In the ’90s from Seinfeld to Friends, coffeehouses were all the rage.
Today, although television has gone more reality, coffeehouses in our own reality still exist in full force. In San Diego, every neighborhood has one of their own. They are all unique and offer a variety of styles and I love to support their individualism. We all know that Starbucks rules the coffee world, with stores on almost every corner, in almost every city, throughout almost the entire world, but they lack the charm and character that you will only find in a classic neighborhood coffeehouse.
For most writers, including myself, coffee places have become our offices.
Through the decades, coffee shops typically have always been gathering places for starving musicians and artists. How the coffee beans have turned. Walk into any coffee shop around our city, and you’ll find grad students prepping for the bar exam, writers working on articles and graphic artists designing on their Macs. These days every coffeehouse is loaded with a new kind of clientele.
I spent a good six months checking out various coffeehouses around our city.
Lestat’s is the best, and it is where my friends, more often than not, find me. Their two locations, Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue, are both great but Park is my favorite. Both are done in a gothic style and aptly named after the elusive vampire.
The tables are somewhat randomly sited throughout the coffeehouse with a large comfy couch placed at the front. If you have your dog with you, relax on the sidewalk patio which is always filled with interesting characters – canine and human.
The coffee is just delicious, particularly their specialty blends. I love that all the drinks are made right in front of you with no pretentiousness. The display cases are filled with freshly baked muffins, Danish pastries and a wide range of cookies.
Lestat’s is one of the only places in town where you can get a vegan dessert. The savory items on the menu are just as good as the sweets and they offer freshly made soups every day. If you hit Lestat’s when it is the broccoli and cheese soup, you hit gold.
The baked turkey and Swiss is sinful and delicious. A classic club sandwich is served in four cut stacked triangles and all sandwiches come with a gourmet bag of chips and a sour pickle. If you are more heath-conscience, try one of the salads laden with dried fruits, nuts and other delicious ingredients. Not only is Lestat’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but they are open all night too, 24/7. When you’re burning the midnight oil, like many of us do, this is a great place to chill out and relax. I love the vibe of this place. Everyone is welcome here and the no-attitude flavor really shows through.
Lestat’s Coffee House
3343 Adams Ave.
San Diego 92116
619-282-0437
Lestat’s On Park
4496 Park Blvd.
San Diego 92116
619-501-6638
Lestats.com
