SO CUTE SO GOOD!! The syrups and milk alternatives are all made in house and I fear like I can never go back to box oat milk. The pistachio whipped latte is so yummy! Baristas were so sweet and told me they host art/creative classes in the evenings. Also the decor is so bright and fun, and so comfy to hang out! read more

I really thought this was a daycare for kids but this is a cafe really for adults to bring out their playful side (kids welcome as well). Super cute cafe that's catering to a more childhood reminiscent aesthetic that I liked with lots of bright colors, plushy cushions, and overall a fun vibe. The staff were super welcoming. I ordered an iced Pistachio Whipped Latte which is their most popular drink item at the moment. It was perfectly sweet and creamy with a bold coffee flavor coming through and subtle notes of pistachio. A MUST TRY! I want to come back for their weekly events from their vinyl night, coloring pages workshop, boho flower workshops, etc. Come check out this adorable gem in the heart of North Park read more

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Met up with a friend here to catch up, not realizing they were having an event. There were books and plants on sale for the event. which was a great surprise. We ended up sitting on the barstools at the back and I had their pistachio latte over ice with oat milk. It was delicious 9/10. The atmosphere is so cute with retro vibes. Painted walls, colorful tufted chairs with fun cookie pillows and eclectic decor give this place a cozy and fun ambiance. They have games throughout the cafe so my friend and I played a question game while we drank our coffee. What a great space! Will definitely check out one of their crafting events soon. read more

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NOT FOR KIDS. And that's okay This was the cutest place. We just stumbled upon it walking and decided to try. Super open area. There's cute games and a seating area. I looks like they do game night activities and if I live here I would totally sign up. I ordered the oatmeal breakfast bar and the ube matcha latte....i wish I would've order a second order to go because it was AMAZING. The breakfast bar was so soft and the flavor was phenomenal. I literally want to call and ask what's in it and how they make it so I can try to make some at home for a snack. And the Ube Matcha Latte was delicious. Just the right amount of earthy and sweet tasting. 11/10!!! read more

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Joined Playgrounds for their pocket altar event, and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! The environment was so welcoming, and it was a great opportunity to introduce my friends to a new space. I am not very arts and crafty, but the opportunity to create something that is all about the vibezzz was right up my alley. I appreciated that it didn't matter how experienced you were, as the activity was described clearly, and everyone helped each other out. Once the event was closing, we also got to take our pick of a chocolate to try - went for the pop rocks one, and that was deliciously unique.... plus I get arts and crafts & chocolate, it's a win-win for me! Definitely will be coming back for coffee and treats, and another fun and welcoming event in this incredible space. read more

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Playground Art + Coffee is located in North Park San Diego. The parking here is ridiculously difficult, though it's not the cafe's fault. Beware of coming on weekends, especially when there are sports events; you'll never find a spot on the street. You can park at the parking structure two blocks away for $1 an hour. We walked into this cafe, just in awe of how colorful and welcoming this place is. They have toys and board games of all sorts. They also have community events that are free to the public. On the day we went, they offered a painting activity. I came here with my friends on a Saturday morning. My best friend ordered the ice cream cold brew, I got their pistachio whipped latte, my fiancé got their tonic, and my friend's husband ordered their root beer latte(?). All of my friends agreed that it was delicious! I wasn't absolutely fam of my drink because I thought the pistachio wasn't prevalent enough. The caffeine is definitely strong and I only ordered a small size! We coincidentally met the owner of the coffee shop! Super unique and sweet individual with a love for what they do. We spent about two hours in here talking and playing board games. Loved the theme and feeling as if it was a play space for adults. I recommend for other coffee fanatics to come try it out. We'll be back whenever we are conveniently in the area! read more

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Playground Art + Coffee is a new cafe that has opened in the North Park neighborhood along a busy stretch of University Ave. The space used to house a short-lived, upscale eatery. The inside of the suite was redecorated with brighter colors and furnished with chairs, sofas, and tables for activities like gaming, arts and crafts, etc. The service counter was in the back of the room where there was a display case for baked goods and desserts. A menu hung on the wall to the right of the counter. Two-sided menu sheets were also available. For a cafe, this place closes rather late at 9:30 pm on Thursday to Saturday which was good for the night owls. I arrived about an hour before closing, and the place was buzzing with groups doing different things such as knitting. I had already eaten dinner and dessert so what I wanted was a beverage. Six signature drinks and five house-made sodas/tonics made up the choices. An Iced Root Beer Latte was my pick as I had not seen such a variety before. Two sizes were available, and I picked the smaller one of 12 oz. Their version of a latte had the strongest coffee flavor of any I have tried recently. It overpowered the sassafras of the root beer which was too bad because otherwise, it was a smooth drink. I liked the diverse communal vibe of Playground Art + Coffee as there aren't many spaces like this in the SD area. read more

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Fairground Art + coffee, a new shop opened in North Park. It's half a block away from Target where there's also limited pay to park spots as well as the lot adjacent to this lot. Once inside, you'll see the hugh welcoming message of 'You Belong Here,' on the wall in bright colors, comfy cloud seating and tables with interactive Artsy games all look fun and the polar opposite of a quiet place to work, unless you can work with lots of background noise and kids playing. Had the chance to meet the staff of ladies and owners who were all very pleasant, welcoming to me and my pup and their positive energy added to the cool vibe. Ferris is one of females of this female owned and Yasmin made my custom drink perfectly. An iced espresso tonic topped with orange yuzu was the perfect drink with a perk to cool off from a hot day in May. Lots of other creative concoctions on the menu fun to try. Had a positive experience at Playground. Recommend read more

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Great staff and service! I loved the space -- it was bright and beautiful and had these little reminders/affirmations painted on the wall. They host a bunch of community events that would be cool to check out if you're in the area. It seems like a nice spot to chill and play some board games. I had the hazelnut sesame latte and it was strong! They are super dog friendly! read more

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This is a cool spot in North Park, San Diego. In addition to being a full espresso bar, they also offer fresh baked goods, playfully games and toys, that even adults would like to spend time with to bring back those fond memories. I had a cortado and a house made breakfast bar. The breakfast bar was made in house and was made with oats, cranberries, cinnamon, and a touch of cardamon. It had a bit of a chewy texture because of the cranberries. It was tasty. The cortado was well made. It had a very slight bitterness towards the end, but not much. It was very nice up front and into a smooth rich flavor. Good cortado. The young ladies working here were very upbeat and friendly. The hospitality was very welcoming and service went without a hitch. I liked that they took the time to engage in conversation. There's plenty of inside seating and a variety of games to play. read more

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Friendly staff, but quite pricey. The bakery options were very limited. Pepperoni hand pies were too greasy from sausage and croissant crust. No accommodation for sugar free diets. It's cute inside, but I want a coffee and light breakfast spot. read more

I decided to step into Playground this morning, and I had such a great time. I think I just found my next favorite spot. Ferris, the manager, was soo friendly and it was great to get to know them! They let me know about all the events that they hold (craft night and switch/animal crossing nights). They also made this amazing Uber tonic latte drink, which is something I didn't expect to love as much as I did! read more

Playground Art + Coffee - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Went on a coffee crawl with my husband and we decided to stop in at Playground coffee, as we were in the area and it's right in the best spot of North Park. The moment you step in the calming pastel color scheme, unique fluffy furniture, and fun atmosphere is super relaxing and inviting! We were greeted kindly upon entry and the staff was really friendly and answered all our questions. We ended up getting the Ube strawberry Matcha latte, it was absolutely delicious and just what we needed for an afternoon pick me up. We also sat and played with some of their toys in the café area. It's super spacious and there's table seating if you need to focus and work, and couches and chairs if you're trying to hang out. just a really great coffee and really great atmosphere, we're definitely coming back soon. read more

Playground Art + Coffee - Ube matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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Never had a strawberry cold foam on latte before but it works! It's a really cozy space with really comfortable chairs. read more

Playground Art + Coffee - Strawberry cold foam latte - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Wonderful experience stumbling upon this coffee/matcha shop! The owner was very kind and offering suggestions/modifications for my wife who doesn't drink coffee but wanted to enjoy the pandan drink. The music was also great (a lot of kpop and BTS) which was an added plus! read more

Playground Art + Coffee - Matcha pandan and Hazelnut Sesame Latte with oat milk - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Coffee and matcha are pretty decent (7.5/10). Ambience is very nice. Not too loud, has AC, comfy chairs to sit and chill (9/10). Service is good with friendly employees read more

I found this coffee shop through a friend who recommended it as a good coworking spot to grab a drink and get some work done. First impression--the place is huge. There's plenty of seating, including a long communal table that's perfect for working or meeting up with friends. The space itself is definitely the highlight. While waiting for my friends, I checked out the menu and the matcha caught my eye. I decided to go with a strawberry matcha since I'd been craving one. When the barista rang me up, I was honestly surprised--it was $12 for a small. I hesitated, but went ahead with it and tipped, bringing the total to $13. The drink came out pretty quickly, but right away I noticed it didn't look quite right. There wasn't much visible strawberry, and the matcha had a very dark, grassy color. After the first sip, I knew it wasn't for me. The matcha tasted dull and lacked the flavor I was expecting, especially for the price. It was pretty disappointing. On top of that, two of my friends had their orders messed up, which didn't help the experience. Overall, I wouldn't come back for the drinks--they just weren't worth the price. That said, the space itself is great, and I could see myself returning just to work or hang out but not the drinks. read more

Playground Art + Coffee - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been watching this place get built out for a while, so when I walked by and finally saw the doors open, I had to go in immediately! I'm glad it's as fun and welcoming as it looked from the outside. They have a wide selection of savory items, sweets, and drinks. The chai latte was a perfect mix of spice and milk, and the galactic brownie was like a better, grown-up cosmic brownie: richer, more complex, but still totally fun. Both were clearly homemade with care. They have a lot of fun-sounding upcoming artsy and food events. Can't wait to come back for one of their chocolate tastings! read more

I came here on a Friday afternoon for the first time. I love strawberry matcha lattes so I was very excited when I saw that was available. I ordered a 16 ounce matcha latte with strawberry syrup and the price was pretty steep, $13 including tip. Unfortunately, the drink was excessively sweet and the matcha tasted chalky. Not sure if it was the matcha itself or the oat milk, but it was not pleasant tasting at all. Couldn't taste the matcha- just straight sugar and chalkiness :( I unfortunately couldn't finish my drink after a few sips. Maybe I'll come back and try a cold brew but sad I spent that much on a drink I couldn't enjoy or finish read more

Playground Art + Coffee - Iced matcha latte with strawberry syrup and oat milk (don't recommend) - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Probably one of the better coffee places in north park, the baked goods are amazing and the overall vibe is 5/5 Everything is made in house and you can tell by the taste. Went to a chocolate tasting event they were hosting and it's made me see taste and experience chocolate so differently. High recommend going to an event The chocolate and pastry offerings seem to always change which is exciting read more

I went to a chocolate tasting here last night and it was so fun and YUMMY! Spring, one of the owners, lead the tasting experience. She was knowledgeable and made it a special evening. The place is welcoming, bright and playful. Already recommending and will be back. Oh and their chai latte with salted carmel is AMMMAAAZZZiiinngg!! read more

Playground Art + Coffee - My friend and I in front of the wall of chocolate! - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Very welcoming space and staff. They have snacks for purchase as well. It's a great addition to the neighborhood has good hours and community events. I recommend the coffee which is well balanced and not too sweet or bitter. Cant go wrong visiting this spot. read more

The coffee was amazing! The chocolate tasting was fantastic- Spring is so knowledgeable and so passionate about chocolate! It was so much fun. The space was so friendly and inclusive. I highly recommend going to events here and getting their drinks and chocolate! read more

Playground Art + Coffee - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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We did the cutest chocolate tasting here. The experience was so fun and the owners were so sweet! I love what a welcoming space they have created, with cozy seating and fidget toys / games at each table. Everything was so thoughtfully curated, from the ethically sourced foreign chocolates, to the locally crafted beverages! Definitely try the salted caramel syrup in your coffee or matcha overall 10/10 experience, will definitely be back! read more

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Well the ambience was nice and clean, the service was also kind and I tipped well. Unfortunately a bill for two drinks and two pastries was $46. I got the Ube Matcha with Ube oat milk and vanilla syrup.. it had no depth, and was lackluster without sweetness... despite adding the syrup as recommended. It also unexpectedly came out black and overall wasnt appetizing. My friend got the root beer float latte, which was more sweet and had an interesting flavor but not very enjoyable and very coffee forward. We got the pepperoni and cheese pizza pastries which ended up not being hot despite having them heat it, and nothing to write home about. I wouldn't say it was bad but I definitely would not go back for anything we ordered, especially at that price. This is nothing against the servers! I know they probably would have remade the drinks or offered something else/ heated up the food, but I didnt feel like burdening them with it when nothing wow'd us and the price was that high. read more