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Swami's Café

3.4 (875 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

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SWAMI'S CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Swami's Café

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Reviews With Photos

El Paso Benedict
Julia R.

Out of all the swami's cafes, this one is my favorite! I believe it is the original (right across from swamis beach). Feels like a little surf shack. The menu is pretty extensive, with lots of yummy breakfast and lunch items and specials. Last time I went, I got the El Paso Benedict, and my mom got some sort of egg white veggie omelet. Both were delicious. Staff are helpful, and service is good. Perfect little spot, that fits the quirky vibe of leucadia,

My favorite. Swamis pitaya bowl
Christina H.

What I love about this place is they the food is great, the staff is great, and the vibe is unpretentious! I always get the pitaya bowl. It's so delicious! Fresh fruit and granola yum! Then I add a side of chicken sausage to add more protein

BLTA Sandwich (no A)
Kelsi B.

Counter service, and then go find your seat. I liked the area and it was right on the main drag. Patio was nice to sit outside & enjoy the weather. I got a swami's club which was a turkey bacon sandwich. my friend got a BLT. both were honestly pretty dry, but good besides that. I wish there were other side options - just chips & salsa, fruit, or a salad.

El Paso eggs Benedict
Samantha C.

To round out our weekend escapade in Encinitas, we went to Swami's for Sunday breakfast. Another fantastic local spot serving up hearty breakfast on a beautiful 101 Freeway stretch! The building looks like an old surf shack, but there is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Also a couple of gender neutral restrooms that were clean and spacious. Menu looks really similar to Honey's down the street. Lots of hot and cold options, and also a complimentary endless coffee bar! I had the El Paso eggs Benedict (comes with chorizo and a side which were potatoes for me) while my husband had the huevos rancheros. Both were hits! Check out the portion sizes. While we waited, we tried multiple coffee flavors... the blueberry, vanilla nut, Hawaiian hazel nut, and Guatemalan. Mmmmmmm! "Great vibes all around" - my husband

Swamis Acai Bowl
Sofia A.

An açaí bowl was the perfect treat after a nice sunny beach day! The granola is delicious and the portion size is great (honestly I think you could share it in my opinion). The service was great, and the staff were super friendly.

Swamis size in patio area
Crystal S.

Food was good, the side options didn't go with the main dish, I was offered a side salad, fruit or chips and salsa but over all the burger was good. My wife ordered the California delight sandwich with tortilla chips and salsa. We learned that at this location they do not have fries as they do not have a fryer. Service was good and quick. Good outdoor seating causal spot.

Swami's
Zan L.

I've been coming to Swami's for about two decades since I was in high school and it's always consistently really good. It's right on beautiful PCH right across from the self-realization center and just above the ocean cliffs. The location truly is one of my favorite parts of coming here. You order at the counter and then they bring the food to you so it's not a traditional full service breakfast restaurant but that just means the tables turn quicker and the wait times are never too long. It does get especially crowded on summer days, especially when the beach is popular so that something to be aware of. They have a small parking lot next-door, but there is also free street and neighborhood parking close by. For this visit, I chose the El Paso Benedict and really liked it. It's basically traditional a Benedict, but with chorizo and avocado, which is a great combination for me. One of the things I also love about this place is that you choose what sort of coffee you want from about 10 different options. I chose three different ones while I was there because it is self-serve I was able to make it just how I like. I would definitely recommend to anyone in the area or especially to anyone visiting San Diego.

ABC Burger and they forgot the A and B (I asked for no C)
Trevor T.

Swami's Cafe is a local landmark that is very popular. I unfortunately have had two experiences that were not great. First one was during breakfast and ordered a dish without cheese and it arrived covered in dairy. They apologized, but it was particularly agonizing due to how long the wait was to order and receive the food in the first place only to have to wait even longer for them to remake the dish. The food was delicious when made the way I ordered it, but probably would have enjoyed anything since I was starving. A year went by and decided to give Swami's another try by ordering the Hormone Free ABC burger with no cheese or mayo. Surprise! I get a burger with no A or B either! They did a good job with no cheese or mayo, but why pay extra for no avocado or bacon? I could have ordered a cheeseburger with no cheese and saved $2. The food is good, but if you need to make any modifications know that they will get it wrong.

Sunshine-y flowers at the entrance/sign! Puts you in a great mood :)
Chi N.

Food: 8.5/10 Ambiance: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Cost: 8.5/10 What we ordered: 1) PItaya Smoothie: I LOVED the pitaya smoothie! Definitely ordering it again next time I go -- get it with bee pollen! 2) Chilaquiles: Always our go-to for our post-surf hangs! ;) 3) Tropical Salmon Salad: I usually order this, and this time the slab of salmon was WAY bigger than normal -- in fact, the whole entire salad was much bigger than normal! What was a bummer was the salmon was kind of fishy this time... and I think it may have been what gave me a huge stomachache :( But otherwise I thought the rest of the salad was pretty fresh. Request extra basil vinaigrette salad dressing for this one -- I felt like mine didn't have enough, and that salad dressing is de-LISH! 4) Acai Bowl: I only had one spoonful of this but it was pretty good! Location/Ambiance: PERFECT post-surf spot! ;) Service was great the last time that I came here! You do have to get up to request things a lot of the time, but I loved that the staff helped you with a smile :) Cost was reasonable! I was bummed about my salad this time around... but I do appreciate this local business & I guess I'll just order something next time I'm in :)

Club & Smoothie
Nadia S.

Came on a Sunday after rush. Smoothie hit the spot and sando was generous portion. Felt just right after fun surf session.

Takeout for my dad
Jiyoung K.

7/10! Quintessential California beachside cafe -- convenient location, good food, good vibes! Outdoor seating close to the beach, friendly and quick service. Lots of teeny birds We ordered the breakfast sandwich, pancakes, and the spinach salmon salad. Pancakes were fluffy, not particularly unique, the breakfast sandwich was harmonious and savory, and the salad's vinaigrette + ingredient balance was OK. Big servings. Was going to take pictures when the food came out, but we dug in right away!

Ultimate veggie sandwich made vegan & fries

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4 months ago

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15 days ago

Excellent food was delicious and not pricey. Service great. Great location and ambiance.

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5 days ago

The food was really good I got the El Paso Benedit it was very good but for 17 dollars the portion was small

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3 months ago

Always get the chorizo and has, be warned it's always very packed. Like to order for pick up and eat at the beach

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

Every experience I've had here has been great. Food and service are top notch. Can get kinda busy so go with an open mind.

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5 months ago

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11 months ago

Got the Swami's Eggs Benedict. The service was fast ans friendly. Total beach vibe..

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2 years ago

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11 months ago

The food was Fesh tasting the service was quick the Orginal Swami,s Cafe Encinitas California

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3 years ago

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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.

Lofty Coffee is a spot I've been to multiple times now…read more Highlight The coffee is genuinely fantastic especially their beans. You can taste the quality in every cup, and the drinks overall are excellent. That said, my Red light it's really expensive for most people, so it feels more like a treat than an everyday stop. The one area they could improve is the service. The staff sometimes feel a bit rushed and not super helpful, especially if you're new or asking questions about their drinks. They don't always take the time to explain things. To be honest it's more like they just want to take your order and move on to the next customer. I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5. Great drinks and quality beans make it worth visiting, but the higher prices and inconsistent service keep it from being a regular favorite for me. If you love good coffee and don't mind paying a premium with okay service, it's still worth checking out.

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Queenstage Coffee House

Queenstage Coffee House

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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.

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Drink Menu
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Swami's Café - juicebars - Updated July 2026

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