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    Lofty Coffee

    4.1 (861 reviews)
    Closed 6:30 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Lofty Coffee Photos

    Business Info

    LOFTY COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Lofty Coffee

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    Jenny C.

    We stopped by this charming café in Little Italy for breakfast. We ordered the açaí bowl, a croissant sandwich with egg, sausage along with a vanilla latte and a cappuccino. The açaí bowl was refreshing, topped with fresh fruit and crunchy granola. The croissant sandwich was buttery and flaky, with the savory egg and sausage balanced by the subtle sweetness of the jam. Both the vanilla latte and cappuccino were smooth, rich, and expertly made. They also have a lovely outdoor patio, making it a perfect place to relax, enjoy breakfast, and soak in the vibrant atmosphere of Little Italy.

    Pull apart cinnamon roll
    Ryan G.

    Needed a quick treat to calm the sweet tooth. The coffee also smelled amazing but I had my coffee fix for the day. The cinnamon roll was made from a croissant, which I was not expecting. Not too sweet, but sweet enough. Worth a visit if you're near gate 108

    cappuccino
    Sophia M.

    Fantastic spot to come get some work done. I like the open air feel with all the sliding glass doors. You can sit inside but still feel like you are enjoying the "outdoors". Coffee was delicious - a little pricey but most coffee spots are these days. Staff were very friendly and it was nice to be able to bring my dog inside. They even had a little jar of treats for him.

    Tony C.

    Yes..."Lofty Coffee" gets 5 stars!!! Their coffee is very smooth and tasty! They have plenty of gluten free options!!! It's not acidic or burned! I came here twice during my visit in San Diego...they were consistently good! I had the Mocha, gluten free lemon cake, and the sausage croissant sandwich, it was all amazing! The service is quick and very friendly. Seating is open and most of the time we had to wait for someone to finish their meal! That's the only gripe, aside from that come in and enjoy a fantastic cup of coffee in beautiful San Diego!

    Turkish latte
    Christina W.

    When we got here, there was a huge line but it moved fairly quickly. They have dogs on the patio (which I personally love) and it was definitely happening there. The patio was cute. I ordered the Turkish Latte and the Cedros for breakfast. My girlfriend ordered the Little Italy and shared half of her croissant with me. If she did not share, I definitely would had still been hungry. I left content but not full, so I wish there was a little something more that came with the Cedros. Though at first glance it might look a little sad the flavors were there! I loved the heirloom tomatoes, so tasty. Except for the sausage patty, I wish it had a little more umf of something for me. The latte was delightful, I personally wouldn't get it again though. Seemed kind of pricey for what I got, as do trendy places as such do.

    mint green tea, lofty nola coffee
    Alyssa N.

    I recently visited again and I love their avocado hummus toast!!! Like I'm obsessed with it. I visited on a Saturday morning for a quick bite. Short line and the cashier was very nice. I ordered the hummus avocado toast and an iced Turkish latte since the barista recommended it. Personally I did not like the Turkish latte, I realized that day I do not like cardamom lol. But that is personal preference! But I am obsessed with their hummus avocado toast-- filling, you basically get a full avocado, and the produce is so fresh. Perfectly balanced and beautiful. I will always order that when I stop by!

    The Cloudy with a Chance of Cold Brew was top tier! Smooth and creamy!
    Emily T.

    This is the perfect spot for a Saturday morning before walking the farmer's market. The cold brew is bold and bright and the cold foam is creamy and the perfect level of sweet. The barista was super helpful in guiding us to the perfect drink and the whole place is beautiful. Seating inside and out and plenty of room for service animals!

    Açaí bowl
    Colleen K.

    Delicious and fresh! We enjoyed tasty açaí bowls for brunch on their outdoor patio. Their outdoor space is lovely with a variety of seating in the covered area. I'd never had an açaí bowl quite like this - the açaí was almost like ice cream in texture, and instead of being stacked in layers, it's almost "deconstructed" and arranged like a salad on a plate. Very very good!

    Turkish latte
    Ken D.

    Came here the following morning after a IsoKnock concert and was pretty thrilled on the turkish latte. It's nice walking around on a cold ass day and stopping by for some hot coffee . The turkey sandwich was pretty filling as well! I thought it was going to be like your typical hipster sandwich with a mini slice of turkey but they packed it up pretty fat with avocado too. Service was quick and easy and the vibes are immaculate. I'd come back if I was around the area.

    Banana bread, aztec mocha and caramel latte
    Doreen G.

    Food was good, but the best part was the coffees. The spot was cute also and fast service. First come first serve basis, save ur own seats and order through the cashier

    Turkey and avocado croissant, cloudy cold brew
    Jessica G.

    Cute coffee shop with lots of outdoor seating. I ordered a turkey and avocado croissant and a cloudy cold brew. The sandwich was so tasty with tons of avocado and the most flaky croissant. Delish. The coffee was very big with cold foam on top, not too sweet, perfect way to start the day. The staff were friendly and very approachable, very kind team. Fast service too!!

    Evangelia G.

    Lofty is such a Little Italy staple! I always enjoy my coffee and/or meal when I'm here. Today, my friend and I got Açaí bowls (absolutely delicious) for breakfast post Pilates, and I had an Aztec mocha (has a kick, so if you don't like spice, choose something else) and my friend got a honey latte. Loved both!

    Salted Caramel Latte
    Danny W.

    This coffee shop has a cool atmosphere located in Little Italy with nice outdoor seating. The barista was friendly and answered all my questions when I was ordering my coffee. I had the Salted Caramel Latte and it was decent. I didn't have as much caramel flavor as I would have liked, but overall it was good.

    Latte to perfection.

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    19 days ago

    service was below average, coffee was meh. seating and view was nice though. sandwiches were decent

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    Lofty C.

    Thank you for your nice review Kinga.

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    1 year ago

    My favorite coffee place!!! Delicious, dog friendly, great food (avocado toast is so good!). Nice barista's, cute cafe culture

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    4 months ago

    Currently hold the prize for best coffee in Little Italy, 10/10. Nice outdoor/indoor ambiance and service is nice and consistent. Recommend!

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    7 months ago

    Would love if you brought back the complimentary drip with the purchase of a bag of coffee! Otherwise nice staff & yummy drinks.

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    Lofty C.

    Thank you for you kind review Emily!

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    Page 2 of 22

    Ask the Community - Lofty Coffee

    Do you have vegan pastries or breakfast options ? Nothing was specifically marked on the online menu, or I missed seeing it. Excellent coffee btw, employees were awesome but…

    Hi Carlos, Yes, lots of vegan options!… Read more

    Hello! I was here earlier today and the coffee was absolutely incredible down to how aromatic the beans themselves were. What kind of a roast do you use and who is your roaster?

    Hello Salma, We are stoked to hear you enjoyed your coffee! We roast our coffee in Encinitas at… Read more

    Are there outlets to charge phones/laptops?

    Don’t think so

    Is this a good place to study?

    I think it would be a great place to study. There are a lot of tables, both inside and out.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The happy hour and the vibes are immaculate!…read more A few months ago, I went here with my boyfriend, sisters and brothers in law for my going away dinner. I am so sad because I can't remember the name of our waitress! She was amazing because she was so ON POINT with everything -- from knowing the details of each menu item, to knowing what "medium+" is for a steak. She was attentive and amazing and shoutout to her! The food and tiny 'tinis were delicious! The steak and fries were such a good deal for $25. I could've eaten two of them, and now that I'm writing this months later, I'm thinking about that meal again. There is also a spot where the live musician plays, which is awesome! When I'm in San Diego, I have to come back.

    I really wanted to like Books & Records, but the service left a lot to be desired…read more After checking in, we waited a bit for our table, which was understandable. Once seated, though, we sat for about 20 minutes without anyone acknowledging us. I eventually had to flag someone down just to get water. We then waited even longer for our server to take our order. Because service was so slow, I ordered all of our drinks and food at once since I wasn't sure when we'd see our server again. What stood out even more was watching a couple seated next to us receive immediate attention. They were greeted, served water right away, and the woman was offered a purse hook. Meanwhile, we were sitting there with our purses shoved beside us and weren't offered the same courtesy. It may seem like a small detail, but combined with the lack of attention, it made us feel overlooked. The drinks came out quickly, and the chicken satay and mac and cheese were decent. Nothing was bad, but nothing really stood out food-wise either. The highlight of the evening was definitely the live music. The performers were fantastic and created a great atmosphere that honestly was the only enjoyable part of the evening.

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    Interior
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    Cocina 35

    Cocina 35

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    We came to Cocina 35 at Liberty Station for the first time to celebrate my husband's birthday and…read morehad such a lovely experience. Dennise seated us and was so kind, she even shared a few of her favorite menu items since it was our first visit. Our server Anelle was great as well. She was friendly, attentive, and helped us pick some really good dishes. We tried the Tacos Dorados de Papa, El Sampler de la Abuela, and La Bomba, and for appetizers the Burrito de Machaca con Frijoles Puercos and the sweet corn tamal (which ended up being my favorite). The food and ambiance were great, but the service from Dennise and Anelle really stood out. They made our birthday brunch feel special.

    I received very bad service while ordering and picking up my order. I ordered pickup on DoorDash. I…read morewas informed they would be making the food and accepted the order. Why would you accept an order then not make it until someone gets there??? I got there and they told me it hasn't been made and will be made once I arrived. Why? Idk but the girl was rude about it. I also got the sampler that has multiple different things. It was all mashed up in one box. The whipped cream melted on all the savory food. The savory food made the sweet food not great. This place has a VAST difference in service, swiftness, ambiance, and level of customer service compared to the location in Coronado. I literally LOVE the La Jolla location. The workers are always nice, always accommodating, and having common sense. Please fix this as the other location is way better. I'd rather go all the way to Coronado (I work downtown) rather than deal with the bad service and quality of experience that you receive at this location.

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    Cocina 35
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    Wow! Everything about this place was phenomenal. The atmosphere, the food, and the service…read more The inside gives western diner in the absolute best way possible! It's got the decor, chairs, and art to match. Jessica was our server and she was amazing! She gave us lots of suggestions on what to try and what is on the menu since it was my first time here. She recommended the bloody Mary flight so did grab that to try! We also ordered the biscuits and gravy to share and orange juice. The portions are so large! So I am glad we decided to share the biscuits and gravy but let me run down each thing. Bloody Mary Flight: Honestly every single one was amazing. My favorite was definitely the pickle Mary! Everything tasted so delicious and was garnished beautifully. Well worth the 22 dollars. Biscuits and Gravy: Absolute perfection of comfort food. The biscuits were so fluffy and well seasoned. The gravy was also soooo good, just like my mom makes. The sausage in it was also cooked so well and juicy. I've never tried mashed potatoes with the biscuits and gravy but it worked very well! Orange Juice: Not a fan really, not pulpy enough and I wasn't a fan of the flavor. Overall this is definitely a must visit! I will definitely be back.

    It's definitely a novelty breakfast/brunch spot with tons of options and massive, and I mean…read moremassive portions. Service is great and atmosphere is very nice as well. But, the food.... "Over medium" eggs came barely cooked, still had clear egg gel floating around. The table next to us had the same issue. The fried chicken, which is beautiful looking, was strangely flavorless. Another table was also talking about this issue. Bacon was way overcooked as well. I also really dislike when food timing for a table is way off. I rather it stay in the kitchen under a heat lamp and come together rather that spend 5 minutes staring at my food being polite. So, for a fun "wow that's a ton of food" experience this is it. But I much prefer quality ingredients and attention to detail and flavor over unfinishable portions at a premium price point ($100 after tip for 2 ppl).

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    Dining Room
    Dining Room
    1. Smoked Bacon Fresh Avocado
    1. Smoked Bacon Fresh Avocado
    Iced coffee 10/10

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    Gaslamp Breakfast Company

    Gaslamp Breakfast Company

    4.1
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    My hubby is a big breakfast guy and with this situated directly across from our hotel, we knew we'd…read morebe trying it. There was no wait, seated immediately, greeted immediately. Coffee was delivered hot, waters nice and chilled. I got the brioche breakfast sammie where I had to change a few things on it and they were very accommodating - ended up being a great meal. My hubby got the meat lovers omelet and it was huge! He enjoyed every bite. We will definitely visit again if ever in the area.

    Probably the WORST customer service I've experienced in all of San Diego. We walked up to ask how…read morelong the wait was, the hostess on the outside said it was 25 minutes, not a problem. We put down our name and number after receiving the confirmation text, we decided to walk the market the next street over, that took 20 minutes. We came back and waited and saw other people walk up and be sat to a table instantly. We then asked how much longer it would be we were told 5 minutes. We waited, not a problem. We saw at least 5 more parties walk up and be sat down instantly (we were a party of 3 btw). We asked the hostess yet again, when will we be sat down, at this point we've been waiting for an hour we saw a table be cleaned and yet again another walk up was sat down instantly, that was a party of 4. We asked what the hold up was, one hostess said we can be seated now, we walk in and then she stopped us then asked would we like to be sat outside, we said doesn't matter at this point, she jetted outside and left us just standing there on the inside. I asked her what's going on are we being sat down? She said no wait 5 minutes for a table. At this point we're getting frustrated because why is the organization at this point TERRIBLE, but a walk up is not an issue. I then tell the hostess we've been waiting over an hour and you mean to tell me every walk up gets sat down instantly but not the people who have been waiting on the list, she answers me by saying "yes". After a table is cleared on the inside a hostess tells us to follow her to a table, she then asks how many is in my party when she was the main one who checked us in and saw us waiting the whole time. After all that time, our waiter was running behind so his manager took our order and kept apologizing to us. When we finally get our orders, the food was equivalent as to going into IHOP or Dennys. Nothing stood out, flavor was lacking. At this point we were better off going to Broken Yolk across the street. Customer service and the waitlist system seriously needs major improvement here. Simple manners and accountability lack here as well when it comes to making mistakes. Only thing I liked was my chai latte. Most likely will not come back here.

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    Inside Restaurant Bar Area
    Inside Restaurant Bar Area
    Brioche Breakfast Sammy
    Brioche Breakfast Sammy
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    Richard Walker's Pancake House

    Richard Walker's Pancake House

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    Came here for Mother's Day brunch and, predictably, the place was absolutely buzzing with families!…read moreEven with the holiday crowd, the vibe was great and the energy was high. You can't come to Richard Walker's and not get the Dutch pancake. We went with the Apple Pancake (the fan favorite for a reason) and it was honestly out of this world. It's got that perfect contrast with super fluffy in the middle but with those amazing crispy edges. We also tried the Belgian waffle, which was exactly how it should be: crunchy on the outside and delicious throughout. What really blew me away, though, was the service. Despite it being one of the busiest days of the year, the staff was absolutely superb fast, friendly, and totally on top of it. If you're in Downtown San Diego, this is a must-visit for a solid, convenient breakfast. Highly recommend!

    You can't miss the sweet apple aroma when you walk by Richard Walkers Pancake House. It's simply…read moreambrosial! That's the delicious smell of their famous baked pancakes! An absolute must when dining here! Everything is made to order (just the way I like it). The baked pancake takes about 20 min, but totally worth it! Overall, service was on point- from start to finish! And the staff are friendly and pleasant! Very informative about the menu, making great recommendations for our table! The apple baked pancake was light and airy with an outer crisp! This house specialty is slow-baked to golden perfection with Granny Smith apples and a warm cinnamon glaze-chef's kiss! I will definitely be back for more!

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    Richard Walker's Pancake House
    Regular PANCAKE
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    Breakfast Republic

    Breakfast Republic

    4.1
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    I recently took a trip out to San Diego for an appointment and stopped by Breakfast Republic; and…read morewow, everything was absolutely delicious! The interior is super organized, and I loved that they have a full bar area as well. We started with some mimosas, which were fantastic and the perfect kickoff to breakfast. For food, I ordered the Vegan Tres Leches Pancakes, and they were incredible. They were so naturally flavorful and moist that they barely even needed any maple syrup; the combination of the pistachio brittle and vegan buttercream on top was perfect on its own. My friend ordered the Shrimp and Crab Cake Benedict and loved it. He said it was packed with flavor, not dry at all, and didn't taste overly fishy; just perfect in every way. To top it all off, our server was so sweet, checked on us often, and was incredibly proactive throughout our meal. Great food, great drinks, and excellent service. I will definitely recommend to vegans and non vegans. Just to clarify for anyone looking to visit; Breakfast Republic isn't a fully vegan restaurant, but they do have a fair amount of great vegan options clearly marked on the menu.

    My mother dragged me here and I wanted to like it, but the experience was honestly uncomfortable…read moreand underwhelming. The atmosphere didn't feel kid-friendly at all--loud, crowded, and not really accommodating if you have children with you. On top of that, the food didn't match the hype. It looked good but the quality just wasn't there, especially for the price. What really stood out to me though was the dynamic in the restaurant. The entire dining area was filled almost exclusively with white customers, while the visible staff roles felt very segmented in a way that didn't sit right. Here's the puzzle: look around the room, look at who is being seen, look at who is serving, look at who is clearing... and then ask yourself why the only person worth looking at wasn't even part of the experience they're trying to sell. Between the atmosphere, the food quality, and that underlying vibe, it's not somewhere I'd go back to.

    Photos
    Dining space.
    Dining space.
    Eggs a plenty !
    Eggs a plenty !
    Bar area.

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    Bar area.

    Lofty Coffee - coffee - Updated June 2026

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