University Heights · Best Brunch in San Diego
Cafe 21 Review
Last updatedRanked #5 of 9 in Best Brunch in San Diego
Mediterranean-influenced brunch with housemade crepes, shakshuka, and a relaxed Adams Avenue room.
Score breakdown
- Food Quality90/100
- Menu Variety86/100
- Atmosphere86/100
- Drinks84/100
- Value & Wait78/100
The verdict on Cafe 21
Ranked #5 of 9 — 86/100 in our Best Brunch in San Diego coverage
Cafe 21 brings a Mediterranean accent to San Diego brunch. The crepes are thin and delicate, the shakshuka is rich and spicy, and the menu includes options that go beyond the standard pancake-and-eggs format. The University Heights room on Adams Avenue is relaxed and easy to linger in. The coffee is good and the cocktails are creative. The price is slightly higher than the neighborhood spots, but the quality and variety justify it. It is a strong choice for brunch with out-of-town guests.
What to order at Cafe 21
Cafe 21 appears on more than one of our lists, and the pick depends on which one you are reading:
- Crepes or shakshuka — from our Best Brunch in San Diego coverage
- Apple cinnamon pancakes or shakshuka — from our Best Breakfast in San Diego coverage
Ask for the sangria — it's the rare morning cocktail worth ordering.
When to go
Brunch spots in San Diego, including those in University Heights, generally see their longest waits on Saturday and Sunday late morning — going right at open or after 1pm tends to mean less of a wait.
Is Cafe 21 worth the price?
Cafe 21 sits at $16–26 — the budget band for this category. Nothing else we ranked in this category lands in the same price bracket, so the comparison is against cheaper or pricier alternatives rather than a like-for-like rival.
Cafe 21 FAQ
Is Cafe 21 expensive?
Cafe 21 is priced at $16–26, which puts it in the budget band for this category. There is no other option at the exact same price point on the same list, so treat it as its own bracket.
Is Cafe 21 worth it?
It scores 86/100, 0.2 points above the 85.8 average for its list. That's a solid recommendation within the category.
What should I order at Cafe 21?
We recommend the Crepes or shakshuka.
What else is nearby Cafe 21?
Hidden Fish (92/100 in our best sushi in san diego list) and Soichi (92/100 in our best omakase in san diego list) are also ranked in the same neighborhood, so it's easy to pair a visit.
Every list Cafe 21 ranks on
Cafe 21 shows up on 2 of our ranked lists, without a category win so far. Places that hold up across more than one category tend to be the safer recommendation when you are booking for a group with different tastes.
What works
- Strong food quality — scored 90/100 in our ranking
Know before you go
- Value & Wait is the weak point — 78/100, below the rest of its scores
The full review
Cafe 21 brings a Mediterranean accent to San Diego brunch. The crepes are thin and delicate, the shakshuka is rich and spicy, and the menu includes options that go beyond the standard pancake-and-eggs format. The University Heights room on Adams Avenue is relaxed and easy to linger in. The coffee is good and the cocktails are creative. The price is slightly higher than the neighborhood spots, but the quality and variety justify it. It is a strong choice for brunch with out-of-town guests.
On our weighted scale it earns 86/100 — good for #5 of 9 places we evaluated for best brunch in san diego. We eat at the places we rank, pay full price for what we order, and re-score when a kitchen, chef or menu changes.
What to order at Cafe 21
Crepes or shakshuka
Price: $16–26
How we scored Cafe 21
Every score on this page comes from the same editorial rubric we apply to the whole category: food quality, menu variety, atmosphere, drinks, value & wait. The criteria are weighted toward what matters most in the category, compared against every other place we ranked in the same list rather than against an abstract ideal. We eat at the places we rank, pay full price for what we order, and re-score when a kitchen, chef or menu changes. Scores are editorial judgments rather than aggregated user ratings.