Start the morning right with an energizing bite to eat just a seven-minute walk away.

At the intersection of Vanowen Street and Balboa Boulevard, Duckyard Coffee House is a quick stop to or from school. The cafe is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The hipster cafe is the perfect place to catch up on schoolwork with plenty of tables outside and inside. To beautifully accompany the painted duck on the wall and decorative plants inside, calm indie music plays to create a peaceful atmosphere. 

Not only is Duckyard Lake Balboa’s first coffee house, it is environmentally safe by distributing straws made from avocado-pits and cardboard to-go boxes. The cafe accommodates all diets with scrumptious vegan choices including Vietnamese coffee or a Veg-Out wrap, both under $10.

Waking up on the wrong side of the bed is not a worry with Duckyard’s lively coffee drinks. Never get bored with your daily coffee or tea with many flavor additives and milk supplements. When asked, the baristas can creatively spice up your drink with their life-changing recipes. Aside from their rich coffee brew, Duckyard has many loose-leaf tea lattes and iced teas to order.

Rise and shine with a fiery avocado toast and a chocolate croissant under $10, or have lunchtime on the go with paninis from $5.25 to $7.75. Duckyard appeals to healthier customers with ginger shots, juice cleanses and bottled kombucha. The cafe serves açaí bowls and vegan smoothie blends from $7.50 to $8. For a more nutritious and energizing morning, Duckyard has healthy superfoods from goji berries to bee pollen for only cents more. 

Whether craving a cup of joe or hungry for a Caprese panini, Duckyard Coffee House is the best cafe to get the day started.