Cafe 21 in Hillcrest, San Diego, CA

 

Start your day at Cafe 21 on Adams Avenue, an innovative farm-to-table spot with a menu borne from Chef Leyla Javadov’s origins in Azerbaijan and the unmatched local bounty of southern California.

You’ll find instagram-worthy, naturally-colored and delicious vegan lattes (hint: the Trained Dragon with espresso, pitaya, rose syrup, and almond and coconut milk—it’s naturally purple!) and spectacular craft cocktails created to pair beautifully with the scratch-cooking menu. The Bloody Mary is a literal culinary masterpiece in and of itself—tasting just as good as it presents.

Cafe 21’s brunch has an emphasis on small plates, so for the full experience, order a variety of items to try and share. Our picks include the phenomenal avocado toast topped with a perfectly poached egg, whipped feta mousse, and local vegetables dressed in lemon vinaigrette on their famed (and vegan!) house-made sourdough bread, as well as the bright strawberry salad with pistachios, creamy goat cheese, and spinach tossed with raspberry vinaigrette. Don’t miss the short rib crumpet—a decadent Cafe 21 specialty with tender beef short rib, egg, local butter lettuce, and house beet sauerkraut baked and served in a rustic copper pan. We also loved the tomato & egg, featuring hearty slow-stewed tomatoes, melty goat cheese, and a braised egg with a slice of house sourdough to soak up the sauce, as well as the crispy potato pancake served with Chef Javadov’s addictive spicy house spread.

The decor is clean and vibrant and most of the kitchen, bar and home items in use and on display are available for sale online at their market, Nature’s Kitchen Market. We loved all of the cute little bar garnishes and natural food coloring powders for sale—wonderful gift ideas for your epicurean friends.

Read our staycation guide to North Park San Diego, CA.

Contact Information

Cafe 21 has two locations in San Diego.

They are open for dining and takeout.

  • Gaslamp Hours: Sunday - Thursday, 8AM - 10PM, Friday - Saturday, 8AM - 11PM

  • University Heights Hours: Sunday, 8AM - 9PM, Monday - Thursday, 9AM - 9PM, Friday - Saturday, 10AM - 10PM

To make a reservation, call 619.795.0721  (Gaslamp) or 619.717.1251 (University Heights).

Click here to see their full menu.

Click here to follow them on Instagram @cafe21sandiego.

 
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