Whether you are looking for the best coffee shops to study in San Diego or a quiet cafe with wifi to get some work done, check out the list of recommended places below.
I work remotely and over the past few years I have spent a lot of time working from San Diego.
The number of people that can and want to work remotely seems to increase rapidly. Whether it’s employees who don’t have to show up at the office every day anymore, entrepreneurs working on their business ideas or the more recent movement of so-called digital nomads who, like myself, are completely location independent and can live and work from anywhere in the world (as long as there is internet).
Some countries and cities are more suitable for these types of people than others and I have to say, San Diego has so many coffee shops to work from plus great co-working options making this a perfect city for remote workers!
From the large number of coffee shops in San Diego, it’s hard to choose just a few top places.
But, I talked to a lot of other remote workers and students and these are the ones we call our favorites. Not only because of the good coffee but also because they offer good Wifi, enough space and a nice atmosphere to find a comfortable place to set up your office for a few hours.
They tend to be the more quiet coffee shops, making them great places to study in San Diego as well.
8 of the Best Coffee Shops to Work or Study in San Diego
1. Lestat’s Coffee House on Adams Avenue
3343 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116
I love this place! Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and almost always packed with many people working away on their laptops.
Although it’s quite a big coffee shop the cozy atmosphere almost makes it feel like you are at home. Plus they offer good coffee, great sandwiches, and good Wifi.
It can get busy especially around lunchtime, plus if you are unlucky you might have to park a few blocks away.
Lestat’s also has a coffee shop on Park Blvd.
2. Jennings House Cafe (previously called Living Room)
1018 Rosecrans Street
San Diego, CA 92106
I’ve long lost track of the number of hours I’ve spent working from here. Located in a converted home, this casual coffee shop is loved by people who have some work or studying to do.
Although it can get quite crowded downstairs, you’ll normally be able to find a quiet spot upstairs. Wifi is good and there are plugs everywhere.
Their prices are reasonable, they have a delicious selection of pastries and a good lunch menu.
3. Caffe Calabria
3933 30th St
San Diego, CA 92104
If you are craving a good Italian cup of coffee this is the place to go!
Definitely a step more serious than your neighborhood coffee shop. Their Italian paninis are delicious, and if you happen to be there on Wednesday through Sunday after 5pm, try their pizza baked in a custom-built wood-fired oven.
This cafe is a great place for an early start since they open at 6am on weekdays and at 7am during the weekend. Unfortunately they do close at 3pm on Monday and Tuesday (11pm on other days).
4. Crushed
967 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA 92109
Crushed is a bar/restaurant and not a coffee shop but this trendy place in Pacific Beach is a good spot to get some work done and either have a delicious brunch or grab a beer while you finish up for the day. Their mimosas are good too!
Downside: they don’t open until 10am on Tuesdays through Thursdays (8am on other days). But, they do stay open until midnight!
5. Brick & Bell Café (Previously Cafe 976)
976 Felspar St
San Diego, CA 92109
Also located in Pacific Beach this charming 1920’s beach house with a nice garden makes a great place to study or work.
It has a relaxed atmosphere and you will always find people sitting around with their laptop here. The only downside is service can be a bit slow.
They are open from 6am until 5.30pm on weekdays, from 6am until 5pm on Saturdays and 7am until 5pm on Sundays.
6. Te Mana Cafe
4956 Voltaire St
San Diego, CA 92107
Te Mana is a typical Ocean Beach coffee shop with a very relaxed atmosphere. It has a nice patio with tropical plants and an interior that looks and feels like a living room.
They have great breakfast and lunch options and very friendly staff. If you are looking for a cozy cafe to work or study, this is a good option.
Downside: they close around 3pm on weekdays (5pm during weekends), are closed on Wednesdays and can get quite crowded at times making it difficult to find a seat. They do open at 7am though if you are looking for an early start!
7. Cafe Virtuoso
1616 National Avenue
San Diego, CA 92113
If you are in need of a good cup of coffee or tea this is the place to go!
Cafe Virtuoso is a local artisan coffee roaster focusing exclusively on fair trade and organic coffees. Their baristas are very friendly and knowledgeable and their choices of coffee are great. The place has a cool, industrial vibe unlike any other coffee shop in San Diego.
The roasterie is open to the public so you can watch coffee being roasted and buy some roasted coffee beans to take home.
Downside: although they open early (6.30am on weekdays) they do close at 3pm. But it’s a great place to start your workday!
8. Krakatoa Cafe
1128 25th Street
San Diego, CA 92102
Krakatoa is a cool little coffee shop with a very relaxed atmosphere, located in a repurposed craftsman house in Golden Hill. The cafe has a sizable patio deck that wraps around the front, side, and back of the building.
They have good breakfast and lunch options and if you’ve had enough coffee then try one of their smoothies!
With their long hours, 6.30am until 8pm every day (apart from Sunday, when they close at 6pm) this is a great spot to get a good amount of work done!
Map of the Best Coffee Shops to Study or Work in San Diego
Another Option to Work or Study: San Diego Libraries
The San Diego public library has over 30 locations so there is a good chance there is one near you.
The central library on Park Boulevard is a large, modern library with good Wifi, ample seating and a great selection of books, magazines, and newspapers.
Most other locations are small and often quiet making them good options as well to get some work or studying done.
The biggest downside of all public library locations in San Diego: they don’t open until 9.30am or even later.
Find all locations and further information here >>
Coworking Spaces in San Diego
Are you looking for a more permanent place to work from? Or would you like to network with other remote workers? Then San Diego has a great number of coworking spaces to choose from spread around the city.
They can be a bit pricey but most of them do offer a lot of extra services, events, and networking opportunities.
Some offer a free day pass so that you can try it out first!
Visit Sandiegocoworking.com for a list of coworking spaces in San Diego.
If You Are in San Diego or Thinking About Traveling to San Diego, Also Read:
- Trying to Live The California Dream – Is San Diego Really a Great City?
- What to See & Do on a Short Trip to San Diego
- 10 of the Best Rooftop Bars in San Diego
- 4 Of the Best Day Trips From San Diego
Like this article about the best coffee shops to work / study in San Diego? Pin it!
We have a different idea of what a good place to work from is in San Diego. Lestat was a bit grungy and service while friendly was a bit obtuse. Wifi was OK at best and not the best coffee. I look for more comfortable chairs if I’ll be there longer then a few hours. Jennings house was cool but the wifi sucked (only half a dozen other peeps there. And two upstairs were on top of each other grinding away as the other person in the room tried to ignore them).