Quiet Storm Roasters & Bakers — Restaurant in San Diego

Don't let the 4.3 rating deter you.

If you've ever read Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist", you might understand the nature of my spiritualism (or superstition) a little better. Signs--or omens--were pointing that this was going to be a good day for me. On a whim, I changed my course from my favorite Little Italy haunt to sniff out something in Hillcrest.

Amid familiar names like Better Buzz, Lestat's, and Starbucks, plus a tried-and-loved Kona Coffee, I saw a little, out-of-the-way shop with an intriguing name.

Don't let the 4.3 rating deter you. Quiet Storm Roasters & Bakers is the first 5.0-deserving coffee shop I've visited in a long, long time.

San Diego has great coffee shops. Even in the suburbs north of the 52 we have a few gems, but the number of quality cafés multiplies exponentially in the more cultured regions of San Diego like Hillcrest and North Park.

I can't stress this enough, Quiet Storm Roasters & Bakers stands out even among so many other options.

Alright. I've vented my spleen enough. Here's why you should visit:

The place is cozy and perfect for working or studying. A wall-to-wall window slides open and admits plenty of ambient light and cool air from the calm side-street.

The view is pretty good considering Hillcrest isn't known for its landscaping and curb appeal. There's a real sense of "community" here as one of the owners chats over a cigar with someone I presume is a local. Dog-walkers take advantage of the protected bike lane, regulars come and go.

The aroma of cigar smoke, by the way, really elevates the appeal of this place. The smell of coffee is intoxicating, but despite my abstinence from smoking I cannot deny the tobacco adds a lot to the comfort I find here.

That said, I've only been here once so far. I ordered a doppio and a white peach jasmine iced tea (a favorite I don't always see available everywhere). Both were, honestly, perfect.

The service was friendly, communicative, personable. The music moves from one soul R&B hit to the next, neither too loud nor too quiet. A menu offering cocktails and beer suggests I could come back in six hours and find a new reason to love the spot.

I don't write reviews very often. I had to for this spot. I overdid it, a little, but listing some amenities and perks would fail to capture the aesthetic, vibe, energy, whatever of Quiet Storm...

Great little coffee shop. You can sit outside, or you can sit inside and have that outdoor feel as the windows are open and you get a nice view of the passerbys and of the indoor decor. Seems like a good place to sit and chat with a friend while you enjoy the drinks and pastries.

I got the white mocha latte with oat milk and it was perfect--not too sweet, good coffee flavor. I got a chicken puff pastry that was warmed and perfectly flaky. Yum! They also have teas, beers and other drinks like mimosas. On the side they have a small section with indoor plants and succulents for sale. I think it's worth a stop if you're in the area. Pretty chill vibes. Only downside is the parking for the area and if you're someone who gets cold easily, the inside area almost feels like being outside on a cold (you know, "San Diego cold") day.

Oh! Almost forgot. I guess some days they have vendors in front of their business selling food and others items. I heard they'll have that this Saturday. You can see people have posted pictures...

We showed up and there was a chap sitting on the chair in front of the main entrance smoking cigar and blowing smoke right in your face as you walk through the front door. I guess they sell cigars here so it's not totally out of the ordinary. We got inside and ordered a cold brew and match latté along with a couple of pastries before heading off to sit on some uncomfortable barstools. They called our drinks so we picked them up, and then they proceeded to completely forget about our pastries. We had to make our way back up to the front counter and remind them of which pastries we ordered. The place wasn't even crowded at the time, and additionally the food and drinks were nothing to write home about. Also, the coffee area was off in one of the corners of the establishment, coming off as an afterthought as the bar area seems to be the star...