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    S3 Coffee Bar

    4.5 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    S3 COFFEE BAR ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - S3 Coffee Bar

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    Anabelle D.

    Such a cute coffee shop with some really great coffee. I was greeted upon walking in with a warm smile and ordered a hazelnut iced latte. The latte was strong and offered just the right amount of sweetness. It was also perfect for a warm afternoon pickup. Parking is a little tight but I guess you'll have better luck if you don't show up during peak times. I look forward to coming back and spending more time here.

    Maria D.

    S3 coffee bar is such a cool spot! I was looking for a local coffee shop but everything closes around 1-2pm. Thankfully, S3 closes at 6pm. I ordered a strawberry matcha and a dirty chai. The staff was sooo lovely they had overflow of drinks so they offered two extra drinks for free. I think it was such a nice gesture rather than tossing the drinks. The drinks are so delicious!!!! The strawberry matcha was my absolute favorite!!! They also have a banana matcha that I can't wait to try! The place is absolutely beautiful. It's quiet, and the decorations are soooo cute!!! Definitely a must visit!!! The bathrooms are clean and spacious. 10/10!!!! Thank you S3!!!

    Chanel Y.

    This is such a cute place, especially for a coffee date. Everything we ordered was good! Highly recommend the blended mocha banana frap!

    Honey rose latte
    Gwyn C.

    Great place for an informal business meeting. Love the energy (even partially empty it feels vibrant) and creative offerings. Had a honey rose late and the meeting went well. Think it's a great place to work. Sadly it's just slightly out of my everyday mileage zone given today's gas prices. You must experience this place at least once!!

    inside seating
    Jamie P.

    lots of seating inside and it's so cute, service was fast, dirty chai was delicious for $7 16oz! Will def come back again.

    Anna L.

    Such a cute coffee shop! Got their strawberry matcha and vanilla lavender latte. The latte had very subtle lavender taste, it was a bit more vanilla forward. The matcha though, it was really good, and they use ceremonial grade matcha. The decor is so cute, and a very spacious place if as the have both inside and outdoor seating plus drive through!

    Charita A.

    This is a very cute coffee spot with some speciality drinks and a few bites. The service was pretty quick and easy. I liked how big it was inside and the creative themeing. My strawberry dream was stronger than I enjoy my coffee but the presentation was on point. My daughter liked Ursula's revenge. The Acai smoothie only comes in one size and it was huge. The breakfast empanada was good. They sold out so we were only able to enjoy one but I would get that again. Its a bit pricier than the average coffee shop but youre paying for ambiance and specialty drinks.

    Iced Mexican Mocha
    Eliko S.

    This coffee bar is cute inside and there are lots of tables placed around the dining area & outside for you to enjoy your drinks & treats. Thee are a few shelves of little goodies for sale such as cards & t-shirts as well. The shop was filled with patrons when I walked in, and it seems to be the kind of place where people like to linger. My iced Mexican Mocha was delicious albeit quite expensive - over $10 with tip. It was a nice change from my usual boring iced Americano though. Service was fine. Nothing super exciting or awful, just meh. I really did enjoy my drink though and the place is pleasant. There's parking in the adjacent lot & they have nice bathrooms. They also have a drive-thru option. Mahalo.

    Here's where you drop off your pager and get the coffee out of the little boxes.
    Paul D.

    Very nice and spacious, not noisy even though busy. When you're both hard of hearing, it matters! We had a very good Capp and a very good chai, with a fresh bagel with cream cheese. It is convenient to Kaiser Vandever if you have a wait for something. Good parking. The counter guy asked if we wanted real cups, which almost never happens, and I really like a real cup so extra points there.

    Rose Gold 16oz + espresso
    Jiansen W.

    S3 Coffee Bar is serving iced, hot, caffeinated, and non-caffeinated drinks and all day breakfast food in a spacious Christmas decorated interior and a covered wraparound exterior patio. SERVICE Patrons order and pay up front at the register, take a pager, and return to pick up their order at the counter. DRINK 4/5 Rose Gold Latte 16oz + espresso: Topped with 24K gold glitter, and missing rose petals, rose and honey syrup lightly flavor and highly sweeten this almond beet tea latte. I bought a double shot of espresso to counterbalance the sweetness.

    siri g.

    I love the S3 at this location. I've been here a couple of times now and the staff has always been friendly. The only annoying part is that parking can be a little tricky. It seems to be a very popular drive thru coffee bar eh un explains it. I haven't tried any of their food items yet, but the coffee was fantastic. I also love the cute design details they have on the inside. Its a great spot to sit and study, I'll be back for sure.

    Almond Tea
    Yvette G.

    Tea was GOOD. I'm huge tea drinker, never had almond tea before but it was SO good. The cafe is cute! Walked from discount tires while I waited. I love that they have light food options. They have outdoor seating too.

    Mermaid toast
    monica c.

    Cute 2D coffee shop with unique drink selections and some foods. I usually come for their seasonal drinks. Always gotta have a sit down inside the shop so I can enjoy the atmosphere. There's a good amount of seatings. Their biscoff latte was my favorite. It's strong too! I have ordered their mermaid toast before because it was pretty-looking. I was expecting a sweet flavor coming from the cream, but it was just regular cream cheese.

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    S3 Coffee Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - S3 Coffee Bar

    Is this place wheelchair accessible?

    I'd say yes, they have a disabled parking section and a ramp that takes you up to the doors. But it's a manual door, not automatic. Once you're inside, there's lots of space to move about and chairs can easily be moved to accommodate you.

    Charger outlets avail for laptops?

    Yes at certain tables

    Do they have high chairs?

    Yes

    Can I get the rainbow latte iced?

    The latte art can only be made on a hot drink. However, if you would like a colorful drink iced, you may always order an iced blue or pink matcha or island, they are seasonal drinks that you can still order them off them menu if you check with out… 

    Wifi & outlets for customers?

    We do have 2 outlets along the bar and free 90 minutes of WiFi.

    Can you please open the shop at 6:30am?

    Our drive thru is open fat 6:30 am Monday through Friday :) it’s just the inside that’s open at 8:00 am

    Do you have a reward system?

    Yes, we have toast loyalty and you can sign up at check out with the cashier.

    Is the matcha organic?

    Our Matcha is organic from Japan :)

    What brand is your açai sorbet?

    Açai Roots

    Is it okay to do work here?

    We do have a few tables at the patio with 1 hour limited WiFi. However, we don’t have any outlets at our patio. If you don’t mind not having outlets and doing work at the patio, then you should come. Note: we are in front of the bus station so… 

    Who roasts their coffee? Do they offer different varieties?

    We roast our coffee in house.

    Why does it say they are open at 6:30 am but I just drove by and its not?

    Our drive thru is open :) the inside is open for takeout everyday from 8-3. Sorry for the confusion, Yelp won’t let us input multiple opening times, but we did added our special hours on our Banner Message.… 

    Do they offer decaf drinks?

    Yes, we can make any drink with decaf espresso base

    Are all the drinks being served in togo cups because of covid? And if yes, is the presentation still the same?

    The presentation is still the same on iced drinks and if you like latte art on our hot lattes, please let the cashier the cashier know and we will not place a lid on your hot drink.

    Does this place get real packed for special drinks like the pumpkin latte that will only be sold certain days?

    Yes, only this Saturday 10/16, Sunday 10-27, & Halloween Day 10/31. We hope to see you then...

    Are rainbow lattes only available on weekends still?

    They are available everyday now :)

    Did the menu change? I saw blended drinks on some yelp pictures, but was just informed you do not have them.…

    Yes, we no longer provide blended drinks on our current menu. We also have seasonal drinks that changes constantly. Unfortunately, we cannot removed any pictures not posted by us. Sorry, for the confusion. You may always check out our current menu… 

    Vegan friendly options?

    Yes, you can always modify our Avocado toast (no cheese), acai bowl (no drizzles), and we also have dairy free milk options.

    Is there an outdoor section? Is this coffee shop dog-friendly?

    I've seen some people bring their dogs inside to grab a coffee but I haven't seen anyone stay with them. There is some seating outside but it would only be like two small tables and chairs.… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Extraordinary Desserts

    Extraordinary Desserts

    4.0
    (9.2k reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $$$

    This place is properly named extraordinary dessert for a reason. They are known for their desserts…read moreboth in taste and in aesthetics. Desserts: 5/5 We got a blood orange scone and a strawberry danish. The scone was warm and delicious. The orange essence was well infused. The danish was crispy and creamy. Everything was so picturesque. Food: 3/5 Unfortunately, the food was not the best. We got the smoked salmon sandwich which was not very flavorful. The salmon was also slimy. The pesto spread was good though. It was creamy and the artisan bread it was served had great variety. Ambiance: 5/5 This place is such super cute. When you walk in, the desserts all look super appetizing. The seating areas are super cute and the floral decor are stunning. Service: 5/5 It is an order then sit down establishment. There is great attention to their dessert. I saw them heat up a knife just to cleanly cut the cake. The food service however did take some time to come out.

    The sugar bun was delicious! I might be a bigger fan of their pastries than their cake…read more The Shrang-la cake was decorated so beautifully! I loved the white chocolate shavings all around. Unfortunately the cake didn't hold well in my commute to Temecula (esp during the heat wave). The dairy ended up hurting our stomachs.

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    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup
    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup
    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.
    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.
    Chocolate lemon bon bon

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    Pappalecco

    Pappalecco

    4.3
    (3.1k reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $

    A cute authentic Italian neighborhood cafe in Little Italy serving coffee, treats, gelato, and…read morepaninis. 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.

    If there is better gelato in San Diego, I have not tried it…read more 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.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Soup Tomato.
    Soup Tomato.
    Gelato alla menta con gocce di cioccolato, Gelato al cocco con gocce di cioccolato

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    Gelato alla menta con gocce di cioccolato, Gelato al cocco con gocce di cioccolato
    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

    4.0
    (1.2k reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    Went on Memorial weekend and was surprised how quickly we got seated. Waitress was nice and warned…read moreus the kitchen was backed up but honestly we didn't wait long. We ordered a calamari (10/10), lasagna (10/10), Penne Quattro Formaggi (7/10) and Fusilli Genovese (11/10). The Formaggi was a little too rich for me... but my son loved it. We will definitely be back!!

    Came here for lunch on a Saturday mainly because my husband just really wanted some gelato…read moreafterwards Lunch-- 3 stars Gelato - 0 stars Service - 3 stars Price - 4 stars my husband got some sort of fettuccine alfredo with shrimp, I got a Italian sandwich, and my best friend got a woodfired margarita pizza. Pizza was good, but soggy in the middle. The pasta was good, no complaints there. The sandwich was very lacking in the meat department... It was basically a bread and arugula sandwich. Had very low expectations for the gelato to begin with seeing as the colors were extremely unnatural and the way it was heaped was a clear indication to me that it is not legitimate gelato and unfortunately, I was proven very right. I got the strawberry so that my toddler could have a few few bites and it was so unnatural and weird tasting that she didn't even want any... And if that doesn't say something! My husband got the coffee flavor and he literally took three bites and threw it away as well. I will say, though, on the food front, the prices are reasonable here all things considered, but maybe stick with pasta... based on everything As a whole though, you can likely get a much more legitimate Italian meal somewhere else in the area, but it will probably cost you more.

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    Cute restaurant in little Italy
    Cute restaurant in little Italy
    Fusilli Genovese
    Fusilli Genovese
    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

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    Nonna + Zucchero

    Nonna + Zucchero

    4.1
    (576 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    Our family dinner at Nonna's was great! Was trying to decide which place to go in Little Italy on a…read moreSaturday night with kids and no reservations without feeling under dressed. So we decided on Nonna's for their variety of pastas and pizza. The evening was packed with people up and down the streets. However, when we arrived at Nonna's we only had to wait no more than a couple of minutes before being seated. We thought most italian places would provide some sort of complimentary bread, but this place did not. We ended up ordering the Carbonara, Fusilli Alla Vodka, Pappardelle, and Salsiccia pizza. Each were fantastic, but the family really enjoyed the Fusilli and the Pappardelle the most! The short rib meat was extremely tender and flavorful. Portions were a little smaller than expected, but it was enough to feed each of us with a couple slices of pizza to spare. Ambiance was nice and the staff was great. A drink we ordered was forgotten, but it's understandable since it was quite busy. Overall, great experience and glad we ended up at Nonna's even though it wasn't part of the batch of recommendations provided online. (Sorry forgot to take photos as we were so hungry and didn't realize it until after we ate!)

    Food: - fungi pasta: 7.5/10, strong mushroom flavor…read more - carbonara: 5.7/10, too much sauce and noodles were overcooked - lemon meringue cheesecake + Sicilian cannoli: super authentic cannoli, cheesecake was good but nothing special Service: - hostess was not friendly - they ran out of white peach Italian soda but instead of asking what other flavor we would prefer, they just brought out a vanilla Italian soda - ordering took forever but once our food was in, it came out in less than 10 min Ambiance: - outdoor seating Skip Barbusa (sister restaurant) and come here instead, at least there is better dessert

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    Nonna + Zucchero
    Beef carpaccio
    Beef carpaccio
    Tortellini Funghi

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    Nibble Chocolate

    Nibble Chocolate

    4.6
    (74 reviews)
    6.2 mi
    $

    Stumbled upon Nibble Chocolate and I'm so glad I did. Ambience is sweet and cozy. It's a cute…read morelittle shop that feels like a hidden gem, especially if you're someone who appreciates good quality chocolate. They have a great variety to choose from, whether you're into milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even non dairy options. I also love that they offer chocolate drinks and coffee, so it's easy to turn a quick stop into a little treat moment. I tried the peanut butter dates and they were so good. Smooth, rich, and just the right size when you want something sweet without going overboard. I also had a dark chocolate truffle and that one was just as good. You can really taste the quality. Customer service was a highlight. The guy helping me was super personable, gave great suggestions for drinks, and was genuinely kind, which always makes the experience better. Honestly, I'm just happy I found a chocolate spot within walking distance. Definitely worth stopping by if you're craving something sweet but still want it to feel a little elevated.

    I don't usually seek out vegan products, but Nibble chocolate is a Bean to bar chocolate shop in…read morelittle Italy in San Diego with single origin chocolates. I sampled chocolate from Peru, Madagascar, and Kenya, and they all had unique fruity characteristics. Because they're vegan, so they use oat milk for their chocolate instead of dairy. My wife and I also wanted some drinks while we were here. I had a hot chocolate. My wife had hers with espresso shots. Good espresso in pure chocolate will never not be good. They are family owned and they only add chocolate, sugar, and oat milk to make their bars. Overall, this was a fun place to check out at Little Italy, and they also had a stall at the Farmer's Market.

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    Nibble Chocolate
    Nibble Chocolate
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    Bobboi Natural Gelato

    Bobboi Natural Gelato

    4.8
    (286 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    We stopped by this little gelato shop in Little Italy after seeing all the great reviews, and it…read moreabsolutely lived up to the hype. We got lucky and arrived just before the rush. There was hardly anyone in line when we walked in, but by the time we got our gelato and turned around, the line was out the door! I travel to Italy regularly for work, so I've had my fair share of authentic gelato. I have to say, the quality and flavors here were outstanding. Rich, creamy, and absolutely delicious. What made the experience even better was the staff. One of the employees was incredibly friendly, energetic, and genuinely passionate about the gelato. He encouraged us to sample flavors, asked what kinds of flavors we enjoyed, and made thoughtful recommendations based on our preferences. It felt like talking with a wine sommelier--someone who truly understood flavor and wanted us to find the perfect match. You could tell he genuinely loved his job, and that enthusiasm made the whole experience even more memorable. We took our gelato outside, sat at one of the sidewalk tables, and spent the evening people-watching. It was the perfect way to end a beautiful San Diego night. The shop itself is casual, with just a few seats inside and several tables outside. It's a great stop whether you're on a date, out with friends, or enjoying a family night in Little Italy. Definitely a five-star experience. I'll be back the next time I'm in San Diego.

    After a lovely dinner at Sugarfish we walked a block to Bobboi Gelato…read more They had some interesting flavors. I sampled Rose Almond (Lebanese Rose Water with Organic Almond Butter), Pure Watermelon and Stracciatella. The Rose Almond was fragrant, Pure Watermelon refreshing and Stracciatella was a classic. I chose Rose Almond and Stracciatella in a Piccolo cup which was perfect for me. The gelato was dense and delicious - I really enjoyed every bite of it. It was nice to be able to sit near the windows and people watch.

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    Pumpkin Amaretto, Mediterraneo, Pistachio
    Pumpkin Amaretto, Mediterraneo, Pistachio
    Small Vegan pistachio and matchatella   2 Flavor Gelato Container
    Small Vegan pistachio and matchatella 2 Flavor Gelato Container
    Seating by the open windows

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    Seating by the open windows

    S3 Coffee Bar - desserts - Updated August 2026

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