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    Public Square

    4.5 (1.2k reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Public Square Photos

    Business Info

    PUBLIC SQUARE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Classy
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Public Square

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    Reviews With Photos

    Not-So Old Fashioned Biscuits & Gravy
    Jemiah J.

    Portions here are huge, so definitely come hungry. I had the chia pudding, and my sisters and husband enjoyed their meals. I did find the Not-So-Old-Fashioned Biscuits and Gravy to have an overpowering rosemary flavor. If you like rosemary, you might enjoy them. The breakfast sandwich was tasty, and I loved the Black Sesame Latte. They provide non-dairy milk, which I appreciate. Service was great, and the restaurant setting was warm and inviting.

    Latte
    siri g.

    This is one of my favorite spots in the La Mesa area. The staff is always warm and welcoming, and the entire café has such a cozy, inviting vibe. It's also very kid-friendly and a great place to read or study, with dedicated stools and seating designed for that purpose. I really appreciate their no-WiFi table concept, which encourages community, conversation, and being present rather than glued to a screen. One thing to keep in mind is parking, it's mostly paid street parking and can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. That said, it's still worth the effort. Their scones always look incredible, though this time I kept it simple with a latte, and it was absolutely delicious. I love the cute little "thank you" card they give out!

    Cesar P.

    Hands down the best coffee in town. Consistently excellent, thoughtfully made, and never misses. The food is just as good--fresh, well-executed, and clearly made with care. Great vibe, friendly staff, and the kind of place that reminds you why supporting small businesses matters. Support local--especially when it's this good..

    Scone with guava butter
    Jessica S.

    First time visiting and it certainly will not be the last. I got the fresh scone with the honey and fig butter and my friend got the guava butter. They were but so good! I love that you can buy jars of the butter and they discount to refill the jars. I got a vanilla bean iced latte and she got the brow suga latte. Bother we're definitely delicious. The instead is so cute and I love the you matter mural. They are very inclusive of everyone. The baristas were very friendly and welcoming to call. Can't wait to go back and try other items

    Tracy M.

    It's our first time here at public Square. We are each having a sandwich and tea and it is really very good. They serve breakfast all day

    Inside coffee bar
    Hannah N.

    I have been making my own coffee at home lately so I have not been discovering new coffee shops but wow I will be back at this one again soon. I have really loved exploring the La Mesa area and it really has some great spots so it has turned into one of our favorites areas to walk around and discover something new. I was not super hungry when I was here but I could not say no to a scone with a flight of butter. You got to pick which flavors you wanted on the flight and the scone was perfection. I got a classic vanilla latte with oat milk and would definitely order it again. The staff here are truly awesome, so friendly and helpful which really sells it on the fact that I want to come back here again soon!

    Audrey L.

    What a cute coffee shop! You can tell it's a spot people love to work or study. The menu includes great coffee and non-caffeinated drinks, but also a breakfast and lunch menu. This time I went, I was super tempted for the grilled cheese and tomato soup, but wasn't super hungry. I decided to order a scone with three different types of butter. I'm obsessed with the butters! The scone was delicious but the butters were the real stars. We got the maple cayenne, fig and honey, and cranberry orange. I liked them all, but the fig and honey was hands down my favorite. My iced brown sugar latte was perfection. Definitely a place I'll continue to come back to whenever I happen to be in the area!

    Sesame Lattes, iced and hot
    Annabel H.

    4.5/5! Lively, homey coffee shop in the center of La Mesa. Coffee: 5/5 The sesame latte was wonderfully umami. 1/2 sweet was the perfect sweetness for me so I'd imagine 100% sweet would err on the sweeter side. Both the hot and iced versions were smooth and delicious. The baristas are clearly talented. Food: 4.5/5 The breakfast sandwich was solid, the focaccia bread tasted fresh and was certainly the highlight of the dish. Service: 4/5 Service was decent! I got the impression that the service lady taking orders was a bit overwhelmed. Ambiance: - Very lively - definitely on the louder end of coffee shops. The interior is nicely decorated and they have various merch/bottled drinks for sale. Parking: - Metered La Mesa downtown parking. Can be difficult on the weekends but you can dally snag a spot along the street.

    latte
    Regis K.

    I've been hitting up all the trendy spots lately with my son, and Public Square in La Mesa is definitely a winner. This place is super hip and attracts a young, lively crowd. We went on a Saturday morning and it was packed, it seems like everyone had the same idea to grab coffee and scones here! Here is what we ordered: * The Scone: This was amazing. It has that perfect texture, crusty on the outside but incredibly soft and moist on the inside. Pro tip: You have to try it with their honey butter. It is so good. * Avocado Toast: Another hit. It comes on crunchy toasted sourdough with fresh arugula on top. Simple and delicious. * Hot Chocolate: Heavenly! It was creamy and rich, exactly the way we like it. * Matcha: This was on another level. Very cool and rich in flavor. Even though it was busy, the service was super efficient. You just order at the counter first and they deliver the food right to your table. Highly recommend if you are looking for a great brunch spot in the area!

    Brown sugar latte
    Joanna C.

    Cute little thoughtful cards that come with your order. Our go-to is the brown sugar latte and pandan latte. The tomato bisque is also a must try. Nice cafe to come chill or study.

    Meghan W.

    Public Square is a cool coffee shop in the heart of La Mesa. They have quite an extensive menu of drink and food items, and I appreciated seeing their more interesting and unique options. All of the staff were super friendly and willing to answer any questions you may have. There was also a good amount of seating. I visited on a very busy Saturday morning, so the service was pretty slow, unfortunately. However, don't let that deter you from trying this place out. I think you'll be impressed with the menu offerings, and will most likely find something you've never tried before.

    Eric S.

    I Stopped by Public Square Coffee on a Friday afternoon while checking out the farmers market. I ordered an agua fresca for my son and treated myself to a Buko Pandan both were delicious! It did take a bit of time for them to prepare, but honestly, totally worth the wait. You can tell this place has its community lots of regulars hanging out, folks working remotely and using the café as their unofficial office. While I was sipping my drink, one guy was trying to speak Tagalog to the barista (props for the effort!) and then launched into a full-on history and political convo only at a neighborhood coffee spot like this, lol. I'll be back for sure

    Pandan Latte
    Danny W.

    The Pandan Latte is 5 stars and worth a try if you're in the La Mesa area. This latte was balanced perfectly with sweetness and served at the right temperature. The barista made this latte photo worthy and she had great customer service. The atmosphere had an incredible vibe and I'm definitely returning.

    Drench toast

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    7 months ago

    Great place to meet up with friends. Love the coffee selections and they have a lot of great bites to share.

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    3 years ago

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    Aaron H.

    Wow! Thank you

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    7 months ago

    coffee and drinks are alright, pretty much the best thing are the scones. Id say the pandan drink is their best.

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    Public Square Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Public Square

    Can I bring my dog?

    There is outdoor seating and I saw a water dish for dogs

    Is this a good location for a group meetup and discussion on a Sunday morning?

    It could be if you get there before 9!

    Do they have gift cards?

    Yes

    Do they accept cash?

    Yes!

    Can I go here to study?

    Absolutely. It's a popular place for laptops. There are even charger/USB ports installed in the seating on the bench wall.

    What are the hours right now? Yelp, website, and google have conflicting info

    WED-FRI : 7am-NOON SAT-SUN : 8am-3pm

    Is there wifi there?

    Yes!! 🙌🏼

    Do they have a direct e mail contact?

    Hi Rocky! Yes, it’s: info@publicsquare.coffee

    Are there outlets to charge a laptop?

    There are outlets along the walls☺️

    Do they serve a turmeric latte?

    They served a turmeric latte as a seasonal drink. I don't think it is currently on their menu. Hopefully they bring it back though, it's delicious!

    Is this place pretty dog friendly?

    We are definitely dog friendly : ) We even put out water bowls and have dog snacks. There’s an outdoor patio and as long as the dogs aren’t interrupting our other customer’s experience, indoor is ok too.

    View All 12 Questions

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    Red White and Badass Brew - Menu

    Red White and Badass Brew

    4.7(105 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $
    Veteran-owned & operated
    Drive-thru

    If you're in the La Mesa area of San Diego and you need a quick caffeine fix, this little…read moredrive-thru packs a big punch. I was on my way to church and needed an early cup and was surprised how many shops were not open at 7 AM. I'm sure I could have found a Starbucks but that's always reserved for a last resort. Big props to this spot being open early on a Sunday morning, so I could make it to church prayed up and fully caffeinated. The barista opened right on time (7 AM) I loved how friendly she was for it being that early, and she got me my drink within 3-4 minutes. I am not a big coffee drive-thru guy, but if I lived in the area, especially knowing it is veteran owned, I might become one. Thanks guys and best of luck!

    I've been feeling the deployment blues lately so I figured I'd grab a coffee from one of my…read morehusband's favorite spots to lift my mood a little. I've had Red White and Badass Brew one other time after my husband raved about this cookies and cream latte he got here. It's a small, local, veteran owned shop, which honestly makes supporting it feel even better. So, I thought getting his favorite drink would help, but turns out that was a seasonal winter drink... please bring it back, it was sooo good. I got in line around 8:30 and there were two cars in front of me. This place is so small and cute, I actually used to work in one of these drive-thru kiosk style cafes so I didn't mind the short wait at all as usually its only one or two people working in there. I do wish they had a menu visible from the line because I couldn't decide what I wanted while waiting. The only things visible were the specials like an avocado toast and a "no lucks given" drink. I ended up pulling up the menu on my phone which works, but it would be more convenient if they had something displayed out front like a sandwich board or something. The employee was incredible, super friendly, my order was taken quick and my drink came out even quicker. It is a little on the pricier side for a cup of coffee but you are supporting a local business. With tip it came out to over $9 for a regular size. I ordered the no lucks given, which is a chocolate Irish cream latte, and swapped to oat milk. My first sip was amazing, a medium dark roast that wasn't bitter at all with a rich chocolate flavor. You could see the chocolate coating the walls of the cup and I'm pretty sure there was a cold foam on top that made it extra creamy. The overall drink was smooth and well balanced, just a little too sweet for my liking but that's something I can adjust next time. I did have a kind of odd moment though. My second sip was great until I got hit with a sudden punch of salt. Like a full on salt crystal just melted on my tongue for a good 10 seconds. It was strong and definitely woke me up... which I guess is what the coffee was supposed to do, I just didn't expect a surprise salt bomb to help with that. After that I checked my drink and everything looked fine and the rest of it tasted great. Overall I'll definitely be back. The service was great, the drink was solid, and I love supporting a spot like this. I can't wait to come here more often, and hopefully one day come back with my husband when comes home from deployment, with his cookies and cream drink back on the menu.

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    Red White and Badass Brew - Jalapeño bagel

    Jalapeño bagel

    Red White and Badass Brew
    Red White and Badass Brew

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    Brew Coffee Spot

    Brew Coffee Spot

    4.5(628 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    For a few years now, I've been buying my beans, five pounds at a time, from Brew Coffee Spot in La…read moreMesa. I like the roasting profile they use, and for a while, they've stocked a Costa Rica Sonora Black-Honey Natural that is just fantastic. Joe Paraiso, the owner, is a very experienced coffee purveyor, and he's been incredibly kind to me, sharing his time and knowledge to make sure I get what I want. And, not for nothing, when I'm at Brew Coffee Spot picking up the beans I ordered online, I always have a coffee. Joe either does a great job of training his baristas, or he's REALLY good at hiring talent, or both. Seriously... his folks make my coffees, usually a cortado or a straight espresso, with a downtown San Francisco or Rome level of competence.

    The La Mesa area has a lot of different coffee options, I'm glad I found this one. When I moved…read moreback to San Diego six years ago, I had a meeting with someone at this shop, but because I've moved to a completely different part of the area I had not gone back. Recently, I spent some time back in La Mesa and thought I would go back and try this spot out. So much space, friendly staff, reasonable prices, with a bunch of gluten-free and vegan options when it comes to food. Plenty of parking, outdoor seating as well, and even when they were busy, I think I did not wait more than five minutes for my drink. I chose to use their honey syrup instead of regular honey, and was not disappointed with my iced oatmilk latte also, I have to point out something you don't typically see at a lot of coffee shops. Both times I went, there was an incredible mix of generations in that shop. From younger to older, it was awesome to see generations coming together. Great job guys!

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    Brew Coffee Spot - Avocado toast

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    Avocado toast

    The Simple Coffee House - Lemonade

    The Simple Coffee House

    4.6(325 reviews)
    3.0 miSan Carlos
    $$

    What is not to love about this place!!! Just a random stop in on our adventures today! I'm so…read moreimpressed!! Need to go back and snap some more photos because the 2 sitting areas are just as cute. So many people enjoying the space I wanted to be courteous. Coffee was VERY good! I'm all about a cold brew to really taste the coffee. Theirs is amazing!! Definitely a place we will be back to!

    I'm glad I decided to stop here for matcha--it was delicious! I ordered the strawberry matcha cream…read morewith oat milk. The cream is dairy, but that was fine since I had lactaid on hand. Flavor-wise, it was excellent: the strawberry wasn't overpowering, and the oat milk didn't mask the matcha. You could still taste both the matcha and the strawberry. The consistency was just right for a cream-style latte. It's sweeter than traditional matcha, so if you prefer your matcha strong and slightly bitter, this might not be the drink for you. But if you like a lightly sweetened matcha where the flavor still comes through, this one is perfect. I'm curious to try their regular matcha next. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I mentioned my dietary restrictions (celiac), and they were accommodating, though there's always a possibility of cross-contamination, so keep that in mind. The shop itself is a great place to catch up with friends, study, or just relax. They offer light snacks like pastries, bagels, toast, parfaits, and acai bowls--unfortunately, nothing gluten-free for me, but still great options for others. Even though they were busy, the line moved quickly. Overall, this is a great matcha spot, and I can't wait to try more drinks next time I'm in town!

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    Indoors

    The Simple Coffee House - Toasted iced coffee! wish i took a shot before i started drinking! ‍

    Toasted iced coffee! wish i took a shot before i started drinking! ‍

    The Simple Coffee House - Spacious interior!

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    Spacious interior!

    Public Square - coffee - Updated May 2026

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