Craft Cafe
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Stopped by a small coffee shop in Balboa park for a quick cold drink and snack. This place only offers outdoor seating in the hallway area. We got a cold soda and a lemon lavender shortbread cookie. The cookie was great, perfect amount of sweetness.
Cute small little cafe in Balboa park, it gets kinda crowded but I will say the staff moves fast. I am obsessed with this spinach feta croissant and a lavender iced coffee, a nice spot.
There's quite a good amount of options here at this cafe. Technically a part of the Mingei Museum but it's a little separate corner disconnected from the main floor. We came in on sunday at lunch time and it was busyyy! Typical for balboa park but it gets crowded in that small space pretty quickly. There's only a few tables outside for seating but it's not far at all from other benches/tables throughout the park. For drinks, they have some unique flavors to choose from which are always a little bit hit or miss, but our lattes were pretty good. I got the salted maple latte. Large assortment of fresh pastries in the case both sweet and savory. They also have a cooler with salads and sandwiches and pre-packed drinks and snacks which is nice for a quick lunch. I think they do hot food too... breakfast/lunch type items. Our order took a while to come out and the staff wasn't super friendly but oh well lol. Pricey, but what isn't in this area? Still one of the better cafes in Balboa Park flavor and variety-wise!
My wife, dog, and I have been coming here every weekend for about a year now and the Craft Cafe at Mingei is great. Wasn't so great in the past, but they now have a wonderful manager (Giovanna) who is very welcoming and friendly. One of her helpers (Jianna) is also very friendly, helpful, and has a great smile! We've been coming to Balboa Park for years now and the Craft Cafe has hands down the best pastries in the park. Great place to get some coffee and pastries and sit outside and watch the world go by at the park. A lot of locals such as ourselves eat here. Their almond croissants are wonderful! Overall, I highly recommend the Craft Cafe!
Great place to grab coffee while exploring balboa park. The honey and cinnamon latte was delicious, but nothing too outstanding. There was a bit of a wait about 30 ish minutes on a busy Sunday afternoon
I planned to go to Panama 66 but the line just to get in and be able to wait to order was 15 people deep. Craft Café had a much shorter line as usual. The food here is actually delicious and creative, with lots of vegetarian and gluten-free choices, even if you're not in the middle of the sculpture garden and there is no alcohol. I was deciding between butternut squash Panini, broccoli or asparagus quiche, or their samosadilla (Fusion Indian and Mexican!) I decided to get the broccoli quiche with a here and now smoothie, which is kale, avocado, cinnamon, coconut milk, dates and other yummy things. Both the quiche and the delicious. The café is a little cramped to be ordering and the employees seemed a little tired/annoyed. They have nonstop people because they're food is tasty. They also have coffee and a lot of different pastries and sweets but I restrained myself from ordering yet another thing!
Nice outdoor breezy patio to sit while listening to the outdoors sounds and music. Friendly helpful staff and quick service. Yummy pastries, good tea, and good coffee! Would come again!
Associated with the Mengei Museum, Craft Cafe SD is located right off the bridge upon the entrance of Balboa Park if you are coming from the Museum of Us side. The line can build pretty quick as the space is only for ordering and/or grabbing something from inside. To dine you must take it to go or be sat at the outdoor tables, which there are plenty! I treated myself to a Caramel Matcha, which sadly didn't taste like caramel or matcha. It tasted like really sweet milk with a tint of green. The Greek salad I had on the other hand was healthy and refreshing. It had a mixed variety of toppings for a salad and ended up being filling. It was a really healthy choice but flavorful. Not sure if I were to stop by again, maybe if I was in the park and was craving anything, but for now it may remain my only visit. It's a hotspot cafe for tourists with a little more unique spin on certain items than most vendors here, so it makes for a nice quick bite to eat if you're spending the day at Balboa Park!
We enjoyed a well crafted Oat Milk Latte. Nice spot to relax after walking around Balboa Park. Service was fast, friendly and efficient.
Cute little cafe inside Balboa Park! They have lots of pastries in their display (croissants, quiches, danishes), as well as a fridge with quick to-go items (sandwiches, salads, dips, etc.) There's also menus you can pick up by the cash register which has more food items as well. I was torn between the smoked salmon focaccia and the avocado one. I ended up getting the avocado focaccia with pistachio pesto and it was so delicious! The sauce itself is definitely on the salty side but it's perfect with the focaccia, which was nice and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Totally drooling just thinking about it! Plenty of tables outside to enjoy your food and take in the beautiful atmosphere.
Cute little cafe. Service was excellent, staff friendly. Food amazing. Drinks cold and tasty.
I stopped by here on Tuesday after going to some of the museums. I ordered an Americano with oatmeal and their feta and spinach croissant which was shaped in a waffle! I wasn't sure what to expect from this croissant since this Cafe is located in Balboa Park I figured it's fairly touristy in quality is not a type priority. But I was happily surprised my croissant was amazing! What a creative and tasty spin to a traditional croissant. Highly recommend this Cafe if you're in the area. They also have a variety of grab-and-go options and other food and drink items you can order.
Service 5/5 -Ordered and paid at the counter, friendly and quick service Food 5/5 -Turkey panini $14, sandwich was made to order, not too much going on but this was the perfect afternoon sandwich for refueling. Bread was warm, the pesto mayo never does wrong when paired with turkey. I thoroughly enjoyed this sandwich and its portion size. Ambiance 5/5 -Seating available outside of the cafe along the hallways, you get to see the park and people watch but away from the sun and get to enjoy the breeze. read more
After having my Java fix over at Daniel's in Spanish Village, I walked a little circuit, and ended up back at Craft Cafe. I was a little hungry so I thought, maybe I'll have a breakfast sandwich. So I ordered it, but without the Canadian bacon. The sandwich came out quickly & I took it to one of my favorite shady benches in the park to enjoy it. It felt rather light in the container, and when I opened it up, I was underwhelmed by the sort of sad-looking Sunnyside up egg, American cheese & Dijonaise. The brioche was soft, and lightly toasted, the egg was plain, & the cheese was only partially melted. I appreciated that they included the little packet of Cholula to give it a little bit of flavor. I've been here before, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was most flabbergasted by the price of this meager sandwich! I paid $17.12 for it including tax & a small tip. I don't care that we are in the park. I think that even with the Canadian bacon, this is just price gouging. 1 roll, 1 egg & a slice of cheese! It wasn't even good cheese! Of course there is the overhead for the space & employees & all of that, however, this sandwich should be $9.95 at the absolute most. I'm not going to order this sandwich again, but I'm honestly just disappointed. I'm wiling to pay for quality & deliciousness, but this was not it today. Peace. read more
We attended an event on Easter Day on the lawn at Balboa Park. We were pleased the Craft Cafe and most restaurants were open on the holiday to enjoy a relaxing day at one of our San Diego gems. There was a line here as any busy weekend. The selection of salads and sandwiches for a light lunch was solid and on the gourment end. We shared the chicken curry sandwich. A sparkling beverage and chips to round out the meal. It was completely satisfying and much needed after burning energy, walking the park and Spring Festival. #BalboaPark #Lunch #CraftCafe #Mingei read more
1 month ago
Stopped by a small coffee shop in Balboa park for a quick cold drink and snack. This place only offers outdoor seating in the hallway area. We got a cold soda and a lemon lavender shortbread cookie. The cookie was great, perfect amount of sweetness. read more
6 months ago
There's quite a good amount of options here at this cafe. Technically a part of the Mingei Museum but it's a little separate corner disconnected from the main floor. We came in on sunday at lunch time and it was busyyy! Typical for balboa park but it gets crowded in that small space pretty quickly. There's only a few tables outside for seating but it's not far at all from other benches/tables throughout the park. For drinks, they have some unique flavors to choose from which are always a little bit hit or miss, but our lattes were pretty good. I got the salted maple latte. Large assortment of fresh pastries in the case both sweet and savory. They also have a cooler with salads and sandwiches and pre-packed drinks and snacks which is nice for a quick lunch. I think they do hot food too... breakfast/lunch type items. Our order took a while to come out and the staff wasn't super friendly but oh well lol. Pricey, but what isn't in this area? Still one of the better cafes in Balboa Park flavor and variety-wise! read more
28 days ago
My wife, dog, and I have been coming here every weekend for about a year now and the Craft Cafe at Mingei is great. Wasn't so great in the past, but they now have a wonderful manager (Giovanna) who is very welcoming and friendly. One of her helpers (Jianna) is also very friendly, helpful, and has a great smile! We've been coming to Balboa Park for years now and the Craft Cafe has hands down the best pastries in the park. Great place to get some coffee and pastries and sit outside and watch the world go by at the park. A lot of locals such as ourselves eat here. Their almond croissants are wonderful! Overall, I highly recommend the Craft Cafe! read more
19 days ago
9 months ago
Great place to grab coffee while exploring balboa park. The honey and cinnamon latte was delicious, but nothing too outstanding. There was a bit of a wait about 30 ish minutes on a busy Sunday afternoon read more
I planned to go to Panama 66 but the line just to get in and be able to wait to order was 15 people deep. Craft Café had a much shorter line as usual. The food here is actually delicious and creative, with lots of vegetarian and gluten-free choices, even if you're not in the middle of the sculpture garden and there is no alcohol. I was deciding between butternut squash Panini, broccoli or asparagus quiche, or their samosadilla (Fusion Indian and Mexican!) I decided to get the broccoli quiche with a here and now smoothie, which is kale, avocado, cinnamon, coconut milk, dates and other yummy things. Both the quiche and the delicious. The café is a little cramped to be ordering and the employees seemed a little tired/annoyed. They have nonstop people because they're food is tasty. They also have coffee and a lot of different pastries and sweets but I restrained myself from ordering yet another thing! read more
3 months ago
3 months ago
Nice outdoor breezy patio to sit while listening to the outdoors sounds and music. Friendly helpful staff and quick service. Yummy pastries, good tea, and good coffee! Would come again! read more
16 days ago
Associated with the Mengei Museum, Craft Cafe SD is located right off the bridge upon the entrance of Balboa Park if you are coming from the Museum of Us side. The line can build pretty quick as the space is only for ordering and/or grabbing something from inside. To dine you must take it to go or be sat at the outdoor tables, which there are plenty! I treated myself to a Caramel Matcha, which sadly didn't taste like caramel or matcha. It tasted like really sweet milk with a tint of green. The Greek salad I had on the other hand was healthy and refreshing. It had a mixed variety of toppings for a salad and ended up being filling. It was a really healthy choice but flavorful. Not sure if I were to stop by again, maybe if I was in the park and was craving anything, but for now it may remain my only visit. It's a hotspot cafe for tourists with a little more unique spin on certain items than most vendors here, so it makes for a nice quick bite to eat if you're spending the day at Balboa Park! read more
6 months ago
We enjoyed a well crafted Oat Milk Latte. Nice spot to relax after walking around Balboa Park. Service was fast, friendly and efficient. read more
Cute little cafe inside Balboa Park! They have lots of pastries in their display (croissants, quiches, danishes), as well as a fridge with quick to-go items (sandwiches, salads, dips, etc.) There's also menus you can pick up by the cash register which has more food items as well. I was torn between the smoked salmon focaccia and the avocado one. I ended up getting the avocado focaccia with pistachio pesto and it was so delicious! The sauce itself is definitely on the salty side but it's perfect with the focaccia, which was nice and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Totally drooling just thinking about it! Plenty of tables outside to enjoy your food and take in the beautiful atmosphere. read more
3 months ago
Cute little cafe. Service was excellent, staff friendly. Food amazing. Drinks cold and tasty. read more
I stopped by here on Tuesday after going to some of the museums. I ordered an Americano with oatmeal and their feta and spinach croissant which was shaped in a waffle! I wasn't sure what to expect from this croissant since this Cafe is located in Balboa Park I figured it's fairly touristy in quality is not a type priority. But I was happily surprised my croissant was amazing! What a creative and tasty spin to a traditional croissant. Highly recommend this Cafe if you're in the area. They also have a variety of grab-and-go options and other food and drink items you can order. read more
3 months ago
2 months ago
Cute little caffe to boost up your every to adventure out thru Balboa park. Service was pretty quick. They have lattes and cold brew Along with other caffeine delights and AND pastries. Cakes, cookies and danishes. OH My. Little pricier than the cafe across the way but better options on snacks and drinks. I didn't get to have parties. Diet and all but if you do let me know how how yummy them dessert are cause on my next visit it will be hard to choose on my own if I want a Lamont croissant or a piece of cake. read more
9 months ago
I have to stop by this place every time I go to Balboa Park! They have great matcha, iced lattes and pastries. The spinach feta croissant is my favorite but this fig goat cheese pistachio danish was so delicious too! read more
3 months ago
We came to Craft Cafe on a Saturday morning before our 7 Bridge hike just before 8:30am. The hours posted had 8:30am as their opening time for that day. As the line was starting to grow the employees seemed very uninterested that it was 5 minutes past the opening time and we were outside waiting. They kept prepping the pastry case and didn't even bother to look up at us and acknowledge we were out there waiting. Finally they open the doors a few minutes later so by that time almost ten minutes past their opening time they let us in. I ordered a plain black coffee and a croissant and had to wait for them to make the coffee another at least 5 minutes as she just made it when I ordered it. No complaint on the coffee, it was pretty smooth and not too acidic. The croissant was delicious and paired well with my coffee. I would give this place another chance if I'm in Balboa Park again but they really need to improve their guest service. read more
8 months ago
No bathrooms here, really nice employees, delicious matcha and other drinks! We ordered 3 drinks total. They don't have seating inside because the building is super small, but they have tables and chairs outside, under a covered walkway. read more
11 months ago
The food was borderline inedible. I pad $17 for the grilled chicken rice bowl, and it was frankly kinda depressing. For more than the price of a delicious chipotle bowl, I got dry rice, rubber that they call chicken, how arugula, and chickpeas. The chicken looks like it has green pesto sauce, but I didn't taste it at all. The service was okay, I guess. Definitely don't recommend. read more
Great coffee option inside Balboa Park! Craft Cafe at Mingei is conveniently located in the center of Balboa Park and usually has a long line. On this visit, we ordered an Iced Vanilla Latte and a Blueberry Lemon Muffin The coffee was solid but the muffin was delicious! The frosting that was topped with poppy seeds was a nice addition. The space is pretty cool - located right beside the Mingei Musuem. Service was also solid. Overall, I'm glad they have a good coffee option at the Park! read more
4 months ago
2 years ago
My order consisted of the Turkey Panini and the lemon lychee ice tea. The tea was refreshing and lightly sweet. The panini was inedible. Burned, turkey was probably not the freshest, cheese burned, there were just to many wrong with the poor Panini. Girls were nice. Stay away from the small sad Panini. read more
1 year ago
7 months ago
3 years ago
They close at 5 but the savory food (non pastry baked goods) items closes much much earlier. I will say the croissant was delicious but not entirely satisfying because I was starving and wanting an actual meal of some sort. read more
9 months ago
So glad this cafe was here for my sugar fix in Balboa Park!! Not much left in the late afternoon but hit the spot. Was worried their gluten free cake would be dry but it was moist and not too sugary. Chocolate croissant was good too. Rating this cafe against other museum locations and not nearby well-known establishments. Hope it helps! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
I stumbled upon this really nice little café next to a museum. It seemed very busy, which allowed me to believe that it was probably going to be really good. They do have also a great selection of pastries that I have not been able to try, but they definitely looked and smelled delicious. However, I did try, a salted maple latte iced. It wasn't sweet at all and it was pleasant. I think next time I will try a different drink ask for the wait time. It was a little bit of a long wait because there was only one barista. I only give it a three star because I wasn't a huge fan of the latte and the wait time was pretty long however I do intend to try it again and hopefully change my rating. read more
I was strolling through Balboa Park this weekend and made a stop at Craft Cafe which is annexed to the Mingei International Museum at the Plaza de Panama. It's a very small space where you walk in to place your order at the service counter and then wait outside for your name to be called. Baked goods, salads, and sandwiches were featured along with Dark Horse coffee, Paru tea, and smoothies. Some premade items were available in a refrigerator across from the counter so I grabbed a Vegan Soba Noodle Bowl ($14) for a snack. The container was filled with mushrooms, collard greens, kosho pickle, miso slaw, and furikake on top of a base of cold soba noodles. A cup of creamy dressing (not ranch) was provided with the item which added some moisture and additional flavor. Besides the dressing, it was one of the healthier foods that I have consumed lately. With so many food and drink carts around the plaza, this cafe is probably overlooked as an option unless you happen to be visiting the adjacent museum. The prices were a bit high, but I think that reflected the fact that most of the products were geared towards health-conscious customers. read more
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More info about Craft Cafe
1439 El Prado
San Diego, CA 92101
Balboa Park
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https://mingei.org/visit/craft-caf%C3%A9
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