Just went here recently for afternoon tea. What a delight. Everything I had was wonderful. To the set up and the backyard ambiance and the place settings. I will say that the cream that came with the scones was a dream. I wish I could have taken a bucket of cream home. The actual Rust store is a cute little shop. The proprietors are appropriately dressed for the Old Town time period. This place has it all. From old fashioned candy to hot hot hot sauce. From wooden shot glasses to pumpkin cake. Pretzels to peppermint sticks. This place is just too cute for words. You don't have to be a tourist to get a kick out of Rust. read more

We had to! We just had to!! The cookies were calling... Staff is friendly... and efficient... read more

Rust General Store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Cuuuute general store w/jars of candy and complimentary samples. Tried Dark Chocolate Irish Cream, but it wasn't "chocolate enough", so I went for a sample of Death by Chocolate and it was the perfect bite of dark chocolate. Mr. Bertolino was an excellent host, reminding me of "The Candy Man" from '71 "Willy Wonka." Such a joy! I wasn't planning on buying anything, but he was so winsome, I just HAD to! Hubs was intrigued by the Green Apple sour candy, but sweets are a "no, no" for him, so he just enjoyed a sample. Prices seem in line with tourist spots and Mr. Bertolino let us know that the candy in the jars is sold "by the scoop", or you can purchase pre-bagged. I'm guessing it's 6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of the other, but I didn't mind. It's a treat. Loved the overall look of the store, with the high shelves of jars of candy, display of baked goods, interesting books and loads of souvenirs. Pop in a take a look. If you can resist a sweet treat, you're a stronger man than I. Cheers! "CC" read more

See all

In Rust, we trust! Rust General Store is a cool shop meets cafe bistro with outside tables and chairs. Awesome coffee, hot beverages, teas, hand mixed sodas, lemonades, ice cream floats, various syrups, candy, books, pantry items, treats and more. They've got an assorted of baked things including cookies galore. All of which are labeled with allergens and even include some gluten free choices, but zero vegan friendly ones... to each their own. Grateful for what they do offer especially their soup kits, which do include dairy free and plant-based finds. They have some pickles on sticks and popcorn as well as Bavarian Pretzels most can enjoy. Service it top notch and the layout even more so. Note that: Orders get called in the order they are placed. So it's not much of a wait after you order. You can enjoy events like Dia de los Muertos, Carnival of Raven King and afternoon tea time on weekends (Saturday and Sundays). It's a cozy little big shop you're fall in love with. Enjoying coffee and treat just outside is one of life's perfect pleasures. An amazing 2011 established shop with an 1860s feel. read more

See all

I stopped in here hoping to get a water but after looking at the menu, I had to get myself a strawberry lemonade. It was very sweet, but super refreshing. I also got a pickle on a stick and these pickles were amazing! Super crispy and juicy. The service was also great, the guy at the counter was very helpful. He recommended the pickle lemonade which I'll definitely try when I'm back! Overall, good service and yummy drinks. It's something you really only stop at if you're already walking around in old town, as it is extremely hard to find parking in the areas. Especially on the weekend. read more

See all

Rust is a nice shop in Old Town with a bistro window. I was pretty thirsty so I purchased a lemonade before browsing the shop a bit. I didn't find anything to purchase and prices were on the higher side, but they do have a range of quality products available. The lemonade was tasty, too. read more

Located in the heart of 'Old Town San Diego State Historic Park' in the picnic area. Rust General Store is a must stop for us when we visit. This lil store takes you back to the 1860's. You will find housewares and a bistro serving Coffee, Hot Chocolate, Lemonades, Pickle-on-a-Stick, Ice Cream Floats, Fresh Cookies, Pretzels, Popcorn, and so many more goodies that you can enjoy right outside. I love seeing the friendly staff in such era-themed outfits, so unique and fun. They offer a Traditional Tea Service in their private garden on Saturday and Sundays at 2:30 PM by reservations. I enjoy their Iced Vanilla Latte with a Pretzel. Their fresh lemonades are so refreshing and so so good! Overall, it's always a good experience at Rust General. read more

See all

Cute store inside Old Town. We got a delicious Bavarian Pretzel, some delicious Prickly Pear lemonade and a huge pickle!! The ladies inside were so nice. Great place to check out! read more

Tries the prickly pear lemonade at $7 for a large. Thought it was sweet, but enjoyable. Cookies looked good. read more

Rust General Store - Prickly - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

This was one of our first stops during our visit to Old Town. I highly recommend checking this place out for their very interesting variety of snacks. What reeled me inside was the sign outside advertising dill pickles and ice cold drinks. There's a little section of the store right across from the main cashier area that served little snacks and drinks. I HAD TO ORDER THEIR PICKLE LEMONADE. Lemonade? Delicious. Pickle juice? Delicious. Pickle spears? Delicious. It was a delicious concoction of sweet, tart, and dill. If you're a pickle lover, I recommend the pickle lemonade. If you're not a pickle lover, just get their regular lemonade but it's not as good. Service here was fast even though we went during peak hour and only two gentlemen were working during our visit. read more

When we went to the Tea on Sunday afternoon and it was delicious and so refreshing to sit under that big pepper tree in the backyard read more

See all

I ordered the iced tea with mint. We had been here many times in the past. They used to provide fresh mint in their tea. They use syrups instead now. Don't order the teas! They taste horrible. The one I ordered tasted like toothpaste. No exaggeration here. We couldn't drink any of our teas so we were hoping to exchange or get a refund only to find out that they wouldn't do either. The girl said "we don't do refunds or exchanges." The counter we were at where we had made the purchase had no sign saying that and when we pointed that out she said the sign they had was on the other side of the building. A lot of good it does there! The girls attitude in response just made things worse. Very rude! The least they could do is give us a new drink to make up for selling crap and they won't even do that. I'm never giving them any of our business again. One tea alone was about $7. Crazy prices. That should have been a red flag Lesson learned with these small shoos. If they can't back up what they sell than it's not worth purchasing anything from them. read more

Rust now offers afternoon tea in their backyard! The backyard area is decorated so cute and the vibes are so nice and pleasant. Super chill! There are different teas to choose from, scones, sandwiches, and the most decadent desserts. Everything was delicious. Our server was Ms Riley and she was delightful. Grab your girls, make a reservation, and enjoy a splendid afternoon. It's super shaded so even when it's warm, the backyard is comfortable. read more

See all

Cute old shop that sells loose leaf tea, with a coffee shop. I love the tables on the porch. The store is nice looking but the coffee and espresso drinks were awful and the girl who served it seemed miserable and had really dirty hair like she hadn't bathed in a while. I guess that's how it was back in the old days but if you work in food service you should maintain your hygiene in these modern times. The cafe mocha was lukewarm and the milk hadn't been steamed. It didn't taste like it had espresso in it at all. read more

Drinks were sub-par, but customer service was uncomfortable. When we asked for extra sweetener in our iced caramel lattes, the employee reacted as if it was an odd request and told us to just use sugar packets. When ordering an Italian cream soda, he sighed and said he just didn't want to clean up after making it. The overall attitude made the visit feel unwelcoming. read more

Fantastic tourist store resembling the General Store from the old west! Lots of small items, tourist trinkets. One corner serves as a coffee shop as well. Ambience is rustic hence the name Good coffee and delicious Bavarian pretzels! read more

See all

I was walking around Old Town for the day with a good friend, and we were craving a cold drink on an extra warm day in SD. We decided to check out their cafe/bistro inside! We got their fresh lemonade and cookies (tho I didn't see any vegan or GF options). They were both delicious and just hit the spot for us! My friend found their outdoor patio area, which we loved. A huge hidden patio tucked in busy Old Town. If you have a large group with you or looking for some peace and quiet, then you must check this outdoor area out. There are many wooden tables to choose from. Before we left, I spotted some cute summery kitchen towels. They were $12 and were good quality fabric, and so glad I got them. Cashiers for both the cafe and general store were fast and friendly. Most definitely support the Rust General Store! read more

Rust General Store - Rust General Store & Bistro food and drink menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

During the early years of California you would find the general store for the supplies like the candy for the kids and the lumber for the house to cloth for making clothes , and to the dried goods of the salt pork and the bacon. For the general stores you would the first products of the sugar glass that was first made products of the Western days.. When youvwould go to the general store you could buy the flower you need the general store was not of the modern days many would come by hoarse and wagon.. The state park is one of the first cities that you would find the stage coach hotel you could stay at the Cosmopolitan hotel . The Rust General Store is a store when you walk in you get greeted by the people at the store dressed in the clothing of the year the walk around inside you would see the many products of the store. The first candies of the old West that the kids could buy for low prices for the first Rock Candy and the licorice Candy. Rust General store where you can buy the many gifts of the park and some that are from the Golden Days when you had s general store you could find the many products and supplies . Being a Yelp Elite Reviewer the many subjects that I like are the golden days the days of the cowboys that traveled through the state park when it first started. The feel of the oldest bring history and the places we visit the best places to share with others . . read more

If you like spicy, sweet and refreshing stop in for their specialty lemonade! Really friendly staff, and a nice gem in old town. read more

Rust General Store - Spicy lemonade - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

A very unique store & coffee place & you can enjoy your coffee outside ... it is set up nice! I went here with a friend after a massage from across the street a month ago. read more

Ordered the white mocha which was okay. Staff was nice and helpful, dressed in period attire. It was cute and great for an after lunch pick me up with some chocolate from the candy store nearby. Kiddo ordered hot chocolate but said it was bitter so not sure about that for the kids, but overall decent coffee. read more

Date of visit: October 17, 2021 While continuing our tour of Old Town, we remembered that my mom mentioned that there was a store in Old Town that sold bottles of sarsaparilla. Now, I love the stuff (especially the Filipino brand Sarsi)... but it is extremely rare to find it in San Diego. So, after getting our candy fix from Cousin's, we set out to look for the store - and soon found that Rust General Store was the place we were looking for! Essentially an old-time themed mini mart, we saw that Rust was selling two different types of sarsaparilla - Sioux City (which had a bold flavor), and Jackson Hole Soda's Snake River (which was more sweeter). We tried them both - and while Kat liked the Snake River one, I preferred the Sioux City bottle. There's something about having a tall, cold bottle of sarsaparilla on a porch, and Rust General Store is a good location to do that. I want to go back some time to try their sandwiches and dill pickle on a stick. read more

See all

This old shack made into a General Store was by far the neatest thing in Old Town San Diego! The pretzels are made fresh to order, coffee was great and love the fact the candy selection are Jared! read more

See all

I am SO happy I found this spot for afternoon teatime! It felt like stepping into a hidden gem from another time. Everything from the serene atmosphere filled with nature & warm wooden accents, vintage charm, soft background music & the scent of something sweet always in the air. The service was incredibly thoughtful, friendly, attentive & genuinely welcoming. AND of course the TEA was amazing! I had tried the jasmine green tea, which was so fragrant & beautifully brewed! The desserts & finger foods were exquisite as well!! Best Lemonie's my husband has ever tried! Every plate was thoughtfully crafted and SO delicious! I can't wait to return & bring a few more friends along to share the magic! read more

Little tiny old school looking general shop in old town San Diego. It's got some really cool little candies chocolates and teas and vintage looking packaging for a lot of it. But the real draw here is the baked goods. We got the brownie with ice cream on the side. They were kind enough to split the brownie into two containers for my kids. The ice cream came in one dish but we were able to spoon up into the two brownie boats. I loved the look of this brownie which was ooey and gooey. But the taste with something else. Very decadent but not over powering and this hint of salt which was the two thumbs up kicker. Both of my kids liked it but I thought it was so good I had to go get another brownie to take home with me! If you're walking around old town and you want a sweet snack don't waste your time at the restaurants, head right for this spot!!! read more

Rust General Store - Brownie is 10/10 recommend - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

The vibe is great, as well as the worker I encountered. My only complaint was the surprise ball I bought for around 7 dollars that ended up only containing an eraser and mint candy. But yeah, I myself am an absolute lover of anything vaguely reminiscent of the Victorian era, and this store is indeed that, so I recommend this place to anyone who thinks similarly. read more

The outside sign is what caught my eye! It said PRICKLY PEAR LEMONADE, so i just had to try! Walked into this adorable vintage shop that's serving up coffees, teas, lemonade, baked goods, and so many cute gifts. Would definitely return when visiting Old Town. Service was friendly, too. read more

See all

PROS: place was amazing inside and had all kinds of treats and coffee. The prices were good and the atmosphere was very scenic CONS: the workers seemed like they didn't want to be there which impacted how they helped us. Not sure what management is doing to them OVERALL: I would come back here with low expectations. You might as well since it's mixed in with everything read more

Rust General Store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Great customer service! Really nice and well stocked selections. I recommend the pretzel it's really good. Definitely a must while at Old Town especially if you're looking for authenticity. read more

Hot chocolate was sooooo good! It was super super sweet but very good and warm. You got a few options too (white, regular, and dark chocolate). I got a few pastries too and looooved them! The brownie, cookie, and scones were exquisite! If I ever return, I'd visit again :) read more

Usually like coming here for coffee and cute little home decor. Went last night to try to get a glass of milk for my crying baby. An extremely rude male employee told me "we don't sell milk." I'm sorry do you not make coffee and lattes with milk? Am I not a willing and paying customer? Go fuck yourself. Will not be back. read more

The stars are for the ambiance. It's a cool spot in old town. I got a prickly pear iced tea. I wouldn't recommend it. It was pretty bland. So much potential to be much better read more

Rust General Store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Super cute shop with drinks, gourmet snacks, loose teas, decor and gifts. I like visiting during fall and winter for their hot apple cider.

This is a neat little vintage general store. I was having a thirst exploring Old Town so I decided to stop into Rust and see what beverages they had available. As soon as I entered I was greeted by one of the employees who asked for my order. I inquired about their teas and he explained the different types they had. There were a few but I chose their simple unflavored iced tea. It was good - not really a traditional black tea, almost green in flavor but super refreshing which was the most important. Everyone I encountered in the store was super friendly, and if I'm ever in Old Town again I would definitely be open to returning. read more

Coffee was fine and staff were nice and shop was cute, but the pretzel was mediocre--and I had come for the pretzel!

Mr. Brown was absolutely friendly and knowledgeable about the tea selections. Store had such a large variety of loose leaf natural herbal teas. He recommended excellent choice that was so soothing on my throat. The cookies were delicious and very moist. I'm not sure if they make them there but they definitely seem freshly made. So glad I stopped off. Not from San Diego but definitely will come back to that store, tea and cookies are totally worth the drive. read more

See all

I loved my experience in the store it was so great there was this tall guy who was really delightful who helped me and my family out in Spanish so I totally recommend coming and getting a quarter pound of chocolate for it is a bit quantity. read more

Rust General Store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I read about this place in The Reader Tin Fork section and of course had to try it. The place is located by the flag pole in the main square of Old Town. You walk in and you hear the creak and groan of the floorboards beneath your feet. Everything seems to almost be in sepia tone. The staff are dressed in period clothing. Its just like a dusty old western general store. There are jars lining the walls filled with candies and herbs and whatnot but the draw for me was the food. I saw at least three items I debated over before settling on the "works" chili dog. It's a seat yourself place and they bring the food out to you. I devoured my messy dog pretty quick. It was very good. The dog tasted like good quality and the chili wasnt super greasy and runny. I'll definitely be back to check out there other menu items soon. read more

Rust General Store - The works chili dog - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Since when does a general store set up in a historical setting make a mean grilled cheese sandwich? Well, the Rust General Store located on Old Town San Diego's Historical Park does. I ordered Mrs. Robinson's Rustic Grilled Cheese for only $6.50 and a Lemon Crinkle for $2.50. I have to admit, the grilled cheese was much better than I thought it was going to be, mostly due to the great quality rustic bread they used and in the manner the grilled cheese was prepared. The sandwich was hot pressed and very well done indeed. The bread had a great brown crusty crust. It was crunchy and a great lead into the melted cheeses inside. The rustic bread also had a great desirable flavor. The cheese was very good. They did not advertise what kind of cheese they used and I forgot to ask, but I am pretty sure it was a very mild cheddar and provolone cheese. A great combination of flavors for sure. The grilled cheese came with a small side of thick salsa which was pretty good. It was chunky with a good tomato and herb flavor. The Lemon Crinkle cookie had a very pleasant lemony flavor and quite scrumptious. Its texture was moist and soft and was a nice dessert to enjoy after such a cheesy lunch. I had a cup of regular drip coffee which was good. The two ladies working the time I visited were very sweet. read more

See all

We always stop by Rust General Store to get some drinks while walking around Old Town. An 1860's inspired general store, Rust has a great selection of candy, coffee, jams, soaps, and candles. On our visit here a little over a week go, this cute store was under construction. We were able to grab some snacks for the road, but the construction closed off a small section of the store. When you first walk in, you notice the wall of shelves filled with glass jars of candy. I love the smell of candy and coffee as you walk in the door. I also like how the employees dress up in clothing of the period. It adds to the vintage appeal of this fun little store. We've also been here when there's a sleeping dog in the corner of the store. On this last visit (probably due to the construction), the cute puppy wasn't here. Hopefully he'll be there on future visits. We enjoy looking at all the yummy smelling soaps, candles, jams, and jellies. My son found tiny vintage puzzles here in the past. They have nice items, like handmade soaps and lotion, to give as gifts to friends and family. They also sell delicious custom chocolates by Saint Jacques Chocolat, a local San Diego company. We usually like to browse the unique selection of candy, grab something to eat and drink, and sit on the little porch in front of the store. This is a really unique little store, and they really sell some fun things. I just read that they sell yummy pretzels and pastries here too. We will have to try one of those wonderful pastries on our next visit here. For a nice look back into the past, the Rust General Store is worth the visit while in Old Town! read more

See all