Drove in from New Braunfels to give Tantra a try on a Saturday morning. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The shop was pretty empty besides a few people working on their laptops in the back room.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We took a moment and then ordered an iced vanilla latte and a drip coffee and sat outside to enjoy the porch and fenced in picnic table area.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Though we chose to sit outside there was plenty of seating inside near the register and then a larger room past the 2 restrooms they had.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Parking lot in the back hold probably 6-8 cars so be aware of that full you'll need to move somewhere else. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Loved the shop was in an old house that provided a quaint charm to it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Would for sure come back! read more

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Service was great, and barista was kind. Didn't try any, but the pastries looked devine. This place had pretty good coffee. I got a latte add chocolate: (mocha). Had a very sweet taste without being overly sweet somehow, so I was a fan of that. Although I was a big fan of the flavor, the coffee was hidden. It was much different than your average sugar milk coffee, which I was a fan of, just wishing it had a stronger coffee taste. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very limited seating, but a welcoming atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Can't say much about the bar side of things, but love the concept!" read more

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Such an excellent choice! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is the perfect (retro) place to meet friends, hang out, and read or study.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is warm and welcoming--not fancy, but more like someone's inviting home![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's plenty of indoor OR outdoor seating, and I am told that they sometimes have live music![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Lina greeted us. She was kind, welcoming, and unphased by our special order request. We appreciated that so much! The food was served promptly and was hot and fresh! We ordered breakfast (with special dietary requests), which was made perfectly! Give them a try; you (and your tummy) will be happy you did! :-) read more

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Amazing people! Owner Jeff amazing, coffe good. Good staff. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good customers.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good art.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Please keep serving San Marcos excellent products! Kat's cool! Most of the staff are pretty chill read more

First time ever visiting tantra & fell in love with this place! [[HIGHLIGHT]]I was looking for a laidback coffee shop where I can do some school work, google maps took me here & it was the best choice of the week for me![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Went in for a cold brew & ended up getting an espresso martini because why not? Highly recommend read more

Never gotten a bad drink or food here. Great vibes, super cool and sweet staff. BEST JASMINE TEA E V E R!!!!!! THIS TEA IS SO GOOD?????? ONLY FOR 3$!! Also has a nice space in the back for doing homework, music isn't necessarily quiet so bring headphones of that bothers you. Restroom lighting makes you look super good too so you can take selfies in there read more

Tantra - Drank it all down before i could take a picture. Iced Jasmine Green Tea with Milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Best hummus plate ever. Great drinks and one day I'm sure I'll get another food item and I'm sure it'll be killer but got me hooked on this hummus plate, yo! Nice folks behind the counter as well who made me up a mocktail by request :) [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is a perfect blend of clean and spacious and also home-town and local artsy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

The guitarist that works the front counter works the job of 3 people and still manages to give top-tier service. Super cool and groovy.

Food was great. Service was great. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance was great![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Definitely will go back every time I come back to town!

Coffee was great! The staff were really friendly and I tried something new! The coffee came out really quick read more

Yeeee-Haa, Tantra is a fantastic local spot in San Marcos. Wonderfully crafted cocktails and coffee favored treats. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Love the live music aspect of this venue and the light guy knows his stuff.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food is ALWAYS on point. Jack D and his crack team of baristas and bartenders are killing it. 5 stars all day. read more

Love tantra!!!!! I was happy when they came back after covid. I love that they have traditional cafe drinks as well as some unique healthy options. read more

Visiting from out of town we are always excited about new places to try their vegan options. When you look this place up on yelp or even google this restaurants menu pops up immediately. The last photo uploaded to yelp this month shows a menu with clearly marked vegan options. You would think that is all awesome right? Wrong!! Walking up to the counter I asked the person working if they had a menu. Their response was "Well what are you looking for"? So we respond "vegan options". After rudely saying that there were no vegan options they offered a tortilla with potatoes. That's it! Not a bad option, but when you see their menu and the way it the person annoying said "I can give you a tortilla with potatoes". No greens. No veggies. Just straight up potatoes lol. Absolutely no thanks. I'm not sure why a company would keep something on their menu that they no longer offer and by the way we were treated hasn't offered for a long while. It was evident by the way they annoyingly responded to us after asking about something they said they offer. I will not be coming back here. read more

This place was amazing first time experience ! Awesome drinks I tried the jasmine green tea ! Also there is some gluten free options!

charged me $40 for soup and bread. barista was RUDE bc I asked for a Togo cup for my soup she cut me off and pointed at the box until I told her I needed a soup cup.Then she went to the back to get it. read more

I ordered a bean and cheese taco. It took 15 minutes to come out, and it was only a tablespoon of black beans with a tablespoon of unmelted cheese thinly lined in the center of a room temperature tortilla. I don't recommend their food based on my experience. read more

Some one please tell the baristas to steam their milk hotter. they should use names for orders to avoid confusion when picking up your drink at the bar. also make bus bins more accessible for everyone inside and outside. read more

Old MacHippie had a coffeehouse Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh! And in this house he brewed java. Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh! With a latte here And a latte there Here a latte There a latte Everywhere you go a latte Old MacHippie had a coffeehouse Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh! And in this house he had a lot of beer Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh! With a pilsner here And a pilsner there Here a pilsner There a pilsner Everywhere you go a pilsner With a latte here And a latte there Here a latte There a latte Everywhere you go a latte Old MacHippie had a coffeehouse Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh! And in this house he poured good wine Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh! With a hiney here And a hiney there Here a hiney There a hiney Everywhere you go a hiney With a pilsner here And a pilsner there Here a pilsner There a pilsner Everywhere you go a pilsner With a latte here And a latte there Here a latte There a latte Everywhere you go a latte Old MacHippie had a coffeehouse Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh! And in this house he played great tunes Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh! With some music here And some music there Here some music There some music Everywhere you go some music With a hiney here And a hiney there Here a hiney There a hiney Everywhere you go a hiney With a pilsner here And a pilsner there Here a pilsner There a pilsner Everywhere you go a pilsner With a latte here And a latte there Here a latte There a latte Everywhere you go a latte Old MacHippie had a coffeehouse Ee-I-Ee-I-Oh! read more

If Tantra were as hippie as some of its inhabitants might inflect, it'd probably be happening 24 hours straight, not coincidentally about the same length as your average Phish song. But that's not really the deal at this mostly simple coffee shop by way of house facade: they're dialing up the hanging out, and most rooms and/or porches at Tantra are made for lounging, getting caffeinated and jawing with your pals (or in our case, working a little). The morning brought breakfast tacos while they lasted, and the chatter among patrons tended to be familiar. It appears that music happens most nights here, and if I were a betting man, I'd surmise that these may tend toward the singer-songwriter or twenty-seven minute drum circle event. I can't corroborate that part directly, but it wouldn't shock me if something similar were so. Still, I enjoyed my time here, and for all of the chatter, the building itself is plenty comfy. Parking can be a bit of a challenge (we found a spot on the other side of HEB and walked over), so bear that in mind. And camp out with a giant caffeinated bevvie. read more

Every time I visit Tantra Coffeehouse, I feel as if I've entered a time-warp that lands me back in late '80s/early '90s central Austin. So I tend to come here most every time I'm in San Marcos. I think it's a combination of the funky old barely-converted house, and the pieced together leftover college student furniture, and the funky local-made art on the walls (and the menu boards), and the unique hippie-style drink and food menu items, and the mellow alt-college folks that work and hang out here. All the things that have been slowly squeezed out of central Austin by "progress." I haven't found another place like this in San Marcos yet, either. There's indoor seating and WiFi for studying while you dine, a few bistro-style front and side porch tables, and an entire side lot full of picnic tables: the "beer garden." Depending on the time of day or evening, Tantra will be occupied mostly by an alternative college crowd, including grad students. They have live music on various nights, and tasteful alt-rock background music the rest of the time. Their website has an event calendar. I haven't made it all the way through the food menu yet, but their salmon tacos and veggie sandwiches are tasty and attractively served. They have various food specials posted, all of which seem fairly healthy. Their hot/cold chai and various yerba matte drinks are yummy. I haven't tried the coffee yet, even though this is a coffeehouse. And I haven't tried the craft-style beers yet, but they do offer a variety of those as well. Parking can be tricky, but for now, people who drive there are mostly parking at the abandoned gas station next door. Others seem to have walked or ridden bikes, which are mostly parked in front or on the alley side. It's right across from the HEB, but they don't allow Tantra patrons to park there. Enjoy this place, San Marcos folks. I'm looking forward to the next time. read more

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Let's do the time warp again! I was transported to the 70's one afternoon in San Marcos and it was lovely. From the art and photos on the wall to the clientele to the amazingly long time it took to make my very average iced vanilla latte - it felt like 1976 all over again. I will come back if ever in San Marcos again and I will wear my Afro wig and bell bottoms to fit in and I will chill out and not trip on how long it takes to make a drink or that I still can't find where they keep the straws. Peace. read more

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Every time I order a drink from Tantra, I'm always a bit let down. Not even their iced latte seems worth it to me, as their prices are a bit high for what you get. This last time I ordered a Paris Fog tea, which is black tea, whole milk, and vanilla syrup. It was okay, nothing special but something about it tasted a bit off -- I totally think that's my fault though because I asked if they could use sugar-free vanilla syrup instead. Rookie mistake. I do have to say though, their hibiscus tea sweetened with agave syrup is pretty good. I love this place more for shows than the menu. They have a lot of cool local bands that come to play, not only from San Marcos but also the NB and Austin area. The shows are (usually) free and it's always nice to sit outside (when the weather is merciful) and catch up with friends. read more

I'm used to the co-working & coffee shop culture of Austin, so when I needed a place to post up & get some work done while in San Marcos I looked at yelp & found this place. It's cute, and certainly a relaxed environment full of hippies, hipsters & college students, nestled into nooks around the abundant available tables. I was able to settle in & knock out a few assignments with little distraction, and for that I am grateful. Their coffee, on the other hand... Easily the worst latte I've ever had. I say that only to recommend that you get tea or some other form of caffeine if you're in need. Now, that said, I did order a plate of salmon tacos & found it delicious & unique. Blackened fish on crispy corn tortillas with fresh salsa, guacamole & spinach...stellar. I'll come back for the tacos & social working alone time for sure, though I'll be sure to get my java elsewhere. read more

Tantra - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Amazing. The coffee came out quick and was good, he made me a customized Chai/Vanilla Cold Brew that's tastes like gingerbread cookies :). The food took a little longer which I'm not a fan of and questioned whether or not it was worth the wait but it totally was, plus I had coffee to keep me occupied. Got the Pulled Pork Tacos which were on the small side but made super happy and sorry that I ever questioned their size and if they were even good or not. Coffee: 8.5/10 (mom thought Paris fog could have had stronger tea flavor) Food: 11/10 read more

I was excited to try this spot. I had the iced herbal hibiscus tea. She asked if I wanted honey to make it sweetened but failed to tell me that it would be .50 extra. That extra charge was a little ridiculous. The drink had no taste. My husband had the iced coffee and I could tell he did not enjoy it because he drank half and threw the rest away, he usually finishes his drink. read more

Had to drive from Austin to New Braunfels and searched for breakfast places with good vegan options along the way. This place hit the spot! The service was great, and food delicious!!! We loved everything we ordered... almond milk vanilla iced latte, hummus plate, and two breakfast tacos. They even have tempeh and nutritional yeast to choose as taco fillings. Will definitely be back next time in the area! read more

Tantra - Great vegan options! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Supposedly this is where the racist Rudy Martinez who wants all white people exterminated works. Edit: Tantra Coffeehouse has disassociated itself from Rudy Martinez. read more

Tantra is *my* kind of place! As a coffee addict, I've been to plenty of coffee houses -- both chains and one-of-a-kind gems. Tantra is definitely the latter! Also serving bottled beer, tea, and hot chocolate, Tantra has plenty of coffee confections to choose from. Lattes, americanos, plain ol' coffee... anything is available here! The guy working the counter and making the drinks was a really chill, cool guy who definitely knew his craft well. The inside of the shop is quaint and very home-y. Wood tables, a bulletin board with local stores/events being advertised, wi-fi, and funky decor surrounds you. Outside there is a tent for those who want to hear live music, meet up with friends, smoke, and/or bring your dog! There are also a few heaters back there for the cooler weather. The only downside to this place is the parking and the outdoor area. The parking is in an awful, ill-maintained, hard-to-find lot off of a small street (which is more like an alley). The outdoor area, while dog-friendly, is very smoky and looks just awful. It's enclosed by an old, dirty tent. Though I was with my brother and his wife, we also had my niece and nephew with us, along with their dog. The dog and us adults fit in fine with the obviously stoned patrons in the tent with us, but the outdoor area is definitely not the place for kids. Keep the young ones inside! Even so, Tantra reminded me of a few coffee shops I'd been to in other places I've lived, all of which are awesome. Next time I'm driving from San Antonio to Austin, I'm returning! read more

Tantra - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

I don't come here often but when I do, I get a chai tea latte. They have the BEST chai tea here, no where else compares. Apparently, as I was told by one of the baristas, the spices come directly from India. Don't know if it's true or not, but something goes seriously right in the kitchen whenever they make the chai tea. I love the vibe and it's a nice place to study. read more

Stopped by while in San Marcos for some breakfast tacos and an almond milk chai latte. The chai is perfectly spiced (and I'm pretty picky having had authentic chai traveling in India). Had bacon egg and cheese tacos in corn and the kitchen staff split the filling into two tacos. The eggs/bacon were hot and the cheese melty. The corn tortillas weren't too grainy, which I appreciate. The ambiance here is conducive to parking yourself for the day to work/study (esp because you won't go hungry). And there are readily available electrical outlets. read more

My favorite little haunt when I visit my nephew in San Marcos. You absolutely have to try the Lime in the Coconut Yerba Matte. I'm not really a Yerba Matte fan, but this drink won me over... I may or may not have ordered several of these in one sitting... read more

One of my favorite spots in smtx; I'd move in - if they'd let me. Great food, cold brew, and you can't beat the happy hour (1/2 priced pitchers). Live music is provided throughout the week and there's modern art on the walls of the joint. It's the perfect place if you're looking for inspiration, or if you're needing peace/quiet to buckle down. read more

Tantra - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Went here for the music, which was great. Got a cappuccino with oat milk which tasted pretty good, my boyfriend got a chai tea which had a good flavor but was mostly chai tea flavored water. For the price of the drinks it was kind of a let down. Other than that the place is pretty cool, nice atmosphere, good music, chill people read more

Love this San Marcos staple, the big purple house across the street from the small HEB renovated into a dope coffee, food, beer, and event space. They have cool concerts all the time, have local artists selling their art... I even have a few pieces I've bought over the years. The drinks are great, the beer is cheap and comes in a huge glass, and the food is bomb. Nothing bad to say about Tantra. I'd recommend anyone new to town to hit up Tantra to feel the feels of the town, to study, even play a game of old school pac man! Always have local art posted on the walls for sale. It's just good vibez and cool people. Dogs welcome outside. Outdoor window to order from since no doggies inside. Morning, noon, night! Hit it up and enjoy yourself in one of the coolest spots in town! read more

A purple bungalow in downtown San Marcos hides a really good coffeehouse with good food and good brew (coffee). There's plenty of outside seating. The inside of Tantra there's not much seating but really nice artwork for sale. I had the breakfast sandwich which was pretty good and healthy. Most of the time when I have breakfast sandwiches they are not the healthiest and they sell muffins from a local baker which was the best blueberry muffins I ever had. You order from the counter and wait for your name to be called. Although when I ordered, I couldn't hear my name. So I had to inquire about my food. The iced coffee was great. Tantra is definitely worth visiting if you are in the San Marcos area. read more

Tantra - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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4 Coffee 1 Customer Service 3 Ambiance 3 Cleanliness ::2.75 Stars:: The good: ~espresso was strong and flavorful ~perfect foam on the cappuccino ~funky house decor and painting abound makes for interesting environment ~they have soy and almond milk options ~plenty of parking (in a private lot) The bad: ~they refuse to make decaf espressos ~they have limited drinks and sizes ~they have limited continental breakfast options (my fav) The ugly: ~I suppose I'm not a fan of snarky baristas that take pride in not making what I request (a decaf espresso once and 16oz cappuccino another time). They are coffee purists or elitists; meaning they are not there to make the coffee of your liking, rather the coffee of their liking. I'm used to making my Nespresso cappuccinos at home, so coming here, to Tantra, was only for that similar joyful cup of pleasure that I'm incapable of creating while traveling on the road (away from home). I'm obviously not a fan of this place and I hope they change their evil ways. Why not add a little joy to your place and a little kindness to your delicious coffee cups? read more

This historic home in downtown San Marcos is now a funkified fuchsia coffeehouse that serves as ground zero for the town's neo-hippies and live music lovers. They serve decent coffee here -- though I wish it were stronger -- but it's more of a community center for the dreadlocked, hemp-wearing San Martians who just didn't have a place to hang before this place opened up. From that perspective, it's a master stroke of niche marketing, and by all appearances a very successful one. Live (and usually free) music is a big draw, and Thursday night open mics attract surprisingly talented acts, who prove Austin ain't the only place for great live music. And a tiny playground outdoors makes it possible for parents to bring the kiddos. There's a feeling of extended family at Tantra, so much so that I'd be surprised if a few of the regulars haven't put in for a change of address. Tantra also serves sandwiches and pizzas, and these are very good, though from what I can tell the beer sales may be the big cash cow. As an added bonus, the couple who owns the place may well be the best-looking hippies on this or any other planet. The downside, aside from the somewhat weak Joe, is that to enter Tantra, you must brave what we call "The Gauntlet." Okay, it's really just the front porch, but it's perpetually packed with regulars who seem to do little all day but stare at you as you make your way past them and their sniffing, unleashed dogs. Hey, chalk it up to atmosphere!!! I like the way Tantra is arranged indoors. The place is a series of small rooms, each with its own vibe, the walls bedecked with local art. This lends a sense of intimacy, and it's nice. There's even a small indoor play area for the wee'uns. Tantra clearly fills a real need in a town with plenty of young people who want to hang with others who look, act, think and smell just like they do. In that regard, Tantra may well be the coffeehouse version of Facebook, MySpace, or - wait for it....maybe even Yelp. I'm giving it four stars. It loses a star due to The Gauntlet, though Gauntlet Lovers will probably add two stars because it gives them a place where they can comfortably hang. And I'm fine with that. Really I am. read more

cutesy little coffee shop that opened around the time I was about to graduate. Glad it is still up and running. I remember the area being so nice, and Before it even opened, I was anticipating for opening day. I would go here various times to blog, study, or just lounge out because I needed to get away from my roomies! delicious coffee place! read more

Tantra itself? Amazing. The staff? Amazing. The quality of food/drinks? Amazing. That's why I continue to go here despite the fact that management is an absolute dumpster fire. I do not know who is in charge of stocking, organizing the kitchen, or determining open/closing times, but there is such a lack of consistency. If Tantra wasn't in the middle of our college town, they'd be long out of business just due to poor management. Every. single. time. I go into Tantra, they are 100% out of champagne, despite their very popular "Dizzy Bee" drink requiring it. This happens indiscriminately. They are out of champagne on Monday's at 1pm or Thursday nights at 8pm. Tantra is amazing, and I will never not go here, but management, whoever, wherever you are, why don't you try giving the kitchen consistent hours and actually buying the products in appropriate amounts that you advertise selling? Consider yourself lucky you have such kind staff who make it worthwhile. read more

Tantra caters to a well-balanced crowd of undergrads and those 21+ with a full cafe and wide array of beers and wines. The fact they serve alcohol till midnight makes Tantra a great place to meet up with friends before a night out on the square. For a quiet time, Tantra is best until 5pm (free Wi-Fi too). About that time, the cafe can be quite busy. This is a plus for those needing a little distraction while you slog through studying. For others, the "high energy" of some of its regular clientele can make concentrating impossible. That said, many decent local bands play at the cafe on any given night on Tantra's large and shaded outdoor patio (dog-friendly). Their all-natural, neo-hippy vibe might not jive with everyone. However, Tantra is very welcoming to all walks of life, making random social interaction with staff and strangers alike a common occurrence, if you're receptive to friendly banter. Tantra's DIY, community-building attitude and events have made this cafe an important cultural hub in San Marcos, which not many places in town can boast. For that reason alone, I think this establishment is worth sipping at from time-to-time, regardless of your personal aesthetic. If looking for relaxation, good drinks, or good times, you will find it here. read more