Goldchild Coffee Roasters in downtown San Diego is one of the best spots for coffee that I've…read morerecently stumbled upon. I actually found this place when doing research for top-tier cold brew in San Diego county. It's a chic, cozy, and not overly-pretentious coffee spot on Broadway in downtown that really embraces a black, gold, and deep blue color scheme. I ordered a cold brew in a to-go cup, and the clerk welcomed me to sit in the shop as long as I wanted despite that. They had a specialized machine to create the cold brew through slow drip, which was unusual and cool. The bathroom, by the way, was also really clean and nice--bizarrely gaudy in its presentation and contrast with the rest of the shop, but clean as hell and cozy. My cold brew was complex, flavorful, and overall a joy to drink. I hung out and people watched for a while. Then I sipped on my way down along Broadway toward where I parked. The only downside of this experience is the parking situation. It's very difficult to find parking within 4 blocks of this location, so be ready for a quick jaunt. Otherwise you'll likely have to pay for parking. That alone could range from $2-15 for 30 minutes, depending on whether you find a meter or have to use a garage.

The people here are great, and the ambiance is modern, hip-hop-forward, and super chill. It's a…read moregreat spot if you genuinely love coffee and prefer something more coffee-forward, this isn't really a syrup-heavy, super-sweet coffee shop. The coffee itself gets to be the star. The food selection is limited, but what they do have is very good. The focaccia was soft, buttery, and delicious honestly, more of a cross between fluffy bread and traditional focaccia in my opinion. The mascarpone was lovely too and paired really well with it. Overall, a really cool spot with good people, great vibes, and quality coffee.

PARKING: I can only assume there is parking as it is next to PetCo park but I only come here for…read moreSDCC. There's two locations as far near the convention center as I know and this is hands down the best one. SEATING: There is plenty of seating but during convention time, you'll be either standing waiting for a table or just heading off to the con with drink in tow. SERVICE: Li helped me twice over the four days and remembered my name. That was really sweet!! There is always great customer service here! I always have a pleasant experience! I love how every year they pick a theme to go with SDCC. Last year iirc was superheroes and this year's was SpongeBob! FOOD: All the drinks are fantastic!! I love how hearty the coffee is. It was always consistent in quality and quantity. I always debate on getting two drinks every time I come because it is only 4 times a year I get coffee from here. The food is always yummy too! I usually just get a bagel! OVERALL: The highlight of my July and of SDCC in general. They are the real MVPs!

Another coffee shop that's walkable from my apartment and I fear the food is actually better than…read moreexpected! The burritos and hash never stood a chance. The coffee beans are really good and always consistent, which I appreciate. It's also very dog friendly and the staff is always nice and welcoming. The only downside is the area. The outdoor seating can sometimes have homeless people walking by, which isn't ideal, but obviously that's not the coffee shop's fault. Still a solid spot for coffee and breakfast!

We went on a Saturday early morning to build a Lego and this spot did not disappoint!…read more This place may have the best espresso martini in San Diego. It's not too sweet, and gives a great punch. Highly recommend to try the hash browns and their egg bites. Ask for extra hot sauce. My partner got the tacos and said they were really good. The baristas are really friendly and the decor is so fun to look around at. Makes total sense since their marketing is CH!

I stopped by on a Friday morning around 8:30AM just to grab a coffee, so I can only really speak on…read morethe drinks and service. When I walked in, I was greeted right away and the barista was friendly and polite, which I appreciated. The service itself was good. The ambiance in the shop gave off retro vibes which I enjoyed looking at. Now for the coffee, I ordered a cinnamon honey latte and paid around $7, which is pretty average for coffee shops in San Diego. One thing that stood out to me was that they only had oat milk available and no other milk alternatives. For a slow morning, that was a little surprising and concerning... As for the drink itself, it honestly just tasted like a regular latte. I didn't really get much cinnamon or honey flavor at all, which was disappointing considering that's what I ordered. I can't comment on the food since I didn't try any, but based on my experience with the drink, I'm not sure I'd come back specifically for the coffee.

We wanted something small and lite for breakfast and something close by and found this little spot…read more Considering it was Memorial Day, they were open until 1pm. They have seating inside with wood tables and some high tops and a little patio in the front as well. Staff was warm and welcoming. I like the fact that they had a variety of everything like omelette, French toast, açaí bowls, pastries and of course a variety of coffee. I opted for a rose late and an açaí bowl. We got our order within 10min. The açaí bowl was perfect with strawberries, bananas, granola and a honey drizzle. For the price, you get a generous portion that was absolutely filling. The coffee was amazing, it actually tasted like coffee, wish they had a location in Los Angeles.

The coffee is robust and fresh. The Santee location has sparse baked good choices and sometimes…read morestale. The barista doesn't seem professionally trained. The female barista never smiles, performs like you're bothering her or maybe thats her resting face. She was there the third week of May. This is my second time visiting and she still gives an annoyed vibe. She was the only worker there so maybe she was overwhelmed. I let it go the first time but two days later she was with a second worker and still had a sour attitude. On the other hand, the cashier was exceptionally nice and very helpful. I will continue to purchase beans because for organic prices and the quality they are a cut above, however I don't like my latte served with a side of bad attitude. Santee.

Came on a Sunday around 9 and it was decently busy already. They also had a savory breakfast vendor…read moreoutside that smelled delish. We got the cherry bomb latte with almond milk ($7.5 + $1) and an americano. The Americano was free since I got a bag of beans. You can choose from either an americano, drip coffee or an espresso shot that can also get added to a drink you purchase. The cherry bomb latte was pretty unique. The cherry and chocolate flavor are pretty mild. It's more of a spiced latte with a hint of cherry and chocolate. Tasty but a bit different than what I was thinking. Kind of crazy that drinks cost $9 now... The Americano was standard. Service was very friendly. I had a few questions on the beans I was buying and he was very open to sharing more about the different bags and providing recommendations.

first time here, came in a rainy day they didn't seem busy but not slow either. pretty steady line…read morebut staff works well and line moves quickly. definitely has a cool vibe to it, south park is a really cool spot in general friendly people and community oriented. we tried a cruffin which was pretty good, nothing too crazy. and we tried their fall drinks one was a pumpkin cheesecake and the other i believe my bf got a butter pecan or pecan praline i can't remember. we liked our drinks. i had the pumpkin but the coffee flavor wasn't super prominent could be my fault for not ordering something less sweet. just wasn't crazy wowed however, i did buy their beans since they do roast them. so excited to try those and i definitely would still come back and try some other drinks since they have a good variety. overall a pretty solid coffee shop will have to try it again.

I love this place! I seriously always come for the Hillcrest breakfast sandwich it is my fave…read morething! The bread is fresh (from a diff bakery) the eggs are made fresh. The garlic aioli is so good. I usually ask for hot sauce salsa which is also made in house so good! It always hits! Usually Ianna is my barista and she is awesome! Today I went by for my usual and looks like they moved the cash wrap area like rotated everything around! I need to try a different menu item but don't sleep on this place. Honesty, the location would be the reason I don't come enough but actually I have been lucky to find decent parking whenever I come. Today one of the servers/cooks named Gil gave me two hot sauces instead of 2 (yay because it's so good) He was super nice. Everyone is friendly and this is definitely a spot to try if you ever walk by. It is an outdoor shop. They have seating outside with a few umbrellas. Elliot served me my drink and he was super fast and nice. I like how they have a chart with all the employees names on there. I do notice sometimes they get a huge line but I've never waited to long for my items. Of course-I'll be back many more times. (Also they have other locations but I haven't tried them so I will one day to compare-not sure if they have the same food menu items).

food is gassss!! the chai is mid imo but the pistachio latte or honey cinnamon latte is gasssss!!…read more overall is a good morning/lunch spot. if not christines coffee a block away. i go here at least 2-3 days out the week.

A small coffee shop on Imperial Ave right next to a barbershop. From the moment I walked in, I was…read moregreeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I ordered the pistachio cream latte and the ham and cheese croissant. The latte was so delicious, creamy, smooth, and perfectly balanced. You could actually taste the pistachio without it overpowering the coffee, and the pistachio crumbs on top were such a tasty touch. The ham and cheese croissant was flaky with a nice crunch and really hit the spot. The customer service was excellent. The guy who took my order was very friendly and even let me know ahead of time that there might be a bit of a wait. He was kind enough to bring my order to me when it was ready, which I really appreciated. Overall, a great little coffee shop with delicious drinks, tasty food, and genuinely friendly service.

Came on a Tues at 8:30 and it wasn't busy. Street parking is pretty rough so plan extra time for…read morethat. The space itself was actually way more spacious than I thought it'd be. There's a small seating area near the front with couches but in the back it has a lot of seating and opens onto a back green area. Menu is small which I actually appreciate. I got the iced americano and added the pistachio cold foam. You could tell the foam was homemade and you could see the small chunks of pistachio. The pistachio flavor was actually a little too muted for me. I think it needed a some pistachio paste or something to add to the flavor. The Americano was smooth though.

Achilles is one of my favorite coffee shops in town! It's walking distance from the restaurant I…read morework at and I normally come in for a to-go order at least once a week. They are consistently serving the best product for what you spend here. I am very picky when it comes to breakfast sandwiches/how my eggs are prepared and they get it right every time. Nico, the manager, and his team are always friendly and their great service continues to bring me back. Thanks guys!

Achilles Coffee Roasters is right below the building I'm staying in, so it was super convenient to…read morewalk over and grab a coffee. I ordered a caramel latte, and it was SO good! I'm usually someone who has to add extra sugar to my coffee, but this was one of the few times I didn't need to add anything it had just the right amount of sweetness. It's such a cute little spot with a great vibe, friendly staff, and a nice outdoor seating area. They also had so many delicious looking items on the menu. The Ocean Beach Toast caught my eye, and I'll definitely be going back to try it! Great coffee, super friendly service, and an adorable atmosphere. Definitely recommend! UPDATE: I ended up going here every single day for the entire week I was in town! That should tell you just how much I loved this place! I also finally went back and tried the Ocean Beach Toast I mentioned wanting to try in my original review, and OH MY GOODNESS, it was amazing!! The portion was so generous that I couldn't even finish it, so I saved half for the next day. I warmed it up a little, and surprisingly, it was still pretty good! Even the bananas held up perfectly and didn't turn bad or anything. Definitely worth trying! Between the delicious coffee, amazing food, and friendly service, this place became part of my daily routine while I was visiting. I'll absolutely be back next time I'm in town!

This was a solid coffee experience! My friend and I shared a large (16 oz.) iced pumpkin spice…read morelatte with oat milk. The drink was very tasty and not overly sweet, which is important to me. The baristas were friendly and helpful. Although there were no tables outside, the coffee shop appeared dog friendly as we saw multiple dogs come in with their owners. They also had ice cream which looked delicious too, with 3 vegan flavors that sounded yummy, including a spiced chai vegan ice cream! The shop was clean and neat, which I appreciated as well! If you haven't been to Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, I recommend you try it!

Great spot to do some work, grab some coffee or ice cream. There's outlets for charging laptops and…read moreusually plenty of seating. So far, customer service has been great! Shout out to Angel. They're always willing to help, offer a sample of ice cream and be friendly.