Remember when specialty coffee was a novelty in San Diego? I do. Zumbar Coffee & Tea (founded in 2003), Bird Rock Roasters (which opened their first cafe in 2006), Coffee & Tea Collective (2012) and Dark Horse Coffee Roasters (2013) felt like outliers when I started touring coffeehouses on my annual trips. Both for the quality of their beans and ambition. Good coffee has become much easier to find, especially in certain cities and neighborhoods. Oceanside, Encinitas and North Park are now particularly stacked with great coffee options, but not many neighborhoods lack compelling coffee options at this point. Flavorful, often creative tea drinks have also become more readily available, particularly in neighborhoods like Kearny Mesa and Clairemont. I’ve visited dozens of San Diego coffee and tea bars over the years. These are my favorite San Diego coffee and tea bars based on trips since 2022. I’ll continue updating this guide.

Bound Coffee – Oceanside ↓
Must Order: Cold Brew Orange Clove Syrup, Matcha

Fourtillfour Cafe – Leucadia ↓
Must Order: Rose Honey Latte

Lovesong Coffee – North Park ↓
Must Order: Soda Pop King, WildChild

Necessity Coffee – Encinitas ↓
Must Order: Date Capp

Paru – La Jolla ↓
Must Order: Iced Ceremonial Matcha Latte

Queenstage Coffee House – Encinitas ↓
Must Order: Matcha De Olla

Seven Seas Roasting – Solana Beach + South Park ↓
Must Order: Ginger Sage Latte

Superbloom @ The Mission Bay Beach Club – San Diego ↓
Must Order: Matcha Chai Latte