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    The Picnic Cafe

    4.2 (60 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order The Picnic Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    The Picnic Cafe Photos

    THE PICNIC CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Picnic Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos - The Picnic Cafe

    Morgan W.

    The cutest shop with the sweetest staff! The drinks i ordered were so visually stunning but the matcha flavor was a bit more grassy than i prefer (but im picky). Other than that the drinks had a delicious vanilla flavor and were not too sweet. You can feel and see the attention to detail in every aspect of this shop!

    Kids pb and j cut in a star
    Brynn L.

    The cutest cafe nestled right on Del Mar!!! We stopped here this weekend after noticing how cute the aesthetic was. It's small inside but easy to walk up and order. There are 4 or 5 small tables outside so we found a seat pretty easily. The menu isn't huge but they have yummy sandwich, salad and charcuterie options. We got a latte too. The best was the kids menu. They have a pb & j (cut into a star), a turkey sandwich, banana Nutella toast and a kids charcuterie board. My kids loved the options!! We ordered 3 to share and they thought it was so fun. They came packaged in a cute box with a juice, fruit and a little bubble stick. The kids said it was their best lunch ever. The person taking our order was really nice and made a point to ask how everything tasted. He even gave the kids a cookie to try. Really fun experience and good food. We will definitely be back!!

    Salted Honey Latte 12 oz
    Linda L.

    I absolutely love this coffee shop. I tried the salted honey latte it was made with perfection!

    Two turkey and cheese sandwiches and a diet lemonade.
    Bob S.

    First time here! The sandwiches were very fresh, savory, crunchy, crispy, flavorful, and delicious. Also, the lemonade was super sweet, refreshing, and extremely tasty. There is a good variety of scrumptious sweets, and different flavors of gelato to choose from, good service, nice atmosphere with upbeat music, and I had an excellent experience today.

    Strawberry Matcha Latte
    Chelsea H.

    Parking: since it's in downtown San Clemente, it's mostly street parking. There are some public parking lots nearby, but it can be a short walk. It's definitely a nice area to walk and browse. Service: my visit was alright, the cashier was neither friendly nor unfriendly. I ordered my drink and it was quickly made. Ambiance: the cafe itself was very decorative and beautiful. Loved the pink + green aesthetic. No table seating, but there was a bench inside to wait for drinks/food. There were a couple 2-seater coffee tables outside for use. Drink: strawberry matcha latte 6/10- it was alright, not bad. Matcha was definitely on the more grassy side (for those who enjoy that flavor). Strawberry flavor was decent, but probably not my favorite. It was also $7.95 with milk sub, which was definitely on the pricier side.

    Jonathan H.

    The real star of this restaurant is its location, right on Avenida Del Mar, and its ambiance, with tables and chairs right on Avenida Del Mar. It's a beautiful spot to sit, eat and people watch. The inside of the restaurant is charming looking and has a light, breezy feel to it. The woman who served us at the counter was very nice and the friendly owner came out to check on how we're doing, which I appreciated. My wife and I split a Turkey Apple Brie sandwich. It was very good --- but I think it could have been better. The ingredients were high quality and fresh, and the sandwich was put together nicely, but the quantity of food was a bit lacking. Still, I would be happy to return again to give it another try.

    Stacey M.

    This place is so cute and has a very trendy vibe. Decent sandwiches and fun themed drinks. Lots of flowers and stunning presentation. BUT they are so slow and need more help, the counter help is hit or miss on service. Sandwiches are good but light. GO if you have time, if you're short on time don't risk it!!

    The Picnic Sandwich is so good! Solid meat in there for some good protein.
    Amanda C.

    This place is charming and fun to grab food from during lunch and bring down to the beach

    Ashley F.

    So cute inside with a fun and original menu, yummy drinks, and the sweetest staff! Very friendly and helpful. Lots of cute gifts you could get there, too! Kid-friendly.

    Chloe K.

    Cute cafe with delicious food and drinks! We loved trying the Valentines Drink Specials last month

    Strawberry Matcha Latte 16 oz

    I have mixed feelings about this place ! I don't like to bash newer local businesses because I know it's not easy to have a successful business , so I just want to give a few suggestions! I will start with what I liked- The guy working the counter was friendly and nice. I love that they offered half sizes of things (not many places do this ) Here are my suggestions : -For the kids charcuterie box, please cut the grapes ! Since this box is for kids and grapes are one of the biggest choking hazards, please cut these. The strawberries were cut in half already so it would be one extra step so parents don't have to cut them all themselves (like I had to do). The box was also missing the salami that is listed on the menu for this box. -for the bagels, the toppings are delicious but the actual bagel tastes old/taste like a bagel from a shelf at the grocery store. Having fresh bagels would really elevate it! -for the strawberry matcha-it needs more strawberry flavor . Beautiful presentation but flavor is lacking. I think adding a muddled strawberry syrup or jam to the drink would make it delicious. The store itself is very aesthetic! I think with a few tweaks this place could be a new favorite of mine (and other locals) !

    Blue Coconut Cloud
    Madeline C.

    Really great spot for a yummy breakfast! My husband and I loved the blue coconut smoothie and enjoyed a lox bagel and sandwich. The cafe is super cute and has nice outdoor sitting. I did notice that they had charcuterie boards on their menu which seemed enticing, so maybe next time we'll try that. I think this a nice cafe to get a quick bite while you walk through downtown :)

    Strawberry Matcha Latte 12 oz and the Blue Coconut Cloud smoothie

    Strawberry Matcha Creamy, perfectly balanced, and not overly sweet. The matcha is smooth (no bitterness), and the strawberry adds just the right pop of freshness. It tastes luxurious--like a treat but still clean and refreshing. Would order this every single time. Blue Coconut Cloud Straight-up dreamy. Light, fluffy, and tropical without being heavy or fake-sweet. It's giving beachy, cloud-in-a-cup vibes. So refreshing and dangerously easy to drink. Both drinks are stunning, flavorful, and clearly made with care. 10/10 across the board--will absolutely be back. We love this place. Every time we are in town we have to stop by!

    Tiramisu latte

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    1 month ago

    Natalie was the sweetest and so welcoming! beautiful restaurant and great service. We loved the tiramisu latte!

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    3 months ago

    The arugula chicken salad was delicious. They also have some delicious and creative iced matcha options.

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    3 months ago

    The cutest little spot! The sunshine salad and the picnic sandwich were delicious! Total beach dream!

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    Love this place ! Amazing food and drinks. Love their menu and the ambiance of their store. So happy they are here on Del Mar !

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    Ask the Community - The Picnic Cafe

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    I seriously cannot say enough about this bistro! First, the ambience is beyond gorgeous, me, and my…read moredaughters sat outside on the patio and was able to look out at the ocean view. Secondly, the service was the most amazing service, I had my whole entire week in San Clemente. All the ladies who helped us were so kind and friendly! This service made me come back 3 times in total, to enjoy the food and views. My last day in town, I spoke with the wait staff and let them know what a great job they are doing; They were friendly and so grateful. The food was delicious and so delightful. The chicken sandwich had roasted chicken with bacon and a delicious aïoli. That was honestly such a good mix. The brioche bread they put the chicken on was fluffy and flavorful. My daughters got a Nutella crêpe and berries and cream crêpe. Both were delicious and a good portion size. Their sourdough toast with jam was a favorite of ours, we got it every single time we went. I cannot wait to come back and try maybe one of their delicious salads or maybe Hardy breakfast! Definitely a top-tier restaurant. I must try!

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    Dining interior
    Dining interior
    House Potatoes (To-go order: $7) Very good; a tad salty; the green onions added a nice balance to the overall flavor.
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    French vanilla latte

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    French vanilla latte
    Bear Coast Coffee

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    Photos
    Orange cardamom
    Orange cardamom
    Outside. Located across from San Clemente pier.
    Outside. Located across from San Clemente pier.
    Iced vanilla latte

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    Iced vanilla latte
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    Photos
    You are having best View of Pacific! The seafood here never went wrong. The bucket of clams or mussels is must have
    You are having best View of Pacific! The seafood here never went wrong. The bucket of clams or mussels is must have
    California omelette
    California omelette
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    Everything you could want for your coffee!
    Everything you could want for your coffee!
    Pastrami sandwich
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    Stopped here this morning on the way to Tijuana. I had already had too much caffeine so I opted to…read morebuy muffins for my friend and myself. The ambiance was great and the service was good too but let me tell ya, those muffins....they were overcooked and had the texture of sand in my mouth. It was so so dry. They were the pumpkin cinnamon. I do NOT recommend them! I wasted $13 on this sandy, saw-dusty pastries and I'm not happy about it...grrrrrrrr Wish I could have those dollars back to try something else as they were inedible. Otherwise, definitely go there it's cute!

    Photos
    Upgraded lunch menu with a full line up of salads and sanwiches!
    Upgraded lunch menu with a full line up of salads and sanwiches!
    Upgraded lunch menu with a full line up of salads and sanwiches!
    Upgraded lunch menu with a full line up of salads and sanwiches!
    Upgraded lunch menu with a full line up of salads and sanwiches!

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    Upgraded lunch menu with a full line up of salads and sanwiches!

    The Picnic Cafe - coffee - Updated July 2026

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