A cute authentic Italian neighborhood cafe in Little Italy serving coffee, treats, gelato, and paninis. My friends and I were just looking to get a coffee in Little Italy, but when we walked in and saw all the delicious treats we had to try something else as well. I ordered a latte and neglected to tell them it was for here so I was given a paper cup, but they give real cups if you ask. The latte was good, and my friend bought a kitchen sink type cookie with chocolate, coconut, and macadamia nuts. It was warm and gooey good! Another friend tried the gelato and said it was very good. There are a few tables inside and tables out in front outside. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful San Diego weather. The decor and tables definitely gives you an old school Italian neighborhood vibe with Italian markets right next door. If I am in the neighborhood again, I would definitely come back here to try the gelato and/or a piece of an excellent looking lemon pie bar I spotted. read more

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If there is better gelato in San Diego, I have not tried it. They have more than gelato here but gelato is all we tried. It was later in the day so they were out of or running low on some flavors. Nevertheless, the two flavors we tried were incredibly rich and flavorful. A little goes a very long way. Parking is incredibly tough in Little Italy but it is worth it for gelato this good. read more

Pappalecco - Some of the richest gelato ever. - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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The gelato was just way too thick, and there was not much flavoring when it came to the variety of gelato flavors. I did enjoy the macadamia nut chocolate chip cookie, and some of the pastries look really good but you are definitely paying more of a premium price for a lot of the gelato and the pastries. Service was just OK and nothing really standing out. read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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I don't know what's more disgusting. The customer service, or the pathetic $10 on fully filled cannoli. Came in today with my son after staying at the corner hotel, and looking for cannolis. Customer service is terrible by this young girl who tried to be cute or funny. Talking about the New York Knicks and people from New York. Which I am both a Knicks fan and an Italian American from New York. I will never go back nor will I recommend them the next time. I'm in conversation with someone in that area. read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Solid gelato spot in little Italy. Loved the mint and decent price point. Will definitely be back.

My wife and I ordered affogatos, and you get to choose two different gelato flavors, which was a nice touch. The gelato itself was delicious. We also had the cheesecake, which was very tasty as well. I would definitely recommend stopping by. The only downside was that the outdoor patio had a noticeable urine smell, so we chose to sit inside instead. read more

Pappalecco - Affogato - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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My friend and I stopped by on a beautiful Saturday morning, and while the shop was quite busy, we luckily found a table inside without any trouble. There were plenty of different pastries and light bite options on display, but we had came specifically for the gelato. As someone who is not a chocolate fan, they had a good balance of flavor options which I appreciated because I didn't feel like I had to settle. The only downside was the ordering process. It felt a bit backwards and rushed, since you have to pay for your cup or cone before you even get a chance to see the available flavors. The cashier was persistent on us following the checkout process which was a bit annoying considering there was already a group standing in front of the gelato display which did not allow us to see the available flavors. Once we got through the line, however, we were able to mix and match two different flavors. We both ordered a mango, I got strawberry and my friend got the lemon. We both felt like the strawberry and lemon was better than the mango. Overall, the quality of the gelato is really good and the flavors were very well-balanced. It's a great spot for a high-quality treat, even if the checkout flow is a little unconventional! read more

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Stopped by for an affogato. They have a great assortment of gelato and baked goods. The service was very friendly and fast! Please note that while we were there we saw a sign for paninis being 50 percent off on Wednesdays. Absolutely hate to come back for that as they are all made to order and look divine! Please note we walked so I can't comment on parking. All in all solid! read more

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My boyfriend and I stopped in while staying in Little Italy for a long weekend. We had a lovely little experience, first with espresso shots and then also with gelato. My boyfriend's name was misspelled on his order to "Chess" instead of "Chase" so I had fun calling him Chess for the rest of the weekend. The corner cafe was welcoming and reasonably priced. I'd definitely recommend a visit. read more

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super cute spot to stop by and get some gelato! got the pistachio and tiramisu and both were super yummy!! pistachio was sweet and very nutty, while the tiramisu was sweeter. only thing was that i wished there was a one scoop option, but gelato was great! yummy rating: 8.5/10 read more

Pappalecco - pistachio and tiramisu - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Pappalecco was a cake that looked perfect but tasted like cardboard. Vibe: Located on State St, it is a small Italian restaurant that offers coffees, gelatos, paninis, croissants, and wine. Their menu has a lot to offer, but I came here for breakfast, so my review ONLY covers my breakfast experience. Bite: I got the Nutella fresh fruit croissant, while my husband got a ham and cheese croissant. My fresh fruit croissant was generously slathered with Nutella (the only thing I've no complaints about) and topped with sliced banana, strawberries, and a few blueberries, some of which were wilted. The croissant itself was extremely underwhelming; it was soggy, limp, and did not taste very fresh. Interestingly, these croissants were quite pricey for something so poorly laminated. It was a disappointing experience, because I've had much better crossiant at far more unassuming cafes read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I frequently go to this Italian coffee shop, it's only now I get the chance to write a review. I love this coffee shop because the Barista really knows how to make coffee. Even their sandwiches are delicious. They also have different kinds of gelato flavors. The ambiance is good, they also have a patio seating. The staff are very friendly, polite, and welcoming. I recommend this place for anyone who wants great tasting coffee, pastries, croissants, sandwiches, and gelatos. It's a cozy place to hang out. read more

Pappalecco - Matcha, espresso, and Cappuccino - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Couldn't resist the temptation for a sweet treat as I was walking back to my car this afternoon. The Almond Tortino was delightful! They warmed it up for me and it was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up after a skincare appointment next door. Great service, lots of seating, and a great location for people-watching in Little Italy. Perhaps this will be a new tradition every time I'm next door for skincare. :) read more

Pappalecco - Almond Tortino - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Would love to try their gelato next time! Very friendly workers , kinda jammed inside when there's people waiting for their orders. read more

Excellent coffee drinks. I like the one with the nutella Nice patio. I think I'll try a jam n cheese croissant. Someone else ordered it and it looked yummy. read more

I love pizza. This one had good flavor, but it would have been taken to better heights had it had more sauce and had not been burnt around the edges of the crust. That being said, I have always loved the vibe at the location in Hillcrest, so we ordered a pizza for dinner from this location when staying in the area. Anyway, we didn't finish this pizza because it was so burnt. read more

Pappalecco - Like a Boss - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Honestly, whoever didn't give this place 5 stars should have their Yelp account disabled. I'm eating my dark chocolate and Nutella cone now and I'm already upset that it's going to end. I can see my son's eyes are already welling up as well. Highly recommended is an understatement. read more

One of our go to stops when craving gelato!! Reminiscent of Rome and the creamy dreamy scoops there! Flavors change with the seasons. This Italian family know how to make craveable gelato! Espresso excellent here too! Great service and a charming corner cafe to meet friends. Plenty of street parking! read more

Solid experience, but was short of some of the amazing gelato I had recently in Italy. I enjoyed the initial bite of the gelato, but was hoping for a bit more depth that was found in the gelato I had in the Old World. For a sweet treat in the area however, it was a solid experience. It was good though after a lot of going around the city, and I wouldn't say no to coming back. read more

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I went here with my mom and we both loved it. I got an affogato with Nutella and pistachio gelato and the combination was amazing. The ladies behind the counter were super sweet and welcoming. One of my favorite gelato places in San Diego. read more

Pappalecco - Affogato - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Came for a cannoli - left wanting one of each. ChatGPT recommended this place as a good option for a hand-filled cannoli so we had to test it out! When we entered we were immediately overwhelmed by all the delicious options. Several servers tried to help us but we were indecisive and overwhelmed. The place was clean and cute. The gelato looked amazing and every savory / sweet pastry looked fresh and delish. We ended up getting a cannoli - exactly what we came for - and it really hit the spot! We will definitely be back next time we are in San Diego! read more

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Nice, clean, small cafe. I had the Pappalecco panini. The bread was really good along with the fresh mozzarella. Service was good and fast. Store was mostly clean but there were crumbs on the dinning table--needed cleaning. Didn't try the gelato but it looked really good. read more

Pappalecco - Pappalecco Panini - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow !! Great coffee amazing atmosphere feeling like I'm actually in Italy!! Next time I'll try the ice cream too read more

Pappalecco - Great coffee - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

This is the best espresso I've had in years. I had the macchiato (real kind) and it was absolutely perfect. Cute cafe. Friendly Italian staff telling me ciao. It's simply great. read more

Pappalecco - Cup of macchiato to start the day. - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

My friend and I came in after having lunch nearby and wanted dessert. I ordered Piccolo, 2 scoops of gelato. I opted for Pistachio and a berry cheesecake flavor. I also ordered a limoncello cheesecake to go. I was kind of bummed that the cup is filled with one flavor and you get a small scoop on top of the second flavor, I expected it to be more even. Luckily the pistachio was my first scoop so it was the larger amount. The gelato tasted fine, similar to other's I've had. It was good, but not the best I've enjoyed. The cheesecake was okay, not a whole lot of flavor and kind of dry. I wouldn't order it again. The store itself is pretty small with only a few tables inside. It was pretty warm on the day we visited, it was summer and there was no AC, so we ended up eating our gelato in the car. Service was okay. It was a little confusing for the take out. They called mine and handed it to me next to the gelato. My friend, they put her order on a counter near the entrance and didn't say anything. We were confused why it was taking so long so we went over to check out where her order was and it was sitting on the counter. No consistency it seemed and confusing for a first time customer. read more

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Such a yummy gelato place! The flavors were rich, creamy, and super fresh. You can really taste the quality in every scoop. The shop itself is clean and inviting, and the staff was friendly and patient while I sampled a few flavors. A perfect treat -- I'll definitely be coming back for more! read more

Pappalecco - Chocolate & Berry Gelato - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Nice people, bad gelato. While I'm little Italy after lunch, we decided to stop in for the lotto. The staff was friendly, but the gelato had a chalky flavor to it. read more

Got a latte, lemon tart and some gelato. All hit the spot. The latte was good and complimented the lemon tart. The gelato was flavorful and a bit smaller than expected. We sat outside and it was nice under the tree if it wasn't for the urine smell. read more

This coffee shop has an intimate location. When a coffee shop is situated in a corner it gives that relaxed vibe. Pappalecco definitely shows that. Cappuccino was warm and pleasant. There are Italian pastries and gelato to choose from. I can spend all day here if I'm not pressed for time to catch a train! Service was very welcoming. Tables are set up outside just like in an Italian city or town. read more

Pappalecco - A cup of rich and foamy cappuccino - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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From the gelato, to the coffees, to the salads and sandwiches this is such a local gem and worth every bite every time I go. My favorite place in Little Italy to make me feel like I'm back in Italy read more

Very cute little coffee shop (open late!) and really good hot chocolate. In a quieter part of downtown that feels really special. Also great kind servers! read more

My wife and I stumbled upon this coffee shop in the Little Italy neighborhood. It has a wonderful, friendly vibe to it with outdoors and indoor seating. We ordered a cappuccino and sat inside. Although we were tempted we didn't order the great looking pastries on display. The cappuccino was perfect: not too foamy nor too much milk. The coffee was strong but not overpowering. The woman who served us behind the counter was very friendly --- and the other patrons of the coffee shop were enjoying it in their own way. They also had a sign at the shop that I liked alot: "Help valued" it said with the word wanted crossed out. I think this place is something of an institution in Little Italy. I can see why. read more

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The smallest scoop of gelato there is! I do not recommend and I will not go back! ......... read more

Everything I ordered felt simple but high quality. The tiramisu wasn't too heavy and had a nice coffee kick. The place is always packed, so don't expect a quiet coffee break. read more

We were staying at a Airbnb two blocks away so always passed by Pappalecco. The girl at the counter had an attitude and must've been having a rough day. I ordered two caprese paninis to go about $14..75 each. I opted for printed receipt on screen. She just walked away with no thanks or thank you. I had to reach over the counter and pull the receipt myself. Maybe she was pissed I didn't leave a tip for to go but I did give a $1 haha. The order took about 10 minutes and she wasn't even the one who brought out the order. As far as the panini, it was ok. There wasn't much pesto on it and could've been Indoor and outdoor seating Cash/card accepted. The service is what will keep me from coming back. read more

Pappalecco - Gelato - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Remember how I said that I forwent dessert at my excellent Italian eatery? It wasn't because my sweet tooth had abandoned me. I knew that I was saving dessert room for delicious gelato. Again, if I was going to eat gelato, I wanted to do so in Little Italy. A check of the jelps let me know that I had a winning location within walking distance of dinner. Done. The nice thing about showing up at Pappalecco on a random Wednesday night is that the crowds you might expect during the day or on the weekend weren't present at all. Other than my colleague, there was no one in the dining room. Success! That means plenty of time to mull options and taste samples. Done. After tasting a good number of the inventive offerings, I settled on a three scoop grande to go. Before you call me a fattie and make me do the truffle shuffle, I felt bad for tasting so much gelato. I used to work in an ice cream shop as a surly teen. If I was going to make someone run around and mini scoop, I was going to order enough gelato to make it make sense. And make sense, it did. Lovingly crammed in my cup were three generous, thick, dense helpings of nutella, chocolate peanut butter and milk chocolate. Yes, I could have changed up the taste palate but (thanks to tastings) I was assured of the winningness of all three flavors and sometimes the body just wants chocolate on chocolate on chocolate. Best part: no judgement from the servers. I'm sure they see much worse on a daily basis. Very satisfied, I took my chocolate x3 into the midsummer night and took in the sights of Little Italy. It's hot outside. Get some good gelato. read more

Stopped by here after grabbing dinner with friends. I opted for their Marocchino and Tiramisu gelatos. Very flavorful and not too sweet, but strong coffee flavors. Service was quick and straight to point. You order first, the pay. The gelato, on the other hand, you choose the flavors at the end after paying. Great cosy little spot for some coffee and gelato in Downtown San Diego! read more

Pappalecco - Marocchino and Tiramisu Gelato - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Came by for gelato as the kids wanted some. Found this cute spot with lots of yummy looking food options. But since we just finished lunch we did not get to try any food here. Service is very kind, the gentleman at the register was very helpful and friendly. The gelato here is good, but I was not happy about the portion the gelato scooper gave us. I got the grande which was supposed to have three scoops of gelato. My second and third "scoops" were pathetic - they were about 3 tablespoons of each flavor dabbed on the top of the first scoop. I was actually feeling so bad as I was watching the guy put the flavors in my cup - it looks so sad compared to the gelato cups I see in the Yelp photos from other patrons, and all the gelato I bought when I was Italy. read more

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Yeah I'm sorry this ain't it. I really paid $4 to add bacon to my sandwich and they barely added 2 tiny pieces? Give me my money back. The croissant is flaky but just an ordinary dish to me. read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Totally amazing sweets I picked up an assortment for the office and everybody gave rave reviews. I will be back. And not just the food the service was prompt professional and friendly. Keep it up guys you're definitely a jewel. read more

Pappalecco - The gelato looks amazing so many flavors so fresh mouth-watering - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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