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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
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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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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    8 months ago

    Service is great! Super cute place to hang out and enjoy the sun! Breakfast, lunch, coffee drinks and shakes! Come and enjoy!

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    1 year ago

    Had a great breakfast plate with eggs, sausage, cheese and avocado. So much food we ended up splitting it.

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    3 years ago

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    8 months ago

    Pipes Café makes the best scrambled egg burrito you will ever find anywhere. Delightful small café near Seaside Market.

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    9 months ago

    Food was so fresh and tasty!! Coffees were perfect. Sitting outside felt amazing and the vibe is so relaxing!

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    6 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Been coming here since I was a kid. The vibes are immaculate and such good food! Best breakfast place in Cardiff

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    1 year ago

    Seriously, believe everyone when they say "best breakfast burrito" I wish I could have one right now!

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    1 year ago

    Good LOCAL spot on paper plates.Everything tasty crew very friendly Servings are Huge.A must when in Cardiff

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    Page 2 of 18

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    Lana - Prawn Spring Rolls were so tasty!

    Lana

    4.4(125 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Being local we finally tried Lana for the first time. We sat outside with plenty of heat lamps…read moremaking it very comfortable and away from the noisier inside. From the moment we arrived everyone was exceptionally friendly. Three of us split burrata and Caesar salads, a burger, pizza and crab cakes. Everything was delicious and service was well- paced. Especially liked the salads-very high quality. Would have liked some crackers or bread with the burrata salad and crab cakes. The wine list was better than most and offered a good variety. Among the many new restaurants in Solana Beach, Lana was one of the most enjoyable. If there's a negative it's that it's a bit expensive and it adds up. Our meal cost $200 including tip. Looking forward to returning, but not affordable to do weekly.

    They took over the old CPK and kept the inside of the kitchen with the familiar yellow tiles…read more Pizza here is good - I think whatever equipment they had plus the time to hone in on the crust; have done a good job with the pizza - slightly Burnt but otherwise flavorful - Yelpers selected Mushroom pizza so we went with that and confirmed it was pretty darn good I also picked the pork chop to venture out and it was fine but I found the pork chop flat and needed the bring the broccoli and sauce together bring some flavor profile in I recommend dining here for the many small bites, wine pairings, to hangout hangout for evening chit chat, get together with friends - atmosphere-wise that's the vibe it has

    Photos
    Lana - Bar

    Bar

    Lana - Pizza

    Pizza

    Lana - Reserve cocktail

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    Reserve cocktail

    Cardiff Beach Bar At Tower 13 - Ahi Tostadas

    Cardiff Beach Bar At Tower 13

    4.0(533 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Sunset trivia's semi finals were hosted here at tower 13, and none of my friends and I have ever…read morebeen here before. Steps away from the beach parking can be a little tight as is with most beachside restaurants. The menu was extensive and a little pricy. My friends and I ordered a variety of sandwiches and I personally ordered the ahi poke tostadas to split with my friend. The poke was delicious! Seasoned well with a good balance of poke to crunchy veggies (onions and cucumbers). The spicy was not overbearing at all. If they had this as a nacho and not just tostada I think it'd be popular among guests. The drink sections were also extensive to cater to alcoholic and non alcoholic options. Staff was super friendly and items came out in a decent amount of time considering how many guests were occupying the space just for trivia:

    This place is located on the Encintas side of Cardiff State Beach. Parking is a nightmare. It is…read moreaverage bar food and mediocre cocktails. They do have a decent draft beer selection. We popped in for dinner at about 6:00 pm. It was crowded. We were able to find a few spots the bar, then moved to a table. It has a beachy bar vibe. Service was okay. The food came out price by piece. It was about 15 minutes in between the first item arriving and the last. I had the patty melt which was pretty good and some sort of loaded fries with Carnitas on it. Those were pretty good. Over all, an average experience.

    Photos
    Cardiff Beach Bar At Tower 13
    Cardiff Beach Bar At Tower 13
    Cardiff Beach Bar At Tower 13 - Sunset across the street

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    Sunset across the street

    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea

    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea

    4.5(644 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    One of my favorite spots for pizza! We ordered online ahead of time and waited about 30 minutes…read morebefore picking it up. I didn't realize they had an app until after I paid, but they offer a little discount for signing up. The restaurant was busy but the counter line was quick. The order was ready and included all the utensils, crushed red pepper, and parmesan. The food was still hot when we got home and tasted great. The burrata, sausage and hot honey pizza is my favorite! I'm always a sucker for hot honey but all the flavors blended together perfectly. I always forget they have great deals for slices and variations that are great for lunch!

    I love Best Pizza & Brew. Moved to Cardiff -by-the-sea over…read more4 years ago, but lived my summers of 1970-80s in San Diego N. Coastal. Since moving back to Cardiff in 2022 as a 50+ adult, Best P&B had been my local hang. Their Manager Joe Ramsey had befriended me in 2022 as a local. He still remembers my name like Cheers on TV, call my name when I arrive. It's not just Joe, the staff remembers my name too. Over several years, the staff keeps up with what I do and where I am in life. I've noticed it's not just me, they extend the relationship to all repeat customers and recognized locals as if it's a special badge of honor. If you want the neighborhood experience, even if you're not from the neighborhood, they will treat you as such. Did I mention their food is great? Meatball Sandwich is my usual order. Wings for sure when I need the Buffalo Sauce fix (bone in), and Detroit with hot honey is a must. If you're from Detroit, at least verify it's worthy of Detroit style slice by giving it a try. NY style is their usual, by-the-slice and is always a safe bet. Order the whole pie if you're a family. Can't go wrong. But as a Dad of adult children, they like to order their favorites from the by-the-slice to get their favorites. Or, option for another item, salad, fries, sandwich beverage combo. Can't go wrong with their bar food. Can I just say?...You can't go wrong with Best Pizza & Brew for a beach lunch and evening dinner. Add a pint for brew if you want a good local favorite. And if you want a local hang out, this is the place that will remember your name.

    Photos
    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea - Entry. Nice open air space near the beach.

    Entry. Nice open air space near the beach.

    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea
    Best Pizza & Brew Cardiff By The Sea

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    California Pizza Kitchen - Delicious crispy wonton salad

    California Pizza Kitchen

    3.9(35 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    I had some time to kill between appointments and I had recently been to CPK so I knew I wanted to…read moregrab a snack there. I arrived about 4 o'clock. I think it was happy hour, and it was pretty quiet to start. Edgar the bartender greeted me. I sat at the bar and ordered a strawberry mango cooler, which doesn't contain alcohol. I also ordered chips and guacamole. The cooler was super sweet so I probably would order something else next time. The chips and guacamole were really good. The guacamole was super fresh and it had sliced jalapeños in it that you could easily pick out if you don't like spice, but I do like the spice and I enjoyed it a lot.. When I left, quite a few people had come in for happy hour and it was a fun, festive atmosphere. You can sit partially outside which is also nice! I'm so happy CPK is in my neighborhood. They quietly opened in November 2025, but I only just found out recently. I have enjoyed their salads a lot in the past (amongst other things) so I look forward to coming back for lunch or happy hour.

    The only thing consistent with this new location, is the inconsistency of both their service and…read morefood. It just isn't in the same league as their other more established locations. The inside is quite small with a limited number of tables, and their back service area seems to be quite cramped, and in a constant state of confusion and disarray. It's also nearly always quite chilly in the restaurant, to the point of being uncomfortable. We loved the Solana Beach location, but sadly, this is a pale replacement. We have been loyal CPK customers for many years, but not sure loyalty is going to be enough to keep us going back to this location.

    Photos
    California Pizza Kitchen - View from my table.

    View from my table.

    California Pizza Kitchen - Chips and guacamole

    Chips and guacamole

    California Pizza Kitchen

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    The Cottage - Chile Lime Shrimp Bowl

    The Cottage

    4.0(231 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Stopped by for a Mother's Day breakfast with a large group and everything turned out great! We got…read morethere early on Saturday morning and we were seated as soon as at least 8 of our guests were present. They were so kind and accommodating. We got seated near the restrooms and it felt like we had our own private area, it was amazing. It's not easy taking orders for a group of 10+ but the waitress was fantastic. We requested separate checks and she did a great job of taking everyone's order correctly and checking in on us. There were two other gentleman that were also very attentive and helpful. My grandmother ordered a plate with salmon and it was a bit too salty for her taste buds and one of the gentleman (not sure if he was a cook) made sure to take care of that. He gave her some recommendations of different dishes and brought her out a new plate. We really appreciated the time and effort it took to make sure our entire group was taken care of. This was my first time here and I will definitely be coming back. Also loved their chai latte it was so yummy! They have seating inside and outside. It is located in a shopping center with lots of other businesses so there is a shares parking lot.

    We went here recently after a local doctors appointment. It…read morewas an overcast day, so we sat inside. Service was on the slow side for two people, although we watched a large table get served much faster. I was a bit disappointed on this visit versus the previous years. It feels like both the service and the quality of service is slipping. They used to have fresh squeezed OJ and it turned out to be more of a carton Tropicana style product now. Definitely not the same. On a brighter note, they do have fresh roasted coffee and are dog friendly., #TheCottage #Encinitas #FreshBrewedCoffee #NoFreshSqueezedJuice

    Photos
    The Cottage - Booth seating at The Cottage Encinitas

    Booth seating at The Cottage Encinitas

    The Cottage - Baked brie with tomato, spinach, mushroom, and toasted bread

    Baked brie with tomato, spinach, mushroom, and toasted bread

    The Cottage - BEES KNEES espresso, honey, cardamom, almond milk shaken drink

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    BEES KNEES espresso, honey, cardamom, almond milk shaken drink

    Besta-Wan Pizza House - Another

    Besta-Wan Pizza House

    4.0(596 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    In the olden times, the pizza here was very thick and cheesy and I loved every cholesterol of it…read more Then the pizza became very thin and not very cheesy. And it was not great. Now, you can get it tavern style (very thin and crackery) or Detroit style, which is thick with a big buttery crust. The Detroit style is outstanding. We had the "Abe Froman," which was, appropriately, sausagey. On our recent visit, the spinach and artichoke dip appetizer was absolutely terrific and the Caesar salad was very fresh and nice. The dressing was mild and delicious. They have made changes to the interior and exterior over the years. I miss the old anarchy and funkiness of the old days, when hula hoops, fresh dough, babies, and dogs all roamed free, but I appreciate the current great food and service. I just wish the beer options weren't so heavy on the IPAs. That is just my tiny gripe. It was very busy on a rainy Friday night which was great to see.

    Great hidden gem in Cardiff. While tourists flock to the places that offer a view of the beach,…read morelocals come here for laid-back, unpretenious pizza and beer. But don't let that fool you into thinking this is a dive. To the contrary-- the pizza is gourmet by any measure and the beer selection outdoes many places. The servers at Bestawan are fast, friendly, and efficient. No BS. Just good food. Dogs are very welcome on the patio-- bring your friends!

    Photos
    Besta-Wan Pizza House - The cottage

    The cottage

    Besta-Wan Pizza House - The cakes are good!

    The cakes are good!

    Besta-Wan Pizza House - Huevos ranchero..so good!!!

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    Huevos ranchero..so good!!!

    Pipes Cafe - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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