Portal Coffee

The perfect coffee spot. Portal has a cool, trendy vibe, and the space is comfortable for catching up or getting some work done. The staff is also great—super friendly and knew the menu well. I got an almond milk matcha with half the sugar, and it was perfectly prepared. It was a good experience all around!

The ambiance of Portal Coffee matches its location of San Diego bay. The two baristas set the tone of the ambience. Professional, yes. Yet there was more. It was easy to see that they enjoyed their work, which nicely affects the store. This coffee shop has a flare for the arts, as seen on the freehand drawings on the paper coffee cups. The wait time was a little long, but this is an indication of good coffee. If you are looking for a coffee moment by the bay, then sip on a freshly brewed coffee treat at Portal Coffee.

We hosted an intimate event at the portal Coffee House for a 30th birthday breakfast for a dear friend. Staff were amazing, cheerful, give us everything even sang Happy Birthday ;-> We took in the beautiful patio View at our Leisure, watching dogs and the Community Happy People strolling by! Then we went for a walk down by the bay which is only a block or so away through the happy children at the park, music by seagulls accented by the Salt Air: it was wonderful. Recommend highly! Great way to start a birthday ;-). Who posted these little Googly eyes on the railing overlooking the view of Waterfront Park? How delightful ;*)

I ordered their rose vanilla latte, which was pretty good. There was a couple people in front of us when we got there around 9 AM, but the line was quick. Took us a few minutes away for our coffee. overall it’s a good experience.

I love this coffee shop. The location is great, it's right by the trolley station so you can have access to it super easily. I prefer walking because it's right in Little Italy. This is a great spot to get your laptop and do some work, or read a book while you sip delicious coffee. I finished a lots of projects here. The coffee is very good too. Today I also tried the spinach pastry and it was delicious! The owners are super nice as well. They really care about their customers. I feel like this coffee shop has so much personality compared to some others. For the summer months, there is a nice outdoor seating too. Definitely a must go place.

Such a nice place to sit and have a morning coffee, with a view of the harbor! The chive biscuit sandwich is top notch 💯 And the Tonka Bean latte - so yummy, never had tonka bean before!

I ordered the sausage, egg and cheese sandwich on a bagel which on their menu said it was eight dollars and the cashier didn’t mention that’s an extra two dollars for the bagel could’ve been helpful but let’s move onto the trash sandwich that they made the sausage was completely uncooked, pink matter fact ,no flavor ,the egg was rubber . Not no butter on the bagel. Terrible dry. Went straight from a frozen freezer to a toaster oven. What a shame. Outdoor seating was nice at least.

Top 5 cup of coffee of all time. Excellent technique and excellent Barista product. Food looked really good but I didn’t embibe.

Pros: -indoor and outdoor seating -friendly staff -good variety of pastries to choose from -good music and vibes Cons: -n/a

Stopped by Portal Coffee near Waterfront Park, and this spot is legit perfect if you're trying to get some work or studying done. Super relaxed vibe, music at the right volume -- enough to set the mood but not loud enough to distract you. Asked the barista for a recommendation and they put me onto the tonka bean coffee. Fire choice. Smooth, unique flavor, kinda dessert-like without being too sweet. Appreciate when the staff actually knows what to suggest -- great service all around. Really clean, calm space with good energy. Definitely coming back next time I'm in San Diego.

Good coffee, but the service could use improvement. This spot is within walking distance from our hotel, so we decided to stop by around 1 p.m. There were a few people enjoying their drinks in the seating area, but no employees at the counter. We waited for a bit, expecting someone to come out, but no one did. After a few minutes, two employees finally appeared, chatting with each other. There was no "sorry to keep you waiting" or any kind of greeting. Not sure where to order, we stood there until one of them said rather abruptly, "I can help you here." We ordered a drip coffee and a lavender latte--both drinks were actually very good--but the lack of friendliness left a bad impression. Great coffee, but the service could definitely be warmer and more attentive.

Cute coffee shop with great views of the water front. We noticed kids play ground right across the street making it a great location for parents to grab a quick pick me up while kiddos are playing. My only wish the coffee store offer some signature drinks. We opted out to getting regular honey cinnamon syrup drinks and they were quite good.

Wanted to post a few more photos, baristas are always friendly and welcoming. Nice to sit in the sun and feel a sea breeze. Expertly crafted coffee.

Great spot to work remotely or to stop by for a which caffeine pick me up. I wish their menu for their seasonal drinks was bigger because I would've ordered their horchata latte! I'll have to come back to try it before it goes away.

Pretty nice place located close to the bayside. Lots of drink and pastry options. Also breakfast sandwiches. 2 sausage sandwiches cost me $22.63. Only knock was the wait. For one, the cashier was having a conversation with the customer in front of me for several minutes, even after she paid, while I stood there. I'm all for politeness - and she was absolutely friendly - but let's keep the line moving please. took another 9 minutes to get my food and it wasn't that busy. Otherwise everything was pleasant and def got busier as I sat there so clearly the place is popular.

Awesome coffee and cafe! My wife and I stopped by while staying at a nearby hotel and were thoroughly impressed. The espresso was a great way to start the weekend and we're kicking ourselves for passing up their pastries. The assortment looked delicious. Due to the layout and location you get a nice harbor breeze, making it an enjoyable place to hang out for a while. The staff was very friendly and even let us come in 5 minutes before opening so we did not have to wait outside. Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend that you try Portal if you're in the area.

In town from Ventura County. Friendly staff, cute shop , lots of light. Saw many people working here. Not too busy when we stopped by. So much seating as indoor and outdoor. My iced latte so delicious! Paid under 7 bucks which is pretty reasonable. Close to the port!

Always quick. Always friendly. The pastries, come on, huge and great for $5. Want a quick greasy Sando, check. And the coffee is rock solid. Well rounded. A little loud but it's on a busy street so likely to cancel traffic. Nice patio and view if you don't mind the noise.

Long line at 8:30am on a Wednesday! It was a 10-15 minute wait to get to the register. I got my coffee and pastries very quickly, but my breakfast sandwich took forever. There were still 2 people waiting for theirs; I think there was only one person working on this. * Cardamom Orange Latte - 4.5 stars * Bacon Egg Cheese Breakfast Sandwich - 4 stars * Chocolate Pistachio Bundt - 3.5 stars, a tad dry. * Ube Bowtie - 4 stars * Guava Orange Danish - 4 stars * Coffee Cake - 3.5 stars, a tad dry. * Almond Scone - 3.5 stars, a tad dry. * Cheddar Caramelized Onion Biscuit - 4 stars Total cots $58.12 for these 8 items.

Leaving Balboa Park, decided to have coffee downtown. Found this place and ordered a cup of coffee. Only food available was a potato danish. Ambiance is very cold and had no charm. Some music in the background which helped a little. Service was good. If you are in the area, try them out and share your experiences. Happy coffee time!

Wanted to grab some coffee before my next commitment. Though there are a few good reviewed coffee shops in this area, this was closer and I liked their choices, here was my experience AMBIANCE: Parking: Downtown area so it's a lot of street parking and metered parking BUT it's close to the trolley if that works for you. Seating: Inside and outside seating room for maybe 40 people. Vibes: Welcome to Waterfront Park San Diego! This is a pretty iconic spot just because it captures pretty well. The beautiful downtown aesthetic, ocean view, and ships from fancy to military. The spot itself is pretty nice. Pretty spacious and clean, good place to enjoy a drink, get work done or catch up with a friend. FOOD: Hojicha Matcha (Recommend) What's difference from this is more of a very subtle nutty chocolate flavor. This was notice and delicious. It gave me some good energy to last through the day. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Great! It was a busy morning but they operated quite quick with good service. TL; DR OVERALL: 4 Stars! Awesome. Great selections, delicious drinks, and a pleasant experience. Again there are a lot of coffee shops in SD, this stands out based on their location and excellent drinks. If you happen to see yourself in this area, check it out! TIPS: * Check out their seasonals!

My Airbnb host recommended this place, so after waking up (too) early, I decided to walk here to get coffee and do some work. It's right by the boardwalk too, so it's in a very ideal location. Walking in, they have all the doors open and allow pets. The staff is really friendly, and if you're a local and have been there plenty, they'll chat with you. The girl at the register had the biggest smile on her face, and made me feel so welcomed regardless if she knew me or not. I ordered an iced vanilla rose latte with almond milk and it was $7. It didn't take too long, granted they had online orders to fulfill before mine. They have nice indoor and outdoor seating. It's a perfect place to hang out with people or get work done alone, while eating breakfast and coffee. Definitely stop by if you have the chance, and maybe even bring your dog!

Great neighborhood coffee spot! The iced chai was smooth and refreshing, and the houjicha had a bold, earthy flavor for tea lovers. Relaxed atmosphere, friendly staff, and a perfect place to start your morning or take a break in San Diego.

Portal was my day to day coffee shop while on my recent trip to SD. There are a few things Portal really has going for it. The first is location. It is positioned like 2 blocks from the water which is absolutely perfect. Grab a cup before you head for a waterside walk, or sit on the patio and watch the waves crash. The people are awesome. This place was never overwhelmingly busy so the workers always had a moment to give you some attention and great service. Of course, we have to talk about the coffee: it's great. My order was the same every visit: a latte. Super consistent, and super solid. I also indulged on a scone one day. It was really great. I loved taking walks to portal coffee to get my day started. A laid back, easy going, no frills coffee shop churning out good brew and good bites served by great people.

I love the location, and this is a regular go-to. Today, we walked around and purposefully did not eat at surrounding places because we liked their food. We're here at 11:44 a.m. And they're not serving food. Two pastries left. I completely understand if you run out of specialty treats, but no bagels or English muffins. Cafes that serve food have no food. Oh well, maybe there was a run on breakfast bagels at Sandy's. The staff is nice and I like their coffee. Maybe next time.

Flat white with almond milk was delicious! The decaf espresso has a dark chocolate flavor (at least that's how I would describe it). We also got the English muffin breakfast sandwich with fluffy egg, soft English muffin, melted cheddar cheese, bacon/sausage, and spicy sauces -- every good as well. Service was great. Everyone was super friendly and tentative. Drinks out in a timely manner. My husband and I came here each morning during our 4-day stay in SD. Highly recommend this place!

I was around downtown and wanted some coffee and this place had some pretty good reviews on google so I decided to try it out. The place was nice and super close to the waterfront. Service was quick and I liked how their syrups were made in house. I order their lavender latte and the syrup came through nicely but my coffee felt a bit watery, it was missing the usual creaminess I taste in most coffees. Not bad, but not my preference.

Food - 4 Service - 4 Value - 4 We came here to pickup some drinks and they really hit the spot for us. Parking around here can be a bit of a pain though so if you can...try to order ahead of time.

I'm tired of places with kiosks to place your order yourself. At least the coffee was good and the ambiance was great. Not sure about service as no interaction....

I ordered the iced matcha latte with oat milk! Portal's location is very central to the bustling harbor and is very calm mid-day. The drink could have been sifted and whisked a bit better but the overall flavor was good and not too sweet. Staff were kind and helpful.

Came here with a group today. They have lots of seating available, more seats outside than inside. It's nice to sit outside since they have some sun shades. I can't remember if they had "bar" seating facing the traffic before, it would be nice for additional seating since they do have the space. The place is clean and has an organized bar area. What's different is that they do not have the tablets anymore! So instead of two tablets, it's just one person taking orders. It turns out that this way feels like it takes a bit longer for the line to move. I ordered an 12 oz iced orange + vanilla latte like I said I would order last time-- and get this, it costed $6! I feel like this is a bit pricey compared to other places. The vanilla didn't come through. And the orange tasted like pure orange extract. Despite it being a 12oz, it was super milky as well. This drink was not for me...from the first sip, I knew. 2/5 Other people in my group enjoyed their drinks though, they ordered an iced matcha, americano, and the iced matcha hojicha drink! They have decent tasting breakfast sandwiches but it was ~$4. Around 1:30pm their pastries case is nearly empty though! So, just be aware of that when you stop by.

Stopped by on a Sunday morning for a cup of coffee for myself and the lady before heading to the zoo. Staff was friendly and efficient, our drinks were ready in less than 5 minutes. Plenty of seating indoors and out on their private patio. Quality of coffee was good, I'm a black coffee fan so I can't comment on their other more creative concoctions but they looked great! They do also have some pastries for sale as well.

their lattes did the trick in a pinch. the gingerbread syrup was nice. the breakfast sandwich on their house biscuit though...... is SO good. there is ample seating and it's in a beautiful location next to waterfront park.

I got a hot mocha latte and service was very quick! Probably one of the smoothest lattes I've had. There's lots of seating inside and outside and was pretty calm in the morning.

Coffee is a great, staff is really sweet. Great way to start a 7am work day. The place itself is very calm and great seating options with a great vibe to relax! Hope you enjoy!

Lovely ambience, great location! The staff were welcoming - always a plus when they make the effort to spell my name correctly :) Got their hot latte and danish (raspberry-cheese?). Delicious.

As much as I wanted to like this place, coffee tasted way too acidic. I usually finish coffee even though it tastes disappointing, but I couldn't finish this one. I got an iced vanilla latte. Place is super pretty and all staff seemed nice though.

I stopped by here around Sunday noon time after I grabbed brunch nearby. My husband ordered the apricot tea and I got the iced orange cardamom latte. They do have dairy alternatives so I got mine with oat milk. We weren't very impressed with the drinks... maybe we should have tried something else but most likely wouldn't come back anytime soon (we were only visiting San Diego for the weekend). The staff was friendly and space seemed comfortable to study at or to catch up with a friend. There are indoor and outdoor seating available. Parking: Street parking only. I've read that parking here can be a pain, so we must have gotten lucky because we were able to find parking right away on a Sunday noon.

Perfect spot to grab a coffee and take a stroll at the beach and/or take the kids to the playground! There is also an outdoor seating area to study and do work at

We stumbled across this cute shop across from the county building while looking for a place to shoot our wedding photos before getting married. Everyone here was SO kind and welcoming to us on our big day. We grabbed a hot vanilla latte and a cortado and thoroughly enjoyed both. Plenty of seating inside and out, perfect for people watching :)

Super cute spot in a very fun and convenient location. I stopped in before going to the farmer's market and it was delicious. The drinks were great and the service was quick. Yum!

Guys this coffee is so dang good it almost brought tears to my eyes. Granted I was walking around a lot lol but seriously best coffee I've had in SD. I ordered an iced latte with cardamom and oat milk - not too sweet but still had a lovely strong flavor profile. The coffee had a creaminess that I adore. Girl working was very sweet, and place had a nice vibe.. like if I lived closer, I'd totally come study here. Close to trolley and port so thumbs up amirite! Yes, I'm writing this review as I'm drinking the coffee, but, seriously, try this place if you haven't.

I decided to stop by this coffee shop for a quick snack and drink during the break of a conference I was at that took place at Wyndham San Diego, which was just a couple of blocks away. The service was friendly, there was a lot of seating during lunch time, and there were seats with outlets as well as ample natural lighting. My drink tasted okay, and I ended up not finishing the cheese and chive biscuit since I was not super hungry, but it is a nice place to chill for a little bit !

This is a must stop for us everytime we're in town! My sister loves the Cardamom latte and I'll usually pick up a matcha or chai latte. Recently tried the breakfast sandwiches as well and they were also really tasty! The service is always great. There is some seating inside and more outside as well

Coffee here is really good and my favourite spot in this area. Pastries and food is good as well. Lots of seating indoors and outdoors.

My favorite little coffee shop tucked in a corner behind the park. I had many of their coffees and all of them have been delish: iced lavender latte, regular black iced coffee, vanilla iced coffee, and their matcha latte. I want to try their hojicha next but somehow it's always out, must be popular! Their pastry choices are always great, especially their savory scone but their new gingerbread one is top tier. Overall a really great place to read and study or just stay out enjoying the scenery. Can't recommend enough!

My co-workers ranted about the Orange Cardamom Latte, so I went over to check it out. The staff was extremely pleasant, polite, and courteous. I ordered a large. My coffee came at a good temperature. The cup was simply, no fancy stamps or logos, and what was held inside was like a nice, warm hug! My only complaint is that $8 for a cup of coffee is high.... I don't like paying that much for coffee, even if it is special. I would try it again tho

Don't let the Yama Drip system on the wall fool you. The cold brew is super bitter. You won't be able to distinguish it from an iced Americano. Definitely not worth the upcharge. The ambiance is nice, but I couldn't finish my drink.

Great coffee shop! Lots of natural light and outdoor seating, dog friendly, and yummy looking pastries! I really liked my chai latte, it wasn't overly sweet, and you could tell they make the chai syrup in house! Has a very authentic feel, baristas are so sweet!

Have not been to this coffee shop before which is in my neighborhood. Thought I would stop in today. Must be an off day as the customer service wasn't the best. Left without coffee. Have an issue when I am the only person standing at the counter for several minutes and there is no greeting or acknowledgement that we will be with you shortly. Just continued talking amongst yourself whileI stood there and looked at you.

Stopped in for a quick coffee although I didn't grab a pastry they looks delicious! The service was great the staff were perky and helpful with any questions ! I ordered a hot Americano and it was great as an expected ! The vibe is nice the patio seemed pleasant to sit out and enjoy coffee but I and no time.

This is a terrific coffee spot right near the boardwalk in San Diego. It is a beautiful space, welcoming, and airy! The staff is super friendly and sets a really great vibe, which feels especially important when you're showing up for coffee early in the morning. I had a cold brew, and it was really delicious, I highly recommend it. My partner tried their gluten-free orange poppy bundt cake, and it was moist, flavorful, and, unique. It was a top-notch experience. They also have a beautiful outdoor dining patio.

Nice coffee place with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating! I got their dirty iced chai because I was exhausted and this def gave me the boost I needed. Maybe next time I would add vanilla to make it a bit sweeter.

Ambiance of this spot gets a 5/5 from me! Quick baristas and there's a bunch of indoor/outdoor seating. Great place to do work. The Iced Matcha Latte was average, like nothing special - but a really great price! A decent matcha drink for $5 is unheard of nowadays, so I appreciate a space to study without breaking the bank. This location is a short walk from the Little Italy Mercato. Close to a trolley stop and near the Maritime Museum. Parking can be a pain though.

Delicious hojicha matcha latte! The milk was perfectly steamed and the hojicha was fragrant and nutty. Everything blended together well and it wasn't overly sweet either. There was ample seating inside (saw a few people bring laptops to work) and outside on the patio. I'd definitely come back for the space's ambiance and drinks!

My husband and I just landed in San Diego and we desperately needed caffeine before we walked over to Little Italy for brunch. Portal was the first coffee shop we saw and it seemed promising based on the traffic going in and out. They have two tablets available for ordering and then the baristas call your name. I had their chai ice latte and I didn't like it at all. The spice level was overwhelming. There was way too much star anise. I had 3 sips and was done. It was terrible. My husband didn't like his cold brew either. He said it was really bitter. Waste of $12.50.

Sweet find. Small little coffee shop with excellent coffee and pastries. Didn't try the pastries-but the coffee was good. The baristas were all nice. They are knowledgeable as well. Can't wait to come back when I visit San Diego.