El Encanto, a Mexican breakfast spot and coffee shop, is relocating from its original 1873 Palm Ave location to 933 4th Ave in downtown San Diego, according to owner Isis Camarena, who confirmed the move directly to What Now. Camarena said an exact opening date isn’t set yet, estimating late September or early October, with the timeline depending on how quickly upcoming inspections clear.
Camarena described El Encanto as a traditional Mexican breakfast restaurant, paired with a full coffee shop program. They serve breakfast staples like chilaquiles, machaca and pancake platters, alongside specialty drinks including mazapán and horchata lattes that regulars specifically call out as standouts. The cafe also runs a Crepes & Coffee Nights service several evenings a week, offering sweet crepes and specialty drinks in a cozier, later hours setting beyond its usual breakfast and brunch service.
El Encanto built a loyal following at its original Palm Avenue spot, that community response showed up directly in the restaurant’s own social media post announcing the move, with longtime customers reacting immediately and wishing the team well on the transition. The new downtown location puts El Encanto in a very different setting than its original South Bay neighborhood near the border, trading a small, residential feeling corner for a spot in the middle of San Diego’s busiest downtown foot traffic, surrounded by hotels, offices and the nightlife of the Gaslamp Quarter.
