Is there parking nearby, or should I plan to walk?

Spill the Beans is in the heart of Gaslamp Quarter on Market Street, so street parking can be tight during peak hours. Your best bet is the paid lots nearby or arriving early. If you're staying at a hotel in the neighborhood, it's easily walkable—most people treat it as a quick stop between exploring the area.

How long are the waits, and when should I go to avoid lines?

Lines are real, especially during morning rush and weekends—people mention waiting just to order. Early morning (before 8am) or mid-afternoon tends to move faster. The line moves quickly once it gets going, so don't be totally deterred, but if you hate queuing, plan accordingly.

What bagel should I order first?

Start with the San Diego breakfast sandwich on a Serrano pepper bagel—it's messy in the best way and sets the bar high. The sun-dried tomato bagel with white truffle cream cheese is another standout. Both are worth the hype without being overhyped.

Are there good vegan and vegetarian options?

Yes—this spot takes vegetarian and vegan seriously. The chia pudding gets specific praise, and they offer vegan cream cheese options for your bagel. It's not an afterthought menu; it's built into what they do.

Can I work here, or is it too packed for laptops?

The outdoor seating is substantial and the vibe is coworking-friendly, so yes—this is a legitimate spot to camp out with a laptop, especially if you avoid peak breakfast hours. The coffee is solid enough to justify staying longer than five minutes.

Is this place good for tourists, or is it just a local spot?

It's genuinely both. The Gaslamp Quarter location makes it an easy breakfast stop while exploring the neighborhood, and tourists consistently rave about it. But locals keep coming back, which says something about consistency and quality.

Spill the Beans Coffee and Bagels — Coffee Shops in Gaslamp…

“Spill the Beans is Gaslamp's functional bagel shop that feeds downtown before the district becomes a bar crawl.”

**What makes this different:** While Tacos El Gordo and Señor Taquero own the late-night and early-morning taco lanes, Spill the Beans carved out the one breakfast niche Gaslamp actually needed—reliable bagels and coffee before 10am when most of downtown is still sleeping off last night. The Waves stays calm for tacos; this place stays efficient for the conference crowd, hotel guests, and the handful of locals who work down here.

California-style bagels means they're softer than New York purists want but crispier than you'd expect from a coffee shop afterthought. The serrano pepper bagel with a breakfast sandwich builds actual heat, and the sun-dried tomato works better than it should as a vehicle for white truffle cream cheese. These aren't museum pieces—they're messy, structural, designed to be eaten while walking to a meeting.

Dark Horse coffee keeps the operation honest. Lines form most mornings, but they move—staff runs the counter without theater, just competent breakfast assembly. The patio faces Market Street, which means tourists, but also means sun and people-watching if you've got twenty minutes.

Downsides: When it's busy, it's not cozy. The mod interior doesn't pretend to be anything but a grab-and-go spot with optional seating. Vegan options exist (chia pudding shows up in reviews), but this isn't a plant-based wonderland.

**What to order:** San Diego breakfast sandwich on serrano pepper bagel if you want spice with your eggs. White truffle cream cheese on sun-dried tomato if you're skipping the sandwich route. Iced coffee is solid but not worth a thirty-minute wait—grab it when the line's short.