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    Communal

    4.2 (1.5k reviews)
    ModerateCoffee & Tea
    Closed 6:30 am - 5:00 pm

    Order Communal Takeout or Delivery

    Communal Photos

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    COMMUNAL ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Communal

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    Reviews With Photos

    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.

    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.

    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!

    Conner J.

    This is one of my new favorites in the north park area. The combination of good coffee, great staff, and plenty of seating won me over. They have a great combination of outdoor patio and plenty of indoor seating. Even with plenty of people there, there was still seating throughout. We love coldbrew and even though they didnt have an option to sample the mint coldbrew they had, they offered to give a bit of the surup to make a little sample using the one we ordered which is super nice. We were also able to get it in a glass rather than plastic which is great as well. My only nitpick is that glass should be the default for people getting it for there. The atmosphere is great too. While it is designed for buying the products they sell, it is nice items that are laid out in a way that adds a great look to the place. Overall a great spot.

    COMMUNAL BURRITO + PLAIN BAGEL + HOT FLAT WHITE
    Cynthia A.

    Walked in on a random Saturday with some friends at 9:30am (right before the rush). Service and food were great. Burritos were delicious and coffee was just right. Loved the wide range of seating as well, would come back to study/work.

    Drinks
    Gianina M.

    This a great place to get coffee, matcha, specialty pastries and food. It is centrally located but parkong can be challenging. They only have 3 parking spots and street parking. Service is always amazing here. They have lots of plants for decor, next to a plant nursery and they offer merchandise for sale. We ordered and Iced Matcha, Hot Lavender Matcha and a Specialty Lemonade. All made to perfection and high end quality.

    Granola bowl
    Cynthia L.

    Nice little breakfast/lunch spot with some solid coffee and matcha drinks. It's casual and the vibe is chill. There are indoor and outdoor seatings. Only street parking though so that's not the most ideal. We were here on a Friday morning around 10am ish and we had to park a block or two away since there was absolutely no street parking close by. So FYI on that. Two unisex bathrooms located outside. Code needed. We ordered the following: -coconut cream cold brew -matcha latte -banana caramel latte -cherry blossom matcha latte -granola bowl -turkey pesto sandwich -communal burrito We enjoyed everything we ordered. Solid spot!

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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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    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!

    Ambiance 5 Location - 5…read moreCoffee - 3 Service - 0 Great location, and I appreciate that they brought something different to the area. The coffee itself is decent, though not particularly memorable. Unfortunately, the service is where this place falls short. The staff came across as unwelcoming and inconvenienced by customers simply placing an order for an already expensive coffee. During my visit, employees were openly discussing customers, using profanity, and creating an atmosphere that felt more dismissive than hospitable. In a market where coffee shops are everywhere, service is what sets a business apart. I'd rather get a mediocre cup of coffee from Starbucks on University and be greeted with genuine appreciation than pay premium prices and feel like an interruption. I hope management takes this feedback seriously, because the location and concept have potential. As it stands, the customer experience leaves a lot to be desired. If you're going to talk about your customers, go into the back like a normal disrespectful disenchanted individual. I sooooooo want to like the place but Do better.

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    Chance’s Coffee

    Chance’s Coffee

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    I had been wanting to check out Chance's Coffee and I was in dire need of caffeine so I scooped up…read moremy Pomeranian Kodi and we drove the 3 miles. It was Sunday and I felt utterly blessed by the Universe when I found parking almost right away. This place is right next to The Lafayette so parking is always so hard to come by so be warned. When I got to Chance's there was a pop up too, I ended up ordering the matcha latte with a pandan syrup and pandan cream. I got Kodi a pup cup and then a pastry, I'm not sure how but my total came out to $20 with tip, so it can definitely get pretty pricey. I waited outside with my Kodi and ordered breakfast sandwiches for myself and my husband who was still asleep. They have plenty of outside and indoor seating and I really like the minimal vibes but it was still welcoming nonetheless. They also had a cute photo booth you can pay to take photos with your pups. When my drink came out, I was so excited. The matcha had a great hue to it and you can definitely taste the pandan that was still respectfulness to the matcha flavor. Kodi also devoured his pup cup. I would come back with a friend, everyone is super friendly and the matcha is great.

    Chance's Coffee is such a great Vietnamese‑style coffee shop -- creative, welcoming, and full of…read morefun drink options. They serve traditional coffee and matcha, but the real standouts are their Vietnamese‑inspired drinks like the pho cold brew, pandan latte, ube latte, and more. Definitely a spot to try something new. They're very dog‑friendly, which is always a win. And the logo? A cute dog, who I'm assuming is Chance -- absolutely love that touch. The narrow outdoor patio is small but super charming, and they almost always have some kind of pop‑up happening. There's an events calendar at the counter so you can see what's coming up next. Prices are typical, but they had a summer deal menu with a nicely priced matcha latte, which was a great touch. The cloud foam options are delicious and worth exploring. And one of the cutest features: they have a fun photo booth in the back, perfect for grabbing a little memory with friends or your pups. Laid‑back, friendly, and full of unique drinks -- a great stop for anyone wanting to explore Vietnamese coffee culture or switch up their usual order.

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    Double Pandan Coffee, Double Matcha
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    Ube and pandan foam Vietnamese coffee
    Chance's Vietnamese Coffee drink Background was a popup event there with Puppy Picnic Co.

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    What a cute little shop with the absolute SWEETEST workers. It's been a few months since I first…read morestopped by and I'm finally writing a review, but I still remember the worker's sweet smile. I overheard her cheerfully explaining the menu to different curious customers who needed a little more help finding what to get. I'm very familiar with the different types of drinks you'll find in a Viet cafe and they have a pretty small menu with all the favorites. I got the Hanoi Egg Coffee! It's sweet, strong, and incredibly creamy. I absolutely love Vietnamese egg coffee and order it pretty often, and this one is just so delicious and well balanced. Saigon Coffee is for sure a stand out for delicious coffee!

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

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    10:30ish am on a Sunday morning... the line does move fairly quickly.
    Fuzz Coffee

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    MUSICIANS + COFFEE (4 stars)…read more You get "Vinyl consumption and thoughtful produced coffee"! Chill and cozy coffee shop with a few seats and a selection of coffee and vinyl in the layout. Bought a bag of their beans and it came with a free cup of drip or iced from that same bean. After browsing their selection of beans, I couldn't quite find the type of profile I like but there were a variety of profiles. I bought a bag for a gift for someone who might appreciate their shop style and profile. At the time of my visit there were no decaf beans available. Took advantage of taking the free iced coffee and was surprise of my sipping acceptwnc! RAW POWER - their mainstay coffee which has a profile of chocolate and orange. I had this as an iced coffee - straight up black with no added anything and I thought I'd hate it without anything but I enjoyed the ice coffee as black and plain. From here I could really taste the bean profile very clearly and indeed could find the chocolate and the orange, more the orange than the chocolate. I am not into acidity or tart when I take my lattes but I don't mind that orange flavor when I take an iced coffee. It was an inquiring taste! I'd like to come back and try their decaf beans with with a flavored latte or an iced coffee plain as possible.

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    Photos
    Coffee beans
    Coffee beans
    Coffee beans
    Coffee beans
    Fresh flowers

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    Communal - coffee - Updated July 2026

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