I've loved Communal since my college days. The food has always been great, and the coffee is consistently solid. That said, the service has noticeably declined over the years. Recently, I asked a barista for water since the self-serve station was empty. He told me to go to the bar, but when I stood there waiting, the barista repeatedly walked by to call out drinks without acknowledging me. Even the cashier saw me standing there, made eye contact, and still didn't say a word as he walked past. I'll continue to support Communal because it's a wonderful shop overall, but the lack of attentiveness and basic acknowledgment from staff lately has made the experience disappointing compared to what it used to be. read more

1st visit: ordered a traditional macchiato. Cashier made a facial expression as if I was the most annoying person on the planet. "We're not like Starbucks." Yes, thank you, I can read, you are Communal. I also specifically stated that it is my favorite & 3oz is a nice and quick pick-me-up. So what does she do? She tries to sell me a latte; I do not want a latte. Listen, my options were a shot of espresso or chew on a power line, but now I wish I just went out front and did the latter. 2nd visit: Matcha was watered down and could not taste any matcha. Have not tried the food. Ambiance is cute. Staff could be more inviting. Staff needs to work on their bare minimum customer service. There's plenty of great places in North Park, that check all the boxes for me. So, I'll pass on this one. read more

It's a nice place to study but you have to come early! Every time I come here, I aim to arrive by 8:30 because the cafe fills up by 9. The menu is full of unique drinks; the coffee itself is pretty good but quite expensive. However, I think it's worth the price if you can stay for a few hours to get work done. There are many outlets available which is a plus! Service is fast and the staff is friendly. Sometimes the music can get quite loud, but it's inconsistent. read more

We wanted to try a new spot and luckily found this place on yelp near by. I came on a Friday morning around 10 AM (the cafe was already full of people). They have a few spots right outside but I had to park about a block and a half away for parking. As I entered, I was surprised by the trendy aesthetic of the cafe. The layout was thoughtful and the flow of the room makes sense. I really appreciated how spacious the room is, it looked a lot smaller from the outside but there's actually a lot of seating. They're also dog friendly which was nice considering I had my dog with me, they even gave me a pup cup. I ordered an iced salted caramel latte with oat milk and an iced hazelnut brown sugar latte. The Carmel latte tasted better than the hazelnut imo. I could hardly taste the hazelnut or brown sugar. It tasted just like a regular iced coffee in my opinion. The service was fast, considering the amount of people that were there I only had to wait a few minutes. I'll definitely come back but probably on a week day when it's less busy. read more

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Really cute spot in northpark right off of University Ave. I haven't been here for years and am pretty sure they expanded their seating areas both inside and out for a very cozy neighborhood coffee shop vibe. It was pretty crowded mostly with people working or studying. While it is pretty narrow inside sometimes the line blocks the door but the line went rather quickly for me. The menu includes coffee and non-coffee drinks as well as alcohol, breakfast and lunch foods and pastries. They have a good variety of uniquely flavored drinks and what caught my eye was the ube matcha latte. Along with that I ordered the vegan chocolate lavender donut. I only waited about 3 minutes for my drink and was able to peruse some of the items for sale, quite unique stuff! My review of the drink is that it was presented very well, smooth and flavorful. I didn't taste much of the ube flavor, perhaps very subtle to the point where I though maybe it was just a matcha latte. The vegan donut definitely tastes like one and was fine in my opinion but would probably not get this again. Go here for the delicious coffee, ambiance and community feel. read more

Communal - Ube match latte & vegan chocolate lavender donut - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love this coffeeshop! Every time I come here the staff are always so nice and answer all the questions I have about the drinks and food especially as they change things up seasonally. Good people, food and ambiance (big fan of the plants and flowers around!) Would recommend their toasts as they are always so cute. read more

Communal - Salmon toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Such an amazing spot. I always came here after church and I love how spacious it is. Really fits the name "communal" bc it is perfect for gatherings. Only con is that there is no AC in th summer. :/ great coconut latte though! read more

I absolutely loved Communal. The inside is so perfect and decorated with flowers and a tiny shop for local items. The staff is so sweet too. We ordered the Toast Flight and the Ham and Cheese Bagel along with a coffee and sparkling lemonade. The toast flight was amazing. I swapped out one of them for the Deviled Egg toast because I was dying to try it. It ended up being my favorite out of the three!! I also loved the Avocado Toast too, but not so much the Peach Ricotta. Still loved to give them a try! There's also a flower shop inside which was so cute. So much to do in such a quaint little coffee shop. Definitely worth a visit!! read more

Communal - Lemonade - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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If you want to pay $7-8 for half and half with a hint of expresso, this is the place for you. This place is not good. They barely put anything but sugar and cream in their drinks. I'm giving one star because the staff sorta tried. It's the drink that's yuck. Had to go to Starbucks afterwards to get some coffee to add to my $7 half and half. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Communal is exactly what you're looking for when you think of an "instagram coffee shop". It's beautiful scenery, a lot of good seating- indoor and outdoor. It's a great to take a friend who's visiting or meet with someone, perfect coffee date. Service is cool and coffee options are good. Street parking is 50/50, either super empty and you park close or the area may be busy and you may have to walk a block or two. Still worth it. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

SUCH a cute coffee shop!!! I came here to study and it was so spacious. It was pretty crowded for Friday during day but there were spots available. There's some spots next to the coffee bar with no outlets and other tables/chairs with outlets available. I love the big windows and bright light for studying. There's also large tables towards the back that can set multiple people. I ordered the honey lavender latte and it was delicious! WiFi is very fast. Parking can be challenging there's a really small lot that offers 30 minute only parking with remaining street parking available. There's a bathroom out back. Decor is very modern chiq with lots of cute plants and floral bouquets. Will come here again to study for sure! read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Communal in North Park is always my go to coffee shop! They have the best crafted lattes and seasonal coffee flavors. They do a great job with adding seasonal items and keeps the menu fresh as well as their coffee selection that stays the same. The people who take the orders greet me well always, and this spot is always busy. Parking, there are only three spots plus disable parking spot, and plenty of street parking around. There is outdoor and indoor seating. Inside they have a little shop with cute little books, flowers, and some other cute items, I love to check it out while I wait for my coffee to be ready. I recommend this place, it's so cute and I would bring my friends if they wanted coffee! read more

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There is 30 min parking spots in the tiny, tiny space shared by the garden store and Communal (turn in from Texas St) and street parking around the corner. Very cute coffee shop with food menu (brunch, light lunch), some baked goods, and drink menu that has more exciting drink options than the average (ube matcha latte, honey lavendar, hazelnut brown sugar latte, etc). I like that their menu also has a kid menu -- that is unusual for most cafes. The only baked goods they had when I visited on a Wednesday afternoon were donuts. The signs in the display case mentioned many types of baked goods, but donuts were behind every sign. They have "normal donuts" as well as vegan+gluten-free ones. I tried the Earl Grey vegan+gluten-free donut and the taste and texture was like a very dry cake. The frosting indeed had an early grey floral taste but I will not try any more vegan/gluten-free ones in the future. I got the iced hazelnut brown sugar latte with oat milk. Lightly sweet and light coffee flavor without bitterness. The hazelnut taste is light but overall decent drink. The gift shop is super cute and features items made of natural materials and available natural pallatte tones. There is some outdoor seating featuring a random assortment of tiny tables. The feeling of the shop befits the name. Friendly staff! read more

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I got their vanilla bean latte and a chocolate chip cookie. Loved it both so much. Great coffee and great beans! My sister bought two bags to bring home and we were obsessed with the smell. We loved how curated their merch was, from their tote bags to the wine they sell. The service was nice. The ordering interaction we had was very sweet. Seating is hard to find, everyone seems to be on their computers working away and networking. Only sucky thing is parking is hard to find, which seems to be the norm in San Diego. But I'm glad we stuck it out and circled the block multiple times just to get a spot! read more

I love the decor and ambiance of this coffee shop in North Park. It also serves as a flower shop so they have a bunch of great plants decorating the shop. Their food menu is pretty good to so work your way down the menu! read more

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They have a wide selection of drinks and so much seating. This is my favorite place to go study because it is huge and the wifi is great

Cute spot near North Park that's open later than most of the other nearby coffee spots. We grabbed a latte, which was good! A little less strong of an espresso taste than I'm used to, but good overall. Clean, bright and airy atmosphere! (Pro tip, the bathrooms are outside, hoping to save others some searching time.) read more

Love that it's dog friendly! Order ahead online to-go or order and get a number so they can drop your food off to you. If you get a drink, hangout inside into your name is called. There's a variety of seating inside and outside. Dogs are allowed inside too! There is also cute decor, gifts, jewelry, baby clothes, etc for sale. There is one single stall bathroom, so there usually is a line, and you must ask for the code. There are a few free parking spots so we found parking in the neighborhood. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Really cute coffee shop with great lattes as well! Communal coffee is a great place to get work done or just hang out! They have lots of cute cards and little things to shop as well. The staff here was very nice and willing to answer any questions. I ordered the latte flight which includes two lattes with syrups of your choice. I went with the honey lavender and the hazelnut brown sugar. Both were really good. I did get it with Oatmilk which was an additional charge. You do get less with the flight but it's nice if you would prefer two flavors. My cousin ordered the ube matcha latte which I tried as well. It was a subtle ube flavor and a nice sweetness. I enjoyed it as well. The bathroom is shared with the flower nursery next door so there may be a bit of a wait as there is only one bathroom. read more

Communal - Ube Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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My coworker recommended this cute little gem and I haven't stopped going since. Their matcha is delicious and refreshing. They have little trinkets inside and have a ton of room to sit (except when it's busy). Staff is friendly and helpful when explaining drink/food options. Their avocado toast, although a bit pricey, is delicious and looks well made. I try and bring all my friends to this location to enjoy a cup of matcha. If you're ever in the area or visiting SD please give Communal a try! (Warning: there is not a ton of parking available especially during rush hour so plan to walk a few blocks!) read more

Communal - The matcha & avo toast are a 10/10! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

One of my favorite coffee shops in San Diego! I remember coming here often as a university student to study and coming back now, it's great to see how much their menu has grown! What's so special about this place is the fact that it's next to a nursery. Perfect for plant lovers! They also have what seems to be a flower shop where you can order custom bouquets. On top of that there are a lot of tables which accommodate the huge crowd they get. I will say if you want to study to come early to secure a spot. Dog friendly as well as great employees! This shop is the perfect shop to go to for a little self care day. The vibes and aesthetics are perfect. My boyfriend got a cappuccino and said it was one of the best cappuccinos he's had. I opted for an iced matcha and ube latte. It was good but not the best matcha latte I've had. I could barely taste the ube. We also shared a bowl of chilaquiles which was surprisingly spicy. I wish there was an option to add chorizo but other than that it was delicious! read more

Communal - Chilaquiles - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

We got a mocha, ube latte, cappuccino, lox bagel and the vegan egg frittata sandwich. Food was delicious and fresh. The mocha was good too! Service was quick and the ambiance was cute. read more

Great matcha late and bagel sandwich. I loved their vibe; it is great as a study spot or a place to sip some tea and read a book. There is seating both inside and outside, which is great for sunny days. The inside has a ton of plants and a very cozy vibe. read more

Aesthetically 5/5, this place is super cute inside and out. Customer service - non existent. Workers are not friendly or welcoming. As another reviewer stated, you really have to pay attention to when they call your order. They didn't ask for our names or mark the drinks. Coffee 2/5 - the coconut cream cold brew was bitter and not good. It was a waste of a drink. My bf got an iced matcha and it tasted better. I'll stick with going to Holsem coffee shop next time. read more

Very good, best coffee and people. Love going there. Service is amazing, and taste even better

I came here right before my hair appointment as I was starving and needed something quick to eat. As everyone states, this place is cute and aesthetically pleasing. This place reminds me of Pigment with the flower bouquets and merch occupying the open areas. Since this is also a place to sit, study, or grab a bite to eat, there's different types of drinks from caffeinated to alcoholic. I was informed that the food menu can change, and some beverage items are seasonal. I tried the salmon bagel sandwich, which was good but way overpriced imo. With the price point, I would expect to have at least a small side with it l, like chips, fruit, or a salad. I was still a little hungry after my bagel :( Unfortunately, I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture of the salmon bagel! My daughter had the turkey pesto sandwich, and she said it was okay. She was also hungry afterward. For my drink, I had the lemon almond latte, which is a seasonal drink. It tasted like biscotti. I would order again. My daughter thought the Iced Raspberry Mint Limeade was refreshing. There is an option to order online, which is a good option since the line to order can be quite long, and then you have to wait a bit afterward. I'm not sure if I would buy the food items again since it was expensive for the amount of food that we were getting. I would try only their beverage items again. Mixed emotions with this experience. I would say that this is more like a 3.5-star experience. read more

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Love it best coffee shop, nice aesthetic and lots of room to study at. My go to coffee shop. Good drinks and reasonable price

This place is so cozy and honey and the servers are the best!! So welcoming! We highly recommend. Most syrups are made in-house. They also have a separate sitting area that is so cute. read more

Well designed interior with earthy greens as a pop of color amongst clean whites and wood tones. Things you should know: I. PARKING Limited parking on the back side (3 spaces) & street parking available II. SERVICE I liked that Communal Coffee offers a self-service water station. What makes this cafe unique is the on-sight florist. They run out of pastries by the early evening, so it's safe to say their supply is very limited but fresh. Coffee and alcohol are both served here. There's also indoor and outdoor seating. III. QUALITY Their red wine, here, is pretty good ~ highly recommend. I don't advise, however, sitting in the wood chairs by the dish drop off area because bugs WILL get into your food/drink. It was the only seating available during my visit and I was disgusted to find 3 nats in my singular glass of wine. IV. CAPACITY Packed on the weekends. This place is lively. I would try and visit during a weekday to get more available seat options. read more

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Great place to study if you can find a spot but honestly their coffee and food isn't all that. It's not necessarily bad but never really a go to spot read more

The drinks and the food were great! My only issue is the prices are INSANE for the amount of food you get. We're leaving full and happy, but for the two of us with a drink and food item came out to about $55 with a tip. Not bad I guess since we liked it a lot. My other issue is the bathroom situation is kind of wild. The bathroom does not lock and I had to go outside through the busy courtyard I guess. I just wish there was another bathroom inside or something. Only one bathroom is kinda crazy with the amount of customers. Overall though, we would totally come back. And I would definitely recommend checking out atleast once. Especially if you're needing just a quick bite to eat! read more

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I went with my girlfriend for the first time to this coffee shop and we had the best experience! From the coffee itself tasting amazing to the wonderful customer service and attention to detail from Andrea it made for a great first trip here. Will definitely be coming back! read more

There's a wealth of serious coffee options in the University Heights neighborhood. In my search for the best possible espresso, I was fortunate to try a few of them during a week in the area. Communal pulls great quality espresso from good quality beans. The drinks didn't stand out from the competition, but the location is super duper fancy and upmarket. Communal is part spiffy boutique and flower shop. There is cool home decor merch and other goodies to browse. The vibes are very nice, with fancy decor fit for social media posts and meeting up with socialites and business magnates. I enjoyed the coffee and the visit, but I felt under-dressed in my dad clothes. Overall, this is legit coffee in a nice setting. If you can find parking or walk, Communal is worth a shot. read more

Okay -- Communal, I love to love ya but why the early closures so often? If it's lack of staff or event buyouts can you at least let us know on Insta right quick? This is the 3rd time I've come in the afternoon to do work and had but 45 minutes here as they were "closing at 430: thank you for understanding." I, and the patrons all walking to the shop this afternoon, would be a lot more understanding if you told us in advance. A quick swipe on the 'gram and no news was shared. It's a waste of a drive, a park, and a walk down carrying my turtle-heavy load of work stuff to be turned away. Since writing this, I've watched at least 2 more disappointed coffee lovers come back to their cars. I stopped a group of 3 on their way to let them know, to which one answered, "they always do this." Communal: let us know what's up. You have Yelp, email, Instagram, Google hours, every tool to do this. read more

Had a super yummy breakfast here. Love the ceremonial matcha. My bf had the brown sugar latte and it was smooth. We both enjoyed our bagel sandwiches-- I had the salmon and he had the ham. Lots of searing inside and out. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Tbh coffee is fine, but holy crap if I am paying $13+20% tip it would be cool if the avocado toast was not sad and pathetic. Like for real what is this. It was the size of my (tiny) hand, the avocado tasted mid af, and like hardly any seasoning? This is a dig at the owner not the folks working here obviously. Also companies that don't take cash are giving elitist vibes lol. read more

Communal - Overpriced avocado toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Communal is always, ALWAYS a slam dunk. I'm not an adventurous coffee drinker but I've tried a few different espresso drink from Communal and all have been 10/10. Their food is also to die for! More than just typical baked goods (they also have those) but delicious, unique breakfast or lunch bites to choose from. It's easily one of my favorite coffee joins. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Cute place with plenty of seating and great coffee options. Loved hanging out here recently on a Saturday evening. The parking scene seemed tight but overall great joint. read more

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This place has all the pros with only one con (for me personally). The only con is not much parking but then again it's North Park so you already know the situation there. Anyways, if you're a local or not, it's a great shop for some coffee and yes you guessed it, flowers. I love sitting at the bar table to catch up on emails as the music isn't too loud whenever I'm in there. The gift cards are too cute so whether I need them or not I like to grab some to keep on hand for any rising occasion. The staff is nice and I can't comment on the food since I usually just order coffee when I stop in. read more

Communal - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

$8 to not shake the oat milk is crazy ... also it's not even close to being full? With so many other coffee places in the area, I think I'll skip this one next time read more

Communal - Golden Coast Iced Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California