Best Coffee Shops to Study in San Diego With Excellent Environments

Nothing beats that coffee shop aesthetic when you’ve got a lot of work to get done, and you need somewhere that’s lively enough for you to stay awake, but not so lively that you’re distracted. And–most importantly–you need that perfect cup of coffee next to you, giving you the energy and motivation to get it done. If you’re in San Diego as a tourist, student, or local, you’re in luck. Keep reading, because after this post you’ll know the absolute best San Diego coffee shops to study or do remote work.

There are some key things to consider when searching for a good coffee spot to get work done. For instance, which ones have outlets to charge your laptop? Is there enough seating? Which coffee shops are more suited for sitting and eating than sipping and working? Don’t worry, friend. We’ll dive into all those things so you’ll be able to choose the perfect San Diego coffee shop to suit your work and study needs.

Now let’s jump into my list of the top coffee shops in San Diego to crush your work goals.

Communal Coffee North Park

Communal Coffee in North Park is a floral aesthetic dream.

This coffee shop has a clean, airy, and vibrant style to it. The atmosphere is just what you’re looking for if you need that boost of creativity and good vibes. 

Communal Coffee is known around San Diego for their floral-infused and inspired drink menu that includes coffee, alcoholic drinks and others like sparkling lemonade. From their signature specialty rose vanilla latte to their flower spritz champagne drinks, their branding is definitely on point.

They offer plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, with lots of outlets available. Everything about this place makes it one of the best coffee shops in San Diego to get work or studying done.This is the type of coffee shop where you can sit and gossip with a friend if you choose, but it’s also a hot spot for college students and remote workers to sit on their laptops for hours at a time.

And if you get hungry, they’ve got a delicious, health-forward menu. Of course, there’s a good variety of vegan-friendly options.

You also got to check out their retail section, where they offer floral arrangements, accessories, jewelry, gift cards, and beauty and wellness items.

All in all, Communal Coffee is one of the best coffee shops to study at in San Diego. And while this post highlights the North Park location, they have several others in San Diego County as well, which you’ll find listed below.

Favorite drink: Sweet mint cold brew

Communal Coffee Locations

Keep in mind I haven’t visited all locations! I’ve only visited North Park.

• North Park: 2335 UNIVERSITY AVE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92104
• South Park: 2221 FERN ST. SAN DIEGO, CA 92104
• Oceanside: 602 SOUTH TREMONT, STE 100, OCEANSIDE, CA 92054
• Haven: 3381 30TH ST. SAN DIEGO, CA 92104

The Invigatorium

The Invigatorium, located in the East Village near Petco Park, is one of my all time favorite coffee shops.

When I say this place is eclectic, I mean it. From the pterodactyl figurine hanging above the cashier, to the life size Ronald McDonald figure seated at one of the booths, to the Godzilla sticky note mural that takes up an entire wall, Invigatorium’s decor has a lot going on.

But weirdly, it works.

In terms of seating, most tables are located outside, under tents for shade or large umbrellas. The space is very open, so some seating is half inside/half outside. There are outlets available indoors, and if your laptop charging cord is long enough, you should be able to get a charge fairly easily.

Keep in mind you’ll see some people there for brunch on weekends, but most days it’s a common spot for people to work and study, or just hang out.

The Invigatorium operates as a coffee shop until 3 p.m., but after that, the coffee bar is closed down and the cocktail bar opens.

But who says you can’t work with a cocktail in hand? Plus, their nitro cold brew is available all day long. I don’t even typically drink cold brew, but I actually love the one they have on tap.

Whether you work better with coffee, booze, or a glass of natural wine (they’ve got a lovely selection of these!), Invigatorium is one of the best coffee shops to study at or do remote work in San Diego.

Favorite drink: Their signature drink, the “Super Basic” latte. It’s an oat milk mocha that’s sweet, but not too sweet, with a touch of cinnamon.

Favorite food: The Breakfast Burrito or the All Day Breakfast Sando.

Location: East Village, 631 9th Ave., San Diego, CA 92101

Better Buzz

Better Buzz Coffee is a local favorite of college students and work from home-ers. And for good reason.

This coffee shop has it all. Sweet drinks, blended drinks, purist drinks, and a clean yet trendy aesthetic. They even offer a redbull smoothie if you need that boost, but aren’t feeling a coffee.

While they do have purist drinks, Better Buzz is best known for their sweet drinks. I usually have to order mine ½ or ¼ sweet, so just keep that in mind if you don’t like your drinks too sugary.

In recent years, they’ve expanded their locations so you’ve got several Better Buzz shops to choose from. Most of them have lots of seating available, but be ready for a crowded room. It really has become a sort of cult favorite, so it’s a popular study/work space.

On the plus side, there are plenty of outlets for you to find a charging station at any of the locations.

Better Buzz might just be one of the very best coffee shops to study from in San Diego, and the plethora of locations is the cherry on top.

Favorite drink: The iced best drink ever is their signature drink, and my personal favorite. It’s an americano (espresso and water) with the Better Buzz creamy vanilla powder that gives it the feel of a latte, but without all the milk.

Better Buzz San Diego Locations

Click here for the full details of hours and locations! Keep in mind I haven’t visited all locations, but I’ve bolded the ones I know usually have plenty of seating.

James Coffee Co., Little Italy

For an industrial-modern vibe with delicious, not-too-sweet lattes, James Coffee Co. Little Italy is one of your best bets.

This coffee shop is located in the back of a warehouse-type building referred to as “The Space.”  You’ll find the coffee bar after passing through a handful of mini boutique-style shops selling artisan goods and high-end fashion and decor products.

In my experience, James Coffee Co. offers a good amount of seating, with plenty of outlets available along the walls. 

Their coffee is delicious, and not too sweet, with the most perfectly frothed milk I’ve ever had. 

James Coffee Co. also has other locations, but I haven’t personally been to those so I can’t be sure how much seating they offer.

Favorite drink: Condensed milk and nutmeg latte

James Coffee Locations

• Little Italy: 2355 India St., San Diego, CA 92101
• Banker’s Hill: 2870 Fourth Ave, Suite 107, San Diego, CA 92103
• North Park: 4379 30th St., Suite 1, San Diego, CA 92104
• Escondido: 341 East Pennsylvania Ave. Escondido, CA 92025

Lestat’s

This one’s for the late night studiers and writers. If you’ve got studying or laptop work to do later in the evening, say past 6 p.m., then Lestat’s is probably your best bet.

Lestat’s has 3 locations, all pretty close to each other. 

Each of Lestat’s locations offer tons of seating, which makes sense as it’s basically a hot spot for college students and remote workers. 

The menu features a lot of specialty drinks like the Almond Joey latte and Snickers latte, or the Iced Hammerhead (cold brew with espresso). You’ll have plenty of food options to choose from, too, including salads, sandwiches, and even dessert.

Favorite drink: Iced Vietnamese.

Lestat’s Locations

These hours are according to the website, but I suggest calling ahead as the website is sometimes inaccurate.

• Lestat’s on Adams: 3343 Adams Ave., San Diego, CA 92116 (open 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.)
• Lestat’s on Park: 4496 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92116 (open 24/7)
• Lestat’s Hillcrest: 1041 University Ave., San Diego, CA 92103 (open 8 a.m. to midnight)

Copa Vida

I’ve done remote work in two Copa Vida locations, and they’ve become a new favorite spot for me to work remotely. 

There are a handful of locations, so you can take your pick. I haven’t been to them all, but I’ve been to the East Village and Torrey Ridge locations, so I can attest those have plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors.

However, if you plan to sit outdoors make sure your laptop is completely charged because there are typically no outlets outside!

Favorite drinks: The nitro oat milk latte, or the iced shakerato (4 shots of espresso, milk, and sweetened with agave!), chai latte, or garden of eden tea.

Locations

• 101 West Broadway, Suite 101, San Diego, CA 92101
• East Village: 905 J Street San Diego, CA 92101
• UCSD: 9625 Muir College Dr suite 0126, San Diego, CA 92161
• Torrey Ridge: 10578 Science Center Dr, San Diego, CA 92121
• Del Mar: 3661 Valley Centre Dr, San Diego, CA 92130

Lofty Coffee, Little Italy

This delightful coffee shop is located in Little Italy, one of my favorite spots in San Diego. They do have a few other locations, but I’ve only personally been to the one in Little Italy.

Lofty Coffee offers a sustainably curated menu, from craft coffees and tea libations to their artisan and organic food options. They serve breakfast and lunch all day.

It’s worth noting that I’ve always gotten my coffee to-go and I’ve never personally worked from here, but the outdoor patio is always full of people working on their laptops.

Indoor seating has only about 6 or so tables. The primary seating area is outside, but with the beautiful San Diego weather, I’d consider that  a bonus. People come here for lunch or breakfast as well, but there’s still plenty of people doing laptop work too.

Their menu is full of specialty coffee and tea, as well as a good variety of food options.

Favorite drink: The iced salted caramel latte

Lofty Coffee San Diego locations

Keep in mind I haven’t been to all locations, but I’ve bolded the locations that usually have plenty of seating.

• Little Italy: 444 W Cedar St, San Diego, CA 92101
• Roasting Works: 97 N Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
• Encinitas: 90 N. Coast HWY 101 Suite 214 Encinitas, CA. 92024 (this is right across the street from their Roasting Works location, just a heads up so it doesn’t confuse you!)
• Solana Beach: 132 S. Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA 92075

OB Beans

OB Beans can be found in one of my favorite San Diego coastal neighborhoods–Ocean Beach (OB). 

This local favorite coffee shop has plenty of seating and is the perfect spot for the laptop-worker or studier who likes to camp out with their coffee for hours at a time. 

I had the chance to interview the owners of OB Beans several years ago when I worked for a local paper to hear more about their new coffee shop. They pointed out that OB’s logo is a flying seagull, but the OB Beans logo is a perched seagull, which is meant to signify that it’s a place for people to come and rest.

OB Beans offers a pretty straight forward, no-frills or fancy syrups menu, but the taste is always high quality and delicious. The coffee along with the laid back atmosphere makes OB Beans one of my top picks for studying in a San Diego coffee shop.

It’s worth noting that this place is usually pretty poppin’, so don’t be afraid to cozy up at the community table if seating is scarce.

Favorite drink: Latte with 2 raw sugars and cinnamon

Address: 4879 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107

Moniker Coffee Co.

Moniker Coffee is located in Liberty Station, and features an airy-industrial type atmosphere.

There’s lots of seating here, both inside and on the back patio. You’ll find plenty of outlets as this is a popular spot to sit and work.

The menu includes coffee, cocktails, and delicious artisan food options.

Besides coffee and a study space, Moniker Coffee also has a very aesthetic general store that offers home and lifestyle accessories, as well as clothing.

You can sit at the bar, the tables along the wall, the modern style couch or benches, or on the back patio. Moniker Coffee is usually pretty packed, but there’s enough seating that you can usually find a spot without much hassle.

Outlets are plentiful indoors, though I’ve never worked on the outdoor patio so I can’t confirm how many they have outside.

Favorite drink: Iced Viennese coffee.

Revolution Roasters in Oceanside

Unlike most of the coffee shops I’ve featured in this post, Revolution Roasters (lovingly referred to as “Revo”) is a North County San Diego coffee shop. But honestly, it’s so good it’s worth going a little out of your way.

You can tell Revo is the kind of place that takes its coffee seriously.

All syrups are house-made, and the fact that they roast their own coffee beans is always a great sign.

There’s a good amount of seating on the inside, along with an outdoor patio featuring picnic tables and a bar table. I haven’t personally worked on my laptop here, so I can’t comment on how many outlets they have, but I do see a large number of people working here on laptops.

Besides finding fellow remote workers here, you’ll see friends gathering over a cup of coffee and even the occasional reader. Whether you’re in writing mode or note-taking mode, Revolution Roasters in Oceanside is a hot spot to be.

But Revo isn’t just about the coffee — they also bake all their own pastries in-house. Make sure you grab a goodie from the pastry case, or try any of their other offerings from the food menu.

Truly, you can’t go wrong here.

Favorite drink: Iced butterscotch latte (but I always recommend trying one of their seasonal drinks if you go more than once!)

Locations

• Revolution Roasters Oceanside: 1836 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, Calif 92054
• (newly opened location) Revolution Roasters Carlsbad: 2956 Roosevelt St., Carlsbad, Calif 92008

Public Square Coffee House in La Mesa

Another out-of-the-way coffee shop that I thoroughly believe is worth the drive is Public Square.

There’s tons of indoor seating, as well as outdoor seating, and in the middle of the room are comfy couches and sofa chairs for when you wanna really settle in.

It’s worth noting that one of the Public Square’s missions is to be a place for genuine connection, so there are a handful of tables with a little sign stating that the table is a “Laptop-Free Area.”

Personally, I think it’s great that there’s a coffee spot out there encouraging human connection instead of staring at technology all day, so it doesn’t bother me one bit. But considering this is a list of coffee shops to study and work from, I definitely needed to mention this.

But don’t worry; like I said, you’ll find lots of other seating and more fellow humans typing away in all corners of the shop.

Another fun thing about Public Square is their amazing food menu, which includes homemade scones and (the best part) the most delicious butters you’ve ever tried. I recommend ordering the scone and butter flight so you can try all their flavors, like ube peanut butter and guava butter.

Un-freakin-believable.

Fun fact: From 5-8 p.m. every day, they’re a pizza joint. So keep that in mind if you’re looking for a strictly coffee shop vibe!

Favorite drink: Dark chocolate mocha or iced chaga latte!

Address: 8278 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

The final spot on this list of San Diego coffee shops to study in and work remotely from is Dark Horse Coffee Roasters.

This coffee shop has been one of my favorites for a few years now, and while it’s listed last, it’s definitely not the least.

While there are several Dark Horse locations, some of them have very little seating, so I’ll only mention the locations I believe have enough seating.

The Golden Hill location has about 6 decent-sized tables indoors, but they’ve also got a good amount of seating outside. There a couple large, community sized tables outdoors and additional tables to seat 2 people.

Keep in mind there are no outlets outside, so make sure your laptop is charged if you’re going to work outside!

Chula Vista Dark Horse has plenty of indoor seating, and you can almost always guarantee getting a seat.

Favorite drink: Iced champ (honey and cinnamon latte)

Dark Horse Coffee San Diego locations with enough seating:

Click here for the full list of Dark Horse locations! I only included the couple I visited that I feel have adequate seating for a day of studying and remote work. However, there are several other locations, just with much more limited seating.

• Chula Vista: 310 3rd Ave UNIT A5, Chula Vista, CA 91910
• Golden Hill: 811 25th St UNIT 100, San Diego, CA 92102

Related posts:

If you’re into coffee (like I know you are) you’ll also enjoy my post on Healthy Coffee Creamer Alternatives for a Better Morning Brew!

Conclusion

That concludes my list of best coffee shops in San Diego to study in or work from! I hope you’ve found this list helpful so you’re ready to attack your to-do list at any of these lovely coffee shops. San Diego has some of the best coffee around, so wherever you go, make sure you take advantage of the shop’s amazing espresso or cold brew drinks. You won’t regret it.

Recap with Instagram links (to do a vibe check):

• Communal Coffee North Park
• The Invigatorium
• Better Buzz
• James Coffee Co., Little Italy
• Lestat’s
• Copa Vida
• Lofty Coffee, Little Italy
• OB Beans
• Moniker Coffee, Liberty Station in Point Loma
• Revolution Roasters, Oceanside
• Public Square Coffee House, La Mesa
• Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, Golden Hill or Chula Vista

If you found this post helpful, I’d super appreciate it if you shared it!

Til next time, you overly-caffeinated and beautiful soul.