I came in for a cappuccino. It had a nice layout. If you sit outside it has some nice views. The service was ok. My cappuccino was ok. Nothing special. It had way too much foam but some people may really like this. I just wasn't that much of a fan. I would come back here again but I would never go out of my way to come here. I really wish I can give 3 1/2 stars instead of 3. read more

Encanto Cafe - Cappuccino - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Sorry not ever coming back. This place is horrible in service and food, overall quality sucks. First of all, drinks were wrong, hot instead of iced drinks we ordered, the matcha basically taste like milk only and when I asked them if it's possible to add a bit more it matcha powder they charged me when it's not even "matcha". We waited over an hour for the food!!! Arrived at 11:53 am and food came after 1:00 pm!!! There was only 2 tables when we arrived!!!!! I saw the cook flipping and touching all the breads with bare hands and mopping the kitchen table with a dirty mop and then touched the eggs and avocado right away. No napkins, and when I went to ask for some napkins, got stared at and the girl gave me 2 napkins for 6 people. And last but not least, short hair in the sandwich!!!!!! Prob from the only guy who was preparing food. Never coming back to this place again. They don't even serve read more

I really wanted to love this place. The coffee shop has such a charming, cute atmosphere and the location is perfect--super convenient and inviting from the outside. Unfortunately, the experience inside didn't match the exterior charm. I ordered the chilaquiles, which arrived with a weird temperature situation: the outside was cold while the inside was hot, like they'd been sitting out or reheated unevenly. The strawberry matcha was also a disappointment--it had almost no flavor at all, just vaguely sweet water with a hint of green. The biggest issue though was the customer service. We walked in and didn't get a single greeting or "welcome." No eye contact, no smile, nothing. Then, while we were literally still eating, a staff member started aggressively clearing trash and wiping the table right next to us. It felt incredibly rude, like they couldn't wait for us to leave. Cute spot with potential, but the lack of basic hospitality and inconsistent food made this a one-and-done visit for me. read more

Really really amazing location and cafe is gorgeous! Has beautiful patio seating and indoors is just as magical. However, the coffee is really not great here. I got an iced lavender latte and I really didn't like it. It tasted super watery and chemically, espresso was not strong at all. My friend got a vanilla latte and it was the same. However, my other friends got the iced pistachio latte and iced Mexican mocha and those two were pretty good. If you come here, I'd recommend the pistachio latte or Mexican mocha. Otherwise, there are better places to get coffee in La Jolla! read more

I really really wanted to enjoy this place. I have driven past but never got the opportunity to take a visit due to parking. Today I got lucky, and figured why not grab a coffee and maybe some food and do some homework while enjoying the ambiance? The two stars are for two things- 1, the ambiance. It is gorgeous, comfy, aesthetically pleasing, welcoming and the music is great! They had a nice blend of Christmas and slow-jazz music playing that I really enjoyed. 2nd star is for the coffee- it was really good & a generous size. The negative part of my experience began once I was asked if I wanted to add espresso to my blended Mexican chocolate frappe. I asked her if the frappe came with caffeine, because usually there is some form of caffeine in it, whether or not it be espresso. She replied with no, so I said yes she can add it in. While I did just re-check the menu and see that the option to add espresso is listed below, I am still a little confused how a $8.50 Frappuccino would ever be made WITHOUT coffee/caffeine? Total came out to $11 and some change, $13 after 15% was included. Anyways, ordered the coffee, went to go sit down, and then asked for the WiFi password- to which I was told they don't offer public WiFi. Which is a little strange, however I have been to a couple places where this is standard. Still on the more "rare" side considering it is a cafe/coffee shop. Once I connected to my hotspot, the server brought me my drink, waited for me to try it & asked if it tasted okay, to which I replied "yes thank you!" She then asked me to leave a review, which is why I'm writing this. (Normally do not like to leave bad reviews.) Halfway through my stay I noticed a sign that stated that computer work would not be allowed after 40 minutes indoors. This is where things started getting really weird because I've never been to a coffee shop/cafe that has a time limit on guests. I can imagine being in the middle of both a WFH and student heavy city, that often times people may abuse the privilege and stay all day. I feel maybe a 2 hour time limit may be more reasonable, just for people to enjoy their food and drinks, while also getting work done. I was then approached again and informed of the 40 minute rule, and was asked to either leave or move outside, where it was chillier and in the shade, I asked "is this rule still applicable if the cafe is empty?" Which it basically was- only myself and one other couple were inside since it was a slower Monday afternoon. She said yes, and I politely grabbed my things and left. I 100% understand enforcing a LONGER time limit on busier days to be able to accommodate everyone, however a 40 minute time limit specifically for people on their laptops when the cafe is nearly empty doesn't make sense to me. Overall, paying for a $13 Frappuccino after tax and 15% tip, to have to use my hotspot, and have to leave after 40 minutes was a bummer. I don't go to coffee shops and cafes if I only have less than 40 minutes of work to do- I feel the coffee shop experience and clientele is often people looking to socialize and either study/get work done for some time. Probably will not be coming back due to those restrictions- however if you are looking for a quick coffee and don't mind the price tag, the taste is exceptional. read more

Encanto Cafe - Outdoors, very cute and welcoming space - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Beautiful Cafe' with the most amazing quality food and excellent customer service. We are so happy we chose this restaurant to gather with family and will be back through the years. We can hardly wait to see you again!!! read more

Encanto Cafe - Go Green Smoothie - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

I Tried Encanto Cafe So You Don't Have To I decided to give Encanto a shot after seeing it hyped up as one of San Diego's best coffee shops. Spoiler alert: either these influencers are drinking something I'm not... or they've traded their taste buds for clout. Let's start with the salad -- it had strong "just cleaned the counters with bleach" vibes. I'm not saying it was actually sprayed with cleaning chemicals, but my taste buds are currently seeking emotional support. Then came the Encanto latte -- or should I say, espresso-flavored bathwater? Even after asking for two extra shots, it somehow came out lukewarm and flavorless. I love coffee. I know coffee. This... was not coffee. I asked if they could fix it -- "no refunds," is what they responded and which I hadn't asked for. So I asked for them to switch out for less costlier coffee, a flat white, and guess what? They wanted to charge me again! The math ain't mathing, and the business etiquette is on vacation. To be fair, the girl at the register was super sweet. But friendly service can't cover up bad coffee, mystery salad, and policy decisions made by a magic 8-ball. Never again. If you're looking for actually good coffee in San Diego, check out my Yelp -- I've got real recs, no sponsorships, no free lattes, just a caffeine-fueled mission to tell the truth. You're welcome. **** Update to Owners Interesting Response **** Thank you for your message. While I did indeed eat the salad, that alone doesn't equate to satisfaction. I only finished what I paid for. Not like you were going to refund me. The entire salad being off in flavor isn't the same as enjoying a dish. I was given the mustard dressing that came with it, and when I politely asked for an alternative due to the unpleasant taste, I was informed there were no other options. That left me with little choice but to try and save my palette with an alternative, Caesar dressing which I questioned as well, as you see it was all left unfinished. As for the coffee, being served lukewarm accelerates how quickly it goes cold--an issue in itself when you're expecting a hot drink. Regarding my comment about giveaways, I wasn't accusing you personally, but rather making a broader point about the food industry and how social media hype doesn't always reflect product quality, particularly in the case of coffee. I'm simply offering honest feedback, which, when taken constructively, could only benefit your business in the long run. read more

I really liked this place. Prices are fair, the food delicious, and the owner "Patricia" is very nice. I had a terrific cortado and a breakfast croissant with scrambled eggs, fresh tomatoes, and fresh spinach. The cortado was $4 and the croissant breakfast on the menu was $11 but they charged me $12 at the register for some reason. The cortado was very well made and was properly served in a glass vessel. It was rich in flavor and offered a smooth finish. Well done. I Liked the way they put the croissant on the hot griddle and gave it a good toasting. I would of preferred they used extra virgin olive oil in lieu of the mayo, for the health benefit, but regardless the breakfast sandwich was delicious. I asked for a soft scramble and they did a very good job on it, not to mention the egg was very well seasoned. Both, the spinach and tomatoes were fresh. Service was very nice. They offer fresh locally baked goods and pastries. They have comfortable inside seating and great outside seating. I look forward to returning and trying a few more menu items. read more

See all

Atmosphere was 10/10. Very quaint and cute vibe that's perfect for a café where you just want to settle in and get some work done. Lots of pastel green. It was quiet and not crowded at all. I had a turkey pesto sandwich and hazelnut latte. The basil smelled fresh and the prosciutto was salty, in a good way! They have a few homemade syrups that I'll definitely be back to try. read more

See all

Excellent service! Had the caprese toast and horchata latte. Both were AMAZING! I heard the pistachio latte and chilaquiles are also a must. Will be coming back very soon! A read more

Encanto Cafe - Location - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

As you enter the bend on Prospect St in La Jolla Cove, there is a Victorian-style building on the south side of the road. Part of the ground floor is the home to Encanto Cafe which has been described as an Euro-Mexican fusion of cultures. The business can be easy to miss as there was no signage on the exterior of the structure when I visited. A sidewalk sign and a menu stand indicated the presence of this cafe. There was a small outdoor patio adjacent to the sidewalk. After walking up a flight of steps and making a right turn, this brought you to the cafe itself which had inside seating for about a dozen customers. For a small, locally-owned operation, the menu had an impressive variety of items. From the list of six sandwiches, I picked the Meat Lover on a Roll. The ingredients were roast beef, turkey, rosemary ham, provolone cheese, butter lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, olive oil, and garlic aioli spread. It was supposed to be served on a toasted sourdough roll, however two slices of wheat bread were used instead. The sandwich was sliced diagonally and served on a small cutting board with a scattering of potato chips. It was well-constructed and just like a club sandwich with roast beef added and bacon subtracted. The item also happened to be the most expensive one on the menu. The portion size was average so the meats had to be the reason for the price point. The service from the staff was friendly. I awarded four stars for my lunch at Encanto Cafe. read more

See all

AMAZING!!! The specialty cinnamon rolls were crazy good. the nutella one especially!! the drinks were so good i got the chai and it was so flavorful. the staff was so nice, making sure i was well taken care of. the tables are so aesthetic and is a perfect spot to sip a coffee and head to the beach. im obsessed now!! (if only the parking was better) read more

The food was good. Nothing stood out, but everything tasted good. They were very excited to recommend their hot chocolate, but even after I said I like dark chocolate it was still quite sweet and milky. read more

Needed some caffeine for the long ride home and this ice latte hit the spot. The cashier / barista was great . Great service. Clean restroom. And great tasting coffee. I really want a sweatshirt but ran out of my size. Maybe next time I am in the area read more

Encanto Cafe - Horchata latte - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Encanto Cafe is a beautiful small cafe with outdoor seating. I came here to grab a bit to eat while I got some work done. I ordered the salmon toast which I thought was okay and more or less of what I expected. I felt that considering the price I paid it was a little underwhelming. This place was on the pricier side for me but considering the area that it's located in it's not super surprising. I must say that the service here is amazing. The workers were very attentive, super polite, and friendly. I can definitely see a lot of college students coming here as a study spot. I could be wrong but I believe this place is dog friendly as well since I saw another customer bringing their dog in. read more

See all

This new cute little cafe is a hidden gem! It's nicely decorated with comfortable seating inside and outside. Although there is WiFi and I diddd try to bring my laptop here, I didn't get much work done. 1) When you're in La Jolla, it's hard not to just enjoy La Jolla. 2) The tables are pretty small. 3) Only managed to find 2 hour parking on a busy weekday. Although it's hard to find parking spots without a time limit near this cafe, there are plenty of spots along the street that give you 2 hours. At the cafe, we ordered a Nutella pastry and a raspberry croissant. They were out of almond croissants and it was only 11:30 AM :(. We also got a latte and a matcha, both pretty standard drinks and nothing mind-blowing. I would say the same about the pastries. The raspberry croissant looks amazing and is filled with a raspberry cream, but I couldn't really taste the fruit in the filling and it was a little too soft and unflakey for my liking. But vibes are amazing and their other pastries looked amazing, so I would definitely come here again, especially if I was blessed with a nice parking spot! read more

Encanto Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Me and my friends come here this morning to enjoy this wonderful brunch! Everything tastes good and I really recommend the croissant that they have, really yummy and tasty! Will come to this place again and try more dishes read more

Encanto Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Had a WONDERFUL experience here at Encanto Cafe. Wanted a sweet, hot coffee on a gloomier day in La Jolla and was recommended to try the Mexican Mocha. This. Is. My. New. Favorite. Coffee. Sweet, cinnamon-y flavor that was the perfect pick-me-up on an overcast, misty morning. Wait staff was incredibly friendly, ambiance was very charming, and the pastries (almond croissant) were very good. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

Super cute spot in La Jolla! Was easy to find a table and the place wasn't over crowded. The place has a nice flow and friendly service. The option for gluten free bread was not dry and/or flaky. I definitely recommend the Chicken and Maple glazed bacon sandwich. After you eat there, it's in close proximity to all things cute in La Jolla, including some art galleries. read more

I would give this place a ZERO if I could!!! Their matcha latte tasted like garbage with big clumps of powder unmixed floating in the drink. It also left a horrible after taste and it was far from pleasant. To no surprise, after reading the existing Yelp reviews from other customers, the owner of this establishment can definitely use extreme customer service training on how to properly receive feedback and professionally respond to customers who leave honest comments regarding their experience. The owner sounds very combative, aggressive and argumentative towards customers and behavior like that should hold no place in the food service industry. Will definitely NOT RECOMMEND and will put the word out there for others to skip this spot. Ps. Thank you, NEXT. read more

The shop itself is super cute and aesthetic. I love the porch and the cute umbrellas. The dirty chai was to die for, best chai I've ever had! Unfortunately can't say the same about the chocolate pistachio coffee, just tasted like a mediocre iced latte. Pricing for the coffee is pretty average but the price of the food is on the high end. read more

Encanto Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

So cute and nice environment . The servers were very polite, the food was delicious . read more

See all

Found this cafe while looking for a business with a restroom. The cafe was cute and charming. The coffee was good. Bathroom was nice and clean. The cup used to serve the dine in iced coffee left a lot to be desired. read more

Didn't know what to get so our cashier recommended some sandwiches. I got the one with prosciutto and replaced the arugula with spinach. It was pretty messy because the sauce kept making everything slide off the bread *cries* Personally, the sauce and cheese were my favorite parts of the sandwich. My friend got the chicken mozzarella sandwich - I preferred this one. The cafe was very cute with nice outdoor and indoor seating. In both area, you could feel the breeze from La Jolla Cove. The staff was super nice and the food came out very fast. Our drinks came in cute glass cups. I got the horchata latte and LOVED it because it wasn't super sweet like other places that serve horchata. Overall it was about $50 for two drinks and two people - definitely felt like a splurge for a cafe vibe. read more

Encanto Cafe - Prosciutto sandwich - arugula subbed for spinach & horchatta latte - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

I made a joke about the lack of service this place with their small portions and overpriced food has. They had a very passive aggressive response to the fact that they have no way to give you free water because they say "it's gross." What's gross is their $9.50 small pistachio latte with giant chunks of pistachio to choke on. Hope you know the heimlich before you go. Screenshotted the dm for your enjoyment. read more

Encanto Cafe - This was a total of 60 dollars including a 15 percent tip. - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Beautiful cafe, peaceful ambience, warm & inviting staff. The OG Strawberry was delicious!

First time here.. staff and service is great. Price steep for what you get. I got a tomato soup with grilled cheese which was ok, the grilled cheese looked sad.. but the bread was good though! I would give the Mocha and the green smoothie a 4/5! read more

Encanto Cafe - Grilled cheese looked sad.. but the bread was good - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Took 15 minutes to get a piece of avocado toast...what I got was salty avocado bread....which cost $17. When I complained, they told me it was toasted. Don't waste your money here. read more

What a gem of a spot! Beautiful location and interior.Ample outdoor seating. Friendly service. Ordered a chocolate croissant (5/5, very crunchy), americano (5/5), acai bowl (5/5). Will be back! read more

Wanted to check out Encanto Cafe after seeing it on social media. I frequent the La Jolla Cove area and thought this would be a nice cafe to grab a coffee at, read a book, and get some work done. However, it seems like this cafe is not quite the place for WFH/students. I understand wanting to deter people from staying all day, but compared to photos previously posted on Yelp, it seems as though the business has decided to block all outlets and has enforced a 75 minute time limit for customers. To me, this curates an unwelcoming environment directed towards nearby students. I understand the business wants to ensure seating for other customers, but there is ample seating indoors and outdoors and blocking off outlets takes away a very coveted feature of the cafe! (even for those just casually dining and not staying for many hours) This review is coming from the perspective of someone who often seeks cozy cafes to enjoy a beverage and get work done, which I believe is a common demographic for this area. If you're just looking to grab a bite or quick beverage, then it's worth a try. I tried the Carmelo Blanco Latte, which was good but left me wanting a stronger coffee flavor. It was $7 for a 12 oz. read more

My friend and I were excited to check this spot out because we've seen a lot of influencers post about it, and we had to check it out for ourselves. The vibe is super cute and aesthetic. Unfortunately, the coffee drinks didn't live up to the look. We both ordered the pistachio latte (which they mentioned they make their own in-house syrup), but honestly, it tasted like nothing. Just milk. No pistachio, no coffee flavor at all. The only flavor I felt was the pistachio crumbs in my mouth. We even asked for extra shots, hoping that would help, but still no coffee taste. We shared our feedback about the coffee with who we believe was the owner because she asked us how everything was, and unfortunately, it didn't go over well. Instead of taking it constructively, she got really defensive. When we mentioned that the latte tasted super milky and watered down, she blamed it on the size of the cup instead of trying to make it better. Honestly, it wasn't the cup, it was just a weak, watered-down coffee with COSTCO INGREDIENTS. Overall, MILKY watered coffee. Customer service was mediocre. The only positives were the location and the nice ambiance. read more

Very cute place! the food and drinks were great! I would just note that there is very little space. Very little seating and the line of people waiting for their to-go orders ends up crowding the dine-in area. read more

Encanto Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Honestly, I don't think I can justify coming back to this place anymore. I'll start with the good: The pistachio croissant is amazing. Also the Mexican mocha is really good. However the past two times I've been here have been a huge miss. The last time I went here, I got the OG strawberry smoothie. A 9 dollar smoothie but when I got it tasted like ice. There was no flavor, which meant they obviously barely added any fruit into it. Then most recently, I went there to order the pizza flatbread to-go. I'm sorry but for 15 dollars, this pizza looks exactly like the 2 dollar pizzas I use to get as a child for school lunches. Maybe that's why it's on the menu - but I was thoroughly disappointed. Especially since I tried to remove the order right after ordering since I was in a hurry and the lady at the counter convinced me it was worth the wait. read more

Encanto Cafe - 15 dollar pizza flatbread - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Beautiful cafe and aesthetically pleasing delicious food. Food and drinks came out pretty fast. Açaí was refreshing and a good proportion, didn't feel overly full. Breakfast sandwich was buttery and delicious. The waffle dish was almost too beautiful to eat. We had no leftovers- everything was proper portions and delicious! Order at the counter and find a table. Seating inside and outside, both options are very pretty. There are beautiful beach umbrellas on the balcony and lower level. It wasn't very crowded at noon on a Saturday. There is a restroom. read more

See all

Please go somewhere else. Service was terrible, drinks were terrible. It's unfortunate such a pretty place with beautiful ambience is gone to waste. Please spare yourself regret and overspend somewhere else. read more

Customer service wasn't good. Girl was rude and took her so long to make the drinks even though nobody else was waiting for order. Food didn't match menu description sandwich says lettuce but arugula came on it. Food isn't too bad but it's really over priced main thing was customer service from the girl at the register. read more

Met with a friend for a quick coffee on a Sunday at 10am. I ordered an iced pistachio latte and a pistachio chocolate croissant which was warmed up. It wasn't too busy and service was quick. I absolutely loved my latte, as the pistachio flavor really came through. Creamy and a little on the sweeter side. I also loved the croissant. Flaky and a perfect paring with my latte to continue with the pistachio theme. Parking can be a little tricky, especially since it was the weekend and it's a busy part of La Jolla, but it's worth it to take your coffee and treats and find a bench to gaze at the ocean. read more

Service- okay nothing to brag about Food- good, but I've noticed over the years that the portions have definitely gotten smaller we got the turkey pesto sandwich and it was made well but was on the smaller side. Although it does come with a handful of chips Drinks- mate latte: basically charged me 9$ for milk and there was a 75cent up charge for honey that they recklessly squeezed in (it was not mixed it and clumped at the bottom) Chai latte: tasted like it's from a powder mix yet they had the audacity to price it as if it was made in house Pistachio latte: I can appreciate the crushed pistachio nuts, it really just was underwhelming Overall, the food is good if you are hungry for a snack. Skip the over priced drinks. read more

Encanto Cafe is a charming spot in La Jolla near the cove on busy Prospect street that delivers on freshness and flavor. My friend and I started with drinks--beet juice with pineapple and fresh orange juice--both of which were clearly freshly squeezed and not from concentrate, which made a noticeable difference in taste. For food, we shared the Bloom açaí bowl, which came with three generous scoops of açaí topped with strawberries, banana, walnuts, and coconut--it was refreshing, well-balanced, and satisfying. We also tried the salmon toast, which was equally delicious and thoughtfully prepared. A great place for a wholesome and tasty breakfast or brunch. read more

Nice spot for coffee in La Jolla Cove area. After exploring most of the coffee shops in the vicinity, Encanto ended up being my favorite for a matcha latte. They had the strongest matcha flavor, and offer it fully unsweetened - both the matcha powder itself + the almond milk can be unsweetened (or sweetened). My boyfriend enjoyed his coffee and açaí bowl as well. read more