I walked into Para and said, "I'd like one of everything, please." And I meant it. And I got it. I'm completely serious. It was an unusually hot Sunday morning in Encinitas, and I was too tired and warm to deliberate over the pastry case. So I decided to make things easy: one of every baked good, one of every refrigerated pastry, an iced chai latte, and an iced matcha latte. Everything was delicious. The staff was incredibly warm, friendly, and efficient, despite working through such a hot and busy morning. I genuinely admired their professionalism, resilience, and cheerful service. The iced chai and matcha lattes were seriously among the best I've ever tasted, refreshing, beautifully balanced, and absolutely perfect for a warm July day in North San Diego. And the pastries? OMG. Scrumptious. Every single box and bag was worth carrying home. Do I regret ordering so much? Absolutely not. I work hard, I train hard, and when I decide to treat myself, I'm not going to feel guilty about it. Para is the perfect place for that treat, not only for a special occasion, but whenever you need something truly delicious. Para is an absolute Encinitas gem. I'll definitely be back, although next time, I may need a larger car! YUM!!! read more

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My husband and I stopped by Para on our way back to Orange County from San Diego, and I am so glad we finally had the chance to try it out. Everything about our experience was absolutely phenomenal from start to finish. We were warmly greeted the second we walked in, which immediately set a great tone for our visit. Since it was our first time there, we asked the staff for some suggestions, and they were incredibly helpful. I ordered the orange blossom iced latte, and my husband went with the pistachio iced latte. We also shared the baklava croissant. We typically ask for less milk or half-sweet options, but we completely forgot to do so this time. It honestly didn't matter at all because both drinks were perfectly balanced and not overly sweet. Often, lattes can taste like nothing more than milk if you don't add an extra shot, but these were expertly crafted with the perfect harmony of espresso, creaminess, and flavor. My orange blossom latte was beautifully executed- it wasn't too bitter and had a perfect, delicate floral scent and taste, topped with a lovely garnish on the cold foam. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his pistachio latte as well, which was topped with actual pistachio crumbles. You absolutely have to order the baklava croissant if you go- it was unreal. It is filled with crushed pistachios, sweetened with honey, and is unlike anything I've found elsewhere. The croissant itself was expertly made, incredibly flaky, and easily one of the best I've had in a long time. We had such a wonderful experience, and we will definitely be stopping by again the next time we are in the area! read more

Para - Baklava croissant- a MUST! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Parking is very difficult in the area. Expect to walk a few blocks. Your best bet is to park on the main road and walk around to the side street this is located on. Order at the register and take a number. A few seats inside and out, but seating is very difficult to get and most tables only accommodate two people. Dog friendly but very little space for dogs. Our food and drinks took a very long time. We had people come in and order after us that received their food and drinks before us. Our food was delivered at the same time as the table next to us who ordered well after we arrived. We finished the food before our drinks arrived. We received one drink and then had to wait another 5-10 minutes for the other two. It seemed like our drinks had been forgotten all together. Tried: Breakfast sandwich $13.39 - fresh and hot. I would recommend to add bacon. Chai $6.70 - friend thought this was awful and had to add sugar packets. Cinnamon roll latte $6.18 and Pistachio latte $7.21 were both very weak. Definitely need a stronger espresso. Apple turnover $6.18 was good. read more

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Cute new spot in Encinitas. I ordered the pistachio and latte cheesecake and they did not disappoint. The cheesecake was not super sweet and the iced latte was spot on. The ambiance is upscale and nicely decorated but the price was affordable. They have a lot of things in the menu including lunch options. The service was good and they bring the drinks to your table. I'll go back and try the lentil soup. It smelled really good. read more

Para - Pistachio cheesecake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

Coffee shop Persian inspired Desserts Encinitas North county Indoor and outdoor seating Restroom inside Amex accepted Street parking Fast service Fresh pastries Dog friendly Milk options Breakfast served read more

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Cute, unique Persian-inspired (I think) coffee shop tucked away in the neighborhoods of Encinitas. The place is EXTREMELY small with maybe only 5 tables inside and 5 tables outside. I got the rose matcha with extra matcha and pistachio croissant. My drink was yummy but I really wanted more matcha and floral flavor, felt it was a little too subtle for my liking. The pistachio croissant was also good, just wish it tasted a little more fresh. They have a unique selection of drinks and pastries and I would come back to try other items! Plenty of street parking in the neighborhoods, you just have to park further away. read more

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I'm always looking to try new coffee shops, so when we were in the area, we decided to stop by and give this place a try. The cafe itself is on the smaller side with limited indoor seating, but they do have a few tables outside. We came on a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty busy. From what I could tell, there was only one person making the drinks, so although the line moved quickly and there were only a few people ahead of me, it took about 15-20 minutes to actually get our coffee after ordering. I ordered the orange latte and pistachio croissant. The croissant was really good, but I would say the coffee itself was average for me. One thing I personally didn't love was that even though we were staying there, the drinks were served in paper cups and the pastry came in a paper tray. Part of what I enjoy about coffee shops is the overall experience, and having drinks in actual mugs and food on plates really does make a difference in my opinion. That being said, the place is cute and has a cozy vibe. I also noticed people ordering the quiche and soup, and both looked really good. I'd definitely be open to giving this spot another try if I'm back in the area. read more

Very cute spot! We tried this place out on a Saturday afternoon, it was super packed. Indoor is small but decent sitting if not, area to sit outside. I like the number system they have: once you order, they give you a number and bring your drink/food out. It did take a bit for the drinks to come out and sitting was kind of a mess. We tried the cheesecake and iced teas. The pomegranate refresher was great for a hot day. I would like to come back and try more things/ give it another chance. read more

Para - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Lovely lovely and super cozy and minimalist coffee shop/pastisserie in the quieter side of Encinitas where I love going for walks. Para is located where before was another lovely coffee shop with amazing pastries too, but somehow was not well known. Here the pastries are amazing and the coffee drinks too. I have been already several times, every time I go to Encinitas I stop by. I love those cute trays with hearts in the handles, makes me feel 'exotic vacation'. This is the business of 2 Iranian friends and you can see the Persian influence, even they have some dried pomegranates by the cash register as cultural symbol. Price wise they are still in the normal range, so please keep it that way! Good to have inside and outside seating, the outdoor seating is lovely, looks like a Parisian cafe in a way. Lovely people in yoga outfits as there are many yoga studies around. Keep it that way, please do not convert this cute place into a coworking space! One of the times I went there were tons of tables inside with people on their laptops. This is, in my opinion, a place to gather with friends over coffee, not to go to work. If you read my reviews I am against this trend of people camping in the coffee shops for hours and working/studying from there. There is always Starbucks for that. read more

We ordered their chai lattes, which are house-made and had the perfect balance of spices & sweetness. There's comfortable indoor & outdoor seating. The service is friendly. Would highly recommend! read more

Para - Chai latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

Love the orange blossom latte! Beautiful cafe, great service! I love this place Interior is also beautiful read more

Food was amazing croissants are from heaven, and the breakfast sandwiches are fantastic. The service was kind, welcoming, and genuine. The ambience was immaculate and altogether such a great place to hang out. read more

Wonderfully friendly and warm service, lovey ambiance, and great coffee, tea and food . Highly recommend!! read more

Para - Tea and coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

Beautiful new coffee shop in Encinitas! Everything from the decor, to the carefully curated menu, and delicious pasties, are all so thoughtful and impressive. The employees and owners are always so kind and helpful. Will be coming here every time I'm in the area! read more

What a cute cafe with delicious pastries and drinks! Went here with the family and could not figure out what to order as there were so many enticing options. We decided on the pistachio latte and the rose matcha latte. They were both perfect. My son devoured the chocolate cake. All the pastries were perfectly flaky. The esthetics of this place deserves 5 stars alone. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. I think they even having some parking in the back, which I didn't know at the time, but learned later. We will definitely be coming back here. read more

Para Coffee in Encinitas delivers where it matters most--the coffee. The espresso was well-balanced, flavorful, and clearly prepared with care, making it a great spot for coffee enthusiasts. The atmosphere is welcoming and modern, adding to the overall experience. Unfortunately, the pastries didn't live up to the same standard. While they looked appealing, they lacked the freshness and flavor I was hoping for and felt a bit underwhelming compared to the quality of the drinks. read more

Got a rose matcha latte, vanilla latte, and pistachio latte! All really good. Probably like the pistachio latte the least but overall a solid place for coffee and pastries. Looks like Persian-inspired flavors. Would 100% go back and try more of their specialty lattes!! read more

Para - Almond croissant, baklava, vanilla latte (iced), blueberry cheescake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

WONDERFUL! Owners were very kind and workers were a breath of fresh air. The bakery items were quality and fresh. The coffees were super yummy. The environment was clean and relaxing. read more

Para - Spinach and Feta Boureka. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

The coffee was horrible. The outdoor seating is supposed to be classy, but it smelled like urine. The owner is an entitled Karen. I saw her rudely trying to bully a man into leaving his parking spot in the public City parking spot in front of her business. read more

Just tried Para for the first time and loved it. The staff were kind and helpful. There was a difficult situation with someone harassing patrons, and the staff handled things very well. I will absolutely go back & would recommend trying this small business! read more

Para - Iced pistachio latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

I ordered the matcha and it was delicious. The service was very good and everyone was super friendly. The shop is a little small but everything about it is very cute and well decorated. I will definitely be recommending Para to all of my friends. read more

Warm service and very good matcha. Clean, modern decor with seating outside and pastries. Will be back for the toast soon!

I just moved nearby and have been searching for a great matcha spot - so happy to say I found one. The matcha was delicious, and I can't wait to make it my new go-to read more

Para - Iced Matcha with Almond Milk & Cold Foam - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

Super cute vibe, friendly staff. Delicious pistachio latte!! Happy to have a new place close to work read more

Para - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

Great service, even better vibe! The coffee was great and the pastries were great too! Try the saffron drink it's really good with very traditional Persian flavors! read more

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Delicious. Unique. So much love and heart goes into their food and service. Well designed and decorated. Feels like a local place. So happy for the addition to our neighborhood! read more

Insanely good coffee and pastries, the vibe was super chill and calm which I love from a coffee shop. Being Persian their drinks and pastries were off the charts. I also love how the workers are so kind and sweet. 10/10! read more

BEST. PISTACHIO. LATTE. EVER I'm addicted, not overly sweet and perfect natural pistachio flavor. read more

We've been here 5 times since they opened. Their pastries were amazing on day 1 and remain exceptional. The space is comfy and cute. The family that runs it is kind, welcoming and really care about their clients. You won't regret checking this place out! read more

Para - Espresso, Cortado and Pistachio Croissant! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

Amazing experience. All of the staff is super kind, food is amazing too. The setting of the cafe is very ambient and calming and it makes the experience so amazing. read more

Para - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Encinitas, California

Great addition to the neighborhood! Clean and friendly service. Many options. Good luck!

I went to this cozy coffee spot today and I absolutely loved it. My latte was amazing and their pastries were so delicious! Little hidden gem that I will certainly go back to. read more

OUTSTANDING IN EVERY ASPECT! I've visited three times now, and am about to leave to go there again. In fact, I hesitate to review this place because it's a hidden gem in Encinitas! I've taken others and they love it as well from the decor, to the coffee, service & food. The special para tea is flavorful & served traditionally, Turkish style, in a stunning cup. I keep dreaming of the creative Orange Blossom Latte & will drive four miles thru traffic to have that this morning. The breakfast sandwich is huge & my husband's favorite but I will ask to leave off the spice in the morning, I adore the spinach & light feta "turner over" (not what they call it). The owners can't do enough for you, smiling & friendly. The decor is earthy, modern, sophisticated & warm. Business is definitely picking up, word is getting out. Oh, yes, the prices were also good in my opinion. I haven't tried their pastries yet, but they look delicious! A fantastic addition to Encinitas! read more