cafes you must try in La Jolla, San Diego, California.
Places to see in La Jolla
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve: A beautiful coastal nature park, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is a great place for a hike. Popular trails in the natural reserve include Guy Fleming Trail, Beach Trail, and Razor Point Trail.
Birch Aquarium at Scripps: If you’re traveling with kids, this attraction is a must-visit. Not only is it home to a wide array of fish, but the aquarium is also home to cute aquatic animals, including a coterie of Little Blue Penguins, the smallest species of penguins. According to NBC Los Angeles, the aquarium even offers outdoor adventure bundles!
1. Brick & Bell Cafe - La Jolla
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Still going strong
Posted by Brick & Bell Cafe on Thursday, June 4, 2020
Fall in love with everything delicious at Brick & Bell Cafe, the brilliant cafe with seats by the open patio on Silverado Street in La Jolla. Be impressed by the stylish brick facade of the cafe. When you step into its lush interiors, make yourself comfortable with its homey ambience. It’s not unusual to see customers staring through the glass counter for a long time before deciding what to order as the cafe offers a wide choice of delicious food. Popular items on the menu are the homemade scones that are baked fresh each day, the sandwiches, the cakes, the cookies, and the coffees. Just as popular are their breakfast platters and salads that are great for energising your day.
Brick & Bell Cafe - La Jolla
Address: 928 Silverado St, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Website: Brick & Bell Cafe - La Jolla
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6am - 5:30pm; Sat - Sun: 6am - 5pm
2. Caroline's Seaside Cafe
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Dining by the sea in La Jolla is a wonderful experience and Caroline’s Seaside Cafe is the best place in town to enjoy this. Step into the chic and contemporary interiors of the cafe for an enjoyable time with family and friends. Indulge in a menu of delights that include Californian-style brunch, lovely lunch platters, soups, salads, pancakes, burgers, and sandwiches. When the day gets too hot, cool down with the cafe’s good selection of beers, wines, juices, and drinks to quench your thirst. What guests love most about this cafe is the pretty presentation of food and drinks that set the mood for awesome casual dining.
Caroline's Seaside Cafe
Address: 8610 Charles F, Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Website: Caroline’s Seaside Cafe
Opening hours: 8am - 3pm (daily)
3. Philz Coffee
Be amazed by the bright and airy environment of Philz Coffee, a popular cafe at the heart of La Jolla that serves a huge variety of aromatic coffees, teas, and pastries. In fact, for the past quarter-century, this cafe has been renowned for its customised coffee blends created by the owner, Phil, with coffee beans from all over the globe. The modern interiors and spacious layout make this cafe a great place to gather with friends and family for a cuppa or a quick bite. What guests love from the menu are the banana walnut greek yoghurt, the almond butter and banana toast, and the Mediterranean avocado toast.
Philz Coffee
Address: 8849 Villa La Jolla Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037, United Stat
Website: Philz Coffee
Opening hours: 6:30am - 8pm (daily)
4. Living Room Cafe
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
With surroundings as comfortable as your living room at home, Living Room Cafe is a great place to kick back and relax in the city with your favourite coffee in hand. The best spots within the cafe where you can enjoy your meal are the outdoor patio, where you can be under sunshine skies, or upstairs at the wine bar that overlooks scenic sea views. Located in downtown La Jolla, customers keep returning to Living Room Cafe for its great-tasting pastries, cheeseburger and fries, turkey lasagna, fried rice, chicken pie, and veggie quiche. In fact, this cafe is a popular hangout for students and trendy crowds who love its convenient locale and reasonable prices.
Living Room Cafe
Address: 1010 Prospect St, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Website: https://livingroomcafe.com/
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 7am - 1am; Fri - Sat: 7am - 2am
5. Come On In! Cafe
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Come On In Cafe Science Park on Thursday, June 14, 2018
You will feel welcome from the moment you step into Come On In! Cafe, a charming cafe in central La Jolla with white-themed interiors and contemporary furnishings. Explore their menu of delicious meals, pastries, desserts, and drinks that have made Come On In! Cafe one of the most popular restaurants in San Diego. What keeps customers happy is the wide menu filled with breakfast platters, lunch sets, soups, salads, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, and wraps. This cafe also provides catering services for special occasions and special events with customised menus to suit guests.
Come On In! Cafe
Address: 11011 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Website: Come On In! Cafe
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 2:30pm; Sat - Sun: 12am - 12am
6. Harry's Coffee Shop
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Love the ambience of a traditional coffee shop? Then, Harry’s Coffee Shop is the best place to enjoy a good cup of coffee and freshly baked pastries. What customers love is the eclectic decorations in a family-owned traditional diner that has been serving good food since 1960. Popular items on the menu are their breakfast and brunch platters as well as your choice of beverages that will satisfy your cravings. Tuck into sweet and savoury pancakes, waffles, French toast, omelettes, and breakfast burritos. The simple yet comfortable interiors make this cafe a must-visit in La Jolla. After all, it’s known as the oldest cafe in this vibrant city.
Harry's Coffee Shop
Address: 7545 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Website: Harry’s Coffee Shop
Opening hours: 7am - 3pm (daily)
7. Parakeet Cafe
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Enjoy the delights of Parakeet Cafe, a bright and colourful cafe in La Jolla with bird-themed walls and chic decorations. The wood panel flooring and plush seats create a warm ambience for casual dining among friends and family. Hot items on the menu include brekkie platters, artisanal toasts, salads, rice bowls, and freshly baked pastries. End your meal with their signature sips, organic teas, and coffees that will leave you smiling with satisfaction. What guests love about the cafe are the addictive baked goods, friendly staff, and scrumptious healthy food.
Parakeet Cafe
Address: 927 Silverado St, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Website: Parakeet Cafe
Opening hours: 7am - 6pm (daily)
8. Shorehouse Kitchen
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Dreaming of enjoying a cuppa by the beach? Head on over to Shorehouse Kitchen, a splendid cafe sited on a beachside spot at the heart of La Jolla. What’s amazing about this cafe are their breakfast choices that include pancakes, eggs benedict, waffles, a variety of sandwiches, and French toast to tantalise your tastebuds. Just as amazing is the lunch platters served from 11am daily that include favourites such as prime steak and wild Alaskan cod and chips. Best of all, all food and drinks are available for take-out and delivery for customer’s convenience.
Shorehouse Kitchen
Address: 2236 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
Website: Shorehouse Kitchen
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 7:30am - 2:30pm; Fri - Sun: 7:30am - 3:30pm
9. Girard Gourmet
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Girard Gourmet is an American food restaurant located very close to the La Jolla cove. The restaurant serves the most amazing cookies in the city. Enjoy the light jazz music on the background along with delicious freshly made foods using family recipes. This family-run restaurant is a welcoming place with changing decor once every two to three months. They are popular for their seasonal cookies that come in different shapes that represent the current season of the year. The food and the staff create an unpretentious local deli-like dining experience for the visitors. This is a pet-friendly space.
Girard Gourmet
Address: 7837 Girard Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037, b/t Wall St & Silverado St , La Jolla
Website: Girard Gourmet
Opening hours: Sun: 7am - 7pm; Mon - Sat: 7am - 8pm
Other cafes in San Diego
If you wish to explore some cafes outside this neighborhood, the city has lots of options for you. Check out some of the top cafes in other San Diego neighborhoods below!
10. Olive Cafe
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
The Olive Cafe is located at just 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from SeaWorld San Diego. This cute little cafe is located very close to the beach and is one of the favorite places for both locals and tourists. You can place your order at the counter and the food will be served to you at your table. They serve on a first-in, first-out basis so you don’t have to worry about the waiting for placing an order. Also they offer unlimited refills of coffee. You can also grab a cup of coffee and munch tasty pastries from the Olive Bakery located right across the street. The menu has a lot of options and the breakfast and lunch is served all day.
Olive Cafe
Address: 805 Santa Clara Pl, San Diego, CA 92109, b/t Bayside Ln & Mission Blvd
Website: Olive Cafe
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 7am - 3pm; Fri - Sun: 7am - 4pm
11. Pappalecco
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Pappalecco is a chain of restaurants in San Diego open in four locations across the city. It is a popular Italian diner that serves vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options as well. The Pappalecco caffe serves amazing gelatos and other Italian desserts. The cafe boasts that the secret behind their authentic tastes is that they use traditional Tuscan methods of cooking using fresh organically sourced ingredients. They have a friendly staff and the pricing is also very reasonable. They greet you “grazie belle”, meaning “thank, you beautiful”!
Pappalecco
Address: 1602 State St, San Diego, CA 92101, b/t Date St & Cedar St , Little Italy
Website: Pappalecco
Opening hours: Sun: 8am - 9:30pm; Mon - Thu: 7am- 9:30pm; Fri: 7am- 10:30pm; Sat: 8am - 10:30pm
12. Caffe Italia
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Caffe Italia is yet another amazing Italian spot t in Little Italy, San Diego. The cafe has only a few tables on the outside and a generous patio. However, this is the best place for a coffee break, located right in the heart of Little Italy. Each cup of coffee is served like a work of art. They serve vegetarian-friendly and vegan, breakfast, brunch, and lunch options. It is a cozy little place to grab a coffee and work all day or read your favorite book. They serve alcoholic beverages as well.
Caffe Italia
Address: 1704 India St, San Diego, CA 92101, USA
Website: Caffe Italia
Opening hours: Sun: 8am - 10pm; Mon-Thu: 7am - 10pm; Fri: 7am - 11pm: Sat: 8am - 11pm
13. Cafe 222
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Cafe 222 is a dog- and kid-friendly restaurant with a lot of eating space on the terrace, patio as well as indoors. The restaurant serves delicious American cuisine and became a famous eatery after several appearances on the Food Network and due to the famed big billboards of the restaurant owner Terryl with a waffle on her head. Cafe 222 with its counter-top dining and cozy booths feels like a classic diner. Have a pleasant eating experience even as you wait in line as the staff will pass you the very delicious banana bread and coffee at the restaurant.
Cafe 222
Address:222 Island Ave San Diego, CA 92101, b/t Front St & Union St
Website: Cafe 222
Opening hours: 7am - 1.45pm (daily)
14. The Mission Restaurant
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
The Mission Restaurant is a typical diner-style breakfast place that is quite popular in the whole of San Diego. They serve large portions of delicious breakfast, breads, and coffee. The restaurant believes in leaning towards green and healthy living. The menu has numerous American classic breakfast options such as Rancheros Verdes, Pancakes, Bacon, French toast, and more. They also serve the best coffee in the locality. This is a kid-friendly cafe with bright and airy ambiance and eye-catching local artwork.
The Mission Restaurant
Address: 3795 Mission Boulevard , San Diego, CA 92109
Website: The Mission Restaurant
Opening hours: 7am - 3pm (daily)
15. Kono's Cafe
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Kono’s Cafe is another classic San Diego cafe that offers the best breakfast along with fast and friendly customer service. The cafe is located right on the beach and offers amazing oceanfront views from the patio dining area. You can also opt to dine inside during cold San Diego days. They serve really huge potions of American food at affordable prices.
Kono's Cafe
Address: 704 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109-2408
Website: Kono’s Cafe
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 7am - 2pm; Sat - Sun: 7am - 3pm
16. Little Lion Cafe
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
The Little Lion Cafe is a restaurant and bar on the Sunset Cliffs Boulevard that was started by the next generation members of the Coulton family who are famous for the once upon a time “the Belgian Lion” restaurant. They still follow the traditional European methods of cooking from locally available farm-fresh ingredients and seasonal menu options. The cafe is a small space that is quite crowded during the busy hours.
Little Lion Cafe
Address: 1424 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, California
Website: Little Lion Cafe
Opening hours: Tue, Wed & Sun: 8am – 3pm Thu, Fri, & Sat: 8am - 9pm (closed on Mon)
17. Brick & Bell Cafe
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
The Brick & Bell Cafe is located in two places in San Diego–one in La Jolla beach and the other in the downtown. This is a bakery and cafe place with a homey ambiance. They are popular for their huge variety of scones. The restaurant is pet-friendly. If you are looking for a good breakfast or some quick bites with coffee, the Brick & Bell Cafe is an wonderful choice. They also have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options in the menu.
Brick & Bell Cafe
Address: 976 Felspar St, San Diego, CA 92109. b/t Cass St & Bayard St, Pacific Beach
Website: Brick & Bell Cafe
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 4:30am - 5:30pm; Sat - Sun: 4:30am - 5pm
Enjoy casual dining at its finest at La Jolla's top cafes
Wake up to good food each day in La Jolla, San Diego, where many interesting cafes serve up local delights to titillate the palate of locals and tourists alike. After a long day of exploring the local sights in the city, it’s time to rest your feet and enjoy a good coffee with scrumptious snacks. Make your way to the top cafes you must try in La Jolla, San Diego, California.
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