il giardino di Lilli

I rarely give 5 stars to anyone unless it’s exceptional and this place is definitely exceptional. It’s small / cozy which contributes to the ambiance. The blend of eccentric indoor and green outdoor spaces is so well executed. The service is wonderful - you definitely get a small / family cafe treatment here. It feels homey and comfy, even though you will likely end up waiting in line to order for good 10-20minutes if you come during peak hours. The wait will be worth it. The panino / sandwiches are fabulous! I’m a bread snob, spoiled with Micheline star bakeries as well as the real deal from the old world, and I find Lilli’s levain to be world class, definitely one of the best I’ve had in my life. All the puff pastry is great but I do wish the dough was even more flakey but mainly more buttery. It’s still wonderful regardless. And the coffee! Oh my! I found this place because I was looking for a good coffee in La Jolla while staying here for a few days, and the coffee is from out of this world. Very much Italian quality coffee worth coming over for even if you come from further away. I love Lilli’s and will be coming back on my future visits to San Diego! Thanks for building this wonderful place.

Lovely place. They have seating in the garden, which is really, really nice. Also, the people are very, very friendly and helpful. The coffees are really nice. Their breakfast/brunch items are, however, in my opinion, their best items. For example, their mortadella sandwich is out of this world. Their sweets and pastries are also really nice.

Such a lovely spot for coffee and pastries tucked into a serene space (former Pannikin) in LaJolla Authentic Italian cafe. Delicious soft croissants filled with pistachio cream, marzipan or Nutella.

A coffee shop nestled in a garden in La Jolla, this warm Italian-style restaurant has a lush, green, and serene atmosphere. The staff are very enthusiastic, and all beverages and food are made with high-quality, fresh ingredients—you can truly taste the care put into each dish. The presentation is also beautiful, making it perfect for photos! I heard their pistachio croissant is incredibly delicious, but you need to go as early as 9 a.m. to buy it, or it will sell out quickly. This time, we ordered the lavender agave latte, which was absolutely delicious—highly recommended!

This is what a coffee shop should be. We searched for an Italian coffee shop as we are fatigued with the atmosphere of normal coffee shops. I didn’t think we’d find anything but found this place by surprise. Great atmosphere and seating inside and out. Fantastic coffee, baked goods, and food. They used great ingredients, have whole milk for coffee, and use real sweetener. Dine in and enjoy the experience and soak in the Italian music. It looks like it is run by the whole family. I wish they opened up a place back home! Best coffee shop in La Jolla!