Rebecca’s Coffee House

Amidst the sea of corporate coffee chains found on every street corner and in every shopping mall, it’s hard to find an independent coffee shop these days, period. But one that bakes its own goods and trusts its customers enough to let them pay later if they’re short on cash? That almost sounds too good to be true. However, Rebecca’s Coffee House is one of those rare finds. From the live jazz that plays in-house to the smells of freshly ground espresso and baked goods, Rebecca’s offers a homey atmosphere to socialize or study at in the very heart of South Park.

I first discovered Rebecca’s Coffee House during one of my weekend explorations of the neighborhoods surrounding Balboa Park. As one of San Diego’s newest transplants, I had lost my way home and was trying to find the road back to the freeway. I stopped at the intersection of Fern Street and Juniper Street and saw a group of people lightly chatting outside this beautifully decorated cafe that had an assortment of Christmas lights hanging from the planters and trees. I thought I would stop for a quick coffee break and be on my way. However, the excellent service, music and cozy mood of the cafe kept me there for many hours.

I was greeted by the owner, Rebecca herself, who told me about the daily pastry selections and told me about the jazz ensemble, Now Jazz Trio, which was playing on the stage that takes up a good portion of the spacious cafe. Local bands like this one frequent Rebecca’s on most weekdays and every weekend. There are also open-mic nights twice a week.
Rebecca’s is known for its freshly made scones. The raspberry scone ($2.75) was still warm from the oven, had fresh raspberries mixed in and was served with a homemade strawberry jam that was so tasty I was tempted to eat it by itself. On most days, Rebecca’s sells out of scones by the mid-afternoon. However, there is plenty more food that patrons can choose from. A wide assortment of cakes and cookies ($1.75 and up), soups ($4), salads ($7 and up) and made-to-order deli sandwiches ($7 or more) are available.

The drink menu is also varied and includes the normal espresso fare in addition to smoothies and blended coffee drinks such as banana mocha freezes, chai latte frappes and even holiday-themed drinks for gingerbread and eggnog lovers. The fancier drinks will cost you $4 or more, but the espresso drinks are well-priced; Americanos are $2.25 and drip coffee is $1.75. Rebecca’s is a cash-only establishment, so be sure to stop by an ATM before your visit because there isn’t one in the vicinity. If you do forget (like I did once) the employees will ring you up anyway and ask you to pay the next time you’re in the neighborhood.

Rebecca’s comfortable ambiance is another reason why it is such a desirable place to get work done. There’s a good ratio of couches and armchairs to sink into to sturdier tables that give patrons the option to curl up with a book or sit and talk with friends, respectively. One wall of the cafe is stacked high with various board games and books that customers can take back to their tables to enjoy. The rest of the cafe is decorated with antique lamps and paintings of all sizes that are made by local artists. One drawback to the cozy atmosphere is the dim lighting, which can make it difficult to read or write unless you’re sitting directly next to a lamp.

The next time you’re driving down 30th Avenue in South Park, look out for the hand-painted sign at 3015 Juniper St. that points to Rebecca’s Coffee House. Swing by early in the morning or throughout the night — Rebecca’s is open Monday and Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 a.m. to midnight. If the sweet melodic sounds of jazz don’t lure you in, the smell of strawberry scones surely will.