Portside Coffee & Gelato

A laid-back patio cafe on North Harbor Drive in San Diego serving Gelato, Coffee, Bagels, and Burritos - perfect for hanging out or grabbing food to go. We visited Portside Coffee & Gelato during our last trip to San Diego. We were waiting for the Coronado Ferry and craving some small bites and drinks. At that time, we noticed this small Coffee Shop. We looked at their menu and it intensified our thirst for coffee. We ordered Cheese Danish, Caramel Macchiato, and Orange Juice. Their service was quick, and we had our pastries and beverages within 5 minutes. The Cheese Danish, Caramel Macchiato, and Orange Juice were all great - but the best part was the dock seating area. You can enjoy your coffee in the dock seating area, which provides scenic overwater views. We loved the vibe of this place. Whether you’re walking along the harbor and stopping for coffee or gelato, or just grabbing a quick coffee on the run, this place is incredibly welcoming. In addition, the pastries and beverages are very affordable. The staff are very friendly and cooperative.

Portside Coffee & Gelato came highly recommended by a local friend, and it was a great stop while in San Diego. The breakfast burrito was excellent—savory, filling, and well-balanced, with plenty of protein and potato without feeling overly heavy. I also ordered a savory latte, which paired nicely and wasn’t too sweet. One of the best parts is the setting: open public seating on both the first floor (covered and comfortable) and the second floor, which offers beautiful, unobstructed views of the water. A relaxed, easy spot to start the day. I’d happily return for a slower morning.

The atmosphere is incredible!!!! Such a beautiful and unique place. The coffee was delicious and very fairly priced. Our drinks were made quickly despite a small line. We were a little disappointed because all the tables were dirty with crumbs and spilled coffee, so we had to wipe up after other people. They have lots of different table sizes for different groups and even have several umbrellas. We would absolutely come back here & highly recommended!

Two Besties Travel Our morning adventure began with a cozy stop at Portside Coffee & Gelato, which turned out to be the perfect launching point before our bike ride with Wheel Fun Rentals. I order a beautifully crafted hot lavender latte, while my bestie kept things classic with a hot black coffee. Both drinks felt like warm hugs on a cloudy, chilly San Diego January morning. To fuel my pedal power, I ordered a breakfast burrito filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, and cheddar, all wrapped in a perfectly warm flour tortilla. It was hearty, and fairly priced. Atmosphere: The shop offers covered outdoor seating that has plenty of room with an upstairs seating area. With the Port of San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal right next door, there a lively amount of foot traffic as travelers and locals pass through. Parking: Paid parking is available through the surrounding area. Service: Overall, the service was friendly and welcoming. Our coffee came out fairly quickly, while the burrito took a little longer, which made sense considering how busy the shop was at the time. Nothing unreasonable, and everything arrived fresh and warm. All in all, this was a lovely little spot to fuel up before our waterfront adventure. Good coffee, comforting food and a lovely view. A great start to a bestie adventure day.

We stopped by Portside for something small, and the waterfront view is absolutely gorgeous and definitely the highlight of the experience. The location alone makes it a great spot to sit and enjoy the scenery. We ordered a simple fruit and yogurt, but unfortunately some of the fruit tasted a bit off. The yogurt was very plain, with no honey or anything to help balance the flavors. Overall, the food quality felt underwhelming and I’d rate it about a 2 out of 5. That said, the ambiance and view easily earn a 5 out of 5.

Delicious coffee, burritos and fruit bowls. Went there now second time for my morning walk, will be back. Beautiful place with good decent food and prices are fine too. Like it !

I was really excited to visit Portside Coffee and Gelato for a birthday brunch, drawn in by the beautiful views and past reviews. While the atmosphere lived up to its praise providing a peaceful, slightly cloudy morning and a lovely water view. The rest of the experience didn’t quite match. I ordered a muffin and found it disappointingly dry. The cashier wasn’t very welcoming either, which put a damper on the mood, especially for a birthday visit. I also ordered fish and chips from the Dockside menu. While I’m a picky eater and it wasn’t exactly my thing, I can say the fish was served hot with a crunchy batter. What really saved the experience was the bartender at Dockside. He was genuinely kind and offered a warm demeanor that stood out among otherwise lackluster service. All in all, the atmosphere and view are great reasons to visit, but the food and service felt inconsistent.

Really enjoyed the gelato at Portside Coffee & Gelato in downtown! Stunning location, right on the water and a great seating location to appreciate the view. We really enjoyed the dark chocolate, salted caramel, and cookies and cream flavors. Friendly staff and not too long of a wait. Recommend!

It's a small shop coffee & gelato shop with seating next door in an enclosed glass dome. For me, ice cream is most desirable in cooler weather. I run weird like that; I blame my mother. THE FOOD. - Mud Pie | A mix of coffee, cookies, chocolate, and probably some other things I wasn't picking up. Either way, it's rich and decadent. - Salted Caramel | The salt accentuates the caramel, giving it a savory twist. I loved it. THE PARKING. There's a parking lot in front of the shop, but it quickly fills up. If that happens, you can do valet or park further down the street and walk over. THE RETURN? Would love to come back and try out their coffee.

Amazing every time - coffee, breakfast burrito, breakfast sandwich, gelato! You will not go wrong with either one of these choices.

Was waiting for the boat parade to start so I decided to try this place out. The prices for the coco, teas, & coffees were pretty well priced. I tried the hot chocolate with oatmilk and it was delicious. Not too hot or sweet just the way I enjoy it. The service was good. The girl who took my order was nice and got my order right. They made the drink pretty quick which was a plus since it was pretty chilly. I would definitely come back and try something else on their menu.

This is a gorgeous coffee shop and ambiance! Came here in the morning and snagged a table inside by the table. The vanilla latte and mochas were delicious. Don't sleep on the breakfast sandwiches here (until 11 am). The perfect breakfast stop before going onto USS Midway.

This is such a cute cafe spot!!! It's right on the water with beautiful views. The seating is super cool. Lots of great food and drink options and the wait is minimal. We had a fantastic time and it was a great memory. Definitely go here for coffee!

So yummy! Delicious gelato and iced white mocha. Convenient location with nice sitting area and great views.

Decided to try this coffee shop on a Saturday morning and it was pretty good. I enjoyed the taste of my drink. Although there was a big line, we got our drinks pretty quickly. There was no place to sit unless you were sitting by the restaurant next-door.

Super cool location! The sitting area was inside this dome looking thing where you could see over the ocean! Very interesting design. There was the main area with chairs and then there was an upstairs area as well. Great stop if you have kids or if you're just in the area and need some energy. The gelato was yummy and refreshing.

Gelato was great! Really appreciate that they stay open late on weekends. Nice people serving.

The vanilla gelato and mango drink were delicious! Customer service was great as well. Definitely recommend.

My friend and I stopped here to grab a little Gelato before getting dinner at Ketch upstairs. There was a bit of a wait because it was a Saturday at Seaport Village; however, the line went quickly. After looking over the flavors, my friend and I both decided on getting two scoops of gelato; one "Cookies & Cream" scoop and one "Mocha Chocolate Chip" scoop. The gelato was divine; smooth and creamy and worth the price. All in all, Portside Gelato is a nice little place for a treat while hanging out in Seaport Village.

- this is a great study spot while also soaking in the sun! - i got a small iced latte which was smooth and strong, not too milky! - you're able to sit in the first level of the glass dome to the left of the coffee stand, it's not just for the restaurant! i highly recommend that, there's lots of tables and seats plus the view is great

I've actually never tried the gelato here but have had breakfast here a couple times! While my family was visiting San Diego we were staying at a hotel just across from this little coffee shop and we got breakfast here for a couple mornings. It's a super cute little stand -- not an actual restaurant -- but there's tons of outdoor seating in the little glass dome right next door. It's such a nice vibe; the views of the water are gorgeous. The workers here are so friendly and helpful! We've tried the açaí bowl, breakfast croissant sandwich, bagels, and yogurt bowls here and everything is tasty and comes out quick. My açaí bowl came with tons of fresh fruit, coconut flakes, and granola. It was a huge portion for the price too. I've also had their iced matcha latte which is very pretty good as well. Definitely don't sleep on this place if you're looking for a quick breakfast stop in the area!

I ordered a cup of latte and a scoop of Gelato. Both are delicious. The staff working here are friendly. Also, very scenic view from the glass structure.

We love coming to Portside Coffee & Gelato. I don't think we have ever passed by and NOT stopped for some Gelato! Our recent visit was right before we boarded our cruise. PC&G is located right next to the San Diego Cruise Terminal and is a great place to hang out when waiting to board a cruise ship. PC&G has a seating area that has beautiful views of San Diego bay. The dining area is very well-kept and clean. There is always someone walking around monitoring the tables and clearing them as needed. The Gelato is great and they have a good variety of flavors for such a small location. Pricing is moderate and is what I would expect for what is considered a tourist market. If you are having lunch or dinner at any of the nearby restaurants, PC&G is worth a stop for dessert or coffee afterwards.

I was in the area for a conference & coworkers and I stopped here not once, but 2x (once BEFORE lunch!) for gelato. The food: Delicious. Coworkers ordered the lemon sorbet & chocolate, which i tried and enjoyed. I ordered their coffee gelato which was delicious. The staff: Helpful and descriptive of flavors. The vibe: can't be beat! Beautiful water views and a great spot to stop and enjoy on a warm summer day.

Had a chance to try this cute coffee and gelato spot and this was super cute and right in front of the water with great views! I ended up ordering a lavender latte and this was really yummy and cozy. I enjoyed the taste! The service was pretty fast for when we got the drink which was nice. It was the perfect drink for a nice cool day!

Nestled by the docks, Port Side Coffee is a hidden gem offering stunning views, refreshing beverages, and a welcoming ambiance. The entire establishment is encased in glass, providing patrons with uninterrupted vistas of the waterfront. Whether you're looking to unwind with a beer or hit the books, this spot caters to all needs. I recently had the pleasure of trying their matcha, and it was nothing short of delightful. The flavor was rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced. But what truly sets Port Side Coffee apart is its exceptional staff - friendly, attentive, and always ready with a smile. With its tranquil atmosphere and picturesque surroundings, Port Side Coffee has quickly become my top contender for a new study spot. It offers the perfect environment to focus and be productive, whether you're diving into textbooks or simply enjoying a peaceful moment by the water. It's no wonder I find myself drawn back here time and time again.

Pretty cool coffee shop in downtown San Diego by the water. Although it is a window order, what makes this coffee shop special is the seating arrangement above the water in all glass enclosure!!! On any given day you might see cruise shop come and go, occasional dolphin or a seal. Coffee is not bad, but the view takes the proverbial cake...

We parked in the lot, $5.00 for two hours. Max is 3 hours, not sure price but it's pretty reasonable seeing that one time I parked downtown for 2 hrs I had to pay $60. Portside Coffee & Gelato was a bit different than I thought it would be. There's no interior where you can sit, but they have a communal (sharing with other restaurants) outdoor seating that overlooks the water. You order at the counter on the left side and pick up on the right side. They have about 6 gelato flavors available and coffee as well. I was hoping the coffee would be good but it was just average. I got a 12 oz iced latte with their Madagascar Vanilla Bean house made syrup... My cup had no visible vanilla bean, which was disappointing. I don't know if that's how they make it~ or did they just forget to add it in my cup? Even though the sticker on the cup stated it had it. Perhaps I'll have to try a different drink. Because the videos on IG makes the drink look so delicious! My aunt said her caramel cappuccino was good. We shared a small gelato $5: espresso mud pie. It was pretty good! The espresso mud pie was strong, with some Oreo type cookies, and caramel. 3-4 stars. Give it a try! Such a beautiful outdoor seating which tasty gelato and drinks.

Right on the harbor, this coffee shop has beautiful views as you sit in their all glass dome seating area. They have a walk up window and serve the usual coffee shop items but also have a small selection of gelato which is the reason we decided to stop by. They do offer samples so you can try a particular flavor and the girl in the window was very nice and answered any questions that we had. Service was quick but me and my kids seemed to stop by during an evening which was not very busy. The gelato was good; creamy, rich, and had an overall good flavor. My daughter had the mint chip, my son the dark chocolate, and I had the delicious mud pie whick is close to an expresso like cookies and cream. Overall, the unique charm is in the glass dome building and I would venture this place can get very busy; but if you are in the area and want a sweet treat then Portside Coffee and Gelato just might hit the spot.

The white chocolate mocha was refreshing and enjoyable. Service was quick and courteous. I only wish I had more time to chill at this cafe Comic Con had my focus when I visited. Will definitely visit again.

Came here with my family while visiting the harbor. For the area of the city it's in, the prices are affordable. I got a seasonal mango sparkling drink, which was pretty good and not too sweet, and my parents liked their Americano. Their gelato is decent as well. The seating area is very pretty under the dome, but so much sunlight comes in with little shade. Still a nice place to sit and have a chat.

This is a nice location for gelato along the port. They're connected with Ketch, which is behind and upstairs. If you're the type to like to hold a nice drink in hand while strolling, this is the place to get it! Parking in this area is tough though. The parking lot off Ash St was full, so I was circling for 20 minutes to find street spots. A small gelato is $5. They had a list of flavors on their menu. At the time of my visit, they were out of the only two flavors I wanted to try - pistachio and espresso. Boo! I got the matcha latte $4.25 with oat milk substitution, which was an additional $0.70.

Coffee was decent. Liked that they kid size scoops of Gelato. Perfect for the kiddo. They have a little seating area outside. Price was ok. Took stars off b/c they didn't have a huge selection of Gelato flavors and service was slow. Took forever for coffee and Gelato and to grab a cookie. Wouldn't go out of my way to go here. But if on the way it's just OK.

I wish I could give 100 stars!! Went on a random Tuesday, after the reported "floods". Everything was great, customer service was amazing. Ordered burrito, coffee and fruit, all the ingredients were fresh, food was soooooo good and the coffee was amazing! I loved every single thing about this little shop, I would start my day here every day if I was a local! Run don't walk, and you get to sit at the ocean, doesn't get any better!!

Beautiful area to enjoy a good cup of coffee. Ordering was fast and efficient. They prepared the drinks promptly and the prices were reasonable.

Yum! Great location, strong coffee, and huge yummy breakfast options. So glad my hotel happened to be across the street and i lucked out on this place to start my mornings!

Service was amazing, view is stunning and Gelato hit the spot. Went back for seconds after walking around everything I tried was delicious. definitely 10/10.

Been here a few times and we like the place & food but 1 star as this is the 2nd time this happened... I'm lactose intolerant and always ask for alternate milk, i.e. Oat milk. If you are lactose intolerant, you know what happens when you ingest regular or whole milk. Less than 30min after I started drinking my coffee I knew my day was going to be rough.

This place is in a BEAUTIFUL location. Right along the ocean and close by to the pier. Their breakfast burrito was really good and i ordered an iced white mocha. They had seating inside which seems to be filled quickly (we barely found a seat). the bathrooms are A+! super clean and they look very nice. There is parking available where you have to pay 10am-8pm and there's a maximum of 3 hrs per car. We had an issue with their machine taking our gift card, forcing us to order more food (they placed it as a comp card meaning it could only be used once regardless of the remaining balance) because our gift card had $25 on it and we would be forced to waste $9! Because of this issue, the sweet staff apologized and gave us a free extra burrito! I recommend coming here if you want coffee with scenery or plan to walk along the pier.

Fantastic quick stop with views!!! Early morning is best. You get your coffee and pastry sit inside the dome to enjoy, relax and plan your day. Nice!

Cute little spot on the water! The line comes and goes, but they get through it quickly. The food takes longer than the drinks. Seating can be limited depending on the day and time, but if you get a spot by the window it's beautiful! The coffee isn't exciting - would be nice if they had a specialty coffee menu. The coffee isn't bad, it's just not amazing! 4 starts for friendly service, clean area to sit and location.

This cute shop is conveniently located along the pier. The line was pretty long but it moved pretty quickly. The employee taking the orders at the window was very friendly and welcoming. Tables were hard to come by and it was a race to get the next open seat / table. A lot of the people were in big groups and waiting around with luggage's. Our coffees were great and prices are reasonable. Definitely stop by if you are in the area!

If you're in the area looking for a quick coffee for a stroll, this is a great place to pop in. I tried the seasonal pumpkin spice latte and it was pretty tasty and made the weather feel slightly more like fall. While we didn't buy any gelato we did sample the horchata while we waited for our coffees to finish and they seem pretty solid. The pastries were okay, nothing to write home about but nothing terrible either.

Located in the Portside Pier Small menu with a variety of options to order from if that makes sense Burrito, gelato, sorbet, breakfast sandwiches, coffee cold or hot matcha ect There was a line, but line went by fast Customer service is friendly Food came out fast This is a walk up and order kind of business There is seating inside Ketch but most patrons order and go on their way

Ordered a quick breakfast here and was greeted by a very friendly associate who had a fantastic smile. Cappuccinos were good. A little heavy on the milk - I prefer a dry cappuccino but these were very good. Almond croissant was delicious and super fresh. Breakfast sandwich was good but the spread had an overpowering onion flavor that just did not hit right with me. The sandwich was huge though. Enough for me to share with the hubby. $22 w/tip Apple Pay accepted here.

Yum, yum, yum!! Stopped here before our cruise to get some coffee and breakfast. It was sooo good!!! We had the iced oat milk mocha and Cali breakfast burrito. Both were absolutely delicious. The burrito was a good size and had sausage, eggs, fries, and bacon. It was so savory and only made better by their salsa. The salsa tasted authentic and homemade which I really appreciated. The mocha was not overly sweet and had a good coffee flavor. If we're ever in San Diego for a cruise again we will definitely be visiting again.

Convenient spot on the harbor in SD, very close to the walkway. It's right next to this cool dome looking area for seating right on the water where you can sit and enjoy the gelato. The chocolate flavour was awesome, not too crazy sweet just the right amount of sweetness with a packed cocoa flavour. The girl serving it was also super friendly. The kids size for $3 is perfect and honestly pretty hefty portion.

Got a caramel macchiato and asked for extra caramel. Was charged the extra caramel but they barely put anything. Wasn't really happy with the drink.

Great vibey coffee shop & roof rop bar up the stairs. Good for taking a break from walking down the pier or tucking away from the cold weather. Perfect for friend gathering, meeting up with family, romantic date night and casual after dinner coffee run. Catch the sunset at the perfect time and perfect view of the streetside high rise apartments. Food was great & yummy! Drinks fab!

I visited here once before and got a breakfast burrito and an iced matcha. It was SO good. I kept talking about this breakfast, recommending it to everyone. The salsa sooooo fresh. Well today, my experience was not so great. My matcha was not well stirred. There were chunks of it throughout the drink. I saw another young lady doing the same with her coffee, stirring it around trying to blend it. I waited about 25 minutes for my burrito. There are people getting their food before me even though they placed after, which I don't mind and I don't mind waiting. I was a little confused though because I wasn't the only breakfast burrito. But it's well worth the wait, or so I thought. I take a bit of the most mid breakfast burrito I've ever had and was so disappointed. How did something that once was SO good, become so terrible? The potatoes were basically raw, and there was like one strip of bacon. The grease tasted old. I got this at 10am. Old grease is gross but especially so early in the morning.

Loved my coffee (toffee nut latte), the açaí bowl, yogurt bowl and view. Hubby loved his coffee and breakfast burrito. We enjoyed them so much we went 3 days in a row. On weekday mornings there is plenty of parking and the view is so worth it. We didn't love a specific worker that was there 2 days out of the 3. She was definitely prioritizing her conversations with her coworkers over helping the customers. That was pretty disappointing. She was bothered when we asked for napkins as the napkin container was empty but still continued her chat with her coworker. We'll go back and hopefully have a better experience.

Coffee and a view first thing in the morning. Arrived there just before 8am and wasn't crowded at all. Service was pretty quick and polite. Decided to get an iced White Chocolate Mocha and iced Caramel Macchiato.

This place is amazing! They have the best breakfast burritos by the bay! The cali burrito is definitely my favorite lol. The customer service is always great and if you want to have coffee with a view this place is perfect!!

Terrible experience!!!! It's a few minutes before they open (approximately 5:47am. I know that they are still closed since it is posted on their Huge LED screen/monitor and I am the ONLY ONE in the area(mind you, they are at the side of the sidewalk. The tall brunette opened their glass sliding window & instead of greeting me at least a "good morning" told me that they are still closed just as I am pulling my pack of smokes from my pocket; she told me that I cannot smokes so I told her what do you care, you're still closed. She gave me that rude look. I truly love their Cafe Mocha and even complimented them a few days prior when me and my family ate at Brigantine Restaurant (20 yards away from them-just right next door) They need to retrain this individual because she is a liability instead of an asset of the company. Honestly, their Cafe Mocha is better than Starbucks but I won't support them with this experience.

Fab place to get coffee while you're strolling the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego. Gorgeous views, great patio, great sun cover. And the coffee was good too! They also have pastries, beer on tap, gelato and breakfast sandwiches. Enjoyed my cappuccino - but more important I enjoyed the view and the awesome (shady) water breezes!

Located at the touristy SD harbor front & next to the Star of India, its a good place to get some coffee & gelato. Got a large gelato with 3 flavors; expresso, vanilla & rasperry. They were all smooth, refreshing & delish.

Coffee was burnt and gelato flavors were not bland ordered all to try them with the fam disappointed