Agree that the items are outrageously expensive (especially since you can find the same for a…read morefraction of the price elsewhere), but I've come to realize that we're really paying for the experience, materials and time spent at the store. I chose a small sushi plate ($38) and ended up spending 3 hours choosing the colors, chatting and painting. The employees mostly leave you be (which I appreciate) and are super knowledgeable about the process if you have any questions. After you're done, drop off the item with the employee to fire up your items and you should get a call around 3-5 days later. Overall a pleasant experience and place to hangout and chill with your buddies.

I was able to participate in their new event series. They kicked it off with "One Wicked Party". I…read morethought it would be really cool to attend since the movie will be in theaters pretty soon. When I arrived, it looks like the event was going on during regular business hours open to the public and not private which made it difficult to tell who was participating in the actual event. Since it was my first time there, I thought the staff would give me a brief rundown after checking in and paying... instead, I was left to figure it out until I finally had to ask what's the protocol here. That rubbed me the wrong way! I also noticed the staff had their friends there too and it was a distraction instead of staff being attentive to customers especially new ones. Another staff came in a bit later and started to interact with us and provided the information I wanted to hear from the very start. She seemed more seasoned than the other staff I encountered earlier. She really turned things around and this event ended up to be not bad at all. She actually saved this review from being a 1-star.

Literally one of my favorite things to do with the kids. No reservations necessary! You walk in,…read morepick what you'd like to paint, check in at the register, they tell you where your seat is, and then you let your creativity take over from there! They have so many options to choose from. As of lately my favorites have been plates/ trinket boxes. The employees are always so friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, even with "Latte" in the name, they don't serve coffee. But you're welcome to bring your own! I'm already looking forward to the next visit!

I'm sooo happy I stumbled across this art studio in downtown Vista Village while I waited to see a…read moremovie nearby. Going to Clay 'N Latte was a greaaat way to pass the time! I'm always trying to find ways to tap into my creativity and voilà, Clay 'N Latte. It's been up and running at this location since 2004 making its artful imprint on the community. When I entered the studio, the staff were very friendly and helpful creating a welcoming environment for art expression. One of the them checked me in. Another one walked me through what was on the table and where to find things. I appreciated their genuine assistance throughout my artwork. I can tell it's a popular place with the amount of people already there doing something creative for Easter weekend. All in all, I had a positive experience. I just looove my Easter egg!! I'll definitely go back for the adult events and strongly recommend this family-owned business to the Yelp Community :-) FYI - They don't have lattes.

My daughter is 7 and really enjoyed her first pottery throwing experience! I purchased her a 1 on 1…read morelesson. She's HOOKED! We will be back with the whole family!! My daughter wanted to type something "thank you for making me having the BEST pottery throwing class EVER definitely 5 STARS"

My wife just finished our ceramics class for my birthday and we had an amazing time! Emory was so…read moresweet and helpful. We will 100% be coming back for more classes. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a fun date night.

I had an amazing time at The Hot Spot in 4S Ranch!!…read more I took my friend for her birthday and we had a blast. A fun, creative art workshop where you can pick from a variety of options from painting pottery to making candles to building your own garden pot. The prices are clearly written on the item and it's all inclusive (the item, all materials, and use of their facility) so no additional fees other than tax. Most items were between $20-35. The owner was friendly and welcoming. There's plenty of free parking in the large shared lot. You're allowed to bring your own drinks and food as well. We opted to make candles and it was really fun. You start with picking out your glassware, then cutting up the colored wax pieces you want to use and fill them in your glassware, then choosing which glitter color and scent you want. They pour hot wax to mold it all together and the candles ready to go within 15 mins. A great activity for all ages including adults. This would be a great option for any type of celebration, date night, hang out with friends, or spending time with your kids. There's something for everyone.

I made a reservation here for me and my friends for my birthday and it was such a fun activity! We…read moreall did the ceramic painting pottery and chose our own ceramics and colors. The process was easy and there weren't many directions aside from picking out a piece and colors and the rest was left up to you. They do take about 2 days to fire so you'll have to come back and pick up your piece. The plates were roughly $27 which isn't terrible for the experience. I don't think I'll come back again unless there's a special occasion

I love this studio. The experience, the atmosphere and the staff are top notch. I appreciate that…read morethe studio welcomes all levels and the teachers help provide as much assistance as you need. Would highly recommend checking it out.

Came in on a whim and decided to check out this studio while I waited for my food order from…read moreTanner's Prime Burger to finish. This studio is adorable and the owner was really friendly and informative. I learned a lot about their classes and how they have a 7 session weekly workshop series for $395. I also bought some bowls from Raw. They're super cute!

Art Café is amazing! Such a nice Yelp Elite experience. The staff was so prepared, and it gave us a…read morewonderfully relaxed, slow-paced vibe where we could get some great 1:1 time before having to head out. We ended up opting for these cute heart-shaped bowls. Even though I live in NY, they were so accommodating and were able to prep the piece so it could safely make the trip back home with me. They were just so nice! It's all about the views, the incredibly helpful staff, and the immaculate vibes. Vibe: Cozy, welcoming, and effortlessly charming art café located in the mall. Family-friendly and genuinely wonderful.

This is a great addition to the mall and something fun to do if you're just walking around…read moreshopping. They do allow walk ins, but you can book a reservation as well. You walk in and the employee will give you a run down on the process. If you want to take your ceramic home the same day, you can use acrylic paint, if you don't mind waiting you can choose to glaze it and there is a $5 firing fee. We chose to do glaze and wait a 1-2 weeks and they texted us when it was ready. (Only took a week) In terms of inventory, they have cute Knick knack ceramics you can make or kitchenware like plates, bowls, coasters, etc. I also saw people painting canvases so you really do have a lot of options if you're looking for a fun craft day. Pro tip: do multiple layers if you're gonna do glaze. I'd recommend at least 3, but 4 or 5 if you have the time.

Wow wow wooooow!! I can't recommend The Hot Spot enough! Every staff member I've interacted with…read morehas been so kind, welcoming, helpful, and incredibly knowledgeable. They truly make every visit such a fun and relaxing experience. A special thank you to MJ for going above and beyond. She is one of the sweetest people I've met and generously offered to do a photoshoot for me and my two friends. She even surprised us by making our pottery on the house! It was such a thoughtful gesture that made the entire experience even more memorable Thank you, MJ, for creating such a welcoming space where I've been able to make my Miffy bowl series, with many more pieces to come. As a frequent customer, I'll definitely be back!!

Pottery Painting at The Hot Spot in Liberty Station…read more We took our team of 15 to do pottery painting and it pains me to say that for groups, it was a bit of a let down. I've been here before with a friend and I'd say this location/company does better with smaller groups and not larger groups. I pre-booked our reservation and when we arrived, they had our large table with the paper on it with most things needed except paper towels. The seats felt really close together even with fitting all 15 of us so some had to sit on other tables since it's pretty crammed. For groups over 6 (I believe it was), they charge a 15% service charge and I completely understand and am happy to pay it if a decent experience is provided but it was basically self-service so I'm wondering what should have been included. The employee introduced herself who was "assigned to us" and handed out the cards to put paint on and added our pottery selections to her notepad. That was the extent of her help. I ended up going around to our table asking if anyone needed paper towels (since they weren't provided) or more paint. If our table was a small group, I could see that not being necessary but we were a large group who was paying a premium. The employee didn't come back to check on us as it got close to finishing. I went up to get ready to check out and find out where everyone needs to bring over their pottery and the employee remembered that people should write their initials with a special pencil. It was a bit disorganized and I had higher expectations with what we were paying. Is the service fee just for the extra paper on the tables because the other groups/individuals who didn't "get someone assigned to them" got the same level of service our group did. Our reservation was in the early afternoon and with this July heat, it did get hot. The shop had doors and windows open but 1 small fan in the corner of the room that didn't make much of an impact. I'd suggest more fans because this place makes great margins for what they offer. Overall, I wouldn't suggest this place for a group activity over 6 people. The service isn't worth it for the service fee. You're better off to have the group go in as individuals unfortunately.

My daughter did a drop in summer class. She loved it! There were lots of fun activities and pizza…read more She loved the workers and they were super friendly.

Love love loved our Color Me Mine trip!…read more I chose a cute leaf/ flower dish and wanted so badly to make it look un ordinary. I think I managed well! My friend and I learned that the instructions for a 3 layer coat make a huge difference. I started testing the paint under my dish before having the confidence to take my shot! It turned out beautiful I can use this dish for jewelry, keys, or bracelets. It took one week to get our ceramics back but worth the wait and really it was ready in 4 days. I'd love to go again!