Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

Cafe · Chula Vista

Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

Cafe · Chula Vista

1

310 3rd Ave UNIT A5, Chula Vista, CA 91910

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Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters by null

Highlights

This charming Chula Vista coffee shop is the perfect spot for cozy laptop sessions, serving up smooth brews and a relaxed vibe, all amid friendly service.  

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310 3rd Ave UNIT A5, Chula Vista, CA 91910 Get directions

darkhorsecoffeeroasters.com

$1–10

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310 3rd Ave UNIT A5, Chula Vista, CA 91910 Get directions

+1 619 600 0303
darkhorsecoffeeroasters.com

$1–10

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wifi

Last updated

Jul 5, 2025

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"Dark Horse Coffee Roasters will open a new coffee bar in Chula Vista’s Park Plaza at the Village, where pints of Mutual Friend ice cream will also be available." - Candice Woo

Dark Horse Bringing Coffee and Ice Cream to South Park and Chula Vista - Eater San Diego
View Postcard for Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

Pooja Jeevagan

Google
Cute little shop with you plenty of seating place in Chula Vista downtown. Limited menu but well made coffee and selection of food. Usually crowded over weekend with students and professionals catching up on work. The music is nice for backgrounds and rest rooms well maintained. A definite visit almost every weekend for us over the months!

diego witkowski

Google
Staff is great at their job and goes above and beyond for their customers. Come down a coffee then grind a work project here. Or you can have a semi quiet yap sesh with a friend. Cannot go wrong with either. Overall neat gem in a charming neighborhood of Chula

I C

Google
This place is great. * Super chill and relaxed vibes. There is plenty of space to sit and be on your laptop. The music isnt over bearing and it seems very chill on a Sunday afternoon. The coffee is smooth and delicious. The staff is friendly and inviting. I thought it was closed, but it is open, guys! Hidden in the corner of 3rd Avenue in Chula Vista. I will definitely come back often! My coffee is the Champ with 2 shots( equals 4).

Margarita Guzman

Google
I just visited Darl Horse in Chula Vista today and I wanted to give it another try. I had been waiting for this location to open a very very long time ago and was super excited. Unfortunately I had the same bad experience again. It's this specific location. Every time I've gone it just feels unwelcoming. The staff doesn't acknowledge you, at least a hi, welcome. I was standing waiting to be helped when finally the cashier comes back and doesn't say oh thanks for waiting, how can I help you. She wasn't rude but also not very nice. She was serious and just looked annoyed. We ordered coffee and conchas and got our stuff to go. It just feels like there is no connection going on between the staff and customers. By far our most favorite and welcoming location is the one on Adams, we love it there and wished we lived closer to it.

Ana Quiroz

Google
Love Dark Horse and was excited they were opening a spot in Chula Vista. Food and drinks are great, pretty large space with plenty of seating. For those looking to work there on their laptops, be warned - wifi goes down often and the staff is really unhelpful about it. I asked them to try restarting the router to see if that would help and they were unwilling to try. Said there was nothing they could do and that it might come back or it might not. I'd love to come to this space more often and support their business, but the wifi issue needs to be fixed. Hopefully they do something about it!

robert

Google
This is a nice little coffee shop that recently opened up near me. The coffee is good and the Breakfast sandwich a little expensive but it was worth it as it tasted great. Got a Cinnamon Roll which was great but they can't warm up pastries which is a down side. All and all this place is pretty good.

Nina Handy

Google
There are a lot of coffee shops in Chula Vista, especially on third, but Dark Horse is a top contender. From service to drink selection, they are top notch on every level. Definitely get the maple cold foam on any iced drink while you can!!

Victor Fer

Google
Enjoying some coffee in the new spot in the Chula Vista Village. Dark Horse Coffee Roast is located on the corner of 3rd Ave and F st. Very nice cup of joe here cold or hot in morning or afternoon, come early they close at 4pm. I like the vibe here good music and Wi-Fi. Many People studying here with laptops etc

Michelle P.

Yelp
* spacious inside area * great customer service *Great coffee options This was my first time here and I loved it. I had a specialty coffee made to perfection! The bathrooms were clean. Not too loud great to have conversations with friends or study and enjoy some coffee. They have a cafe de la holla. Must try it if in the neighborhood.

Josue P.

Yelp
I like that it's open at 7am, tons of parking, and the place looked clean. The merch also caught my eye. We came here and had their 16 0z "Cafe de Olla" and " La Morena". Both very good. We also had their bagels( tasted like good quality) and cream cheese. Also good customer service. We enjoyed the place. Will come back again. It was our first time.

Maynard O.

Yelp
I was looking for a place to study that's not too busy on a Saturday and Dark Horse was perfect. It had plenty of tables and chairs available for 1pm on a Saturday. I ordered an iced salted maple with oat milk and two bagels with cream cheese. Their bagels are fire and they give a very generous portion of cream cheese. So much that it reminded me of New York bagels. Everything bagel and the rosemary bagel were fire and so was the drink. It was nice and quiet and a perfect place to study or work. The WiFi speeds are in my picture and gets the job done since I'm not streaming or anything. Too bad they closed at 3 that day (but they usually close at 4 everyday). Imma come back here just for the chill coffee vibes.

Cyn K.

Yelp
Overview: Nice service, lacking flavor, disappointing ---- After a night of no sleep, I wanted to get a quick caffeine fix. There's a wide variety of options, including seasonal items! All of the drinks sounded great so I was excited to try something new, but I was let down by the lack of flavor. ---- Salted Maple 12oz, hot $5.50: - Sadly, no maple flavor at all - No salted flavor either - Tasted like a regular latte - Pros: very creamy; hot without burning your tongue Cold foam is $1.50 extra ---- Service: - Friendly, quick, and attentive - Answered questions I had about their menu - Gave me time when I was still deciding Atmosphere: - Cool decor and mural - Bathroom available - Wheelchair accessible - Spacious and plenty of seating - Cart with stirrers, napkins, lids, sweetener, and trash can Other notes: - Open everyday from 7 AM - 4 PM - Desserts available: vegan donuts, conchas, cake, sweet loaf - NO prices listed for desserts or specials drinks - Mugs, clothing apparel, and beans also available for purchase - Free parking garage located a block away ---- Overall: Quick and affordable BUT lacking in flavor, I will not be coming back

Danielle S.

Yelp
I can't believe I forgot to review Dark Horse when we first visited in October, we're already planning a trip back to try their holiday flavors. They have a wide array of drink options with seasonal specialties. The cups are also seasonal and match the vibe. There is a nearby parking garage that is free and easily accessible :)

Robert A.

Yelp
I'm picky when it comes to coffee. So many places taste good once but then the next time you visit it's taste totally different. I've been coming to Dark horse regularly for over and year and no matter who makes your coffee it's going to taste great. I've even visited other locations and have been happy to find the familiar taste I've come to love. Also the staff is some of the best around! I don't know what their getting paid but it's not enough! They make everyone feel like a friend and have become a staple on Chula Vista.

Lenra E.

Yelp
Just popped in during an early morning walk in downtown Chula. I ordered their latte, came with a beautiful foam art. Tasted great, fresh and just enough sweetness. Their bfast sandwich in a brioche bun is so good. 5 star, will come back again!

Alex M.

Yelp
Was looking for a coffee near the area and this place caught my attention because of the name. As soon as I walked in, I found it very cute and welcoming. The cashier and the barista were very helpful and nice. I ordered the cafe de olla with almond milk and it is so flavorful and amazing. A little sweeter than I would prefer it but it still tasted amazing. My husband got their matcha latte with oat milk and he absolutely loved it. Would definitely recommend this place. I will for sure be back.

Anthony T.

Yelp
Came here to study and I've been to different locations of dark horse coffee roasters and enjoy this one. Coffee is strong and staff is nice. I got the salted caramel nitro cold brew and didn't like the after taste of the salted caramel syrup and they were happy to swap it to a regular nitro for me. They don't have a caramel drizzle because everything is apparently vegan. Plenty of seating and noise level is great for my preference. Will definitely be coming back.

MiLinda S.

Yelp
The shop has the Best baristas ever, such good coffee and a cute cafe area to sit and hangout

Rudi T.

Yelp
Great coffee in downtown Chula Vista. I always grab a coffee when I'm visiting the parents. Vibes are great and the workers are always friendly.

Bernadette T.

Yelp
Love Dark Horse! Great quality coffee, and nice location on Third Ave in CV. It seems like a great study/work spot and I saw lots of people at tables doing so. No line to order on a Saturday morning. We ordered an iced americano - great flavor and balance, super smooth and drinkable! And we also ordered a matcha with oat - very tasty and hit the spot, perfect amount of sweetness! Overall a great place for a quick cup of coffee in Chula Vista :)

Arleen V.

Yelp
Always great service and great coffee ! I recommend their Salted Maple iced or hot. Hot does taste better!

Patricia H.

Yelp
This Dark Horse is so close to our house! We love coming here. Everyone is so friendly, and the drinks are always great. We love the rosemary bagel :)

Aly Q.

Yelp
4/5 because parking can be a hassle sometimes. Service is great and everyone is very friendly. The menu is simple and to the point- doesn't leave you lingering. Their espressos are strong and I love getting the matcha! Currently have a caramel and salted caramel latte that I want to try next. They have a nice seating area inside for studying or doing a work from home. The location is right in the heart of downtown Chula Vista. Parking can be a hassle but I think it's worth it. The coffee shop also offers pastries and delicious breakfast sandwiches! Closing time is at 4PM daily.

Sky S.

Yelp
Chill spot with Great coffee Pros: - Great tasting coffee - friendly employee's - Chill atmosphere - Coffee beans (specifically the dark roast) taste really good - plenty of customizable options for each drink - lots of variety of drinks Cons: - Limited Food options if that's your preference - Coffee beans come in 12oz bags with no options for bigger sizes, a shame because their coffee beans are really good. Overall i highly recommend this place for anyone that likes a good coffee spot while chilling or just wants something different.

Jennifer S.

Yelp
We stopped by here for the Taste of Third event at 4pm. Upon entering the place, it smelled delicious, possibly like flavored coffee. I have always wanted to try this place and this was the perfect opportunity to do so! The name and decor drew me in. They did not offer donuts as indicated but they did have a coffee ice cream available. We went to eat and drink first then came back for dessert. We arrived at 7pm and the coffee ice cream was gone. There was a Huapia Pie: coconut Oreo blend left and it was DELICIOUS! Mutual Friend ice cream was the brand. I want to go back just to eat that again.

R T.

Yelp
This place was awesome, love the decor! Ambiance had a nice clean and modern hip vibe! Love the coffee even more ! so smooth and delicious, nothing like an awesome coffee with friendly professional staff! will come again!

Sally R.

Yelp
Amazing coffee & amazing food! The ambiance is great and the staff are always very friendly.

Sandra P.

Yelp
Nice to have a dark horse nearby instead of having to drive to north park. Thank you for choosing to be our neighbor. They have water available complimentary. Very clean place. They allowed my dog to be indoors. Will be back. I highly recommend the salted maple latte yum.

Eric S.

Yelp
This is my favorite coffee shop to work at.. From the moment I step through the aromatic threshold, the staff's uncanny ability to anticipate my coffee cravings elevates customer service to an art form. They've turned the act of ordering coffee into a seamless ballet of precision. The ambiance at Dark Horse is an invitation to productivity, wrapped in a warm embrace. Picture the perfect blend of cozy charm and the rich scent of freshly brewed coffee - it's an atmosphere that transcends the ordinary.

James V.

Yelp
Great addition to downtown Chula Vista. Large space with indoor seating and outdoor seating nearby. Fair pricing. Focused menu with a variety of options - I enjoyed my iced champ drink with decaf espresso. Hit the spot after lunch on a sunny day. Service was prompt. Great decor!

Cassandra H.

Yelp
Dark Horse doesn't disappoint. If you are a coffee lover who doesn't like the super sweet drinks this is the spot for you. I had the iced matcha with vanilla and oat milk. DELICIOUS. My friends even loved their coffees. So happy they opened a location in Chula Vista.

Tiffany P.

Yelp
Simple coffee shop with a limited coffee/tea menu and some simple breakfast items like donuts. The shop itself looks spacious with a seating area on one side, a few steps that lead you to some merch for sale and the order/pick up counter. A lot of people come here to study/work and socialize. In my opinion, the seating area is a little uncomfortable to be sitting at for long periods of time, so you may want to consider studying/working elsewhere. Nonetheless, the quaint coffee shop definitely fits in with the "Chula Vista third avenue" vibe.

Genesis L.

Yelp
Update: The worker was kind enough to come and explain herself and apologize. I appreciate the apology and will be returning, thank you for addressing the issue rather than dismissing it. I appreciate it. I've been to dark horse in Chula Vista many times because it has a great ambiance for working, many tables and connections. I came here with two of my friends and we were getting settled in to do homework trying to put together a table since all the larger ones were taken. My first negative interaction with the employee, was when I kindly asked if she could give me $1 change in quarters to pay the meter. In a rude way she replied "yeah, if you buy something", so I did, even though I was already planning on buying something after I got settled in and payed for my meter. That response is okay, even "no" is okay if it's said nicely. Nonetheless, My friend then purchased something for herself and when she picks up her drink the other employee asks with an attitude " is your other friend going to buy something? Because we like to reserve our seating for people who are actually going to buy something from us" like GUUUUUUUURL, we can't get settled in first? Not to mention 2/3 of us had already bought something. With that said it's not that she said that it's the way you say it..... Don't plan on coming back again. We're going to checkout Mujer Divina hopefully they know better about customer service. ITS ABOUT DELIVERING THE MESSAGE WITH POLITENESS.

Trina I.

Yelp
Love that there's a Dark Horse in Chula Vista now! The coffee has great flavor & they are accommodating with their milk options. The inside of this location is very clean with a cute layout as well as a beautiful mural. Coffee came out quickly & service was very friendly. Definitely my new go-to coffee spot in the area

Joe L.

Yelp
Really delicious coffee. Service was a bit "off," but not terrible. Very reasonable prices, plus ultra-clean restroom. Ambiance was just right.

Odette C.

Yelp
The best baristas in Chula Vista! Grateful for Dark Horse being part of our community. I come in here a few times a week and appreciate the service, delicious beverages and overall feel good experience.

Rebecca Y.

Yelp
This place is a ten minute walk from my office and it's amazing! Latte was made perfectly, and loved my breakfast sandwich. Really fresh well baked brioche bun, love the tanginess from the arugula, just a great breakfast. Service was friendly too. Lots of people in there studying or reading, had a good relaxing time.

Lola Z.

Yelp
Nice spot. Super friendly staff. The drinks were well made. Plenty of tables and outlets for your laptop. The music was good. Super clean and easy parking. Will be back!

Shannon Y.

Yelp
super fast and friendly service! baristas were on top of it, and made my drinks seconds after ordering. they also helped me picked out what i wanted to drink my first time there! big fan of the holiday drinks, but i'll keep going back!

Julee V.

Yelp
I love Dark Horse! All the employees are such great human beings. Always good vibes, great coffee and great company. Shoutout to Maritza awesome sauce manager (:

Kathleen M.

Yelp
Neighborhood vibe. Coffee delicious. No loud music. Very friendly staff!!! I love the iced mocha!

Shaina H.

Yelp
Very spacious location and great coffee! Looks like a good study spot and plenty of tables around. Also, there's plenty of parking nearby (street or structure). This location is on a corner in downtown Chula Vista.

Jack M.

Yelp
I enjoyed a very nice Cortado and an okay cinnamon roll from this new Dark Horse in Chula Vista. The Cortado was very well made by one of their expert baristas. It was smooth and rich and was made a thin cream on top, not a froth, the way it should be. Thank you! The Vegan Cinnamon Roll was hard for some reason. I asked them to warm it up, but that only lasted a little. It an out sourced roll, but they some plan on having available their scrumptious donuts that they offer at their other locations. Very good service and a lot of inside seating is avaliable.

Ezra C.

Yelp
Mid mid mid - mid cold brew for sure! Break fast muffin is mid. The spot is super chill and great place to meet and get work done.

Karynne E.

Yelp
Food: we ordered a breakfast sandwich and it was okay. 3/5. Good size but not flavorful and a little dry. The coffee was better, a 4/5 for me. Service: I heard someone called out so she was busy that Saturday morning, but luckily it didn't affect us since we got there before a big rush came in. Ambiance: Quiet. Has free parking in the structure behind it and street parking available. Plenty of seating to sit back and relax, catch up with friends, and even study or do computer work with outlets. The restroom is clean too. They have mercy available and I bought a brown mug which was perfect!!!

Amanda R.

Yelp
Coffee wasn't that great for the price. The breakfast sandwich tasted like a McDonald's sandwich that is over priced

Fabián P.

Yelp
Coffee and food is really good. Great place to work or study. Lots of tables and outlets to charge phone and laptops.

Christina X.

Yelp
Place is clean and neat. My husband got the Nitro cold brew which he thinks wasn't as good as startbucks. My cappuccino was decent. We came here about 30 mins before they close on Saturday and there weren't that many ppl in line so service was quick. Decent place to hang out. I believe they have free WiFi as I see other using browsing on their laptop.

Steph V.

Yelp
I enjoy their iced lattes, which I've sampled in this order: La Morena, salted maple, and caramel. A curious observation though; they all taste the same to me. Maybe their syrups are really mild in flavor or my tastebuds are off bc I can't detect a difference. Regardless I'll be back for another iced latte served with friendly and fast service.

Maria C.

Yelp
Delicious coffee and delicious food! Coming from Los Angeles, I thought I had tried good coffee! Now this is amazing coffee!

Ed M.

Yelp
DH is starting to expand over town. I was surprised to find this on a coffee search in the Southern part of town during a coffee hunt on a Sunday AM. There is extended parking down the road (look for the parking sign) on a side lot that has a parking garage. This is near a gym so parking on the street was full near this coffee shop. I went with a cold brew and liked it. I had an everything bagel and wasn't such a fan (tasted a bit on the stale side). For a bagel and coffee inside the shop I was charged $7.50. Not sure if I saw right but if it was to go I thought I saw the charge was close to double (I looked at the initial price charged on the register). Then again the cashier could've just pressed a wrong button? The shop itself was your typical DH coffee shop with lots of wooden interior, seating was decent, seemed like a good hang out.

Diane L.

Yelp
The coffee was so yummy, I also had an everything bagel with cream cheese this was yummy too. Nice break from starbucks. Would be nice if they opened a location with a drive thru, sometimes it's hard to find parking on 3rd ave.

Ash L.

Yelp
I was really excited to try dark horse but was unfortunately left disappointed. The coffee shop itself was very cool and decorated to their aesthetic. The baristas were also very friendly. It was just the drinks that were a no for me. I had a matcha that tasted very milky and my sister had a mocha which tasted bitter. I do hear a lot of people enjoy their coffee, but it's just not for me:(

Tiffany S.

Yelp
I think Dark Horse Chula Vista has a secret menu item: a cafe de olla latte. It's a subtly sweet twist on the classic, featuring espresso blended with steamed milk and infused with cinnamon, piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar), and a hint of clove. It's not on the menu but it's delicious, so ask your barista!

Kirina C.

Yelp
Came on a Friday morning around 8:30 AM. I actually walked by it due to the minimal signage and almost got distracted by the Mmm...Cake shop next door. Within 5 minutes of me ordering the place was packed. It is nice and spacious with plenty of seating. I'm usually not a fan of vegan pastries, but the cinnamon roll was surprisingly delicious. I ordered one of their new breakfast sandos with eggs, havarti cheese, bacon, arugula, and chipotle aioli on a brioche bun and it was excellent-definitely would order again. My solo espresso had a gorgeous crema and wonderful slightly bitter but toasted finish. Overall a solid first visit.

Kaley N.

Yelp
I love this coffee shop to work in. The music is quite enough where I can still go on meetings, but loud enough that it's a relaxing ambience. The only thing that I wish they had is unsweetened Matcha. I hate super sweet drinks and the Matcha they serve is pre-sweetened. And if there's more than 3 people using laptops on Dark Horse's WiFi then it gets super slow

Kay L.

Yelp
Took the recommendation of ordering the vanilla latte and boy was it yummy! I'm not a coffee lover, and drink coffee on occasion, so don't take my word for it. I do think their homemade vanilla does make a difference and I can taste it!! Hubby said the coffee wasn't strong enough, but I was happy with it. He's a serious coffee drinker.