While Pacific Beach is known for its countless bars and crazy boutiques, it's also the home to an array of independent coffee shops. Two standouts – Café 976 at 976 Cass Street and Zanzibar at 976 Garnet Avenue – share the same street numbers, but approach the art of caffeination in two different ways.

 
Café 976

Maybe it’s because Café 976 is a converted beach house, but when you walk into the café’s garden patio or take a seat at one of the window benches, you’ll feel right at home. Whether you’re visiting Café 976 for a last-minute study session or a cozy, intimate Sunday brunch, you’re bound to find something on their menu to excite your taste buds and, of course, to caffeinate you.

 
Café 976 offers a plethora of entrees, from the Nutty Monkey waffles, made with bananas, granola, and walnuts to the namesake 976 salad of mixed greens, mandarin oranges, grapes, and feta cheese. For coffee, warm up with the caramel cow espresso or refresh yourself with a frosty chai latte on a hot midsummer’s day.

Zanzibar

You may initially overlook this Garnet storefront, but you shouldn’t—>Zanzibar offers a haven of zen-like relaxation and comfort. With a crisp interior and a wide selection of café delights, Zanzibar is a welcomed find in the middle of hectic Pacific Beach.

Loaf-sized biscotti are drizzled with vanilla and chocolate icing, and cheesecake and a variety of other desserts are prepared daily. Entrees range from breakfast omelettes to a wide selection of panini sandwiches. The servers are friendly and warm, as if they were welcoming you into their own kitchen. Work from local artists adorns the walls, and the floor-to-ceiling windows provide a perfect place for people-watching.