Lofty Coffee
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I am obsessed with this place. Great spot to hang out when the weather is nice and it's not far from my office in the Columbia District. Best part: they make tons of fresh gluten free baked goods in house. Fresh bread for toast, matcha donuts, season mini loaves, cookies and "pop tarts."
Came here and unfortunately, left disappointed. Such a cute open air coffee shop. We came here two mornings in a row. Both days there was a bit of a wait. The first day there were out of a syrup so the person working told us it would be in stock the next day. We got other cold brews, and they were fine. The next day we came back, and the experience overall was tough. We got our drinks right away, but they forgot to put in our food order, so we stood there waiting for a really long time. Overall, normal cold brew, but nothing to wow me with a $10 coffee.
Came in for a quick stop before we hit road, had pretty good reviews. The coffee shop itself was okay looking. In a way reminded me of Disneyland pym kitchen where the bar is and then the chairs and tables. I ordered a mint matcha , and usually I'm love it at urth it's amazing. Gotta say it was not a bright green color, it looked muddy, and it was hella grimy. Maybe from the almond milk it comes with. I got a matcha donut, and the donut itself was good. I liked it, but the topping on top is a bit much. It's match with floral and then random pistachios on top. Wasn't a fan either. The baristas were super nice, but their drinks weren't it. I'd like my money back, buttt too late to ask for a refund.
LOVE this coffee spot, there's great variety and good service. I ordered the Kyoto-style cold brew which had a nice house-made banana peanut butter cold foam. Sooo delicious! Perfect spot to enjoy your coffee, and people watch. There's plenty of seating available outside. Also ordered the avocado toast with poached egg, big portion and perfect complement to the coffee. Highly recommend this gem!
Great location downtown, nice outdoor seating, some along the street, some in a patio area above the street a few steps. Located on the corner there are plenty of people to watch hustle about during the easy morning commute. Coffee is excellent, if you are having a bite there are free refills. There is cream and raw sugar, but no Splenda or equal. I ordered the hummus and avocado toast, on a croissant (they were out of artisan bread). This was an excellent breakfast. A nice fresh meal with excellent coffee, beats a coffee and reheated snack from that other coffee chain.
A nice coffee shop in Little Italy with a cute ambiance. Just be prepared for big lines and long waits on weekends, especially on farmers market days. I wanted a classic matcha latte, but they only offered a mint‑mixed matcha. The employee said it was subtle and refreshing, so I gave it a try. The wait was long, but the drink was pretty -- it came with a mint leaf garnish, which was a nice touch. Flavor‑wise, it just wasn't for me, but it was refreshing and lightly minty, not overpowering. They have a great outdoor seating area and food options too, though I didn't try the food this time. I'd come back if I was already in the area and it wasn't so busy.
Delicious coffee and food that never disappoint! Everything tastes fresh, and the menu has a great variety whether you're grabbing a quick drink or something more filling. Prices are very reasonable for the quality. There's plenty of seating, which makes it a comfortable spot to relax or get some work done, and the free WiFi is a nice bonus. Definitely recommend for a cozy café with great vibes!
We stopped by this charming café in Little Italy for breakfast. We ordered the açaí bowl, a croissant sandwich with egg, sausage along with a vanilla latte and a cappuccino. The açaí bowl was refreshing, topped with fresh fruit and crunchy granola. The croissant sandwich was buttery and flaky, with the savory egg and sausage balanced by the subtle sweetness of the jam. Both the vanilla latte and cappuccino were smooth, rich, and expertly made. They also have a lovely outdoor patio, making it a perfect place to relax, enjoy breakfast, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere of Little Italy.
It was very busy on a Sunday. The cold brew tasted watered down so I didn't feel like it was worth it, especially it being $9.
First time here pretty good chill spot id come back again ... the service and vibe was chill especially to sit down and people watch while u sip your coffee
Cute coffee shop with lots of outdoor seating. I ordered a turkey and avocado croissant and a cloudy cold brew. The sandwich was so tasty with tons of avocado and the most flaky croissant. Delish. The coffee was very big with cold foam on top, not too sweet, perfect way to start the day. The staff were friendly and very approachable, very kind team. Fast service too!!
Needed a quick treat to calm the sweet tooth. The coffee also smelled amazing but I had my coffee fix for the day. The cinnamon roll was made from a croissant, which I was not expecting. Not too sweet, but sweet enough. Worth a visit if you're near gate 108
Service 5/5 Food & drinks 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Came on a Friday at ~10:30am and the cafe was busy but there were still available seats. Service was quick and friendly. Acai bowl - absolutely delicious and filling. Felt like I was eating dessert for breakfast (but healthy!) Egg, sausage, cheese croissant - Tasty. The breakfast sausage was the star of the show. read more
10 months ago
Very nice ambiance. Friendly and attentive staff. We especially love their Acai bowl and matcha latte. Safe neighborhood. read more
3 years ago
Surprising parking wasn't to hard to find here. It was a weekday and the cafe was pretty busy. We were able to find a table pretty quickly, they kept the cafe very clean. We ordered at the front and our order took about 10-15 minutes to come out. I ordered a flat white and a sausage, egg and cheddar croissant. Both were good, I would get the croissant again. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
We were looking for a coffee shop close to the farmers market and it was a quick walk off of the main road for the market. It's a cute tiny place but I loved the open concept, very modern, aesthetic vibe. My coffee was super delicious, I would definitely come again when I'm in little Italy! read more
1 year ago
Currently traveling with a quick night in San Diego. Woke up to catch our train, and in desperate need of coffee. We literally smelled the beans and walked right to Lofty - our first time here. A very charming cafe with an enchanting staff, and the food and coffee exquisite. The bread on this sandwich is fantastic. A+ Lofty. A++. read more
Business owner information
Lofty C.
What a wonderful way to start the day—thank you for making Lofty part…
1 year ago
We enjoyed delicious Açaí bowls along with our fresh roasted coffee. The service was great, and the bowls were packed with plenty of ingredients that tasted fresh and flavorful. Plus, it's the best spot to watch the neighborhood dogs come and go. We were really pleased with the experience! read more
Love it !! Got the turkey with avocado and mozzarella sandwich with the mint matcha. The mint matcha was not my fav but dang was that sandwich loaded up and delicious. 100% coming back read more
Business owner information
Lofty C.
Thank you for you kind review Emily!
Just okay. I expected more from a coffee shop in Little Italy. There's nice outdoor seating and it's a great vibe for those teleworking. However, it took an abnormally long amount of time (easily over 10 minutes) for a Turkish Latte. It wasn't even busy on a Wednesday at 10am. While I got the Turkish Latte, others with me got the Aztec Mocha and the Salted Caramel Latte. Mine didn't have much sugar compared to the other two which is fine, but it was a drastic difference. The Aztec Mocha was sweet but more so had that cayenne kick to it. The Salted Caramel of course was a good, safe option. I just am a little disappointed with the Turkish Latte as I always scout for coffee shops offering cardamom or Middle Eastern-Indian inspired flavors. I've had better from other shops, but it did the job of it being a coffee in the morning. Would I come back again? Most likely not. I believe there's better spots in the area. read more
5 months ago
Really kind of a bummer. The staff was friendly and the restaurant looked really nice and clean, but we really disliked the drinks we got. The drinks sounded so inventive and interesting. We got the matcha, mint and milk and the London fog. The London fog with the charcoal dust just had a really weird flavor and aftertaste and the matcha was just really bitter. Not sure if we just had a bad batch but the drinks were really not drinkable and we only lasted a couple sips in. I would definitely say try something besides those two drinks. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
I came for coffee this morning with a friend and it was a pretty good experience. I ordered a "cloudy with a chance of cold brew" which is a Kyoto style cold brew with vanilla sweet cream - it was the perfect balance of sweet and creamy with the boldness of the cold brew. It is on the pricier side at $8.75 a pop. I also ordered a savory breakfast scone ($6) which contained kale and cheddar - they offered to warm it up which is a nice touch! You seat yourself at one of the outdoor tables after ordering and then wait for them to bring your drink/food items to you based on the table number placard you're given at checkout. It can get crowded and parking is definitely difficult on Saturdays with the farmers market so plan accordingly! I will definitely be back to try a handcrafted latte and a sweet pastry! read more
Business owner information
Lofty C.
Hi Derek! Thank for visiting Lofty. We are so glad that you enjoyed…
1 year ago
2 years ago
Solid spot to grab coffee while in Little Italy. While I probably would not come out of my way for it, it's a great spot to come when in the area and has a nice outdoor seating space. read more
11 months ago
Business owner information
Alex L.
Thanks so much for the kind words! We actually have a promotion — buy…
2 years ago
Was in town for the ESRI conference and this was my last food stop before heading to the airport and I should've been coming here from the time I got off the plane. Light simple fare, a little pricey but it was one of the better meals I had all week. Got the Turkish latte, split food with a coworker - flower child and the breakfast with tots. Both simple but well done! Has waves of busy so go early for a table but also people shared tables which was really nice and random to talk to a stranger. Ambiance is open and airy without pigeons at like some of the other places. Would highly recommend! read more
2 years ago
Croissant was delicious! My husband loved the Turkish latte . And the foam part was stunning . The lack of options for other coffees was disappointing . We ended up going to a different place for a more variety of coffees. read more
4 years ago
Have passed by Lofty Coffee without even realizing we were passing it. But last Saturday we decided to stop by in the morning for some coffee and breakfast. The bakery portion of Lofty Coffee is amazing. The pastry selection is very tasty and they offer a wide variety. As well as the breakfast options! My wife got the Chocolate Croissant that was one of the best she's ever had. It was so fluffy and with just the right amount chocolate. I cannot wait to return to snag me a nice warm coffee and Croissant read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
7 months ago
Business owner information
Alex L.
Thank you so much! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the coffee and…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Alex L.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad you enjoyed the…
This place is really cute and has an indoor/outdoor concept. I got an iced vanilla latte and it was a busy Sunday morning, so it took about 10 minutes to get my drink. When I first tasted it, it tasted like mostly milk, so I asked for a little bit more of vanilla which the barista kindly gave me. It was so much better after! I would definitely come back read more
Great coffee shop for casual working. We took our laptops and worked for a little bit in the indoor/outdoor area today and it was such a great spot. The coffee and chocolate croissant hit the spot. We will definitely hit this one up again when we are in town. read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Alex L.
So glad you enjoyed everything! Great picks with the matcha donut and…
My go to coffee spot in downtown San Diego. They have gigantic chocolate chip cookies here and cool pastries. They have a few brunch items as well that aren't too big of a portion. I always do a latte with their listed syrups and I really like how they make them even though it's a simple order. I like their coffee beans as well as I've purchased a bag in some grocery stores! Every time I do come, the tables do get filled up but some spots are open. Weekends are always busy. I love the patio area and it's short walking distance from the Little Italy walkway! read more
3 years ago
The place if very lofty definitely a nice place for a small breakfast & coffee date, it is very open and airy. My husband and I got the pistachio donut which was delicious. It was a bit sweet but the bread made up for it, it was more of a bread consistency but I'm not mad about it. We also ordered the Cloudy with a chance of Cold brew, and pumpkin pie cloud cold brew. For the cloudy with a chance of cold brew, At first sip you get nothing but sweet coming from the vanilla cream cold foam but once mixed it's pretty good, and the cold brew is not bitter either. The pumpkin was not too bad. I'm usually a pumpkin lover but for some reason this was a bit off. Can't quite place the taste it was giving.. (I should have listened to the baristas rec of the Turkish latte ! other than that, great spot, would come again! read more
Super cute coffee shop in Little Italy! This little restaurant is super clean very modern looking with great customer service. I had a vanilla latte which wasn't too bad not the best but it wasn't bad. The avocado toast I had was seriously the best I have ever tried. I will definitely be back. read more
4 years ago
The endless drip coffee is awesome and the food is very fresh. This is a perfect place to stop and have coffee when you are in the downtown / Little Italy area. The Kyoto-style cold brew is fantastic and a real treat! This is a great spot for those who enjoy a more mild roast. @sturdygirlstyle #sturdygirlstyle read more
For the most part, Lofty is quick with food. The food is good and so are the drinks. It does get busy on Saturdays, since they are close to the farmers market. So it can get busy to the point you get your food before finding a table (unless you take it to go). There was one Saturday we waited almost 2 hours before getting our food, we had to pay for more parking, just so we could go to the farmers market. So, just take into account how long the line is (and where it starts, there are signs for it, but people get confused too easily) read more
3 years ago
Wow wish I had come here sooner. Lovely and calm outdoor seating, beautiful cafe bar area and delicious coffee and baked goods I ordered a flat white and it was perfect. Lovely foam texture my husband ordered a pour over and it was great too - could really taste all the subtle flavors of the coffee We also got a breakfast scone that was so creamy and fluffy and delicious. Came with spinach and it was like a mix between a soufflé and biscuit. Just divine read more
Cute cafe with outdoor seating in a prime area of little Italy in SD. They have a decent food menu but kitchen closes early so got a pastry that had an egg baked in the middle on some bread, it was quite good. Their cardamom latte is no joke --- it has a LOT of cardamom flavour in it and isn't super sweet like most options usually are. Great little spot with good service, highly recommend. read more
3 years ago
Cool outfoor eating area. And although it took a minute for the food to be delivered it was well worth the wait read more
4 years ago
A nice, spacious coffee shop with delicious coffee! There's lots of outdoor space if you need to get any work done. I got the iced Aztec Mocha which had a nice cayenne kick. I haven't found another cafe that does it well as Lofty. The Turkish coffee was good, but wasn't as unique as the name implied. On the other hand, I wasn't expecting the breakfast options to be so tasty! The croissant was sooo flaky and buttery! I also loved the condiments for the French toast. If you're looking for a quick boost, Lofty will do the trick. read more
More info about Lofty Coffee
444 W Cedar St
San Diego, CA 92101
Little Italy
Directions
(760) 230-6747
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https://loftycoffee.com
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Ask the Community - Lofty Coffee
Do you have vegan pastries or breakfast options ? Nothing was specifically marked on the online menu, or I missed seeing it. Excellent coffee btw, employees were awesome but…
Hi Carlos, Yes, lots of vegan options!…
Hello! I was here earlier today and the coffee was absolutely incredible down to how aromatic the beans themselves were. What kind of a roast do you use and who is your roaster?
Hello Salma, We are stoked to hear you enjoyed your coffee! We roast our coffee in Encinitas at…
Is this a good place to study?
I think it would be a great place to study. There are a lot of tables, both inside and out.
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