Aesthetically 5/5, this place is super cute inside and out. Customer service - non existent. Workers are not friendly or welcoming. As another reviewer stated, you really have to pay attention to when they call your order. They didn't ask for our names or mark the drinks. Coffee 2/5 - the coconut cream cold brew was bitter and not good. It was a waste of a drink. My bf got an iced matcha and it tasted better. I'll stick with going to Holsem coffee shop next time. read more

My coworker recommended this cute little gem and I haven't stopped going since. Their matcha is delicious and refreshing. They have little trinkets inside and have a ton of room to sit (except when it's busy). Staff is friendly and helpful when explaining drink/food options. Their avocado toast, although a bit pricey, is delicious and looks well made. I try and bring all my friends to this location to enjoy a cup of matcha. If you're ever in the area or visiting SD please give Communal a try! (Warning: there is not a ton of parking available especially during rush hour so plan to walk a few blocks!) read more

Communal - The matcha & avo toast are a 10/10! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I absolutely loved Communal. The inside is so perfect and decorated with flowers and a tiny shop for local items. The staff is so sweet too. We ordered the Toast Flight and the Ham and Cheese Bagel along with a coffee and sparkling lemonade. The toast flight was amazing. I swapped out one of them for the Deviled Egg toast because I was dying to try it. It ended up being my favorite out of the three!! I also loved the Avocado Toast too, but not so much the Peach Ricotta. Still loved to give them a try! There's also a flower shop inside which was so cute. So much to do in such a quaint little coffee shop. Definitely worth a visit!! read more

Communal - Lemonade - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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There is 30 min parking spots in the tiny, tiny space shared by the garden store and Communal (turn in from Texas St) and street parking around the corner. Very cute coffee shop with food menu (brunch, light lunch), some baked goods, and drink menu that has more exciting drink options than the average (ube matcha latte, honey lavendar, hazelnut brown sugar latte, etc). I like that their menu also has a kid menu -- that is unusual for most cafes. The only baked goods they had when I visited on a Wednesday afternoon were donuts. The signs in the display case mentioned many types of baked goods, but donuts were behind every sign. They have "normal donuts" as well as vegan+gluten-free ones. I tried the Earl Grey vegan+gluten-free donut and the taste and texture was like a very dry cake. The frosting indeed had an early grey floral taste but I will not try any more vegan/gluten-free ones in the future. I got the iced hazelnut brown sugar latte with oat milk. Lightly sweet and light coffee flavor without bitterness. The hazelnut taste is light but overall decent drink. The gift shop is super cute and features items made of natural materials and available natural pallatte tones. There is some outdoor seating featuring a random assortment of tiny tables. The feeling of the shop befits the name. Friendly staff! read more

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Great place to study if you can find a spot but honestly their coffee and food isn't all that. It's not necessarily bad but never really a go to spot read more

The drinks and the food were great! My only issue is the prices are INSANE for the amount of food you get. We're leaving full and happy, but for the two of us with a drink and food item came out to about $55 with a tip. Not bad I guess since we liked it a lot. My other issue is the bathroom situation is kind of wild. The bathroom does not lock and I had to go outside through the busy courtyard I guess. I just wish there was another bathroom inside or something. Only one bathroom is kinda crazy with the amount of customers. Overall though, we would totally come back. And I would definitely recommend checking out atleast once. Especially if you're needing just a quick bite to eat! read more

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We wanted to try a new spot and luckily found this place on yelp near by. I came on a Friday morning around 10 AM (the cafe was already full of people). They have a few spots right outside but I had to park about a block and a half away for parking. As I entered, I was surprised by the trendy aesthetic of the cafe. The layout was thoughtful and the flow of the room makes sense. I really appreciated how spacious the room is, it looked a lot smaller from the outside but there's actually a lot of seating. They're also dog friendly which was nice considering I had my dog with me, they even gave me a pup cup. I ordered an iced salted caramel latte with oat milk and an iced hazelnut brown sugar latte. The Carmel latte tasted better than the hazelnut imo. I could hardly taste the hazelnut or brown sugar. It tasted just like a regular iced coffee in my opinion. The service was fast, considering the amount of people that were there I only had to wait a few minutes. I'll definitely come back but probably on a week day when it's less busy. read more

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Love it best coffee shop, nice aesthetic and lots of room to study at. My go to coffee shop. Good drinks and reasonable price

Love that it's dog friendly! Order ahead online to-go or order and get a number so they can drop your food off to you. If you get a drink, hangout inside into your name is called. There's a variety of seating inside and outside. Dogs are allowed inside too! There is also cute decor, gifts, jewelry, baby clothes, etc for sale. There is one single stall bathroom, so there usually is a line, and you must ask for the code. There are a few free parking spots so we found parking in the neighborhood. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Really cute coffee shop with great lattes as well! Communal coffee is a great place to get work done or just hang out! They have lots of cute cards and little things to shop as well. The staff here was very nice and willing to answer any questions. I ordered the latte flight which includes two lattes with syrups of your choice. I went with the honey lavender and the hazelnut brown sugar. Both were really good. I did get it with Oatmilk which was an additional charge. You do get less with the flight but it's nice if you would prefer two flavors. My cousin ordered the ube matcha latte which I tried as well. It was a subtle ube flavor and a nice sweetness. I enjoyed it as well. The bathroom is shared with the flower nursery next door so there may be a bit of a wait as there is only one bathroom. read more

Communal - Ube Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tbh coffee is fine, but holy crap if I am paying $13+20% tip it would be cool if the avocado toast was not sad and pathetic. Like for real what is this. It was the size of my (tiny) hand, the avocado tasted mid af, and like hardly any seasoning? This is a dig at the owner not the folks working here obviously. Also companies that don't take cash are giving elitist vibes lol. read more

Communal - Overpriced avocado toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Communal is always, ALWAYS a slam dunk. I'm not an adventurous coffee drinker but I've tried a few different espresso drink from Communal and all have been 10/10. Their food is also to die for! More than just typical baked goods (they also have those) but delicious, unique breakfast or lunch bites to choose from. It's easily one of my favorite coffee joins. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

One of my favorite coffee shops in San Diego! I remember coming here often as a university student to study and coming back now, it's great to see how much their menu has grown! What's so special about this place is the fact that it's next to a nursery. Perfect for plant lovers! They also have what seems to be a flower shop where you can order custom bouquets. On top of that there are a lot of tables which accommodate the huge crowd they get. I will say if you want to study to come early to secure a spot. Dog friendly as well as great employees! This shop is the perfect shop to go to for a little self care day. The vibes and aesthetics are perfect. My boyfriend got a cappuccino and said it was one of the best cappuccinos he's had. I opted for an iced matcha and ube latte. It was good but not the best matcha latte I've had. I could barely taste the ube. We also shared a bowl of chilaquiles which was surprisingly spicy. I wish there was an option to add chorizo but other than that it was delicious! read more

Communal - Chilaquiles - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

$8 to not shake the oat milk is crazy ... also it's not even close to being full? With so many other coffee places in the area, I think I'll skip this one next time read more

Communal - Golden Coast Iced Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

The latte and breakfast sandwich were both excellent, but $14 for a single sandwich without any sides feels overpriced. read more

Communal - Maple breakfast sandwich and maple gingerbread latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Communal coffee is the ORIGINAL cute trendy coffee shop of NP! The blue print in my eyes. The baristas are so helpful and great conversation. The drinks are above average you can taste the quality of care that goes into the espresso and house made syrups. It's my first spot I consider getting any work done, always plenty of seating! I dont even need to bring my airpods because they always have the best music playing read more

I think this place is 3.5 stars overall. The space is adorable, there's ample room to work or sit, and the decor/shop is well curated. I LOVE the drinks here. Why the lackluster rating then? THE STAFF. They are so busy talking to each other, they can't be bothered to greet a customer, answer a question, or be warm or friendly in any capacity. I have had this experience here on at least four occasions. A few days ago I wanted to ask a question about a drink and instead of the staff noticing I was looking at them and politely waiting for a chance to speak while they carried on a conversation, they actually proceeded to finish their entire discussion before even acknowledging me. The baristas absolutely murder the vibe. There's a pretentious and bothered energy about all of them. I don't think anyone has ever even said "hello" to me upon entering. So while I love the drinks, I despise giving money to places where people who work in customer service are bothered by customers. read more

Everything my family and I ordered was amazing! We had a latte, a pumpkin spice latte, a smoked salmon bagel, and a plant-based frittata sandwich, all delicious. The coffee shop itself is beautiful, with plenty of seating that's perfect for working or studying. The baristas were super nice and made the whole experience even better. Definitely a place we'll be coming back to! read more

Communal - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here right before my hair appointment as I was starving and needed something quick to eat. As everyone states, this place is cute and aesthetically pleasing. This place reminds me of Pigment with the flower bouquets and merch occupying the open areas. Since this is also a place to sit, study, or grab a bite to eat, there's different types of drinks from caffeinated to alcoholic. I was informed that the food menu can change, and some beverage items are seasonal. I tried the salmon bagel sandwich, which was good but way overpriced imo. With the price point, I would expect to have at least a small side with it l, like chips, fruit, or a salad. I was still a little hungry after my bagel :( Unfortunately, I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture of the salmon bagel! My daughter had the turkey pesto sandwich, and she said it was okay. She was also hungry afterward. For my drink, I had the lemon almond latte, which is a seasonal drink. It tasted like biscotti. I would order again. My daughter thought the Iced Raspberry Mint Limeade was refreshing. There is an option to order online, which is a good option since the line to order can be quite long, and then you have to wait a bit afterward. I'm not sure if I would buy the food items again since it was expensive for the amount of food that we were getting. I would try only their beverage items again. Mixed emotions with this experience. I would say that this is more like a 3.5-star experience. read more

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Had a super yummy breakfast here. Love the ceremonial matcha. My bf had the brown sugar latte and it was smooth. We both enjoyed our bagel sandwiches-- I had the salmon and he had the ham. Lots of searing inside and out. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

There's a wealth of serious coffee options in the University Heights neighborhood. In my search for the best possible espresso, I was fortunate to try a few of them during a week in the area. Communal pulls great quality espresso from good quality beans. The drinks didn't stand out from the competition, but the location is super duper fancy and upmarket. Communal is part spiffy boutique and flower shop. There is cool home decor merch and other goodies to browse. The vibes are very nice, with fancy decor fit for social media posts and meeting up with socialites and business magnates. I enjoyed the coffee and the visit, but I felt under-dressed in my dad clothes. Overall, this is legit coffee in a nice setting. If you can find parking or walk, Communal is worth a shot. read more

Well designed interior with earthy greens as a pop of color amongst clean whites and wood tones. Things you should know: I. PARKING Limited parking on the back side (3 spaces) & street parking available II. SERVICE I liked that Communal Coffee offers a self-service water station. What makes this cafe unique is the on-sight florist. They run out of pastries by the early evening, so it's safe to say their supply is very limited but fresh. Coffee and alcohol are both served here. There's also indoor and outdoor seating. III. QUALITY Their red wine, here, is pretty good ~ highly recommend. I don't advise, however, sitting in the wood chairs by the dish drop off area because bugs WILL get into your food/drink. It was the only seating available during my visit and I was disgusted to find 3 nats in my singular glass of wine. IV. CAPACITY Packed on the weekends. This place is lively. I would try and visit during a weekday to get more available seat options. read more

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Came here on a Sunday for a quick pick me up. The aesthetic is very cute, and there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating if you want to sit with friends or get some work done. The menu has a good variety of coffee and non-coffee options, and a ton of food options. I got their mint cold brew drink - I got it lightly sweetened, but I would recommend getting it full sweet as that was the only mint flavor in the drink (it didn't come with fresh mint as the menu said). The coffee was also very mild and not bitter, but I wish it was a little stronger. I appreciated that the cashier was able to make my drink on the spot so I didn't have to wait! I will be back to check out their espresso drinks and food. read more

Very cute shop with plenty of seating and lighting, including a large patio and side patio area. Food was unique and had plenty of flavor, though more on the expensive side for smaller portions. Food is brought to your seat quickly, and drinks came out fast! read more

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I have been coming here for over 10 years . I have loved the changes they have made but also keeping the same look it's always been for the past 10 years. The coffee is still one of the best coffees I've had in San Diego. The only complaint sad thing I have is the staff look like they hate their life working. I don't think I saw any of them smile the whole 3 hours I was there. Which is honestly just sad to see but don't force them to smile. Just seems like the behind the scenes is stressful to them read more

Okay -- Communal, I love to love ya but why the early closures so often? If it's lack of staff or event buyouts can you at least let us know on Insta right quick? This is the 3rd time I've come in the afternoon to do work and had but 45 minutes here as they were "closing at 430: thank you for understanding." I, and the patrons all walking to the shop this afternoon, would be a lot more understanding if you told us in advance. A quick swipe on the 'gram and no news was shared. It's a waste of a drive, a park, and a walk down carrying my turtle-heavy load of work stuff to be turned away. Since writing this, I've watched at least 2 more disappointed coffee lovers come back to their cars. I stopped a group of 3 on their way to let them know, to which one answered, "they always do this." Communal: let us know what's up. You have Yelp, email, Instagram, Google hours, every tool to do this. read more

Lots of more seating they added since the last time I came here a couple of years ago! It has begun an ideal spot to work from. They play music but it's relaxing and not too loud. The environment has great natural light and is very open. read more

Communal - Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I love coming here with my pup and getting work done. There's almost always a seat available and so many great food and drink options. I love their Sweet Mint Cold Brew. The staff are friendly and they always have a good playlist going. Love getting work done here!! read more

Took the pup for a coffee date on a random Tuesday morning and I'm so glad I checked this place out! I tried their raspberry white mocha (seasonal) and it was delicious. I do wish it was a more espresso forward drink, but I do also understand what I ordered lol. The baristas were warm and welcoming, and I definitely plan to visit again the next time we come down. read more

Communal - Raspberry white chocolate mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Came in here not expecting much and was blown away by how tasty the food and coffee was. Absolutely found a new regular and I totally recommend. Service was fast and very friendly. Not much parking or seating but still worth it . read more

Cute place with plenty of seating and great coffee options. Loved hanging out here recently on a Saturday evening. The parking scene seemed tight but overall great joint. read more

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This place has all the pros with only one con (for me personally). The only con is not much parking but then again it's North Park so you already know the situation there. Anyways, if you're a local or not, it's a great shop for some coffee and yes you guessed it, flowers. I love sitting at the bar table to catch up on emails as the music isn't too loud whenever I'm in there. The gift cards are too cute so whether I need them or not I like to grab some to keep on hand for any rising occasion. The staff is nice and I can't comment on the food since I usually just order coffee when I stop in. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Place and places to sit, amazing. Coffee, amazing, flowers, amazing, stuff to buy, amazing. Location eh hard parking, staff. Bruh you are not all that. Get y'all's ego's checked read more

Such a busy coffee shop! Most all the tables inside were taken, so we sat outside. The bathroom is actually out there. The code is over by the pickup area inside. I got a cappuccino while my friends all got lattes. It was good! Really chill vibe outside. Not sure how folks could focus doing work on their laptop inside since it was very loud! It's also a flower shop and they sell other products here. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Drink: banana caramel latte 2.5 stars. Slight banana flavor. Latte needs more banana flavor and maybe a nice caramel drizzle on cup would add a nice touch. Service: meh. What happened to customer service? It's like a bunch of Gen Z'ers work here and don't care about providing good customer service or maybe they're just too cool? Idk. read more

This is the second time I've tried this place. I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt, so I didn't review it until now. The price point is fairly high for a coffee shop in the middle of a working-class area--$7 for a regular bagel with cream cheese, $6.50+ for a chai (just tea and milk), $15 for a granola bowl, etc. I don't mind if the food and beverages were wort that - IMO it wasn't. The drinks were lackluster at best and, honestly, in my opinion, way too expensive for such a dull, bland beverages. To make it even more underwhelming, the place was insanely packed. There was literally no seating, as people were camped out for 5+ hours, so I had to sit outside--which is fine; it's San Diego, so the weather is usually great (this was on a weekday at 1 p.m., lol) and I found one spot outside. What does suck is that their outdoor space is right on a main road, so it's not peaceful at all. The space wasn't relaxing at all given the location and the fumes from traffic going by. They have very few parking spots so you have to usually walk from a neighborhood to get to the shop unless you are local. Oh and for the icing on the cake - the WIFI dropped me outside repeatedly so I ended up hotspotting my computer. The upside is they have cute merchandise and plants. I really wanted to like this place and find a new coffee spot, but I won't be going back, sadly. Overpriced, overrated, and underwhelming. There are wayyyy better spots at this price point. read more

Great atmosphere to get work done, have a lil chat with friends, or just to get some good coffee or food. Staff is very friendly and welcoming. 10/10 would recommend. read more

My husband and I were in town on vacation and had the opportunity to try this lovely shop. There's plenty of options to drink or eat and all are crafted with quality and care in mind. And when you're finished, you can look around at the other goods they have to offer like hand made mugs, organic balms, and cute trinkets. The overall ambience is warm and inviting, making you want to stay and relax a while as you sip your coffee. The staff was also pleasant and thorough when it came to cleaning and getting food out. Would rather come here than a Starbucks any day lol read more

Communal - Chicken tzatziki bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

The cold brew here is pretty good! Its also a very cute shop. Great for brunch or small hangouts with friends and even studying! I would plan for parking since most of it will be street parking. I wouldn't advice trying to park near the smart & finals near it either because they will tow. Note that if you ask to get your pastry warmed up, you may get your coffee first rather than both items at the time! There were a decent amount of pastries to choose from if you want something on the small side! I got the garlic potato Danish and it was pretty decent. Next time I want to try their chai Danish (they were sold out) I would've given this place a 4 stars but my friends and I didn't have a great interaction with the staff. It wasn't bad by any means but sometimes it's the small things that count! For example, when they finished warming up my pastry and called my name, they tossed it onto the counter and walked away. I totally understand if it was busy but it wasn't. Another example, is an oat milk bottles cap fell into my friends drink. They had served her the coffee anyway. I'll probably go again because I did like their cold brew and I do want to try their menu. Hopefully my interaction with the staff will be better. read more

Communal - Mint Cold Brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Everything was great! We live near the Bay Area in Central, California, and Love traveling. We found communal on one of our trips to San Diego and now make that our regular coffee spot when we're in town. The ambience is great. The fresh flowers are a beautiful touch. Everything we've eaten there has tickled the taste buds and the coffee is great. Knowing that there is a line to get your coffee can be a turn off for some, but I see that as an experience worth waiting for. This is not Starbucks and I appreciate the staff working as hard as they did and also acknowledging us who are in line that they will be right with us. Thanks, communal for making us customers feel welcome and providing a quality product with equally awesome service, we will be back our next trip guaranteed. read more