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    Cargo Cafe - La Jolla Reserve

    4.8 (90 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 2:00 pm

    Cargo Cafe - La Jolla Reserve Photos

    CARGO CAFE - LA JOLLA RESERVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for working
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Cargo Cafe - La Jolla Reserve

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    Lorenzo W.

    COLD BREWS & CALM! I absolutely loved my visit to this floating coffee shop. I was experiencing interview anxiety and this place really helped me refocus and settle down. The hustle and bustle is real, it's important to stop and enjoy the scenic delight that is La Jolla Reserve. The little body of water and a cup of coffee were a perfect combo for an overcast day. I recommend a small Cold Brew if you're looking to taste test. Prices are a little high, but this is a trendy place in La Jolla, so I'm not shocked. My only complaint was that they ran out of ALOT of food items. It was too early to be out of stock tbh. I'd recommend coming in the morning so you can enjoy a table by the water's edge. Many tech bros and professionals visit this spot, most keep to themselves, but you'll want to beat them to a seat! If you don't manage to sit near the register side of the shop, there's seating across the water with views that are just as good. Additionally, there's grassy areas surrounding the reserve for "picnic" seating. Free WiFi is available, check the front counter for the login info. I parked in La Jolla Reserve's main parking structure when I visited, I was given validation for an hour by Cargo Cafe.

    Latte
    Jasmine C.

    Had an amazing experience. I happen to be in the area and got to check it out. The service was amazing and got to meet the gm there and she was so sweet. They have monthly flavors based on the season and I got the cold brew with a mango cold foam and I truly enjoyed it. They have multiple locations and would definitely suggest checking it out.

    Jenny K.

    They remade my flat white bc the decaf version i ordered was too bitter for me. They were super friendly. The sitting area is the best with a waterfall in the background.

    Lupita C.

    Yum! We had an amazing experience at Cargo Cafe, we visited the La Jolla location however they have many more ! This is definitely a nice coffee place! The ladies here are so friendly I recommend an empanada it's filled with cheese spinach and tomato. It was delicious!

    Latte to go
    Mel H.

    Just had coffee and pastry. Latte was pretty good and they also sell pastries and sandwiches, snacks etc. located within business area of La Jolla. A little bit hard to find. Atmosphere is relaxing with mini waterfalls and rocks. Nice to sit and relax with coffee. Server was friendly enough. You go to the counter and wait for your coffee and/or food when done. You can park in the garage and they validate for 2 hours.

    Monique A.

    beautiful spot, very study-able with lots of food options. also very kind workers :) I ordered the espresso based drink but they also have spring specials like a key-lime matcha and earl gray cold brew. i for sure have to come back to try more

    Seating area overlooking water
    Sydni S.

    Cargo Cafe is a cute spot hidden away in a business park in the UTC area. They have free parking for an hour if you validate your ticket. The layout of the shop is really nice, but it is all outdoors so might not be the best for a cold day if you're looking for a place to work. I came in around 8:30 am and they didn't have any food yet, but said they were making it. It was the day before a holiday weekend when they're going to be closed so I believe that's why they weren't stocked up which is totally understandable. I got an iced latte with oat milk and honey and it was very good! I would definitely come back when I'm in the mood to try on of their sweeter fun drinks.

    Raspberry Cream Matcha
    Aly T.

    I came here for their raspberry cream matcha and the "lake" view/ambiance. Loved the drink (very sweet cold foam btw) and the environment! Came here to get work done and enjoy my morning and wasn't disappointed. It wasn't busy at all when I arrived at 9 but got busier soon after. Parking is a bit tricky because they only validate an hour, but seems like a really good quality cafe with good eats/drinks! Luis was very friendly and kind along with the rest of the staff, and the service was fast which I really appreciated!

    Acai bowl
    Salman S.

    A cute spot nestled between corporate buildings near UTC mall in La Jolla. Quiet and tranquil with a small lake/pond as a background to where you sit. We had a coffee, matcha latte and shared an acai bowl. The coffee and matcha were good but not outstanding. The acai bowl was also decent. If you're in the neighborhood and want a nice quiet serene place to sit and relax and have a bite to eat or drink, would recommend it.

    Iced caramel Dulce latte
    Yvette Z.

    First day at the new office and it comes with a super cute cafe!!! This iced caramel Dulce latte was delicious! I can't wait to try it hot!

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    1 month ago

    The Enlightened smoothie is actually delicious. Great working environment too, very enjoyable

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    6 days ago

    Hardly a "cafe". They don't offer alternative milks. You are limited in what you can customize. It's more or less a bar than anything else.

    Business owner information

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    Leticia B.

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    7 days ago

    Service was friendly and prompt. The atmosphere is amazing and convenient to where I live.

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Great coffee taste and sweet staff. Clean location and Not ever too busy. Right under my office

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Great coffee!! The location and the people I get to go with make this an absolute can't miss!

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

    This is a hidden gem. A wonderful place to chill and enjoy a coffee by a gorgeous water feature.

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    4 months ago

    Beautiful scenery, very friendly staff. Lots of seating space. Would definitely come back.

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    3 months ago

    Super cool ambiance and vibe. Lots of food options as well. Would definitely visit again!

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    4 months ago

    Great ambiance. Great service. Great coffee. Can't ask for much more. Parking is a bit funny at first. Just a heads up

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    10 months ago

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    4 months ago

    The coffee is soooo great and the scenery is beautiful and relaxing. come here if you want to relax and study!

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    4 months ago

    Love the atmosphere! I come here all the time and it's a great spot to study or chill.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Cargo Cafe - La Jolla Reserve

    I know this is in a business park / office complex. Is there free parking for folks wanting to visit the cafe?

    Good Morning Johnny, Cargo Cafe La Jolla Reserve has gated parking operated by Ace Parking. It is free for the first 15 minutes. For our customers that our offsite and just… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    La Colombe Coffee Roasters

    La Colombe Coffee Roasters

    4.0
    (327 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    Awesome place! The coffee and pastries were outstanding! They have this beautiful outdoor patio…read morearea right next to a fountain. I sat there with my friends for hours drinking our coffee and playing cards. The baristas were great and made my coffee in a mug when I asked. The perfect shopping break!

    La Colombe Coffee Roasters (Westfield UTC)Rating: (2/5)The Experience:While the outdoor setting…read morenext to the mall's koi pond is beautiful, the actual product simply does not justify the outrageous premium cost. It functions as an upscale kiosk with standard outdoor mall seating, making it feel less like a true specialty coffee shop and more like an overhyped pitstop. The Coffee:The espresso drinks are incredibly overpriced, frequently pushing past $7 for a single beverage. For that price point, you expect a flawless, complex flavor profile. Instead, the espresso tastes completely average, falling flat and lacking any distinct richness. Paying a steep premium just to get a lukewarm drink served without ice is frustrating. Service and Food:The staff moves the line quickly, but the menu lacks flexibility. $7 for a chocolate cookie or pastry?! On top of the high base prices, expect to pay steep upcharges for standard customizations like milk alternatives or extra flavor. To make matters worse, they cannot even warm up their expensive pastries, leaving you with a cold croissant to match an overpriced coffee.

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    Parfait Paris

    Parfait Paris

    4.6
    (142 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    It's our third time ordering desserts and would always be back even though prices are on the higher…read moreside. Ordered our usual take out: Carrot cake, Le Noisette, and French Pudding. All were deliciously! Great spot when looking for a delicious dessert/pastries while in UTC. Courteous staff on duty. Highly recommended!

    TLDR - All style, some substance. Everything from the exterior to the foods exudes a beautiful…read moreaesthetic but the quality aside from looks does not justify the price when there are comparable and more price appropriate dessert/sweets/cafes within a 2 minute walk Parfait Paris is an adorable patisserie/cafe at the utc Westfield. The staff is friendly, anything you buy looks gorgeous and the inside is immaculate. Ambience 9/10 Lunar New Year Croissant Described as a croissant filled with sesame and almond paste, this is a good but not great croissant. It has the layers, it has the chew, but it's no better than a croissant you would get at a number of other bakeries in the area. But those other bakeries are charging $4-7 instead of $10! The almond and sesame flavors were both very subtle and make me believe there is just a very minimal amount used in the recipe. Would not recommend even as a chewy over crispy croissant guy. 5/10 Creme brûlée latte Pretty much what I wanted without description. Creamy, noticeable but not overpowering vanilla flavor, and a lovely burnt topping for bitter balance. The coffee still comes through meaning this is a well crafted latte, not a dessert. This one actually comes at a pretty decent price too. 8/10 Yuzu & lime tart Their take on meringue pie is composed of a graham crust, yuzu mousse, and a meringue topper with a circle of lemon curd gel. To my taste, there is too much sweet on this plate, needing some balance of tart. But the textures of each component were on point: fluffy meringue, thick lemon gel, dense crust, and substantial yet airy mousse. Torching the meringue at home added a bitter element which I think made the sweetness more palatable. Would have liked the citrus to be more present. 5/10. All in all I would choose other sweets shops at most shopping centers than return here but for drinks this is a pretty good option.

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    Parfait Paris
    Parfait Paris
    Iced Berry Matcha is soooo gorgeous! And yummy!

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    Iced Berry Matcha is soooo gorgeous! And yummy!
    BenGong's Tea

    BenGong's Tea

    3.8
    (315 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    10 years in business

    Came here to try Bengong's Tea in UTC for the first time. Most of the boba spots I've tried before…read morehave been Taiwanese, so I believe this is the first Chinese-style boba shop I've been to. The storefront is nice, and there's a decorative tree where you can hang notes with your wishes, which is a fun touch. They also had a random pop-up press-on nail setup inside, which was unexpected but interesting. We ordered the special boba milk tea and the jasmine boba milk tea, both with golden boba. I usually order light ice and 50-75% sugar. The special boba milk tea was sweet and tasty, and the boba itself was semi-sweet, but the tea didn't taste especially fresh. The jasmine milk tea, on the other hand, was more subtle in sweetness and tasted noticeably fresher and cleaner. One thing I did notice was inconsistency in the boba texture--some pearls were quite firm while others were very soft--which made it feel like there may have been a mix of freshness levels. Overall, pretty good tea, but a bit of a mixed experience when it comes to ingredient freshness and consistency.

    They have a wide variety of drink options to choose from. During my visit, I decided to try some of…read moretheir most popular items: the Black Milk Tea with boba and the Passion Fruit Super Fruit Cup. Overall, I found their drinks to be on the sweeter side, so I would definitely recommend adjusting the sweetness level to your preference when ordering. The Passion Fruit Super Fruit Cup was my favorite, it was refreshing, flavorful, and perfect for a warm day. The Black Milk Tea was decent, but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. Personally, I prefer a stronger tea flavor, and I felt that the tea notes were a bit too mild compared to the sweetness. The boba had a good texture, though, and the drink was still enjoyable. I would definitely come back, especially to explore more of their fruit tea options. If you enjoy refreshing and fruity drinks, this is a great spot to check out.

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    BenGong's Tea
    BenGong's Tea
    BenGong's Tea

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    Arteazen Handcrafted Tea

    Arteazen Handcrafted Tea

    3.9
    (236 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    We stopped in one evening for some after dinner drinks. Liquid dessert so to speak. Have to be…read moretruthful - wasn't a good experience. Started off good though. Lots of parking. In a plaza that appeared to be slow or dead leaving lots of space. I parked almost in front - just off to the side. Walk in and it's order at a kiosk. I get automation as it's something I do, I've done and will do as times change. However, I had questions and ended up just ordering something else as there was no human interaction to answer me. Place is deceivingly small - there are a bunch of seating - I wouldn't go in with a large group but definitely places to sit, chat or work on your laptop (saw several students? hammering away on their laptop keyboard). Not sure, but maybe they also offer WIFI.? Drinks seems watered down in my opinion. And I've ordered the same drinks at other locations and either the ingredients were off or it was prepared differently that didn't quite align to my expectations and taste. However, place was busy so maybe it's just how it's served as business was steady and I saw a few order the same as what I got. Don't live in the area so highly unlikely that there will be a return visit.

    Stopped by here on a whim and this plaza is awesome! I got the mango yakult drink and tbh the drink…read moredidn't taste like yakult at all. There was a lot of syrup in it and it just tasted like artificial mango syrup when I got it at 75% sugar. They might be using a different brand for yakult but for the prices that are being charged (avg drink is 6.75) they can have better quality. Maybe can try adding more natural/ house made syrup. But maybe it's one off and just this drink. I haven't tried the other ones but the Thai tea one looked pretty good. The staff is nice and welcoming and the vibe of the store is cozy a good study spot! Plenty of parking in the plaza!

    Photos
    Korean Strawberry Milk
    Korean Strawberry Milk
    Matcha Oreo Brûlée with Boba
    Matcha Oreo Brûlée with Boba
    Black Sugar Boba Latte

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    Black Sugar Boba Latte

    Cargo Cafe - La Jolla Reserve - coffee - Updated July 2026

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