Top 3 Coffee Shops in North Park You Need to Visit
Calling all coffee lovers! Finding the perfect go-to cafe is harder than it looks. Especially if you want something different than our usual basic Starbucks order. By visiting these three coffee shops, not only will you support local businesses, but you will experience flavors of coffee you would never imagine. Trust me, I love my Starbucks, but these North Park cafes are to die for.
The first coffee shop I visited was Cafe Madeleine at the North Park location. If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting France, this is the location for you. The cafe is inspired by sidewalk street cafes in Paris, where you’ll have the chance to try French-inspired food, pastries and coffee. They offer cold brews, frappes and short drinks.
As soon as I walked in, the environment was very calming and the friendly staff created a safe space to be at. Although it's located at a street corner, it's still a great place to do homework or simply enjoy a quick lunch.
I ordered a Caprese Baguette, a Cafe Cubano and an iced Mexican Mocha. The baguette was so savory and filled with tomato, prosciutto ham and fresh arugula. The bread was top-tier, it was a toasty and crunchy experience with every bite. I didn't even want to finish it because of how delicious it was!
As for the coffee, if you like strong caffeine with a flavor of cinnamon, the Cafe Cubano is a great choice. The cashier even recommended it and said it was one of her favorites. The iced Mexican mocha is a perfect drink if you enjoy chocolate and caffeine, that definitely has “chocolate Abuelita” mixed in.
The second coffee shop on the list was Communal Coffee. Their location in North Park is very spacious and has a lot of room for you to sit down to do work. They have breakfast, toasts and lunch options as well as alcohol. They have a decorative wall that reads “COFFEE+FLOWERS,” which sums up what Communal Coffee is all about.
I’ve tried the Rose Vanilla specialty latte as well as their Mocha latte, so I decided to try something different and ordered a Mango Black Iced Tea. It did not disappoint, considering how refreshing the tea was. Although it isn't as sweet or mango-flavored as I thought it would be like, it was a refreshing choice for something other than coffee.
The best and last place you need to try was my personal favorite, Deja Brew Lounge. Not only is the name super unique, but the environment was soothing and aesthetically beautiful. Inside you’ll find cute chairs, plants, inspiring quotes and an amazing floral mural. It definitely screams “good vibes” and “no bad days,'' which is a perfect way to start every morning along with your cup of coffee.
As for their drinks, they have a ton of variety from mimosas, boba, cold brew tea, lattes, matcha and lemonades. I was overwhelmed by the many choices, but decided to try the Nutella-Banana specialty latte. As pretty as it was, the taste was immaculate! It tasted, as the name suggests, just like chocolate Nutella, caffeine and fresh banana creme.
All in all, North Park is filled with many other cafes that have their own spark, but Cafe Madeleine, Communal Coffee and Deja Brew Lounge are amazing choices if you want to try new drinks and enjoy your day in the area. Let us know if you’ve tried or plan to try these places on your next coffee run!
Ariadna Rodriguez Perez — February 14th,2022
