10 Cafes In San Diego, California

1. Olive Cafe

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

2. Pappalecco

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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

3. Caffe Italia

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

4. Girard Gourmet

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

5. Cafe 222

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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)

6. The Mission Restaurant

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)

7. Brick & Bell Cafe

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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

8. Perry's Cafe

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Perry’s Cafe is an olden time, diner-style breakfast house with numerous menu options to choose from. They have various categories on the menu from Frittatas, Mexican breakfast, egg breakfasts, omelettes, pancakes, French toast, waffles, sandwiches, max dishes, to kids’ menu. The restaurant has a very friendly service and serve extra-large portions of food. The price is also easy on the pocket. From the tables you can see that the line cooks making your food for order which is another plus. Their extra-crispy hash browns are a must-try!

Perry's Cafe

Address: 4610 Pacific Highway, San Diego, California 92110

Website: Perry’s Cafe

Opening hours: 6am - 2pm (daily)

9. Kono's Cafe

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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

10. Little Lion Cafe

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

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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)

Have breakfast by the beach

Breakfast is an important meal of the day and it is important to choose the best places of food before you kickstart your day. These cafes and breakfast houses in the above list serve the finest foods, quick bites, desserts, and coffee in the town. Do try out each of these places for their friendly service and mouthwatering must-try dishes. Experience the San Diego way of life by munching yummy breakfast by the beach.