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    Pinpoint Cafe

    4.4 (236 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Pinpoint Cafe Photos

    PINPOINT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Pinpoint Cafe

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    Street view of cafe
    Jenner B.

    Perfect. Craft coffee and other drinks. Cliffside venue with bird La Jolla beach. Walking distance to research facilities and the Aquarium. Quick walk to beach. Friendly staff.

    Banana latte
    Maegan L.

    Great views, nice secluded area. Prompt service. Decent amount of seating. Latte was delicious as well!

    The view at Pinpoint cafe
    Ruth S.

    4/18/26 we literally came here for the ocean view and to see what the hype is about on IG. Basically it's the view. We ordered americano and a latte as we already ate breakfast earlier. Nice to see surfers in the ocean. Service took pretty long, then again..they are busy. No complaints here tho. We enjoyed our coffee and view. Happy sipping!

    gingerbread latte
    Aimee L.

    Had a lil snack here after yoga- I got the GOAT (Goat Cheese Avocado Toast) and a latte. They were tasty and filling! The avocado was also a really good texture. However, the price was pretty steep for what it was in my opinion. The food also took a while to come out, but it did seem pretty understaffed. The location is really nice though (outdoor seating only!), and it has a really good view of the beach.

    Avocado crunch toast and hot coffee
    Dung N.

    I came here for the view, but it does get busy, so you might not get a good view of the ocean, depending on where you're sitting. I got an avocado crunch toast, which came with fresh smashed avocado, heirloom tomatoes, microgreens, and a chili crunch drizzle on top of sourdough. It was yummy! My friend ordered a coffee and it had pretty latte art.

    Eid F.

    Perfect spot to grab a coffee with a great view. Service was very friendly. You order at the counter, pickup your drink and take a seat with a view. FYI. Place is small and a little hard to find at first, seating is limited and everything is outdoors. There isn't a dedicated parking lot but the walk isn't too bad and there is a beautiful view the whole time so who cares.

    Bri F.

    Explored around the area before stumbling on this cafe. It was busy, with many people staying to enjoy the killer view of the coast. We got two medium iced vanilla oat lattes that were solid, however the cost was pretty steep at $8 per drink. Would be willing to splurge for the view every now and then, though parking can be confusing since the cafe is located in the UCSD campus area.

    the goat and vanilla latte
    Jamie P.

    Stunning view of la jolla, service was fast, the avocado toast is amazing! Latte was delicious and well priced. Lots of seating and great to work from home

    Açaí bowl
    Del W.

    Employees are kind and there is a lot of seating available. Parking is limited & you may have to walk up 2 flights of stairs to access this location! But there's a nice view of the ocean and the food is good :-)

    Outdoor Seating
    Jacquelyn M.

    Stopped by here with a friend and had a lovely time. It's a nice little hidden outdoor spot with great views. It was pretty busy so it was nice to be able to get a spot. I ordered a smoked salmon toast and a strawberry smoothie, a little bit on the pricier side, but it's typical for the area.

    Cari A.

    Finally made my way to Pinpoint Cafe. I arrived a little after 8am on a Wednesday and there were just a few customers. By the time I left around 9am, almost all tables were taken. Pros: -views of the ocean -it's outdoor seating on two levels, so it's great if the weather is nice -if you go to UCSD, they give a small discount if you show your ID. Cons: -parking can be difficult. Close parking lots are permit specific. -no restrooms are available for customers.

    Large vanilla latte - 3 shots, not filled all the way
    Amanda B.

    Pinpoint Cafe has delicious drinks. No bathrooms. Parking is a challenge unless you go to school there. We parked on the busy road up top and walked down. I wish they would fill up the cup of the lattes. The toast was cute as heck though. And you can't beat the view.

    Avocado Toast with hard boiled egg...
    Lisa M.

    Fantastic view & awesome avocado toast.! The lattes were very good as well. The tide was low so we enjoyed a long walk north of the pier- tide-pooling along the way.

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    2 months ago

    It was my first time here and I fell in love with this place. Guys, thank you for the atmosphere!

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    Pinpoint Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pinpoint Cafe

    Are there outlets to plug into?

    None that's obvious. It's small beach cafe not a true coffeehouse.

    Is it ADA friendly?

    Yes.

    I noticed you are located on the UCSD campus. Do you have to pay for a daily or hourly parking permit? Thank you!

    Hi there! There’s street parking within walking distance at La Jolla Shores Drive. There is also a private parking lot at Naga Way. Everything else around the cafe is just for students and staff.

    Is Pinpoint Cafe dog friendly?

    Yes, I took my two dogs here and the cashier gave them treats and there was a water bowl out :)

    Is there WiFi available?

    Yes, however since this location is part of UCSD, at this time we are closed due to COVID.

    View All 10 Questions

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    Il Giardino di Lilli

    Il Giardino di Lilli

    4.5
    (428 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    One of the most aesthetic cafes in La Jolla imo! It's such a cute spot for a weekend brunch with…read morethe girlies. The first time I came, I just wanted to grab some pastries to go. The croissants stood out to me, like just look at how beautiful they look. My only concern was that the filling would be too sweet for me, but it wasn't! They used the perfect amount of filling. I tried the pistachio one and the nutella one. I liked the pistachio one because I loved how nutty pistachio paste is. I think it works perfectly in a sweet treat because it isn't overly sweet. But the nutella one was still yummy. The croissant itself was buttery and flakey, so yum! I came back because I really wanted to try their sammies. I ended up getting the panino coppa and subbed the burrata for fresh mozzarella. I loved the spicy kick their house-made spread added. Everything together was delicious. I got the freshly squeezed orange juice too, and it tasted really fresh. It was a little sour though.

    Il Giardino di Lilli is such a cute little gem in La Jolla!…read more The vibe feels like you're sitting in a cozy backyard with lots of greenery and charm. They have a huge selection of pastries and food options, plus plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, making it a great spot to hang out or get some work done! I tried the lavender latte, which was a little too milky for my taste and I couldn't taste much of the coffee. My friend got the vanilla latte and enjoyed it more, and her toast was really yummy. They also have a bathroom in the back, which is always a nice bonus. Parking can be a little tricky since it's La Jolla, but honestly much easier than the main beach area. Overall, a really cute spot with a relaxing atmosphere. I'd definitely come back to enjoy the space and try more of their menu!

    Photos
    Pistachio croissant
    Pistachio croissant
    Lavender latte
    Lavender latte
    Interior

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    Interior
    The Flower Pot Cafe & Bakery

    The Flower Pot Cafe & Bakery

    4.0
    (176 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    This is a quaint spot for breakfast-brunch. 2nd time here and it did not disappoint. The coffee was…read morevery good and flavorful. I don't usually order a breakfast burrito as they are often bland and require gobs of salsa for flavor. Not here! From the first bite to the last, no added sauces needed, however, their house-made salsa is incredible. You could put this salsa on a piece of cardboard and it would be amazing. We are not from SD but visit often and this will be a regular stop for us now. Thank you!

    The vibe, eclectic cozy travel cove. Music, today was a bit r&b chill pop. Laid back and not too…read moreloud. Plenty of places to sit and table space inside and outside. Service was great, everyone was nice and attentive. Got an iced Matcha Latte with oat milk and lavender to sweeten. Powdered. I give it an 8, I've had much worse matcha's, but also a bit better. Next time I come I want to try the coffee, because it looks to be their forte. Love the Colombian trip wall con una mascota preciosa. Also got a gluten free muffin, looked rough on the outside, but absolutely delish once unwrapped. Flavor was blueberry, and it was filled with them. The muffin was moist and not grainy like some gluten free ones can be. Not overly sweet, but still with plenty of berry deliciousness. All in all a wonderful stop with enough character to cameo in a 90's rom com.

    Photos
    Blast from the past, I remember the original panic again
    Blast from the past, I remember the original panic again
    Vegetarian burritos
    Vegetarian burritos
    Still fun and fascinating inside.

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    Still fun and fascinating inside.
    Fruittitude

    Fruittitude

    4.5
    (845 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Was walking around and decided to stop here for a drink. It was such a beautiful spot to sit and…read moresip! I want to come back to enjoy it more!

    Cute stop in La Jolla to get juice, coffee, or healthy breakfast/lunch items. For my first round, I…read moreordered beet juice and a medium hot Mexican decaf coffee. It was a nice ambiance to sit and enjoy your juice and coffee. We ordered quite a bit of items as we were waiting for another member of our party to meet us here. The bathroom is beautifully and nicely decorated but they are super strict about using the bathroom even if you are a customer as they had a bathroom (there is a key you have to ask for) "wanted bandit sign"apparently for vandalizing it....which I understand however When another member of our party came, we went inside and the line was so long we decided to use the bathroom before ordering more, we were in there less than 5 minutes and the owner/manager knocked and knocked, I came out and apologized and asked if she knocked. She did apologize but said other people are waiting. I ordered another juice and was going to order sandwiches and acai bowls but felt like we probably were at cafe more than an hour and out stayed our stay. I understand as a business you have to be strict about the bathroom and that is their policy however if it is a juice/coffee place your customers are bound to use the restroom several times especially if they are continuing to order. Unfortunately, It did turn me away to try the food which I actually was looking forward to as they did offer organic croissant sandwiches. We decided to just choose another place to order food. I'll have to think about returning as we are always in La Jolla for yoga.

    Photos
    Bathroom
    Bathroom
    Fruittitude
    Greenspiration

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    Greenspiration
    Blue Whale

    Blue Whale

    3.8
    (469 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Gluten-free friendly

    My friends and I were staying in San Diego over the weekend for the fourth of July. We needed a…read moreplace with food that would revive us for the journey home and my review sidekick, Meg, found Blue Whale! The line was long but for good reason. The food, coffee, and vibes were unmatched. We ordered quickly, snagged a table, and waited for our food. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but my friends did say the coffee was some of the best they've have. And Megs KNOWS coffee. I got the Big Wave Burrito and I could cry thinking about how good this was. Avocado, eggs, cheese, hash browns, bacon, and a slice of heaven wrapped up in the best flour tortilla that was crisped to perfection. The best spot to grab a bite and head to Seal Beach when you're done :)

    I found Blue Whale on TikTok and was really excited to try it, but unfortunately it didn't live up…read moreto the hype. The food was good, but the service and overall experience were disappointing. They seem to have gotten a lot busier from all the social media attention, but they really need a better system for handling large crowds. There was a long line, no clear directions on where to stand, and employees were repeatedly yelling at everyone to line up "along the ramp" even though there wasn't any obvious ramp or signage. If it's your first time visiting, it's incredibly confusing. It's also a first come, seat yourself setup. We ordered our food only to realize there wasn't a single table available, so we were left standing around waiting for somewhere to sit. It would've been nice if that had been explained before ordering. The girl who took our order was especially rude and showed zero hospitality, which set the tone for the rest of the visit. Between the confusing process, lack of organization, and unfriendly service, it just wasn't an enjoyable experience. The food was decent, but not enough to make up for everything else. Next time, I'll just go across the street to the other brunch spot instead.

    Photos
    Blue Whale
    Blue Whale
    Blue Whale

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    Pinpoint Cafe - coffee - Updated July 2026

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