Vacancy Coffee
Located on PCH in Newport Beach is a TINY coffee shop called Vacancy. For the longest time, I drove right by it, having no idea what it was. It has a storefront that looks almost like a motel lobby. Needless to say, it’s not really a place that I would just pop into. Little did I know…
Hidden treasure
I follow a bunch of local coffee shops on Instagram, and one day they posted about Vacancy. Aha! It’s no motel; it’s a coffee shop! (The coffee sign pictured was added later). Since I loved all of the other local spots that these accounts have recommended, I decided to pop in. I’m so glad I did!
Inside it is very inviting. The big picture window lets light flood in. The walls and coffee bar are white, the floors are grey concrete, and the rest (tables, benches, and display cabinets) are a warm, lightly stained plywood. I’m not sure how to describe the aesthetic – I’d say modern industrial, but that doesn’t really do it justice. It’s inviting.
Transport yourself Down Under
Some very friendly Aussies own Vacancy, and most of the customers are also Aussies. It’s one of my favorite accents (I know ya feel me!) – but that’s not the reason I come here. The iced lattes are good, but the real perfection is the oat milk cappuccino. It’s super smooth and has the perfect amount of foam.
Burrito me, please
On the weekends, they also sell breakfast burritos from “The Rooster Truck” in LA. They offer one option: bacon, egg, and cheese with hash browns inside. It comes with a cilantro creme that is to die for. It’s my favorite breakfast burrito. Period.
Extras to-go
Their merch is pretty cool too. I bought my favorite coffee mug here. It’s got a very 1950s surfer vibe. It’s very…Aussie, of course.
I guess this is a lesson for “don’t judge a book by its cover,” because once I went in, it became one of my favorite stops for coffee.
