Cute little coffee spot tucked away from the busier parts of San Diego. The area itself is pretty quiet, but once you step inside, the shop, its really cute. The interior has this fun sketchbook/coloring-book feel, almost like you're stepping into a drawing that came to life. They have some seasonal pumpkin drinks right now, so I tried the pumpkin cold brew and my friend got the pumpkin matcha. We actually came mainly for the pumpkin bagel, but unfortunately it was already sold out when we got there around 9:30 AM. So if that's what you're coming for, I'd definitely recommend getting there early! I'll have to come back and try it next time. Overall, such a cute spot for a coffee run and definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. read more

S3 Coffee Bar - Pumpkin seasonal drinks - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

For anyone who enjoys cute aesthetics along with their coffee, this place is perfect. You can't tell from the outside, but inside it's a nice coffee shop with a cool black and white 2D looking space in the back. You order at the counter and they give you a buzzer to let you know when your order is ready. I've been here a couple of times and the service is usually pretty quick. They serve different coffees and teas as well as some food like toasts, empanadas and other breakfast items. Recently I had an Iced Pumpkin Matcha ($7.25/16 oz) and Pumpkin Bagel ($7.25). The matcha tasted more cinnamon than matcha but it wasn't bad. The pumpkin bagel is shaped like an adorable pumpkin but doesn't taste like pumpkin. They put a good amount of pumpkin cream cheese in it though. It was fun to try but I wouldn't get it again for the price. It's a cool coffee shop that serves some unique seasonal items. Check them out if you're looking for something different than your typical coffee shop. read more

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My kids and I wanted to check out S3 Coffee Bar specifically for their pumpkin bagel. The place itself is super cute and aesthetic, with a phone booth and a sketch-style dining area that totally reminded of the Take on Me music video by A-ha. It was very busy when we went, and finding somewhere to sit was a struggle. A lot of people were on their laptops or phones and appeared to have finished their food quite a while before, and some were even using extra chairs for their bags. That part was a little frustrating because there were people with food and drinks looking for somewhere to sit. The acoustics also make the space pretty loud especially when it's crowded. Now for the GOOD stuff: We ordered the Dirty Pumpkin Chai, which was pretty delightful. My daughter had the Pumpkin Cookie Butter Cold Brew, and that was delicious. But the pumpkin bagel was the highlight. The orange-colored, pumpkin-shaped bagel had little traces of sea salt and it was just enough to balance out the generous amount of pumpkin cream cheese. That sweet and salty combination was SO good and definitely worth the try. Everything was a bit on the pricier side, but the drinks were good and that pumpkin bagel was delicious. I'd come back for it, just hopefully at a less busy time. read more

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Stopped by this morning and it was quite busy. Got myself a cold brew and everything bagel with cream cheese. Cold brew was okay, and the bagel, well, it's just a bagel and the cream cheese is from a small round packet. My friends got the Mexican mocha (she didn't like it, she said it was too sweet and barely drank 1/5 - ended up throwing us away). My other friend got the pumpkin spice bagel which actually loonies like a pumpkin. I tried it and it didn't taste like pumpkin, needless to say we were both disappointed. read more

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Is the place cute? Yes. Are the drinks yummy? Yes. Am I mad that they ran out of the infamous pumpkin shaped bagels at 9:15AM? Yes! My friend and I came here specifically for the pumpkin shaped bagels, as she was visiting from out of town, so we were really disappointed when we found out that the bagels were sold out. On top of that, the pumpkin latte served in the pumpkin is not available yet. Since we already drove all that way, we decided to get some drinks. Our drinks were good, but we were definitely disappointed that they didn't have any of the things we came for. Hopefully we're able to try them next time. read more

S3 Coffee Bar - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Love this place. Got the pumpkin bagel with pumpkin cream cheese and it didn't disappoint. Alot of pumpkin flavor and the pumpkin cream cheese perfectly flavored and not overly sweet. So delicious. The pumpkin cookie butter latte also very smooth and delicious. Lots of pumpkin flavor and still taste the coffee. So so good. The mocha latte is always a good option I don't like mushrooms so I didn't like the mushroom empanada but the crust was flaky and delicious. Boy friend really liked it Service is always fast and friendly here. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Dogs are welcomed on the patio. (Some had them inside and was ok) read more

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Tried the seasonal Iced Banana Matcha here and it was decent. The flavor wasn't bad, but it wasn't one of the best matchas I've had either. I personally prefer my matcha to be stronger and more forward, and this one was a little too mild for my taste. The banana flavor was nice though. The interior is definitely a plus - it's spacious, clean, and has a nice atmosphere to hang out or get some work done. Overall, it's a decent spot, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way specifically for the matcha. Since it's primarily a coffee bar and matcha probably isn't their specialty, I'd come back and give some of their other menu items a try. read more

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Dirty pumpkin chai drink 1/2 sweet is phenomenal! I tried the pumpkin bagel as well which I enjoyed but didn't find particularly pumpkiny. Ambience is very nice and surprisingly not crowded on a Sunday morning. Service was quick. Bathrooms and parking is easy. read more

S3 Coffee Bar - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

I got the pumpkin bagel, which was honestly overhyped. It wasn't as flavorful as i thought it would be and the filling was very thin, whereas I prefer a thick cream cheese. The parking lot can get full and at peak hours the drive thru blocks the parking spots. I love the decor inside and they also have outdoor seating, I've never had a problem finding a place to sit when it gets busy. They're quick and they have a lot of workers scurrying around behind the counter. read more

S3 Coffee Bar - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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. read more

S3 Coffee Bar - Smell sip & savor sign - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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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!!! read more

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Such an adorable coffee shop! The space is bright, inviting, and incredibly clean, with such a specific aesthetic that makes you want to stay awhile. The staff was welcoming, and the whole atmosphere felt relaxed and cozy. But the real star was the iced banana matcha. It was hands down the best I've ever had. Perfectly balanced, not overly sweet, and the banana flavor complemented the matcha beautifully. Do yourself a favor and order it with the house-made almond milk. Delicious. This is definitely a go-to coffee spot in San Diego! read more

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S3 Coffee Bar has such a cool interior -- lots of tables and chairs and great lighting, perfect for studying or hanging out with friends. It's the kind of spot where you could easily post up for a few hours. I got the Vietnamese coffee cold brew and thought it was just okay. It was a bit strong with a good flavor overall, but a little too nutty for my taste. Service was great though -- friendly and fast. Parking was easy too. Overall a solid spot for the vibe, just wasn't blown away by this particular drink. read more

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Through the years the owner has always made sure to be attentive to the customer no matter how much they have grown, the drinks are always great and the place is always upkept read more

I came here with a girlfriend on a Sunday morning. We came for the cute pumpkin bagels, but unfortunately they were sold out. I got a pumpkin chai drink and she got a matcha. Overall, it's a fairly large space with lots of seating. It also has a pretty decent sized parking lot. I was sad that they didn't have the pumpkin bagel, but it was pretty highly priced. Overall, it was good coffee/service. read more

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!! read more

S3 Coffee Bar - Honey rose latte - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

S3 Coffee Bar - Here's where you drop off your pager and get the coffee out of the little boxes. - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Menu 3/5 Cute place to sit and do some work during the early morning hours. The coffee shop is cute with the 2D cartoon theme, they sell merch and cute cards etc. Service is good & they have a drive through. I just wouldn't recommend their matcha! (: read more

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. read more

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Right off the bat I was absolutely amazed by the interior of this café. It's fall season and they decorated it with a bunch of pumpkins and very aesthetically pleasing for the fall season. When you walk in, there's a huge menu that you can order from and they give you a buzzer so you know when your food is ready. I love pumpkin flavored drinks so I decided to get the iced pumpkin chai tea latte and it was amazing. It was a little on the sweet side however it was still really good. We also got the pesto chicken melt, which I wish there was a little more chicken, but still tasted great. There's lots of seating and it gets pretty crowded with people studying and doing work my only complaint is that I wish there were more outlets to charge. They also have outdoor seating, which is really nice when it's warm out and there's a cover in case it rains. The café itself was very clean and the tables were all wiped down. The drinks came pretty fast and the service was excellent. Parking here can be a little bit of an issue because it shares a parking lot with the taco place. It is difficult, but I'm sure you'll be able to find parking. There's enough seating inside if you want the café work vibe but for larger groups it might be a little more hard. Overall, I would say this place was really good and I would come back again. It's a little on the pricier side, but it was definitely worth it for the vibe! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

S3 Coffee Bar - Mermaid toast - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

I had the Iced Honey Rose Latte with Whole Milk as usual but this time I ordered the larger size which I think is 24oz ($8.25). I believe this one comes with three shots rather than 2 shots. Although, it was quite light tasting. It wasn't as strong, more sweet. Next time, I'd order the smaller size which is my usual! The worker was nice and treated me as though it was my first time at the coffee shop. (It wasn't, but she didn't know that). They have large digital screens that show the menu in holiday format. It does flicker a bit, but the font was not too small. Menu was cohesive and easy to follow along. They have delicious avocado toasts here. I have not yet tried their tomato soup and grilled cheese, but it's def on my list for a cozy day! read more

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I saw this place on tik tok and you know I HAD TO GET A PUMKIN CREAM CHEESE BAGEL. I want to confirm it's not a flop. My order : Pumpkin cream cheese bagel Cookie butter latte The cream cheese to bagel ratio was exquisite. The bread itself was kinda sweet which I enjoyed. I also got the cookie butter latte and I LOVED how flavored it was with little chunks of cookie butter and it truly got better with every sip! Will be back even when the bagel isn't in season! Love love 10/10 recommend, will be back to try more read more

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Tried this spot for the first time today & was super happy with my coffee - I got an iced rose honey latte. My boyfriend got a chai and wasn't too crazy about it. The only reason I didn't give 5 starts is because from the moment we were handed our drinks, all the way up until finishing it at home, the cups they came in leaked pretty bad. I even took the cap off to clean it so it wouldn't drip & it would just leak again anyway. I would return but I really hope they invest in better quality cups - their pricing is pretty average these days, but for paying $16+ for 2 smaller sized coffee, I'd expect a better cup. read more

S3 Coffee Bar - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Such a cute spot to try! They are full in to their fall menu and the options are great. The line is quite long though. They have options to get your drink in a pumpkin, but I just got mine to go. I ordered a pumpkin chai with pumpkin cold foam and it was so good. I got a vanilla latte was also ordered, the coffee was a little sharp. I also ordered a pumpkin bagel which has pumpkin cream cheese and a dipped pretzel stem. It was so delicious! The cream cheese was very good l, not too sweet. I wish I got a larger drink because it's only a dollar more to upgrade to a 24oz. Anyway, this place is busy so unless you have time the coffee might not be worth it but the vibes are great and it's picturesque for a group coffee date. read more

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Came across this place thanks to good ol' Tik Tok. At first i was skeptical to see a drink in a pumpkin and a pumpkin shaped bagel as many things look great but do not taste great - though both items came out as good as they look. Weird to say that this was probably the best Pumpkin Spice Latte I have ever had. Not too sweet like the big brands such as Coffee Bean and Starbucks and not too generic tasting. The pumpkin was a great touch. The pumpkin bagel was great! Soft and fluffy but had a good firm texture to it. For those wondering the stem is a pretzel that is dipped in green color chocolate. This is the definition of ultimate PSL. If i lived nearby, I would be here every PSL season They do have a drive through which could end up looking like an In n Out line but there is a an entrance on the side of the food spot next door for the parking lot. read more

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The seasonal pumpkin items here are visually to die for! Came here for the viral pumpkin bagel and "not your basic PSL" (pumpkin spice latte inside a real carved out pumpkin!) the photos do not disappoint, they are SO CUTE and perfect for the fall/autumn aesthetic! If you're looking for a cute fall-coded coffee date spot to go to w the girls then this place is perfect! Service was fast but I would definitely recommend to come EARLY if you want these viral pumpkin items! I got here at 7:50am (10 min before opening) on a Sunday and there was already a line with maybe 15 people ahead of me! I'm sure they sell out if you don't come early and even when we left around 10am there was still a line of people out the door. Also if you're looking to get the "not your basic PSL" then it's only available on certain days (I believe weekends) so I would double check before coming in! I will say that the pumpkin bagel is super cute for photos buttt def far from the best bagel I've ever had. Texture-wise it's pretty firm/hard which I understand since I'm sure that's the only way for it to keep its shape when it's baked but just know that you are getting a crunchyyyy bagel. It also leans on the more neutral/slightly salty side (not much flavor in the bagel itself) but the cream cheese inside of it is really good and slightly sweet! The "stem" is actually a pretzel so it's edible too! I will say that the drinks were pretty good though! For the "not your basic PSL" (pumpkin spice latte inside a real carved out pumpkin!) you can only pick between the pumpkin latte and pumpkin chai to go inside of it so my friend got the latte and I got the chai and they were both tasty! I love a good chai and this pumpkin chai had the perfect autumn spice combo. My friend also got the pumpkin cookie butter cold brew to go and it actually looked super cute in the cup so if we hadn't been able to get the drinks in the pumpkins I wouldn't have been too disappointed w how this one looked! There's even a pumpkin matcha so their pumpkin fall drink menu is pretty diverse w an option for everyone. Overall I would come again! I'm a matcha fan so I'm curious about the pumpkin matcha (ft: pumpkin soft top and pumpkin spiced). Their drinks are good and I'd be a little curious to see if their other food is better! The interior is also really cute so overall a cute spot to go to with friends! read more

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This is based on the fall drinks and limited pumpkin bagels. I'd give this place a 3.5. Pros: - The drinks are divine. We tried the pumpkin chai, dirty pumpkin chai, and pumpkin cookie butter cold brew. - Ambience is spectacular. The interior is so adorable and there's a skylight that gives great lighting for your IG worthy food/drinks. A corner of the room is styled like a drawn in cafe. Very aesthetically pleasing for sure. - Service was pretty quick! To be fair, since it's pumpkin bagel time, I feel like everyone was ordering the same thing...so can't say for normal service. - DRIVE THROUGH AVAILABLE Cons: - Pumpkin bagel was only IG worthy looking...taste wise, it was just OK. Bagel was on the dry side; pumpkin cream cheese was not very pumpkin..I was expecting a more sweet cream cheese? - Cold brew was supposedly on the sweet side, but that's a personal preference. - Parking can be difficult unless you get there super early. Tip: Cold dirty chai Latte with almond milk. read more

S3 Coffee Bar - IG @devouredwithlove - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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

S3 Coffee Bar - inside seating - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ordered the pumpkin spice latte, chicken empanada and everything bagel. Service was nice and the place had cute Halloween decor. The pumpkin spice latte had a great pumpkin flavor, but didn't pick up too much of the coffee flavor itself. Bagel was nice and toasty. Came with creme cheese. They forgot to give me my empanada so I'm glad I checked before leaving the shop. I had to wait about 10 more minutes for them to warm it up. I liked the flavor of the crust and there was a good amount of filling in it read more

S3 Coffee Bar - Desserts Near Me - San Diego, California

Traveling down to SD for a birthday trip during the fall means you have to take your chances in trying to get your hands on the viral pumpkin bagel. We checked out of our Airbnb and hoped we had some luck to still made it in time to try the bagels and by some miracle they had 4 left for our party of 4 girlies. Was that a positive sign or what?! The bagel order is limited to two per person, if you are traveling I would highly suggest to not take your chances like us and arrive early to secure your bagel. It was very yummy. The bread doesn't have any pumpkin flavoring but the creamy cheese filling on the inside does- perfect balance! I also tried the pumpkin matcha along with the bagel and it was a good pair; although the matcha was a little more sweet than I prefer. There's plenty of seating on the inside if you want to take a seat and enjoy your snacks. Ample amount of parking and also a drive thru option! read more

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I love this little coffee shop it's SO cute. Viral Instagram pumpkin bagel apparently sells out by 9 am! Their fall toast is amazing and also has the pumpkin cream cheese. I ordered the pumpkin cookie butter cold brew half sweet and it was hardly sweet at all so order it as it regularly comes. read more

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Love their iced and hot coffee! I really appreciate their milk alternatives and how accommodating and kind the staff is. This place makes Mission Gorge a must-visit definitely worth the drive and the hype. From rose petals in your coffee to the trendy, elevated vibe, it works just as well for classic coffee lovers like myself. read more

I normally don't write reviews, especially the first time I visit a place, but my experience here was so good I felt this spot truly deserved a review now. When I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised by how open and spacious it was. I expected a small little coffee bar, but instead found a bright, welcoming space with over a dozen tables and plenty of seating. I was greeted right away by a very friendly cashier. When I mentioned it was my first visit, she took the time to explain a few of their offerings, which I really appreciated. I ended up ordering the chai pudding and a lavender vanilla latte. The service was very quick. The coffee presentation was beautiful, but the taste was even better. It was incredibly creamy and fluffy, like a warm hug in a cup. Absolutely delicious. The chai pudding was also fantastic, topped with fresh fruit and a small cup of honey on the side to drizzle over it, which was a nice touch. If I had one small suggestion, since I was dining in, I would have loved the pudding served in a ceramic bowl rather than a plastic cup, similar to how the coffee was served. That said, it did not take away from the experience at all. Overall, this was such a fun and enjoyable place to grab coffee in the morning. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in the area. Yum! read more

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