Café Topes — Restaurant in Carlsbad

Bright open airy cafe with a surfer vibe in the heart of Carlsbad Village. Food and drink choices are creative and delicious! Delighted to find Cafe Topes sources from some of our favorite local establishments (Prager Bros bread for toast-so good. Seaside market tri tip - oh wow - you must try anything with this in it or on it - I can’t even describe the flavor and deliciousness of this famous “Cardiff Crack”!) Service with a smile was friendly, efficient and fun. We hardly sat down and already our coffee drinks were arriving. Delicious rich strong smooth and beautiful coffees! Food was well prepared and all ingredients were fresh and of the highest quality. I had veggie scramble and was surprised to find so many types of veg included, even green beans and asparagus. Absolutely delicious. Nothing over salted or greasy. My husband said his sausage breakfast burrito (with house made chips) was the best breakfast burrito he’s ever had! We are excited about returning soon to try anything/everything else on the menu, especially the cinnamon rolls. We visited mid- week, mid-day, so no problem finding street parking and no line to order at the counter. Weekends you may have to be patient. It’s worth it!🧡 PS- dog and kid friendly. Inside or out it’s spacious. Front tables are along the sidewalk, side of building is fairly large patio with umbrellas enclosed with a fence. 5/16/24 - and we are back again! Same amazing friendly welcoming service. Coffee drinks and food both come out really fast. Hubby said his mushroom cheeseburger was really good - on par with what he makes at home. Not sure he’s ever said that about a restaurant burger! I had The 222 with French toast (great crisp on outside, custard-creamy inside. Amazing). Sub’d avocado for the meat. Eggs perfectly cooked, fluffy and light not dry. Fruit on top was actually ripe and delicious. Another exceptional experience. We will definitely be back again to...

This little cafe caught me completely off guard. Wasn't expecting to be wowed by the food after seeing the place.The menu is breakfast and lunch only which left me guessing. It sits on the quiet side of the village, away from the bulk of the foot traffic. It looks old, a little unkempt even. But the menu was intriguing and finding Good pancakes in Carlsbad or Oceanside is no easy trick. After my visit, I'll be the first to admit that first impressions can be completely misleading. The menu was moderately priced, which was a pleasant surprise even though it left me wondering about the portion size. That little worry disappeared quickly once the plate found it's way to my table. Literally mountains of food prepared expertly with no eye on profit, without doubt. I took my fist forkful of the egg, bacon and cheese concoction and the sun broke through the morning fog. All of a sudden the little shop on the corner began to look different. The run down, crooked sidewalks that left unlevel tables took on charm. The cold, metal chairs became comfortable and. Okay, melodramatic, I get it. I'm no food critic I just know what I like. A simple search for pancakes in the area brought me to Cafe topes. Please do not make the mistake I nearly made based on appearance and skip past in favor of a cleaner, more cookie cutter restaurant. I'd be more than shocked if after eating here you didn't share my sentiments and make this a regular stop. Great food, great pricing, huge portions. The value to taste index here favors the customer largely. I apologize for the long winded review, but this...

Cafe Topes is a trendy spot located in Carlsbad.

It was a Sunday morning and the line of customers was out the door. It was crowded. Apparently it’s a local favorite spot and there were many couples & groups out. Very good for this, but probably not a good setting for an intimate, quiet brunch.

I will have to commend them for having such a fast turnaround time with so many customers and I’m glad they have indoor and outdoor seating. Because it’s located on a backstreet, there isn’t too much traffic driving by and I didn’t even hear the train (1 block away).

The interior decor is simple & hip. Their bathrooms were super-clean and it’s an open-kitchen concept and you see everyone working on the food. The wait-staff are speedy and efficient too.

What I didn’t like so much is that this is one of those “order first and go to counter, before you sit” places. I typically don’t mind this type of setup so much when the prices warrant it. But the thing is, some French toast & eggs can easily run you $20 (no drink included). You also have to serve your own water.

Another observation is that the inside seating is rather limited and close-quarters, but, on the flip-side, it is dog-friendly (always appreciated). The outside seating is airy and there are umbrellas for shade.

I’m personally not one to follow “trendy places”, so I feel that Cafe Topes is overrated for the price. But if it’s your kind of setting, you want to go out with the girls or the guys, chat amongst others and be close to things in downtown Carlsbad, it’s cool...