Communal Coffee — Restaurant in San Diego

This is the 5th Communal coffee shop in San Diego (Bankers Hill),  and this one is more than just a place to grab a great drink—it’s a vibrant community hub with plenty of seating both indoors and outside. The spacious layout makes it perfect for meetups, casual hangs, or just soaking in the atmosphere. Families will love the brand-new, clean playground on-site with benches, making it easy to bring the kids along. They serve the full regular menu you’d expect from their other locations like toasts, acai bowls, bagels, pastries, etc. The ceremonial matcha and espresso tonics are truly top-notch. My personal favourites are the Prosciutto sandwich and salmon toast. You can also shop in-store for their signature coffee beans, merch with the Bankers Hill logo, and other fun items. Open 6:30–5 most days (6:30–6 on Fridays and Saturdays), with a two-hour limit on laptop use and a $7 minimum—fair enough for such a welcoming, well-designed spot. There is metered parking around, so be prepared that it might take you some time to...

This place is a hidden gem! I really hope they consider opening a late-night or even 24-hour location—ideally near Civita or Target. That would be perfect for those of us who need a great study spot in San Diego. Most of us aren’t fans of Lestat’s, which is currently the only late-night option.

That said, I’ve been here a few times and noticed some issues. The food is noticeably overpriced and sometimes doesn’t match the menu. The property management experience was also disappointing. We got settled at a table near the entrance, only to be asked to move after 40 minutes. If those are reserved for leasing, there should be clear signage at all times. As someone who used to work in property management, I found it unprofessional to hold leasing discussions out in the open—it really should be done in a private office. I was actually considering renting here, but that experience...

Food is fine but overpriced. Service leaves a lot to be desired. I waited 25 minutes for an avocado toast. I had to go up to the counter and ask for a status because I figured they forgot about the order. They decided to tell me then that the topping I had paid $2 extra for was not available (uncertain when they were going to communicate that and ask for what I wanted in its place if I hadn’t prompted them). No apology for the long wait, but they asked what else I wanted in its place; I responded sprouts and/or tomato. I received my order five minutes later, but with neither of what I had asked for, and instead they randomly decided to put arugula (I don’t even like arugula, but I wasn’t going to contribute to food waste and remove it). Essentially, this business is attempting to be a trendy, IG-worthy coffee shop, but without any competence or basic...