Good locals spot coffee is good customer service is good. Overall a little different but good different. Drinks are good not amazing. I always get mocha and girlfriend gets iced coffee. read more

Vinaka Cafe - Warm Inside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Great place with a great vibe. Really like the new look , but glad it kept the hometown local feel. The place to go for Carlsbad celebs too! read more

I ordered just toasted bagel and cream cheese today . The guy name John took my order seems like doesn't want to be there but just wanted to get hours to work. I saw him toasted my bagel and gave it it to the other girl and told her toast it with cheddar cheese. I waited 15 mins and wasted half of my break just to wait for a toasted bagel! read more

I love the vibe here. I usually come here to get some coffee and work done. They spruced up the place and it looks great!

The Best Coffee House in North County (San Diego)! Great place to hang out. Awesome food. Even nicer people working there. I've been to dozens of places (Starbucks, mostly) all over San Diego and Los Angeles and this place is one of the best I have found. During Comic-Con, we come here for breakfast. My friend, Jimmy Diggs, who wrote more episodes of Star Trek than any other freelance writer in the history of the franchise (8 ST: Voyager episodes and 1ST: DS9 episode), loves this place too. Come out and enjoy! P.S. Park at the train station across the street for long term parking. read more

Good drinks and food, slow service, almost rude. Left a tip but got my own drinks, never came. This is not the first time. read more

First time here and I do not want to come back. My sister ordered a cup of coffee and had to send it back because there was a hair in it. Then when I started eating my sandwich, I found another hair...like seriously....EW read more

They have great staff and amazing coffee ! Thanks to the girl at the front who lets me get me Vanilla Latte before 8am! You make my day !!!

This cafe is VERY busy! For good reason too! They've got a great selection of baked goods (we had the Creme Brulé Cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies) both really good! I ordered the HOT White Out which was extremely warm and cozy in the belly. My Turkey and Avocado sandwich on pumpernickel was tasty too! We sat outside and absorbed the surroundings of happy people. This is definitely a HOT SPOT for food and conversations! read more

Vinaka Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Before pulling out the talons and criticizing any of our restaurants please take into consideration that we are just coming to the end of a pandemic that has horrifically impacted the dining industry. Restaurants have been and continue to be short staffed therefore they are struggling to provide the utmost of service. These people working in the hospitality industry are doing their very very best so be kind! read more

I wish I could give zero stars. DONT GO! They gave me such attitude for having my Starbucks drink in my hand. I ordered one sandwich and they were taking for awhile before even starting it. They constantly rolled their eyes at me. After over 15 minutes of waiting I told them I didn't have tile and had to go (because I had seen they didn't even start it yet) she ignored me and told them to start and told me to wait. She then went on to say "what do you want me to do? Throw it away? AND refund you!?" And I said "yes, refund me". I have never experienced such disrespect and bad attitudes!! It was truly an awful experience. I use to go there often and they never had good attitudes but this was it! NEVER AGAIN!! read more

Love this quaint little place. Great selection of coffee and desserts. Great after dinner spot. Only negative, the individuals that camp out for what appears to be for hours so new customers have no place to sit. Other than that, I have thoroughly enjoyed my visits. Staff is also very friendly and courteous. read more

Amazing coffee with delicious desserts!!! Definitely a spot to visit and enjoy the evening! read more

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I came here to study for a bit, the space was nice, and was able to find outlets as well! I ordered an ice mocha. It was not bad, a little too sweet for me (and I have a sweet tooth). If I were to order it again, I'd ask for a decrease on the number of chocolate pumps in it. I unfortunately was too full for a sandwich, but they smelled amazing and looked fresh. Well definitely give it a try next time! I sat near the open garage door and with the fans on inside, it was a tad bit cold but there were no seats available on the other side away from the open face. So bring a sweater just in case! read more

I love their coffee, I love the service, pretty much always nice humans and things get made real quick which is nice. No hipster cool attitude shit. Just cool people making you your favorite coffee drinks. I must note that this coffee is seriously great. It is strong and keeps me going all day. Another cool thing is that when you buy so many coffees or whatever you can get a free one every once in a while. There is always parking in the lot, most of the time I never get a giant long line. Its just a comfy place to go and I have nothing but good things to say about this spot. read more

This morning, that Everything bagel, Swiss cheese, eggs, onions and jalapeno complemented by my tall Americano was simply - TO DIE FOR. Then again, the company and the great Saturday morning sunshine as if I was in Polynesia's Fiji amidst the blue Pacific Ocean nearby only catalyzed the experience! Thanks for the great breakfast and the great location: nearby but just off the beaten path. If you know what you're looking for, you'll find Vinaka, which means "Thank you" in Fijian! read more

It's really hard to choose a place for meetings in a town you've never been in, so I relied very heavily on the past reviews of this place before setting up for a day full of meetings in the area. I was really happy I trusted my fellow yelpers, because this place had everything I was looking for: lots of outlets, wifi, and a staff that doesn't mind if you hang around for a few hours. They even let me start a tab with them so I didn't have to keep running my card all day long. There are tons of options for munchies and drinks, too. They had lots of fun teas to choose from and though I was really tempted to get their ice cream I tried to stay healthy and got their turkey avocado sandwich instead. I have to say, it was the most disappointing part of the experience: very mediocre, like something you would throw together at home with cheap ingredients, and a bag of Sun Chips on the side. I did, however, really enjoy my fruit and yogurt parfait in the morning so I'm not too mad at them! There's plenty of parking in the little village and it's a great place to hang out all day. There's also lots of outdoor seating to enjoy the nice Carlsbad weather or hang with your dog! read more

I came here with my girlfriend on Sunday morning who has mentioned this place to me at least a half a dozen times before. I have passed by many times on walks through the village but just haven't gone in. We just finished a workout along the coast and were starving and thought this place would be relatively quick and since it came highly recommended, satisfying as well. I ordered a toasted croissant with cheese, sausage and egg and my girlfriend ordered the same thing minus the sausage. We also ordered two iced skim lattes with our meal. We were able to score a great two seater table near the railings and lucky, we have some tree coverage to protect us from this heat. It might've been unbearable to dine here if we didn't get that particular seat. Everything else was in the sun (even with the umbrellas) and with this mid 80 degree weather and no AC inside...not pleasant. Our croissants were delivered to our table but we had to pick up our drinks inside. Our meals were not on the healthy side by any means but they were at least delicious. The croissant was slightly toasted, very buttery and the cheese melted perfectly making every bite tasty. It was pretty oily and unhealthy but we earned it by running in this 80+ degree heat. The iced latte was great and I had no complaints. Not super strong but at least tasty. I'd definitely come back again. read more

Nice, convenient place in the Village to meet up with friends, particularly outdoors on a sunny day. I love the chai latte with coconut milk! read more

A guy by the name of Peabody challenged me to a game of chess while I was waiting in line to order food. This was probably the most exciting part of my visit since the turkey sandwich I had was about as stimulating as one from 7-11. It wasn't bad, but certainly nothing to write home about. Just the basic stuff on some bread. I didn't try the coffee, but the vibe is great for getting some work done with free wifi and an outdoor patio. If I make my way up to Carlsbad, I'd probably give it another go. If not to try a cup of Joe then at least to track down Peabody to accept his challenge. read more

What's not to like? It's a great location and I love the look of the place, very cozy. I get the chai tea usually and it's great. I've also tried a couple of their blended drinks and those are soooo good too. I think it's a great place to get some work done, which is what I personally look for in a coffee shop. They have a good selection of food/treats too. I want to start visiting more! read more

Downtown Carlsbad near the beach, great coffee, tea, food, and staff to match. Pretty much sums it up. But if you need to know more, here you go. It is a cafe/coffee/ice cream neighborhood spot located up stairs in the plaza at Carlsbad village dr and Carlsbad Blvd. features inside and outside seating. Staff is very friendly and efficient. Plenty of choices on the menu for espresso and teas. Staff will even help with some recommendations. Tried a bagel breakfast sandwich with turkey, Swiss, lettuce, and tomato. Bagel was toasted and cheese was melty. Always a great combo. Very fresh tasting also. students, and social coffee drinkers will love this...free refills on coffee. Great study spot. Doggie tagging along?? No problem, grab a seat outside and you can both enjoy the Carlsbad beach breeze in a dog friendly community. Prices are fair compared to chain coffee shops. I would say the quality is better though. I am big on supporting small businesses and this one has my support! read more

Friendly and comfortable and $1 coffee. Y'all downstairs at the Starbucks are missing out. read more

I was in need of more coffee, even after breakfast. This place was close and the reviews looked good. I went in for a hammerhead coffee, and ended up mixing my drink with their house blend of coffee. The taste was alright, it wasn't the best, but it did its job well. read more

Vinaka Cafe - Lotsa sweets here. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Okay I'm sorry but this is another 5 star review. There are places that have irked me but this is NOT one of them. I LOVE that this is North County Resident Owned and not corporate. I've been coming here for YEARS and YEARS can't remember exactly maybe 1993 or so. It has a comfortable, quaint ambiance though sometimes getting a seat can be a little challenging. They have some good eats and I have met up here a number of times with friends for a bite to eat. But the best thing for this coffee connoisseur are the coffee drinks. Even though the unnamed corporate coffee giant is in the same shopping center, I always prefer to go here to meet with friends for coffee. My absolute FAV is the Snow Cap. A coffee ice-cream drink that will satisfy your desire for caffeine and quench your sweet tooth for a week :) read more

I seriously love this local cafe. It's the bomb diggity. And yes, that is proper English. From the comfy chairs, great coffee, food and awesome staff to the laid back, local, beachy feel, this place scores 5 stars easily in my book. I recently came and got one of their breakfast special sandwiches (croissant, avo, bacon, cheese and egg) and damn, was it good. I don't know if it was because I'd just gotten off night and was delirious or what but I highly doubt that had anything to do with it. Totally hit the spot. I got a regular latte to go and I also got a latte today for "here" with almond milk and the coffe art was great! Very cool because as they say...you eat first with your eyes. Love this place! read more

Vinaka, oh vinaka, you are my sanity. This is my favorite place to go after a long hard day, to do work, or after a good morning run on the beach. This is why: Free Wifi. $1 coffee. Local ice cream. Turkey avocado sandwich on Squaw bread, always served with a pickle and sun chips. good music. Local art. Old people who talk about how liberal the world is becoming. Young people angry at how conservative the world is. Baristas who dance behind the counter to "just the two of us" I cannot imagine carlsbad village without you, Vinaka. read more

A village establishment since forever and lots of quirky character and spunk. The staff is laid back and the coffee is decent. I would say when choosing a place to park yourself and your friends, or yourself and your laptop, this is place to be in the Carlsbad. Plenty of outlets and seating. There are adorable tables lining the outside walkway just around the entrance to the shop that on a sunny day are SUBLIME. The parking along the streets in Carlsbad and in the village center where the shop is located ( upstairs ps!) is FREE. If you don't want to eat at the cafe there's plenty of other restaurant choices around and the beach is literally across the street. Rumor has it the food is a three star situation, although I have yet to partake myself besides a bite of a bagel once ( and a good bite it was too) Also the ice cream has been had by some snobby ice creamery friends of mine and it got the thumbs up too! read more

Such a great little place. Perfect for meeting over a cup of coffee. I haven't ordered food here, but the coffee is fantastic. I like to sit here and people watch. Lots of folks bring their dogs and hang out on the patio, which I like. Maybe one day I will bring my laptop and do some work from Vinaka instead of from home. Also, if you need to use the restroom, they will ask for something that belongs to you before they give you the key. You get it back when you return the key. read more

Vinaka is one of those rare places that transcends the "local joint." Everyone- especially everyone under the age of thirty- knows about this place and has likely stopped in to meet someone, or at least to grab a cup of wonderfully inexpensive coffee. People like me have grown up at Vinaka. We had our parents drop us off there countless times and spent hours&hours walking from the beach to the cafe and back again. We admired the baristas and eventually became their friends thanks in part to the bar seating that encourages all kinds of conversation. Vinaka is almost twenty years old, and may look it a bit- but it is just well loved. Having recently moved up to LA I find myself searching amongst all the impersonal/trendy coffee laboratories for it's equal... to no avail. The sad/happy truth is that it really is just one of a kind- a perfect hub of Carlsbad culture at it's best. So there it is, my love letter to Vinaka. Bravo, bravo, and five stars goes to a place that brought us all together, and keeps us coming back. read more

I think the high ratings are mostly for the atmosphere and culture here. Carlsbad culture optimized! Local artists work adorns the walls, is up for sale and is regularly rotated. 1970s surf movies or 1980s classics like The Labryth with David Bowie in all his glory frequent the TV screen. Really chill laid back vibe. Outlets along the wall provide the perfect work space. Patrons are almost always friendly and conversational, and the staff here definitely is. If you come in more than a few times, they will remember you, make you feel known and welcome like you are a friend. Speakers project popular indie music and some random experimental stuff on occasion too. Prices are actually quite competitive, especially relative to nearby Starbucks and Its a Grind. They serve really yummy ice cream which is a tad pricey but sooo worth it. The seasonal Pumpkin ice cream & the pumpkin spice shake they make with it are my absolute favorite!!! I think the shake is around $4 but I would easily pay $10 its so good! They have plenty of yummy cakes and pastries from local bakeries and they make their own chocolate chip cookies regularly which makes the place smell FANTASTIC. read more

Staff is SO SLOW and rude. I got it you make coffee, let's calm down with the pretentious attitude. They were not very accommodating, spent forever on a latte which tasted no different then your generic coffee shop & had no info on their beans or roasts... so needless to say I won't be back. read more

So many good memories here! Love this little place :) Whether it be coffee, ice cream, pastries, etc, it's yummy! Great spot to come catch up with a friend over tea, do some school work, or just catch up on reading! Their blended mocha is my personal favorite, so delicious. Order it :) read more

When I first moved to Carlsbad, I adored Vinaka. The atmosphere and location are amazing, and the drinks were pretty good and reasonably priced. I've lived in the village for a year now, and I no longer frequent this cafe for a number of reasons - quality, price, and service to name three. In terms of quality, the coffee seems average to me. The last time I got a coffee there, it tasted burned, but the line was so long and the crew looked so frazzled that I didn't want to bring it up. Price. Since moving here, the prices have risen too much to go here as a local anymore. As a tourist, it's worth visiting because of its prime location and fun hip flair, but I would rather spend money on a coffee somewhere else. Nothing really stands out now at this location, unfortunately. Every time I've been here, the baristas have been helpful but not very friendly. I didn't feel like I was very important as a customer, and the staff always seemed flustered and impatient. Additionally, and I hate saying this, 50% of the time my order was wrong at Vinaka, and I only ever get espresso drinks or coffee. I brought it up once, and the staff person was apologetic and remade my drink. I understand that restaurants can have an off day, but I am no longer impressed with this establishment. Maybe I'll give them another go in the summer. read more

We ordered two lattes and an ice cream with a peanut butter cookie. The lattes were pretty good and the ice cream was fresh. The cookie was just ok it was hard around the edges. It is upstairs in the center so for older patrons they do have an elevator. Parking can be tough if you come prime time. read more

My boyfriend and I frequent coffee shops quite a bit during the week, and have sampled various kinds of espresso drinks from Kauai to Seattle. Being a former barista, I know what goes into customer service and making a tasty espresso drink. I decided to try Vinaka based on stellar Yelp reviews since I was in Carlsbad last Saturday. I couldn't pass up the cappuccino float when I saw it on the menu. As I payed and walked away I heard the guy working the espresso bar ask the girl working the register 'What's in a cappuccino float?' Uh oh. When I received it from the cashier, I was served room temperature warm milk with a quick squirt of caramel and what tasted like a hint of subpar espresso, or lack thereof. Where was the float part of it? It's supposed to have a scoop of vanilla ice cream... Instead I got plain coffee flavored milk. I had my boyfriend try it to confirm in case I was nuts, and the sad look on his face basically answered my question. I decided to ask the cashier who served my drink if the ice cream was put in there because it looked just like milk and espresso, and she looked at me blankly and said, 'yes it did, is it not enough ice cream for you?' then she walked away. Great, now I have room temperature milk trying to pass itself off as a cappuccino float, AND I feel like a pig. :/ I do my best to venture to other coffee places outside of Starbucks and support local coffee joints. And I also know that if a customer looks unhappy with their drink, I, as a former barista, would be doing my best to make sure they are happy with their $5 beverage. I was pretty excited to try this place, looked for parking for 20 minutes in the busy parking area, and was hoping to have a new favorite coffee place and leave with a cool, tasty espresso treat. Instead I left with a bitter taste in my mouth. Next time I'm sticking to It's A Grind while in Carlsbad Village. read more

I love this place - I have been coming to Vinaka since I used to live in the little village area back in the 90's. This is a "real" local coffee shop, has been here for as long as I can remember and somehow 15 years later still has it's same feel. It is the kind of coffee shop that not only survived with a Starbucks next door but has probably gained more business over the years. Two things I love here, cookies and sandwiches (didn't name coffee, that's a given) If I am here around lunch I almost always get a BLT with Avocado. Not that a BLT is hard to make but a lot of times it is hard to find a good one, at Vinaka their BLT is excellent. Great place, people and location read more

A DOLLAR FOR A CUP OF COFFEE...WITH A REFILL! This place is amazing. Possibly the best coffee shop I've had the privilege of hanging out at. If you like black coffee then give the Master's Blend a try. Comfortable and abundant seating with work areas and plenty of outlets make the shop very laptop friendly which is a must since they are also kind enough to provide free WiFi. On my second visit to Vinaka I ordered the Lox & Bagel plate. I was surprised at how much food was provided, especially when it came to the salmon and capers which most places will skimp on. Keeping in line with the atmosphere and food the employees were a class act and beyond polite. Sadly I live in Phoenix but can only hope that Vinaka will for some reason expand their business to my area one day. read more

More than half of the Carlsbad Village Parking Lot is being resurfaced today, making parking near impossible = loss of business. I had to drive a lot to have a spot open. When I went into Vinaka and asked the cashier to notify management that the Village establishment needs to work in smaller batches or at night on the resurfing, a woman next to the Cashier mouthed off, well it only till next Tuesday ... today is Thursday. I asked her name. She said "Ireland" and that she was the manager. Basically she did NOTa say thank you for being concerned about our business. She did NOT to state she would pass the information along for feedback. She did NOT even say I am sorry you were so inconvenienced. Hence, given this woman proclaimed to be management but did not care about the customer or the business, but expected them to just put up ... I give Vinaka on this day, a rating of 1. read more

Well, well, well, it appears this place is as cool as everyone makes it out to be. There were plenty of people there on a Saturday afternoon, and also plenty of places to seat them, both inside and out. I probably people watched just as much as I read my book and sipped the most delicious chai tea I've ever had. I ate somewhere else for lunch, but next time I'll order food here too because a lot of patrons had delicious looking sandwiches. **Note to anyone who would like to spend several hours here and doesn't want to worry about the 3 hour parking limit inside the complex--park in the free parking area two blocks east, or the one just before the train tracks. read more