Rosy C.

Great place to socialize or work. They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating options available. I ordered the honey cinnamon latte and the coconut pastry, both were really good. The pastry was cute Easter theme and had little chocolate eggs in the middle.

Cheryl E.

Marta, Marta, Marta: how I longed to love you so. I first found this spot on Instagram, and came here seeking yet another place to get my coffee on while doing laptop work. Situated a few blocks from the mecca of busyness (Little While, Nomade, An's Dry Cleaning, and Polite Provisions), it's nice to be *near* the room where it happens -- not in it. // THE GOOD -- AMBIANCE -- Marta is *that* girl on Insta, and rightfully so. The light hits the shop *just* right, and is an eye candy place to work in: clean and contemporary. This is definitely a place to get work done over a few hours. The shop is not large, but it's also not impossible to grab a spot. Walking into the shop itself, you'll see 2-3 tables against the wall outside. Step inside and you'll find a few two-seater tables with bench seating and a chair; to your left, a large communal table scooted to the windows, plus a few more two-seaters and two bathrooms down the way. I'd also like to mention, since I haven't seen it photographed much: they have a backyard patio! Spacious and airy, here is a good place to sit and gab with a friend. On hot days before sundown, though, light fills this courtyard with no coverage to find respite in shade. (But San Diegans like sun, eh? So just bring a hat, your sunglasses / sunscreen, and enjoy the heat.) Either way, it's nice to have extra space like this, especially if the inside is packed. -- BAKED GOODS -- I can't speak to the pastries in the *main* case though they look plump and delicious (croissants, I'm looking at you!). These tend to be photographed the most on their socials, so I'm guessing they're a hit. As a gluten free and mostly dairy free girly, I don't expect to get a taste at many coffee shops. But Marta, thankfully, keeps us dietary restriction folks in mind! I got to have a GF / DF cookie which was actually quite good (many GF cookies leave a yuck aftertaste from the flour they use). I am also, unfortunately, allergic to walnuts and almonds, and am happy to report the cookies do NOT have either. Shoutout to the staff for checking for me! :) BONUS CALLOUT to them for keeping their GF cookies in a case SEPARATE from the main case. I've not seen any other shop do this, and I highly appreciate their efforts to not cross-contaminate. -- SERVICE -- I've seen poor reviews about service, and that made me hesitant. Maybe Marta talked to their employees or maybe that reviewer had a bad encounter, but I've had surprisingly pleasant service the 2-3 times I've gone. They're very helpful with the menu and, depending on the server, upbeat. I'm down with that! // THE OKAY -- MATCHA -- Disappointed by their coffee (see below), I thought I'd try my hand, or taste buds, at the matcha. I'm not a matcha girly but I appreciate a good cup... and as a culture purist, appreciate, even further, a strong, saturated matcha. I got an iced oat matcha latte with a hint of vanilla (look, I know I said I'm a purist, but I hadn't tried this shop's matcha yet to trust it would taste good on its own). Gratefully, they did not overpower the drink with the sweetness of the vanilla, and the matcha was not watered down like it can be at other shops. Was it the best matcha? No. But I didn't have a problem with this drink, as I did the coffee. -- PARKING -- Like I mentioned above, trying to visit the shops a few blocks down (Little While; Fuzz Coffee) means adding an extra 20-30 minutes to your visit: for parking, and for waiting in line. Marta sits on a main street, but is nestled in a neighborhood: one I haven't had too much trouble finding parking in. There are also spots available in front, on the main street -- free spots, not metered, as you'll find in many other parts of town (including on Adams Ave.) // THE BAD -- COFFEE (!!) -- Sigh... the one reason I go to coffee shops, aside from working outside my home, is for good coffee. I mean, paying $8 a cup nowadays, I'd want it to be good. Unfortunately, Marta doesn't seem too focused on its coffee program. When I asked which beans they used (for my husband, an even bigger coffee aficionado than me) I expected they'd roasted their own beans, or got it sourced from a well-known roaster. Nope; the barista couldn't even tell me who it was. Instead, they showed me: a bag of coffee blends, from some unknown label. And when I tasted my oat milk latte... eugh, it tasted burnt. Like Starbucks (sorry to say). Look, I get it; having a brick and mortar in San Diego and turning a profit margin high enough to pay good employees and exist in the most expensive city, is no easy feat. So I understand if coffee is not their focus, but providing a nice place for people to work and gather. For that, I'm not mad... I just won't be ordering their coffee. // IN SUM Come to work, catch up with friends on the patio, or enjoy the vibe. The coffee? Meh. Grab that somewhere else.

Justine H.

Wow such a busy cafe! I understand the hype around it--aesthetically pleasing inside with good vibes and low music playing, tables for working and plenty outside as well. The service was very nice and hinted at some cold foam recipes coming very soon! The strawberry matcha would be even better with it, slightly on the bitter side but creamy. The black sesame banana bread was so moist on the inside and had this amazing crust on the outside. I would love to try their chicken mole croissant next. Sadly parking is still pretty difficult in the area so be prepared to park far or go early because residents take up most of the parking.

Calie K.

I love the aesthetic of Marta's! The pastries and lattes are amazing! If I lived closer, I would be here all the time Service is 10/10!

Alana F.

This place is a 10/10 FOR SURE. Such a cute little spot right on Adams, incredibly walking friendly (as almost any place in North Park is). The interior is adorable and they have solid seating choices. The espresso was really delightful and I thoroughly enjoyed my drink. This may be a new go-to spot for me!

Emmett T.

I had lunch just down the block before visiting Marta on this stretch of Adams Ave in the University Heights neighborhood. It's a nondescript coffee shop with a plain white facade. Parking was all curbside in this area, however empty spaces were easily found. I noticed a few outside tables to the west of the building, but they were all unoccupied. Inside the suite was more seating that could hold at least a couple of dozen customers. By the time I arrived in the afternoon, no baked goods were left which I guess was a good sign because they're selling out their daily inventory. The service counter was to the far right. Several copies of the paper menu were available for viewing. Ten choices of coffee, six kinds of tea, and four other beverages were available. There was also a small separate menu of five seasonal drinks. I picked the last one from that list which was a Cranberry Matcha Latte. The components were PARU matcha, cranberry compote, and oat milk. Many places use strawberry as the fruit of choice for matcha lattes so it was nice to see a different berry as a compote. For $7.50, the serving size was small. The matcha flavor was decent but not as strong as a few other cafes around town. The cranberry added tartness to the drink which wasn't as complementary compared to strawberry. The barista made the order fairly quickly. I gave a rating between three and four stars for my experience at Marta.

Danny W.

Great bakery and coffee shop located off of Adams Ave. this place has a very modern and minimalist decor and the staff was very helpful. I ordered the blueberry lemon scone and it was delicious and freshly baked. In addition, I enjoyed the honey cinnamon latte and it was 5/5. This latte had a creamy texture and was well balanced with the honey and cinnamon. Definitely recommend this establishment and will be returning.

Sydni S.

The passion fruit matcha was their seasonal drink that was immediately calling my name and it was such a unique flavor, I had to try it! The passion fruit compote was definitely on the tart side, but if you like tropical flavors I would recommend. I was able to snag a table and hang out and get some work done for a while and the ambiance of the cafe was very inviting. I love the green tile on the bar too. There was a good amount seating options and people were rotating in and out regularly for a weekday. My friend got the rosemary latte and the flavor was to die for, I would probably get that on my next visit.

Jordyn S.

The rosemary latte was delicious! I was so happy they had decaf espresso. It's rare to have a decaf latte that has a strong coffee flavor and I was so delighted that this one did. There's not a ton of seating inside, but if you can snag a table it's a great remote work spot.

Kristelle B.

3.5 stars. Beautiful new cafe in Kensington. I was drawn with their interior that has plenty of natural light and the Mexican pastries look enticing as well. It's definitely one of the best (interiors-wise) in the city right now. I got an iced oat latte with piloncillo syrup and it was more on the acidic side, sadly. Might be just a one-off so I'm willing to give it a second visit.

Alessandra G.

Passionfruit matcha!! To say the least, this was one of my favorite "flavored" matcha lattes in San Diego!! Truly so yummy! Not too sweet! My friend got a regular decaf latte (not pictured) & she said it was pretty yummy! : ) would love to come back to try some pastries &/or food items!! Plenty of seating for a little "WFH" action!

Alan S.

If you could imagine what a beautiful looking coffee shop in San Diego looks like Look no further because this is your spot. I would say the bright space and the tile matching the colors of your drink drinks and the friendly service is worth a visit. There are so many different types of Matcha. I tried their regular Matcha and it was very good. They also have a cranberry Matcha and that might be something new for the season overall great place to study and work and if you were a Maia fan add this one to your list.

Brittany P.

I got the Mexican mocha latte and the mole pastry. Both amazing! This place is modern and had nice music and vibes. Also it has some outside searing on the side. Highly recommend