Il Giardino di Lilli

“A cozy café with friendly service. The food is delicious, the croissant is delightful, and the coffee is excellent. Beautiful presentation of both the dishes and the interior.”

“What a charming place. What struck me was how there was a value for shutting down the laptops over the weekend so that it would encourage times without technology. I got caught using my laptop but in a good way - I’m so sorry for overstepping! I immediately put away my laptop after being politely told about Lilli’s policy. People are very kind here. The food is all so very good. Please do not miss the croissant, balsamic vinegar + olive oil, and the paninis. Each sandwich was made with fresh ingredients. Ice water flavored with fruits was also a nice plus. Just the whole atmosphere is well run even when things can get busy. Im grateful for all the people here. Thank you and God bless you all!+”

“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.”

“This isn’t a “secret” gem as advertised by these other reviewers. It’s cozy and cute but don’t let that fool you. Coffee came ready after the food (15 mins). The Cappuccino came in a glass water cup which meant… it was came colder than it should’ve. I think you just have to be explicit about the takeaway cups if you want more than lukewarm coffee. The salmon was fantastic but for $15, it felt like scam for just one slice. The pastries are pretty and we tried the tart so just account for a $7 pastry if you do. Probably good to NOT come on the weekend but the wait wasn’t horrible.”