“Take it from someone who’s been to their fair share of coffee shops, Cafe Bassam is a diamond among rhinestones. I hope you don’t underestimate me when I say I have paid my coffee shop dues as a barista and customer. Of course, there are always new trails to be blazed, but as a fairly new San Diego resident, I think it’s impressive when I rattle off (in a heartbeat) more than a dozen independently owned coffee shops in the county, all of which I frequent.”
"Just a block away from the city’s massive urban greenspace Balboa Park, Café Bassam provides the perfect pick-me-up before a long walk in the park, with an interior of beautiful antiques and an outdoor patio ideal for a sunny San Diego day. Their menu includes basic cups of joe as well as unique concoctions like winter chai teas and Mexican mochas, plus a few simple but nonetheless delicious toasted sandwiches or bagels."
“This newer location is still a li’l old coffee house, but, unexpectedly, in a brand-new building. Step inside, and it’s like a Victorian museum. Ornate mirrors, those vintage rifles displayed on maroon-painted walls. Comfy sofas, pink-stone-topped tables, jewelry collections, a baby grand piano, displays of cigars, medals, wines, paintings, a round silver tray with three bottles of port on it —”
"Coffee on the beach: It's a tantalizing fantasy for anyone still waiting out the end of winter on the East Coast, but for the residents of San Diego, it's a daily reality. They have the beaches — there are arguably none more beautiful in the U.S. — and they have the coffee. Of the city's more than 450 coffee shops, the 1920s-inspired Cafe Bassam and The Swell Café (née Cafe Mono), which specializes in “foam art,” stand out.”