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    The Picnic Cafe

    4.2 (59 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order The Picnic Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    The Picnic Cafe Coffee & Tea Photos

    THE PICNIC CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Picnic Cafe

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    Morgan W.

    The cutest shop with the sweetest staff! The drinks i ordered were so visually stunning but the matcha flavor was a bit more grassy than i prefer (but im picky). Other than that the drinks had a delicious vanilla flavor and were not too sweet. You can feel and see the attention to detail in every aspect of this shop!

    Salted Honey Latte 12 oz
    Linda L.

    I absolutely love this coffee shop. I tried the salted honey latte it was made with perfection!

    Two turkey and cheese sandwiches and a diet lemonade.
    Bob S.

    First time here! The sandwiches were very fresh, savory, crunchy, crispy, flavorful, and delicious. Also, the lemonade was super sweet, refreshing, and extremely tasty. There is a good variety of scrumptious sweets, and different flavors of gelato to choose from, good service, nice atmosphere with upbeat music, and I had an excellent experience today.

    Kids pb and j cut in a star
    Brynn L.

    The cutest cafe nestled right on Del Mar!!! We stopped here this weekend after noticing how cute the aesthetic was. It's small inside but easy to walk up and order. There are 4 or 5 small tables outside so we found a seat pretty easily. The menu isn't huge but they have yummy sandwich, salad and charcuterie options. We got a latte too. The best was the kids menu. They have a pb & j (cut into a star), a turkey sandwich, banana Nutella toast and a kids charcuterie board. My kids loved the options!! We ordered 3 to share and they thought it was so fun. They came packaged in a cute box with a juice, fruit and a little bubble stick. The kids said it was their best lunch ever. The person taking our order was really nice and made a point to ask how everything tasted. He even gave the kids a cookie to try. Really fun experience and good food. We will definitely be back!!

    Jonathan H.

    The real star of this restaurant is its location, right on Avenida Del Mar, and its ambiance, with tables and chairs right on Avenida Del Mar. It's a beautiful spot to sit, eat and people watch. The inside of the restaurant is charming looking and has a light, breezy feel to it. The woman who served us at the counter was very nice and the friendly owner came out to check on how we're doing, which I appreciated. My wife and I split a Turkey Apple Brie sandwich. It was very good --- but I think it could have been better. The ingredients were high quality and fresh, and the sandwich was put together nicely, but the quantity of food was a bit lacking. Still, I would be happy to return again to give it another try.

    Strawberry Matcha Latte
    Chelsea H.

    Parking: since it's in downtown San Clemente, it's mostly street parking. There are some public parking lots nearby, but it can be a short walk. It's definitely a nice area to walk and browse. Service: my visit was alright, the cashier was neither friendly nor unfriendly. I ordered my drink and it was quickly made. Ambiance: the cafe itself was very decorative and beautiful. Loved the pink + green aesthetic. No table seating, but there was a bench inside to wait for drinks/food. There were a couple 2-seater coffee tables outside for use. Drink: strawberry matcha latte 6/10- it was alright, not bad. Matcha was definitely on the more grassy side (for those who enjoy that flavor). Strawberry flavor was decent, but probably not my favorite. It was also $7.95 with milk sub, which was definitely on the pricier side.

    The Picnic Sandwich is so good! Solid meat in there for some good protein.
    Amanda C.

    This place is charming and fun to grab food from during lunch and bring down to the beach

    Stacey M.

    This place is so cute and has a very trendy vibe. Decent sandwiches and fun themed drinks. Lots of flowers and stunning presentation. BUT they are so slow and need more help, the counter help is hit or miss on service. Sandwiches are good but light. GO if you have time, if you're short on time don't risk it!!

    Strawberry Matcha Latte 16 oz

    I have mixed feelings about this place ! I don't like to bash newer local businesses because I know it's not easy to have a successful business , so I just want to give a few suggestions! I will start with what I liked- The guy working the counter was friendly and nice. I love that they offered half sizes of things (not many places do this ) Here are my suggestions : -For the kids charcuterie box, please cut the grapes ! Since this box is for kids and grapes are one of the biggest choking hazards, please cut these. The strawberries were cut in half already so it would be one extra step so parents don't have to cut them all themselves (like I had to do). The box was also missing the salami that is listed on the menu for this box. -for the bagels, the toppings are delicious but the actual bagel tastes old/taste like a bagel from a shelf at the grocery store. Having fresh bagels would really elevate it! -for the strawberry matcha-it needs more strawberry flavor . Beautiful presentation but flavor is lacking. I think adding a muddled strawberry syrup or jam to the drink would make it delicious. The store itself is very aesthetic! I think with a few tweaks this place could be a new favorite of mine (and other locals) !

    Ashley F.

    So cute inside with a fun and original menu, yummy drinks, and the sweetest staff! Very friendly and helpful. Lots of cute gifts you could get there, too! Kid-friendly.

    Chloe K.

    Cute cafe with delicious food and drinks! We loved trying the Valentines Drink Specials last month

    Blue Coconut Cloud

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    4 months ago

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    9 days ago

    Natalie was the sweetest and so welcoming! beautiful restaurant and great service. We loved the tiramisu latte!

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    2 months ago

    The arugula chicken salad was delicious. They also have some delicious and creative iced matcha options.

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    3 months ago

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    2 months ago

    The cutest little spot! The sunshine salad and the picnic sandwich were delicious! Total beach dream!

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    10 months ago

    Love this place ! Amazing food and drinks. Love their menu and the ambiance of their store. So happy they are here on Del Mar !

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Picnic Cafe

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    Okay...The Coffee Queen has lost count of how many new coffee shops she has visited...However, this…read moreone located across from the beach in San Clemente was fabulous! I ordered an Oat Milk Latte, extra hot with an extra shot. It was smooth and delicious! The entire staff here were very friendly and helpful. They also have food but this girl just wanted her coffee:) It's not very big inside but they have a few tables and several out front. The view is lovely over here! Will be back the next time I am in the area. *Street parking is metered ~ and that's all I have to say about that...

    A recent Yelp Elite Event was held in Carlsbad. I joined other Elites in the trip to San Diego…read moreCounty. We stayed in a hotel and had coffee the next morning in the beautiful City of San Clemente. I enjoy going to the pier and grabbing a drink at Bear Coast Coffee Cafe. It's in a prime location and very popular. My friend, Te-see, treated me to a Vanilla Latte with Oat Milk. It was perfect with a nice mild flavor. The menu includes Americano, Espresso, Cappuccino, Chai Tea, Lemonade, Matcha drinks, and breakfast sandwiches & burritos. They also sell their own brand of roasted coffee beans. You may purchase in person or on their website. I've driven by this spot many times and was glad I finally got to try the Latte. Sincerely, Rosemary

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    Super cute coffee shop that's not too far from Doheny State Beach but pretty okay matcha…read more My cousins and I stopped by here while we were camping in Doheny. The vibes were nice, very coastal aesthetic with a decent amount of seating. Pretty diverse menu, prices were that of an indie coffee shop. Cashier was so kind and patient even though I was so indecisive, so I definitely appreciate that! What I ordered: -Lavender Honey Matcha: I got this with oat milk and it tasted like water with sweet lavender flavoring, couldn't really taste the matcha. 2/5 My cousins and I weren't very impressed by the drinks here. We all got matcha so I'm thinking maybe their coffee is better because the place was busy. I probs wouldn't come back, and if I did I'd give the coffee a chance.

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    The Picnic Cafe - coffee - Updated June 2026

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