Pappalecco

Such a cozy little spot, I love coming here! I had their salad and was honestly surprised by how good it was. Super fresh greens, the dressing was creamy but not heavy, and the mix of textures (cherry tomatoes, nuts, dried fruit, warm bread) just hit the spot. You can tell they care about the details. And the cappuccino? So foamy and comforting — exactly what I needed. I could’ve sat there for hours. It’s one of those places that just makes you feel good. Can’t wait to come back.

During our San Diego trip, we visited Pappalecco gelato, which was quite enjoyable. While I have certainly tasted superior gelato, it had been some time since my last experience, making this a welcome treat. I recommend the coffee and pistachio flavors. Gelato is always a delightful option, and this establishment is worth considering if you are in the vicinity. My overall rating is four out of five stars. And remember, it is always better when you share.

This is a pretty cool Italian shop for coffee and gelato. I would definitely want to go back there and try the other variety. Must visit.

Best affogato! Honestly it is all good though. We stop here as often as we can.

Our go-to coffee shop in Little Italy! The coffee, food, and gelato are always delicious, making it a staple whenever we’re in the area. Highly recommend the breakfast croissants—they’re perfectly flaky and satisfying. And if you’re in the mood for something sweet, their signature Pappalecco gelato flavor is a must-try! The best part? The warm and welcoming atmosphere. The owner, Francesco, is an absolute gem, always there to greet you with a cheerful “ciao” and a smile. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel like family. Definitely a spot worth visiting!

Love this cafe!! Located in Little Italy it's a must for some Italian coffee and gelato. The almond Cornetto was amazing!!! It was just like they made them in Italy! They have gelato and panini. We also tried the prosciutto panino. They serve Nutella and lemon crostate, so authentic! Small quaint Cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Friendly service, will definitely be returning to try more!

i got the ham, cheese & egg croissant and it was one of the best i’ve ever had, no exaggeration! the lavender latte was delicious as well. also, the staff is so kind and personable & the food came out lightning fast. every time i return to san diego i’ll be sure to come here

I recently visited Pappalecco and it’s one of the best coffee shops in the town. It is warm and inviting atmosphere. The interior is beautifully decorated with cozy seating and modern lighting. They also have a charming outdoor seating area, which is ideal for enjoying a cup of coffee on a sunny day. The coffee is very delicious and fresh. I ordered Cappuccino. Really enjoyed the cup of coffee. The barista is very friendly and even offered suggestions. Their bakery items are equally impressive. I tried the almond croissant and nutella muffin both of which were fresh, moist and delicious. If you’re looking for a cozy coffee shop with delicious coffee drinks, food items, pastries, and great cozy atmosphere , Pappalecco is the place to go.

Amazing!! Great gelato The pistachio is their top seller! Very good Great service and they have other items like muffins and coffee and other baked items. I highly recommend.

Awww Pappalecco :/ Mind you, I love gelato and I have loved their gelato for many years, finding refuge in their San Diego locations whether it was for a post therapy treat or a casual study sesh during grad school. It saddens me to have this opinion of a place that had once felt so special and been there for someone who yearns for a taste and feel for the European lifestyle. But Pappalecco isn't what it used to be. At the little italy location, I found the service to still be kind and welcoming, asking my name in a friendly way. But the place itself felt unmaintained and old. It lost that sparkle amidst the messy unkept bathroom and messy floors. And what made it worst was that the price of the gelato has continues to go up (I know, economics) the size of the scoops have gotten WAY smaller and the quality way down. If the price went up but the scoops maintained their integrity, i wouldn't have been so disappointed. But that wasn't the case. What is the case is that it just doesn't feel like there isn't enough care and love being put into it as it used to. And to wrap it all up for me all of this was going down while the owner was sitting in one of the tables deep into his laptop. Perhaps there is care and this is just the story of San Diego business in this current economy and it's drained the love behind the concept of Pappalecco. But a suggestion from a long time patron, don't lose sight of the other important factors, don't lose sight of the customer experience. And please give me a reason to come back.

We were staying at a Airbnb two blocks away so always passed by Pappalecco. The girl at the counter had an attitude and must've been having a rough day. I ordered two caprese paninis to go about $14..75 each. I opted for printed receipt on screen. She just walked away with no thanks or thank you. I had to reach over the counter and pull the receipt myself. Maybe she was pissed I didn't leave a tip for to go but I did give a $1 haha. The order took about 10 minutes and she wasn't even the one who brought out the order. As far as the panini, it was ok. There wasn't much pesto on it and could've been Indoor and outdoor seating Cash/card accepted. The service is what will keep me from coming back.

Came by for gelato as the kids wanted some. Found this cute spot with lots of yummy looking food options. But since we just finished lunch we did not get to try any food here. Service is very kind, the gentleman at the register was very helpful and friendly. The gelato here is good, but I was not happy about the portion the gelato scooper gave us. I got the grande which was supposed to have three scoops of gelato. My second and third "scoops" were pathetic - they were about 3 tablespoons of each flavor dabbed on the top of the first scoop. I was actually feeling so bad as I was watching the guy put the flavors in my cup - it looks so sad compared to the gelato cups I see in the Yelp photos from other patrons, and all the gelato I bought when I was Italy.

One of several options to get your coffee fix, but the desserts are the draw. Between the gelato, pastries, and more savory options, it's a convenient spot to get either your caffeine, meals, or dessert. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. Indoor and outdoor seating with relaxing ambiance.

Ben made our first time here amazing! This is a must stop after dinner. The cannoli is to die for! There was ample seating inside and out, and solid selection of coffee for your pastries.

Everything was fine. I went with 4 stars because the people working there were nice and when I went to pay, everything was half price because it was happy hour, and I did not know that! Nice surprise. I just wanted a simple salad and this fit the bill.

This place absolutely deserves 5 stars! If you came here and didn't enjoy your ice cream, you definitely need to try a different flavor. This is hands down the best gelato I've ever had. Ever since I went to Italy, I've been on the hunt for truly great gelato, and this place is it! I've tried a lot of their flavors, but my favorite by far is their stracciatella! I'm a huge fan of stracciatella, and theirs is just perfect. The vanilla base is so creamy and flavorful, and the chocolate shards are what make it next level. If you love chocolate chip ice cream, this is like a fancier, more delicious version of it. And their cone is perfectly crispy every time! I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a really good stracciatella gelato. They have a few locations around San Diego, but this one is my favorite! I feel like this location has a slightly bigger selection of flavors. Besides gelato, they also offer sandwiches and baked goods, though I haven't tried those because I can't resist getting gelato every time. A few tips: They have some indoor seating if you want to enjoy your treat on the spot. The location in Little Italy makes it perfect for walking around after Parking can be tricky depending on when you go, but there are some spots nearby if you're lucky.

You can't get much more "Little Italy" than having breakfast at the Pappalecco in Little Italy. On my San Diego Adventureland weekend, I needed breakfast to kickstart my morning. Anything. Anything that was walkable from my hostel. And lucky for me, Yelp pointed me to this adorable cafe that felt oddly familiar from my first San Diego trip circa 2015... like maybe I'd had gelato here. Regardless- they are open most waking hours and are bound to have something to eat, be it dessert, breakfast or the in-between. I got good vibes here despite the overt touristy presence including yours truly- locals and visitors both stopped by. The staff are super nice and knowledgeable about what they create! The cashier took time to chat with me about what I was looking for (protein and caffeine) and making sure it was to my liking. The Bacon Croissant was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had, and it was presented beautifully. The sauce dots were fun to play with for each bite- a unique spin on making breakfast fun. Coffee is only espresso or cold brew. The iced espresso latte was decent, not too bitter with my DF milk. If I had more time in San Diego I probably would've stopped by for gelato since it's what they're known for... until next time!

Stopped by for a light breakfast this morning and the cashier was welcoming and nice. Ordered the Bacon Quiche, Croissant, Cappuccino and Latte. Coffees were on point. However, the quiche was just okay, half of the greens on top were pretty wilted, like they were very old and slimy. Other than that, it was nice they had good outdoor seating options and quick service.

Stopped by Pappalecco after visiting the Little Italy farmer's market. Two of us ordered: -gelato mango/strawberry cup $6.25 -nutella $6.25 -added nutella topping for extra $1.29, had to remind staff to add Credit card fee also added...not sure if it was displayed anywhere. Mango gelato itself is a great dairy free alt..they have other flavors as well! Street parking only.

A really cute corner gelato and panini store. The staff is very attentive and helpful. I love this place for gelato every time I come here. Even the pastries are worth it to try. Definitely come and try them out!

Stopped by for a coffee around 3pm. Not busy at all, service is a bit slow and unenthused but ok. Got the affogato ($9) and the latte ($5) with lavender and cayenne pepper- the latte was delicious! Affogato was ok. Nice space to sit down for a bit. 6-7 tables outside, 3 or so inside

Kind of disappointing. Just an average cappuccino lacking latte art or requested sweetener. Lemon torte was good but not great.

Their name means gobble up and a delicacy. And gobble up a delicacy we did!!! Gelato, pastries, coffees and sandwiches and all look amazing. We had the gelato and it didn't disappoint. Happy to give samples of flavors and lots to choose from. Great, friendly staff in the heart of Little Italy!! Cute little shop, Can eat inside or out.

This small gelato shop was that busy on a Thursday afternoon. There's a few indoor tables for small groups and outdoor seating for larger groups. Service was immediate and samples are allowed after paying for the gelato. 7.5/10 Chocolate Chip Cookie $5.23 (price from Yelp order) - got it warmed up, but it tasted a bit hard still in some spots while other areas were buttery melt in mouth feel. The sweet and salty ration was solid. Overall still an above average cookie in size and taste. 9/10 Medium Gelato $6.75 - very thick, creamy, soft, and gummy like texture. Flavors: mango and Espresso. Mango was very authentic in terms of natural fruit and not artificial flavoring. Espresso was pretty strong and good flavor.

I come here often and I love it every time! Gelatos are extremely tasty and they serve with a smile.

Delicious!!! My fiancee and I tried a simple mozzarella panini, it was beautiful crafted. The mozzarella had a good amount of flavor that brought the whole experience together. Service was friendly and the outdoor seating was nice--they have cushioned benches :)

I'll have to come back and try some other items but with the pizza I ordered, it was delicious! True Italian style taste with a family oriented environment. Located right in the corner of the block so it's all street parking. Service was also very warm and kind. I would come back :)

That's gelato in San Diego Ambience is amazing. Just a cute little café. Their Panini sandwiches are also out of this world. Services is always on point.

While I had only bought myself a few shots of espresso, this cafe in Little Italy has a lot to offer (check my pictures out). Everything looked tasty and the prices are reasonable being that the establishment sits in SD's popular tourists attraction area. The cup of espresso that I had bought was nothing short of amazing. If I had more time I would have lunch here next time!

I've visited this coffee shop multiple times and have always enjoyed the gelato and coffee--they do a great job with both. However, my most recent visit left me really disappointed. I was placing a larger order, including lunch, coffee, and some other items, and I asked for one scoop of ice cream. But I was told they only serve two scoops and wouldn't let me order just one. I explained that I didn't want two scoops, only one, but they were insistent that it was either two scoops or nothing. This makes no sense--why not just accommodate the customer's request, especially when it's part of a larger order? It was so frustrating that I ended up walking out and going to Salt & Straw instead. I really hope they reconsider this policy, because this level of inflexibility has really put me off.

Great little spot for a simple drink or dessert. Take a nice stroll and go check out this place. You'll love the homemade gelato.

This is my brother's favorite gelato shop so we braved the traffic and circled in little Italy on a Saturday until we found parking. The inside is small, but cute with a nice outdoor seating area. Service was friendly and instructive, which I found helpful given the small space. I proudly own that I'm a coffee and dessert snob and that comes with strong opinions. I enjoyed the experience, but must say the gelato was just okay when it came to texture and flavor. At this time I cannot comment on the coffee.

I've been coming to this location since 2013. I will never set foot back here. The last few times my coffee was okay. But today after I ordered an ICED coffee I was given a latte. And when I said it wasn't what I ordered the girl goes that's okay. I'll put ice on it. She continued to grab it. Pour it in a cup and proceed to add a TON OF ICE. I was too stunned to say anything but come on. I paid $6+ for a drink that now tastes like watered down oatmilk. Just so baffled at the lack of customer service and accountability. I could have waited another 5 mins for a new drink. Instead I can't drink this now. It's ruined and I am appalled at the shitty service and the laziness of the barista. I've never seen such a thing. Will NOT be back.

Great coffee and pastries. Efficient service as well. I love walking from my apartment to this shop. Their gelato is also delicious.

I was walking through Little Italy looking for dinner one evening and saw a quiet corner café. This was Pappalecco, which offered a range of panini, pastries, and gelato. So I walked in. Green was the color of the café--green walls and green accent lighting. It was an unusual color choice, but green is a color on the Italian flag, so I understood it. I was in the mood for panini, but when I wasn't sure which one to get, the servers were very helpful making recommendations. They offered a range of choices, from ham to chicken to tofu. I decided on a Toscano (prosciutto) panini and sat by the window. Dave Brubeck's Take Five played softly in the café while I waited for the servers to make my food. My panini arrived quickly, and I was impressed with the presentation. The long, black marks of the seared, pressed bread were visually striking next to the flourish of sauces and herbs on the other side of the plate. Prosciutto, basil, tomato, and cheese peeked out from between the bread halves. The sandwich was delicious. The prosciutto was delicately sliced. The tomatoes and mozzarella added a tender, juicy depth to the panini, and the basil accents were a nice finish. If dogs bring you joy, you're in luck at Pappalecco. While I ate, many dogs and their walkers passed me by on the other side of the window, moving along easily as they do. Pappalecco was a nice, casual place to grab a bite to eat. While the café was very quiet (I was the only customer dining in), the food is good and priced well.

This place is a gem when it comes to coffee. I was in San Diego for a little bit and decided to try coffee before leaving the city and trust me this place has the best cappuccino in the town

Love the gelato ! They've got so many good flavors to choose from. Not a fan of their pastries , don't try the muffins as tempting as they may look. But I enjoy the tiramisu, but the ladyfingers are a bit dry. Workers there are always super nice despite the crowds they sometimes get ! The outside seating is quite nice.

Clean set up, friendly staff, good drinks, amd overall chill spot. The guy that rang us up was funny, we ordered iced drinks and learned how to properly pronounce some Italian words LOL Their cannoli wasn't too bad, but I just came to the conclusion custard isn't for me. Will be back when in the area!!

Was in need of a quick latte and found Pappalecco! As soon as you walk in, you see the several options they offer! They have everything from pastries, paninis, coffee, gelato, and wine! I mean everything sounded amazing! Was only able to try the croissant sandwich with prosciutto, and oh my! It was so amazing! I know it sounds simple, but the quality of it was 10 out of 10!! The espresso that they used for the latte was also top quality! There was also a gentleman who helped me at the cashier, and he was so nice and helpful! You can tell he enjoyed his work! The cafe is small inside but does offer an outdoor seating. Really cute place for either breakfast or dessert!

The gelato was 5 outta 5, not only were they visually appealing but the flavors were on point! The food was okay, small portions for the panini's (even though the photos make it look big) and not a lot of filling. But the plating was so whimsical and really cool. Staff was pleasant, cute aesthetic. I'd just go here for the gelato!

It wasn't the best coffee, but it wasn't bad either. Nor was it offensively tasting. Could it be better? Sure thing! All I know is that the warmth in a cup gave me comfort at that moment. Service was great

parking: street parking or parking structures Service: 10/10 immaculate; they let us try as many flavors as we wanted! main takeaway: my favorite part is that they have creative & cool flavors, such as tiramisu, espresso, and mango. My favorite was the espresso because it had a strong coffee taste & the texture was smooth. overall, it's a good option for dessert if you're in little Italy :)

I stopped by for lunch and had the grilled chicken salad and a hot Americano. The chicken was excellent and tender. However, there was too much dressing on the salad. The Americano was bitter and it was a good excuse to purchase some coconut gelato. It was pillowy soft and the right amount of sweetness. Service was friendly and quick. The ambiance is casual and comfortable. I've eaten here in the past and I stop by if I want something quick.

Absolutely love the Marriccino (Italian latte). I have had it iced and hot and would recommend it hot. Both taste great but with hot the Nutella melts better and mixes better. I absolutely love this place and highly recommend it!

Great place to grab Italian desert. Even have vegan options. Fun, helpful staff. It is what Little Italy is about.

Never tried this place before, dad was raving about it. Decided to try the chocolate gelato + mixed berries gelato. Extremely good flavors together, I highly recommend it! The vibes of the establishment are really nice when it's dark. It's a small place but feels cozy. Will be back next time I'm in Little Italy.

3.5 stars Walked over to Pappalecco after having dinner in Little Italy. We were super excited for an after dinner treat. The shop is small but there are tables outside to enjoy your dessert. Initially went back and forth between ordering a 2 and 3 scoop cup, but the price almost added up to the 8 scoop, therefore, we opted for that. Festa ($16.95): Tried a few samples and ended up selecting a few scoops of vanilla (can't ever go wrong with that), coconut mango, milk and chocolate bits, and mixed berry. Heard another customer say the mixed berry was the best so we had to get a scoop to try and I had much regret not getting more! it was truly fantastic - a tiny bit sour but tasted very similar to Costco's mixed berry smoothie (BEFORE they changed the recipe). Vanilla was good but I wasn't blown away by any other flavor.

Great service. Great coffee. Great food. Coffee. We came here twice during our weekend in San Diego. We ordered the Dalia cappuccino and a regular cappuccino. Both were delicious. Don't get the Dalia unless you can handle the cayenne. Food. We also had a veggie frittata and an almond tortoni. Both were delicious. The frittata had an excellent pesto sauce, which really made the dish. The tortoni was spectacular, and this is coming from someone that's married to a baker.

Been wanting to try gelato from Pappalecco for some time. This cafe is very small, so be prepared to squeeze your way through to the gelato display. We paid a little over $8 for our 3 scoops of gelato. The staff was very patient towards us and let us sample a few of the flavors before we decided on what we wanted. We ended up getting chocolate, pistachio, and marocchino. All of the flavors were delicious. They were rich and creamy. Very reminiscent of the gelato I had back in Italy. Hubby really enjoyed the marocchino, which was also my favorite too. It was like having a strong espresso in the form of gelato. So good! Overall experience here was honestly good. The staff was very nice and the gelato is delicious.

You pay first before you begin sampling, though they don't mind how much you sample. We arrived around 8pm and they were sold out of 3 of the flavors (one of them being tiramisu). You can either buy 2 scoops or 3 scoops and the price is amazingly very fair (2 scoops - $6.25). We chose the straciatella and marocchino. Normally I'm not a coffee person but that was a beautiful espresso ice cream with a hint of hazelnut from the nutella but mostly espresso... and yes, I did stay up till 3am for that choice haha. the pistachio is usually one of my go-to's and while it was good here, my favorite is at Bacio di Latte (in Newport Beach/Fashion Island, not sure if they have other locations) because Pappalecco's tastes watered down in comparison. Saw a sign that on Wednesdays they have 50% all paninis, so that's cool. It's Little Italy, so parking is a B.

Fabulous coffee/ice cream/ panini shop in little Italy. Of course it is Italian. Lattes and cappuccinos are the same as in the old country. Francesco at the register is friendly and trying to woo customers with short Italian catch phrases. Pre-prepared paninis look delicious, and I must say that I was tempted...so I will try them the next time. Chocolate cookies (Italian style) and raspberry jelly cookies were awesome! The only down side to Pappalecco I could find is that orders take forever and a day to make. We waited 20 minutes on two lattes.

Ok, there's good points and bad points. First, they have gluten-free bread! They even had a gluten free chocolate chip cookie when I was there, and it was good! But I wasn't fond of the gelato. Also, the cashier asks for a tip. Yikes! The panini was so-so, but needed more sauce.

Good product, but you may need to boot out some of your regular customers. Apparently a bunch of Middle Eastern Men are gathering every night and shouting sexist, misogynistic, and downright offensive comments to women as they pass by. They are talking about the size of their penis, that the women need to get laid, etc etc.

I love everything about this place. From the warm greetings to the very delicious food, pastry & Coffee. Is my to go place. Thank You XX

Their gelato is really really good, the staff was nice letting us try different flavors to pick the ones we like but it was pricey. The smallest size are two scoops and that's already $6.15 (plus tip + taxes). Maybe it's me and I'm not use to gelato being this expensive.

This is such an authentic Italian cafe. The paninis are amazing with some soup and the drinks are made perfectly. The owner is such a sweet man and the staff all embrace the Italian way of greeting. My favorite spot in little Italy!

Got a few scoops of gelato. The strawberry and pistachio were good. Mixed berry kinda tasted line bubblegum. Ordered the ocean panini but somehow they gave me the egg panini. Didn't realize it until I got home. The sandwich had a weird flavor. Didn't like it at all