The Honey Bee Cafe

Went here twice for breakfast and was pleased both times. Prices are reasonable and they give you a lot of food. Tons of different options with some healthy options too. When you walk in the door there is a wall of different kinds of coffee so you don’t ever have to wait for coffee! Will definitely go back again!

This place serves a plethora of beverages; you can get your caffeine black or with a dollop of whipped cream if you’re feeling froufrou. They also have a myriad of sandwiches that, because of their location, would be a good stepping stone to curing college-​like hunger.
Because the place is in the middle of the city, near a college, you’re going to see scarves and striped shirts around the vicinity. Most people, in their twenties, dress like indie wunderkind Conor Oberst, as they hammer down mocha lattes with the repetitiousness of machine gun fire. And though its not as bad as Lestat’s in North Park, you’ll still see your share of hipsters sinking their dainty fingers into wedges of bread.
Aside of the clientele who slink into this place, the food is relatively acceptable for what it offers. The dollies of bread and marinated chicken that are served are pretty standard of cafes. For what its worth, its better than a prepackaged sandwich, all shrink wrapped, at Starbucks.
The server, who was working the register and dropping smiles at the customers, was pretty nice to everyone.
In closing, if you’re the area, you wont be banging your head for selecting this location to throw down some hot joe or even gnaw on a warmed sandwich. Nicely done, The Honey Bee Café. Now if you could only get the girl who served me today to wear a bra next time she is at work, you’ll be primed for success!

I stopped in before class one morning this spring to get a latte or some other fru fru drink that might taste good, and to my surprise, it really did.
After class on a different day, I stopped in to order 2 sandwiches to go and a white chocolate something. Anyways, one sandwich had turkey the other had ham. My sandwich was good, different, but good. I have never had cranberry sauce on a sandwich before. The ham sandwich was kind of strange and my MB threw out half of it. He wasn’t too impressed with the fruit on the sandwich.
So what I have learned here is 1) the coffee is really good, but a little more expensive then going to Starbucks, 2) the sanwiches are good, just ask for the fruit on the side, 3) I love the fact that the barista actually walks around the counter to hand me my drink instead of me walking back up to the counter. 4) Parking is a nightmare, so get your food and drink to go or on the way to class.
This a great place to study at first thing in the morning. I can’t remember if it has wireless or not, but I do remember people with laptops studying. I am a tree hugger and like to bring in my own cup. The barista is really great about filling it for me.
Overall the café is clean an comfortable. In the back there is a sushi lounge called the Hive and I guess at night this location turns into a party spot.
Anyways, if you are on the way to class at San Diego City College, hit this place up.

I go to school at City College across the street, so I only come here to pick up a sandwich to-​go. When I do dine in, it’s only for a few minutes since I have to go back to campus and continue studying. I’m a big health food nut, and sating my health conciousness while trying to keep up with a busy school schedule is nearly impossible. (Have you seen the salad bar at City College? I don’t remember something looking like that since the days of $ 1.25 lunches in elementary school.)
So that is what my four-​star rating is based on. If you’re a fancy sandwich person, vegetarian, vegan, and a City College student who’s frustrated the fast food on every corner, try this place. I always get the Tree Hugger or the Cheap Skate.
People complain about the time it takes to complete their orders. I’ve timed my waits at 10 – 15 minutes max. It *is* long if you’re used to super fast food. I’m willing to wait those extra minutes though, since the sandwiches are delicious.

I used to come here a lot when I was at City all day, with a few hours break in between classes.
The food is good some times. Cheap, which works out well. I don’t know if they’re still like this, but I remember I couldn’t pay with change that wasn’t a quarter.? . Anyway, the seating is odd, small booths, which don’t leave much room for the million books I would always carry, and the bathroom is like most say, tiny. The service could be better, but I would be bitter like them too if I worked here.

Damn, I cant believe I gave this place such a high rating 2 years ago. I guess a good sandwich could sway me.
But I can also sway to the dark side, Miss Honey Bee.
When I walk into the café and stand with a smile at the register, I expect you to get off the phone. I also don’t expect you to hold up one finger at me without a smile and continue to talk on the phone. This continued so long I started counting down in my head the seconds until I would walk out sandwhichless and lunchless on my 24 minute lunch break.
I also expect you to shower and look presentable at the front counter, and maybe smile. This clearly is asking for a lot, I apologize.
I paid 7.50 for a sandwhich that I had to wait excessively for and from an establishment whose workers are so unhospitable I almost walked out on.
1.5 stars. The extra half goes to the sandwhich, which was huge and actually really delicious.
Good sandwiches no longer sway me and I will never return.

The sandwiches here are good. I recommend them all. Get a menu, try one, come back, try another…

Be wary of the ATM here. My boyfriend used the ATM here and when he went t go pay for something at the campus police station @ city college, he found out one of the $ 20 bills he got was counterfeit! How does that happen! This place is tiny too and parking can be hard to find especially if you don’t have any coins.

Why I hate this place:
The person working is usually the most miserable person in the world. I have never been given a smile here, no matter how nicely I asked for my sandwich or coffee.
Parking SUCKS. Its right across from City so you have to fight with them for a spot too.
The seating isn’t that great. For working on your laptop anyway.
And aren’t they closed on Sundays?
Why I love this place:
The Cheap Skate. A veggie sandwich that I adore. I think about this sandwich frequently.
If you get there when the corner booth is open, you will probably stay there the rest of the day. You’re pretty much left alone after you order, I got a lot of homework done here.

WTF happened to this place. It used to be pretty awesome. One day it got ghetto and they started charging a cover? Of course it’s been about 6 years between going there, but the crowd has changed drastically. Also, if you want to get in free, just yell «HEY WHAT’S THAT» and run in through the exit. Hopefully no one is watching at the bottom of the stairs. I’ve done it before and it seriously works. Eddie 1, Honey Bee Café 0.

the honeybee café is a great local business. tucked away on the corner across from city college, you initially don’t think it’s there. but… if you take a look, you will find the best sandwiches and coffees. there are sandwiches for everyone. meat lovers, vegetarians, even vegan if requested. the side pasta salads and potato salads are amazing. not to mention the smoothies and coffee drinks…
i definitely recommend stopping by and trying a sandwich for lunch. once you do, you will be hooked.

Good giant sandwiches but the coffee is only mediocre. I get better cups at the 7 – 11 down the street for half the price.
Never been here for the shows.

Once in a while an establishment will suck so much it impels you to register onto
just to tell others how crappy the service is.
My first non-​experience here came a few weeks back when I was visiting a client in the area. Being a strong supporter of local shops rather than the local Starbuck’s, my coworker & I decided to give this place a try since good ol’ Café Italia was a little out of the way and we were on this side of downtown anyway. We had passed this place on the way in and parked across the street after turning around. A male patron just walked out of the place when we got to the door and to our surprise the chick working that day locks it up right in front of us and barked «we’re closed» before scurrying off with the her male ‘patron’ friend. I looked at my watch, 2:45pm on a Thursday afternoon. Verrry professional… b****. I vowed to never come here ever again.
Non-​experience #2:
So I was downtown again and didn’t have any quarters to feed the parking meter. Coworker & I circled around looking for a place to get change when he suggests hitting up ‘that’ coffee shop again. I immediately had my reluctancies but he was driving and wanted an ice-​tea anyway. We park in the 15-​minute zone up front, he runs in… 2 minutes later, he runs out… No ice-​tea in hand and no sound of change jingling in his pocket.
Me: «Hey Justin, what happened?»
Coworker: «You won’t believe this… So I started to ask for change for the meter before ordering a drink, and she Unilocal it’s a $ 5 minimum purchase if you want any change.»
Me: «You gotta be kidding me, f*** this place.»
We head down the street to Papa John’s, got some change, a bottle of water, and left a dollar tip. Thanks Papa John’s, you guys rock.
Should have went to Starbuck’s.

I don’t know any thing about the night life but the sandwiches are damn good… and for you hippies, they have a good veggie selection too.
down side: it takes forever to get your food and half the time the coffee is cold.
good location and good-​ass sangwiches

I came here for free wireless and a lunch snack. Great coffee, great pasta salad — super cheap. One little bathroom though.

Another local bar that I never go to because, frankly, I don’t like it. Don’t like it at all. Inexplicably uneven booking policy that brings good acts to the venue rarely if ever. They also pull shit like closing down early if people don’t show up for a show and charging outrageous cover when they feel like they can get away with it.
Seems like it should be better.
The café that is attached also sucks.

Honey Bee Hive is home to ‘Deep’ (
) on Thursday nights — San Diego’s longest running Drum & Bass weekly … It’s one of the best places to catch some of the genre’s best Dj’s as they stop through SD.
The joint is small compared to most places in San Diego. Yes, it definitely has a ‘pit’ feeling to it as you head down the stairs after your entrance. They’ve redone the interior a little bit between my last two visits and pushed the stage back and given it some more room as well as opening up the ‘dance floor’ area in the move. It’s a bit from The Gaslamp, but it’s a nice place that’s allows us to be loud and a joint to find some junglists on a Thursday evening and for me, it’s always a warm place to see some old faces every time I’ve come back home =)

Honey Bee Hive sort of reminds me of a NYC dive bar. You hate it and love it. Hate that it’s small and gets crowded fast. Love the music. Mixtape Sessions on Wednesdays!!!

Loud, loud, loud! I haven’t visited the Café, but I have seen bands here, and it was inordinately loud. It’s an awkard underground cave of a place. I don’t know if it’s the snooty hipster patrons who camp at the bar or the layout that is to blame for the high spill factor. Not my favorite place, but in their favor, they do have cider on tap.

good place to get a tasty burger & a delicious beer between classes at city college. they have bands here at night sometimes, it’s ok as a venue.