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    Communal

    4.2 (1.5k reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Open 6:30 am - 6:00 pm

    Order Communal Takeout or Delivery

    Communal Photos

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    COMMUNAL ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Communal

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    Reviews With Photos

    ICED LATTE - SALTED CARAMEL AND ICED LATTE - VANILLA BEAN
    Caitlin V.

    Whenever I'm in San Diego, I try to stop by a Communal location. I love their Golden Coast and it's my go-to. However, I wanted to deviate and try a different drink for some reason. That was a mistake. I ordered their Vanilla Bean Latte and Salted Caramel Latte. They're just okay, nothing special.

    Vanilla Bean Latte ($7) & Matcha Strawberry Cold Foam ($8)
    Allison L.

    Been wanting to try this spot for a while! We came on a Saturday afternoon and there was a short line to order. Service was very friendly and there's plenty of indoor seating, seems like a nice place to sit and hang out, study or work. It also happened to be their 10 year anniversary, so they had complimentary Stella Jeans ice cream (YUM!!! The Ube pandesal is my fav), tote bags, and cocktails which was a very nice surprise! Matcha with strawberry cold foam (3/5): matcha wasn't the strongest but I could taste it. I felt like it was slightly watery? Strawberry cold foam wasn't that strong either, and it got pretty sweet as I drank it Vanilla bean latte (4/5): I only took a few sips but the coffee was strong and could've been a little sweeter

    Rico M.

    great iced latte and a great salmon lox bagel. A ton of seating with a spacious interior. Service was kind and friendly.

    Local items
    Monique W.

    Try this place! The coffee is delicious and the vibrant atmosphere will make you smile from ear to ear. A dog friendly neighborhood coffee shop that offers a place to catch up on your own things, meet a friend or grab some items from their mini rack. I had the Golden Coast iced latte and it was perfect.

    siri g.

    I completely understand why this place is so popular for studying and working. The atmosphere is great, there are plants everywhere, lots of cute decor, and it's the kind of café you can easily spend a few hours in. That said, actually finding a table can be a challenge. I've come here on weekends before, and honestly it wasn't the best experience because every seat seemed to be taken. Parking can also be pretty frustrating, which doesn't help. On my most recent visit, I planned ahead and came on a weekday instead. It was still busy, but much calmer and a lot easier to find a spot . I ordered a latte and one of their croissants, and both were really good. The staff was friendly, and they offer free Wi-Fi, which is always a plus when you're planning to stay awhile. Overall, I'd definitely recommend coming on a weekday if you want to enjoy the space without the weekend crowds.

    Menu
    Zainab F.

    We came here every morning of our 3-4 day vacation, so I hold this place very dear to my heart now! The food is fresh and so filling! And we loved all our drinks. Just be careful of some of the small round tables outside that can be a bit wobbly, I spilled my drink a bit due to that so I'd stick to the more stable benches. The inside had a myriad of seating options too so you won't have to ever worry about having space. It's like a mini gift store inside with so many beautiful flowers, cards, knick knacks, and apparel. The look of the entire place is both modern and cozy/homey. Hope to come back another time :)

    Passion fruit ice tea
    Regis K.

    Found this super interesting cafe in San Diego and it totally lives up to the name. It's definitely the "it" spot for people to hunker down with a book or get some work done, the whole place has a great communal energy. The interior is really nice and spacious, so you don't feel like you're on top of other people. I tried the coffee and tea, and both were great! One unique touch: they have beautiful fresh flowers throughout the shop. I didn't see any price tags on them, so I wasn't sure if they were for sale or maybe a special gift for the moms stopping by (since it's right around Mother's Day!). Either way, it made the place smell and look amazing. The staff was really nice and the atmosphere is just lovely. If you need a bright, open space to hang out or be productive, this is the spot!

    Inside
    Christine B.

    Despite the hype & things we have heard from others about Communal, we wanted to try their coffee out ourselves, & they did not disappoint. This is a cute coffee shop to grab a quick drink, hang out, & even study (if you can find an open table). The interior is very pretty & quite spacious. * Golden Coast - 8.4/10 (the espresso in this drink was strong, which i really liked. the honey added the perfect amount of sweetness & the oat milk mixed with the coffee very well, making it very creamy. the sea salt was also the perfect addiction to top off the drink. overall, a solid latte) * Mint Cold Brew - 8.2/10 (the cold brew was perfectly sweet & strong. the milk flavor was not too overpowering. overall, it was a super refreshing coffee)

    Ben H.

    Such a nice aesthetic! Service was pleasant and latte was yummy. The server made our drink wrong (forgot to adjust sweetness) and she corrected herself without us having to ask. Then just gave us the original and the fixed drink anyways so that was nice. There's a lot of seating but also a handful of people already there coworking so might have to fight for a table on peak times/days. Vanilla bean latte: Depends Get it half sweet because hot damn the normal drink was sweet affffff. Otherwise realllyyy good and balanced Drinks: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Atmosphere: 9/10 Price: 7/10

    Sweet mint cold brew (missing mint sprig)
    Jiansen W.

    Cafe and coffee shop Communal is serving a long list of caffeinated, non-caffeinated, alcoholic, and an all day seasonal food menu. AMBIANCE Long, decorated interior with a partially shaded exterior that was quite packed on my weekend morning visit. SERVICE Patrons order and wait for drinks at the counter, while staff delivers food to table. DRINK 4/5 SWEET MINT COLD BREW house-made mint syrup + oat milk + mint sprig. I realized too late the drink was missing the advertised mint sprig = minus half star. PARKING Street-side parking appeared mostly occupied.

    IG @devouredwithlove
    Clara T.

    Based on 1st visit Pros: - Love the coffee options! Ube and matcha? sign me up! - Spacious, easy to find. - Plenty of seating and shouldn't be hard to find parking. *I walked - Service was nothing to write about really. I asked him if adding double shot to my drink would overpower and he said however much coffee you want, I can do..didn't really answer my question lol Cons: - Took a long time for my drink to come out and place wasn't that busy, but the place itself is cute. It's a great place to decompress and yap for hours. - Ube was more of ube coloring? didn't really taste ube or maybe not enough ube was used.

    Tawny V.

    My cousins and I went out for breakfast, and initially, we passed this spot because we had another place in mind. But once we found out they served breakfast, we decided to come back. I'm so glad we did. The ambiance is super cute, very hip and modern! If I lived in the area, this would definitely be my go-to chill spot. Plus, it's very dog-friendly, which is a big plus. We decided to share our orders: a salmon bagel, turkey on an English muffin, and prosciutto with hot honey and goat cheese. Everything was delicious, the perfect Sunday morning for a quick family get-together. I highly recommend giving them a try! There is a nursery next door- North Park Nursery- check out my review with pics! Great service!

    Communal burrito

    Beautiful interior with tons of seating. Their espresso is that perfect balance of earthy and bright. The communal burrito is surprisingly light for a breakfast burrito. Not overly salty or greasy. Gave it a try while passing through SD and will bookmark it so I can return.

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    the caramel latte is DELICIOUS! such a great place to hang out at and their shop is also super cute.

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    Page 1 of 38

    Communal Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Communal

    Is there a kid's menu?

    No, but they have a Not Coffee menu, I think you can order from that if you bring kids

    Can I come here to study? I'm looking for a place like Lestats but less busy.

    It's beautiful in here but i feel like it's pretty much the same amount of busy as Lestats, if not more / louder

    Is the patio open for dine in? (During COVID)?

    Yes, it is open. But wear your mask and keep your distance.

    Are there outlets outside?

    I didn't see any outside. Atleast not out front

    Do they play loud music here?

    Not at all! The conversations are noisier than the music :)

    Is there AC?

    Yes there is.

    For a weekday morning, where do you find the best parking options? How long does it take to find parking and how far do you walk?

    The best parking is just along the streets. It's not too hard to find parking. Usually 5 minutes max to walk.

    What sizes do their lattes come in? Which size is the listed price for?

    There is just one size.

    What are the non dairy milk options?

    Yes! We have almond or oat milk!

    Do they have gluten free bagels?

    I've noticed they have gluten free pastries but not sure about bagels.

    Are you dog friendly?

    Yes

    Best coffee?

    Rebecca

    View All 16 Questions

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    Mostra Coffee

    4.1
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    Whenever we're in town, we always make it a point to stop by Mostra Coffee--it never disappoints…read more Their coffee is consistently amazing, and our go-to drinks, the Bibingka Crème Brûlée and Campfire Latte, are always a hit. Servers are nice and helpful. This location is especially beautiful--clean, well-kept, and thoughtfully designed. The patio is a great bonus, with a cozy vibe that makes it perfect for relaxing and enjoying your drink. Definitely a must-visit spot in San Diego!

    I came here this morning because a Filipino pastry spot with a bibingka latte sounded too…read moreintriguing to pass up -- and they had a longanisa sandwich on top of that? Sold. So I made the trek over. Heads up: there's construction nearby, so parking was a struggle. Unfortunately, the visit ended up being a bit of a letdown. First off, they didn't have ice. I like my morning drinks iced, and I still ordered the bibingka latte, but it came without ice -- I ended up having to grab some from another restaurant since my work doesn't have a fridge. I was also excited for the longanisa sandwich, but they didn't have any hot sandwiches. What they did have was cheese rolls, a guava-filled ensaymada, and pandesal. The pastries were frozen, so he had to warm them up, which took a while. On the drink, I'd give it a 2.5/5. It was OK, but not something I'd order again. It was a balance of sweet and savory, with hints of rice flour and coconut milk -- but even ordering it less sweet, it still came out too sweet for me. The pastries were also just OK. My favorite of the bunch was the ensaymada. I really wanted to love this place given the concept, but between the missing ice, no hot sandwiches, and the frozen pastries, it didn't quite come together this visit.

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    Pick up area/ water station
    Bibingka crime brûlée latte
    Bibingka crime brûlée latte
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    Rosemary and Thyme Cafe

    Rosemary and Thyme Cafe

    4.7
    (139 reviews)
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    This is such a cute little cafe. Especially for plant lovers. Service was very friendly. We got…read moregreeted as we entered. The patio is surrounded by tropical plants and there is plenty of shade. My husband had the French toast, which he said was pretty good. I had the Benedict and enjoyed it. The potatoes have rosemary and thyme on them and they were cooked well. I will definitely be back! Especially on a Sunday because they are right next to the farmers market. Note: The place can be a little tricky to find because it is in the back of a multi use retail space. Walking directions were trying to direct us towards the ally, but you enter from the university side and heads towards the back.

    My friend picked this place to celebrate both my birthday and Mother's Day. It's definitely a…read morelittle hidden, but once you get inside, the space is actually really nice. We were a pretty big group of 11 people total. We had a reservation for 10am on a Sunday, but still ended up waiting around 45 minutes to be seated, which was a bit frustrating. I ordered the Cinnamon French Toast, and honestly it didn't really meet my expectations. It was a little too dry for me, and I was hoping it would be more soft and syrupy. That said, some of my friends really enjoyed what they ordered. The service itself was good though, the waiters checked on us often and were attentive throughout. They also brought out free birthday shots for the table, which was a fun and thoughtful touch.

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    Rosemary and thyme Benedict
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    Chance’s Coffee

    Chance’s Coffee

    4.5
    (174 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    I had been wanting to try out this cafe and I'm glad to say it was definitely worth the visit. I…read moregot here around 10 and the cafe was already pretty busy, though the wait to order didn't take long. I ordered the Chance Vietnamese Coffee, and the order didn't take long to be made despite the morning rush. The pandan and ube cream on top was really good, but I do recommend mixing the creams really well inside the drink. The coffee was strong and just the right amount of sweetness! I also happened to come in the day a DJ was playing, which is always nice. They have a sign posted on when they hold other events and when they have DJs playing. It's an intimate space with indoor and outdoor seating: I'm sure if I came earlier I would have gotten a seat since everything was fairly full. The only obvious challenge is finding parking, but given how great the coffee and ambiance was, I believe it's worth enduring in order to try the experience. I would definitely come back to get the coffee again or try the other drinks.

    Loved the flavor of the vietnamese coffee combined with the ube and pandan foam - you do not have…read moreto choose between the two. Prices are a bit steep, it was $8. Seating available both outside and inside as well as a cute photobooth. Service is great - the team member who took my order actually curated the summer menu featuring peach items. They have super cute merch and are very dog friendly - they sell treats and have a water bowl outside the entrance.

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    Lavender Tonic
    Lavender Tonic
    Double Pandan Coffee, Double Matcha
    Double Pandan Coffee, Double Matcha
    Chance's Vietnamese Coffee drink Background was a popup event there with Puppy Picnic Co.

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    Saigon Coffee

    Saigon Coffee

    4.8
    (957 reviews)
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    I'm a sucker for a good Vietnamese coffee, and Saigon Coffee arguably has the best Vietnamese…read morecoffee I've ever had in my life. It was so good that I ended up coming here twice during my recent trip to San Diego. The staff inside were incredibly friendly, and I really appreciated that they let you sample the coffee before ordering. One sip was all it took for me. Their Famous Saigon Coffee has that perfect balance of being strong enough to give you a real pick me up while still being rich, creamy, and sweet. On my second visit, I tried the Famous Banana, which takes their original Saigon Coffee and tops it with organic banana foam, crushed praline, and cocoa. Somehow it made an already great coffee even better. The banana flavor worked surprisingly well with the coffee without overpowering it. All in all, Saigon Coffee gets my highest recommendation for coffee in San Diego. I will absolutely be making a beeline back here the next time I'm in town. If you take nothing else away from this review, just know that this coffe is good AF.

    While I was in the neighborhood, I saw someone holding Saigon Coffee cups and asked her where she…read moregot the coffee. She pointed out Saigon Coffee, so I followed her recommendation. I love egg coffees, so I ordered Hanoi Egg Coffee. The drink was refreshing, especially in warm weather. The coffee was bold and strong, but the egg cream added sweetness to the drink. Service was quick. The baristas were friendly and welcoming. Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Saigon Coffee. The price was reasonable, and the quality was great. I will definitely come back here if I am in the area.

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    IG: happyfoodietown
    IG: happyfoodietown
    BANANA CLAUS ! 7.8/10
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    10:30ish am on a Sunday morning... the line does move fairly quickly.

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    Fuzz Coffee

    Fuzz Coffee

    4.4
    (68 reviews)
    1.1 mi
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    I love their Crumbling Castle cappuccino. I am a dedicated…read moreiced coffee lover but this is the only place I get my drink hot. And it's so good. My only beef is the small size, as it's really hard not to down the drink in the span of five minutes or less. They also have some really cool assorted pastries if you get there in time. High quality and unique options with fun flavors. The shop is relatively small with seating in and outside. There are also records for sale and they have a really cool curated selection. The staff is also really cool, sweet and quick to make drinks.

    3.5 stars; the shop is very cute , with fun records and apparel to peruse and buy…read more Staff is friendly and service is relatively quick. I got their seasonal drink, the lucid dream, per the barista's recommendation. I do NOT recommend this drink. Unless you like mediciney, licorice taste. It was advertised as a rootbeer esque drink, and I love root beer, but the star anise and wintergreen just completely overpowered the drink and left a very sour aftertaste. The drink was very silky at first, but that's about all it had going for it. I even went home and tried to modify it by adding cold brew, cream and honey and even sea salt to cut the flavor away, but the medicinal herbal flavors were just too strong. This one was a miss, the drink alone was a 1 star. But i tried my friend's drink and it wasn't bad, so maybe I'd try a more normal drink or the cherry almond soda drink and see how it is.

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    Coffee beans
    Coffee beans
    Coffee beans
    Coffee beans
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    Communal - coffee - Updated August 2026

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