My mom and I stumbled upon this place and had SUCH a great experience. Paco was so friendly and made excellent recommendations for sandwiches - we loved the chicken goat cheese and the chicken pesto. Paco also has amazing latte art skills, and the drinks were super tasty. It was really nice to sit in the back area under the shade and enjoy our orders. If we're ever in town, we're coming back and hope that Paco is there! read more

Meraki Café - Gingerbread Chai Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food is too expensive for what they give you. After a 20% tip, we paid $43 for 2 Bulletproof coffees and 2 English muffin breakfast sandwiches. The food was fine but basic. It could really use a spread added to it, like a chipotle mayo, pesto, chimmichurri, etc. Communal coffee has MUCH better breakfast sandwiches to warrant the high price tag. The 2 "Bulletproof" coffees were the biggest disappointment. They tasted like a bitter cup of hotel drip coffee with coconut oil added. I pointed out to the barista that a Bulletproof usually has grass-fed butter to give it creaminess. She said they didn't have any butter. :( We ended up pouring out our coffees on the walk home. Maybe the South Park Meraki location is better, but I would not recommended this location University Heights. We'll be sticking to Communal Coffee next time. read more

Met w/ a colleague for work here. I never heard of the spot so it felt pretty exciting to check this spot out. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking but it can get pretty busy. Seating: A good amount of seating both inside and outside for about 30 people, great for pairs or small groups. Vibes: Welcome to University Heights! But more on the calmer end, the spot itself has a nice intimate charm. The décor leans casual, with touches that make it feel local and homey. I dig the plants and the lite rock music. Perfect spot to chill, work, or catch up with a friend. Meraki is warm and inviting. It's cozy without being cramped--comfortable seating and plenty of natural light. FOOD/DRINKS: Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte (Recommend) Tis the season of pumpkin spice chai, so I had to get this. I digged the presentation, the hint of foam and the pleasant blend of chai and pumpkin spice. The milk gave it a silky texture, and overall it felt just right for a cool or slightly crisp day. Not too sweet, well-balanced, and cozy. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Julia was great! A friendly person that was welcoming and helpful. TL; DR OVERALL: 4 Stars. Awesome! Good choices, prices, and a pleasant experience. The pumpkin spice chai was pleasant, I had a good work flow and meeting. There are many coffee spots but this has a special place in my heart. If you're in the area, definitely check this spot out. TIPS: * Meraki means to do something with soul, creativity and love. read more

Meraki Café - Wooo! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Found this cute little cafe and we had a party of 12 and they allowed us to combine some tables and all sit together. The food is outstanding and the açaí bowls are made fresh. The coffees are so delicious and difficult to decide what to get. The service is great and they go above and beyond! A must try coffee shop. read more

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I really wanted to like this place! To start with the positives, the staff was so incredibly friendly and kind. Even with a long line, they greeted everyone with a smile and were attentive and caring. Meraki is located on Adams, so it's just far enough to avoid the chaotic feeling of Park Blvd, but close enough to all the action. The space appears cute, but is a little shabby chic. They have indoor and outdoor seating. We posted up on the outdoor patio at one of the tables that had an umbrella shading it. If you're hoping to get any work done here, wifi is spotty and unreliable, so I would not depend on it. I ordered a matcha latte and a bagel sandwich. Unfortunately, both were not good. The matcha latte had more of a green tea taste than matcha and did not taste good. The bagel sandwich also was more quantity than quality. The bagel was thick but dry and doughy. I gave up on both items after a few bites and sips. It's a nice spot to meet up with friends and I noticed a lot of small groups gathering here. Unfortunately, the food and beverage just weren't quite it for me. read more

Meraki Café - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is a good neighborhood place with a big space and garden in the back. Service was good, even though a man stepped in front of me as I was ordering to return his coffee. (He said that the milk was sour. ) I am not sure how to handle people who cut in front of me like this. The salad was surprising, only because it didn't have lettuce. Recently a friend told me that traditional Mediterranean salads don't have lettuce. The portion was very big. I would have liked more cucumbers and fewer olives and tomatoes. read more

Meraki Café - Mediterranean salad with iced tea. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I've never been to Merkai Cafe before and was pleasantly surprised by how spacious it was. The outside building looks small, but inside they have ample seating areas. It's bright with colors of a light teal and pink with black and white tile flooring. It reminded me of cotton candy! Personally, I would have loved to see the color from their logo (sage green or something) reflected on the walls. It would have gave less of a circus fun house vibe. In addition, they have a nicely sized outdoor patio with the cutest mural in the back corner. The workers are very kind and friendly. I ordered the $6 Pistachio Honey Latte, 12 oz, Hot-- for here. I thought they would use pistachio butter, but I believe they used a pistachio syrup (not housemade). The first sip was good and I got more of honey notes than pistachio. As I got to the middle of the mug, I could really taste the pistachio but it's more of an artificial taste. Overall, this was an okay latte, just fell short of execution. I wouldn't get it again, since it was REALLY sweet. I would have loved to have a bit of a salty factor-- similar to when you'd eat a pistachio from the shell. I'd probably go for their lavender latte as that was my second choice! My friend got the $6, Hot, White Mocha for here as well. He said it was delicious and great temperature. Overall, the prices are pretty fair especially for a latte with syrups in it. But I think, it would be even better of a cafe if they made their own syrups! That would take this place up another notch. On a Sunday, in the morning they weren't very busy. But by late noon, the place was filled with people studying, working (laptops) and people that bike. I'd recommend coming early for the best experience! read more

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Pros: - SO cute inside. Spacious, plenty of seating, really nice outdoor patio. I could see this being a great spot for studying/working - Staff were super friendly - Coffee was good and great location in University Heights - They also had a little table with poems you could grab which I thought was a really nice touch Cons: - The food is really quite bad lol. We ordered the bagel sandwich and acai bowl and both were crazy disappointing. Honestly didn't significantly impact the experience since I liked the vibes so much but won't be ordering food again. read more

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The salmon toast was great, though I wish they gave more of the balsamic sauce instead of the small drizzle they gave on the plate (even though it made the presentation beautiful). I would like to try their açaí bowls the next time I come back! Service was great, there is a counter in the front where you pay and they give you a buzzer to come back when your food is ready. There is indoor and outdoor seating, the indoor seating is perfect for studying, while the outdoor patio gives cute brunch vibes. While it's street parking in the front, in the next street behind the cafe, there is a parking lot on a residential street with plenty of parking. read more

Meraki Café - Salmon Toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

We came about an hour before closing and people were still trickling in. They ran out of avocado, waffles, and had a limited amount of pastries. I ended up choosing the gyro sandwich an açaí bowl, and a matcha latte. My hubby got the turkey brie sandwich and I liked his more! Both sandwiches came with chips! His Tropics smoothie was very refreshing! I liked sitting outside in the patio, although it was a bit chilly. Don't forget to grab free poetry by the counter! read more

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@merakicafesd one of the cutest cafe on @adamsavesd that you enjoy your morning at, the backyard sitting is co cozy, you feel the morning breeze nicely. They do have variety of fresh choices and my fav was the oat meal, it melts easily with the cinnabon taste read more

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I'll be honest, I've passed by this place many times and never gave it a shot because the outside looks so unassuming. I'm glad I finally went inside because it's very spacious and the interior styling looks great! I had the aloha latte which was sweet and coconut-y and the nutty açaí! Both items were delicious! read more

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Cute homely cafe with indoor and outdoor patio - not only do they have coffee but also a selection of açaí bowls, sandwiches, and salads. I've had the coffee here and it's not bad but there are definitely more sophisticated spots serving better nearby in north park, but I think this place is nice because of the lunch/ food options. Food: Chicken pesto - delicious! Would def get again Spinach salad - great presentation, would recommend adding a protein. read more

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This morning my daughter went to get coffee at Meraki, which is only a block from our house. We go there often, but lately I've noticed the cleanliness has really gone downhill. The kitchen area in the back looks dirty, and the station where the cups and supplies are kept definitely needs a deep cleaning. Today was especially concerning. She bought coffees, ham and cheese croissants, and a bagel with cream cheese for my 1-year-old grandbaby. My husband ate one of the croissants without noticing anything unusual, but my son took a bite and immediately said something tasted off. When we opened it up, the inside was completely moldy and the ham had turned gray. My daughter called the shop to let them know and asked them to throw away the other croissants in the case. The employee's response was, "Was it a little moldy or a lot moldy?" Then she offered my daughter a free coffee. I'm sharing this simply as a warning to others to please be careful when eating there. Based on what we experienced today, I'm honestly shocked they still have an "A" rating read more

I've been wanting to come to Meraki Cafe for years now! I was happy to have passed by on my walk through the neighborhood. The staff were incredibly kind. They are dog friendly. They have indoor + nook/outdoor seating. It's an ideal spot to study at or get work done. I ordered an aloha latte with almond milk - this was soooo delicious. You can taste the coconut. I'd get it again! I also got a chicken pesto sandwich on sourdough which was also delicious. I'd love to try more of their menu soon. read more

Meraki Café - Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great coffee shop with relaxing vibes and plenty of seating options inside and outside, both in the front AND a great backyard patio. The menu here was delicious and had just what we needed to tide us over while waiting for some laundry to finish. Also got some work done here in peace and quiet. Will definitely be returning! read more

Meraki Café - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I ordered the classic açaí and it was great. The barista was so kind. Such a nice and cute place with indoor/outdoor seating, also a clean bathroom. read more

Meraki Café - Classic Acai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I've been here multiple times and it looks like they have recently remodeled it and it looks more cute and pretty, love the new walls and floors. I always come here to work or get done studying one. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating options. The staff is also very friendly and kind. They have a lot if delicious menu options. I got a latte. The bagel with cream cheese was starchy amd didn't seem fresh read more

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I have been going to this cafe on and off for years, only because of the convenience being close to where I live. Positives: Over the years they've had some very nice people working there. The backyard is great if you can get some of the seating in the shade. With that said I've had more misses here than any cafe I have ever patronized. I have ordered oatmeal that looked like a child made it, I kid you not. Lumpy and resembling a bowl of milk soup. They have messed up orders more times than I can remember. They have made amends a few times, which I appreciated. I kept patronizing because again of how close it is to where I live and sometimes they got it right, and how can you mess up a pastry, that at least they could not. Today I went back, and it's been awhile, and the poor girl made me a drink that tasted f'ing awful. I had her remake two others, because the second one sucked, and the last one was just as bad as the first two, it's ridiculous!!! And she was absolutely clueless, blaming the issue on my own tastes, sweetie you made three drinks that all tasted like ass, I'm sorry. There's no way anyone in their right mind would disagree, you're just not good at it, and it's probably not your fault, so it's okay. With that said, this cafe has so much potential but whoever owns it doesn't train their employees well, it is obvious. Some how it stays in business because it's quaint. I can only hope they sell and let some people who know what they're doing take over. I am never going back until there's new ownership. Today was the last straw. Never again. I recommend you stay away too until there is changes. read more

Street parking is a 2 hour limit. $5 for 2 hours. First time here. They have seating inside, out front and out back. Sooooo beautiful out back. Big plumeria tree reminded me of home (Hawaii) and smelled like Heaven. We ordered a Caramel Macchiatto (hot), a lemonade, a bagel with cream cheese and veggie sandwich. Food and drinks were amazing. Ambience was relaxing and nice. What did we dislike? These amount of flies both inside and outside. We were constantly shooing them away from our food and drinks. I ended up finding a video on YouTube with a high frequency sound that supposedly repels flies. It semi worked. They really need to do something about the damn flies. Other than that, the place is great. read more

Meraki Café - Plumeria tree....gorgeous - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Greeted warmly, sat outside on a warm day and was comfortable. Waving flies away from the food which was mildly annoying. Ordered avocado toast on ciabatta & an açaí bowl- both solid. Cute spot read more

Looks super cute on the inside but the food was very overpriced for what you get. We got the veggie sandwich and the turkey sandwich and there was one slice of thinly sliced turkey on the sandwich and the veggie sandwich consisted of tomato's, arugula and lettuce. The matcha was decent but I don't think we'll be returning. Staff wasn't super welcoming either. read more

Very cute, tiny cafe on the corner of Adam's Avenue and Park Blvd. Stopped by after brunch to grab some cappuccino and Arnold Palmer to go. Plenty of seating area. The cafe was spacious, inviting and very clean. Nice menu with variety of coffee, tea, drinks, food/sandwiches and snacks for reasonable prices. Cashier was very friendly and got our drinks out quick. The drinks were delicious! Superb quality ingredients. Will return in the future. read more

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Cute little cafe with very friendly staff! I've come for breakfast a few times and their breakfast bagels have all been delicious. There are fresh pastries that sell out, so the earlier you go, the better. The Aloha latte is a personal favorite, with a balanced flavor profile of coconut and macadamia. Lots of tables and inside and out back on their patio. Highly recommend Meraki for the great service and great food and drink! read more

I love how this place was not busy on a Sunday afternoon when brunch crazies are out and about. There wasn't a line and the employees were very friendly. We got a hummus plate for our daughter and my husband and I both got a sandwich. I would say they were both really good! All the ingredients were fresh. The coffee was also tasty. There's plenty of seating available. It's stroller and dog friendly as well. read more

Great little local spot. Order at the counter for food and coffee. Coffee they bring to the table. Buzzer for food to be picked up at the counter. They are super dog friendly with a gorgeous outdoor patio. Inside seating is plentiful and not too crowded. Bagel sandwich was good. Coffee was better. The reusable coffee cups are really nice. Will be back. read more

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I've gone to this cafe for about 2 years now and I use to really love this place. The food was good and the ambience was amazing. I just stopped by today to get a açaí bowl, chicken pesto sandwich and a white mocha coffee and everything tasted terrible. The coffee was over sweetened and bitter I couldn't even finish it, the chicken on my sandwich was under seasoned and tased slightly undercooked. The açaí bowl was freezer burned and the fruit they put on top was thrown on top messy. Altogether my food was $40, and that's enough for better prepared food.I use to love this place but unfortunately it has gone really down hill and honestly should just shutdown read more

Visited for a quick bite. Had their grilled Chicken goat cheese sandwich comes with roasted pepper on sourdough. What a disappointment. The three ingredients (although independently yummy) simply didn't go well together. I think they attempted to do a chicken salad but it simply wasn't executed well. I would err on the side of caution when ordering food here. I tried their strawberry lemonade which was really good. I do like their outdoor space (although one too many dogs for my liking). And they have plenty of indoor space as well. Not a good place for food. Good for coffee and a snack. The service was ok, on the slower side. read more

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This was my first time here. I would say it's a hidden gem. You wouldn't really spot it from the outside, because the building where its located looks deserted. The building kind of kills the ambience from the rest of the place, because inside was rather nice. They have some very good food items. The drink I got was a pistachio honey latte and it was amazing! Not too sweet.If you're a pistachio lover, I'd highly recommend it. The mexican mocha is really good as well. Very tasty. I would definitely say the prices are really good and very reasonable. Parking's not too bad. The staff here as well was very nice. I would definitely come back and I would recommend this place. read more

This is such a cute little cafe just around the corner from my son's condo in San Diego. It's one of their favorite eateries. They offer sandwiches, salads, and assorted beverages. Prices are very reasonable The two young ladies at the counter were very sweet & friendly. Although it took some time to get the order (it takes time to create such tasty artisanal creations!) it was well worth the wait. We all enjoyed our meals so much! There is dining inside but it was such a beautiful day we opted to eat at one of the tables adorned with umbrellas outside. Their patio is done so nicely accented with a lovely garden with a statue of Buddha to give you a serene eating experience plus a floral mural on the wall to complete the zen atmosphere. So easy to see why my son and girlfriend frequent this quaint eatery. Price point is spot on along with friendly service and the quality of food and drinks make you want to return here often! read more

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Great hidden coffee shop! Don't forget to check out the back patio for more seating options. We ordered the everything bagel with butter and jam and the nutty acai bowl. I specifically appreciated that the acai was a smoothie consistency rather than soupy. They placed a generous amount of pb on that bowl! I asked and they no longer have gluten free waffles, but they do have GF bread options. Such a cute and vibrant aesthetic inside. Great spot overall for a quick morning breakfast! read more

Meraki Café - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here last weekend for breakfast with a friend and it was spacious and dogs were allowed! The staff are friendly and everything came out super quick. I got the honey cinnamon latte and it was super delicious. Their breakfast bagel were also great for a quick bite. I don't recommend coming here for work. The WiFi was not connecting so that's the only con, but otherwise, I would come back for coffee with friends. read more

Parking by the University Heights here is hard, all of the close spots by this place are taken. Plan to park a couple to a few blocks away and go for a bit of a walk. There's a back patio here for folks with furry pets. Ordered a Golden oatmeal, grilled chicken goat cheese on ciabatta, a chef salad, large Mexican mocha (comes with 4 espresso shots) and a large Jasmine iced tea. $49.59. Food and order is ready when your pager goes off. The Mexican mocha comes in a big proper mug here. My iced green tea is in a to go cup. The drinks were out within 5 minutes or so. It's strange, but every time I taste this jasmine green tea from here, it almost tastes like there's some tumeric in it. The Mexican mocha is not super flavorful, as spicy as a couple of previous spots before. The food takes a while, expect to wait about 25 minutes for your food order. The focus mostly is on the drinks here. The oatmeal is nice and golden in hue for sure, tastes okay. Guess turmeric and oatmeal doesn't do it for me. The chef's salad looks okay, but I was not expecting sliced up deli Turkey meat. I definitely expected a bit more quality output of food and drink from this place. I wish they would close their doors, there are nasty flies swarming our food inside the cafe. Gross. The chicken and goat cheese on ciabatta is so-so, not quite grilled chicken or the chicken looks like thick cut deli roll and doesn't appear to be grilled at all. read more

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Cute little spot with lots of light. The latte was very smooth and the acai bowl had a ton of fruit! I was hoping to try the toasts but at $14 the price point was a tad too steep for me. Other than that, there were quite a few flies but that's probably just with the hot weather currently. I'd definitely come back and try some other stuff. Took a walk around the neighborhood afterwards. read more

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Very cute coffee shop, also very spacious. I had the Aloha iced latte which was very good and not too sweet. I also had the Lox Bagel which was very filling. Staff is friendly and welcoming and quick. This place is definitely worth checking out. read more

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Stopped by this cafe to catch up with a friend. Stopped in at 10:30am on a Wednesday. They were not too busy! Parking on the street at this time was easy (by the time we left a couple of hours later it was more challenging due to the lunch hour and nearby restaurants). I got a bagel with eggs, cream cheese, and bacon. I had asked for an everything bagel but didn't get that (they must have ran out) but it was good nonetheless. The eggs were scrambled and the bacon was salty and delicious. The bagel had the perfect squishy texture but with enough of a crunch as well for my liking. I also ended up getting s chocolate chip muffin to share with my friend. It was fluffy and satisfying! The ambiance was casual and nice. We chose to sit outside in a shady area which was perfect out of the sun but in fresh air. They have indoor and outdoor seating to choose from. I'll definitely be back here! read more

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This is a very quaint local coffee shop. We stopped by for a bagel and coffee. My daughter is super picky on what goes on her bagel and the staff is very accomodating and made it exactly the way she likes it. My egg bagel was epic as was my Americano. I've been here before and next time I plan on bringing my laptop and staying awhile to soak up some positive local vibes. read more

Meraki Café - Jalapeno cheddar. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ordered here for years, quality has gone down slowly and prices have gone up. Wish they stuck to their roots. You cannot even order a bacon egg and cream cheese bagel now. read more

The Worst Dining Experience Ever This was by far the most horrific experience I've ever had with any restaurant. I specifically ordered three avocado toasts on sourdough with ONLY avocado and two eggs on each. Instead, I received something completely different: toast covered in cheese, tomatoes, and balsamic -- and absolutely no eggs at all. When I picked up the order, not only was it wrong, but the staff blamed me for their mistake, insisting that I had ordered it that way. I know exactly what I asked for, and I was very clear: avocado, sourdough, and eggs on top. On top of this, my husband's coffee was missing. When we asked them to simply substitute the dish for the correct one, they told us we would have to pay again for the new dish instead of fixing their mistake. That is outrageous -- no basic accountability, no customer care, just shifting the cost back to us. To make it even worse, we were charged nearly $200 for this order, and what we got in return was nothing but plain avocado toast without eggs -- not even close to what we paid for. This wasn't just a small mistake -- it was a complete failure in service, accuracy, and accountability. Truly unacceptable. read more

I came here a few days ago to treat myself to a nice breakfast, i got the salmon toast and a honey rose latte, it ended up coming out to $27 which is kinda crazy for 2 items but that is the price of eating out in San Diego. I took a seat in this little alcove in the back next to a window. I noticed that there were a LOT of flies as well as these small little dead bugs in the windowsill, it was pretty gross but I decided to put up with it. While eating, a fly dove straight into my coffee after I had only had a few sips. This is super gross but I didn't want to bother the workers to make me a new one so I just took the fly out and continued my meal although I was a little peeved. After a little while ANOTHER fly dive bombed my coffee and at this point I was disgusted so I went to the counter. I walked up and first apologized for any inconvenience to them, but that 2 flies took a bath in my coffee and I would like a refund or something because it is just so gross that they have such a fly problem indoors. It was two workers and they both kind of just looked at me like an annoyance then looked at each other. Finally one of the girls asked me if she gave me the coffee with the fly in it, it felt as though she was implying that if the fly went in after the fact then it's my problem, I said no but that there is just SO many flies indoors that they kept going in. One of the girls told me "yeah with the heat there are gonna be a lot of flies" yeah I know WHY there are flies, what I don't know is why they have done almost nothing to combat the problem. Finally a 3rd worker showed up, they asked if I wanted a remake instead. I said sure but to make it to go. Then that was it, they ignored me and gave me dirty looks until I got my coffee and left. No apology for the fly problem, just excuses and attitude. Whatever. I kinda liked coming here on occasion since it was good but expensive, but now I don't think I'll be coming back, all I can think about is how disgusting the back room where they make the food must look read more