5 Best Restaurants in Downtown, San Diego

Named 2012's Roaster of the Year by Roast Magazine, Bird Rock has ten locations across San Diego, including the bustling suite at the corner of Kettner Boulevard and Juniper Street. Known for high-quality espresso drinks made by award-winning baristas and a large selection of beans from around the world, Bird Rock Little Italy is a relaxing place to grab a latte and fresh pastry and watch the hubbub of Little Italy pass you by.

Ride over to Cafe Moto for delicious lattes, cortados, cappuccinos, and other third-wave coffee favorites made with fair trade beans. You can try their coffee at numerous eateries around town, but there's nothing like a fresh cup roasted just steps away from where it's served. Motorcycle riders can also expect premium parking, with a few two-wheeled-only spots right out front. 

Housed alongside a handful of other small businesses in The Space, a warehouse-like shopping center, James Coffee Co. and its aromas of fresh-brewed house roasts might very well prove too enticing for nearby shoppers to pass up. Take a seat while waiting for a cup of flavorful pour-over coffee, frothy espresso, or a variety of teas, and savor a morning bun or a flaky, buttery croissant. Or if you're on the go, they offer a seasonal rotation of different bagged roasts for you to take with you.

The line moves fast at Spill The Beans, a coffee shack designed like a nautical lighthouse on the east side of Seaport Village. Open from 7 am to 6 pm daily, you can get your java fix from their curated menu of coffeehouse classics, like Americanos and lattes, or specialty options like the cinna-bee latte with honey and cinnamon. Their bagel menu offers sweet and savory flavors as well as a rotating flavor of the month, with a unique variety of spreads like wasabi-ginger-soy and caramelized shallot and chive.