Hello! Long time no see!
I know that there has been a significant lull in posts in the last few months, but that is for good reason. I wanted to take my time to ~research~ to be able to confidently rank my absolute favorite coffee houses in San Diego. I don’t want you to go to get some run of the mill cup of Joe. Not on my watch. Without further ado, here are my top picks!
Moniker Coffee Co
In my opinion, Moniker Coffee Co is my #1 favorite coffee house in San Diego. Located in the North End of Liberty Station in Point Loma, the bright, airy space boasts high ceilings and a minimalistic design. What impressed me the most about this gorgeous shop was the abundance of seating, tables, and outlets. Nothing is worse than getting your coffee and not having a space to sit down and enjoy it!
As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by Nate who was working in Moniker General, a trendy boutique which is in the same space as the coffee shop. Although it was a busy afternoon, both Nate and the barista who helped me order could not have been friendlier and I would have come back for the amazing customer service even if the coffee sucked (it didn’t).
Their coffee selection was classic and simple but featured tasty specialty drinks including a Salted Caramel Latte and the Viennese Latte, infused with honey and cinnamon.
The Viennese Latte outside on the patio!
What also makes it special is the patio area, featuring a banquet table under a canopy strung with twinkle lights. San Diego is known for its amazing weather, and Moniker totally embraces that with open windows, doors, and outdoor spaces.
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters
Dark Horse is my go to stop when I want to pick up an iced latte on my way to work Downtown. I usually go to the Golden Hill location, but there are Dark Horse coffee shops in Normal Heights and North Park as well! What I love about Dark Horse is how fun it is. I don’t know how else to explain it! There is always great music playing, their branding is phenomenal, the coffee always impresses. Done, done & done.
My usual order is an iced latte with almond milk & a pump of their homemade signature vanilla syrup, but that changed as soon as I tried The Champ. It’s honey, cinnamon, espresso and I always get almond milk, but its so subtly sweet that it never overpowers the coffee itself.
Dark Horse is also known for their vegan donuts which they stack on top of their iced drinks. Although I keep telling myself that I need one for research, I haven’t tried one because been trying to be good before I leave for Spain! Who knows though, I might cave one of these days.
If you are around a Dark Horse Coffee shop, or even if you aren’t, you need to come try this place. I promise you won’t be let down. And don’t forget to grab one of their free stickers!
Communal Coffee
Ok if you haven’t heard of Communal Coffee yet, what rock have you been living under? Don’t get me wrong, I love this place. Just walking in to Communal makes you feel like you’ve traveled into a perfectly curated world, but because of how beautiful it is, it tends to be very busy. What makes Communal Coffee so special is that it shares its space with Native Poppy, a local florist known for its extravagant flower crowns and arrangements. If you’re looking for a place to post an Instagram (guilty as charged), this place is your heaven.
Most people don’t just come here for a large black coffee, instead the fan favorites include the Lavender Honey Latte, Vanilla Rose Latte and Sea Salt Caramel Latte. On top of their flavorful drinks, they serve a variety of toasts and granola bowls. Bottom line? It’s trendy.
If you can find a table in the back room, that is definitely the place to be. Otherwise I really like sitting at the coffee/flower bar in the Native Poppy section or (again, lol) outside on the back patio by the North Park Nursery.
Although it is definitely one of San Diego’s most well known coffee shops, Communal Coffee is absolutely worth the trip to North Park to come see this gorgeous spot. Embrace it! You know you can’t resist a lavender latte and good ol’ avo toast!
Hopefully you’ll try out one (or all) of these cafes. I certainly had a lot of fun bopping around town and meeting the kind people who inhabit these shops. Happy coffee drinking!
A.
Alexandra Mier y Terán 