Best Cafe in San Diego

While the craft-coffee scene blew up eons ago in places like Seattle and Portland, the reverential appreciation for high-quality caffeinated beverages (preferably served in creatively designed surrounds) continues apace, perhaps nowhere more so than our fair city of San Diego.

From San Francisco-based chains landing in North County to homegrown concepts in Barrio Logan, plus several artisan roasters, we've rounded up covetable coffee bars and cafés powering the local community where you can fuel up in style on a superior cup of Joe.

Whether you're into single origin pour-overs, Chemex or cold brew on nitro, the next time you need a caffeine fix keep it local with one of these 23 Essential San Diego Coffee Shops.

- Please note map points are not ranked.

1 Baba Coffee

Soak up a cool vibe and stylish design details while sipping on staple coffee drinks like lattes, espressos, mochas, and cappuccinos (made with Pannikin Coffee & Tea) at the handsome Baba Coffee In Carlsbad. There are great pastries here too from the Pannikin and VG donuts, plus heartier fare like breakfast sandwiches, acai bowls, bagels, and oatmeal.

2727 State St #100
Carlsbad, CA 92008

(760) 994-0666

2 Philz Coffee

The eagerly awaited San Francisco-based transplant has gone down a storm since opening in Encinitas earlier this month. Specializing in pour-over custom-blended drip coffee made using its 20 plus signature coffee blends, Philz baristas customize each cup or mix up well-known specialty drinks like the Mint Mojito iced coffee and Tantalizing Turkish.

1060 S Coast Highway 101
Encinitas, CA 92024

(760) 230-6880

3 Revolution Roasters

Beans are roasted here in small batches by a Probat L12 gas-fired drum roaster, which clearly turns out some seriously good coffee. Add amazing service and a relaxed atmosphere and you have the makings of a pretty perfect coffee house. Offerings range from chocolaty espresso blend, Smooth Operator, to lighter African coffees, and darker roasts from Indonesia. You’ll also find limited releases like the Ethiopia Gedebt, that “packs a palate bursting with blueberries.”

1836 S Coast Hwy
Oceanside, CA 92054

(760) 529-9736

4 Steady State Roasting

Open six days a week (closed on Tuesdays) this 250-square foot hidden gem of a small-batch roastery serves up some of the best pour overs and espressos around. Beans are sourced from Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Gautemala and Rwanda, there’s sparkling tea and cold brew too. Part of a collective, Steady State Roasting shares site space with other artists and makers from woodworkers to welders.