From the journal· October 2026
Coffee near Cal Poly: Scout Foothill, and Scout on campus
Scout Coffee is just outside Cal Poly at 880 Foothill Blvd with a lot and patio, open 6:30am to 6:30pm daily, plus a cafe on campus by the Welcome Center.
Scout Coffee has 2 places to get a coffee at Cal Poly. Scout Foothill is just outside campus at 880 Foothill Blvd in University Square, open 6:30am to 6:30pm every day, with its own parking lot and a patio. The campus location is at yak'ityutyu, next to the Welcome Center, run by Cal Poly Campus Dining.
Here is how the 2 differ and what to order at each.
Scout Foothill: just off campus, with parking
- Address: 880 Foothill Blvd, University Square, San Luis Obispo
- Hours: 6:30am to 6:30pm, every day
- Parking: a large lot in University Square
- Seating: inside, plus a patio with a view of the hills
Foothill opened in 2016 as the second Scout, after Garden Street downtown. The lot makes it the easy choice when you are driving. The patio is the place to sit on a clear morning.
Scout on campus: yak'ityutyu, next to the Welcome Center
The campus Scout is in the yak'ityutyu neighborhood, next to the Cal Poly Welcome Center. It is licensed to Cal Poly and run by Campus Dining, so its hours follow the academic calendar. It serves the same HoneyCo coffee as every Scout cafe. Check the Cal Poly location page and Campus Dining for current hours.
What to order
- Espresso drinks. Classic Espresso is the coffee in every espresso drink at Scout. It is roasted by HoneyCo, our own roastery in Morro Bay.
- Drip coffee. Scout House Blend is on drip at every Scout location. It is the fast order between classes.
- Something from the case. Every pastry is made from scratch at the Scout bakery in Morro Bay and delivered every day. Croissants run on a 3 day lamination.
- A bag of whole bean. The retail shelf at Foothill carries the same coffee served at the bar, for a dorm pour-over or a shared house drip machine.
Why Cal Poly students keep voting for Scout
Scout has been voted Best Coffee Shop in SLO County 11 years in a row, most recently in 2026. Eater LA included Scout in its list of the best restaurants around Cal Poly SLO, calling out the macchiatos, Americanos and drip coffee, and the pastries to go with them. Read that post.
Downtown too
If you are heading downtown, Scout Garden Street at 1130 Garden Street is the original cafe, open since January 2014, same hours. All 4 Scout locations.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the closest Scout Coffee to Cal Poly?
Scout Coffee Foothill is at 880 Foothill Blvd in University Square, just outside the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo. It is open 6:30am to 6:30pm every day and has a parking lot and a patio. There is also a Scout on campus at yak'ityutyu, next to the Welcome Center.
Is there a Scout Coffee on the Cal Poly campus?
Yes. Scout Coffee has a licensed location on the Cal Poly campus at yak'ityutyu, next to the Welcome Center. It is run by Cal Poly Campus Dining and its hours follow the academic calendar.
Does Scout Foothill have parking?
Yes. Scout Coffee Foothill at 880 Foothill Blvd sits in University Square and has a parking lot, plus a patio with a view of the hills.
What are Scout Coffee Foothill's hours?
Scout Coffee Foothill is open 6:30am to 6:30pm every day of the week.
What coffee does Scout serve near Cal Poly?
Every Scout location serves coffee roasted by HoneyCo Coffee Roasters, Scout's own roastery in Morro Bay. Classic Espresso is in every espresso drink and Scout House Blend is on drip. Pastries come from the Scout bakery in Morro Bay every day.