Is University Coffee Co good for working or studying?

Absolutely—this is a work-friendly spot with WiFi and a relaxed vibe that locals use regularly. The open concept with retro 90s touches makes it comfortable to camp out for a few hours, and the staff is genuinely welcoming, not the type to rush you.

What should I order on my first visit?

The coffee is solid and smooth—try a Caramel Latte or get adventurous with the Watermelon Matcha. Pair it with a Ham and Cheese Croissant or a bagel. Pro tip: get there early (before 10am) because pastries and food items sell out, and the staff has been known to comp a sweet treat for first-timers.

Is there parking near University Coffee Co in City Heights?

The shop is located on University Ave in City Heights, a neighborhood with street parking available. You'll likely find spots nearby, though timing matters during peak morning hours—arriving before 9am usually means easier parking.

Can I just walk in, or do I need a reservation?

Walk-ins are welcome and the norm here. This is a casual neighborhood coffee spot, not the type of place that requires reservations. Just show up, and the staff will greet you warmly.

Is University Coffee Co a good spot for breakfast or brunch?

Yes—it's exactly the neighborhood brunch spot City Heights needed. They serve breakfast items like croissants, bagels, and pastries alongside good coffee. Go early though, because items sell out by mid-morning and you'll want first pick of the food.

What's the vibe like—is it casual or do I need to dress up?

Completely casual. Think cozy neighborhood hangout with retro 90s design touches and an open concept layout. Wear whatever you're comfortable in—this is a jeans-and-coffee kind of place run by sibling owners who genuinely care about making people feel at home.

University Coffee Co — San Diego

“University Coffee Co runs on sibling energy and actually-sold-out pastries by mid-morning, not the overordered industrial bins most cafes keep stocked all day.”

While Thanh Tinh Chay three blocks down built its reputation on all-day vegan cooking and Lotus Garden handles wedding banquets upstairs, University Coffee Co operates at neighborhood-morning scale—the kind of spot where ham and cheese croissants disappear before 10am and the owners remember your order by week two. The siblings who run it aren't staffing a cafe; they're hosting their living room, complete with WiFi that actually works and a 90s-leaning aesthetic that feels chosen, not ordered from a startup playbook.

The Dubai chocolate latte and watermelon matcha signal ambition beyond drip coffee and oat milk, but the real move here is treating it like the work-friendly brunch spot it is: arrive early enough to snag pastries, claim a table near an outlet, and let the casual-weeknight energy carry you through emails. The simple menu works in its favor—bagels, croissants, a handful of drinks that rotate based on what the kitchen feels like making—because everything's made to order, not reheated from yesterday's batch.

Parking on University can be a negotiation, especially mid-morning when the neighborhood's awake. The cozy space doesn't seat armies, so weekend mornings might require patience or a willingness to take your latte to go. But that's the trade-off for a spot that actually runs out of food because people show up, not because the owners under-ordered to minimize waste. City Heights needed a coffee shop that operates like someone's passionate side project, not a scaled concept, and that's exactly what the siblings delivered.