Cafe Vahik

Il Giardino di Lilli is such a cute bakery/coffee shop in the La Jolla area…read more My party ordered an assortment of croissants and beverages. Croissants were buttery and flaky; the jam maybe only filled 2/3 of it though. They have two water dispensers off to the side. Their water is flavored and is actually really good. I think it's more unique than their drinks lol. Very aesthetic outdoor seating. Limited indoor seating. We came on a weekday for brunch and it was pretty busy. Street parking not bad for a weekday.

We got the white mocha oat milk lattes, which were pretty light and more milk-forward. I personally…read morewish they were a little richer. This place gets PACKED -- we came on a Saturday and the line just kept growing. That being said, it's such a cute spot with a European/Mediterranean feel. The plates and utensils are adorable, and all of the pastries looked amazing. We also got the Coppa panini and almond croissant. The panini was honestly better than I expected -- the cuts of meat tasted fresh, and overall it was a really great sandwich. It reminded me of something I'd get in Europe. The almond croissant was also really good and tasted authentic, although the butteriness was a little sweet for my taste. Overall, I'd definitely come back for the food and atmosphere!

Pistachio Croissant

Pistachio croissant

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Lavender latte

The Flower Pot Cafe & Bakery

4.0(180 reviews)

0.7 mi•La Jolla

LOVE this place so much. My boyfriend and I are now regulars. Great food (excellent…read morevegetarian/vegan options), coffees (he gets a London Fog and loves it), homemade salsa and organic pesto sauce are amazing, nomnom potatoes, avocado salad, all good stuff. Most of all I love the chill atmosphere, comfy courtyard/patio, cozy indoor nooks with bookshelves - I sometimes bring my laptop to work there on the WiFi and enjoy the shady plants and vibe. They are very dog friendly and we adore the nonstop parade of doggies!

This is a quaint spot for breakfast-brunch. 2nd time here and it did not disappoint. The coffee was…read morevery good and flavorful. I don't usually order a breakfast burrito as they are often bland and require gobs of salsa for flavor. Not here! From the first bite to the last, no added sauces needed, however, their house-made salsa is incredible. You could put this salsa on a piece of cardboard and it would be amazing. We are not from SD but visit often and this will be a regular stop for us now. Thank you!

Blast from the past, I remember the original panic again

Vegetarian burritos

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Still fun and fascinating inside.

Better Buzz Coffee La Jolla

4.2(747 reviews)

1.1 mi•La Jolla

Bob was great and so friendly !! Was our first time here and he gave great recommendations.read more

Very friendly staff and fast service. Drinks were great with a good selection. Food items were…read moreyummy as well. Overall, chill place and friendly environment.

Coffee bar area

Fruit and Ricotta Toast The best drink (vanilla americano)

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Snickerdoodle Latte | IG @moniquedao

Parakeet Cafe - La Jolla

4.3(643 reviews)

1.0 mi•La Jolla

I've been coming to Parakeet for a few months now, and the reason I keep coming back isn't the…read morematcha (though it's great) -- it's Maya and Mishell. Maya remembered my order after the second visit and now has it half-started by the time I get to the register. That sounds small, but on a rushed morning it's the difference between a good day and a stressful one. She's also the person who talked me into trying the salted maple latte, which is now what I get every time. Mishelle has a way of making the counter feel like a conversation instead of a transaction. She's genuinely warm with everyone in line, not just regulars, and I've watched her handle a packed rush without dropping her patience once. Great food is easy to find in San Diego. Staff who actually make you want to come back is rarer. Whoever hired these two did well.

Just wanna say this is my favorite coffee shop in La Jolla\. Everything is delicious, the baristas…read moreare literally artists, and the food is amazing\. But my favorite part, by far, is the people\. I love Emma, Nada, and Calvin--they're the best\. They're honestly the reason I come here every day\. They make me laugh every single time, and they're just such funny, beautiful, genuine people\. They have the best energy\. The only thing I'd change is the music, it gets repetitive Thank you! LOVE YOU ALL

Order and pickup

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Green Goddess Smoothie

PARU

4.4(54 reviews)

0.7 mi•La Jolla

I avoid downtown La Jolla like a plague. It's a nightmare to get there and once you get there, you…read morecan't find anywhere to park. But for Paru... I'd do it. Paru is legit! The tea is just out of this world. They have so many different varieties of tea, from many different regions in Asia and I'm just completely blown away by the owner's breadth of knowledge and passion for the tea. If you're looking for connection, passion, stories more than just herbs you dunk in water, this is the place. They're so friendly and helpful that I don't feel intimidated asking them for recommendations based on my preference and what I feel like trying that day. They also have a small space at the back where you can reserve and enjoy some tea tasting. I definitely recommend to experience that if you've never been. It's absolutely worth checking out.

PARU tea shop in La Jolla is steps away from iL Giardino bakery. This tea shop opened a couple of…read moreyears ago, once prepared matcha tea drinks but now only focuses on the retail shop of selling teas, specifically matcha and all its accoutrements some basic and some fancy $$$$. The shop is small, the staff helpful and nice. On display were various ceremonial grade matcha loose leaf teas. Perhaps these teas are good, but I need to taste it before making a commitment. I'm a green tea connoisseur and usually drink organic which I prepare at home. Still a worthwhile visit to learn a little more about tea, specifically Matcha. None of the teas on display indicate organic so it was a pass for Paru.

Interior

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Interior

Brick & Bell Cafe

4.1(731 reviews)

1.0 mi•La Jolla

Cute hole in the wall coffee shop/cafe/bakery. Prices are reasonable! You can take to go or eat…read moreoutside. The inside can get packed with walking traffic. You order at the front. The cashier lady was very sweet and friendly. The shop seemed family owned. A large hot Vanilla Chai and lemon bar came out to be $11 rounded up. Everything was very delicious. They other bakery selection and a fridge with meals.

Stopped in to B&B for a mixed berry smoothie at 9am. It took about ten minutes to be ready. I…read morereally enjoyed it as it was fresh & not too sweet. Service was fast & friendly and the price for the medium smoothie was very reasonable! A few of the kids who were with me were disappointed because they ran out of cinnamon rolls, but otherwise, they were happy with our little snacky stop. Plenty of outdoor seating as always. Street parking. Peace.

Pic and bagel March 2025

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Front entrance

Fruittitude

4.5(850 reviews)

1.0 mi•La Jolla

Excellent service and the smoothies are delicious!!! I'll definitely come back next time I'll try…read morethe fruit bowl - guy next to us had a large fruit bowl that looked delicious!

Cute stop in La Jolla to get juice, coffee, or healthy breakfast/lunch items. For my first round, I…read moreordered beet juice and a medium hot Mexican decaf coffee. It was a nice ambiance to sit and enjoy your juice and coffee. We ordered quite a bit of items as we were waiting for another member of our party to meet us here. The bathroom is beautifully and nicely decorated but they are super strict about using the bathroom even if you are a customer as they had a bathroom (there is a key you have to ask for) "wanted bandit sign"apparently for vandalizing it....which I understand however When another member of our party came, we went inside and the line was so long we decided to use the bathroom before ordering more, we were in there less than 5 minutes and the owner/manager knocked and knocked, I came out and apologized and asked if she knocked. She did apologize but said other people are waiting. I ordered another juice and was going to order sandwiches and acai bowls but felt like we probably were at cafe more than an hour and out stayed our stay. I understand as a business you have to be strict about the bathroom and that is their policy however if it is a juice/coffee place your customers are bound to use the restroom several times especially if they are continuing to order. Unfortunately, It did turn me away to try the food which I actually was looking forward to as they did offer organic croissant sandwiches. We decided to just choose another place to order food. I'll have to think about returning as we are always in La Jolla for yoga.

Bathroom

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Greenspiration

Blue Whale

3.8(495 reviews)

0.9 mi•La Jolla

Locally owned & operated

Gluten-free friendly

Beautiful cafe, a long line but the service was great and the food was ready quickly, overall it…read morewas super good

I loved their ube pancakes! It was something completely different from anything I've seen before…read more The presentation was spectacular, and the taste was spectacular. Literally, I will go back here every time I go to San Diego because it was that good. There's not too much seating available because they get really busy and the place packs up pretty quickly. But we were still able to get seats, which really says something about their turnover time. The people were also really nice. I also got their BLT sandwich, which was really good. I expected the hash brown presentation to be a little bit better, but other than that, the taste of everything was great. If anything, having the savory sandwich with the sweet pancakes was a really good combo because we were able to balance them out. It's also really close to the beach, so that's another plus. Definitely recommend!

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Bird Rock Coffee Roasters - La Jolla

Locally owned & operated

Good customer service, consistent (amazing) coffee! I love coming here. Such a special treat! Thank…read moreyou!

My first visit was wonderful, which is why I came back. Unfortunately, my second visit wasn't as…read moreenjoyable, and on my third visit I ended up canceling my order and leaving. The issue isn't your staff--they've always been friendly, welcoming, and helpful. My concern is that so many people are using the tables as workspaces while connected to the Wi-Fi that it's become difficult for paying customers to find a place to sit and simply enjoy a conversation over coffee. I hope you'll consider creating some guidelines for Wi-Fi use, such as designating a few tables for people working on laptops and leaving the remaining seating available for customers who want to relax and socialize. There are also outdoor benches and other public seating that could be used by those working for extended periods. Right now, it feels like the balance has shifted away from creating a welcoming coffeehouse atmosphere for your patrons. I truly like your location and appreciate your excellent staff, but until this changes, I'm sorry to say I won't be returning.

Outside of Bird Rock Coffee Roasters La Jolla

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Bird Rock Coffee Roasters La Jolla

Fresheria

4.2(361 reviews)

0.6 mi•La Jolla

Stopped by La Fresheria and had a great experience! it was pretty busy, the cashier was incredibly…read morenice, friendly, and welcoming. They stayed positive and provided excellent customer service despite the rush, which I really appreciated. The food was delicious and definitely lived up to the hype. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. I'll definitely be coming back and would recommend La Fresheria to anyone looking for good food and great service!

The açaí bowls were delicious! Everything in them was so fresh! My son got Nutella in his and he…read moreloved it! They were also huge bowls too! My husband got a sandwich. It doesn't look too appetizing but he liked it! I would come back just for the bowls though!

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Inedible object in my wrap

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Perla c.

14 years ago

Everything on the emu is great! Fresh, tasty, good on the budget! It's not some fancy schmancy place, but it serves it's purpose! Quick and easy real fasts and launches that you can feel good about eating, and still be satisfied! I. Love to grab something and stroll down to the search! The pesto on the Windian Sea Bagel is so yummy, and you can't go wrong with one of their paninis! My favorite is the Chickanini! Yum! Again with the reat pesto, but add some avocado, roasted chicken, basil and don't forget the fontina cheese! Mmm, I'm starting to get hungry! The also whip up some really delicious salads that don't leave you starving. In fact, they leave you feeling stuffed! I really enjoy the Greek Salad. And don't forget to say hello to Vahik being the counter! He's always there with a smile for his happy customers! read more

Rob A.

16 years ago

I live very close to the windansea cafe and have been going here since it opened in 2007. Every friend and relative that stays in my house makes it a point to start there day at the cafe. Favorite breakfast item is the medditarrenean bagel (egg and feta cheese on a bagel). The coffee is high quality and never lets you down. In the afternoon the playa del norte salad is my personal favorite. The cafe is a great place to go with your laptop if you need a change of atmosphere and need to focus. Vahik the owner always cracks me up. He remembers everyone by name and a smile. he knows he has a good product and loves to joke and laugh with his regular customers. for example during the world cup he handed out penalty cards of red or yellow to regulars in the cafe if they ever had a negative comment read more

Jenn. D.

19 years ago

Vahik Vartaniaz is one of the most well known fixtures of La Jolla where he started his road stop coffee shop "Cafe Latte," off of La Jolla Blvd. and Nautilus. Come rain or shine Vahik has stood the test of time, weathering the storm and waiting to serve your Latte a Go Go with his effusive grin and well wishes for the day. Now Winanseans are more than stoked to know he has opened his groovy cafe and coffee house across from Su Casa west of La Jolla Blvd. He can serve up some amazing Panini's on the fly, and quality coffee or tea for those who go strong. Wireless ready. read more

Michael S.

6 years ago

I couldn't be more amazed at my food, the service and the prices. In light of the pandemic I really want to do my part and support small family run restaurants as they have limited seating due the 6 foot social distancing mandate. Well I am certainly glad I chose Cafe Vahik for lunch today. They were very busy today but the owner and his wife were managing extremely well. The Shack Bagel and Latte I had today were awesome and the owner and his wife couldn't be nicer. I will now be a regular customer read more

S K.

14 years ago

I've been there almost ten times and EVERY time I am amazed by the food I order. Everything on the menu has a "wow" factor. The service is great - I think it's family owned and the two guys (who's names I've yet to learn) and the one girl are very warm and welcoming. You feel like you're hanging out at your good friends house when you're in here - great ambiance and I can't say enough about the food. You must try this place! read more

Greg B.

11 years ago

Probably my favorite breakfast/lunch place in La Jolla. The owner (Vahik) and his wife are both beyond sweet and will start a conversation and are always really nice. Everything they have on the menu is good, and the coffee is great. I love grabbing something from here to go, driving one block down the street to Windan, and checking the surf. Not a bad way to spend lunch! Highly recommended! read more

Blaze R.

3 years ago

The owners exhibit a delightful combination of friendliness and professionalism. The food arrived promptly and was incredibly delicious. A word of caution: if you have only one hand, the burrito might pose a challenge--it's nearly as substantial as a Nerf football. As a self-proclaimed aficionado of hearty meals, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Without a doubt, I'll be returning for more. read more

Carol A.

16 years ago

The sandwiches at the Windansea are the best in San Diego. The Big Kahuna is the most delicious tuna sandwich in town. I order it on sourdough bread toasted, it's unique flavor is like no other. I want to try the turkey with chipotle sauce that my son, Brian, recommends so highly, but I have been unable to tear myself away from the Big Kahuna. Try it, you'll be amazed! read more

Paula C.

12 years ago

I liked this place much as it has a wonderful atmosphere. The everything you would find here is great and delicious. I loved their service and the friendly staff which was quick. I liked the prices which were fairly charged and it is a great place for the refreshment and to hang out with friends. I would recommend to everyone to try out this place for at least once. read more

Dan K.

3 years ago

The owners were incredibly friendly and displayed a high level of professionalism. The food arrived promptly and was absolutely delicious. A word of caution: the burrito, almost as large as a Nerf football, might pose a challenge for those with only one hand. As a self-proclaimed enthusiast of hearty meals, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'll definitely be returning. read more

Adam R.

18 years ago

What can I say Vahik and his motley crew serve up some excellent vittles!!! The best Greek salad in La Jolla. If you stay till closing time Vahik will offer you a special that will make your eyes water. I mean that literally. Whatever you do visit Vahik and the crew for great food and some prime time comedy from the staff and patients alike. read more

Natalia R.

6 years ago

I stopped for coffee, but after seeing the food I decided to eat. The Chickenini sandwich so delicious, but the next time I come back I want to try the Yellowtail salad. Someone at the next table had it and it looked amazing. you may need to wait but that is because they are very popular and believe me it is well worth it. read more

Myra K.

7 years ago

They have a secret item not on the menu and that is their ceviche. It is only made on Tuesdays, some Wednesdays, and Thursdays but it it AMAZING. Literally the best ceviche I have ever had. Their Ham Diegan is also delicious and their iced mocha is my favorite. Vahik and his wife are absolutely wonderful people. read more

Darlen C.

12 years ago

I love this place as it is relaxing and more nicer than any other cafes in SD. I have been visiting this place from last 7 weeks and its a great experience everytime. The staff is friendly and the service is friendly and quick. The atmosphere is wonderful. The food is good and I'll keep on visiting Cafe Vahik. read more

Matt C.

12 years ago

I'm a huge fan. I have been going to Vahik's since he started with a coffee cart in the parking lot down the road from his current location - almost 10 years now. Vahik always has a great attitude and great food. I'm addicted to the Windansea Bagel. read more

J R.

14 years ago

Awesome food and a much more diverse menu than I had expected. Really good bfast and lunch options here. Great service and a nice ambiance - If you're looking for a cool little cafe with awesome food - look no further - this is your place. read more

Sasha C.

15 years ago

I've been here a few times and always enjoyed the food and wine. Great location and environment, very clean and modern. The servers are sweet, attentive, and friendly. All around, a great place to dine! read more

Alan F.

6 years ago

i just saw owner kick out a person for writing in his journal while having his cofeee. 3 other people sitting and eating and this poor guy was kicked out. incredible racism is still alive in 2021 read more

Darren C.

114

10 years ago

The best Spinach and feta cheese omelette I've ever had. I always come back here when I'm visiting La Jolla. Great Salad with Avocado as well. Nice people, great service. read more

Allan B.

6 years ago

The worst place from San Diego ever !!! People so so rude ! Disgustin the food and the people wich work there are the most rude ever ! Dont deserve any star ! read more

Cafe Vahik - coffee - Updated September 2026

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