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I've been meaning to come to this location in Golden Hill for a while now, especially since Mutual Ice Cream is right next door. Sadly the ice cream shop was closed when I came back around 2pm. I found that to be odd, or perhaps it was open~ it was dark and doors were closed. But anyways, thankfully, Dark Horse Coffee Roasters was still open till I believe 3:30pm! (I went on a Sunday). They have indoor seating and a big space outdoor for seating. We found parking on the street, no paying needed. They also have a bathroom, which is nice, but most people don't ask for the key (since it's essentially open, only locked when in use). The door is frosted and you can see the outline of someone as they stand near it. I think it could be a little more frosty! There were a lot of workers the day I went and they were nice. The prices were good for specialty lattes and the guy informed us that both sizes use the same amount of shots (2), the only difference is quantity of milk! I got a classic, $6, 12 oz Iced Salted Maple (S'Maple) Latte. It was good, but I wouldn't mind if the salted maple was more flavorful. It's quite subtle! The outdoor space is really great for meet ups with large groups of family/friends/work. I think this location is really lovely and would recommend people to come check it out!
Solid coffee recommendation. I've tried their hot oat milk latte and their iced vanilla oat milk latte and actually finished both before going cold/melting, respectively. They only have two breakfast sandwiches and two bagel options. They make for a nice light breakfast but emphasis on the LIGHT. For $10, it leaves you wanting/needing more for sure. Nice outdoor seating areas and they keep a clean bathroom. No frills service inside. Just a counter with some warm smiles behind it - you order and you walk back up to pick up when it's ready.
Coffee is strong! Just how I like it. My order was ready really quickly and it was really delicious. It's a nice spot to get some work done on your laptop.
Food: 5/5 Drinks: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 I love the Dark Horse brand across the board, but the Golden Hill location has consistently been my favorite. The baristas are kind and efficient, and they remember my dogs which of course wins me over instantly. The location itself is super convenient: easily walkable, a fair amount of street parking, and easy access right off the highway. I also really appreciate that they have lots of outdoor seating and offer pup cups, so I feel comfortable stopping by with my dogs. I also love that they have a rewards program via Cash App/phone number/the credit card you use. It's especially convenient that this is all tracked digitally and automatically when you swipe your credit card. For drinks, I've ordered: The Champ (iced): 4/5 A very popular choice. I do enjoy this coffee and the honey flavor is lovely, but the cinnamon can be a bit strong for me. They use powdered cinnamon over the top, which from a texture standpoint isn't my favorite. I do find the cinnamon is less overpowering when this drink is ordered hot instead of iced. Salted Maple Latte (iced): 5/5 This is my go-to. Delicious, strong coffee without being bitter and very well balanced overall. The maple flavor doesn't jump out in an obvious way, but adds a subtle sweetness that isn't overly sweet or sharp. Interestingly, I think the 16oz is better balanced than the 12oz in terms of coffee/milk/maple ratios. Pumpkin Spiced Latte (hot): 3/5 I'm not the biggest pumpkin spice latte fan, so I wasn't expecting to love this. It does have a clear pumpkin spice flavor, but the texture coats the mouth a bit more than I prefer (likely from the pumpkin), which is part of why this isn't my favorite. For food, I've ordered: Vegan Donuts: 5/5 I thought these used to be made by a sister company of Dark Horse, but I believe they're now sourced from Nomad Donuts. They usually have 1-2 rotating flavors each day, and since the main difference is the glaze on top, you really can't go wrong with any flavor you get. The texture is closer to a cake donut. Super tasty and not too sweet. Almond Cake: 5/5 Delicious and decadent. Very light, sweet, and crumbly. This isn't something I'd get regularly since it's just a bit too sweet for me without feeling like dessert, but it's undeniably tasty. To summarize, this is a consistently solid location with great service, excellent drinks, and small bites that pair perfectly with your favorite cup of joe. This is my go-to neighborhood coffee stop.
First time trying this spot after passing by it in Golden Hill, and it did not disappoint. The sandwich and coffee were both delicious, and the outdoor seating is beautiful; perfect for photos. Had to snap a few quick shots of my man while we were there.
Great coffee shop in a new modern decor building. Some parking on street in front of building but plenty of parking around the corner. Espresso is smooth but with dark roasted flavor. Vanilla latte had focus on coffee, lightly sweetened with vanilla. Added an extra shot to make up for no ice in my drink and got the ice anyways. At least the extra shot was on the house. Solid drink.
First off, beautiful interior. Great place to get some work or reading done. Plenty of treats & breakfast items to choose from, especially vegan ones It was hard to pick which latte to choose from as they all sounded amazing but I ordered an iced champ with almond milk. I gotta give it to their espresso, it was very smooth. Think of a perfectly sweetened honey latte Overall amazing coffee shop with really friendly staff
My husband and I stopped by here so I could grab some breakfast and so we could also hide from the rain. I dined in but they still gave me all plastic dishware which was okay, but I just prefer actual dishware. Even though my latte was served in a plastic cup, they still made the effort of making some latte art so that was nice. I ordered their breakfast sandwich without meat and it was quite tasty, although I wish there would have already been a vegetarian option. Since the walls of the place are technically these mobile window/door things, there's lots of natural sunlight which I like. Service was also friendly too. It's kind of in a weird location which makes it difficult to find parking, but there seemed to be some street parking not too far from the shop. If I lived in the San Diego area, maybe I would be someone who would frequent this place !
This is a local SD chain that a lot of people (hipsters) swear by. All in all it was alright. We tried the dirty chai and the salted maple. Both tasted the same with one just having more cinnamon (the maple). The portions are sadly on the small side and on the bland side. Neither creamy nor sweet. Parking is street. Many people put on their hazards and run in really quickly. There's a few places to sit inside but it's also attached to an apartment location that has some outdoor seating options. All in all will probs go elsewhere.
I love the coffee, love the alternative/indie vibe, love the service at Dark Horse Coffee Roasters Golden Hill. I think I found my go-to-spot for a chill work time coffee session. 5/5 champ iced coffee, 16 oz, $6.75: deliciously cold, lusciously creamy, and sweet from honey, cinnamon, a shot of house made espresso and Califia Farms almond milk. This truly is good coffee made with love from friendly humans. I thank the helpful and knowledgeable staff for their recommendation to my awesome first drink at Dark Horse. 5/5 ambiance: the interior space is spotless and has lots of natural light entering through their aluminum-glass window and door storefront. Furniture is eclectic with live edge wood benches, fixed concrete tables with the metal Dark Horse icon, and comfy Celeste-blue, tolix style metal chairs. Music by Beach fossils, Radiohead, Lou Reed, and Melody's were playing slow jams and new sensations overhead in this soothing audio echo chamber. 3/5 parking: only street parking was available, which was quite easy to find nearby.
I'm originally from San Diego, and I'm missing the hometown a little more with the Padres at the 2022 NLCS/semifinals. I wanted to highlight a favorite local business I haven't reviewed yet. Nine years ago, I first heard of cold brew coffee and had my first taste at the original Dark Horse in North Park. The flavor was bright and I was pleasantly surprised! This review is really for the time my husband and I visited the Grant Hill location last spring. In short, Dark Horse was our favorite coffee during our San Diego visit. A few days before our visit, my sister let me try a sip of her iced vanilla latte. I was amazed by the espresso flavor of her drink that we had to visit for ourselves. When we finally visited, the hubby ordered a haupia foam (coconut flavor) cold brew, and I ordered an iced salted maple latte to try their espresso once again with another flavor. Wow, words couldn't express how much we both loved the coffee flavors of our drinks! My husband and I know our coffee fairly well, and this coffee had a rich flavor without tasting burnt. If time allows, I hope we'll make another trip to Dark Horse and try a hot drink next time we're in San Diego! P.S. The haupia foam cold brew was apparently invited at the Kauai, Hawaii Dark Horse location. So glad a location is just a 40 minute flight away from us, coming from Oahu!
I have only tried dark horse once and thought the place was good. I wanted to give them another try after seeing their holiday drinks. The space is on the smaller side but they have seating outside if there isn't any inside. The cashier was nice, took my order and it came out about 5 minutes later. I will say the girls working seemed a bit confused about which egg nog to use for the egg nog latte. Overall the drink was decently i think more nutmeg or cinnamon would've really brought the drink flavor or maybe a different roast ?
The coffee here was just so so. It wasn't our favorite but it tasted okay. I thought the donut was very good though! It tasted fresh! The customer service was also very good and they take their time making the coffee which is always nice. We did see an arrest going on right around the corner from the store so that made us a little nervous about the location of the store.
1 month ago
Stopped by here for a quick coffee and I decided to order the Champ with honey and extra cinnamon. The worker was really nice, he was trying to recommend me the ones he thought I'd like the best. Helped me decide on this drink and it's was really good. read more
This is what a $12 burrito gets you. It's literally just potatoes, eggs, and sausage with a side of salsa. It tastes like I made it at home. I wouldn't recommend getting this and if there are any other coffee shops in the area, go there instead! Loll! read more
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Hi An! We are so sorry to hear that, we are in the middle of testing…
8 months ago
I've been meaning to come to this location in Golden Hill for a while now, especially since Mutual Ice Cream is right next door. Sadly the ice cream shop was closed when I came back around 2pm. I found that to be odd, or perhaps it was open~ it was dark and doors were closed. But anyways, thankfully, Dark Horse Coffee Roasters was still open till I believe 3:30pm! (I went on a Sunday). They have indoor seating and a big space outdoor for seating. We found parking on the street, no paying needed. They also have a bathroom, which is nice, but most people don't ask for the key (since it's essentially open, only locked when in use). The door is frosted and you can see the outline of someone as they stand near it. I think it could be a little more frosty! There were a lot of workers the day I went and they were nice. The prices were good for specialty lattes and the guy informed us that both sizes use the same amount of shots (2), the only difference is quantity of milk! I got a classic, $6, 12 oz Iced Salted Maple (S'Maple) Latte. It was good, but I wouldn't mind if the salted maple was more flavorful. It's quite subtle! The outdoor space is really great for meet ups with large groups of family/friends/work. I think this location is really lovely and would recommend people to come check it out! read more
11 months ago
Solid coffee recommendation. I've tried their hot oat milk latte and their iced vanilla oat milk latte and actually finished both before going cold/melting, respectively. They only have two breakfast sandwiches and two bagel options. They make for a nice light breakfast but emphasis on the LIGHT. For $10, it leaves you wanting/needing more for sure. Nice outdoor seating areas and they keep a clean bathroom. No frills service inside. Just a counter with some warm smiles behind it - you order and you walk back up to pick up when it's ready. read more
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Thank you so much Darlene! Hope to see you again soon :)
Coffee is strong! Just how I like it. My order was ready really quickly and it was really delicious. It's a nice spot to get some work done on your laptop. read more
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Andrea!! You are the coolest thank you so much for taking the time to…
Food: 5/5 Drinks: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 I love the Dark Horse brand across the board, but the Golden Hill location has consistently been my favorite. The baristas are kind and efficient, and they remember my dogs which of course wins me over instantly. The location itself is super convenient: easily walkable, a fair amount of street parking, and easy access right off the highway. I also really appreciate that they have lots of outdoor seating and offer pup cups, so I feel comfortable stopping by with my dogs. I also love that they have a rewards program via Cash App/phone number/the credit card you use. It's especially convenient that this is all tracked digitally and automatically when you swipe your credit card. For drinks, I've ordered: The Champ (iced): 4/5 A very popular choice. I do enjoy this coffee and the honey flavor is lovely, but the cinnamon can be a bit strong for me. They use powdered cinnamon over the top, which from a texture standpoint isn't my favorite. I do find the cinnamon is less overpowering when this drink is ordered hot instead of iced. Salted Maple Latte (iced): 5/5 This is my go-to. Delicious, strong coffee without being bitter and very well balanced overall. The maple flavor doesn't jump out in an obvious way, but adds a subtle sweetness that isn't overly sweet or sharp. Interestingly, I think the 16oz is better balanced than the 12oz in terms of coffee/milk/maple ratios. Pumpkin Spiced Latte (hot): 3/5 I'm not the biggest pumpkin spice latte fan, so I wasn't expecting to love this. It does have a clear pumpkin spice flavor, but the texture coats the mouth a bit more than I prefer (likely from the pumpkin), which is part of why this isn't my favorite. For food, I've ordered: Vegan Donuts: 5/5 I thought these used to be made by a sister company of Dark Horse, but I believe they're now sourced from Nomad Donuts. They usually have 1-2 rotating flavors each day, and since the main difference is the glaze on top, you really can't go wrong with any flavor you get. The texture is closer to a cake donut. Super tasty and not too sweet. Almond Cake: 5/5 Delicious and decadent. Very light, sweet, and crumbly. This isn't something I'd get regularly since it's just a bit too sweet for me without feeling like dessert, but it's undeniably tasty. To summarize, this is a consistently solid location with great service, excellent drinks, and small bites that pair perfectly with your favorite cup of joe. This is my go-to neighborhood coffee stop. read more
5 months ago
First time trying this spot after passing by it in Golden Hill, and it did not disappoint. The sandwich and coffee were both delicious, and the outdoor seating is beautiful; perfect for photos. Had to snap a few quick shots of my man while we were there. read more
Great coffee shop in a new modern decor building. Some parking on street in front of building but plenty of parking around the corner. Espresso is smooth but with dark roasted flavor. Vanilla latte had focus on coffee, lightly sweetened with vanilla. Added an extra shot to make up for no ice in my drink and got the ice anyways. At least the extra shot was on the house. Solid drink. read more
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Thank you so much Heath! Your kindness means so much
11 months ago
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Kenneth!!! Oh man thank you so much for your review, it truly does…
2 years ago
First off, beautiful interior. Great place to get some work or reading done. Plenty of treats & breakfast items to choose from, especially vegan ones It was hard to pick which latte to choose from as they all sounded amazing but I ordered an iced champ with almond milk. I gotta give it to their espresso, it was very smooth. Think of a perfectly sweetened honey latte Overall amazing coffee shop with really friendly staff read more
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Thank you so much for stopping by, we hope to see you at DH again…
2 years ago
My husband and I stopped by here so I could grab some breakfast and so we could also hide from the rain. I dined in but they still gave me all plastic dishware which was okay, but I just prefer actual dishware. Even though my latte was served in a plastic cup, they still made the effort of making some latte art so that was nice. I ordered their breakfast sandwich without meat and it was quite tasty, although I wish there would have already been a vegetarian option. Since the walls of the place are technically these mobile window/door things, there's lots of natural sunlight which I like. Service was also friendly too. It's kind of in a weird location which makes it difficult to find parking, but there seemed to be some street parking not too far from the shop. If I lived in the San Diego area, maybe I would be someone who would frequent this place ! read more
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Thank you so much for your kind review Tiffany! Means so much!
4 months ago
3 years ago
This is a local SD chain that a lot of people (hipsters) swear by. All in all it was alright. We tried the dirty chai and the salted maple. Both tasted the same with one just having more cinnamon (the maple). The portions are sadly on the small side and on the bland side. Neither creamy nor sweet. Parking is street. Many people put on their hazards and run in really quickly. There's a few places to sit inside but it's also attached to an apartment location that has some outdoor seating options. All in all will probs go elsewhere. read more
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Hey Catrina- we are bummed to hear that we fell short on this visit.…
4 years ago
I love the coffee, love the alternative/indie vibe, love the service at Dark Horse Coffee Roasters Golden Hill. I think I found my go-to-spot for a chill work time coffee session. 5/5 champ iced coffee, 16 oz, $6.75: deliciously cold, lusciously creamy, and sweet from honey, cinnamon, a shot of house made espresso and Califia Farms almond milk. This truly is good coffee made with love from friendly humans. I thank the helpful and knowledgeable staff for their recommendation to my awesome first drink at Dark Horse. 5/5 ambiance: the interior space is spotless and has lots of natural light entering through their aluminum-glass window and door storefront. Furniture is eclectic with live edge wood benches, fixed concrete tables with the metal Dark Horse icon, and comfy Celeste-blue, tolix style metal chairs. Music by Beach fossils, Radiohead, Lou Reed, and Melody's were playing slow jams and new sensations overhead in this soothing audio echo chamber. 3/5 parking: only street parking was available, which was quite easy to find nearby. read more
I'm originally from San Diego, and I'm missing the hometown a little more with the Padres at the 2022 NLCS/semifinals. I wanted to highlight a favorite local business I haven't reviewed yet. Nine years ago, I first heard of cold brew coffee and had my first taste at the original Dark Horse in North Park. The flavor was bright and I was pleasantly surprised! This review is really for the time my husband and I visited the Grant Hill location last spring. In short, Dark Horse was our favorite coffee during our San Diego visit. A few days before our visit, my sister let me try a sip of her iced vanilla latte. I was amazed by the espresso flavor of her drink that we had to visit for ourselves. When we finally visited, the hubby ordered a haupia foam (coconut flavor) cold brew, and I ordered an iced salted maple latte to try their espresso once again with another flavor. Wow, words couldn't express how much we both loved the coffee flavors of our drinks! My husband and I know our coffee fairly well, and this coffee had a rich flavor without tasting burnt. If time allows, I hope we'll make another trip to Dark Horse and try a hot drink next time we're in San Diego! P.S. The haupia foam cold brew was apparently invited at the Kauai, Hawaii Dark Horse location. So glad a location is just a 40 minute flight away from us, coming from Oahu! read more
I have only tried dark horse once and thought the place was good. I wanted to give them another try after seeing their holiday drinks. The space is on the smaller side but they have seating outside if there isn't any inside. The cashier was nice, took my order and it came out about 5 minutes later. I will say the girls working seemed a bit confused about which egg nog to use for the egg nog latte. Overall the drink was decently i think more nutmeg or cinnamon would've really brought the drink flavor or maybe a different roast ? read more
2 years ago
The coffee here was just so so. It wasn't our favorite but it tasted okay. I thought the donut was very good though! It tasted fresh! The customer service was also very good and they take their time making the coffee which is always nice. We did see an arrest going on right around the corner from the store so that made us a little nervous about the location of the store. read more
3 years ago
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters is my weekday morning savior, rescuing me from the abyss of pre-caffeine doom. I roll in nearly every weekday morning with my coworkers, eyes half-open, courtesy of my late-night gaming and anime escapades--because who needs sleep when there are digital realms to conquer and animated sagas to binge? Did you know that One Piece has 1,100 episodes? WHY? Watching all of them can be exhausting! The Vanilla Latte is my morning muse, a sweet symphony of flavors that serenades my taste buds. And let's talk about the iced Champ--cool, refreshing, and the caffeinated crusade against the drowsy aftermath of grinding for hours in PVP to get a shader that makes my in-game drip look fire. These drinks turn me from a sleep-deprived zombie into a semi-functional human. Now, onto the garlic and chive cream cheese, a magical concoction that transforms the everything bagel into a culinary masterpiece. But here's the catch--it's so good that it sells out faster than tickets to a Taylor Swift concert. I've had moments of cream cheese despair when they run out, but then I turn to the cheese pastry which is also FIRE! As I sip and savor, Misha and Blake are always killin it with the vibes! Cheers to the coolest coffee joint in town! read more
Dark Horse was the closest coffee shop to my Airbnb so I ended up coming here 3 times in a 3 day span. The interior was simple but cute, and it was never empty or super crowded - always somewhere in the middle. Each time, I got a hot Matcha latte (very good, not too sweet) and my friends enjoyed the vegan breakfast sandwich and Iced Salted Maple Latte. The staff were members were all cheerful/friendly and even gave me a free sticker when I asked if they sold any. Speaking of which, the coffee shop had the cutest merch and I ended up buying a pair of fun socks. Would return again! read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Kristen — So sorry about your recent experience, we are bummed to…
This is the first time I came to this location, but the second time I've been to a Dark Horse in general. I ordered The Champ, which I've had before and I was a little disappointed because I felt like it was more milk than it should have been. Like, it didn't taste bad or anything but it was too much milk for sure. The staff wasn't super friendly, not that they have to be, but I didn't want to go back up to them and ask them to remake my drink or anything. That's on me, though. It could have been an off day, and I'll give them a second chance, but for me it was just an okay experience. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
tucked in little golden hill! Small inside but very cute & they have outdoor seating. In the mornings it can get very busy with a line, if you go around 11am- noon it's more calmed down. Perfect for Sundays if you stayed up late the night before! Drinks: Iced Vanilla Latte w/ oat milk. Not too sweet, not too strong but strong enough! Great lattes at DK. We also tried the churro donuts- they are beyondddd amazing! If you're thinking about trying one don't think just do! read more
1 year ago
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Thank you so much Kate! Your feedback means so much
Absolutely love this place! The drinks are awesome, the donuts are bomb, and the set up was nice and spacious at this location. My go to drink here is the champ, which I love hot or cold. The drink consists of espresso, steamed milk (oat is the best), honey, and cinnamon. Simple drink yet smooth to drink and great flavor. The donuts are just moist, fresh, and mmmmm delicious. I have pretty much tried all of their donut flavors and love em all. But almond, when available is my favorite. The location was off the freeway and had good street parking available. The interior was large and clean. The service was quick and friendly. And prices were reasonable for a coffee shop. Great choice for good coffee/espresso!! read more
3 years ago
Dark Horse was my favorite shop in all of SD. The aesthetic was 10/10 the drink was 10/10 but most importantly the customer service was 11/10. Great marketing and beans. This shop is a must try. read more
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Thanks for stopping by Logan, hope to see you around the shop again…
3 years ago
I loved this latte so much it legit made my day thank you dude with long blond hair I'm so happy read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
2 years ago
I got a vanilla latte and my husband got a drip coffee. Both were really good. The service was fast and efficient. The coffee shop ambiance was perfect for a coffee shop. read more
2 years ago
Business owner information
Kayleigh L.
Thank you, this means so much to us. We hope to see you around the…
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More info about Dark Horse Coffee Roasters
811 25th St
Ste 100
San Diego, CA 92102
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(619) 344-0500
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http://www.darkhorsecoffeeroasters.com
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Ask the Community - Dark Horse Coffee Roasters
Do any of their locations offer private parking?
No. All of their locations only offer street parking. But it's fairly easy to find parking at most locations.
What time is a good time to get a table to study at?
Dark Horse on 25th has huge outdoor patio, covered w/ several tables to choose from.
How are the donuts here at Dark Horse?
They are vegan and actually pretty good! There are usually 3-4 different flavors available, sometimes frosted/glazed, sometimes plain. Give 'em a try!
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