Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in National City

"Vegan and vegetarian food are served in a beautiful rooftop environment at Trilogy Sanctuary. Come for a yoga class and make sure to stay for the food afterwards."

"You’ll feel like you’ve been blasted to the past at this iconic coffee shop. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Clayton’s stays true to its roots serving popular diner classics such as biscuits ’n’ gravy, malted shakes, chili cheese fries, and tuna melts. Insider tip: In a rush?"

"The minute you walk though Clayton’s doors, you’ll feel like you’ve opened a time capsule. The first thing that catches you eye is the horseshoe counter that connects to the kitchen. Its bold red leatherette swivel stools make you smile with the memory of simpler times."

"Serving the community of La Jolla since 2003, Brick & Bell Cafe bakes their Famous Scones and Pastries every morning in the cafe along with their Crazy Good Granola. They source their green coffee from all corners of the world, and they take great care in roasting their Colombian Coffee and European Espresso. With over 15 years of success in La Jolla, they look forward to serving you whether you are a local or visiting."

"This super cute one-story house has been revamped into a quaint coffee shop with lots of great choices for food and coffee. But what keeps me coming back here is their outdoor seating that’s sheltered from the street by plants and trees and feels like sitting in the coziest backyard ever. Seriously, I think if inner peace were a place, this is what it would look like."

"Brick and Bell Café is a bustling spot full of people on the run who still want a good morning meal. This bakery and cafe is famous for its baked goods and deliciously fresh coffee. They’re especially well known for their scones; but their buttery croissants and hearty banana walnut bread are equally as delicious."

"Often called (informally of course), “the best coffee in North County,” Lofty’s three locations in Encinitas and Solana Beach mean you might find one without the lines. Its original location near Moonlight Beach is a local cafe and coffee roasting spot with specialty coffee and artisanal food decorated in industrial chic. A locally owned and operated cafe, Lofty roasts its own coffee beans."

"Lofty Coffee designed this cafe to take full advantage of the temperate San Diego weather with a wide-open and fluid, indoor to outdoor patio vibe. Nestled on a sun-kissed corner of Little Italy, there’s no better way to enjoy the elements with your cup of joe. Tagged with:Coffee, Coffee Shops, San Diego, Top 10"

"While Kung Fu Tea is a growing national chain, don’t let that take away from the fact that they craft up some seriously excellent boba. Despite its widely acclaimed popularity and international reach, Kung Fu Tea keeps with providing traditional boba flavors for its customers. With flavors ranging from Pina Colada to Taro Root, you can rest easy that each order will be to the highest degree of quality and freshness."

"Freshly brewed tea every three hours and bubbles cooked in brown sugar every two hours, Kung-Fu tea will leave you feeling bobb-ly inside. Note that not all locations are listed. Visit their site for more information on COVID updates and which of the four locations is closest for your convenience."

"Specializes in made-to-order tea, milk & fruit-based beverages. Offers a wide selection of drink toppings including bubbles, beans, jellies & pudding."

"Located between Asian Passage and Panda Canyon, Hua Mei Café offers a variety of Asian favorites such as Orange Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken, and Peppered Beef Teriyaki."

"Downtown and GrantvilleAfter five years of wholesaling its beans, Westbean was just rated one of the top 16 hottest coffee shops in the nation by Zagat and has collaborated with Blind Lady Alehouse, Benchmark Brewing Company, and more. You can grab a cup at its two San Diego locations, on Broadway Downtown or at its roastery/coffee bar in Grantville, or just a brew a cup for yourself since this micro-roaster also sells its coffee online along with all kinds of brewing equipment. Whether you prefer your coffee made with a French press, AeroPress, or pour-over style, there are step-by-step instructions on the site teaching coffee drinkers how to make the perfect cup using just about every brewing method possible."

"The WestBean Coffee Roasters is a great place for coffee in San Diego. They want to create the highest quality coffee from the beans they roast. To do this they put a lot of care into making sure the taste of the coffee is great."

"Tidelands Park is a Coronado city park with sports fields, a skate park, and a sandy beach on San Diego Bay. It is located next to the San Diego-Coronado Bridge […]"

"San Diego has its own version of Central Park: The Waterfront Park, located along the Embarcadero in Little Italy. Opened in 2014, it's become a family-favorite destination for locals. The 12-acre park is just a stone's throw from the bay and is decked out with tons of innovative ways to entertain kids including a splash pad and slide––but it's the giant fountain, with its many jets, that is the park's main attraction."

"Waterfront Park consists of 12-acres of lush gardens and fountains that are perfect for cooling down in the intense San Diego heat. Kids will love playing in the shallow splash areas where fountains shoot water high in the air. Bring a picnic and relax on the grassy areas while admiring the views of the bayfront."

"If you can’t make it across the bridge to Coronado, you can walk along Harbor Bay to get a photo as well. The angle is a bit different and it’s a good deal harder to park but it can be done."

"A traditional Japanese Robataya complete with tatami seating (a lowered table where you sit on the ground), Oton serves Robata (skewers) sushi, small plates and special hot pots, like the udon and pork belly hot pot, which is cooked at your table. The environment and the food are like a taste of Japan without the 12-hour flight."

"This ramen chain is huge in Japan and when they opened their first American location in Kearny Mesa in 2017, people lost their minds. These days, there’s still a line whenever you go, but their house-made noodles continue to be the best in town. Both the Tonkotsu and Miso options are great, but they also serve Tantanmen (ramen topped with a pork or chicken cutlet), which is perfect for when you get bored of their other options, assuming that’s possible."

"Balboa Park is where the arts, culture and history of San Diego come together to create a 1,200 acre wonderland filled with unforgettable experiences for people of every age. Thriving botanical beauty flourishes throughout and surrounds 15 museums, a variety of performing arts and musical theaters, exotic gardens, fabulous restaurants, upscale shopping, the San Diego Zoo and exquisite Spanish Moor architecture. Known as America’s largest urban cultural park, more than 500,000 visitors come each year to delight in the beauty and amazing attractions of Balboa Park."

"Nothing had quite the same impact on our San Diego architecture as did the Spanish Colonial Style Confections in Balboa Park, which revived an enthusiastic interest in this type of Spanish-style architecture. Designed in 1915, this building is an exhilarating mélange of various architectural styles. While they may have been somewhat haphazardly thrown together, they still manage to attain striking visual harmony."

"Balboa Park is one of the most Instagrammable parks in San Diego!. While you’re there, don’t miss the lily pond!. This reflection pool is not your average little lily pond."

"There is an extra fee to enter the Japanese Friendship Garden, which is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city, Yokohama. There’s an upper and lower strolling path where you can see koi pond, landscaped gardens and a Zen garden viewing deck. It’s a very tranquil space."

"Feel the beauty of the waterfalls and greenery as you stroll the pathways of the Japanese Friendship Garden. Skip right past the entrance fee the third Tuesday of every month. As well, explore the Japanese rock garden and take in the current indoor display."

"The Garden originated as a teahouse during the 1915–16 Panama-California Exposition and now lies on two acres near the Spreckels Organ Pavilion."