I wanted to like this place. Unfortunately, it’s just another mediocre, hipster coffee shop. Despite that, the café itself is aesthetically pleasing and the location is beautiful. My friend and I both purchased the white mocha and a Nutella crêpe. The white mocha was delicious, but it’s a bit too sweet for my taste. Definitely something to get if you’re craving something sweet. The crêpe was whatever. They seem quite greedy when it comes to the amount of Nutella in the crêpe especially for the price. The workers were very kind and patient! I’ll probably come back to try the gelato or if I was having a sweet tooth.
Elizabeth T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 La Jolla, CA
Cute new to La Jolla coffee bar and if you are looking for amazing coffee and don’t mind paying a high price tag for it check this place out. I’m always on the hunt for great new independent coffee shops so based on the other Unilocal reviews I figured I had to give Elixir a try. I went there with a girlfriend this morning and the atmosphere was nice. We were able to grab the one couch in the corner which gave us privacy to chat without bothering the other patrons there working on their laptops. I ordered a dirty chai tea latte and it was absolutely delicious. I imagine their coffee is just as good or better. The only reason I probably won’t return was that my bank account can’t afford my return. My medium size 12oz dirty chai was $ 6+ and once I electronically added tip for the awesome barista it was $ 8. I do have to say they don’t skimp on your beverage. The barista brought our drinks over to us and they were brim to brim in the white porcelain mugs.
Stephanie S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
I tried Elixir for the first time last night, I was pleasantly surprised that it looked and tasted good; it was amazing! I ordered the viennese which I was hesitant because I’ve never tried before but it was delicious. :)
Michael B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Solana Beach, CA
This was our first time here. My wife and I were happily welcomed by all 4 staff when we entered this shop last Sunday. Elixir had been recently recommended to us by a friend when we complained that there was no place to grab a really good cappuccino in La Jolla. We were familiar with the Elixir Expresso Bar in the UTC mall but we were not aware they had also opened in La Jolla. After confirming this location had a similar menu we ordered 2 lattes and 2 of their super value crepes. Thanks to Destiny and Rob for their warm conversation while we thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The coffee bar is a little difficult to spot from the sidewalk if you were walking along Girard Ave as it is down a short flight of stairs in a large building which houses other restaurants upstairs… but it is worth visiting for sure. And there is an elevator from street level which takes you up or down. These guys use Caffe Calabria roasted coffee beans which we consider to be the best… we even use the same brand at home. With such lovely friendly staff who know how to make really good lattes and tasty crepes we are sure to return next time we visit La Jolla.
AM T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 LA JOLLA, CA
Just when I thought La Jolla had tapped out with its three decent coffee shops, this gem came along. There are so many things I love about the Elixir on Girard Street. The baristas are the friendliest I’ve ever met, the crepes are massive and delicious, the prices are the same as all the rest, and best of all, the ambience is ideal for working on a laptop or enjoying some Java with a friend. Don’t be fooled by Elixir’s hidden location, the journey is well worth it.
Elliott P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 La Jolla, CA
Stopped in after brunch for a quick Dirty Chai and gelato. Really really good chai and friendly staff. I recommend the coconut gelato! I’m not a coconut person, but wow. I’ll expand this review on return visits
Jack M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Rancho San Diego, CA
This place is appropriately named because they not only make some great coffees and serve wine, but they also make some great eats. I came in for a small pre brunch snack which consisted Café au Lait and a breakfast crêpe with cubed ham, egg, spinach, and cheese nestled inside the rolled up crêpe. The Café au Lait was very well made. It was pipping hot and the hot milk foamed up nicely on the top. The coffee used was smooth and rich with outstanding flavor. The crêpe was quite good. The crêpe itself had a light crispiness on the outside and was very thin and moist. Its flavor was very mild with a semi sweet after taste. The cubed ham pieces inside were savory and soft, the spinach was fresh, and the white cheese, which I believe was Mozzarella was melted and light in flavor. I liked the crêpe very much, but this particular one needed something aggressive in it. Perhaps a sauce of a stronger cheese, to give it some character. The two young ladies running the show were great. They not only know how to make a terrific Café au Lait, but they can also put together one fine crêpe. Well done. Oh yes, on of the girls, made a curry ketchup and it was very good.
Martha A.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Aspen, CO
As I’ve written in reviews of indie coffee shops in other cities, we have a little hobby when we travel of finding the best such cafes everywhere we go. And we go to San Diego frequently, which is why we were thrilled to discover Elixir. Having traveled quite a bit in Europe as well, this is the real deal if you love European style espresso drinks and crepes.(We did not try the pastries, gelato or sandwiches but they look great.) The qualities we look for in espresso include a full creamy texture, dark roast with plenty of taste yet not bitter, and a creamy milk. We favor soy milk and the pictures tell the story if you’re fond of that. Organic soy milk, of course! The terrific barrista art just adds to the fun. We found ourselves going there every morning for breakfast, which consisted of at least one coffee and two crepes. We got addicted to the Viennese crepes, which have cinnamon and honey, making the crepes themselves the main attraction. Since we don’t like them extremely sweet we asked for light on the honey. A bonus fact: they don’t use butter(a little oil in the batter instead), though you would never know it. We like the fact they aren’t greasy. The owners are European and these almost resemble super-thin blintzes, which taste slightly eggier than some crepes. In any case, they are to-die-for. As others have mentioned, the ambience is really nice. Because it’s downstairs, there’s no street noise. Their choices of Pandora channels are high-class, and the volume not too loud. They have couches, counter stools and tables. There’s a cool yoga-wear shop next door in which I did some damage… really nice stuff.
NYSD G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
very cool spot for frothy coffee if you dont want the tourist trap of the living room café. a little bit noisy at night because of the restaurant upstairs but there’s plenty of options for a sit down or a good walk with cup in hand, especially when it’s brisk outside.
J M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
Fantastic! Delicious Italian style coffee, best in La Jolla downtown :-) Tastes like Italy. They do low temperature steaming and the coffee is soooooo smooth. Hm :-)
Dan K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Carlsbad, CA
Fantastic café in the heart of the La Jolla village below Catania on the corner of Wall St and Gerard. The village really needed a café that cared about the art of pulling a good shot of coffee. I’ve had a variety of things like Cortados, Macchiatos, and Cappuccinos, all have been good. They have a small menu of a few quality sandwiches, snacks and deserts. They also have a decent wine selection for the evenings too. It has a great ambiance and takes advantage of the Italian village style of the renovations of the new building(previously«Jacks»).
Chad S.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Los Angeles, CA
This café was nice looking… The coffee is mediocre.(4 of 4 variety drinks agree) The help is decent. The crepes aren’t crap. This review is the extent of how you’ll feel post-visit.
Masha I.
Rating des Ortes: 5 La Jolla, CA
Absolutely in love with this coffee shop The atmosphere is so inviting and the coffee is life changing! The love and care that goes into the coffee here is truly remarkable. Make sure to try the yummy gelato and crepes:) If you are anywhere in the area this coffee shop is a must!
Yara S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
So glad this opened, a great new option in the heart of dt la jolla! Delish coffees and crepes, awesome baristas, and open late!
Lindsey F.
Rating des Ortes: 5 La Jolla, CA
I just happened to walk by this place a couple weeks ago and thought I would give it a try. I LOVE it! The coffee is amazing, the décor is beautiful, and they always have the best music playing. I’m a PhD student and it’s perfect for studying with a cup of coffee(or wine!) or if you want to meet up with a friend. I will definitely be back. The only thing that would be nice is if there was a breakfast item that was low(er) carb like an omelet. I imagine I’m not the only one living in La Jolla that avoids carbs when I can! Other than that, it’s perfect.
Peter Y.
Rating des Ortes: 5 La Jolla, CA
Outstanding Viennese iced coffee. Rich full-bodied coffee with milk an cinnamon. No sweetener needed. Yum!
Andres M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 La Jolla, CA
Love this place! Just opened. The best espresso in la Jolla. Bird Rock a few minutes away now finally has some competition! Stoked on Elixir.
Chris M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Fremont, CA
Opening on Sept 30th. This place has amazing vibes. An open layout with plenty of seating. There are tables to work on and outlets to charge your computers and tablets. They have wifi as well which is a super plus! They have 12 flavors of gelato so you can never go wrong. Their flavors: strawberry, mango, coconut, blueberry, Nutella, chocolate, stracciatella, pistachio, tiramisu, cream, vanilla and coffee. They also have an array of drinks: San pelegrino, vos, naked. They have sandwiches as well. 8.75 for a European style sandwich. The music vibe is superb. Exotic but ambient.
Drew L.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
Prelims: located in the heart of La Jolla, this cute little café suffers from the same parking malady that infects San Diego. The place serves wine, beer, gelato, tea, coffee, and oh so delicious crepes. The service is great and it’s quite reasonable for being located in a tourist hotspot. Tip: it’s right below Catania. The fiancée and I ordered the classic crêpe. Oh my goodness it’s so frigging good. The crêpe has the nice crisp ends with the beautifully soft middle, playing with the texture and the wrapped Nutella unfurls delicious sugar and chocolate into your taste buds. What a deliciously made crêpe and it was so good! There’s a variety– the Vienna, with honey and cinnamon, the savory, etc. The fiancée says the coffee is quite bomb, which as a coffee fiend she is quite the expert. All of this for just $ 7.05(5 bucks for the crêpe and 2 for the coffee). TL;DR delicious crepes in the smallest of places.
Daphne L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
What a cute hidden gem! I stumbled upon this café during a stroll during Fashion Week San Diego! They have great service and a good selection of gelato and coffees! We ordered a classic crêpe which has Nutella in it! It was yummy! I also ordered some regular coffee and it was pretty good(better than Starbucks)! It came out to be $ 7.50 for both items. I highly recommend you stop by!