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Name: The Swell Cafe
Address: 3833 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA, 92109
Telephone: (858) 539-0039
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.16

The Swell Cafe

3833 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA, 92109

(858) 539-0039
Store is closed

The Swell Cafe Menu

Light Bites

Peninsula Platter

Mackin’ Mixed Fruit

Soup Of The Day
Salads

Reef-roast Vegetable

Mariner’s Point Caesar

Caprese

Ahi Tuna

Poseidon

Radical Roasted Chicken
Acai - The Brazilian Superfruit

Acai Bowl

Coconut-mint Acai Bowl

Acai Parfait

Jumbo Acai Bowl
Panini

Cutback Chicken

Veggi-kini

Triple Crown Turkey

Peeling Prosciutto

“cow”-abunga

Ham With A Tan

Kick-out Caprese

Aloh-ahi

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Swell Cafe

Light Bites

Peninsula Platter [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mackin’ Mixed Fruit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soup Of The Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Reef-roast Vegetable [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mariner’s Point Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ahi Tuna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Poseidon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Radical Roasted Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Acai - The Brazilian Superfruit

Acai Bowl [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coconut-mint Acai Bowl [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Acai Parfait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Jumbo Acai Bowl [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Panini

Cutback Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggi-kini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Triple Crown Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peeling Prosciutto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

“cow”-abunga [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ham With A Tan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kick-out Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Aloh-ahi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

Write An Anonymous Review

Stacey L.

This is my favorite place for gelato! I've been in there a few times and love grabbing some gelato and walking across the street over to the beach to enjoy my treat by the ocean. I was nervous the first few times getting gelato here because I'm gluten-free, but I've never had any problem here which makes me so happy because its SOOO good!
(5)
Brian F.

Just had a dish of Stracciatella Gelato...my favorite flavor and it was as good as it gets. Check it out!!
(5)
Richard W.

I would just like to say that this is the best customer service experience I've had in San Diego. The place is clean and the patio is very inviting. The staff was very friendly, and the crowd was diverse. Cafe Mono is a great place to chill and drink some coffee.
(5)
Yeap S.

I have to give Mono a second review, because things have changed a LOT since the first week they opened. The owner was nice enough to email me and apologize, which I thought was top-notch of him to do, because I was definitely put off by the conversation my roommate and I overheard. The car is gone, and has been replaced by a bunch of tables and chairs, and- best of all- I haven't seen them smoke in the eating area once. MUCH better! I never write off a place after going to it once, and I will most certainly give it another try. Anyone willing to make changes for the better deserves it.
(3)
Hans G.

Cafe Mono is definitely the place to be if you are in Mission Beach. After surfing, the hummus, chicken sandwich, and coffee really hit the spot, along with the nice retro atmosphere. Girl behind the counter was very nice and pleasant to talk to, as was the owner. This place really has a very cool Middle East/ European vibe that is actually quite nice. Mono is a fantastic alternative to the chains that spot the San Diego scene and I will definitely be going back for the food and service dished up there.
(4)
Josh B.

Tasty Latte, fast service, and great outdoor seating!
(4)
Mary M.

always very friendly staff and great food. i love the gelato, esp the hazelnut flavor, yummmm. nice addition to the neighborhood. good spot to sit outside, enjoy a coffee, the sunshine, and people watch on the weekends.
(5)
Alba C.

Delicious
(4)
Luis V.

I hated my experience here. I waited 30 minutes for a smoothie. My food was lukewarm. They do not have a handle on order management. The person serving the food was also the one making it. I don't understand how this shop has so many positive reviews. Do not come here during peak hours. Unless you love waiting forever.
(1)
D. Y.

I went to the swell today for the first time and pretty much stumbled in on accident. The ambiance is perfect for brunch or if you just want to sit outside and enjoy your coffee! I had their bagels and lox which I highly recommend. My boyfriend had their egg scramble. MASSIVE portions and the price is extremely reasonable (pretty cheap). The coffee is amazing too! Freshly ground and they were brewing three different delicious drips! There was a darling guy there playing the guitar and singing. We thought he was awesome! We will be back!!!
(5)
Andrea K.

I came here with 4 friends because our original brunch place had a 45 minute wait. We stumbled upon this really cute cafe with all outdoor seating. Swell Cafe is pretty hipster, with a limited menu. I wouldn't recommend it for brunch, based on my experience; it seems moreof a nice place for a coffee date or just relax for a bit. Swell is a friendly place with great staff!. However, the food was okay. I ordered the Nutella pancakes with strawberries and my boyfriend got the breakfast burrito. I tried his burrito and it wasn't anything special. I felt like it lacked sauce, although it had good flavor. I wouldn't recommend the pancakes or the burrito, but the coffee was tasty. What I thought was kinda cool was the cucumber water which was a nice twist. The one thing that I really disliked about this place were the immense amount of flies... flies EVERYWHERE. I know we're outside, but it was like an infestation. It made eating difficult because we spent a lot of our time time shooing them away.
(3)
Julie B.

Two coffees, both pretty darn yucky. Got there and we were told they were out of cold brew because it's sooooo popular it runs out really quickly and they haven't had it in two days. Huh? If it's so popular, you should really keep it on hand, right? In the time they took to actually brew my latte, the cold brew appeared, although we kinda wish it hadn't. Both coffees had a really weird grassy undertone. Not smooth, not rich, just grassy. Vanilla dream was CAKED with far too much cinnamon. It was nasty. All we could taste was that grassy gross undertone and nothing more. It's a bad day when a parent with two little ones throws out half a cup of coffee, but so it was with our visit to the Swell Cafe. After waiting for 15 minutes for two drinks to be served and paid for, I definitely expected better. Nice latte art though!
(2)
Liz R.

I think I've found my new favorite breakfast spot. This is a great place to ride your bike to if you live in the area. I had an iced coffee, lox bagel and sat at the bar stools. It's not too crowded so I was able to relax and read my book in peace. This would be a great spot to bring a laptop and get some work done, too. They have incense burning on all of the tables along with reggae music. It's a very chill vibe. Friendly staff with a good variety of food options to choose from on their menu.
(4)
Marissa X.

I came here to try out the acai bowl because of how delicious it looked in pictures, but when I tried it, it was icy and watered down! I don't recommend coming here for acai bowls. But all in all, the vibe and customer service here is great! Workers are super friendly and the decorations on the patio is very cute. It's a great place for brunch or a cup of coffee. Also, they are dog friendly, which is a plus!
(3)
Trisha Y.

Swell Cafe is great! Beware of the line. Don't come if you're in a morning rush. The coffee is also very caffeinated. If that's the type of coffee you are into it will surely wake you up. I love their conceptual menu and will surely be trying more of their drinks next time I come to San Diego. There was a coffee that tricked me into thinking it was mixed with a beer. I think it was called Hop Hoddy or something. They ran out, though I would love to try it. I ordered the Barista's dream, I think, forgot what it was called... It gives the Barista the freedom of making a "surprise" drink for you. What won me over is their customer service. The time I was there there was a man playing guitar outside. The entertainment was a plus! I checked in on yelp and received a $1 discount. After swiping my card, I expressed the mistake of not showing them my yelp check-in. They took the time and effort to void the transaction completely to give me that discount. I said I would leave you guys a good yelp review and I stick to my word! Love Swell Cafe. I guess you can say the time I had here was Swell!
(5)
Madeleine S.

Cutest place ever! Vanessa and Mele were so sweet, they had great service! Def try their acai bowls!!
(5)
Bob S.

Genuinely friendly staff that serves great coffee, delicious food with fresh ingredients.
(5)
Mary B.

Came to this hidden little gem for the acai bowl! And it was so yummy and refreshing! The coconut shavings just compliment it so well. The mexican coffee was a thick and grainy which was not im used to for mexican coffee, just a heads up if yor thinkin about getting it. Keep in mind parking here is no Bueno. Drive around a little just to find parking
(4)
Alexis H.

The amount of flies at this place make the whole experience awful. I've never been to a restaurant with such a bad fly problem. They land on your arms and food the entire time!!! The waiter gave all the other tables repellent candles except for us until we said something ... He finally gave us two candles when we were done eating. Really? ... The chicken sandwich and the club sandwich were decent, but we couldn't enjoy them cause of the dang flies!! Too bad because this is right next to my house and a pretty cool spot. Good thing there are tons of other places just like this in the area
(2)
Brooke W.

Was walking on the beach and so glad we stopped here for brunch. Stayed in San Diego all weekend and this was the best place we are at. Great atmosphere and chill place to grab a bite to eat!
(5)
Claudia H.

Do not come here if you're on a schedule. We waited over 40 minutes for a smoothie. My acai bowl came out first but by the time my coffee came out I was done with my food. My boyfriends bagel took about 20 to 30 minutes to come out. The line was even short when we got there. There were only a few people ahead of us. What a waste of time especially since we're visiting and on a schedule.
(1)
Dana O.

Good breakfast. Walking distance from the beach. Very convenient, dog friendly patio. Very casual and pretty yummy.
(4)
Linda L.

Best. Coffee. Ever. Today I indulged in a delightful latte with whole milk, tasty as ever. I have eaten here in the past and can confirm that the food is as delightful as the coffee.
(5)
Natalya C.

Going out for breakfast on the weekends is a must do for me. My friend just moved to Mission Beach so it was a great opportunity to visit her and explore the hood. Swell cafe instantly caught my eye as we were strolling along the mission blvd. with inviting patio that was full of people. As we walked in, i noticed the eco-friendly decor with had organic & earthy motives. There is a wall full of life plants, cascading down, the entire patio is wood trimmed. There is no wait service, so you just order at the counter and someone will deliver your food when its ready. I got a California scramble and my friend ordered a Endless Summer salad. Our food came out incredibly fast, everything tasted fresh, flavors were well balanced, the potions were just right. The menu had great variety from salads, to smoothies, paninis, soups and egg dishes. There is something for everyone. The swell is a perfect little open-air beach cafe with a nice vibe and delicious food! Can't wait to go back
(4)
Helen And Steve C.

Stopped by on a Saturday around 10. Got right in and found a seat in the shade. Ordered the California scramble which includes spinach, red/yellow bell pepper, cheese, tomato, and avocado. Seasoned spicy roasted red peppers served in cute little bowl with some soft corn tortillas on the side. Live music in the background. Beautiful sunny day and breakfast and coffee for $20. They also gave samples of cold brew with hops. Delicious. Thumbs up!
(4)
J V.

When there three times. I liked the location and the atmosphere, but there were flies everywhere! Food was decent but it's not worth dealing with the flies and sticky tables. I am quite convinced that the place is not very clean. My elbow got sticky from some sticky thing on the table, awful. Probably will not go there for the 4th time.
(2)
Joe R.

This little place was fantastic. Got the Turkey club and was not disappointed! Very limited seating, but if its crowded, just get it to go and eat on the beach! The flies were annoying, its an outdoor joint, what can you do? I'll give it 5 stars, even with the flies, it was very good.
(5)
Gia B.

Super cute spot for my morning ritual... Locally roasted coffee and an acai bowl with Guarana. YUM! Loving these guys and this place! Delicious almond latte and acai bowl :) great local vibe and awesome crew... Thank you!
(5)
Payal L.

i've been to SD a number of times but for some reason, never made it out to the Mission Beach area. And now I can't wait to come back! I love this neighborhood! Came to Swell on a recommendation from a friend who lives a couple blocks away. They have a gorgeous patio, great to soak in the sun before you walk 5 minutes to the sand to soak in the sun even more. I got the Barreled Burrito (and added chorizo to it) and also got the Pitaya bowl. my sister got the mocha breeze and a nutella crepe. the only downside to her order was an overload of nutella on the crepe. SO. GOOD. it's fresh and flavorful food. i'll be back.
(5)
Trang L.

I've ran by the Swell Cafe a number of times during a few of my morning runs and wanted a breakfast/brunch this past weekend.. and decided to come here because of their menu on their website and the good reviews. I didn't want anything too heavy and I should have gotten their Acai bowl just because a lot of people were recommending it.. but I'm not a sweet breakfast person, I'm all about savory. Anywho.. I ordered their bagel and in house lox and it was very good. The arugula was a nice touch with the sandwich and the lox were very well done. It wasn't salty, but just right. The boyfriend had ordered their omelette and he said it was good. I tried his potatoes and man, those were really good potatoes! The ambiance was nice and there were two kids playing the violin and ukulele which added a nice touch to a nice beautiful Sunday morning. I'm knocking off a star because the seating area is a bit cramped and there aren't enough tables and also their menu on their website had more items than their actually cafe menu which was a bummer because the boyfriend wanted sweet French toast in which they did not have on their actual menu. They should update their website. overall though, it was nice.
(4)
Karen S.

We rented a beach house in Mission and found this great coffee house at end of our street. Bagels were awesome, service fantastic and the place was super clean!!!
(5)
Maren O.

Tasty coffee beverages- but loads of flies. Acai bowl was tasty but runny. This place get very crowded after 10am. Go early if you want peace and quiet near the shore.
(3)
Christina M.

Just had a lovely lunch here with my Husband. The food was fresh and clean, we really enjoyed it I had the lox bagel.. In a wrap! Husband had Cali scramble. Would definitely recommend stopping by here. It has a lovely laid back beach feel. The staff were friendly and accommodating, checking to see we were happy with our food. (Which was delicious btw!) Coffee was amazing! Going to make this my new regular for sure
(5)
Melanie B.

Great patio for a brunch. The food was good. The staff was somewhat friendly. Not as over the top as I would have expected considering how friendly we found everyone to be down by Mission beach. The location of the cafe is wonderful because it's got adorable boutiques within walking distance and gorgeous Mission beach just a block over. Would definitely come find this place again if I come back to SD. PS: They are dog friendly and have a community water bowl and treat center for dogs at the entrance. It's adorable and a great idea!
(4)
Kurt S.

One of my favorite places to hang out, have an iced tea, and just enjoy being outside. Patio, umbrellas, and people watching on Mission are all perfect. I usually get something to drink but pastries, bagels, and scrambles are excellent too. Customer service is great and they go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome. The owner is often there too, which is a good sign. I appreciate that he is much more than an absentee owner but takes pride in his business and is interested in the day-to-day operation.
(5)
Christina G.

Stopped into the Swell Cafe for an afternoon coffee after shopping for some bathing suits close by. A few friends of mine have talked about this place so when I saw it I knew I wanted to see what the fuss was about. Unfortunately I wasn't hungry because both their pastries and acai bowls looked great and I would have loved to try them but I opted for just a drink instead. I asked the barista what her favorite drink was and she recommended an iced Mexican mocha. I'm not too big on sweet drinks (I usually just get a plain black iced coffee) but she promised me that it would be worth it. She let me smell the dark Mexican chocolate that they grind right there in the store and it smelled divine. She told me they mix the chocolate with cinnamon, espresso and a choice of milk. I opted for almond milk and it was a great choice. The drink was delicious and definitely not too sweet. The barista told me about another drink to try the next time I stop in which has coconut and white mocha which sounds equally as amazing. The atmosphere of the place is really laid back and beachy with a nice outdoor seating area. Since it is right across the street from Mission Beach I could see myself stopping in for an iced coffee after a day on the water. I would love to come bring some homework and post up and study with a coffee once school starts again as it's a perfect spot for that. Overall a great little coffee spot on the beach. Don't forget to check in on yelp for you free drink size upgrade!
(4)
Jake T.

The Swell Cafe is a gem tucked right in Misison Blvd. that combines an up-to-date feel with a super cool staff. It instantly turned into my go-to coffee shop when I'm looking for caffeine, fresh food & Wi-Fi. It's a modern coffee bar with a sit-back-and-chill type of atmosphere. Ran by helpful and knowledgeable staff that is happy to explain their offerings. They have cold brewed drip coffee that packs an explosive punch of caffeine. The server (barista) was happy to explain to me how it's brewed, where it comes from, and even poured me a sample to taste... Delicious. After ordering a 16oz. drip coffee (black) for $4 and Lox on a jalapeno bagel for $6; I drank half of the 16oz serving and was buzzing harder than a bees nest. At the end of my visit I went to return my glass, and a member of the staff offered to put the rest in a to-go cup. I said, "Is my favorite movie The Departedd!!" (I'm from Boston). Of course! I'll take it to go! Thanks. So that's why I give them 5 stars. O ya, and their bagel Lox is a cut somebody in line for the last one kind of deal. Or even leave your bike unlocked cause your rushing for the last one kinda deal. Or even double PAHK YOUR CAH kinda deal. Ok that's enough. You can just look at the picture. I've also had the veggie Panini served with a chipotle chicken soup (daily special also pictured) one time. And that was the bomb. The flavors blasted off each other perfectly as I am a huge fan of what I like to call "the dunk." If you do it you know what I mean. See ya again Swell.
(5)
Patty M.

Came here for breakfast and I have nothing but great things to say about Swell! Coffee: This place is a coffee lovers dream, they roast all of their own beans so you'll get a tasty full bodied coffee rather than the watered down stuff you find at a lot of other places. Not only do they have great drip coffee but they have chemex and French press options now too. Food: I got the lox bagel and it was probably the best I've had... EVER. I wish I could tell you how many I've had to put it in perspective but I'll just leave it at a lot :) The salmon tasted like a candied salmon and had great flavor, not fishy at all. The bagel was nice and light, the onions were sliced thin, they added arugula for texture, and the cream cheese had the flavor of an aoli! Service: The staff was very warm and friendly. We were greeted right when we walked in. There were 2 girls working the front that made all of the coffee drinks and took orders. They did a great job of balancing the drinks and acknowledging customers ready to order. I was impressed with how attentive they were given all they were doing. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a good breakfast spot. Next time I want to try their lunch and see if it's just as good.
(5)
Raman D.

The Swell was very swell! :) This place was very pleasant the ambiance was an out door patio with wooden benches and chairs. They also had pillows randomly placed out. The staff was extremely informative of their dishes and passionate about their food and service. I ordered an acai bowl. For those of you who are not familiar an acai bowl is a smoothie made with Frozen acai berries and topped off with oatmeal or peanut butter ect. At The Swell they layered it with granola and fresh fruits (banana, strawberry, and blueberries) and frozen acai berry smoothie and topped it with coconut. I have to say it was a rather large serving but very enjoyable. I also paired it with an almond latte which tasted fantastic. I did take a star away due to the limited seating and the tables being bussed a tad bit slowly. In all fairness they were busy. The washroom was neat and tidy.
(4)
Where A.

Excellent location and ambience which is what pulled us in. However the food was disappointing. Huevos rancheros looked like a sloppy bloodbath, scrambled eggs were average and ice brewed coffee could be w lot better.
(2)
Makenzie H.

I love the vibe at the swell. The people working there are super friendly. They seem to really enjoy being there. Had a great convo with one dude about guarana :) It was a really great experience. Can't wait to go back. I ordered the electric pink bowl and an almond milk latte, and then an almond milk mocha. Loved all of it. Very cute patio, too. Great location
(5)
Tim G.

This place is fantastic! Went here for breakfast and got a huge omelet. My wife got the acai bowl and we both loved it! The lobby is a little small, so it can get crowded, but the staff is super friendly and the outside seating is great!
(5)
Chris C.

Best coffee I've found in the Mission beach area in the short time I've visited. Had a cappuccino from their new Slayer espresso machine that was awesome. And a handcrafted pour-over coffee that was really good. Plus an acai bowl that was super tasty. Patio atmosphere and service was outstanding. This place knows coffee. Definitely worth the trip, highly recommend!
(5)
Lili S.

I hate this place now! Overpriced and disappointing! My favorite ever coffee shop is now nonexistent. I will never return. But below is my review from my previous visit had the most amazing dirty chai latte here! So velvety and flavorful! I don't know how they do it but if Starbucks made this drink half as good if drink it everyday!! Parking is a bitch, especially now that summer is here, but I promise myself that I will stop here every time I'm in the area. I also had the Beachbreak on an everything bagel: cream cheese, lox, red onions, capers and mixed greens all on the softest bagel I've ever enjoyed! (I actually hate lox and red onions, but I play this game with myself when it go to a new place and can't decide what to get: I order whatever the person in front of me orders.)Today my game worked out in my unexpected favor, and turned me into a lox-lover. I liked it so much I'll probably order it next time too!
(1)
Nicole B.

This cute cafe is right across Mission Blvd from our rental house, so we visited the first morning after we arrived for breakfast before we could go grocery shopping. The menu is simple and delicious, and our toddler loved lounging in their outdoor seating area. Their lattes and mochas are so good that we decided not to buy coffee at the store to brew ourselves...my husband just walked over every morning to Swell! Hopefully they keep their tastefully classic logo that matches their play-on-words name!
(5)
Alvina H.

came here with the family based on Yelp reviews. We really liked this place. Parking is a bit tricky, simply due to the location. Love, love, love, the Coconut Mexican Mocha. It was delicious. There were five in our group and we all ordered something different ... Omelet platter was delish, California scramble was also good although it could have been a little larger portion, Acai fruit bowl which looked amazingly delish and the traditional Swell breakfast of 2 eggs, potatoes, bacon and toast. I ordered the burrito which was delish. I only ate half. They do not offer "decaf" coffee, but the guys were happy to make up an Americano coffee for the mother in law. The relaxing feel of this place will bring us back. Nice outside seating. There was a guy strumming his guitar and singing, which was a nice touch for an early Saturday afternoon.
(4)
Marc C.

Brilliant coffee and some great food! The coffee might be slow to come out but it's well worth the wait. If you know good coffee then stop by here.
(5)
Danielle F.

I came here with my kids and had a acai bowl and coffee. So good. Small place and the week-ends are very crowded with a lot of people coming to the beach. Great stop on the weekdays for a quick bite.
(4)
Mele R.

This place is the cutest cafe in Mission Beach! They have a lot to offer such as Acai bowls, breakfast sandwich/bagels, omelette platters, fresh ahi salad, delicious lattes made with beautiful latte art designs, smoothies, cold brew, etc. Everything here is so amazingly awesome. They also have free Wifi for customers if you want to sit down and do some homework/work. Another great thing is that they are a dog friendly patio! The customer service is outstanding. The workers there really seem to love their job, extremely helpful and are super friendly. I would definitely suggest this place to anyone looking for a top notch spot in MB!
(5)
Sean S.

Great "organic" coffee / awesome patio out front / chill vibe, good service & family friendly. Hit up the swell just off mission boardwalk on a bike ride to the circus down on Belmont because we saw a review they had organic coffee. Loved the patio out front. Very kid friendly w/ some Hendrix to the doors spinning on the speakers. My 3 year old Moon got to run around and my beautiful Bride and I indulged in their "organic drip" (highly recommend for regular coffee drinker) and their "winter island" blend. Made me say "aloha" and will mos def be back. Mike who works their spent some time with us talking about the new opening and new vision. A stylish crew there with great mustaches and beards and super friendly. Secret... They have a FREE secret stash of gourmet cookies for the kiddies behind the counter.
(5)
Nick M.

After changing names and I'm assuming owners a few times this place has finally settled into a neighborhood hangout for coffee, breakfast and even live music. Their breakfast is fantastic. Acai is a little Icy and watered down but the breakfast burrito is on point. The perfect size and easy to manage until the last bite. On weekends they seem to regularly have a guy playing acoustic guitar to entertain while you dine. Service can be a little slow but worth the wait.....if you have patience that is. Hopefully this place is here to stay with only a few options in mission for the coffee fix and decent food options.
(4)
Katie S.

The drinks are great. We went back for round two in fact because they were so good. The staff is also really friendly and the atmosphere is pretty cool. The downside? The food. It doesn't taste fresh and is nothing to specifically seek out. We got the huevos rancheros and California scramble. Both tasted like something that was frozen and then heated up. We wouldn't come back again for the food, but would for the drinks.
(3)
Chelsi E.

I love this place! Every time I go to San Diego I come here at least once! First off staff is super friendly and helpful, so five stars for that alone. occasionally they have live music too. I came the first time because of the reviews on their espresso. I had iced americanos both times and they were great(: And if your super picky like me for healthy breakfast, scrambled eggs + fruit + multigrain toast this is the place!
(5)
Jonnie D.

Good coffee. Great service. Allows dogs on the patio. Heuvos was a little soupy and tortillas were too doughy, but flavours were amazing.
(4)
Connie B.

This is my first time here and I found out about it on yelp. It is so peaceful and relaxing with the music and outside seating. It's affordable and has great coffee. They're dog friendly !!:)
(5)
jemms b.

My husband and I along with our 8 year old son, went in on a Sunday. Ordered a cappuccino, a kid's cocoa, and a mocha. The cashier greeted us meekly then said unconfidently "that it would be 15 minutes for the drinks. What? Why? Because "there's so many drinks ahead of you. Bye. Hello, Caffe Calabria.
(1)
Candace C.

Came here on a Friday for breakfast/brunch and was excited to try their acai bowl but wasn't impressed. It looked super promising but was a let down for me taste-wise. We ordered the jumbo acai bowl ($11) which came with granola, strawberries, bananas, and coconut shavings on top of the acai. The presentation was one for the eyes and it sure looked good when we got it, check out the pic. The acai itself was so bland and flavorless compared to what I've had and was hoping for. It was also more on the watery side than I prefer as well and we had acai soup after getting through half of it. The coconut shavings were almost necessary to give it some flavor. The granola though was tasty and the bananas were sweet and fruit was plentiful. The portion was a good size for two and we did take a whole bunch of photos before digging in. We wanted something savory as well so we also ordered the California Scramble ($9) which was really mediocre. It consisted of eggs with peppers, tomatoes, cheese, and avocado on top, 2 small tortillas and a side of potatoes with salsa. The best part of this dish was their salsa that they make in house I believe. Other than the salsa, it was nothing out of the ordinary. The service was average, I noticed that when other guests were having food brought to then, they would be asked if they needed additional condiments or anything but we weren't asked at all. I had to go in myself and ask for ketchup over the counter. We also sat facing Mission Blvd and there were so many flies! No idea why but they would land on our dishes and hover around our food. It was annoying to have to keep swatting them away. We would have moved but the other tables were full at the time. One thing I did like was that they had live music! There was a guy playing guitar on the patio which was a nice touch. I would like to come back and try their coffee or Pitaya bowl next time, maybe all the great reviews for this place are attributed to the things we didn't order during this visit.
(2)
Susan S.

Went for a run by Mission Beach Sunday morning and stopped by here for a quick breakfast, or so I thought. The cafe is cute and they offer various breakfast items, but unless you have unlimited time to spare, I would not recommend this place. It took a long time for me to order my food, and it took forever for me to actually get the food. No exaggeration, it took about 30 minutes for me to get my food, and that is a loooong time when you're starving after a run. Let's put it this way... I don't think I would ever see young Korean people taking over this establishment, because we are an inherently impatient bunch! Also I had a breakfast burrito to go and they forgot to pack the salsa, so that kind of killed it. (and not in a good way) Tip: they had live music on Sunday morning that made the waiting process a little less painful. Perfect place to hang out if you have couple of hours to kill.
(3)
Dana G.

Really cute little cafe right in between the Bay and the ocean. Really adorable. Great outdoor seating area with guitar music on the weekends. The coffee and the sweets looked AMAZING but we just came for breakfast. I had the California, light fluffy scrambled eggs, tomato, avocado, salsa (I needed extra but it was great -- and I think homemade). Served with warm tortillas and potatoes. Potatoes were wonderful and I'm always a fan when they serve tortillas in place of bread. I couldn't bring the dog because we wanted to walk along the Bay and no dogs allowed before 6, but looked like a nice patio for your dog to chill if you were so inclined to bring yours.
(4)
Jenna P.

California scramble was delicious and the vanilla dream coffee was very tasty and strong. This is a cute place with a nice people watching patio. I really enjoyed the music, it's very reggae and chill. Breakfast is served late so it's a nice place to come after rolling out of bed on a Saturday morning.
(5)
Rich C.

Great location with wonderful outside seating. Limited menu, but enough to choose from. Coffee is good quality and worth the try.
(4)
Nate L.

Very small ( like everything else around here) Menu was kind of confusing and was pretty small as well. Breakfast and smoothies were good though.
(3)
Mai Tran G.

Bummer. I was looking forward to a quick and good meal at Swell, based on the Yelp reviews. But apparently they just remodeled and opened for the first time (in who knows how long?)-- and seemed a little chaotic. They ran out of condensed milk for their Vietnamese coffee and Tabasco sauce for my eggs. Yikes, it was only 10:30am. Although the people we're really nice, the place was poorly managed and it took a long time to put an order in. Almost all tables we're dirty on the patio and we were constantly ambushed with flies. Local musician was a nice touch, though. Parking is horrific. Took us almost 25 mins to find parking. I'm assuming things will shape up soon?!
(2)
Gina C.

Love the coffee and Gina Frittata (of course)....yuuummmyyyy! Great, chill atmosphere...pet friendly, great service...always smells amazing when you walk in. Bunch of smiling faces...this place rocks the beach!
(5)
Kristen H.

The Swell CafÃ© is the place to come if you want to enjoy a casual meal outdoors. The food is light, fresh, and healthy, but it's nothing to write home about. We split the Locals Only ($6.50 half/$9 whole) and a creamsicle smoothie ($4.25 medium, free large upgrade with yelp check-in). The whole sandwich is massive. It comes with spiced pastrami, turkey, ham, and veggies on your choice of bread and cheese (we picked the Italian roll and pepper jack). The whole was enough to stuff two adults. The smoothie was a bit of a disappointment, because it didn't taste like a creamsicle at all. Overall, we really enjoyed the outdoor patio, and the servers were super friendly. Parking is metered and a pain to find a spot, but if you do, you've got a prime location just one block from the beach.
(4)
Tanya M.

For anyone who doesn't know any better: Dragon fruit (aka pitaya) is not a substitute for aÃ§aÃ! They are completely different in flavor and texture! I came here and wanted to try the aÃ§aÃ bowl. The cashier informed me they were out, but they had pitaya bowls available and tried to convince me to try one of those instead. He was being persistent that the two were very similar. -1 star for knowledge in the tropical fruit department and/or pushing a sales pitch. I did try the Mexican Mocha while here and enjoyed it quite a bit. A little kick added to chocolatey caffeine goodness! Cute place with a typical vibe for the area.
(3)
Brenda R.

Walking around looking for Mission Cafe down the block but the line was 40minutes and we were not prepared to wait for breakfast. We decided to give Swell Cafe a try. It's a cute outdoor spot with live music . At 1st we thought it was a chick singing but as we approached the cafe we noticed it was 2 kids , a violinist and ukulele player with a soft voice . The music definitely fit the setting , it was relaxing and fresh. We ordered at the bar , two coffees , my husband got the Huevos Rancheros and I had the California Scramble . The Huevos Rancheros were great the highlight for the dish was a the corn tortilla at the bottom , it went well with the eggs, refried beans and the rest . (Tough we thought it would be too heavy , the combination was great ) The California Scramble was fresh and tasty . The best part of that dish I would say was the home potatoes (seasoned to perfection) Overall great place , great food , great music . It's little , but don't let the appearance fool ya , big flavors !
(5)
A Z.

Rode our bikes to this cute little place for breakfast. Staff was super friendly. We enjoyed breakfast burrito and Bayside bagel.
(4)
Domenique B.

The line was fast the cashier was patient and I was indecisive. The food was amazing and came out quickly was from about $8-$13 depending on what you ordered. The server was nice and you get to enjoy your breakfast outdoor in the patio while there is a duo or group singing live music.
(5)
Allison L.

Four days ago, I rescued a pit bull named Katie. Today, I took her to Swell Cafe for her first coffee date. She was amazing, and so was this place. Everyone was so very nice, and as has been said before, there's a great dog-friendly patio. Loved the acai bowl, and Katie loved her treats ... but loved the love more. If I lived here, I'd be at Swell all the time. Bark. Woof. Love, Katie.
(5)
Chris G.

Cute lil cafe with a great outdoor patio. Amazing food and great staff. Perfect spot for an early morning breaky. Try the Neptune Benedict or Beakbreak Lox!
(5)
Evan K.

Yummmmmmm. The hardest thing about moving back to Seattle (being dramatic..I know) was letting go of the fantastic acai bowls I have come to love. So on our visit to San Diego....I had to get some. We got the regular sized acai bowl which was perfect for two people. The balance between acai, fruits and granola was perfect. We opted for the outdoor seating. You cant ask for more. Sunshine and acai. Perfect combination.
(5)
Caoimhe O.

Really great coffee, which I find hard to get in the PB area! |Their espresso is always on point.... staff is super friendly EVERY time I'm there.... next on my list is to try their delicious looking menu!
(5)
Mitch W.

Awesome place. Great coffee. Must try the barrista's unique creations. All menu options are amazing as far as breakfast goes. Can't speak for lunch yet but I'm sure its just as good. Can tell the staff are all passionate about the business. Ate here 5 times in 6 days and even went out of my way when passing thru back to San Diego airport. If you have a grinder their beans are worth buying. Apparently sourced from mexico. Owner was a really nice guy who took the time to chat and share some info about his business, product and talk about some of his other ventures. My first stop next time I'm in town!
(5)
Claudia M.

Limited seating, counter service, optional shade, awesome "live" music (guitar player). Food was good we went for "breakfast" was recommended the scramble over the rancheros, hot and fresh, yum
(4)
Diner Oute R.

Absolutely poor communication from the staff. Really surprised based on previous recommendations.
(2)
Sarelyn R.

Went here for a late breakfast and ordered the breakfast bagel, which was a little bland. Felt like it needed salt. But loved the outdoor seating and live music. My friend who's a vegetarian ordered the breakfast burrito and had to pick out the bacon as they don't advertise that there's bacon in it on the menu.
(3)
Nicole P.

The flies made the whole experience miserable. So disappointed that we had to pack up our food and eat at the hotel. Other patrons were waving their hands wildly as well, trying to swat them away while the staff seemed totally immune to the swarms descending on their customers, aside from one who kept shuffling around the 5 citronella candles that were provided for 15 tables to somehow share. The food was expensive ($40 for 2 entrees, 2 sides, 2 coffees and a bread) but pretty tasty. I'm sure it would have been better tasting at the restaurant while it was still warm.
(2)
Mia L.

Stopped by on our way out of town & right away thought it was a cute little place. Really good food & the service was pretty speedy. The only complaint is a bit of difficulty with special orders. They forgot to add avocado to our to go order & mixed up a no cheese specification. Overall though, great experience.. I will definitely eat there again.
(4)
Joey W.

Came here to grab some breakfast with a buddy and it was awesome. Good portions are reasonable prices and the food was fresh and tasty. I would definitely come back. The outdoor seating is really mellow and cool.
(5)
Traci B.

Wow this Gem has always been my favorite cafe!!! Nothing like a great breakfast after a solid run followed up with the best coffee in town. I decided to go visit this amazing cafe again and boy was I surprised when I saw the beautiful new remodel that took place. Insane living green wall, new menu, custom tables and all the reclaim wood used for the furniture. Such gorgeous new addition to mission beach.. Plus their staff is always so on point. Ps. Their coffee art is awesome
(5)
Veronica E.

My sister in law, our other GF, and i were looking for a spot in the area that had acai/pitaya bowls and lunch and this little gem popped up on my search! FOOD: they served breakfast and lunch so it was a perfect spot for Brunch. im always in search of the perfect ACAI bowl but the past year i've been switching over to PITAYA bowls (less carbs and sugar with just as much flavor), so i ordered that. I asked about how the texture is since i'm not a fan of plopping the acai in a bowl sorbet style, and they confirm its blended. Cool! I received the beautifully colored pitaya bowl on a wood slab and it had the perfect texture. My first bite in i noticed it did not taste like it was blended with apple juice, so THE JUMBO was just guarana-infused. I went back and asked for honey to coat the bowl full of pitaya, granola (which i'm also particular about but it looked like it was what i like -hemp granola), and fresh fruit (bananas, strawberries, and blueberries) - a great rendition of fruits without over doing it like some other places do. My sister in law and our GF got sandwiches, one KICK-OUT CAPRESE "sando" (pesto added chicken) and the other a breakfast DAWN PATROL PANINI which both were served with soft focaccia bread (YUM) and they both enjoyed it! DRINKS: they had an array of smoothies, teas, and coffee (beans are roasted in Philly) - see my pic for the menu. PRICE: not bad! standard cafe prices around $7-10 an order AMBIANCE: super cute spot off the main drag near the board walk, you'll know where they're at by their sign off the street and awesome ocean mural in the patio. there are a few seats outside so if its gloomy you might wanna dress accordingly, but since we' live in SD more than likely there will be great weather to enjoy their medium sized patio. You can pick a cute table to sit with under an umbrella. i enjoyed their wood tables and cute succulents around. SERVICE: Everyone i spoke to was very nice and accommodating. we ordered and they brought our food out promptly. PARKING: Gotta drive around for parking on the street, so you may need to walk a block or so.
(4)
Sam R.

I loved the "old" Swell Cafe, and the new one is even better! They recently re-opened after a remodel and now feature a living green wall, as well as revamped menu. I always opt for an iced latte and I am never disappointed. One of the baristas told me they now offer cold brew on tap! Apparently they are one of the few cafes in the city to do this. They still offer acai bowls, people! I'm a light breakfast eater so I always go for a smoothie or acai bowl, and theirs are great. Nice portion, not too filing, and I always feel good about eating so healthy after. Everytime I'm on the boardwalk, I stop by! The staff is friendly, and the patio is dog-friendly. What more could you want?
(5)
Michael H.

Stopped in for breakfast. Stay away from the huevos rancheros - runny and bland. She had the lox bagel which was tasty. Live entertainment was a bonus as was watching the locals with their foo-foo dogs. Nice to dine alfresco although seating is very limited. I'd again try the Olive Cafe or Mission before returning.
(3)
Jazzy B.

Acai bowl was bland and melted really quick. For some odd reason they put all the fruit on the bottom and pour the acai over it.. who does that? Presentation sucked ass for that. Would have looked way better if they topped it with fruit. Not only that, the granola was soggy by the time I reached the bottom so it wasnt good.
(1)
Shelby R.

We stopped here for breakfast based on recommendations by fellow yelpers and were not disappointed. :) Nice outdoor seating with a local guitar player creating a great ambience. Service was friendly and quick. Chad (my hubby) was craving lox and bagels and it definitely hit the spot. Their coffee is really good...strong. And they offer drip and press if your into that. I recommend the mexican mocha. We had another expresso drink with milk, agave & cinnamon, the cactus something, which was also great. My only complaint and/or tip would be to get there early cuz by 9:30am on Saturday they were already out of plain bagels (only choice was plain or jalapeÃ±o for our bagel & lox.
(5)
Quynh V.

Awesome location, atmosphere and vibe. Nice Outdoor seating. Perfect for enjoying a nice breeze and people watching. Had Mexican Mocha with loads if whip cream on top. Carmel Soy Latte came with a beautiful artistic swan art on top. Morning Rise smoothie was refreshing. Acai bowl was beautiful, burrito was big but not heavy, Lox bagel was delish. Live music in the morning with this cool guy playing acoustic guitar. Will definitely return for breakfast again.
(4)
Tania A.

Came here with my roomie after a bike ride around the bay! I have nothing but great things to say about the place! I have been a few times since. The first time I had Cruisin' Crepes because I was dying for a savory crepe and it most definitely hit the spot!! The next time I got a Barreled Burrito which was also delicious! I've tried coffee here each time, their Mexican Mocha and lattes a few times. I would say by far my best experience at Swell was when I went with my roommate recently and asked them for something not listed on their menu and not common to the area called a Flat White. I know its going to become a little more popular with Starbucks offering their bastardized version of it but the Barista that day knew what I was looking for and created it perfectly. I shared a picture on here for you to see. So please spare yourself a tall, grande or venti version of ridiculousness and get it HERE in the way that it should be tried for the first time. This double ristretto with microfoam milk in a small grey ceramic cup made my day!! So in short, if you want a Barista who takes their time to make you an AWESOME drink, you should come here! And if you want to try a Flat White, I would go here and ask for it or pack your bags and head to Australia or New Zealand because Starbucks isn't going to give you the real thing! Also definitely try their Barista's Whim sometime, trust me the food and the drinks you get here will never be disappointing!!
(5)
Michael M.

My wife and I only got coffee, but it was fantastic, and they were super friendly with my kiddo. I got a black eye (black coffee with 2 shots of espresso), and usually put sugar in it, but their coffee is so good I didn't need to.
(5)
Kim W.

Such a cute place for a quality, quick breakfast. We both got the California Scramble and loved. My husband added bacon to his and I ordered mine without cheese. Yum! Love the outside patio seating too. We were there fairly early 8am and seating was wide open, no line.
(5)
Kelly D.

I wanted to like this place, really I did. But they failed on so many levels. They were busy when I came here with 3 of my friends. Busy isn't an excuse for a crappy presentation though. I'll gladly wait for my food if you're taking the time to make it good! It wasn't. First they ran out of avocado for my friends egg dish. Ok, it happens, not a big deal, but don't serve us our food and THEN tell us you're out. Tell me before I get my food so I can change my order if I want to. I love avocado and will usually order something BECAUSE it has avocado in it. Just give me the heads up. I ordered an almond latte. They gave me an almond cappuccino. I'm a coffee snob, sue me. If I wanted a cappuccino I would've ordered one. The acai bowl I ordered was awful. They ran out of their usual granola, so they subbed their yogurt granola mix and it was just terrible. The raisins were rock hard and the dried cranberries threatened to rip out my fillings. They were super skimpy on the fruit too. If you can't present your dish appropriately, simply explain you're out of the proper ingredients, apologize, and recommend something else. Don't haphazardly throw something together and expect it to work. Or expect me to pay for it. They only redeeming quality was the staff. They were pleasant despite the rush. They just made poor choices in the food prep and presentation. I'll definitely give the place another shot because their employees were pleasant, I just hope that they make smarter decisions with their presentation during their rush hours!
(2)
Jessica P.

Cafe is facing mission Blvd. I've only had the dark roast coffee and it was really good. They do serve pastries and some food. It all looks great. Something to stop in quick and casual. Dog and kid friendly.
(3)
Mary Anne D.

Cute little place with great fresh healthy food! I had the Jumbo Smoothie bowl! Outstanding. My husband had a breakfast sandwich on panini bread and loved it!
(5)
Kim G.

Everything we ordered was delicious - the caprese panini was light and the carrot ginger soup was flavorful; the warm fresh bagel and chive cream cheese was perfect with the fresh lox, arugula and capers; the yummy indo chicken curry wrap was as good as the potato salad served with it. We will be eating here again soon.
(5)
Pre-K-Gourmet B.

PKG" I liked the puppy there" Nutella and banana crepes: PKG"yum, yum, yummiest!" "Not with Nutella on it!" Mama "you know I hate banana!" Papa " just banana next time, too sweet for breakfast" Acai bowl: PKG"I don't like that!" Mama:"the banana is permitting it, I can't do this" Papa "this was a good breakfast and I would get it again" Huevos Rancheros: PKG "is that egg? I like egg. I don't like that sauce." Mama"a good mix of flavors and not too spicy!"
(3)
Andrea H.

We ate at the Swell Cafe this morning and enjoyed a burrito, bagel sandwich and pitaya bowl. The tables outside were cozy with plenty of shade or sunshine depending on your preference. Prices reasonable too!
(4)
Jennifer B.

I found this place on yelp and my friends and I loved it! First of all the decor is so cute how it's all outdoor seating is great for San Diego. It's walk up service and then they bring it out to you. All the staff was great they were patient when we were being indecisive and recommended some great fresh juices. If you want a down to earth breakfast or lunch and soak in some beautiful weather with good food this place is a must!
(5)
Cristin E.

Great breakfast for the whole family, of course a beautiful sunny day didn't hurt. Everyone had a different dish and each was great (Dawn Patrol Panini, Bayside Bagel, Barreled Burrito and fruit/Nutella crepes). Both regular coffee and latte were tasty.
(4)
Daniel D.

Holy cow, the Jumbo acai or pitaya bowl is very aptly named. HUGE amount of food, better price than expected. Good almond granola, good presentation, very very friendly service. Also had the juevos rancheros, and though it was a unique take on the dish, it was quite delicious. I'm not in Mission Beach often, but maybe I'll change that so I can go back there.
(5)
Charlene K.

This place is exceptional ! All food made with care and friendly service. Quick and easy and very laid back. Nice outdoor seating. Sunday morning we were treated to live music by two young boys playing the ukulele and violin yelp.com/biz_photos/the-â€¦
(5)
D G.

I would give this place "0" stars if possible. The one saving grace is the music. Even the atmosphere is ruined by swarms of flies everywhere. ...including the back kitchen and coffee area. We live less than a block away and avoid this place the like the plague. The first time I went months ago, they messed up a simple request for no bacon. Then proceeded to tell me it was my fault and simply took the bacon or ham off the item and return it to me. I had to request a new dish and they made a big deal about it. After avoiding the place and eating at everyother mission beach spot for a year, we saw they remodeled. My post remodel experience today we even worse. Both our meals were extremely undercooked. The potatoes couldn't even be penetrated with our utensils. ..which we had to get up and ask for, and they had none wrapped and available. The scramble eggs werent even cooked. On top of it all, the simple request for an Americano coffee, took them so long that once we were done eating we had to go to the counter and it still wasnt ready. We took a few sips and left it, as well as the under cooked plates. There are many better places to spend $30 on breakfast in Mission. Maybe if they focused on their on menu and service instead of the bamboo and decor they would get repeat business from locals. The music was nice though :)
(1)
Jim B.

Visited this place for a coffee and ended up driving around the block foe 15 minutes. Parking is definitely an issue but the iced Mexican mocha was very good. Just know that parking is an issue. The food coming out looked amazing.
(5)
Kelsie M.

I love this little brek spot. Best espresso in the area, and all the dishes are hand crafted and so delicious
(5)
Jeanette S.

This is another restaurant where I had higher expectations that fell short. I came here specifically for their acai bowls. I read and heard great things about these bowls, and the photos convinced me to give it a try. It was the flavor of the acai that greatly disappointed my husband and I. Acai has an intense berry flavor similar to blueberries, but Cafe Mono's version was extremely watered down - so much so that all of the flavor came from the granola, strawberries and bananas. Even when melted, it looked like colored water. Normally, when acai melts, it's more of a thicker consistency. I was happy with the amount of fresh fruit and granola added, as well as the portion, but I can't say the same about the acai itself. I tried adding more flavor by drizzling a little bit of maple syrup. Eating their acai was like eating shave ice that had 90% ice to 10% acai syrup. Not good, and I don't recommend the acai bowls here for those who love this as much as I do. What I did enjoy at Mono's was my wedge waffles with strawberries and bananas. My waffle was cooked perfectly, and there was a good amount of fresh fruit and whipped cream added. While there, I did notice that Cafe Mono also serves gelato, baked goods, and coffee. I took a photo of the ice cream. To be honest, their gelato did not look appetizing at all. I'm not sure what happened, but all of the gelato looked like they've melted and re-freezed in their freezer.
(3)
Brandon T.

Stopped in for breakfast before heading out to the beaches while vacationing in San Diego. Was not disappointed with my coconut french toast and fresh cup of barista cappuccino. I plan on making a return to this spot next time I visit the area!
(5)
Camilla G.

This is my new go to place when I'm gonna study and get a cup of coffee. I love their outdoor seating and the beautiful garden wall. I just wish they had some vegan food options on the menu. Maybe a tofu scramble or a vegan wrap. They managed to put together a vegan dish for me by mixing up some of their sides, so thumbs up for that.
(4)
David And Lisa S.

So, the food was good...once it arrived. There were about three occupied tables in the place, plus the cashier's boyfriend, so I'm not sure how it could take 30 minutes to make two breakfast orders. However, had the cashier stopped by our table (zero times), instead of her boyfriend's (three times), the service might have improved. I didn't need her to crawl in my lap, like she did her boyfriend's, but really...not worth the wait, even with the show.
(2)
Elizabeth K.

The place has great food!! I had the summer endless salad it was so good. Everything tasted super fresh in the salad. We also got the Acai bowl which was amazing! Also all the workers were really nice and helpful!! The only reason I won't give this place five stars is because the only place they offer to sit is outside and there was a lot of flies :((( plus the water kinda tastes funky. But overall this place was awesome. When I visit San Diego again this place is a must!! :))
(4)
MaryandVin S.

The meal I got was so full of oil...it was horrible. Crapes are supposed to be light and fluffy not dripping in oil. At the very least if you come done order the crapes. Update: owner contacted me and apologized for my experience and offered to make it up to me. That is good customer service right there. I changed my original 1 star to a three... Good to know there are people who still care about customer service.
(3)
Vanessa G.

Best coffee, breakfast n atmosphere in San Diego, me n my boss been coming here for a couple months now n swell has yet not disappointed us, food is fresh, tasty n made to order, they offer tasty soups made freah daily n excellent pastries, gelato n acai bowls
(5)
Lena D.

Just visiting san diego and saw this place had great reviews so of course i had to stop by! First off, I have an appreciation for good coffee, especially espresso drinks, so when i tried their double macchiato, i was super pleased. Also, i am from the east coast and have never heard of the acai bowl, so when i saw other reviews mentioning it, i had to try it. It was the BOMB. Such a tasty healthy option for breakfast! I also ordered a savory crepe with spinach and mushroom. I was happily surprised it was a small portion, for it was the perfect amount for me. My friend got the barreled burrito, which i had a taste of and it was amazing as well. This place is beyond phenomenal and will definitely be back a few more times before i leave! Oh, and the staff is super nice and helpful.
(5)
Heather R.

This is one of my favorite breakfast spots in town. I'v been a number of times and it's always excellent. They have almond & coconut milk options for those adverse to dairy and soy. I love their almond milk late. Their coconut waffles are amazing. I also love their aÃ§aÃ bowl. The french toast, also great. Basically, everything I've seen come out of their kitchen looks amazing. I haven't had the eggs or breakfast burrito, but friends have and they were very happy with them. The service is not the quickest, but their super friendly staff and amazing food make up for it. The waits are extraordinary, just don't come and eat in if you are in a hurry. On Saturdays they have live music outside which is nice. Overall, LOVE Swell Cafe.
(5)
Mike W.

Acai bowl was more of a granola bowl. Usually come here for coffee and meet friends. The Acai bowls at better buzz and boardwalk cafe are much better... not even close. Think I just stick with the coffee.
(3)
Jamie N.

Worst service ever. The waiter or owner sat us down and we waited for 10 minutes. No drinks no food. Everyone around us (3 tables) had their order and drinks before us and we were seated way before them. It wasn't busy at all. This is by far the worst service here at mission beach.
(1)
Alyssa D.

In terms of cafes, Swell Cafe ranks well. The food is great for cafe style cuisine. Ordered an Acai bowl, cappuccino, Dawn Patrol Panini, and a glass of OJ all for $25. And the proportions are decently large. I shared all this with one other and was very full. The outside patio is simple, yet beautiful and inviting. I came on a Sunday and they had a live musician who was excellent. I can't believe I almost forgot to mention... the chocolate chip cookie that came with the cappuccino was fluffy and delicious! Will definitely come back again for a quick Sunday brunch!
(4)
Bertrice M.

Just went for coffee. Ended up waiting 10 minutes because it wasn't ready. Got a bagel and cream cheese. Both bad. Coffee was bitter .Three dollars for a small mug. Flies were everywhere. Maybe because the tables weren't cleaned.They don't have free wifi.
(1)
Stephanie M.

The food was so good, it came quickly, I love that I can bring my dog. I ordered a latte with my breakfast and it was delicious. I also love that each customer pays first, it makes getting brunch with friends so easy. Coming here again.
(5)
Katie H.

I had the waffles with strawberries on top and a smoothie. Both were delicious and freshly made. The service was great, quick and everyone was super friendly. It was my first time there so I did ask a lot of questions, but the servers gave me suggestions and were helpful. Definitely recommend this place to anyone new to San Diego, like myself. 5 star breakfast! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Irene C.

The food is good and you get a lot for what you pay! The only bad thing is that there's not a lot of space to sit inside so we had to sit outside on the patio and there were so many flies everywhere! We spent half the time swatting at flies and covering our food with napkins so the flies wouldn't land on them.
(4)
Amanda G.

LOVED this place! On vacation from Tucson, AZ and the staff was very nice, great service! Hands down best service we've had in a long time! The food is excellent and fresh! So good we couldn't wait to go back, HIGHLY recommend! Acai-pitaya bowl is as delish as it looks! We also had the French toast and the burrito, would get both again and will be sad we can't have them in tucson!
(5)
Yeri P.

Such a cute little spot to catch up with a friend (go on a date or read a book, whatever you prefer!) in Mission Beach. My friend and I both grabbed our drinks and had acai bowls. I've only had the acai bowl here so I can't speak for other food options, however, the acai bowl was top notch. It filled me up for several hours and I enjoyed plethora of bananas and strawberries that came with it. I can see how parking can get difficult during weekends.. but if you're in walking distance, try this place out.
(5)
Stephanie K.

Love coming to this spot over the weekend because they have live music that is perfect for a coffee shop. The best drinks are the vanilla dream and the sultan which are iced to perfection! Also love the bagel with bacon, egg and arugula, be sure to ask for the homemade salsa to top it off! Great local spot and way better than Starbucks!
(5)
Elizabeth A.

The Swell Cafe is very laid back. It's the type of place I go to if I want to put food in my stomach and enjoy the ambiance with friends. Parking is doable after a few rounds of circling. Indoor seating is minimal and outdoor seating is mostly uncovered. You order at the counter and folks will bring your food to your table. I got the savory crepe with mushrooms and spinach and an espresso. My crepe was a little sweeter than I expected and that made it not balance very well with the spinach and mushrooms. When I put syrup on it the crepe itself tasted much better! The three stars are because my food was so average and they sent my first crepe out with an ingredient on it that I'm allergic to (and did not order). They sent my second crepe out with onions and romaine in it, which I also didn't order but ate anyway. Still, I was able to get a crepe, espresso and leave a nice tip all for less than $10! That's awesome. Because of the reasonable prices, I think I'll go back to try a sweet crepe and cappuccino and I bet I'll have a 4-star experience.
(3)
Melodee B.

Please bring back your coconut french toast! Was the best breakfast! Love the cappucino!
(4)
Tiffany P.

I found this place on Yelp, with good reviews. We thought we'd give it a try since it was within walking distance from our condo on mission bay. We were not disappointed!! We all had a hard time trying to decide on what to order, because everything sounded so good. I got the California Scramble. Everything was perfect about it. It had yummy cheese, tomatoes, peppers, and avocados on top of the eggs. The side of potatoes were also tasty. The outside, live music was a nice touch and the staff was very friendly and nice. I will return, next time Im in San Diego!
(5)
Sarah K.

Just a coffee review.... Awesome iced Mexican mocha- very unique. Decent service - a little slow and some of the baristas don't seem to know what they're doing
(4)
Kristin B.

There's been a relatively recent change in ownership. Having dined here several times thus far in 2012, I've noticed the following changes: * Menu options are mostly the same but have been tweaked here and there. * Panini have been oddly renamed (i.e., "veggi-kini panini," "cow-abunga panini," "ham with a tan panini") and can now be ordered in both half and whole sizes. * Prices are higher. Most notably, all panini were previously $7, and current prices range from $8.50 to $12.00 for the whole sandwiches. * Music selection is more Mission Beach-esque these days. Reggae, for example. Jazz and instrumental music (which, incidentally, I loved) were the previous norm. * The website has been redesigned. A note about the side salads: they need some work. When a friend and I stopped by in March the salads we received were dressed with what seemed to be straight vinegar, and the salad I received during a stop here in May was sprinkled with salt and pepper but devoid of any liquid. Cafe Mono is still very good, but no longer 5-star spectacular. Truthfully, I very much miss the warm and friendly service the former owner consistently provided.
(4)
Pris C.

I dragged my dogs here; boyfriend and husky pup, Swell Cafe is dog friendly! Which made up for the difficulty in parking! Luckily I was determined and we found a spot on the street not too far. The staff was friendly and helpful. I ordered the waffles with strawberries and a mocha. Wonderful 'latte art' (for InstaG!) and one of the best mochas I've had. It was sweet, not overly strong and was creamy smooth. I think I annoyed my bf as I raved over its richness; it seems I have been deprived and in the dark all of these years...the waffles were likewise amazing, very soft with a slight crunchiness on the outside, fresh strawberries and light whipped cream topped it off perfectly! I want to go back and try the coconut french toast as that seems to also be a hit from these reviews!
(5)
Anna M.

I went in to Cafe Mono for a latte and a bite to eat and this place far surpassed my expectations, especially for a local beach coffee bar. I had a delicious turkey and cheese sandwich that was served warm with a side of potato salad and it hit the spot. I also had a Cafe Mocha that came with beautiful Latte art on it. We also enjoyed a Dark Chocolate Gelato that was so yummy. The service was great and they were all super friendly and nice. The owner John came from the back a couple of times and checked on us and was so nice to my 19 month old daughter. He went in the back and came back with a cup of water that had a lid so she wouldn't spill it. They had a high chair so that my toddler could sit with me and enjoy a meal too. They also have a great outdoor patio where you can sit and people watch. I will definitely be back to Cafe Mono!!!! This place is great!
(5)
S J.

This is a tough one. I like the cafe and the food, but they have a SERIOUS fly problem. They know it too. They have now put citronella candles on all the tables to try & help. It's not working!! At breakfast yesterday we looked like those funky air balloons you see on street corners and @ car dealerships. Arms flailing, and trying to eat at the same time. It was so annoying. :/
(2)
Kerrie R.

Sometimes you just find a perfect spot. Everything comes together. Food, atmosphere, people, coffee, it's a place where you just want to be. Swell Cafe (formerly Cafe Mono) is that place. If you're in mission beach and looking for great coffee, breakfast, lunch, smoothies or gelato, go here! No question. You will NOT be disappointed. Extremely dog friendly, live music weekend mornings. Parking can be a little difficult, but it's worth it. We're there every weekend and always find a spot.
(5)
Josh H.

Stopped by this place during my weekend vacation. Their outdoor patio is great and their food was just as good - I had the bagel and lox and split a French Press. This would be a go to spot for me if I lived nearby.
(5)
Tan P.

I love this place. Ate there for the first time and couldn't resist getting french toast along side my pannini (I shared it...). Delicious. Also, they have wonderful drip coffee and espresso!
(5)
Jack M.

I have to say I was quite impressed with the Americano, nicely iced, I had from this place. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/dovWâ€¦ ) The coffee had a nice kick, but it was smooth, very smooth. One of the better Americanos I have had in a while. While I was their sucking down my coffee, I picked up a couple of cinnamon rug-alas that went down very well with my coffee. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/dovWâ€¦ ) They do not make the pastries there, but they are good. While I was there relaxing in the sun watching the passerby(s), a family next to me had a stack of waffles with whipped cream and fresh strawberries delivered to their table. It looked very good, so I placed a mental note to try those someday. This place is right on Mission Blvd., and they have a patio right out in front with shade or no shade. Whatever your preference. The service was good and the prices are very reasonable.
(4)
Brittany H.

I just discovered this little Mission Beach gem last week and have gone back 4 times. Sunday morning I stopped by for an iced coffee and was chatting with my mom on my phone when a man started playing acoustic Jack Johnson covers. The front patio is really nice and a great place to start your morning!
(5)
Rika K.

Food was okay. Staff was very friendly but the seating.... They only had two tables inside and rest of the seating was outside. Would have been nice if it wasn't so hot! And since we were outside there was flies and I was not having fun at all!! Got a huuuuge ahi panini! I had to take the bread off of it and just ate the inside. Spinach, lettuce, seared ahi, and roasted peppers with cheese. Ahi wasn't fresh, and didn't taste the citrus dressing that was suppose to be in he sandwich. Also got Vietnamese coffee.... *sigh* I guess I shouldn't have expected authentic viet coffee. Really weak, didn't really have a kick to it. AND the parking around that area just sucks!!!! We walked long long four blocks (probably little bit over half a mile) to get there! AND we paid $8 for public parking! No bueno!!!
(3)
Desiree B.

I had such high hopes for this place. But man what a huge disappointment!!! So unorganized they didn't have several things on the menu that we tried to order. My acai bowl looked nothing like it should and tasted blah. I tried to be understanding cause they said they were starting a new menu but Then forgot to put avocado on the sandwich and there was barely any meat. my acai bowl melted in a couple minutes. you can't read the menu it's on monitors so you can't see with the reflection and no paper menu. so much confusion!!! The food was just OK. Maybe we'll try this place in a few months when they get everything situated and settled
(2)
Christopher M.

Very cool little cafe situated between the ocean and the bay. Came here with my wife for breakfast after missing church (my bike chain had broke ) and were pleasantly surprised. It's a walk-up and order type of place that has plenty of seating outside (limited inside) and had live music playing. They have a limited menu but I'd say they are great at what they make and don't try and do too much. The coffee was pretty good - we like to try new coffees every now and again - but again it was just a cup of joe. The servings were large and the staff super friendly. Definitely like that they didn't cheap out on water for their customers.
(5)
Angela G.

Stopped by for breakfast on a beautiful sunny day (I guess for SD that's normal but not for us. It was a gem) I had the breakfast panini with ham. It was really good...a soft rosemary roll with eggs, ham, bacon, mayo and avocado. It was super tasty. I got a half, a whole would have been overwhelmingly huge. BF got the huevos rancheros and he was not impressed. The sauce looked watery and didn't have much *kick* (according to him). The eggs were undercooked. The portion was certainly generous (3 eggs I think?). Peppers and tomatoes he felt could have been cooked more, they were on the raw side. However, from what I could see everything looked super fresh. He should have listened to me and gotten the wedge waffles (I really wanted to try them) so bully for him. :) The Mexican coconut mochas we had were really tasty, huge, nice and hot, and with a pretty design. Those were really good. The staff was super friendly and clearly cared about helping customers. Seating is pretty tight here and parking is kind of a nightmare but I guess that goes with the beach and the sun. I know it goes with the area but frankly I could do without all the dogs everywhere. Prices were fantastic.
(4)
Marat Z.

After several stops at The Swell Cafe it's easy to say it's a great breakfast and lunch spot Fresh food, cozy (especially after the recent remodel) patio, relaxing atmosphere, nice live music and laid back neighborhood all create a wonderful experience and.a chance to really enjoy yourself. Lox bagel, triple crown turkey and ham with a tan are yum and everything else looks appetizing too! The staff are friendly and are huge coffee enthusiasts. Check out their latte art, it's pretty amazing. I am excited to come back and try different new dishes and drinks!
(5)
David C.

An amazing breakfast and coffee! My fiancÃ© and her daughter were here this morning and had an amazing breakfast! I had the coconut French toast with a coconut Mexican mocha and it was so good! My wife had a really good omelette which I was munching on as well. And our daughter had the waffles which were some of the best I've ever had! If not THE best! Not only was the food good but the laid back but friendly service was amazing! Much better than most places I've been to in southern Cali. Will definitely come back whenever we have the chance!
(5)
Loren C.

I went with my best friends on a Saturday morning (about 9:30-10:00 AM), and I was surprised that it wasn't completely packed! I figured I had to try it since I'm always in the Mission Beach area. I had the California, and I was thankful that they had Tapatio because I can't eat my eggs without it! I'm definitely going to have to come back to try all of the sweet breakfast options my friends had. The only downside is that it is street parking, but that's to be expected in this area. Luckily I found an open parking spot right in front.
(5)
David C.

Looked for a breakfast place and found on yelp. Went there with my teen daughter. Good Americana coffee. Had beach bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese, tomato, and capers. Very fresh and tasty. My teen and waffles with strawberries. Pretty good. All for around twenty bucks. As a bonus the Swell staff were very attentive and friendly.
(5)
Sang P.

Waffles: Generous portion for its price. I added Strawberries too. Tasted great. Gelato: Tasted fresh. Got the Mango flavor. Also very generous portion. if I want a cheap breakfast near the beach, I will definitely come back. PARKING SUCKS. but it's okay, walking along the beach for 15 minutes (how far we had to park) isn't too bad.
(4)
Luke W.

Great food, great coffee and cool vibe as well. I guess my unassuming NY accent was obvious as it was a dead giveaway to them. Either way totally cool and I'll definitely come back here for a breakfast/lunch when I'm back in SD. Also, ginormous sandwiches too!
(4)
Tami C.

This is a really cute cafe nestled in the bustle of Mission Beach. I like the outdoor seating and comfortable benches with pillows. The food was pretty good. I made my own dish of soyrizo and potatoes (kind of the egg scramble without the egg and added soyrizo). The soy lattes were good too. My only complaint (and why I give it 4 stars) is that they were pretty slow getting the food and drinks to us and they forgot my boyfriend's smoothie and then took forever getting it to him even after they realized they forgot it. We were actually completely done with our meal when they brought out the smoothie. They did give me a complimentary refill of coffee after I asked for a free refill since we had to wait. The server initially refused my request for a free refill telling me a refill costs $1.00- which did not make me happy given the smoothie debacle. All in all I will be back and it could have been just a one-time thing.
(4)
Michal F.

Great bet for breakfast or lunch. Light menu with eggs, sandwiches and smoothies served on a spacious balcony. Breakfast Omelette 4 Breakfast Burrito 4 Eggs, beans and veggies grilled till crispy. Comes with a spicy salsa Verde sauce on the side. I smothered the bites I ate with this salsa. Acai Parfait 4 Parfait with an Acai berry smoothie instead of yogurt. Acai seems to be a big thing in California, after trying it this tart berry has gained another fan. If i visit mission beach again this will be a steady breakfast option.
(4)
Dean S.

Acai bowl was amazing and the breakfast panini was very good. A great start to our San Diego trip
(5)
E E.

Vietnamese iced coffee was delicious. Staff is very nice, graciously serving two couples after closing. Double espresso was one of the best my companion has had.
(5)
Julio E.

Great food, friendly staff. I had the breakfast panini and it was delicious, my g/f had the waffles also really good.
(5)
Ashlen A.

I was in San Diego today looking for a good spot to have brunch and I came across this place. I saw a great picture of the Acai bowl here on Yelp so I decided to order that, and my friend ordered one as well. It was very delicious but unfortunately looked nothing like the picture on here... There was barely any granola, coconut, and fruit. I really wanted to like this place but the service was also completely terrible. We waited for our table to be cleaned for 15 minutes...finally someone came to clean it. The girl working the register was friendly but very forgetful...she asked me if I wanted granola and honey, I said yes, and she never returned. The other girl working was really rude and when I went up to the counter before I was about to leave to ask for a to go cup she said "what do you need?" like I was bothering her because she had to do her job and help the customer. Pretty ridiculous. Although the Acai bowl was great tasting I will not be returning because there are many other places with the exact same thing. On the plus side... Nice outside location and good food...hopefully you just get different servers.
(2)
Lauren T.

I have only been here once, but that will soon change when I move to Pacific Beach. It is a great beachy cafe with delicious food and drinks. I have had many acai bowls in San Diego and this is definitely one of the best places I have tried.
(5)
Rachael D.

This is one of my favorite San Diego breakfast places! The Dawn Patrol Panini is bomb. Their waffles are also amazing, and I don't usually think waffles are anything special. Their lattes are really good. They also have a really great passion fruit iced tea, probably the best I've had. Great outdoor seating for a sunny San Diego morning. Always a great start to my day!
(5)
Marlene B.

What a great addition to the neighborhood! As if the place could not get nicer, after the remodel, it did! I love the live music on the weekends. My favorite thing to order is the barrel burrito, it's loaded with lots of goodies, and can be eaten on the run if you can't stay and soak up the ambiance.
(5)
Abbitt W.

Food was great and service was awesome as well. No line and was a quick order get your food and eat and go on with your day! Food came super quick and like said above and also the portion on the panini was massive. Will def try this place next time for their espresso when were back in town.
(5)
Luke P.

If you're looking for good coffee look somewhere else. I needed to add 3 packets of sugar to overcome the taste of the espresso and ultimately just threw the coffee out. The view/patio is nice and i havent tried the food but do not under any circumstances buy their coffee!
(1)
Marc L.

Great food, coffee and ambiance. Perfect amount of food for a good price. Friendly staff, service was great and they're dog friendly. Recommendation: Coconut French Toast
(4)
Daniel S.

Awesome cafe! Went there this morning for Father's Day and had a great breakfast. Their AÃ§ai bowl was very good and cappuccino was among the best I've ever had.
(5)
Filip Z.

Why is this place ranked so high? Came here for lunch and coffee. The club was really bland. The turkey and bread tasted like some cheap grocery store product. The tortilla soup chicken was rubbery and tortilla chips stale. A cookie was dry. Coffee was okay and the employees were nice. Not sure why the rating is so high, I will not be coming back.
(2)
DanVy N.

What an adorable cafe joint! Came here on a Sunday morning for brunch after a fun night out. Beware of parking though! It's on Mission street and is apparently pretty awful to find parking here, but we got super lucky and found one right outside the biking shop next door. Remember, free street parking on weekends! (: Anyhoo, the menu is extravagant! There were so many options and each one sounded unique! I ended going with the 'healthier' option and got the ahi tuna salad - which came with mixed greens, red onions, avocados, seared ahi topped with an orange honey dressing. The salad was huge and pretty filling - it came with a good amount of ahi tuna. My only problem is that they seasoned the ahi tuna with a little too much pepper, so if you do get this, ask for them to go light on pepper! My friend got the acai bowl - which is so unique and refreshing!! It comes in a huge bowl with granolas and fruits and the acai berries are blended as a smoothie. They also had live music - a guy playing/singing guitar. Definitely a place to come back to for a lazy Sunday morning brunch.
(5)
Chuck N.

Great coffee, both times opened for me before they were really open. Great spot and setup too.
(5)
Erin T.

Love the name change, definitely best place to get good coffee for a better price then other places in north mission. I regular this place because the people are nice, the food is good, the prices are awesome and it has a great patio to eat and relax on. Service for food is kind of slow but if you aren't in hurry I highly recommend eating here as opposed to other options in the area
(4)
Cee H.

Parking was terrible...it's in mission beach so what do you expect? Once I got here though, I found I really liked it! Took a detour and walked to the place along the harbor. They had a guy playing his acoustic guitar and singing! Which added to the the laid back flare. I got the bagel with egg, held the the cheese, and got a banana instead. I found it weird that my food was served in a to-go bag, but my other girlfriend's were served on a plate? So weird. Overall, it was a really nice time with the girlfriends.
(4)
elizabeth c.

Great spot in MB to feel like a little slice of Europe! Nice outdoor seating and refreshing menu with variety . It may seem a little pricey at first , but the quality and portions make up for that! The presentation is fantastic too! Who doesn't like to eat pretty food! Had the Acai Bowl, loved it! Will defenitely be back! Live music sat and sun mornings!
(5)
Becky R.

I had the acai bowl and it was great! I also tried a mexican cappuccino type drink and that was also very good. The lady working was very helpful and a joy to talk to.
(5)
Nicole A.

We visited Cafe Motto for lunch. We both ordered sandwiches, which were alright. I really liked the crunchy wheat bread, but too much dressing made the sandwich soggy. Their coffee was good and so were the smoothies. I felt the smoothies were a bit overpriced (about $6.50 each), even compared to other boutique shops. I wanted to order additional drinks, but left the register after a couple minutes because no one acknowledged me. Despite the fair service, the killer for me was the sheer number of flies inside and outside the restaurant. Many dirty plates were left on tables inside and outside.
(2)
Ivan M.

Great food! I ordered waffles for my six year old, and acai bowl for myself. It came out quickly, and looked beautiful and fresh. Very impressed with everything, and would definitely come again!
(5)
Jenni J.

Decided to try The Swell Cafe on our last morning in PB, so we drove to the Swell prior to our departure to the airport. Very friendly service, and cute atmosphere. We each ordered the Jumpstart breakfast and I was very happy to hear they had gluten free bread for my toast option. The breakfast was delicious and just enough. Eggs, fruit, and toast. I overheard some of the other guests raving about the coffee, so we purchased a mocha and also a bag of beans to bring home. The mocha was very good. Not overly sweetened and tasted more natural, than artificial, like some mochas have a tendency to do. On a side note, our first morning in PB, for breakfast we walked past the Swell Cafe on our way to the Mission Cafe. I enjoyed the Swell Cafe much more than the Mission Cafe, so I wish we had stopped at Swell versus continuing on to the Mission Cafe.
(5)
Autumn F.

We just love this place and eat there a lot! They have really good healthy food selections for breakfast and they have a new homemade soup choice every day...sometimes I take it "to go" for work:-) We love the atmosphere and the music on the weekend mornings. We have recommended the Swell Cafe to many friends and bring our family in on the weekends for breakfast:-)
(5)
Alex S.

Five stars for the setting. Sun. Tables outside. WiFi. Power plugs. Pretty decent cookies. Very friendly staff. Unfortunately the barista doesn't know how to make coffee. Pulled the shots way too long to the point where they taste Starbucks-bitter. So stick with the latte or cappuccino. It masks poor extraction technique. Minus one star for that.
(4)
Brianna B.

Loved this place so much! First of all, it's atmosphere is so cute- turquoise walls inside, a mural on a wall outside, succulents at every table, and great outdoor seating. Their food was delicious- I got the savory crepes, which were small but delicious and filling. Their sweet crepes we're delicious as well, but not very filling. Their service was pretty fast, but the bigger the group the longer it takes. I definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Anne D.

On our quest to find the best crepes in San Diego -- we had a savory ham, cheese and spinach crepe --- extremely flavorful, and a Nutella, raspberry and banana crepe -- the desert crepe was a little too packed to our liking and the banana was on the outside, not in. The crepe shells themselves were the thickest we've experienced so far - again I'm not sure if they intended that to be on purpose or??? We really loved the atmosphere -- sat outside & enjoyed just kicking back and soaking in the vibe. I could have relaxed there all day!! We saw some salad orders delivered - they looked huge & delish and I will definitely come back to try their kale salad!!! Parking in PB is like parking in any other beach town -- very hard to find-- there is no use complaining about it, that being said, I was so stoked to pull into a spot just a block away!! Last note -- the entire staff was so friendly and personable. Can't get better than that!!
(4)
Bo C.

The smoothies are especially delicious. Sandwiches and entrÃ©es have many vegetarian options. Nice patio with outdoor seating. Prime location; it's only a short walk from Pacific Beach.
(4)
Hasan B.

Very good espresso which will improve because they'll be roasting their own coffee beans soon....
(4)
Charles S.

Stopped at Mono on our brunch quest. The only thing it has in common with Kono's that they're both in PB and inexpensive. But Mono (it's pronounced mo-NOH after a place in Beirut; the former owner was Lebanese) is modern, spotless, and accommodating. Mono is owner-run and operated and it shows. If you don't like what's on the menu, tell them and they'll prepare what you want. The coffee was great, the fruit was fresh, the pastry was flaky. And we heard the history of the place and the young owner's plans for the future.
(4)
Jen N.

Scrumptious!! I came here to get a cup of coffee and take it across the street to the beach. Phenom. I got a vienesse coffee (sweetened) and want more!! Paired with the banana bread, I was in vacationer heaven. Do it!
(5)
Megan W.

My husband and I stumbled across this place while on our honeymoon in SD. Yum! We loved it! Cute little cafe with lots of outdoor seating, delicious food and drinks, and very reasonable prices. We got a bagel with egg and cheese, a breakfast burrito, a smoothie, and a mocha for $20. Everything tasted great, and the staff was super friendly. The only down side was the lack of parking, but that seems like a pretty common thing around here. We wish we were in town longer so we could eat here again!
(5)
Yvonne C.

The food is really good, the entrees include a lot. The main seating area is outside and you spend half the time swatting flies and half eating. No parking lot, have to find curbside parking. I recommend the local sandwich with rosemary focaccia and provolone cheese. It has three meats for all you meat lovers. DECENT PRICE! :)
(4)
Joy L.

Great place and great coffee. I love the iced Coconut Mexican coffee. The crepes are very good, as are the sandwiches. The cook is so nice and wiling to change things up a bit to cook something to your liking. Casual, clean, local
(4)
Sarah O.

This is a perfect place for a cup of coffee and a quick breakfast. We came here looking for somewhere not as crowded as the Mission down the street and were pleasantly surprised. The service was excellent and the food delicious. It's the perfect laid-back, beach cafe.
(5)
Jen S.

We had a nice little brunch here on a Monday morning. I highly recommend the Mexican mocha. I ordered the huevos rancheros, which I enjoyed. My husband had their breakfast burrito, and he felt the potatoes were undercooked to his liking. Their homemade salsa was fantastic, and the location is great.
(3)
Jaime C.

Was looking forward to coming here, but was disappointed. Apparently they just remodeled, but I didn't see anything about an acai bowl, which I wanted to try, on the menu. I got a vanilla latte and huevos rancheros, both just average. Wouldn't recommend.
(1)
Francisco M.

Good coffee and I love the breakfast bagel. The lovely ladies behind the counter are nice and friendly.
(4)
Bruce S.

Great little 4.5 star breakfast spot in MB! We stopped here after seeing the line at The Mission Cafe, and weren't pleasantly surprised. We chose some outside seating after ordering inside. I had the Barreled Burrito, with egg whites and added Black Forest Ham and avocado. Absolutely outstanding. The family had an omelets and a couple of Dawn Patrols, all excellent according to reports. I also had a Piyaya? {sp} smoothie, which is some new kind of superfruit, I suppose. In any case, it was good as well. Finally, our daughter had some of the gelato, which was good as well. All in all, the staff was friendly and attentive, constantly getting plates and cleaning up, the food was fresh and brought hot to the table. So, why the 4.5 stars instead of five? The flies. They came by the squadron. I thought they'd combine and steal an entire plate a few times. The half star could be added back with a couple of fly traps around the patio.
(4)
Jocelyn P.

While on vacation we decided to give this place a try. We had a tough time finding parking but once their got our orders in quickly and found seats immediately. I got the waffles with strawberries minus the drizzle and it was great. Also ordered a side of a bacon and a side of avocado slices which I never received even after asking about their whereabouts(we didn't want to wait for them considering we were already done with our meals so we didn't bother asking a third time for them). My husband got the panini breakfast meal and he thought it was delicious!! Overall wouldn't bother with the place a second time around.
(2)
D J M.

We were in a rush because we had to get somewhere. As we walked up to the place on a Sunday morning it was busy, filled with a lot of trendy young people. We ordered and the food was served very quickly and deliciously. The service was great and we will definitely return here.
(5)
Bob P.

I only found this place because I was rushed for time and Rubicon Deli wasn't open yet. I needed sandwiches for a day on the boat. I got 2 to go and didn't even peak in the bag as I ran off to the dock. What a great surprise to be overjoyed with a delicacy of a gourmet sandwich. REALLY GOOD. And 2 dollars less per sando than rubicon and they were BETTER. I'm now a convert.
(4)
Regina K.

Geat
(5)
Evan L.

I camped out here with my laptop and worked all day. Awesome experience overall. Great coffee (they serve Caffe Calabria coffee which is some of the best in San Diego IMO), great food (had breakfast and lunch - the ham sandwich is delicious), free wi-fi, dog friendly, tons of outdoor seating, great atmosphere, great service, they even had a spot to plug in my laptop. Not to mention just a block from the beach! I'll definitely come back again!
(5)
Russ F.

Delicious breakfast and very good coffee. The staff is very friendly. Seating is a bit lacking but the patio makes for a nice setting for breakfast. Go to their web site and check out their menu. Good stuff!
(4)
George Y.

I'm a local and love this place! Come here for the sandwiches and coffee all the time. My favorite is the turkey focaccia sandwich and salad. The environment here is great. I love being able to sit inside or on the large spacious patio outside. When I have my kids they also love coming here for the french toast and games.
(5)
CJ O.

Came on a thursday, early afternoon, and there were flies EVERYWHERE! Outside and inside, DISGUSTING. When ordering inside there were even a few flies buzzing around in the pastry displays, mmm appetizing. Ordered the omelette with bacon and it was subpar. While eating i also had to swat at flies every 2 seconds. If i could give it 0 stars i would, so ill say the star counts for service because the workers were nice "enough". But not enough for me to ever commit to returning here.
(1)
Andrew B.

The sandwiches, gelato, and coffee are tops here. The staff are really genuine.
(5)
Ralph L.

Hella Huevos Rancheros was a very good choice for breakfast. It was not hot, which was a bit of a disappointment, but the flavors were wonderful. The eggs were done perfectly, lots of peppers, tomatoes, and sauce. Addition of the homemade salsa was a great pop of flavor. They should invest in a juicer to make freshly squeezed. Coffee was average, but fine. Service was excellent.
(4)
Jessica S.

Had eggs benedict and a Vietnamese coffee. Food was good and service was great. I would definitely go again
(4)
Nam N.

Cute spot on Mission Blvd with a little patio seating to enjoy the rays while sipping on your caffeinated drinks :) I ordered their drip which was nice and smooth--not the least bit acidic. The cous and his boo each ordered an espresso drink---cafe mocha and a nonfat latte. They both enjoyed their drinks. I'd love to come back and try out some of the paninis as they sounded delish!
(4)
Carmen V.

Desperately looking for coffee in Mission Bay we found this quaint, modern looking coffee place that totally stands out from the crowd. Not only we were looking for the caffeine, but a place to have a nice panini without the fast-food feeling. Also, most important, finding an accessible coffee place in Mission Bay is not easy task, and here it was, Mono Cafe, with a great ramp and accessible restrooms for such a small place. Thanks for that, much appreciated for the disabled clientele. Now, about the coffee, we had a macchiatto and a latte, both great. The chicken panini and the prosciutto panini were generous in size and super tasty, so definitively we will come back. Next time, I will try the gelattos, and bring my sketch book to draw on the patio and just relax. Also, I liked the fact that the owner make you feel very comfortable, like if that is your place for coffee anytime.
(5)
Jera C.

The food is fresh and cooked deliciously! The staff is friendly. Really good coffee. My favorite is the Coconut French Toast! Definitely going back. ... highly recommended!
(5)
Jennifer A.

Being extremely picky about how smooth and non-bitter my shots of coffee are, we visited Cafe Mono after reading the reviews on Yelp. It was a delight to walk to this shop, have an Iced Mocha served to us while sitting in the sunshine on the patio while listening to an artist play and sing acoustic covers of the perfectly fitting songs. We also shared a egg and cheese bagel which was delicious, but if you're a coffee shop, my least concern is how the food is. We found the service to be very nice and friendly, our cashier even remembered us from the day before and insisted we take a punch card, but we were leaving town the next day. :(
(5)
Julie G.

Best cappuccino in Pacific Beach! Great breakfast burrito and lunch panini. The salsa is Amazing! Great beach atmosphere. Very friendly and excellent service.
(5)
Greg B.

This is my favorite coffee place. The owner is so nice and friendly and he makes a great espresso and you can sit outside and just enjoy relaxing. What else can you ask for. Highly recommended
(5)
Heidi G.

What confuses me is that it's a cute little place that makes good drinks, I don't know why there is never anyone there! The chai is the best in town, in my opinion! The outside seating it perfect for a nice sunny day :) Though I dont like the taste of Americanos (bleh) my boyfriend says they're done pretty well there. We usually just park in front in the 15 min spot or on the street somewhere but it's sort of hard to find street parking in that area.
(4)
Bradley S.

Walked up and noticed two cops in front so knew i was probably in a good shop. Fun (great hats!), small cafe. Visited there with my two year old daughter who enjoyed looking behind the counter. Staff: I appreciated the offer to know what they drink all day and to make me one (Cubano). They did a nice job of answering my questions about what to do at Mission Beach and who some good local players were to visit. Probably not worth complaining about Yelp reviews where everyone can hear, detracts from the funny hat vibe. Coffee: They get it right. I ordered a cubano, a vanilla latte and a drip to go. The cubano was great. Word was that the drip and latte were great as well. Rugala's. Order these. Got one of each. Best I've had outside of Texas hill-country. Chai: Sad to say I didn't get to try one of these. They were out of it when I went. Got to have your stock up. They made a valid attempt with a chai teabag concoction but the tea drinker was unimpressed and went to another shop down the boardwalk.
(3)
Dee C.

Stumbled upon this place after running down Mission Bay on Christmas Eve. New husband and wife owners have a great cafe. I loved my egg,veggie, avocado, and spinach wrap. The owner was sweet and he even squeezed me a fresh glass of oranges, above and beyond. My breakfast tasted homemade and can tell they use fresh ingredients. Cafe Mono also makes their own fresh salsa!! The menu is limited but I reckon you'd enjoy it for breakfast/lunch. As a cafe owner myself I tend to be very picky where i dine, I often look at things from a different perspective. Cafe Mono will do very well and I think the new ownership is just what it needed. I had a cappuccino, i can tell the espresso shot was pulled right and it even had latte art. They had a lovely older man playing the guitar outside signing a blues tempo, nice touch. Free wi-fi, small indoor seating but plenty of tables ousted on patio. Dog friendly and plenty of umbrellas and a outdoor heater. I'll be back on my next San Diego visit
(5)
John C.

I love this cafe. I am in mission beach all the time because some of my best friends live there and this is where I usually surf. There is no where good to eat in mission except for this place. The owners are always there making sure that the food and coffee is quality and that there customers are getting what they need. I have not had one food item that I did not like and they are always coming up with new dishes to serve. These guys are passionate and it really shows. I really enjoy the coffee, food, and ambiance of this small cafe and I think you will to.
(5)
Kelly F.

went out of our normal bubble and tried something new! I was really surprised by this little cafe on Mission blvd. They had a guy playing guitar outside, have great food and an amazing atmosphere.
(5)
Jessica H.

This place is awesome. The coffee here puts Starbucks to shame! I usually stick to my usual soy lattes when I go for coffee but instead got the "monkey mocha" (banana chocolatey yummness!). The verdict - I'm hooked! Anytime I know I will be in the area I make sure to put Monos on my to-do list. Looks like they have a lot of food options as well. And different milks to choose from (almond, soy, rice). Also can't beat the location. Park down the street and walk around the bay with your lovely mono drink. Or enjoy on their outdoor seating area. If you're lucky there will be a guy jamming out on the guitar - kool!
(5)
Archie R.

Best Mexican Mocha ever !! :D Loved the ambiance, the location. Not a big fan of the timings though.. wish it were open till later. But will keep coming here , every time I visit SD.
(5)
Henna A.

Food was bland, live music that sucked, they didn't do what we specified, and there were flies everywhere. Not worth coming back to. Waste of money.
(2)
B B.

Quaint little dog friendly outside cafe in the heart of Mission Beach. Their Lattes and crepe are very good and their prices are decent. Wish their were more dog friendly places like this.
(5)
Christopher V.

I am assuming that Cafe Mono doesn't have a sister location called Cafe Flu or Cafe Spina Bifida. Even if it did I would probably try both. I had a turkey panini, which was outstanding for its genre, and my dining partner had a Greek salad which was covered in olives, cubes of feta and other assorted loveliness. We both cooed through our lunches. This is a great place to stop for a sandwich or salad for lunch, or even a pastry or dessert in the middle of the day. I had to have a brownie on the way out, and at their suggestion and my assent they warmed it for me. Yum.
(4)
John B.

Great place for breakfast and a coffee. Mrs. B and I grabbed a bite here before our ocean adventure (mostly making fun of me trying to surf). The food tasted great, and everything was ready promptly. Also, the proximity to the ocean made the location really special.
(4)
J B.

Parking: Street parking may be difficult to find. Service: Very friendly with genuine greetings and smiles. Our cashier, who was also our server, barista and bus boy, was excellent! (Don't remember his name) My order: Wedge Waffles with no whipped cream and a large cappuccino. The BF ordered he Dawn Patrol Panini and OJ. Waffles were on the heavier side and came with fresh strawberries and was plated with a light strawberry drizzle. Oh and syrup on the side. The cappuccino was nicely presented with a cute heart. His order of the Dawn Patrol Panini was so yummy - yup, I took a few bites from it! The order was a half order and it was more than enough to feed one person. Very tasty though. Seating: Limited indoor seating and tons of outdoor seating. Tables with umbrellas are available, if you're quick to snag that spot. And regardless of where you sit, you'll spend some time shooing away flies. 3 out of 5 stars, due to parking and my tired arm from all that shooing.
(3)
Joy K.

The chicken salad was too salty and not flavorful. Would not go back.
(1)
Kat L.

This cafe was a couple blocks down from where I was staying while on holiday in San Diego. we took a walk down here one morning to pick up some coffee and pastry for a light breakfast before heading to the zoo. We were surprised that they have a pretty big menu. Wish we had more time to sit down and eat a full meal. The latte was perfectly crafted and the muffins were so delicious! We also picked up two perfectly ripped bananas. The staff was super friendly also. There was a guy playing some acoustic California rock tunes (you know Jack Johnson & Jason Mraz kind of stuff) outside, and from a poster seemed like a regular thing on Saturday mornings. They also had a bunch of board games to play if you're just hanging out with friends.
(5)
Nichole A.

stumbled upon this place while waiting for a table at another restaurant - it was fantastic! great food, cute atmosphere, delicious coffee. would absolutely return.
(5)
Haylie B.

So, I'm a bit of a coffee snob, I'll admit. I've been looking for a delicious place to post up to read, study, and buy beans. The deal... Service- AWESOME!!! Even when I only purchased a coffee and carrot/zucchini bread square, they constantly came by, filling up my water (but not annoying), and making sure we were all good. Coffee....DELICIOUS! I bought some beans (Ethiopian) for my daily french press at home and it's supurb. Location....mid Mission Bay, western facing, kinda noisy along the main drag...ear buds and music are def a must. Love it here!
(5)
Jennifer P.

I lived in PB for two years and drove by this place every day. I always ended up going to The Mission a block over. However, The Mission had a wait, so my friends & I decided to check out Cafe Mono. I was very impressed with the quality of the food. My friend got the acai bowl while I got the breakfast panini with ham. It was delicious! There isn't too many places to sit, but luckily there was a place for us to sit under the umbrellas outside (it was raining that morning!) My only complaints was that it was a little pricy. Still, if i could pick between The Mission and Cafe Mono, I would pick The Mission hands down.
(4)
Andrea L.

Great food, good ambiance, but absolutely packed--hard to even maneuver to a table whether inside or out.
(4)
Cara N.

a true local business in mission beach.. great place to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the lovely open patio, beach style.
(5)
G G.

What a great little casual place. Food was fab. The crew were incredibly friendly and professional. Just the perfect place for a meet n greet with some friends before the beach.
(4)
Rebecca F.

Love the location and the patio. Close to our house and a great atmosphere. On the downside, we went on Sunday for the first time while on a neighborhood walk to grab an iced coffee and an iced chai latte. The were both pretty gross. We brought them home with us (even though we had planned to sit and enjoy the patio) and tried to fix them but neither of us finished them . The chai latte that I had was extremely over-powering. Way over done on the spices and sweetness it made me gag. I came home and diluted it with almond milk which helped a little. We will stick to getting our coffees from Olive or Baked.
(2)
Dan S.

Best cup of coffee I've ever had! First time there, loved the presentation on top (you gotta see it) and great, friendly service. I only had time for coffee, but certainly going back to taste the food, which by the wonderful aroma I can tell will be delicious as well. Looking forward to going back...
(5)
Matthew H.

Cafe Mono is what local business' should be. Easy, delicious, and friendly. Their staff is always on point and friendly. The food is awesome! The coffee is great as well. Definitely try their breakfast burrito.
(5)
Wen L.

My first time here! The service and the sandwich is Great!
(5)
Cory F.

Went there on a yelp/entertainment book coupon suggestion. Food was top notch. Wife and I split the breakfast burrito and breakfast panini. More than enough for both of us. GREAT salsa to accompany both items. The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is the amazing amount of flies hanging around. Try a citronella candle or something. Great live music sat and sun morning too.
(4)
Cristina B.

I loved Cafe Mono! Went there for the first time yesterday and it was great! Cute girl behind the counter was super nice! I bought a coffee mug there and got a free cup of coffee with it. I had the Caprese Panini (which I have everywhere) and it was very good. We sat outside and the atmosphere was awesome. Overall a 5 star experience!!
(5)
Ronnie G.

Excellent service and delicious food. They're always nice and friendly and the quality of ingredients is really good.
(5)
B S.

Great local cafe with plenty of seating and friendly service. The owner is usually there and is a really nice guy.
(5)
Hypocritic A.

This place simply rocks. If you ever wonder why you should support a small business vice a large corporate business this is a perfect example nestled in the heart of Mission Beach. Great coffee, food, music, sun, and friendly customer service. Very glad this place is in my neighborhood and hope more home grown businesses like it pop it. Thank you!
(5)
Sara R.

This is a super cute, sunny little coffee shop just off Mission Bay. I went almost every day while visiting SD. When you stay, their coffee drinks come in those wonderfully huge bowl-like mugs that make you feel like you're allowed to hang out all day. The mexican mocha was my fav! Their breakfast selection is nice. Eggs are super fluffy, other ingredients are lively and fresh. My only skip would be the bagels, but I'm from NYC so might be a bagel snob.
(4)
Chrissy G.

Came in for lunch today and wanted to have a nice cafe lunch. I order the Acai bowl - the acai was melted and watered down when I got it. There was chunks of ice in it. There was plenty of fruit (strawberries, blueberries, coconut and bananas). But after two minutes in - wished I had ordered a sandwich. I also order a small chai tea latte, most of the cup was ice and barely had anything in it. Thought the food wasn't worth the price we paid for it. : (
(2)
Taylor C.

I go to this place almost every morning for my coffee fix. The owner is so nice and I love the small business feel of this cozy place. Haven't had the food yet, but I've heard great things. Support this local coffee shop- cafe mono is the best!
(5)
Dmitry K.

Came here because of the reviews, I was kinda bummed in the end. I got a waffle and it was on the dry side, for me and my girl I paid about $20, which is not a big deal for a full service local place, but when you ask a question and the person behind the counter keeps drinking a soda before answering your question, and leaving it open ended after all, it feels overpriced. I was not even going to bother giving a negative feedback, what really killed me is having to pay for a coffee refill, I mean seriously? $9 waffle, $9 wrap, $2 coffee and pay a dollar for a refill? I hope they read this and at least make refills free, c'mon, if McD's gives you free refills, I'm sure they can. There are much cheaper places in the area with much better food, one of my favorites is a place in PB, right next to the hotel in the pier
(3)
Joshua M.

I had what I believe to be the most delicious iced caramel latte humanly possible at Cafe Mono. I can't speak for anything else that the cafe offers, and I'm not in PB very often... but if I am and I am seeking a coffee treat this is where I'm headed.
(5)
Debbie G.

Love it, love it. Thank you so friendly,, busy place but worth the wait... Bagels and scones great... Be back soon...
(5)
Andrew C.

Great menu for a healthy breakfast. They also have terrific coffee. I had a latte and a cappuccino on two separate visits, and the egg and cheese on an everything bagel (which comes with 2 eggs!) on both visits. The service was excellent, and the place is dog friendly.
(5)
Shaina L.

Bummed that when we went the ktichen was closed, but the guy working made me a smoothie that more than surpassed my expectations! Love it when people are passionate about their jobs and that job is to give me food. Totally going again and recommend it to others!!
(5)
Simon H.

Best coffee in Mission Beach, that I've found. I love Peet's coffee and this is the closest I could find here. Everywhere else is no better than a Dennys or worse. Excellent service and nice pastries.
(5)
Myles P.

The food and coffee is not bad but the "new menu" just raised the prices. The staff was not friendly and were carrying on a conversation while I was trying to order. The gelato was not fresh, tasted like the inside of the fridge...if you know what I mean. Breakfast burrito was good though.
(2)
Amy M.

I received a message from new owner John who encouraged me to give them another shot. I've gotten messages from owners before who seem to reach out just in hopes of getting a better rating, but this didn't seem to be the case. I feel like John really did appreciate the feedback and wanted to make it better. It took me a while, but I did make it in last week and ordered my usual latte. It was fantastic! And, there weren't any cheesy decorations or kitsch. I was very pleased and look forward to going back in.
(4)
Jenny H.

Good coffee and cute place. Not much parking near by though- I stopped at a 15 min curb spot and picked up a medium roast drip coffee. Forgot to try it before adding cream but it was full of flavor and smooth after adding cream. There's a small shelf of books, games, and oil paints and pastels too! Plenty of outdoor seating and glass doors make interior feel open as well.
(4)
Joyce K.

Makes amazing lattes! After working in a coffee shop for 3 years, I'm kind of a coffee snob, but my standard mocha + add shot always comes out perfectly smooth, with just the right amount of velvety foam! I tend to like my hot drinks the temperature of.. uhh.. lava, pretty much. However, Cafe Mono's drinks come out more "perfectly ready to drink" which is a slight disappointment. :/ But whatever that's my own problem. Anyways, the service is nice here, the barista is excellent, the location is pretty sweet, and parking's not TOOOOO much of an issue... Definitely stop by for your morning latte. :) The food here is great too, I've had several things off the menu and really enjoyed them all. It's not too expensive either.
(5)
Carlton N.

When a neighborhood coffee shop changes owners, it can really suck - not with Cafe Mono! John has really improved the menu offerings, the coffee service and the neighborhood charm. The new Cafe Mono feels lived in.
(5)
Mat R.

San Diego needs more places like this. The coffee and food is as fresh as it gets. They keep a low inventory, thus ensuring that the beans are always perfect and everything is ground to order. The beans are locally sourced and roasted, which may not matter to many, but it is very telling of how much the new management cares about making this place a destination community coffee joint. They also have music on the weekends and various events throughout the year. Did I mention they also do latte art on every drink? It's the little things like that which make this place rad.
(5)
Diana M.

Seriously disappointed. They try to pass off their food as high quality but it's really not. Way overpriced for what you're actually getting. The acai bowl has no flavor, which they try to hide that by overdoing the coconut. The gelato is half-melted. The food is mediocre. Put a little effort into it and *maybe* it'll be worth the price.
(2)
Sean C.

This is a great little cafe in Mission Beach. I had the seared ahi panini, and that was delicious; you could tell that everything was very fresh. They have a great patio to sit and enjoy a nice sunny San Diego day by the beach.
(4)
Carmen Y.

Love this place. Every time I go, I like it more and more. Wonderful outdoor seating area with ocean breezes. Great, great coffee and warm, friendly staff. Their attention to detail is what really seems to set this little cafe apart. It seems like they have delicious food too (their soup selections seem amazing) but I've not yet ordered any food items.
(5)
Sacha M.

Lady Gaga had coffee @ cafe Mono this weekend. I was there enjoying a breakfast wrap and a hammerhead and Lady Gaga and her boyfriend showed up. Cool spot to begin but Lady Gaga makes it even cooler, right? Cafe Mono has changed ownership in the last year, so if you tried it before, you might want to try it again.
(4)
Kensie E.

I come here a lot, as I live in Mission Beach. I love the European vibe and the friendly employees who always remember me! They serve excellent coffee and I like to think I know good coffee! Their lattes are EXCEPTIONAL: great foam, perfect amount of flavor syrup, and top notch espresso. They are always happy to have you use their wifi for hours. Best coffee/wifi spot in Mission Beach.
(5)
Kelley W.

Cafe Mono became my home away from home a few months ago when I enrolled in an accounting class. Since math is definitely not one of my strong points, I needed to find a place where I could do homework with little distraction. With its quiet outdoor patio, Mono offered the perfect spot to sit in the sun and enjoy a cup of coffee while getting my work done. Although I don't drink coffee as much as I used to (it really is addicting!), I was quick to indulge in an iced vanilla latte more than once while visiting this little cafe. The coffee is strong and delicious; believe me when I say that more than one will have you bouncing off the walls. I also thoroughly enjoy the food here. My personal favorite is the turkey panini- which comes with your choice of potato chips or a balsamic tossed side salad. The panini is big enough to share or have for two meals so it's a pretty good bargain for 7 bucks. There are also many other delicious sounding items on their menu including: soup, salads, various deli sandwiches, and twelve different flavors of gelato. The staff at Mono are always friendly and welcoming. They ensure that everything is to your liking and are willing to do whatever they can if it's not. I appreciate the fact that they ask how my day is and call me by name now whenever I stop in. Although my class has since long and gone, I still frequent Cafe Mono when I want to enjoy a good cup of coffee and relax with a good book. Thank you Cafe Mono for your great drinks, food, and service, and for helping me get through my long and painful accounting class. I don't know what I would have done without you!
(5)
Emily R.

I love this place. My husband and I have been here twice now during our honeymoon, and both visits have been great. The service is friendly and excellent, and we had a great conversation with the guy manning the register today about our hometown. We had paninis both days - the ahi, chicken and caprese - and all were excellent. The bread had great flavor, the ingredients were fresh and the side salads were delicious. We also had a variety of smoothies - strawberry, strawberry-banana and mixed berry - and I would get any of the three again! Clearly made with fresh, real fruit, not syrups or mixes. Other than a few flies out on the patio, it was a perfect experience. The price is right too! I'd recommend Cafe Mono to anyone biking/walking around Sail Bay, visiting SD or any locals who haven't tried it yet - you won't regret it!
(5)
Chris K.

Love this place. Great atmosphere, great people, great food, and great coffee/tea. John V. and chef Luis have a genuine passion for their business and their customers. I eat and drink here almost every day and always leave happy. Fresh, quality ingredients and unique menu items make for awesome meals, and chef Luis is always coming up with new great flavors and ideas.
(5)
nick a.

The food here is great. The staff is really nice and it is a great atmosphere. Highly recommend
(5)
Lissa -.

Little cafe with an outdoor patio. Nice enough. Down the street from The Mission breakfast place.
(4)
Michelle C.

Good food, friendly service. Cute atmosphere
(4)
Kait F.

cute new hip place! Didn't have to wait in line and had a great latte! The beans were ground right in front of me before being pressed...Love that! and its a perfect drop by when going for a beautiful morning walk on the beach!
(5)
Jeanette P.

AMAZING!! (: I came today for the first time, I had an awesome cappuccino & a delicious chicken sandwhich! I must say, I am a coffee critic and the capp was so delicious! (did I mention the presentation was perfect?) Not only that, but the cafe was very clean & the workers were very nice & attentive. They also serve yummy pastries and gelato. Anyway, I know one of the owners Zach, and he is very nice guy!! You should definitely stop by and give it a try, you won't be disappointed! Tell Zach you read Jeanette from Peets' review....
(5)
Sonny M.

A bad start.....we live in Mission Beach and decided to try Mono Cafe after a few years of it being open. The good is once we got the food wifey and I agreed the Paninis were good. The bad it took 40 minutes at 1:30 PM! And this is with not many customers! Lots of Flies and not much shade they should really cover the entire patio, as it gets full summer sun.
(3)
Amanda D.

Fabulously european! So cute, so delish, and such great service! Really intriguingly amazing foods, had the mono plate and a really amazing cheese sandwich. I can't wait to try all the food! Everyone should come here by the way, because it's really awesome.
(5)
Debbie S.

Great little place. Good coffee and panini. Very good service. We stopped in for a quick bite and coffee and ate at their outdoor seating. It looked like there wasn't much seating indoors, but since it's San Diego, not much to worry about weather wise when eating outside and they have little fire pits near the tables to keep you toasty. The staff were all super nice. Would definitely go here again.
(5)
Apryl G.

Just got back from this lovely little cafe. Scrumptious gelato-I bought two small ones since I was feeling decadent and adventurous: Mixed Berry and Pineapple&Coconut. Oh my god yum! yummy yum yum. Also had a tasty chicken sandwich. Atmosphere is very cute, fresh and as one of my companions said "godlike clean". Service was very friendly, accommodating, and fun-I'm a sucker for exotic guys so I found the Lebanese owner(?) to be quite charming. Would like to check out another gelato flavor before we head back inland-most tasty!
(4)
Weezer G.

Contacted by the owner after my review, but he couldn't find the time to meet with me. I had proposed the meeting. Owner seems to be in denial about his manager(s).
(2)
Tim D.

Went here once after spending the previous night across the street at Sneak Joint, and the coffee here was excellent. Small, clean, and nice owner.
(4)
David H.

Best customer service since I can remember. I always get a mocha here, and the guy always makes me approve the drink by having me sip some off the top before he puts the lid on. I think it's awesome, and pretty funny when ur high... uhhh... errr... on life that is!! I still have yet to raid the bakery display.
(5)
Laurie G.

Excellent breakfast and cappuccino! Cappuccino was delicious and had beautifully artistic foam (heart and squiggles). They cheerfully customized the filling of my breakfast burrito. The house-made salsa was delicious and packs a punch! Indoor and outdoor seating. Stylish/modern decor - almost too elegant for MB!
(5)
Kayla W.

There is not one bad thing I could say about this place. I woke up early one morning thinking that we could go get coffee before heading out to the beach and everything was closed!! The owner of Mono saw us walking around looking for coffee so he opened his door and made us a fresh cup and a mocha. All the lights were off and is was way too early for them to open. He was so nice and the coffees were great! They have a really nice patio outside and at night you can get gelato and sit by the fire they have out front. I love this place because it has truly great coffee and also a relaxing atmosphere. Coffee shops usually only offer one or the other haha.
(5)
Rob B.

Service rocks here! The owners are very quick to take your order. Smoothies are great and so is the music! We went back for a 2nd smoothie after kicking on the beach.
(5)
Andrea M.

Strolled in for a delicious hazelnut latte which for some reason has become exceedingly hard to find......in greatness that is! However, my latte was brought over to me by a charming man carrying a spoonful of something that he put right in the center of my drink and claimed "that is the best part"....and it was. Absolutely magnificent. Next up...gelato!
(4)
Josh B.

Just left this place or the first time. Went there with a group my school and sampled a few different things. The burrito was awesome, the salsa was great, tree a bite of their waffle and it was delicious. I also had a glass of ice tea... I don't really like ice tea but I would go back here to have that again. Overall amazing place and super cool owner.
(5)
April J.

After reading reviews on this restaurant, I figured I would give it a try. OH boy, I'm glad my boyfriend and I did. We decided to go to this place the last day we were in San Diego, and their food and beverages were amazing AND FRESH! I order a banana nut bread, which was just made fresh and it was delightful. The person who baked it said he added cream cheese (i think) to give to extra flavor and to keep it moist. I also order a strawberry banana smoothie which was made fresh and so yummy. By boyfriend ordered their assiago (probably spelled wrong, but who cares) cheese bagel and their hot tea. We like it so much, we ordered a second time. Their cafe mocha was delicious and my bf ordered more tea. Even though this cafe is small, it has a very warming atmosphere. The owner was there and he was very nice and accommodating. We had a coupon for buy 1 get one free for an entree and even though we didn't order an entree he was nice enough to take some items off! I would recommend this cute little cafe to anyone looking to try new places.
(5)
Val O.

I give this cafe a solid five-star rating. Though I don't live in San Diego, I visited my daughter there this past holiday weekend and we had a very nice breakfast at Cafe Mono. The food was reasonably priced and delicious, and the coffee was excellent! Moreover, when we left the place, I absent mindedly left my handbag behind. The owner was very resourceful and found a recently dialed number on my cell phone and called my friend, who called my daughter's phone. Worked like a charm. Talk about great customer service! Will look forward to returning when I go back to visit San Diego!
(5)
Melanie H.

A bit expensive, but good. The gelato was good, as was the coffee.
(3)
Omar M.

Great food, delightful sweet melon, and a funny Russian owner. This place definitely has a South Beach casual outdoor vibe to it.
(4)
Kathryn R.

This place is glorious. Their iced and hot cappuccino's complete me and they are a fraction of the price at starbucks
(5)
Jason B.

Best latte in San Diego! The hummus sandwich is great too.
(5)
Greta A.

Best Latte - hands down!!
(5)
AnneMarie F.

We walk in and immediately start to sweat, turn on the air! Then we stand at the register unawknowledged for probably 4 minutes (doesn't sound like a lot but to stand and wait that long without getting so much as a "one minute" gesture is not okay). Then I order and throughout the ordering process I was asked to repeat it 5 times... 5 times? Really? To get a small vanilla freeze made with soy and add a shot of espresso? Well anyway they were rude and unfriendly while taking our order and when it was ready we delightly discovered that there was not onee thing correct about it. No shot in the coffee, no cream in the other, the bagel with cheese, egg, lettuce, tomato looked like it had literally been slapped together. There was no cheese and we were just ready to go. Instead of make a big deal about it we decided just to leave. We were really hungry and a little pressed for time so we figured leaving everything untouched was a strong enough statement. We ended up next door at The Rubicon Deli(check out my review for them! They rocked!) and while we were enjoying the delicious food the guy from next door walked in to say hello to what seemed to be an old friend. Awkward! I do give him manager points for approaching us to find out what was wrong and he did offer me a free drink so that was right of him but overall I wouldn't go back there.
(1)
SWEET JILLY P.

Ok I have been waiting FOREVER it seems for this place to open. I have a hair salon across the street and after 2:45pm there isn't any place to get an iced coffee or hot coffee or something to eat. At least not within lazy ass /quick walkin distance!!! And so they opened and I walked across the street as fast as my lazy behind would carry me-I ordered an iced vanilla latte. Oh I was hoping it would be a great drink and not all watery. The super friendly fella makes its -hands it over - i say thanks and walk out and then put my straw in and go for a sip.YIPPPPEEE it's great!!! Ive been waiting for 4 years for a place like this to open. I love the turkey sandwich as well. And they often will walk my order over to me. They are very friendly. Welcome to the hood Cafe Mono.
(5)
Tulani K.

Gelato! Delicious, rich, creamy, flavorful and served with a smile. Firepit out front...what more could you want? Apparently, they serve sandwiches, salads, coffee, smoothies and other items. We went strictly for dessert and were very, very happy.
(4)
Mario M.

Finally a Great place to have a coffee in PB.....Amazing sandwiches and the soups are spectacular....Zach and Co. are awesome!!
(5)
David L.

Nondescript but coffee is espressos are pretty good. Mostly outdoor seating.
(5)
Alex G.

Maybe the cleanest bathroom in all of san diego. probably because it is new. it's not a coffee place but it has pretty good coffee. food is delicious. pretty cheap. Has gelato which is pretty solid. service is polite and helpful. two thumbs up for the food and three thumbs up for not having pee on the toilet seat like every other beach establishment.
(4)
Christina A.

Cafe Mono, open less than a week as of this writing, is a cute mod little joint with a modest but tempting European/Middle Eastern menu. A selection of hot and cold beverages is complemented by French pastries, Italian gelatos and a handful of soup, salads and sandwiches. A charming place to whittle away part of your morning or afternoon, Cafe Mono does not offer overwhelming choices, but rather is happy to focus on a limited selection of satisfying palate pleasers.
(4)
Huong L.

We walked here from our hotel and it was a nice little place to have breakfast. The waitress didn't seem like she was having a good morning but i guess everyone has their days. I had an omelette, potatoes, and toast, very filling. My bf asked for some condiments and after he put some more tip in the jar, i guess her day got a lot better and she seemed very friendly. We enjoyed our breakfast outside and it was really nice.I tried the iced latte that everyone recommended and didn't like it too much. I think i needed to add a flavoring to it cause it didn't have much taste so i put some splenda in it. I would recommend others to come here.
(4)
Matt S.

It took chutzpah opening a cafe almost adjacent to The Mission, but I think Mono's gonna do just fine. Food and drink may not be five stars across the board, but it's very solid - and the stylish "vision" is softened by uniformly friendly, welcoming service. I generally avoid "Euro cafes" cuz they can lean pretentious and expensive, but popped in here eight or nine times over the past week, while on vacation. I couldnt help it. The wi-fi. Killer gelato. Lunch, breakfast. Smoothies. Coffee prices are especially reasonable. It's not perfect (fresh fruit juices run $5-7 and there's really not a great view), yet it's an unusually inviting, intimate place to surf or people watch and savor a fun dessert and coffee. Maybe what I like most about Cafe Mono is that somebody obviously cares. About cleanliness and the way the place looks. Drink presentation. A few unique ingredients here and there. Most of all, they care about service. They act like it's your cafe - not theirs - and that they genuinely want you to come back. That may not sound like much, but in a tired beach strip where entrenched outfits too often scrape by, it's actually a pretty big deal, and segregates Cafe Mono from much of the competition.
(5)
Pete R.

Wow, Mission Beach is coming along! Great service, wonderful food at a fair price, We had the lunch special $6 it was gourmet, The soup was the best I've ever had! We will be back!!
(5)

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Address : 3833 Mission Blvd
San Diego, CA, 92109
Phone (858) 539-0039
Website https://www.theswellcafe.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :7:00 am - 4:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
Good for Working : No

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The Swell Cafe

3833 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA, 92109

The Swell Cafe Menu

Light Bites

Salads

Acai - The Brazilian Superfruit

Panini

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Swell Cafe

Light Bites

Salads

Acai - The Brazilian Superfruit

Panini

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