The incoming Hillcrest location of Dark Horse Coffee Roasters will mark the company’s eighth outlet in the San Diego area, joining its seven existing sites and a lone Hawaii location in Koloa, Kauai. While an opening date remains pending as the San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality reviews the application, the move signals continued growth for a brand that has thrived since its 2013 debut.
Founded in Normal Heights by a team passionate about direct-trade coffee, Dark Horse has evolved from a single neighborhood roastery into a regional player with a loyal following. The company began roasting and serving cold brew in a modest Adams Avenue space, cultivating relationships with smallholder farmers worldwide to source its beans. Over the past 12 years, it has expanded across San Diego County - Normal Heights, North Park, South Park, Goldent Hill, La Mesa, Chula Vista and within San Diego Airport Terminal 1 - plus Hawaii, while supplying beans to local cafes and restaurants.
The Hillcrest location will replace HOB Coffee on Park, a spot that shuttered quietly in late 2024, leaving room for Dark Horse to bring its signature offerings to one of San Diego’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Customers can anticipate the same menu that has fueled the brand's rise: espresso drinks like the "Champ," a bold signature blend; the Honey Cinnamon Latte; and Cold Brew on Nitro infused with house-made vanilla bean syrup. Specialty options such as Matcha Lattes and Dirty Chai will join light bites, including breakfast sandwiches and vegan donuts, crafted to complement the coffee-first focus.
This expansion follows a recent shift for the company's flagship. In December 2024, Dark Horse closed its original Normal Heights shop after 12 years, relocating a block away to 3330 Adams Avenue. The new space, opened in early 2025, boasts more seating, a broader food menu, stair-free access, and upgraded air conditioning - enhancements aimed at improving the customer experience while preserving the shop’s community roots. The Hillcrest move builds on this momentum, targeting a neighborhood known for its eclectic dining and strong pedestrian traffic.
Details on the Hillcrest opening timeline remain under wraps as regulatory approval pends, but the location promises to echo Dark Horse’s laid-back, quality-driven ethos. With seating for about 30 indoors and a small patio, per city permitting records, it will cater to both grab-and-go commuters and lingerers along Park Boulevard’s bustling corridor.
Dark Horse Coffee Roasters is expected to open later in 2025 at 3752 Park Boulevard, Suite 104C, in San Diego's Hillcrest. For more information, visit darkhorsecoffeeroasters.com.
