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    Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe

    3.6 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe Photos

    CAROLINE'S SEASIDE CAFE BY GIUSEPPE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe

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    Stanislav P.

    Amazing café with a breathtaking ocean view! The atmosphere is absolutely perfect -- enjoying a coffee while watching the waves was such a great experience. The food was delicious, everything tasted fresh and was beautifully served. The staff was also very friendly and attentive. Definitely a place I would love to visit again!

    Veggie Scram ($11)
    Sue D.

    03/18/2026 Great spot for breakfast or lunch with a beautiful view of La Jolla Shores! We shared the smoked salmon ($18), which was generous with the cream cheese, capers, and fresh veggies. The side of fruit was very sweet and refreshing. We also loved the sides: the Applewood Smoked Bacon was "smoking" good and the potatoes were piping hot. Our only minor letdown was the hot cocoa; it could have been warmer.

    Avocado toast (doesn't look like much, but it was delicious)
    Chelcea F.

    Caroline's was amazing! The food was great, and you can't beat the view on the patio. The avocado toast was so good, one of the best avocado toasts I've had. You order at the counter and they bring your food out to you, it can get very busy, but there always seemed to be a steady flow of people In and out for seating. The staff was great, super fast clearing tables. When we found a spot it a was in the sun, and a bit of a warmer day, someone on the staff even tried to get us in the shade! There was a lot near the building where you pay to park, though I think it may be off limits during the week. There was also street parking if you don't mind walking a bit. Overall we had a great experience! It definitely gets busy. We went on a Saturday around 9, but by the time we left the line was triple what it was when we got there. I recommend going early.

    TURKEY APPLE SAUSAGE SCRAMBLE and BANANA PANCAKES
    Marie M.

    *If you get here early you can get a nice seat inside or outside with a window view of the ocean! But you will see the ocean regardless where ever you sit which is nice.* Food - 10/10 Food was great, no complaints! All of our dishes came hot and fresh. We shared a Turkey Apple Sausage Scramble and banana pancakes. Very typical breakfast items are offered here but they are made well and tasted great! We also ordered a hot chai & hot mocha and those were so delicious as well. This cafe is really lovely and quaint. It's not a large breakfast spot but it has a good amount of tables outside and maybe a handful inside. I would definitely come back again!

    Kathryn W.

    The day we went it wasn't crowded and the food came out really fast. It's your standard American breakfast food done right. The weather was amazing and it's such a vibe dining next to the ocean. I do think it might feel kind of hectic when it's busy tho. You order before you get seated and get to pick your own seat so that is nice but def a disorganized factor to it when busy. Overall would come back esp for the view and food was good too.

    Toast
    Christian G.

    Brought the whole family here for brunch while in town for work. I will say the wait as very long and we had to stand in line for about an hour but that's because it's very popular. They do a good job of getting everyone in and out. The menu is pretty basic but everything on there is absolutely delicious. They have outdoor and indoor seating and with it being a little chilly we sat inside and it was perfect because there big glass windows let you still enjoy the view. Servers were nice and efficient. Will definitely come back!

    Lox breakfast with a luxe view
    Henri V.

    Caroline's seaside Cafe is in La Jolla Shores and is a popular spot for breakfast/brunch. Parking in the lot next door for a fee and/or free street parking if you're lucky. After parking on the lot, my pup and I walked down the steps to La Jolla Shores beach to explore and find seashells on the sand and maybe gilet the waves get our feet wet...but Fendi didn't care for the cold water. The little beach activity got our appetite so off to Caroline's up the steps, with direct beach access. You order, pay, take a number and the food will be brought out by servers. It was a late breakfast/brunch menu, we ordered the smoked salmon plate, a smoked salmon cream cheese bagel and side of bacon Fendi and my friend. Everything looked and tast needed improvement; specifically the smoked salmon...wished it had more of a smoky cured and presence of dill herb to make it taste superb and this did not. We sat at a corner table with unobstructed views of the beach and a little lawn park next to it. Beachy marine layers hanging over, would have been better had the sunshine peeked with its rays. Service by staffer were efficient and helpful, it's a good thing I speak fluent Spanish, it always helps get their attention for service. There's indoor seating but the interior was nothing special in terms of decor. Seating did have floor to ceiling windows with views of the beach. I suggest you sit outdoors to enjoy what this place is all about 'seaside dining,' A casual setting. Super crowded on weekends and lots of kids. Having direct actress to the beach was an added bonus but the unobstructed beachside views is what it's all about. Recommend

    Tuna melt
    Sean N.

    8.5/10. Food and atmosphere are great. 30% off an entree per UCSD student ID. Ordered the soufflé pancakes, tuna melt sandwich, and yogurt parfait. Soufflé pancakes were fluffy and delicious as always, its my favorite place to go for pancakes in SD. This was my first time getting the tuna melt ($19), its was fairly large but I just wish they gave a little bit more tuna because it is a lot of bread. Bread was perfectly toasted, but I probably just get the beef roast which is what I normally get. Fries are very generic, nothing special. Parfait ($11) was full of fresh fruit. Would recommend, just be careful, only 1 restroom for everyone.

    Eleana S.

    We love playing casual volleyball games at La Jolla Shores Beach, and I looked up nearby food spots, perfect find! This place is great. Just a heads-up: there's usually a long line if you're dining in. But if you're ordering to-go, the line is much shorter, which worked better for us since we wanted to head back, relax, and enjoy the beach with friends and family. Honestly, the food is worth trying! We loved the tuna sandwich and the beef short ribs hash with eggs. Just note: you can't get the mimosas for takeout. I didn't get a chance to take photos of everyone because we were so hungry, but it was definitely worth it. I especially loved the tuna sandwich with the side, just not the salad, haha! I like salad, just not after a game. The front desk staff (I forgot her name) was super friendly and let us know we didn't need to line up with dine-in customers. There are two lines: one for dine-in and another for takeout/delivery. The takeout line is definitely the way to go.

    seating
    Jocelyn Y.

    Yummy food with a nice view, you even get 30% off if your a UCSD student Tuna melt was delicious, the cheese, onion, tuna, toasted bread in one bite was delish! The salmon salad was alright, salmon was cooked perfectly but the salad felt like it was missing something. Be prepared to wait in line. You order at the front, find your own seating. there are ppl cleaning around so tables are clean. Would come again!

    Turkey Apple Sausage Scramble
    Kayla L.

    3.5 rounded to 3. The food is alright and on the pricier side. It is simple breakfast food but they do it well. The view is nice and employees are very nice. The wait can get kind of long on weekends. The turkey apple scramble was pretty good. If I were to come again, I would get that. While I do love a lox bagel (smoked salmon presentation), I thought it tasted mediocre and was overpriced. There isn't really anything special about this place but the view is definitely nice.

    Alberto C.

    Amazing and beautiful views all around! I finally had the opportunity to stop by and try the cafe. The sitting rules must be followed or they will tell you to move or stand while waiting for your order if you are not dinning in. I could see why people have a confusion with the seating. Besides that food was great. The coffee was also very tasty. I will probably get this name wrong but "Afrada", nice lady work in the front came along our table to see how our meal was. She noticed our pancakes were burnt and brought it up to our attention. She immediately asked if we wanted them replaced as we should not be eating pancakes like that and apologized. Pancakes were indeed replaced. People like her are the reason one comes back to places like this! Thank you.

    Megan N.

    The views are amazing. Great brunch spot. They have your typically American breakfast options. I ordered the pancakes with eggs and bacon and my boyfriend ordered the American egg scramble with potatoes. My order was really nothing special to any other pancakes but it was good brunch, I enjoyed it. Can't really go wrong with pancakes. I think the layer of powdered sugar on the pancakes added a nice sweet touch to it. My boyfriend really enjoyed his egg scramble. He's usually not a potato person but he really enjoyed the potatoes and said they were actually seasoned. The egg scramble also comes with toast with butter and jam. You order at the register then you pick an open seat. There was a line to order but it was a long wait. People are going in and out frequently so you can find a seat pretty easily at least at around 9:00am-10am on a Sunday. We paid for parking via the ParkMobile app. Little pricey for parking but you could also walk on the beach after to make it worth it.

    Blueberry pancakes

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    Spectacular views and great food, with a stairway right down to the beach! Another hidden gem of San Diego.

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    Page 1 of 36

    Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe

    What is the parking situation?

    There's no parking but there's a bunch of street parking! There's a parking lot by the cafe however it's reserved for students or people authorized to park there and you could get a fine for parking there. So go early to get parking and beat the… Read more

    Pet friendly? Do they allow for outdoor dining with pets?

    Yes, must be on leash; cannot be on your lap (must sit or lie in deck); of course, the usual appropriate pet conduct: no barking, begging, biting! Almost all of the tables are outside.

    Do they still have the butternut squash panini? I can't find it on their online order menu.

    Yea they do have in the menu in the bottom..

    Where can you find parking on the weekdays?

    There are free public parking down the road ( along the same beach ) . 5 minutes walk .

    Does this restaurant take reservations?

    I don't think so. It's a pretty casual place.

    Do people study/work here?

    Nope

    Is the restaurant handicap accessible? Husband can't do stairs and uses a walker.

    There is a ramp with easy access from the backside (street side)

    What is a typical wait on a weekend morning around 9/9:30?

    I usually go around this time and only wait 10-15 minutes in line, get a table right away, and wait 15-20 minutes for food. Some weekends are busier than others but I've never had an issue when I arrive before 10am.

    Are strollers for kids allowed in the breakfast/cafe area?

    Yes!

    What is the best time to go?

    We go for brunch on weekends ... best time then is before 11:00 am.

    How's the parking for Sunday lunch? Any disabled parking?

    There is disabled parking, but it is still not the best- down the hill from the restaurant

    Do they have a UCSD faculty discount?

    Yes, they do! Not on booze though :(

    Are dogs allowed in the patio?

    Yes they are.

    View All 14 Questions

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    It had been years since my last visit to The Cottage, but on a gorgeous, impromptu morning, we…read moredecided to follow our appetites and return. Weekday brunch worked in our favor parking was just a block away, and there was no wait, a welcome change from the usual crowds. The staff greeted us promptly and seated us on the patio, where the setting felt as charming as I remembered. I'm typically an eggs Benedict loyalist, but this time I was in the mood to explore more of the menu. We ordered the pastrami sandwich and the French dip, both generously stacked and visually promising. Unfortunately, while the portions impressed, the flavors didn't quite deliver. The pastrami felt like it was missing a key note something bright and tangy to balance it. I ended up adding dill pickles at home, which helped, but not enough to make it memorable. The French dip had a similar issue; the au jus leaned more toward a thick sauce rather than the lighter, savory broth you hope to dip into. The side salad was fresh, the fries perfectly crisp both enjoyable but they couldn't quite make up for the lack of depth in the sandwiches themselves. Next time, I'll stick with what they're known for and return to the breakfast classics. I'm not giving up on The Cottage just yet it simply deserves another chance, with a different order.

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    4.3(2.4k reviews)
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    Food was amazing. Nice robust flavor from the béarnaise…read moresauce on the Salmon Benedict. Waiter was very pleasant. He asked what kind of side of toast did I want with my Benedict, I responded with "oh? There's toast included? Maybe Rye?" And he said "oh no, my apologies, it doesn't come with toast". I must have had a really sad look on my face when I said "oh ok". because he said "you know what, I'll throw in a side of complimentary toast". Anyways, great little niche close to the ocean. Nice light cool breeze. Street Parking was easy to find

    This place is really very cool. They had some service issues when I sat out on the sidewalk but…read morewhen I was in the patio inside the restaurant, it was all sorted. My daughter loves their waffles which is great and all but...for $15, you get one waffle. Its a thin one. With a teaspoon of powdered sugar on top. Want another even on the same plate? Also $15. Order 2 at the same time? $30. All the dishes were very good and they have coffee out for you so if you arrive and there's a wait, you can have some free caffeine. All the dishes and the coffee seemed better than what I would have expected in a super touristy area. If its windy out, don't sit outside because the umbrellas blow over even with sand bags on them and I saw one nearly take an old guy's eye out.

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    Caroline's Seaside Cafe by Giuseppe - cafes - Updated May 2026

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