Came here in 2020 for coffee and thought I'd try it out again. As beautiful as their pastries are and their unique coffee menu, the staff was rude and the place were very dirty. Every table needed to be wiped down. As most coffee shops are, it was a bit loud, which made it hard to hear the coffee orders. When i walked up, I asked the employee what she said, her response without even looking at me was "it's on the cup" in rudest manner possible. I tried telling her that I wanted an iced coffee not hot like how it was made and she rolled her eyes and said it was what the receipt said. The other costumer behind me also confirmed that when ordering said iced and not hot. She didn't offer to make me another coffee nor fix the situation. Just carried on wiping the counters. Also want to add that it was not busy a busy time that we were there (3:30pm). Sadly I won't be coming back here. Such a disappointment in service and I was pretty embarrassed for recommending to try this place to my family who was exploring SD. read more

On our way back home found this cute coffee shop on the way. Grabbed an iced Turkish Hazelnut Espresso & a vegan protein mango parfait! Wow! Absolutely love them both! Highly recommend stopping by if you're in need of a quick bite on the go! read more

C'mon - easily earned 5 stars. The location is fairly convenient, outside is okay but interior is green and fun. Should also complement the solid playlist during my visit. About the food: I ordered the Chicken Muenster on gluten free sourdough. This was next level! Perfect organization of ingredients - always a fan of well thought out ratios, seasoned well, and the serving size was perfect. Finding that balance of crunch versus softness with toasted gf bread is usually difficult for folks, but Lightbulb did it right. Balance struck with flying colors. Will absolutely be back. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Thanks Yelp for helping me find another great spot! I was in La Mesa early in the morning and found this gem! Lox bagel and Turkish coffee! The food and coffee PERFECT! Extremely friendly service! The decor was amazing. Lots of creative food and coffee offerings on the menu! read more

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We went after our Pilates class and I got the snickerdoodle latte. It was good, not too sweet but definitely did the trick. It's in a plaza with parking so you don't have to worry about that. I tried my husband's egg nog latte and that was good too! I definitely recommend if you're in the area :) read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Snickerdoodle Latte & Vietnamese Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

I like their app. I didn't realize I've been there enough times to claim a reward. What a treat!! Ordered my favorite coffee .. Turkish Hazelnut -special beans with cardamom flavor. I also tried today their *Turkey Pesto Panini- turkey breast, provolone cheese, pesto, mayo, and roasted red peppers served on focaccia bread The reason why I enjoy the coffee is that I like the creaminess and flavor of it. I was a bit disappointed with the sandwich .It is a good sandwich but it's way too much bread. I feel it could have been so much better if they had used a panini press or toasted the bread to give it a little more depth. (The bread was NOT toasted ) read more

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Everything was AMAZING. I got the PitCraft turkey sandwich, pistachio croissant and a pistachio latte. All three exceeded my expectations. Go there! You won't be disappointed. read more

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The coffee itself is ok, which is why I've come back more than once. Unfortunately, the experience around pricing has made me feel uncomfortable each time. On one visit, I was charged a surcharge without being informed beforehand. On top of that, there was an additional " additional hcharge" added to the order. This was confusing and frustrating, especially since there's no table service or extra amenities that would explain added fees. The second time I visited, the prices charged didn't match the prices listed on the menu. When I asked about the difference, I was told the prices had changed and that the menu just hadn't been updated yet but there was no notice or heads up before ordering. I don't mind paying fair prices, but transparency matters. Unexpected surcharges and inconsistent menu pricing make the experience feel sneaky rather than welcoming. I hope they address this, because the coffee itself is solid, but the lack of clear communication makes it hard to enjoy coming back read more

I'm a fan of Lightbulb! You can't miss with the atmosphere, it's so charming! I have visited multiple times and have always been able to find parking and indoor seating. read more

Horrible service!!! I ordered at 11:10 and didn't get my order till 11:40 which made me late for my appointment that I had at 11:30. They were so slow and it wasn't busy when I got to the place . Never coming here again for over priced coffee and stuff . It's not even that good read more

Huge update! I came back because I saw their instagram and noticed a lot of new happier faces and new drink flavors. Walked in and was greeted right away with a lot of smiles. I asked questions and they answered them so nicely! Inside are still very homey vibes as is the music. I'm happy to be back! I ordered the eggnog iced latte, husband got a peppermint latte with cold foam, and a pistachio croissant. Everything was delicious! The croissant was so fluffy and flakey and had a cream center that was light and airy. I would get that again! read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Pistachio Croissant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Love this spot for coffee. My favorite is the pistachio latte and my bf is the peanut butter latte. It's a cool little spot to hangout and meet up with friends. They also have some good sandwiches. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Pistachio and Peanut Butter lattes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

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The coffee and pastries are delish! But also don't count out the sandwiches! The atmosphere is great and the decor is super cute! read more

I love to have outstanding experiences everywhere I go! Lighthouse Bulb Coffee is one of the Best GO TO" Coffee places to visit! The menu provides a creative and a nice variety of coffee drinks to choose from along with a great variety of sandwiches. If you love desserts, there are plenty of artistic and decadent desserts to choose from. I enjoyed everything about this coffee shop from the ambiance, cleanliness, friendly staff, coffee, and sandwiches. I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to order a different flavor of coffee. I chose an Iced Turkish Hazelnut Cardamom coffee which had a strong flavor, but I did enjoy it. I also ordered an egg white turkey bacon bagel breakfast sandwich which was so "AWESOME" tasting! The flavor was so good! It's hard to describe, but it had so much flavor and was so healthy! It was a perfect breakfast! I left a satisfied and happy customer! You better believe I will be a REPEAT CUSTOMER! Come to Light Bulb Coffee if you seek that " PERFECT COFFEE EXPERIENCE! " Tell them Carla referred you! read more

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I've been to Lightbulb several times over several years. Food is always good, but more and more is telling me to stay away. Customer service is good and the ambiance is nice. However, coffee is always a gamble and inconsistent. I don't order anything crazy either. Cold brew with a splash of half and half. Sometimes it comes out like milk, like they forgot to add any milk, or somewhere in the middle. I consider myself lucky today, however, I asked for light ice. As you can see by the picture, that didn't really happen. In fact, there was so much ice that a good portion of my drink came out the top when I tried to put my straw in. Another thing that bothered me was the inconsistency between the menu prices and the actual prices. I noticed a dollar difference on my sandwich alone. If i'm coming back, i'm not getting coffee and i'll hope the prices shown have been updated. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

The best cafe i've ever been to, I love going here with my boyfriend! The cali pistachio latte is to die for, I think about it every day. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Cali Pistachio Coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This place is great. I came in for the first time and walking in you are greeted with a really large space. They have both communal and personal space where you can keep private or social. They have plenty of outlets for folks to plug in their laptops and work/study. Now, I know why you're reading this review; you saw the delicious pastry that I posted. I've never had pistachio anything and this thing was callin my name. The top has some type of frosting or custard topped with chopped pistachios. The inside is filled with pistachio custard. MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS. this thing is so good. It's not too sweet. And if an Asian person gives your dessert or pastry this review, you wear that with a badge of honor. Absolutely delicious. I'm coming back just for this and to try the rest of their food options. Great food, great service and great ambiance. What more could you ask for. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Pistachio croissant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

This place is literally FIRE !!!! Food is great coffee is great pastries are GREAT. I'm just sad it's so far away from me :/ actually prob a good thing haha! Love this place read more

Service was slow and the coffee is very mild. I got the Spanish latte and I was extremely disappointed, it tastes like sweet milk. My girlfriend got the iced mocha,which claims to have 3 shots, but tastes of nothing but chocolate milk. We ordered 2 pastries and waited for over 20 minutes. It feels like a place that focuses too much on their appearance, and merch, instead of providing a quality product or experience. read more

Overall: SO SO Good, a must go if you're around La Mesa. Great variety of food and coffee Food/Drink: I've had the hummus veggie bagel and chicken sandwich, both of which were perfectly seasoned and made fresh. The mochas are great and they offer dairy alternatives as well as sweetness adjustments. I like my coffee less-sweet and 1/2 sweet was perfect for me. Ambiance: A generally quiet space with whimsical decor and and array of couches/stools for work. The atmosphere is typically quiet but can be slightest louder during busy hours. Parking: Parking can typically be found easy enough in the plaza lot. Street parking is also available nearby. read more

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The place is a cute little cafe in downtown La Mesa. I wanted to stop by for the coconut pudding which they didn't have but I got a mango coconut parfait with chia, raspberry turkey panini, a cinnamon roll and vanilla caramel iced coffee. The raspberry turkey panini was yummy. The raspberry gave it a nice sweetness with sliced pears to add some tartness. Panini was toasted perfectly with lots of turkey and arugula inside. I really enjoyed it. The cinnamon roll was a waste of money. Even after being toasted, it was hard as a rock. I was very disappointed and actually threw it away. The iced coffee was good which had the right amount of sweetness from the vanilla and caramel. Loved the mango coconut parfait because the mango puree was so good, it tasted like real mangos topped with crunchy granola and raspberry on top. I would probably come back again to try another drink from the menu but as for food, I could pass. They do have more pastries but I wasn't as intrigued with the options they had. read more

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Woah this place is good! I think I found my new go to coffee spot near work. I ordered a cinnamon bun coffee and lemon pepper chicken wrap for $24 and every dollar was worth it! The coffee was delicious and actually tastes like coffee and the lemon wrap was amazing and filling. This spot is clean and spacious and great for working there it needed. Loved it definitely going back read more

This place has changed in the last few years since I wrote my last review and definitely for the better. This recent time visiting, they had updated their services with options for self service kiosks in addition to in person ordering. Their croissants were amazing and fresh with new concoctions like pistachio cream filled croissants. I also tried their lightbulb coconut coffee which had excellent flavor and real coconut shreds in it. I'm determined to go back now since their menu items have significantly improved. I highly recommend at this time. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Pistachio cream croissant (half eaten) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

One of the best not so hidden "Hipster" Coffee Shops in La Mesa. I say it's hipster but it's really not. I love that there is this local gem in such a great area! I always love coming here to treat myself to light bulbs brews and drinks! The atmosphere, the food and the service is all 5 star to me! If you ever need suggestions on what to drink, all the baristas know what to help you order with! If you're in the La Mesa area I definitely recommend a pit stop for your coffee fuel! You will not regret it. My recommendations: Vietnamese Iced Coffee Cali Pistachio Açaí Bowl read more

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My go-to spot in La Mesa; Cali pistachio coffee is a can't miss. The pastries are good too.

I've been here a few times and the staff and ambiance are always super nice but the food/drinks are meh. This morning I got an almond croissant and it was so stale and tasted like cleaner had been sprayed around it (probably the glass case it was in was cleaned and the pastries weren't moved first). It's pretty disappointing there was no way I could eat it. read more

My drink is sometimes good and sometimes not but these days it's usually really bad and it's sad because i used to love their iced coffee... like the ratio and everything was perfect but not anymore unfortunately. read more

Always busy when I go, that's how you know what's poppin. Their menu has variety and the food is delicious.

What an amazing time we had in the little suburb of San Diego called La Mesa. We were downtown with a hankering for coffee and baked goods (as usual) and came upon Light Bulb Coffee. It is such a pretty space on the outside and on the inside with its lightbulb decorations and charming areas with books, greenery, and tables. The vibe is very cool there. They had an extensive array of delicious looking baked goods and drinks. We got the feta basil croissant which was soft, flaky and to die for. The chocolate chunk cookie while gorgeous was a bit hard and dry but that didn't stop me from wolfing it down. I skipped the coffee when I saw they had Thai Iced Tea and it could be made with Oat Milk. It was so creamy and so good. I died. I would highly recommend this place. The staff while not friendly were very efficient and polite. Actually, one gal was super sweet. Please check out my video review on YouTube! Please follow, share and like! https://youtu.be/FgAJZDNNQzM read more

Lightbulb Coffee - What a great place! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

I used to love this coffee shop when I was in the area but the service is really slow and the coffee has been subpar.

The locally owned coffee cafe makes all food on the premises and roasts their own beans! Excellent coffee and espresso drinks! Owners and staff are so friendly and professional. The interior is chic and clean! Outdoor seating too. Plenty of free parking too! read more

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I had high expectations for this place as it is in a great location, wonderfully decorated and has a menu with variety. Since it was my first time I asked the cashier a few questions about the menu and items in the pastry case. He was super friendly and patiently rattled off about every pastry option they offered. I ordered the cinnamon bun latte and a blueberry muffin (warmed). The muffin came out quickly, but wasn't warmed all the way through. Not a big deal. The actual muffin was below average. It only had blueberries in the muffin top and none in the base of the muffin that the paper covered. A Costco muffin is better in my opinion. Next, the coffee. I waited about 15 minutes for my coffee and I believe it was due to the "system" the single barista was using. She was waiting until she had 5-7 drink orders and then making them all at the same time in unison. She would then call out the orders all at the same time. Leaving 5-7 drinks sitting on the counter at the same time without names. Although I'm sure this made her job easier, it did not seem customer focused and it did not get drinks to customers as quickly as possible. The taste of my latte left much to be desired. I prefer to support local, but I left feeling like for the cost and what I received I should have just gone to Starbucks. read more

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The inside of the coffee shop has a nice, warm vibe to it. It was pretty big if you were waiting to enjoy a cup with a friend. I ordered a lavender latte which I enjoyed. The service seemed a little slow for it being late afternoon but regardless, I'd come back. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Fresh pastries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I ordered the hummus avocado toast and wow! It's not just toast -- it's a full blown sandwich with greens, tomato, pickles, and onions. It was soooo good. The toasted multigrain bread they used was really good too. read more

Unfortunately, this place has really gone downhill. I come here almost every week since I live in the neighborhood, and I've noticed a steady decline in both the service and the quality of the coffee. Many of the baristas seem new, so at first, I tried to be patient but week after week, the drinks have gotten worse. The coffee often tastes burnt, has chunks in it, or is completely the wrong order. The staff also doesn't seem as friendly or welcoming as they used to be, which is disappointing because this used to be one of my favorite spots. I'm not sure if there's new management or what changed, but something definitely needs to be addressed. Sadly, I don't think I'll be coming back unless things improve. read more

Food is good. Pricey. Decor is fine but the place is dirty. Customer service needs working on. Person that took my order was rude. Workers just talk amongst themselves. Would I recommend it to tourists? No. Locals? Maybe but only if there's no other choice read more

Lightbulb Coffee is a green off a coffeehouse and breakfast spot that has a clean, modern, and relaxed vibe. 5/5 Turkish coffee (iced): sweet cardamom notes with creamy whole milk and ice cold coffee. Half sweet was still quite sweet for me. 5/5 chicken mushroom Muenster panini: this panini is heaven! This has perfectly toasted bread, tender oven roasted chicken breast, nutty fresh arugula, and melted Muenster cheese. Service was quick and friendly, and staff brought out my food. Note: dogs aren't allowed inside but there is outdoor seating read more

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the best coffee of sdsu campus! There matcha is so good too, everyone is so kind, and great place to get some work done:)

I used to love getting their smoothies but Just got one recently and it sucks. Taste is bland and super liquidy. Whoever is making the smoothies now obviously doesn't know how to. At least it's still drinkable for a hot day, but does not look appetizing at all. read more

Lightbulb Coffee - Strawberry Banana Smoothie - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - La Mesa, California

Specialty coffees are really well made, nothing is overly sweet or lacking flavor here. Iced pistachio coffee was delicious. Friendly staff, pastries made in house daily, and cool atmosphere. But.. this panini! Turkey pesto, omgg. Crispy on the outside, fluffy and soft inside, boars head turkey with the yummiest tomatoes and pesto spread! 10/10 !! Almond croissant was soo good too, fresh and flaky with almond butter inside. Also 10/10! Love this spot read more