San Diego's Best Sips for National Coffee Day on September 20th
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| Draft Espresso Martini at The Duck Dive (courtesy photo) |
National Coffee Day is brewing on September 20th, and San Diego is overflowing with ways to sip, savor, and celebrate. From minimalist roasters pouring the perfect espresso to bars shaking up bold coffee-infused cocktails, the city’s buzzing with options that go far beyond your everyday cup of joe. Whether you take it neat, foamy, spiked, or sweet, here’s your ultimate caffeinated guide to the day.
Minimalist in design, maximalist in flavor. Mission Valley’s OX Coffee roasts its beans in-house, crafting every cup into a story of flavor, sustainability, and community. Sip on classics like rich doppios and silky macchiatos, or branch out with inventive sips like the OX CB Vanilla Frappe and Ice Cream Affogato. More than just a café, OX is a community hub - offering coffee education programs that take you from casual sipper to confident aficionado.
Head to one of San Diego’s newest restaurants Fonda del Barrio, featuring ancestral Mexican cuisine in the Barrio Logan cultural district. Fonda serves exclusively café de olla, a traditional Mexican coffee made in an olla de barro – or clay pot – and spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and star anise, and sweetened with piloncillo. The restaurant is open six days a week from Tuesday - Sunday beginning at 4:00 p.m. Reservations can now be made via OpenTable here.
Think your coffee order’s too basic? Step inside the cocktail bar at Louisiana Purchase in North Park. Their signature Chai Me Up takes New Orleans–style coffee on a spirited detour, mixing tequila reposado, coffee liqueur, cold brew, chai cinnamon syrup, orgeat, cacao and walnut bitters. Bold, spiced, and unforgettable - it’s coffee with a sultry, boozy twist.
For a splash of beachy vibes and coffee-infused cocktails, The Duck Dive in Pacific Beach is your go-to. Their Cold Brew Martini combines Layback Vodka, Tahitian vanilla, Mario’s Hard Espresso, and Dropkick Cold Brew, delivering a refreshing twist on a classic. Soak up the stunning oceanfront views while you sip on this perfect beachside treat.
Coffee and bagels, but make it a San Diego mainstay. Spill The Beans is where scratch-made California-style bagels meet bold, organic coffee roasted by Dropkick Brewing. Their inventive cream cheeses take bagel pairings to a whole new level, while coffee lovers can savor everything from silky lattes to house favorites like the La Vida Mocha- a rich espresso drink with milk, dark, and Aztec chocolate. And for those always on the move, their cheekily named Pot Head Cold Brew cans let you keep the buzz going anytime, anywhere.
Breakfast Republic is no stranger to shaking up the morning routine, and their coffee creations are no exception. On National Coffee Day, you can sip bottomless Café de la Olla - a warm, spiced Mexican favorite infused with cinnamon and piloncillo - or go all in with the Big Boozy Brew Shot, blending espresso vodka, a fresh-pulled shot, and Irish cream. Morning drinks have never been this fun, with beans brewed from Ox Coffee!
If your idea of bliss is a cozy café filled with the aroma of fresh French pastries, we recommend having a cup of coffee in Arely’s French Bakery. Sip on their signature House Drip or indulge in a fragrant Honey Lavender Latte paired with an authentic French breakfast. Don’t miss their decadent Mocha Mousse Cake, a treat that feels straight out of Paris. Nestled in Clermont Square with both indoor and outdoor seating, Arely’s is the perfect place to start your day with a little joie de vivre.
Whether you’re craving a morning pick-me-up, an afternoon indulgence, or a coastal coffee-inspired cocktail, San Diego’s buzzing with ways to celebrate National Coffee Day.
