Today’s blog post is another contribution to my San Diego archives, as I bring you a list of what Tyler and I believe to be the best coffee shops in Encinitas.
Encinitas is one of our favorite areas in San Diego. The beaches are absolutely stunning, and the town itself is a little more low key than some of the beach cities further south like La Jolla and Del Mar.
Encinitas has something for everyone: soft, white beaches, great shopping, and some really fun bars and breweries. It’s one of my favorite places to spend a Saturday.
We’ve spent a lot of time exploring Encinitas and the surrounding area with the girls over the years, and I know the area will always hold a special place in my heart.
The best part about living in San Diego is that we can spend almost every weekend of the year outside. I love that my girls are growing up by the ocean and that they are able to bask in the sunshine for hours on end each day (with ample SPF, of course).
We love a Coffee Shop Outing in this family. Tyler and I get cold brews, and the girls split a muffin. It’s a little weekend tradition that I hope we always continue.
These are our favorite coffee shops in Encinitas. I decided to include Leucadia and Cardiff, so I’ll work my way North to South with this list. Also, I threw some cafes in here, too (girl’s gotta eat).
The Best Coffee Shops in Encinitas
Leucadia
Pannikin:
This quaint coffee shop and bakery is housed in a converted railroad station on PCH in Leucadia. Pannikin has the best vibes, tons of outdoor seating, and offers a huge selection of desserts to take home on your way out. Fair warning: like most places on the coast (and on this list), Pannikin can get crowded on the weekends.
Nectarine Grove:
This cafe is one of my favorite places to eat lunch in North County. They have a coffee bar and serve AMAZING healthy food (tons of paleo, gluten-free, and vegan choices). I love the grass fed steak tacos, but everything we’ve tried is incredible. I always grab a pack of their paleo English muffins while I’m there–they are insanely good with a little Kerrygold butter and sea salt, and Char loves them too.
Encinitas
Lofty Coffee Roasting Works:
Lofty is one the best coffee shops in all of San Diego, in my opinion. They have a few different locations now, but the best one is at their roasting location in Encinitas. They have tons of outdoor seating, and it doesn’t get as congested as the smaller Lofty coffee shop across the street. I always order an iced salted caramel latte with almond milk, half sweet. It’s heavenly. The roasting works does serve food, but the shop across the street carries the full menu.
If you opt for the location across the street from the roasting works, you can’t go wrong with the menu. I love the açaí bowls, and the baked goods are SO good. If all else fails, try the avocado toast. I always order a poached egg with it too.
Ironsmith:
Ironsmith Coffee Roasters is a hip little spot in downtown Encinitas. They have some really fun specialty drinks and incredible bagged coffee, too.
Goodonya:
This is another really healthy cafe in downtown. Goodonya serves delicious salads, sandwiches, and coffee. Everything on the menu is organic and non GMO. They also have tons of cute drinks and to-go pastries that you can grab at the front when you order. Also, I am on the verge of signing up for their wine club. Don’t miss the gift shop off to the left of the hostess station.
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters:
Bird Rock is one of our favorite chains in San Diego, so–needless to say—we were thrilled when we found out they were opening a location in downtown Encinitas. The cold brew here is nearly perfect.
Philz Coffee:
I feel like Philz is kind of polarizing, but there is nothing more refreshing than their iced Mint Mojito or Mocha Tesora drinks on a hot day. We also love the Philtered Soul brewed hot on a cold morning. Philz is a great jumping off point for a leisurely walk down PCH–this stretch of coastline is some of the most beautiful in the county.
Cardiff
Pipes Cafe:
Pipes Cafe is one of our favorite spots. They have the BEST breakfast burritos. We always order the one that comes with sausage and bacon because life is short. Oh, and make sure to order extra salsa on the side. TRUST ME. Pipes’ black coffee is what foggy Saturday morning dreams are made of. Sometimes I like to order the scramble plate to split with Charlotte. We like to order burritos to-go and walk either over to Glen Park or across PCH to the beach for a picnic.
Bump Coffee:
Located around the corner from Pipes in Cardiff (and right next to VG Donuts, a San Diego staple), Bump is a tiny coffee shop that serves pour over and empanadas (we sometimes get these for the girls, and they are the perfect stroller breakfast). Bump has, in my opinion, the single greatest cup of coffee in North County. Both the hot pour over and cold brew are fantastic.
Check out my full Cardiff travel guide here.
Looking for more San Diego recs? Click here.
Pin this post:
