On any given day, San Diegans can stroll through a lush, green plant nursery or purchase a bouquet from a colorful flower shop. The options are plentiful.
But some of the hot spots for lovers of florals and greenery are offering a bit more.
One such business is Garden Coffee in Old Town. It mainly sells succulents and houseplants, but also has a cafe serving coffee, teas and pastries.
Jessica Hainsworth is the owner of the shop, which recently featured “White Lotus”-themed drinks and coffee flights on its menu. She opened the outdoor business in June 2020, and said she wanted to make Garden Coffee feel like customers are in their backyard.
“I want to create a safe space,” Hainsworth said. “That is important to me because when I opened the business, we were in the middle of the pandemic. I want it to be inviting to everyone. I want our guests to feel comfortable and create a cozy vibe, like if they were in their own home.”
Inside Garden Coffee, which has the look and feel of a backyard patio or tree house, visitors will find mismatched wooden furniture, houseplants hanging from almost every corner and other things that could be found inside someone’s home, such as a china cabinet and a piano. A book fair, an afternoon of live music and an opportunity to create ceramics are among recent events listed on its Instagram page.
Hainsworth said she loves coffee, building small communities and plants because of her mom and grandmothers. That’s why she opened her business.
“Community is built through continual connections,” she said. “Coffee and plants bring people together.”
Garden Coffee is just one example of the various types of plant shops and nurseries in San Diego County that have incorporated coffee or home decor into their businesses. Here are eight of those places to check out.
Coffee shops
Communal Coffee: Customers can get fresh flowers with their cup of joe at the North Park and Oceanside locations of Communal. This coffee shop brings in flowers daily, according to staff. Some of the options include flower bouquets, sunflowers, roses, dried florals, houseplants and succulents. There are also some books, candles and coffee mugs for sale. The drink menu consists of cold brew, espresso, tea, kombucha, craft beer, wine and matcha-based beverages. Plus, the Oceanside and the North Park locations have indoor and outdoor seating for remote working or gathering with friends. communalcoffee.com
Garden Coffee: An old wooden piano and an espresso maker on its last leg have been turned into planters at Garden Coffee in Old Town. There are houseplants sitting on furniture and hanging from wooden patio covers. There is also a small pastel green china cabinet, surrounded by greenery, that’s been turned into a tiny library. Some of the plants for sale include cinerarias, rex begonias and polka dot begonias. The cafe sells pastries, teas and specialty drinks such as a matcha lemonade. There are several wooden tables and chairs where large and small groups can gather and free WiFi for working remotely. 2611 Congress St., San Diego. 619-500-8004, instagram.com/gardencoffee.sandiego
Grange Garden: White, black, brown and spotted bunnies are some of the first things visitors notice when stopping by Grange Garden. Since the cafe opened in 2021, the owner has brought her bunnies to her shop, so they would not be left at home by themselves, according to staff. The public can see the bunnies in their pens, but there is a fee to hold and feed them. Besides the fur babies, Grange Garden contains mostly preserved and dry floral arrangements, eucalyptus and some succulents. Beverage options include iced coffee, cold brew, cappuccinos, lattes, teas and specialty drinks. There are also wooden tables and chairs for seating. 240 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. 858-353-6163, grangegarden.com
Terra Bella Nursery: Terra Bella Nursery, an indoor and outdoor business in the Midway District, is flooded with various plants. In the outdoor area, there are numerous rows where customers can find many shades of flourishing green plants such as blue point junipers, cabbage palms, licorice plants, citrus trees, agave plants, cacti, tomato plants and lemon trees. The atmosphere overall is calming and soothing. Inside is where visitors can find a range of garden accessories such as tools, fertilizers and colorful clay and ceramic planters and indoor houseplants such as dark green ficus, aglaonema, philodendrons, dracaena and white and violet orchids. A giant disco ball hovering from above and a calico-looking cat taking a siesta on a bench near the main entrance will likely catch a visitor’s eye. Also inside is Selva Coffee House, which is situated on the southwest corner. It’s surrounded by large houseplants hanging from the ceiling, a colorful mural on the side wall and seating for about 16 people at eight tiny tables. The coffee shop serves hot and cold drinks, pastries and pre-made cold sandwiches. 3535 Camino del Rio West, San Diego. 619-585-1118, terrabellanursery.com
Home decor and gift shops
Pigment: Neutral-colored decor in beige and white are the contrast to the green plants and pink, orange and yellow flowers found at Pigment’s three locations in Del Mar, Liberty Station and North Park. This home goods store and gift shop sells a variety of plants and flowers such as succulents, cacti, houseplants and dried florals, along with pots, planters and vases. Pigment also offers lifestyle clothing and accessories, beauty and wellness products and a variety of home good items such as candles, furniture, books and kitchen glassware. shoppigment.com
Summers Past Farms: Visitors to Summer Past Farms will see some cats roaming around the property. This is just one of the many intriguing things to see at this plant nursery, gift shop and farm. The property has several outdoor pathways leading guests by water fixtures, a pond, a rustic pick-up truck, large trees, grass fields and flower and corn mazes. Outside, there are also a variety of houseplants for sale and a cafe with seating. The gift shop is filled with soap-making kits, mugs, baskets, dishes and countless home decor items. Summer Past Farms also hosts various events throughout the year, such as its Lavender Day celebration, food and wine tastings, an antique craft fair and a pumpkin patch in October. 15602 Olde Highway 80, El Cajon. 619-390-1523, summerspastfarms.com
Walter Andersen’s Nursery: One of the oldest shops on this guide is Walter Andersen’s Nursery. Walter Andersen Sr. started the family-owned business in Old Town in 1928 and it resides in the Midway District since 1969. The company opened a second location in Poway in 1998, twice the size of the first, according to the company website. Both shops sell an assortment, such as flowers, drought-tolerant plants from Australia and California, fruit trees, bonsai and indoor houseplants. Customers can also find books, bird feeders, patio furniture, fertilizer, garden hoses and tools. Plus, both locations host one-hour gardening classes on most Saturday mornings throughout the year. The schedule can be found on Walter Andersen’s Nursery website. walterandersen.com
Wild Island Collective: Wild Island Collective in Normal Heights is a self-described urban jungle. Inside the plant shop, customers can find houseplants that are brought in each week, according to the staff. There are also several planters, flower pots, watering cans, candles and accessories such as tote bags. Wild Island Collective has white walls and wooden beams on the ceiling with plants hanging throughout the space. The shop also hosts various community events such as planters’ workshops. 3504 Adams Ave., San Diego. 619-892-7579, wildisland-collective.com
