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    Pipes Cafe

    4.4 (715 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

    Pipes Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    PIPES CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Pipes Cafe

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    Local legend..... cool spot
    Peter I.

    Sort of a Cardiff legend place known mostly for their breakfasts, so I think I shocked them when I read the burger was good so it was lunchtime. I want burger and thank you Yelp. It was a good burger. Basic but great bun and really good beef patty. Nice big deck pretty day. Great service can't wait to go and try breakfast cause it looked. Epic.

    Souvenirs
    Danielle B.

    Me, the hubby and our friends were visiting the San Diego area and on our way we were looking for a good breakfast spot and saw Pipes had great reviews on Yelp. We were able to find a parking spot right in front. The vibes of the restaurant are a good mix of surfer SoCal / Hawaiian laid back vibes. The hubby and I decided to share the Big breakfast with French toast ($15.75) and I ordered an orange and spice tea while the hubby had a coffee. Our breakfast was delicious and it was more than enough for both of us to share. The staff was very friendly. I wish this place was closer to where we live but we will definitely be back when we come to visit!

    Three Eggs Tacos
    Nell C.

    Long time North County residents, we have only come to Pipes once before many years ago. The long lines deter us from dining but today we took a chance. Parking is always a challenge but if you park further north along San Elijo you can get a short walk and by the time you got to Pipes, you have worked up an appetite! Many customers favorites marked by a hibiscus flower on the menu. We went with the 3 Egg Tacos and BLT&A! Great choices and very tasty. Indoor atmosphere and patio space is very relaxed and dog friendly. Host and service is very friendly. Skinny Latte was just enough of a pick me up for a Sunday morning! The Ice Tea was amazing, full of passion fruit taste. Love it!

    #2 Breakfast Burrito no cheese add avocado
    Anola S.

    This place is a staple. Huge portions for an epic price. Staff always so happy and are so FAST! Love sitting on the patio while enjoying my massive breakfast burritos. One of the best breakfast burritos in north county (although they are very potato-ey HOWEVER they are cooked and seasoned perfectly so I'm not mad.) Ordered the #2 breakfast burrito no cheese add avocado. Bacon is cooked perfectly. Tortilla is fresh and warm. Proper amounts of all ingredients (besides the avocado, I'd like a little more plz! ) also did they change their salsa?! It's not bland pico anymore and it has a nice chipotle spice! I'm in love! Let me move in so I can eat here for every meal

    The patio
    Jon K.

    Just as advertised. Laid back atmosphere, nice patio, great friendly staff and good food. We had breakfast tacos and a ham scramble. The three tacos were very good but too much food for my wife. The ham scramble with cheesy potatoes and English muffin was very tasty. Again lots of food, this is a must visit gain and again.

    Pancakes, scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon
    Brenda S.

    This is a Cardiff staple. Such a great spot for coffee and breakfast. Definitely a locals spot, everyone knows everyone and is so friendly. The food is good, not bad. But not the best thing I've ever had. Just a simple generic breakfast place. I'd say it's the location and vibes that get people to really keep coming back. Ocean front view, Southern California weather in the cutest town.

    #1 Burrito add potato
    Sydni S.

    I love Pipes Cafe, it's one of my favorite spots to get a breakfast burrito in San Diego! I love that they have different burrito options so you can mix up what you order each time. I also love their salsa, it's not super spicy but it has a nice peppery flavor that pairs well with breakfast foods. The food is always ready pretty fast, despite being busy. Even though there's almost always a crowd I can normally snag a seat on their patio which is the perfect spot to eat on a nice day.

    Coffee bar menu
    Sara B.

    Love this place. When I'm in this area I always come by. They have great food. I usually get a breakfast burrito. I've heard their cheeseburgers are amazing but I don't eat beef so I don't know. I ordered the tuna sandwich with lettuce added and it was tasty and filling. The service is friendly. It's a small surf shop vibe inside. There's an outdoor patio to catch some sunshine while you eat. They also have a coffee bar with a ton of choices. I definitely recommend you check it out. They also have cool merch. I may grab a hat for myself on the way out.

    Bacon egg and cheese burrito
    Cora S.

    Food was overwhelming. They give you a lot. Neither one of could finish our breakfast. Hubby had veggie scramble. I had bacon, egg, and cheese burrito. Service was quick and friendly for such a busy place. Had to wait a few minutes for a table on the patio to open. Pet and kid friendly. Definitely has a beach vibe.

    Gary H.

    This is our first time as locals coming here and we were pleasantly surprised. It was packed with people but seemed that by the time we booked our order, tables opened up. The food was delicious and ample! We both orders scramblers and this is probably the first time I could not finish my meal. Overall clean place, great food, fair price, and fast service! My daughter wants me to post that the "bacon is great!"

    Egg scramble

    We come here almost every weekend - maybe every other. Everyone that works here is beyond kind, the food is homey and quick. Don't be deterred by the line or waiting for a table, trust me the turn over is quicker than you think! Make sure to get a fun latte from the coffee bar she is the best!

    a table with a basket of food on it

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    3 years ago

    Local favorite! Sit outside with a breakfast burrito or a coffee from the espresso bar. Bring your dog and enjoy the atmosphere!

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    2 years ago

    An awesome spot to grab a quick breakfast. Has a nice view and is walking distance to the water. The breakfast was good!

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    3 years ago

    Stayed in Cardiff for a week around Thanksgiving. Ate at Pipes almost every morning. Always delish.

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    8 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Love their coffee cart food and Love the coffee service there is always very friendly.

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    3 years ago

    Great food, fun atmosphere. Huge portions so come hungry or bring a friend. It got crowded on the weekend morning.

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    3 years ago

    Had a great breakfast on my way to the track. Quick efficient service an fantastic food.

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    Page 4 of 18

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    Atelier Manna - Spanish style French toast

    Atelier Manna

    4.6(297 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    I am in love with this place: my only problem is that when i visit SD i go there more often than i…read moreshould in a short period so i experience the same menu and given that I'm a vegetarian it's extra limited but i never regret it nonetheless lol Staff is kind , and relaxed Food is locally sourced Music vibes are all over the place but when they play african music i love it This food does heal (chef goal) ; it's an absolute joy to dig into these salads and desserts! Follow me for more on BayBitesNSips on Tiktok I'm also a bay area artist and I've just started selling online on Etsy: MLEcolorshop ; if you visit me or tell a friend who likes jewelry, I would appreciate it so much Everything I make is handmade with Polymer Clay and there is no single piece alike. https://www.etsy.com/shop/MLEcolorshop

    I am very confused at the hype and reviews for this restaurant. It's an okay brunch spot at best…read more The attention for this place is driven by dishes catered towards Instagram and eating with your eyes, not the actual experience of eating with your hands and mouth. It's tough to get a table for a weekend noon. I booked our reservation a few weeks ahead of time. Parking is either near the train tracks across the street or on the curb. We got the egg dish and salad bowl. The yogurt for the eggs was deliciously spiced; dipping in the toasted bread into the gooey poached egg, creamy yogurt, and herbs was delicious! My issue with this dish were the herbs that were too large. Was I expected to stick a big piece of herb on my toast? The dish is saucy with the chili oil so my clothes were dirty with the oil covered herbs. Chop the herbs smaller for practicality! Another dish suffered from the execution. We got the bowl which I thought was going to be a grain bowl. Rather, it was a ridiculously-sized salad--as much leaves as a pack from the grocery store! There were toppings within like slices of avocado, pieces of orange, farro, and nuts. I felt like I was trying to treasure hunt to look for these pieces. The salad was comically oversized. It was dressed fine but suffered from the portion size. You could see this theme with the French toast too where you get 1/3 of a baked bread. I'm honestly confused by this chef who has amazing experience. Why do you construct dishes that are difficult and impractical to eat? Less is more. These dishes need extensive edits. How this place got Bib Gourmand is honestly surprising to me.

    Photos
    Atelier Manna - Main patio

    Main patio

    Atelier Manna - Spanish French toast

    Spanish French toast

    Atelier Manna - Main dining area

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    Main dining area

    Versailles Cafe and Pastries

    Versailles Cafe and Pastries

    4.3(344 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Catering service

    This French patisserie and breakfast place is amazing.. we had been to this place multiple times…read moreand tried the meringue, the different patisseries, amazing!!.. but the breakfast is even more heavenly.. the frittata omelette is a pure delight.. I normally add smoked salmon as extra protein to it.. the goat cheese is so velvety.. to finish it off, coffee French style The ambiance is also very bakery style.. love the Paul Hollywood British bake show episodes being played regularly on the nice size screen in the background.. also the water is served in bormiolli rocco textured water glasses..

    The good: great pastries and croissants. Food is good too…read more The Bad: terrible service if you decide to dine-in and order at your table. This is not a one-time occurrence either. Been here 3 -5 times in the past 2 months. Today was the topper though. They gave us menus when we walked in and despite 3 different employees walking right by, over a 10 minute period, none of them acknowledged us. Not even the server serving the table right next to us. So I get up and walk to the register where 3 employees are hovering around the front counter, nobody really doing anything that seemed urgent. I let them know we've been sitting and waiting for a good 10 min plus for someone to take our order. Gal at counter took my drink order and says someone will take my order when they bring my cappuccinos. Great, I guess we'll be waiting another 5 or so minutes to place our order. Once they took our order, food came out in a reasonable time but that was it. No checking back with us or any of the standard sit-down restaurant service. I even had to go up to register to grab my check. It's a shame a restaurant with better than average food can't perform average customer service. Pastries are solid 4.5 stars but I am giving 2 stars to see if we get the attention of the owners/management. PS. There was lipstick on my coffee cup too.

    Photos
    Versailles Cafe and Pastries
    Versailles Cafe and Pastries
    Versailles Cafe and Pastries

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    Lofty Coffee - Acai Bowl

    Lofty Coffee

    4.3(932 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    AN EXPERIENCE TO REMEMBER Lofty Coffee is perched on a hill…read moreat the edge of Encinitas, overlooking Highway 101 as it winds past sweeping views of the Pacific on its way toward Del Mar and Torrey Pines. SLOW DOWN AND BREATHE It's the kind of place that naturally slows you down--an easy morning or afternoon refuge where expertly brewed coffee, refreshing drinks, and thoughtfully made treats invite you to linger. FEED YOUR SWEET TOOTH The glass case greets you like a siren song, filled with organic and indulgent pastries whose aromas are as irresistible as the sandy beach stretching just across the street. FUEL YOUR BODY And it's not all sweets. Lofty also serves hearty, satisfying food that actually fills you up and delivers on flavor for more discerning tastes. FEEL THE COASTAL VIBE You'll find yourself among locals and travelers alike--many of whom wish they lived here, in the kind of coastal town that Lofty helps make feel like home. And, Parking and service are above average for the area.

    I climbed a big hill in the heat to get to Lofty Coffee, so by the time I arrived I had some pretty…read morelofty expectations. Given its history starting as a small cafe, I was expecting something with a little more charm, but it gave me more polished coffee chain vibes than I expected. Maybe they are going for organic Blue Bottle energy, but it did not quite get there for me. Coffee was fine, but overall it was a bit of a letdown.

    Photos
    Lofty Coffee
    Lofty Coffee
    Lofty Coffee - Cappuccino

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    Cappuccino

    Pannikin Coffee & Tea - Breakfast Tacos

    Pannikin Coffee & Tea

    3.8(1.2k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    I met a colleague here for a meeting on a Tuesday afternoon. It was a beautiful day so we grabbed a…read moretable outside. They have lots of pastries, desserts and lunch offerings. We ordered two iced matchas with oat milk and a croissant. Service was quick and friendly. The same girl who took our order made our drinks. After a few minutes sitting outside, the wind picked up so we closed the umbrella so it wouldn't fall over on us. We wrapped up our meeting shortly after. Will be back when I'm in the area.

    I visited their location  in Encinitas today to meet a friend and unfortunately had a very…read moredisappointing experience. I ordered the Greek scramble, which comes with a bagel. When my food arrived, the bagel had visible mold on it. It was very concerning that this wasn't caught before being served. I brought it to the attention of the staff member who delivered the food. Instead of taking the plate back and replacing the meal, he simply removed the bagel from my plate and brought another one. Given the situation, I would have expected the entire dish to be remade. Additionally, the coffee mug I was given appeared dirty, which added to my concerns about overall cleanliness. I later felt sick and experienced symptoms consistent with food poisoning, possibly related to the meal. For the quality of food and service provided, the pricing felt unreasonably high. The overall experience did not reflect the cost. I'm really disappointed with the lack of quality control and how the situation was handled. I hope management takes food safety, cleanliness, and customer service more seriously moving forward.

    Photos
    Pannikin Coffee & Tea - Downstairs where the magic happens

    Downstairs where the magic happens

    Pannikin Coffee & Tea - Breakfast Burrito

    Breakfast Burrito

    Pannikin Coffee & Tea - Outside Patio

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    Outside Patio

    Queenstage Coffee House - Latte and avo tost

    Queenstage Coffee House

    4.3(118 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Stopped by here real quick for a coffee and overall had a good experience. It was a little hard to…read morefind at first, especially w construction nearby, so just keep that in mind. I ordered a vanilla iced latte and they nailed it -- the vanilla flavor was balanced really well with the espresso and wasn't overly sweet. The coffee itself tasted smooth and fresh. Definitely a solid spot for a quick coffee run.

    Stopped by yesterday to try this coffee shop and overall had a great experience. One thing I really…read moreappreciate is that their flavors are made in-house, which always makes drinks taste more unique and less artificial. I ordered a honey cinnamon latte with half sweetness and it was really good. The flavor balance was great and not overly sweet, which is exactly how I like my coffee. I also picked up an iced vanilla latte, and that one was just as good. When I was ordering, the person taking my order didn't seem very interested in giving recommendations when I asked, but the barista who made the drinks was very nice and the coffee itself was excellent, which made up for it. There's some construction going on in the area right now, but I was still able to find parking without too much trouble. The food also looked really good, though I only tried the drinks this time. There is ample seating and bathrooms for customers in the back. Overall, great coffee and I'd definitely come back to try more of their menu.

    Photos
    Queenstage Coffee House
    Queenstage Coffee House
    Queenstage Coffee House - De la Olla Latte (iced)

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    De la Olla Latte (iced)

    Sip-N-Sea: Coffee + Açaí

    Sip-N-Sea: Coffee + Açaí

    4.8(166 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    Who doesn't crave acai bowls and smoothies?! This place in Leucadia hits the spot!…read more Follow me for more on BayBitesNSips on Tiktok I'm also a bay area artist and I've just started selling online on Etsy: MLEcolorshop ; if you visit me or tell a friend who likes jewelry, I would appreciate it so much Everything I make is handmade with Polymer Clay and there is no single piece alike. https://www.etsy.com/shop/MLEcolorshop

    Love Sip-N- Sea location. It has cool beach vibes. You will know the place when you see long line,…read morebut don't feel discouraged because it moves very fast. They have nice mural. Outdoor seating are available. There is no bathroom. We parked in the residential area. The menu includes; açai bowls, smoothies, latte, coffee, specialty lattes, gold brews, retail coffee,matcha, seasonal drinks, tea. In addition to their fresh bakery. We ordered; -Monkey business Matcha 5/5 It's coconut syrup and banana cold foam. The drink had unique taste, with adequate sweetness, rich flavor and creaminess. -Banana bread latte 5/5 Brown sugar, banana cream and foam, nutmeg and cinnamon. The drink was refreshing. The mixture of the creamy banana and the brown sugar gave the drink a unique and rich flavor -Coconut Caramel cookie 5/5 My goodness! That was indulgent, buttery,and had the perfect texture. -Banana Nutella muffins 5/5 The muffin was moist and rich in banana flavor then the center had rich and gooey chocolate. It was heavenly! The staff were very welcoming and genuinely warm. The service was really fast. Definitely, I will be back to try their açai bowls and order more drinks.

    Photos
    Sip-N-Sea: Coffee + Açaí
    Sip-N-Sea: Coffee + Açaí
    Sip-N-Sea: Coffee + Açaí - Matcha milk tea

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    Matcha milk tea

    Morning Lavender Cafe-Solana Beach - Gifts

    Morning Lavender Cafe-Solana Beach

    4.5(109 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Cute coffee shop with a clothing store attached. I loved the floral decor. It gave the space a…read morereally charming vibe. The staff were friendly, and the order was ready fairly quickly. The coffee was pretty good. It's a bummer that this location is closing, as it's a unique and enjoyable spot.

    This place is so aesthetic, and we had such a fun time at afternoon tea! It was $42 per person, and…read morewell worth it for the experience. We each got to order a pot of tea, so we decided to order 5 different ones to try out more flavors together. The ones we picked were: -Jasmine orange oolong - Coconut milk green tea - Earl grey lavender - Vanilla cream -Strawberry rose champagne oolong tea My top two favorites were the jasmine orange oolong and the coconut milk green tea. The only flavor that none of us enjoyed was the strawberry rose champagne oolong tea, so when it came time for refills, we switched it to the rouge provence. For the food, there were four finger sandwiches: chicken breast, smoked salmon, cucumbers, and chopped spinach. We all liked the chicken breast one the most, and felt like the cucumbers and chopped spinach could have been combined into one sandwich for a more balanced flavor. For sweets, there was the seasonal scone, fruit tart, macaron, and donut. I loved the scone with the butter and fruit preserves, as well as the fruit tart. The service was polite, but a bit slow and we waited a while before our food arrived. There was only one person who was serving the entire afternoon tea area, so it's understandable that there's a longer wait. All in all, I would definitely come back for another afternoon tea experience!

    Photos
    Morning Lavender Cafe-Solana Beach - Cafe

    Cafe

    Morning Lavender Cafe-Solana Beach - Pastries

    Pastries

    Morning Lavender Cafe-Solana Beach - Gifts

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    Gifts

    Pipes Cafe - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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