Hi friends, and Happy Friday!
Today is another installment of my new San Diego Spotlight series, in which I share details about local restaurants, dessert spots, and wineries that I love. So far I’ve talked about Crepes & Corks Restaurant & Wine Bar and Elizabethan Desserts (Note: They were undergoing temporary closures the last time I stopped in there – insert sad teary face). Today’s feature is a quintessential Southern California eatery called Swami’s Cafe.
Swami’s Cafe is a wonderful hippy dippy sort of place that has 9 locations around San Diego County. My favorite one that I’ve been to (I haven’t hit all of them just yet!) is their Highway 101 Encinitas spot, which is situated in a great location right next to the beach. This is most likely their first location, as Swami’s is also an internationally known surfing spot in Encinitas. The word ‘swami’ is used when talking about a yogi/religious guru, and right across the street from the restaurant is the Self-Realization Fellowship ashram, which was founded by Swami Paramahansa Yogananda. See, lots of ‘swami’ action in Encinitas!
Photo cred: Swami’s website
Open 7 AM to sunset, Swami’s Cafe serves healthy smoothies, sandwiches, wraps, pancakes, omelettes, waffles, soups, salads, fresh juices and wheat grass shots and juices. While they have a ton of plant-based options, the cafe also serves meat and fish items.
Photo cred: Swami’s website
My favorite thing to order from Swami’s is their acai bowl. It’s a massive smoothie bowl topped with more fruit, homemade granola, local bee pollen and coconut. Yum!
I recently met my friend Trish at Swami’s for lunch and ordered the above pictured Nirvana Nectar smoothie for the first time, which has a yummy blend of bananas, strawberries, apple juice, raspberries, boysenberries, bee pollen, ginseng, protein powder and Vitamin C.
Swami’s falafel pita
On any given day, you can find Swami’s patio seating packed with diners. I love to dine there, then walk around Encinitas and soak up the beach and town for a bit. The inside of the restaurant is covered with bumper stickers and graffiti, with things like Republicans Welcome written on the walls. It’s pretty entertaining to check out if you find yourself waiting to order during a crowded rush.
Offering outdoor seating only right along the beach with its laid back vibes and healthy food, Swami’s Cafe just screams San Diego…and that’s why I love it.
Tell me… Do you have any fun hippy-ish eateries near where you live? San Diegans, have you visited any Swami’s locations?
Looks like an amazing spot! That acai bowl looks delish! I can’t say there are any hippy dippy places near me but near my in-laws house there is a hippy store that just keeps growing and growing taking over all the empty retail spaces next to it. It kind of makes me scared that there is going to be a tie die apocalypse!
I always wondered if this place was any good! I love the acai bowl at the juice place in Little Italy, but it’s crazy expensive. And yeah… no shortage of hippy dippy here!
The acai bowl sounds and looks delicious there! I enjoy laidback places like this.
I love that it is so close to the beach. The food is really good. I am hoping to get back next year, but really the company was the best.
This looks like my kind of place – especially with that acai bowl. I often judge places based on how good their smoothies are haha.
All of that food looks amazing! We have a few similar places, but Tillie Gort’s comes to my mind at the top of the list. It’s so earthy and hippy-dippy. They have wonderful breakfasts and you can even by homemade preserves that they sell next door!
Great minds think alike! I just wrote a review of Swami’s Cafe on my blog today! I also LOVE their Encinitas location, but have you been to the North Park one? I know it’s kind of far for you but it’s huge! They even have avocado toast and different scrambles. My favorite thing at any location though is their ginormous Acai bowls 🙂