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    Genteel Coffee

    4.6 (137 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Genteel Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    GENTEEL COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Genteel Coffee

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    Cortado with off-beat espresso

    Hands down my favorite coffee shop in San Diego. The owner, Justin, roasts Genteel's ethically sourced, single-origin beans himself. The shop offers a lineup of unique house-made syrups alongside their menu of classic espresso drinks, matcha, tea options, and locally-sourced pastries. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and so is their team. The shop hosts semi-frequent pop-up events featuring local artists and vendors. Their mission is to provide a space for people to become known and community to form and they do just that. The first time I went to Genteel my thought was "wow this place is so peaceful" and that's been my experience ever since. The shop is full of natural light and has a great flow from the time you enter. The back corner of the shop acts as a canvas--featuring annually rotating mural designs by local artists and a grab-and-go market corner. Make it a point to come here, you won't be disappointed.

    Rico M.

    Genteel was a cool experience. The interior was nice, they had a ton of merch, cool stickers, and I became a huge fan of their logo, I love that little fox. The store has these steps or ramp upon entering which I though was cool lol The staff was somewhat "nice" as they were not very welcoming, no eye contact, no thank you or even a hi, I even greeted them and they ignored me. Maybe they were having a bad day or a rough start, I won't base my review off that tho, just the coffee. I ordered a latte and it was pretty good not great. I believe they don't use Califia Barista oat milk but maybe Oatly or something else because the milk had a nutty taste to it. it wasn't a bad taste just something different and a prominent taste to it. Overall it was still a good taste and a good experience, hopefully next time I won't feel unwelcomed upon entering. Come try this place out and overall thank you for the experience Genteel, I even bought a sticker to support.

    Stickers and pin
    Anna H.

    I was excited to try this place because I love supporting local and I love the cool logo and aesthetic of it upon walking in. Disappointed in my experience here. I ordered and watched 6 people get their drinks before me, I went to the counter and reminded them what I ordered and the barista said she accidentally skipped mine. They were apologetic, but nobody acknowledged me waiting for my drink as the next 6 people behind me got theirs. I love their pins and stickers, and I bought those, but I don't think I'll be coming back for their coffee. I ordered the foxtrot iced latte, which tasted so watery with a hint of cinnamon and nothing like an iced latte. It also leaves a terrible taste in your mouth. The matcha looked good, but overall, just bummed out that my Saturday morning coffee I like to go out for was a near 8.00 loss.

    Poached pear scone 1000/10
    Halle J.

    I ordered the seasonal rosemary cappuccino and it was delicious. It wasn't very sweet but -bc it was so light- I could tell the coffee is actually good (not disguised by syrup). Definitely going back to try one of their specialty lattes. Also got the poached pear scone and omg. Scones are hard to get right but the texture of these were perfect. And for the "not too sweet" crowd, the poached pear was perfect and still full of flavor

    Menu
    Jane L.

    Who doesn't love a cute neighborhood caffeine dealer?! Well my new entrepreneur friend researched this spot, which was also new to me. Bonus, it was only a 20 minute walk from me so exercise and reducing my carbon footprint. There is a cute narrow patio seat area but the flies were flying and I didn't want to compete with them for sunshine so we stayed inside and grabbed a stool at the window to people watch. While waiting for Brandon, I chatted up the fellas. They humored me. I'm typically a ceremonial matcha girl but the Blue "Matcha" caught my eye and the barista convinced me to get it iced. There is zero caffeine so, it's aesthetically pleasing and delicious. Brandon's lavender latte was good but had and edible finish. We're there for almost 4 hours and basically shut it down. Short lulls, but when they were busy they were B U S Y!!! Love this neighborhood gem, will be back again soon!

    Iced Matcha Latte
    Meghan W.

    Genteel Coffee is a cool little cafe in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. I was in the mood for a matcha and happened upon this coffee shop while in the area. I'm so glad I did. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the menu offered specialty items not usually found at your standard coffee shop. My iced matcha was delicious and exactly what I wanted. There is seating inside the shop and outdoor seating on the side of the building. I had a wonderful experience soaking in sunshine and enjoying my drink on the patio. Highly recommended!

    Ali B.

    I love almost any kind of fun coffee or tea drink and this spot has some really cool unique options. I came with my family and there was something for us all! It's super small in here but there's a little patio which is nice! I got the vixen with oat milk. It had activated charcoal and agave. Yum! They make their own syrups in house which is a huge plus. My sister had a tea spritz and loved it! Everyone else enjoyed their drinks as well. They also sell their own beans which is cool. Would recommend if you're in the area!

    Cappuccino with their special "secondary" roast & beautiful artwork.
    Chris H.

    I've had many fantastic coffee experiences here at Genteel. They have some fantastic roasts and the people behind bar are obviously talented, friendly and knowledgeable. Have one of their espresso drinks or their pour over and take it to the outside patio for a nice little getaway. It's great to see this relatively small space impact the community in such a big way! Thanks guys!

    Den Mother latte with almond milk.
    Joe C.

    The "Den Mother" latte was amazing. Subtly sweet and full of flavor. It had the perfect balance for my style of coffee. The service was good. The barista said, "Foxtrot or Den Mother" were the crowd favorites. My co-worker got the "Foxtrot" it was good, but I'm not a huge fan of cardamom so I went with the "Den Mother."

    Heather C.

    Good coffee and nice seating outside! Not much seating inside, but there are some really unique flavors and I love the idea behind this place! They were very friendly. Their drinks are a bit costly but they have all house made syrups and creative drinks

    Pastry case
    Casey D.

    Popped on over around lunch time and had no trouble finding street parking and snagging a table. Loooved the ambiance/aesthetic of this place! I ordered a capp & cafe de olla concha. The concha was delicciousss and the capp was good but nothing to really write home about. As for studying, there's outlets by the window seats. I'd advice to come before/around lunch time in order to grab a seat, as tables start to fill up around 1-2pm.

    Menu
    Jiansen W.

    AMBIANCE Charming, comfortable, lots of light, lots of tables outside, something about the space makes me want to stay for a while. SERVICE Friendly, knowledgeable. Customers order at the counter and my name was called when my dine-in order was ready for pickup. DRINK 5/5 Foxtrot Latte: hot is served at the perfect drinking temperature. It's flavored with cardamom, orange, and cinnamon and is just the right amount of sweetness (not too sweet) for me.

    Catrina R.

    Stopped by on a walk one day. It was a a Friday at around 2 but it was still super packed. We got their seasonal drinks. One was a maple brown butter latte and the rosemary cappuccino. Both were very tasty! We also got their scone. Apparently twice a week (Friday being one of those days) they have fresh scones. Honestly one of the best scones I've ever had. 15/10 would eat like ten of them. There are a few spots inside but mostly outside seating. We walked but I could foresee parking being a pain but there are also side streets. Wish this place was closer to my own place so it could be my neighborhood spot!

    Matcha latte iced with oat milk

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Genteel Coffee

    Are there a few tables with outlets to get some work done here?

    Yes! There are some outlets at least near the bar stools at the window. Not sure about outside though

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    Modern Times Flavordome - Impact Strategy

    Modern Times Flavordome

    4.0(440 reviews)
    0.6 miNorth Park
    $

    (Drank 06/29/26 MO @ 3:45pm): During these modern times of craft breweries, welcome to…read more"flavortown"! After a day spent with my general contractor and having waited for an appliance pick-up service to show up, I was finally free and made my way to Modern Times Flavordome. In my quest to explore and familiarize myself with the North Park neighborhood, this was the latest brewery that was within walking distance from our place that I had to try. Founded and opened in the San Diego's Point Loma neighborhood in 2013 by Jacob McKean, they were California's first employee-owned brewery and rapidly expanded into several locations along the West Coast. Over the next decade, the craft beer industry started to constrict, a mismanaged over-expansion, the pandemic, and scandal led to the downfall of its founder in 2021, new leadership, and then eventual new ownership by Maui Brewing Co. and contract brewing handled by local AleSmith Brewing Co. Today, only two standalone locations remained along with an added coffee line. Did I enjoy the flavors of their modern time beer!? PURCHASE(S) Modern Times Beer Orderville Hazy NEIPA Beer 7.2% ABV 16floz Draft ($6.00 HH): Hazy orange color, citrusy dank hoppy aroma, low body, citrusy dry hoppy flavor, drying finish, and citrusy dry hoppy aftertaste. Kettle Brand Potato Chips Sea Salt 1oz Bag ($3.00): My favorite potato chips brand, these were the only thing to nibble on while I enjoyed a draft or two. Modern Times Beer MT Pils Pilsner Beer 4.8% ABV 16floz Draft ($6.00 HH): Hazy amber color, citrusy malty aroma, light body, citrusy malty flavor, clean dry smooth finish, and citrusy malty aftertaste. Boulder Canyon Avocado Oil Classic Sea Salt Kettle Style Potato Chips 1oz Bag ($3.00): A brand I wasn't familiar with, again, I just needed something to snack on while I imbibed. These were rather tasty! Modern Times Beer Black House Coffee Stout Beer 5.8% ABV 16floz Draft ($6.00 HH): Dark brown color, coffee roasty toasty aroma, medium body, coffee creamy roasty toasty flavor, mouthfeel smooth finish, and coffee roasty toasty aftertaste. Modern Times Beer Tropicolossal IPA Beer 6.8% ABV 16floz (Draft $9.50): Rich amber color, fruity mango pineapple tropical aroma, light body, fruity mango pineapple sweet flavor, smooth finish, and fruity mango pineapple tropical aftertaste. This was my favorite of the bunch! "Velvet Goldmine Original Soundtrack" Used CD ($6.95): An out-of-print CD from a fun movie, I had to add this to my expansive music collection! Modern Times Beer Fruited Orderville Guava Hazy IPA Beer 7.0% ABV 16floz Can 4pk ($16.00): Hazy orange color, citrusy fruity guava papaya tropical aroma, light body, fruity guava tropical flavor, creamy finish, and citrusy guava papaya tropical aftertaste. SERVICE I was initially greeted by a friendly young gentleman behind the bar where I grabbed a stool, made myself at home for a couple of hours with 2026 FIFA World Cup matches on, and drank the afternoon away. Eventually, a young woman appeared behind the bar. Each one chatted a bit, made beer recommendations, and quickly served my beer - cheers! PARKING (Varied: FREE this instance): I simply walked the fine minutes from my place. Otherwise, there appeared to be some spots along the main drag of Upas St. and all surrounding roads (I didn't notice any lots) - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE An open interior layout with a spacious outdoor patio, each area had many tables and chairs. The interior was a sight to see with lampshades hung from the ceiling, newspaper wallpaper, globes wallpaper covered the bathroom, and there were crates of vinyl and CDs for purchase. This was a funky groovy place! Plenty of natural lighting entered through the wall windows and doors, but I honestly couldn't recall whether or not there were any ceiling lights (I'm sure there were). There was at least one TV while classic rock & roll music played in the background. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL It was a chill afternoon spent at Modern Times Flavordome, and I would definitely return. They had a decent selection of beers on tap, no served food so bring your own, the prices were comparable, the vibe was kick-back, and the service was very good. I'm sure furry family members were allowed on the patio, there were Happy Hour specials (MO-FR 12pm-5pm), and almost certain nightly entertainment such as trivia, music, and more were available. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $81.00 BEFORE any discounts, points usage, and/or tip). And, they accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

    In November we arrived the last hour they were open. We sat at the bar so we could be quick for the…read morebartender. It was empty besides a couple outside. It is a pretty nice space. Right on the street, not too big and not too small. They had an outside patio. The bartender didn't look at us for about 10 minutes and it was extremely uncomfortable lol Eventually we were able to order so we just got one round to make it easy. He didn't talk to us again when his friend came in. He talked to his friend for the remainder of the time we were there. Here are the beers we tried: Impact Strategy: Peachy. Light hops Mt. Pils: Bitter bite

    Photos
    Modern Times Flavordome - MT Pils

    MT Pils

    Modern Times Flavordome - 5oz tasters

    5oz tasters

    Modern Times Flavordome

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    Midnight Animal Coffee - Tiramisu latte (left), espresso tonic + blood orange syrup (right)

    Midnight Animal Coffee

    4.6(108 reviews)
    0.5 miNorth Park
    $$

    With so many coffee shops in North Park, I overlooked this one for way too long -- but I'm glad I…read morefinally stopped in. Midnight Animal Coffee sits in a tiny shopping center next to The Wise Ox (fair warning: while you wait for your drink, the smells from Wise Ox will tempt you into grabbing one of their sandwiches). Parking in the lot is tight, crammed, and chaotic, so I usually park on El Cajon Blvd and walk over. This time I lucked out and found street parking right in front. The shop has a simple, modern, black‑minimal aesthetic. They make their house‑made syrups, offer plenty of alternative milks, and have several drinks with Mexican influence, which I love. We originally tried to order a latte with their tres leches syrup, but they were out -- so we switched to the café de olla latte instead, and wow. It tasted just like the café de olla my family makes, but lighter and not overpowering. You still get the espresso while enjoying that warm cinnamon‑spice note. We also ordered a matcha latte. They offer two sugar‑free syrup options, so I went with sugar‑free vanilla, light amount, and it was great. Good size matcha for the price compared to other local shops. Overall, worth the stop -- great flavors, thoughtful menu, and a nice addition to the North Park coffee scene.

    Super inventive drinks and a very cute cyber/motorbike aesthetic. I thought the service was…read moreexcellent and that the barista was very friendly. The latte I got was tres leches and it was really subtle and not too sweet.

    Photos
    Midnight Animal Coffee - Inside - cool looking Ducati

    Inside - cool looking Ducati

    Midnight Animal Coffee
    Midnight Animal Coffee

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    Mostra Coffee - Bibingka latte , turon latte

    Mostra Coffee

    4.1(163 reviews)
    0.8 miHillcrest
    $

    Whenever we're in town, we always make it a point to stop by Mostra Coffee--it never disappoints…read more Their coffee is consistently amazing, and our go-to drinks, the Bibingka Crème Brûlée and Campfire Latte, are always a hit. Servers are nice and helpful. This location is especially beautiful--clean, well-kept, and thoughtfully designed. The patio is a great bonus, with a cozy vibe that makes it perfect for relaxing and enjoying your drink. Definitely a must-visit spot in San Diego!

    I came here this morning because a Filipino pastry spot with a bibingka latte sounded too…read moreintriguing to pass up -- and they had a longanisa sandwich on top of that? Sold. So I made the trek over. Heads up: there's construction nearby, so parking was a struggle. Unfortunately, the visit ended up being a bit of a letdown. First off, they didn't have ice. I like my morning drinks iced, and I still ordered the bibingka latte, but it came without ice -- I ended up having to grab some from another restaurant since my work doesn't have a fridge. I was also excited for the longanisa sandwich, but they didn't have any hot sandwiches. What they did have was cheese rolls, a guava-filled ensaymada, and pandesal. The pastries were frozen, so he had to warm them up, which took a while. On the drink, I'd give it a 2.5/5. It was OK, but not something I'd order again. It was a balance of sweet and savory, with hints of rice flour and coconut milk -- but even ordering it less sweet, it still came out too sweet for me. The pastries were also just OK. My favorite of the bunch was the ensaymada. I really wanted to love this place given the concept, but between the missing ice, no hot sandwiches, and the frozen pastries, it didn't quite come together this visit.

    Photos
    Mostra Coffee - Pick up area/ water station

    Pick up area/ water station

    Mostra Coffee - Bibingka crime brûlée latte

    Bibingka crime brûlée latte

    Mostra Coffee - Bathrooms

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    Bathrooms

    Genteel Coffee - coffee - Updated September 2026

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