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    Balboa Perk

    4.6 (71 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafes
    Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Balboa Perk Photos

    Business Info

    BALBOA PERK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Balboa Perk

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    Reviews With Photos

    Balboa Perk
    Steve Y.

    Our first time here. It's a hole in the wall. 2-3,tables out front for customers. A small area inside to eat and chat as well. Wonderful service. Calm and friendly gentleman at the counter - maybe the owner? Loved my mocha and my wife loved her vanilla latte. We also enjoyed cranberry scone and a croissant. Gotta revisit this intimate place once again.

    Iced Nescafe Nescafe 20oz
    Marija P.

    Amazing little European Café. The vibe is just like you're in Europe, lots of European sitting having coffee, if there's a soccer game they will be all watching it. Great selection of coffee, snacks, pastries, and sandwiches. Owner is super nice.

    Ryan M.

    The Ciabatta Sandwich was fresh, toasted and the veggies, salami, and cheese hit the spot and the coffee was great... I like the vibe, and I'm glad I came here for brunch, cheers!

    Vanilla Latte and a Tulumba
    Jane A.

    LAVAZZA COFFEE AND TURKISH SWEETS (4 stars) - FOOD: Turkish treats - PRICE: decent - SERVICE: good - AMBIANCE: sidewalk tables My dog had a groom appointment next door. I felt the need to be next door because my dog is a drama queen. This place was perfect to kill an hour to get a drink and a snack. (And people watch). The only place to sit are the table seats posted on the sidewalk. Cute vibes, felt like I was at a cafe in a different country lol. VANILLA LATTE - Haven't had Lavazza Coffee beans in many years. We all know Italian coffee beans are special and Lavazza to me is the basic of Italian coffee beans - in my opinion. The average joe. I have no complaints, my vanilla latte was yummy and smooth. RECOMMEND TULUMBA - never had this before. It's Turkish Fried dough. It looks like a smash of of a glazed donut and a sugarless churro. How did it taste? Like a glazed donut but sweeter and stickier and the inside is kind of dense. I have a sweet tooth and for me to say it was "sweet" should speak volumes. It pairs nicely with a hot beverage. Until the next review...

    Store side
    Liiban O.

    Great little coffee shop in Hillcrest. I was in the area for breakfast and stumbled upon this place on the way back to my car. The coffee was really good and the service was even better. The shop is owned by an Eastern European man who really enjoys soccer. They have some imported chocolates and snacks from his home country. If you're ever in the area give them a try.

    Cappuccino
    Jack M.

    This small not well known coffee shop is a favorite with the Serbian community. Its collection of furniture and decor are eclectic collection of items set in a time of the pass. I liked it, and I felt like I was in an old little book store ready to settle down a read a good book. Milan made me a old school cappuccino, nothing fancy to the eye, but full of bold flavor and just enough foam a top to gently fold into the espresso as I enjoyed it. It was a very nice cappuccino. There is outside and inside seating. They over baked goods, but more importantly, they also offer some Serbian favorites like Burek, which is a meat or cheese pie, and a number of other items including sandwiches.

    Burek ( cheese/ spinach )
    Vlad I.

    Milan from Nis ( SERBIA ) has a small coffee shop in the heart of SD. Excellent choice of coffee and pastries. Also,has a REALLY good BUREK!!! Today it was a mixture of cheese and spinach. Awesome taste,takes me back to my homeland. Would recommend this place to everyone. Cheersss and 5 stars all the way!

    Made with love
    Shayna O.

    WOW! If you are looking for a great coffee drink this is THE PLACE. Amazing locally owned and operated, so the quality of products and service are top notch. I have had several different drinks including the lattes, mochas, espresso, and cappuccino. It's always difficult to decided which to order because they are all so delicious. Additionally the snacks and sandwiches are a delightful surprise to this little cafe. I often times eat some of the unique plates they offer, and nothing disappoints. If you live in the neighborhood, you're lucky to have such an amazing spot so close to home. If you're here visiting, it's amazing as it's so close to balboa park and downtown- with every easy access. Don't let parking scare you- I have never had an issue finding parking, and there is a lot on the corner 2 doors down. I highly recommend this coffee shop!

    Iced Caramel Latte and Croissant
    Dahnee C.

    This is a adorable, small, kitschy cafe hidden on the corner on Park before University. It's easy to miss, but you will be missing out if you don't come here. I have had a hard time finding good coffee in the area, I don't like ending up at Starbucks. But I'm glad I tried this place because the coffee was great. I liked the croissant and I want to try some of the other pastries they have. They have a good selection of coffee, some European food, and European chocolate. The guy working was nice and he whipped up the drinks super fast. This place deserves all the stars and it will likely be my new coffee spot.

    Just a house coffee this morning

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    4 days ago

    Quality espresso. Quick service. Cozy aesthetic and hidden away in hillcrest. Happy I stopped by on my morning walk to work.

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    4 months ago

    The Coffee was trash, poor service. Not recommendable! Stay away from this coffee shop. Absolute Tragedy!

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    3 years ago

    Milan is awesome! He has such a great selection of Serbian, German, and Italian snacks. Great customer service and the coffee is awesome!

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    5 years ago

    Very delicious coffee! The owner is very nice and he has a lot of Serbian snacks and pastries as well.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Balboa Perk

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    Fuzz Coffee

    Fuzz Coffee

    4.4
    (63 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    MUSICIANS + COFFEE (4 stars)…read more You get "Vinyl consumption and thoughtful produced coffee"! Chill and cozy coffee shop with a few seats and a selection of coffee and vinyl in the layout. Bought a bag of their beans and it came with a free cup of drip or iced from that same bean. After browsing their selection of beans, I couldn't quite find the type of profile I like but there were a variety of profiles. I bought a bag for a gift for someone who might appreciate their shop style and profile. At the time of my visit there were no decaf beans available. Took advantage of taking the free iced coffee and was surprise of my sipping acceptwnc! RAW POWER - their mainstay coffee which has a profile of chocolate and orange. I had this as an iced coffee - straight up black with no added anything and I thought I'd hate it without anything but I enjoyed the ice coffee as black and plain. From here I could really taste the bean profile very clearly and indeed could find the chocolate and the orange, more the orange than the chocolate. I am not into acidity or tart when I take my lattes but I don't mind that orange flavor when I take an iced coffee. It was an inquiring taste! I'd like to come back and try their decaf beans with with a flavored latte or an iced coffee plain as possible.

    I love their Crumbling Castle cappuccino. I am a dedicated…read moreiced coffee lover but this is the only place I get my drink hot. And it's so good. My only beef is the small size, as it's really hard not to down the drink in the span of five minutes or less. They also have some really cool assorted pastries if you get there in time. High quality and unique options with fun flavors. The shop is relatively small with seating in and outside. There are also records for sale and they have a really cool curated selection. The staff is also really cool, sweet and quick to make drinks.

    Photos
    Coffee beans
    Coffee beans
    Coffee beans
    Coffee beans
    Fresh flowers

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    Fresh flowers
    Mixed Grounds Coffee

    Mixed Grounds Coffee

    4.5
    (84 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    This is one of my favorite coffee shops! I'd argue this is THE spot for locals as it's such a great…read morecommunity spot. They host various community events, many of which revolve around live entertainment, but I'm usually here during the day when I need a change in scenery or want to grab a good latte. They have a great selection of drinks with unique options that aren't seen elsewhere. My go-to drink is their Buko Pandan Special, which contains their homemade Pandan syrup and is topped with 3 cubes of coco jelly and coconut cream! Such a unique and fun twist of flavor with the added textural contrast from the jelly! My only gripe is this drink is only served in one size. I love the open concept of the shop and how inviting it is. This is one of the few coffee shops that I feel comfortable working at for hours without pressure to leave as the space itself is huge and you're in the company of many other remote workers who are working in peace. Great atmosphere all around to relax in or get some work done. There are also 2 gender neutral restrooms that are always clean with a shared central sink area. I will say that parking is challenging. If you're lucky enough, you can score a spot out front, but you usually have to street park.

    Light breeze to start your mornings, check. Entertainment,…read morecheck. Good coffee, absolutely check. (: Mixed Grounds is a unique experience. Since it's located on the ground floor of an apartment complex. That makes this café pleasant and offers something many other cafés simply don't offer. I recommend anyone that likes unique local cuisine visit Mixed Grounds. Every weekend that I've been here. There's a vendor filling the air with aromas to pre-fill our stomachs and salivate with. You won't be able to resist after your morning joe. Having a good meal from the scents alone.

    Photos
    Salted caramel
    Salted caramel
    BUKO PANDAN SPÉCIAL, AZTECA MOCHA, CA PHE MUOI
    BUKO PANDAN SPÉCIAL, AZTECA MOCHA, CA PHE MUOI
    Mixed Grounds inside AMP30 Apartments

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    Mixed Grounds inside AMP30 Apartments
    Nomade

    Nomade

    4.0
    (154 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    We came for dinner after wanting to come for months, and we're so happy we finally checked it out!…read moreDelicious and great authentic Spanish / Basque spot! Our server Josué was SO amazing! He was so friendly and made us feel so comfortable. The shishito peppers, Jamon Iberico, crispy fried rice, patatas bravas, spicy Caesar, and basque cheesecake were all amazing! Meatballs were just ok, would reco trying a different main. Great wines (and they even give you tastings to try first) and they have Vermut on draft! Can't find that anywhere in the US and only in Spain. Such a great authentic spot! Feels like we are back in Spain. Great atmosphere as well with the beautiful design inside and the records playing. We will absolutely be back soon!

    This place is so cute and has such good vibes. We came for dinner on a weekday and it wasn't too…read morebusy. Service was very friendly and fast the whole night. The food is Spanish/asian served tapas style so the dish sizes are a bit smaller. I got a glass of pinot noir to start and they were very open to letting me try that and any other wines I wanted before I committed which I always appreciate. For food we got the heirloom carpaccio, meatballs, gambas al ajillo, tuna crispy rice and croquetas. Everything tasted very fresh and flavorful. The portions are a bit small/expensive for the price which is why I'd dock a star but overall a really great experience and I'd be back to try more of the menu.

    Photos
    Listening bar!
    Listening bar!
    Breakfast burrito
    Breakfast burrito
    Pesto sandwich

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    Pesto sandwich

    Balboa Perk - cafes - Updated July 2026

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