Coffee Shops in San Diego for Serious Studying
Courtesy of Fanette Guilloud
It’s simply a rite of passage to spend hours tucked away at a coffee shop, typing away at an assignment growing less cumbersome as time goes on.
Let me introduce you to a few local coffee shops in San Diego. These aren’t just any coffee shops; each one has undergone careful selection, sleathy review, and/or is already on our rotation.
Source: Em Coffee House Website
Em Coffee House, sitting in the heart of Mira Mesa, unsurprisingly draws from Vietnamese roots, with their signature cream coffees taking center stage on the menu. A few of these include a Banana Toffee Latte, CocoUbe Cream Latte, and Egg Brulee Cream Latte.
I originally selected Em Coffee House because of its high ratings on Yelp. I ended up staying longer than anticipated, enjoying the quiet, ambient music in the background and a space to gather my thoughts. Square tables, half of them unoccupied, are the perfect size for a laptop and a coffee, while the little blue chairs are like faux leather.
Most coffee shops and cafes tend to have a “decorative wall,” or even an inspirational saying, and this coffee house is no exception. Along with the blue and gold color palette, against one of the blue brick walls stands a cursive, gold sign, “Be in the moment.”
The Living Room Coffeehouse La Jolla
**Please note that the following is only based on the La Jolla location. 
Squashed between art galleries and a few other eateries, the interior of this coffeehouse has the feel of a luxury hotel: spacious, red/gold/royalty themed, decorative ceilings, candelabra chandeliers, and rolling, patterned carpets.
The many open tables invite you to study or work, and it’s common to do so here for hours. When you leave, you might be the first person to do so.
A couple of staircases hidden between the shops across the Living Room lead down to La Jolla Cove, where one can take a walk by the sea. The winding trail curbs the edge of a ocean view — a perfect respite from focusing.
The Living Room La Jolla also holds music and other events into the wee hours of the morning. You can find more about their events here: https://livingroomcafe.com/events.
Source: Hinar Instagram
A small shop with larger seating than it initially looks, this coffee shop is located in downtown SD, East Village, walking distance from the Central Library.
During my visit, I noticed a younger clientele gathered in the shop, with groups tending to be outside on the alley-patio or in the front room. An archway leads to additional seating in the back room, a few closed-off glass-paneled rooms, and people working on their laptops.
A word to describe this shop’s decorative themes: museum vibes. Draping white curtains; decorative, ancient Greek column stands in the Ionic order style; beige green walls. The shop’s decorative wall, consisting of a couple of stark white shelves laden with ceramics and pottery, did all the more to add to the shop’s modern, museum-like theme.
Step into Murî, and you almost feel like you’re not in San Diego, University Avenue. Rolled, patterned rugs line the floors, the walls are a coral pink, and wooden wicker chairs stand at sturdy round tables. The ceiling is also interesting: wooden round beams stretched under what looked like straw mats.
Similar to HINAR, Murî also has a Kurdish menu and ethnic roots. The cafe was established by two Kurdish doctoral students at UCSD. Taken from Murî’s website, “Murî means bead in English, symbolizing beauty, colorfulness, and meaning when they come together.”
The Kurdish influence is evident not only in the cafe’s aesthetics, but also in my serving platter, which had detailed metalwork etched on it. I was served the largest cup of matcha I have ever seen, while the dessert I purchased was not too sweet, allowing me to enjoy the texture more.
Like most cafes seemingly dedicated to students and professionals, the main room was just one part of the entire cafe; an outdoor patio sat underneath an overhead lattice, vines weaving between the open spaces.
If you haven’t already been, consider one of the coffee houses on our list. And if you happen to discover a local favorite for yourself, let us know.