Living Room Coffeehouse

by Joanne L.

It's very quiet upstairs so it's a nice place to study but it smells kind of mildewy (probably from the humidity).  It's a nice alternative for studying compared to the La Jolla one but I don't know.. didn't feel it here.  Food is still pretty good and drinks are okay but I still like the La Jolla one more.  I felt like the stairs were going to collapse when I was going up and down.  Free wi-fi is always a plus :)

by Bennett L.

The most relaxing, cool, friendly, unique coffeehouse I've ever been to.  The Living Room Point Loma is one of the things I miss most about San Diego.  First off, the place is a renovated old victorian home.  The lower level is where you'll find the modest working area where the drinks and snacks are sold.  There's some seating on the lower level full with comfortable chairs for lounging or tables for those trying to get some work done.  Upstairs is even more quaint.  Lots of couches and tables where you'll find lots of people using the free wi-fi or holding study groups.  The place also has lots of local art hanging on the walls, some for purchase if you're interested.  Outside there's patio seating which always has a couple of people enjoying the San Diego weather.  It really doesn't get much better than this.The clientele is mostly young college kids.  But you'll find plenty of older locals and even a few sailors in the mix.  The staff is very friendly and knows the menu.  The drinks are so delicious.  Iced Emerald Isle is amazing with its white chocolate and minty flavor.  There's lots of newly baked brownies and cakes to choose from.  Or get a sandwich that the staff will make and bring to you.  The Living Room locations near SDSU and in La Jolla are also cool, but this one has a special spot in my heart.  If I ever hit the lotto I'm buying a house in the neighborhood and becoming a permanent fixture.

by Big D H.

Initial impression:  Wow this is different!!!!!Pros:Not your typical coffee joint! it's in a houseCons:The furniture is gross and worn outReally dirty-  There were fly's in the back Bad lighting if you want to study, and there is always a douche bag next  to you trying to hit on some girlPrices are higher than StarbucksSmall parking lotFinal thoughts:  I'll pass on this place until they clean it up a bit.

by Heather W.

First pink was the new red...then yellow was the new pink...and I think quite possibly purple became the new black at some point.But I discovered the most recent trend this week: Monday is the new Sunday. Who would have thought it was so difficult to find a cute dessert shop open on a monday evening! Common now...we need to band together and celebrate the end of the worst day of the work week - not munch on bon bon's on our couch!...but if bon bon's and couch equate to a fun evening, you could do that at the Living Room Coffeehouse in Point Loma. A dilapidated red couch in the back room, to be exact. Because it IS open on Monday evening! There you go, satisfy your need for a homey environment in public!This location is a converted victorian house and historic landmark (I believe I saw the framed document on the wall).  That definitely gives it charm the average starbucks aint got.  Unfortunately flocks of students are drawn to it like a magnet and use it as a study haven.  That's cool but it made me slightly guilty sitting on the couch chatting with my friend in a forced loud whisper because I could tell the 5 people on lap tops were trying their best to tune us out.Well, it's a public business not a library so ya know...ce la vie...not that anyone looked annoyed, I just felt bad. It also sucked because they took ALL the good sitting areas (upstairs was completely full, where we wanted to go).In terms of what they offer, there is a display case when you first walk in with all the traditional delicacies...I'm a sucker for a fruit tart and there was one left.  My friend and I both got mint mochas as well.  I know sugar is a main ingredient in these items but the tart and the mocha were soooooooooooooooooooo sweet.  I couldn't even finish my drink and struggled with the tart.  I just wish they had been lighter.Was a unique location to meet up at, but wasn't as warm an atmosphere as I hoped (figuratively and literally...the fans combined with the open back door were a dangerous combo for a May Gray evening).  I probably won't be heading back too soon and will remember next time that Monday is the new Sunday...I've been trying to establish that Thursday is the new Friday so I'll stick with that for my week day outings :)

by Tibor A.Jackie F.Adria D.Missy A.Heather R.

I have gone here several times over the years.The good: Good coffee during the morning and day. Excellent, beautiful location. Pretty good food I heard from others, although I've not tried any myself. Usually you can meet tourists here. The building is unique - it's an old Victorian house, converted into a coffee shop. I'm sure military people who work on the Pt. Loma Naval Base stop here during the morning hours for coffee on their way to work, so I bet it's better during the morning/day than at night.The bad: Don't go at night after 9pm. Just don't. They don't want you around. It's one of those kinds of places where the employees don't have any pride in staying late to accommodate customers who are getting coffee at night to do homework, update their resume or just chill and relax. And since my experience here one night a few weeks ago was so horrible, I'll probably never go here again for quite a while. It's not much to ask to have freshly brewed coffee and fresh, cold half-and-half. What I received was room-temperature coffee that was probably brewed 6 hours prior, and rotten half-and-half. Are you serious? Even after I left you a tip before you even poured my coffee? Was it your last day of work, so you took out your revenge on the customers of your workplace? Why? I can't figure it out. So the only place I know of to get coffee at night after 9pm is my own house, Coffee Bean in Mission Valley, or Lestat's. And Coffee Bean closes around 11pm or so most nights.Pro: Flavorful drinks. Con: Parking, idiotic staff, nuked half cooked egg, forgotten orders, no AC, noisy stairs, distance to the freeway. Had a business group that use to go to this place, ending up turning every member into hating the Living Room due to the absolutely brainless staff behind the counter. From not able to take multiple orders to not remembering to wash their hands after handling food.  Any warmed food is just simply a health hazard, since they are not cooked or even warmed up all the way. If I am pissing off the locals, sorry. While I am not expecting Starbucks (the evil empire of caffeine), I would of settled for a coffee cart at the local mall... At least they would actually cared about serving you.When you first enter this charming historical building you know why they call it the living room. There are lots of old chairs and couches. If you venture upstairs you'll find the same with local artist works adorning the walls.We opted for the cute patio area since it was a beautiful day. There were great reggae tunes playing in the garden setting. I think there is also free wi-fi.The food here is a wonderful healthy alternative. I have to say i have never had better fruit in California. I am not sure where they get it from but every bite of each fruit was juicy, sweet, flavorful, and delicious! I wish I could pick fruit this tasty!The mocha also stood out as exceptional. It had wonderful coffee flavor and the chocolate was sheer perfection! I think the whipped cream was home made as well. I had the Point Loma breakfast croissant, my com padre had the biggest breakfast burrito I have every seen in my life.The croissant was delicious as was the burrito. The burrito was filled with eggs, pinto beans and lots of other healthy goodies.Everything was SO good and seemed very healthy that we decided to take some items to go. The hummus plate, a side of fruit and a veggie spring roll. All were excellent and very reasonably priced.The chairs could use replacing. I was hesitant to sit on them, they reminded me of ones people leave on the side of the road.To sum it up, The Living Room SUCKED...Mostly because of the people that were working there at the time.  (It was a Saturday around 7:00pm.)    A group of us walked in hoping to get a quick snack before watching a play at the Point Loma Assembly which was only a half block away.  We were there 40 min. before the play started.The bad service started when we were waiting there for a few min....observing the menu and waiting for someone to attend to the counter and help us.  When a worker finally showed up, he ended up helping these bitches who obviously came in after us.  (I call them bitches because they were oblivious to the 3 of us standing there.)  The counter boy totally by-passed us because we were standing in front of the dessert display and not in front of the cash register.  Idiot.Finally, we got to order.  My friend ordered a slice of berry pie and ice tea, another friend of mine ordered hummus and pita, and I ordered a slice of quiche and a glass of wine.  We figured, with a slice of pie, and hummus, the only labor  thing the counter boy had to do was heat up the quiche and pour the drinks.   That should take only at the most...10 - 15 min.  (and I'm being generous with the time).10 min later, I got a burned quiche.  30 min. later, my friends got their hummus and pie.  How long does it take to simply serve a slice of pie on a plate, heat up some pita and put a scoop of hummus in a container?  The counter boy obviously forgot about the pie and hummus.  After we reminded him of our order he spouted off a bullshit answer saying that the heaters weren't working.  (Just own up to your mistake, say you forgot about the order and comp us fucker!)Anyways, the pie was not good.  My friend had to scarf down a few bites but didn't finish it.  It tasted stale.    And my other friend ended up bringing her hummus and pita to the play because we didn't want to be late.  We barely got there in time.  If we would've known it would take 45 min. to get a simple snack, we wouldn't have come here.  Don't go here unless you have hours upon hours to spend.  The place may look like it has personality, but I'm all about service.I really like coming here, HOWEVER, over the last two years, I do think they have ever gotten my order right once.  I have gotten to the point where I place my order as clear as day and repeat it and they still mess it up.  It does not seem to bother them that they have this problem either, which I think is weird.  I still like it here.  The upstairs is great for studying when I am taking classes.  Some of the furniture REALLY needs to go.  Maybe one day the staff will figure out their menu, or how to take orders; not really counting on it though.

by Sharon L.

2.5 stars really because I have mix feelings for this place.This place has a very nice homy feeling to it. They have really good cappuccino, maybe I just love their big round white mug. Their pastries are good too, the scones are my favorite. I go here a lot on weekends to enjoy a relax breakfast.However, their lunch and dessert are not so good. My tiramisu from here was sour, then I decieded to give it another try and got a banana cream pie which taste like the fridge at my house, and I gave it a third try and their chocolate cake wasn't good either (I forgot what's wrong with it). I don't think they should put their gorceries (eggs, etc) in the same fridge as the cake, which i believe causes the fridge smell in their cakes. Oh and their lunch wraps aren't good either... somehow their tortillas are extremely dry and hard. I ate their wraps more than once so I believe that's not an accident.

by sarah g.

Definitely a unique coffee house, but oy, they aren't really as friendly as they seem.. I've gone here a few times over the last six years or so, and I've realized that it's a great place for tourists, but not a good local coffee house. parking sucks, and during finals times (at UCSD at least) they would put signs out that ban you for studying/staying longer than like an hour.. And that is just not very appealing to me..Good: decent coffee, cool furnitureBad: Touristy, won't let you study, crappy parking

by Dee M.

Delicious coffee and a refreshing change from your typical Starbucks on every other corner.

by Daniel C.

Been here 5 or 6 times now, first few were fine: good staff, good food amp; coffee, timely service etc..., but the last two times have been less than spectacular. A coffee shops job is to feed a drug to addicts, so when these bleary eyed addicts come in at 7 or 8 in the morning to get their fix MAKE IT SNAPPY!. Two days in a row I had to ask for my drink because 10 minutes or so had gone by and it was clear no one was making my coffee..On my most recent visit there was an older man and woman (owners?) behind the counter and in the small kitchen...disaster..I think I heard them apologize to every customer that was there that day. I AM gonna give this place another chance, but I'm gonna take a break hoping they can get organized and efficient again.

by Tibor A.

I have gone here several times over the years.The good: Good coffee during the morning and day. Excellent, beautiful location. Pretty good food I heard from others, although I've not tried any myself. Usually you can meet tourists here. The building is unique - it's an old Victorian house, converted into a coffee shop. I'm sure military people who work on the Pt. Loma Naval Base stop here during the morning hours for coffee on their way to work, so I bet it's better during the morning/day than at night.The bad: Don't go at night after 9pm. Just don't. They don't want you around. It's one of those kinds of places where the employees don't have any pride in staying late to accommodate customers who are getting coffee at night to do homework, update their resume or just chill and relax. And since my experience here one night a few weeks ago was so horrible, I'll probably never go here again for quite a while. It's not much to ask to have freshly brewed coffee and fresh, cold half-and-half. What I received was room-temperature coffee that was probably brewed 6 hours prior, and rotten half-and-half. Are you serious? Even after I left you a tip before you even poured my coffee? Was it your last day of work, so you took out your revenge on the customers of your workplace? Why? I can't figure it out. So the only place I know of to get coffee at night after 9pm is my own house, Coffee Bean in Mission Valley, or Lestat's. And Coffee Bean closes around 11pm or so most nights.