Acai Carioca

132

433

885

4 months ago

I first saw this from a video and got intrigued since we're huge fans of acai. Our go-to place sadly closed down last year so we were in the hunt for a new one. It's located inside a cookie shop and they don't really have an obvious signage unless you enter. The staff here has always been friendly and accommodating to walk us through the ordering process. Basically, you get a cheat sheet and get to customize it yourself. Their biggest size is actually humongous and we love the variety of their toppings. I just wish more fruits are included but the price isn't all too bad. Their acai base here is more on the watery side which I learned is traditional to Brazil. Also, don't sleep on their pao de quiejo! We could devour dozens of those. read more

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Noah K.

449

178

313

24 days ago

Almost went back for more! The açaí consistency is top tier and the fruit is fresh and sweet as can be. I love the format of picking your toppings. Staff was friendly, it can definitely get busy on the weekends. read more

Acai Carioca - Mini size - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Diane C.

476

36

82

2 months ago

Really enjoyed the açaí bowls here! I love how they layer the toppings so you get a perfect spoonful of fruit and whatever toppings you chose in every bite. The staff was super friendly, and this was the perfect treat after a fun day at the beach. Definitely coming back next time I'm in San Diego! read more

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Maiko K.

64

326

469

7 months ago

Cute little stand with AMAZING acai bowls! I ordered a size small and it was filled with so much yumminess! I love that they put mango sorbet(I think). I haven't really seen that anywhere. Whats better than eating acai on the beach!!?? Will go there again when I'm in PB! read more

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Jenelle s.

382

181

164

10 months ago

A great Brazilian Açaí spot. For $11 you can order a regular with 2 toppings. I usually get the pistachio butter and the nut granola. Service is quick! Grab a pad and pen and fill out your order. When it's finished they place it on the rotation table. Location is a small shack so it truly is a grab and go but the employees are chill! read more

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Nic L.

1

55

38

6 months ago

Excellent presentation and the açaí has a unique creaminess that I really enjoyed. However, for the $15.50 medium size, I really shouldn't have to pay extra for more than 3 toppings. It was really good, but I think there are other options at this price point that give more liberty when building your own toppings. read more

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Christina C.

185

597

356

7 months ago

I really like the flavor of the açaí base. It was rich and full of açaí flavor, but the texture was a little runny. Could have been frozen a bit more, but I'll take it for the true açaí flavor. Great topping choices, too. I like that you fill out the sheet with your order rather than verbally giving the order. Makes the process a bit easier. The spot is a cute little stand within walking distance to the beach, so it's a great treat to grab before a nice walk. read more

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Misa O.

60

333

545

10 months ago

I'm obsesseddddd! The fruits and the acai tasted so fresh. All the ingredients seem very high quality. You can really taste the difference between Acai Carioca and your average Acai shop. It's a must try! read more

Acai Carioca - Acai - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Amelia S.

160

949

1007

11 months ago

Nice little stand with lots of topping options. Service is quick and friendly, and the açaí is very tasty. The portions are generous. This is literally a stand with a popup tent. No seating available, so you can enjoy the treat on the beach. read more

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Olivia C.

0

4

1

2 months ago

Would give it a 5/5 but just a little pricey. Definitely worth it if you're looking for some quality Açaí. I will be coming back here again!! read more

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Andrew G.

127

1048

580

1 year ago

Good açaí bowl right by the beach. I like that the acai isn't intensely sweet. It's pricey but that may be me getting old. Service was friendly and fast. The blue berrries weren't the freshest but everything else was good. read more

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Holly M.

1

16

19

5 months ago

If you want an authentic acai base, come here. Not too sweet and the topping options are great. Prices are standard for San Diego but it's a fun treat every once in a while. Excited to try more of their toppings :) read more

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Will P.

23

247

260

1 year ago

This place is a bit overpriced for the portions, as the cup is very aesthetically pleasing but not the best for portion sizes. For a small and medium protein Acai, it was over $30 which is a little expensive for my taste. The Acai itself wasn't too sweet and the toppings were good. If the price wasn't so high, would definitely be a 5/5 read more

Acai Carioca - Acai protein bowl w/ strawberries granola blueberries and coconut - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

Acai Carioca - Acai protein bowl w/ peanut butter blueberries strawberries and granola - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Emmett T.

Elite 26 All-Star

699

2824

22671

2 years ago

Acai Carioca has set up a mobile stand in front of the California Dreams Hostel on Emerald St in PB just yards away from the waterfront. They have a simple menu in which you choose one of four serving sizes, a base, and then toppings. Tuesday was unlimited toppings day, yet the cashier didn't inform me about the offer. Brazilian cheese balls (pao de queijo) made of tapioca flour were also available for purchase. The cup sizes ranged from 12 oz to 32 oz with two to four toppings included. There were two base types... carioca (traditional acai berries blended with honey) and protein style. The latter cost an extra dollar because it was carioca plus a vanilla vegan protein powder. Nineteen different toppings were offered at an additional one dollar each. I picked a regular size carioca with strawberries and more honey. The natural sweetness from the premium acai was already high so the extra honey increased it even more. I think the 12 oz size would be sufficient for most customers because the 32 oz serving with four toppings at a price of $25 was steep. This was a very good quality product that exceeds the acai you get in a bowl at the chain shops. read more

Acai Carioca - Vendor stand - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

Acai Carioca - One side of the sidewalk sign - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

Acai Carioca - Other side of the sidewalk sign - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

Acai Carioca - Serving cup sizes - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

Acai Carioca - Menu sheet - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

Acai Carioca - Catering information sheet - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

Acai Carioca - My regular size carioca with strawberries and honey - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Han L.

Elite 25

1075

1610

2951

9 months ago

It was okay. The acai base was a bit too icy. I think there are better spots. Friendly worker though. read more

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Catherine M.

24

122

174

11 months ago

I was really craving a smoothie and this was the closest thing in the area that was open at the time. Even though the acai is pre-made and just scooped into the cup with the toppings and there was only one person ahead of me in line, the wait took a while. I was honestly disappointed with the quality and taste. My friend who used to work at a smoothie and acai place also got one and did not like it. read more

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Molly P.

Elite 23

122

183

1083

11 months ago

Nice cute little walk up stand for a refreshing healthy cup/bowl of açai. My husband and I split the medium and it was the perfect amount to share. You get three toppings with the medium size. We chose peanut butter, cacao nibs, coconut flakes and blueberries for an extra $1. The service was friendly and professional. read more

Acai Carioca - Açai, peanut butter, cacao nibs, coconut flakes, blueberries - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Eva M.

0

5

11

10 months ago

Classic acai with 3 toppings! Little walk up stand by the beach. Workers are very nice. read more

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James P.

317

34

8

1 year ago

Acai is still good. Pricing is still weird. The last 2 times I've gone including today 30 minutes plus from ordering the bowl to them finishing. I'm done at this point. read more

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Sarah V.

142

7

0

3 months ago

Really impressed! I appreciate them not adding a bunch of extra sugar and use natural sweetness of honey. So delicious and perfect on a hot day. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Fredy M.

0

21

2

7 months ago

I love this place, I come here at least 1-2 times week. The newer guy today (thin white guy with dirty blonde spiky hair) has such a bad personality. I ignored it and was still polite but then he made my açaí bowl so basic. Never had this little toppings from any of the other workers where I was basically just eating pure açaí. He didn't acknowledge me at all and ignored when I said thank you twice after getting the bowl. He also didn't acknowledge the older guy behind me in line who greeted him and literally not a response or smile. You're the one working at the register, you can't even pretend to smile or acknowledge your customers who shouldn't have to say hi first. He just completely ignores you.. go work in a factory or pick up a book on basic social skills.. read more

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Erica C.

0

4

3

6 months ago

This place is amazing! Service was great, honestly just asked the owner what he recommended and it was delicious- got ours with granola strawberry and almond butter protein base read more

Acai Carioca - Strawberry granola almond butter protein base - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Matthew W.

0

51

8

1 year ago

The best açaí we have had! Will definitely come back next time we are in town, it's our kids favorite breakfast. read more

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Cooper W.

0

2

0

3 months ago

Awesome Acai bowl order came out perfect and exactly how I wanted it to. Flavors are amazing and fresh as well

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Aaron C.

1

3

1

7 months ago

I was blown away. I'm a pretty frugal guy, and often groan when my girlfriend starts craving overpriced, and oversweetened acai bowls, but I will go out of my way to say that Acai Carioca is the best Acai that I've ever had. The base tastes like the actual berry, and not just sugar, has a more earthy taste than most other places. They just use acai pulp, honey and water, so nice and simple ingredients. The toppings were also some of the best I've ever had, very nice layering going on, I would reccomend the Milk powder, the Peanut powder, and the Strawberries, but I'm sure that their other topping options are good as well. Shout out to Brian, made an amazing bowl for us, and knew his stuff about acai, great service from the whole team in my experience It's a very small shop with close proximity to the beach, so It's perfect to just grab a bite then head down towards the beach and sit on the benches over there. Overall if you want an authentic Acai experience, come to Acai Carioca. It's a Brazilian owned shop, and even for an acai hater like me, it was amazing! read more

Acai Carioca - Acai Bowl with strawberries, milk powder, and peanut powder. - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Nicolette L.

0

5

4

4 months ago

Personally the açaí was a little too sweet for me and very runny. Very quick and easy service and just a block from the beach.

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Jenelle C.

0

1

0

8 months ago

I went to Açaí Carioca this morning as my normal acai place was closed. It was meh. They put wayyyyy too much honey so it was a sugar bomb. There were fresh strawberries and bananas, which was great, but the blueberries were frozen blueberries that were mealy and deflated. They were gross. I paid a little over $15 for a medium. I won't be back to this place, unfortunately. My normal place is Juice Wave. Nothing else compares to Juice Wave and I just need to stop trying other places when they are closed. read more

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Lorena L.

152

171

111

10 months ago

THE BEST!! Guilty but healthy pleasure... Ingredients are transparent: Açai, filtered water, honey and citric acid. A good sign of Açai is that it melts, so no preservatives! Worth every penny. Unlimited toppings on Tuesdays, and Thursdays are double points day - yum! read more

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Nastaran M.

120

245

544

2 years ago

Best Acai you can find in all Cali. It's soo delicious. They get their acai imported from Brazil. I will always be a huge fan. Only complaint I have was that their opening day advertisement was a bit ambiguous to customers. They advertised old customers get a cup of acai, which ended up being a tiny half shot glass cup. wish they had been more clear it was going to be a free "small sample size"cup . Regardless ended up having to purchase an actual Acai cup, which I didn't mind and enjoyed very much. read more

Acai Carioca - Grand Opening - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Melissa B.

532

494

1148

2 years ago

Loved this new açaí shop, some of my favorite açaí base I've ever had and I love that you can add protein into the base as well! Lots of topping options and decent size portion! read more

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Jake P.

0

24

6

10 months ago

Very tasty açaí, high quality ingredients. Great to enjoy while you wait for Nico's next door. read more

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Gisselle A.

40

31

92

1 year ago

Açaí was delicious! I was in Brazil this year~ I would say this açaí is a 7 out 10 for authenticity. I ordered a small cup with the option to add three toppings of my choice. I chose banana, blueberries, and granola mixed with hemp seeds. There's no seating area at this location, but the great thing about this shop is that the beach is only a two-minute walk away. You'll find plenty of benches to enjoy your açaí. The girl at the register was friendly and quick with my order. I'm definitely coming back! read more

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Mackenzie S.

0

4

2

11 months ago

Actually one of the best acai bowls I've had. I think about it all the time now. I added peanut butter to mine and it's dreamy. read more

Acai Carioca - Açaí Bowl with PB - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Gareth P.

0

83

0

8 months ago

Really tasty authentic Brazilian açaí bowl! Friendly lady serviced us, large portion and tasty food. Recommend.

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Michelle D.

0

1

0

10 months ago

This place is disgusting. The açaí is icy and has a weird bitter (almost dark chocolate-like flavor). If this is authentic acai, then I'm Britney Spears. Pls go somewhere else. read more

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Izadora S.

0

5

0

1 year ago

This lil spot is the jam!! The açaí is the most delicious one around the area, the people that work there are super friendly and also it's basically in front of the beach! 10/10 Its giving pé na area read more

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Megan V.

Elite 24

166

83

162

2 years ago

Best açaí by far (and we've tried them all in San Diego). I dream about this place! Anyone can do toppings correctly but what sets this place apart is the quality of the açaí base (they don't use sorbet like other places). We like to order ahead. They give you an entire cup of açaí and the toppings on the side, so I feel like I'm getting even more bang for my buck and can mix my toppings with every bite! read more

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Jojo K.

502

250

59

2 years ago

Love that these guys layer the toppings. I would definitely not put all of the toppings in the same price category. For instance, coconut flakes vs peanut butter. But, that's fine! Love this new little spot by the beach. Highly recommend. read more

Acai Carioca - Menu - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

Acai Carioca - Outside - Juice Bars & Smoothies Near Me - San Diego, California

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Blair B.

0

11

0

2 years ago

Such a cute space and the perfect second location from Point Loma. Love how close it is to the beach! Customer service to 5

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Beatriz F.

2

108

12

2 years ago

Okay I do have to say I give 5 stars for having a good açaí without all the refined sugars. I tried it and it didn't make me sick so that's a big YES! I got a medium açaí cup with blueberries and strawberries. One thing I don't recommend is adding blueberries at this location only because it seems to me like they have been previously frozen and they serve the blueberries unthawed and not fresh so that a big NO NO. The texture was awful and I had a hard time going around the blueberries just to eat the açaí and the work was unexpectedly hard. Over $14 dollars just to pretty much eat açaí... not good and not fair, don't rip me off. I expect fresh fruit in my açaí. I do got fresh strawberry, yes only one little small strawberry because the amount was redicoulsly small. At least be a little more generous on fresh fruit. I would have gotten banana but they looked too ripe and not for my liking. I will have to say that I will give it another try. I will get something different. I hope the second time is better and I don't get unthawed fruit because the texture is very bad and it doesn't have the sweetness of the natural fruit. I will give it another try and will review again. My second visit will determine if I will come back or not. With that being said I do hope they get better at serving fresh fruit and be more generous because I do think this is a good potential place that can succeed if they do listen to what people like. read more

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More info about Acai Carioca

747 Emerald St
San Diego, CA 92109
Pacific Beach
Directions
(858) 308-3550
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.acaicarioca.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does Acai Carioca open?

Acai Carioca opens at 9:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Acai Carioca close?

Acai Carioca closes at 7:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Sun 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Outdoor Amenities

Does Acai Carioca have parking?

Yes, Acai Carioca has parking options. Validated Parking

Other Amenities

Does Acai Carioca have free WiFi?

Yes, Acai Carioca has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Açaí Carioca - Crafted for Authenticity At Açaí Carioca, authenticity is our cornerstone, meticulously sourcing the finest Açaí berries from the heart of the Amazon rainforest. With a commitment to preserving traditional harvesting methods, our brand encapsulates the genuine essence of Brazilian culture and taste, delivering an experience that stays true to the roots of Açaí. Totally different from an Açai sorbet, we have our daily production in our kitchen with our own recipe, a truly gourmet and handcrafted product since from the source where you can taste it on your palate. Stop by and enjoy the best experience of customize your own açaí bowls. Açaí you later !

Acai Carioca Reviews in Other Languages

Portuguese
1 Review

Review Highlights - Acai Carioca

“Loved this new açaí shop, some of my favorite açaí base I've ever had and I love that you can add protein into the base as well!”

Mentioned in 3 reviews

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Premium Acai... hard to find anywhere around San Diego. They also have Cupuacu instead of Acai or…read moremix them! They have smoothies and bowls. Just like a yogurt place pick a size pick a bade and add your toppings. I recommend to add the Leite Ninho, which is a milk powder. Sounds weird to add that but it's a good addition. Service is on par. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff is always on site. It can get busy at times and you might have to wait but it's well worth it. If time permits, we eat there but normally we take it to go. Great place to sit down and enjoy your açai.

This place is great!…read more The fruit toppings are all fresh and taste amazing. The granola is very nice, not super chunky adding texture throughout the experience with every bite. Made in house peanut butter is very nice as well with great flavor, it's smooth and mixes well with each bowl. My wife got the acai bowl I got the half and half because I wanted to see what this Brazilian super fruit, cupuacu, was all about. Has a lighter tropical refreshing flavor, so there is that option, but the acai also has that standard flavor if you want that more robust and pronounced flavor profile. Both very delicious though. We also got a cold brew with the cold foam. Great flavor from the coffee itself. Nice and bright flavor with some sweetness from the cold foam, very well balanced. The service was amazing too, very kind very friendly, and super knowledgeable about their product. We ate inside and they walked out and did a table touch and even brought us some napkins for the table. The decor and vibes was very relaxing and the building was well lit. Prices are also great, bowls include any or all the toppings that they have available. You pick your side, your base then you can build your own or pick from some of their premade builds. We got two medium size bowls, and a cold brew with cold foam, a little over 40 dollars after a 22% tip.

Build your own & Brazilian classic

Clean and inviting front counter with coffee station.

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The Mad Beet

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I was shocked at how much I liked the Lemonem. I will be going back specifically for that, they've…read moregot the recipe down, I finished it in ten mins max. I also tried the beets by Dre and that one was good too, but the lemonem was my favorite! I was only there to pickup, but the inside is spacious and they have some arcade games; I imagine it gets busier on weekends in PB but I had no line when I came in at 730am on a Wednesday!

The Mad Beet commits fully to its late 90s and early 2000s hip hop era, and honestly, it pulls it…read moreoff. Retro vibes, free arcade games, and an atmosphere that feels more like a hangout than a restaurant, in a good way. Extra credit for actually letting you play the games instead of just using them as decor. I was not very hungry, so I went with the Arctik Monkey smoothie with peanut butter and chocolate. Straight up delicious and absolutely something I would order again without hesitation. My wife ordered the Feta y Verdes veggie wrap, and even she was surprised by how good it was, which says a lot because she knows her veggies. Fresh, flavorful, and genuinely satisfying. Veggie lovers, consider this your official heads up. The arcade lineup is solid too. Pac Man, Mortal Kombat II, The Simpsons, a classic Star Wars Atari cabinet, plus others. Waiting for food did not feel like waiting. It felt like killing time in the best possible way. One quick warning. The hip hop playlist is not radio edited. Totally fine for adults, but if you are bringing kids, just know you might be explaining some lyrics on the drive home. Overall, fun spot, good food, strong throwback energy. I would definitely come back.

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The wait was pretty long when we came because I think they were having a promo in their app - we…read morewaited around 20+ min for our bowl. However we really liked it! We made our own bowl and added bananas strawberries and a matcha chia seed thing. Couldn't taste the matcha but the bowl as a whole was really good, plus the acai had great flavor. Would get again!

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4.0(25 reviews)

0.3 mi•Pacific Beach

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El Capitan Smoothie

Small Makaha Bowl with guava juice

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Pacific Bean Coffee

4.4(363 reviews)

0.1 mi•Pacific Beach

Great beachside vibe with tons of unique coffee choices, ice cream, and delicious pastries! Jerome…read morewas very friendly and quick with the service.

Came here because it was labeled "best mocha in town"... and honestly, it was just okay. Not bad by…read moreany means, just didn't quite live up to the hype. That said, this place definitely stands out for its super unique flavor options. Tons of fun combinations you don't see everywhere. And the location is hard to beat, right by the beach, which makes it a great spot to grab a drink and take a walk. Overall: come for the vibes and creativity, just maybe keep expectations realistic on the mocha

Milky Way iced oat mocha

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Coffee

Rum Jungle

4.1(546 reviews)

0.5 mi•Pacific Beach

•$$

Family-owned & operated

20 years in business

This spot is right off the beach so naturally that is where we went to eat our açaí bowls. The guy…read moreworking was very proud of the local honey they use and I have to say...this was a delicious bowl! It was a small spot with a cool vibe and a few places to sit inside and chill. I'd definitely recommend it!

I'm back over 5 years later... and I am happy to report the power wrap is still absolutely…read moredelicious. Delicious and fresh food, delectable drinks and treats, fantastic vibes and superb service. The service specifically is amazing - they're super attentive and pay attention to what taste or meal generally you're trying to accomplish. I ordered the Power Wrap (my favorite item on the menu - highly recommend) and asked for no turkey. The gentleman behind the counter knew exactly what I was trying to accomplish and offered a solution. That really impressed me and I truly appreciated it. It's a great spot to chill and work too [though not if you're taking calls - they have (good) music on and the other patrons can be loud]. Definitely worth visiting in the PB area!

Coffee Crunch Smoothie

Berry Paradise Smoothie

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Berry Paradise Smoothie

Better Buzz Coffee

3.9(717 reviews)

0.4 mi•Pacific Beach

Love this Better Buzz in PB West! The vibe is always chill and the drinks have been so good…read morelately.Tried the new honey lavender matcha and it's super smooth and not too sweet. The honey lavender latte is honestly one of my favorites right now, sooo good. And the banana pudding drink?? It literally tastes like dessert, obsessed. Also got the chili jam croissant sandwich and it was fire. Perfect mix of sweet + spicy and super flaky.Shoutout to Ciara for taking care of me she was super friendly and quick. She even convinced me to try the matcha pistachio white chocolate chip cookie and I'm so glad she did... it was SO good.Definitely one of my go-to spots lately!

Missy is the BEST. She recommend an iced vanilla bean latte and it was the best thing I've ever…read morehad. She was so sweet and welcoming and even helped me sign up for the loyalty program. This location is the best!

Lobby

Better buzz pastries

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Exterior.

Drift Cafe

Locally owned & operated

Growing up in San Diego, I usually prioritize my go-to favorites when I visit, but I'm glad we…read moredecided to try somewhere new this morning. I'm also sometimes weary of places that are "Instagram worthy" or that I would discover on TikTok but this didn't disappoint. My husband got the breakfast burrito and it was a great twist on a San Diego classic without sacrificing the most important part (the tortilla, obviously). I got the swell bowl and it was a great start to the day, while the littles loved their pastries. For a place that does not seem to have a full kitchen, you wouldn't know from the food that came out. This will be going into the rotation for visits back home!

Came here on a Wednesday morning around 7am, parking was easy to find out front (likely due to the…read moretime and it being a weekday). Not too busy for a weekday morning. There was two of us and we ordered two iced lattes and a quiche + an açaí bowl. Breakfast was around $39. Service was quick. The lattes were good and the quiche was great! Açaí bowl was very good as well with a strong honey flavor. The cafe is cute and feels like exactly what you would expect of a San Diego cafe near the beach.

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Café Tropics

4.4(166 reviews)

1.8 mi

Absolutely love this bowl spot The bowls are always super fresh and packed with flavor. The açaí…read moreitself is perfectly blended -- thick, smooth, and not overly sweet. The fruit toppings taste really fresh, and the granola adds the perfect crunch. My favorite part is how generous they are with the toppings. Every bite has a good mix of açaí, fruit, and granola. The portion sizes are great too, so it's filling without feeling heavy. Not a bot btw

Cozy sitting space, though a bit messy. Someone has stolen both white bishops and the white king…read morefrom the chessboard. Server is no-nonsense: no snark, no joy. Today just ordering an oat milk matcha latte. Good ceremonial tea taste. Simple, mildly sweet, like the place. Like the server. 1000x better than a Starbucks matcha latte! I want to try their avocado toast, but we already ordered from Sbucks... drat!