The Template is such a classic OB café -- artsy, colorful, down‑to‑earth, funky, groovy, and a little quirky in the best way. It's a large coffee shop and community art space all in one, filled with murals, installations, and fun pieces to look at everywhere you turn. They have a wide menu of coffee, teas, drinks, and elixirs, plus plenty of cozy corners to sit in. There's also a nice outdoor patio in the back, perfect for reading, studying, or catching up with a friend. I love that they really lean into the community vibe. They host tons of local events -- dance parties, open mic nights, VHS movie nights -- and there's a board where people can post local businesses and happenings. A lot of the art is from local artists, so you can learn more about their work if something catches your eye. A super fun, creative, and very OB spot that feels like a mix of café, art gallery, and community hub all in one. read more

I was down in OB for a date night with my husband and we stumbled across this coffee shop right next to the parking lot. I ordered a chai tea latte with almond milk, and my husband got a dirty chai. It wasn't the best I've had but definitely not the worst. The service was pretty good, there wasn't much of a line and our coffee was out pretty quick. Definitely recommend trying this place mostly just because of how cool the vibe was inside. read more

The Template - The coffee bar at The Template. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Interesting space. I never heard of this place till today. I came here to check out a story-telling event and was blown away by the quirkiness of this space. It's a coffee shop with eclectic decorations and a big space towards the back for performance. It definitely has the artsy, creative vibes. They said that the coffee shop is usually open but this night they're not so I wasn't able to try out the coffee or food. But I'd love to come back here again to try it out. If you're looking for a coffee shop of a different vibe, I'd recommend checking this place out. read more

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We are always down to try a new coffee shop so when we saw this cafe nearby we had to stop by. As we entered we were quickly greeted and order taken by the employee who was kind and chill. We ordered a iced Chai latte and iced Cocaoffee. Didn't take long to get our drinks. The iced Chai was not so good. It was water and lacked basic flavor. It was just cinnamon water at most. The Cocaoffee it's kind of like a play on a Mexican mocha. I barely tasted the espresso and the chayanne pepper was overwhelming. Although the drinks were not good, the vibe of this place is cool. Lots of room to chill and looks like they have live music and events here. read more

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Is it a coffee shop? A book store? An entertainment venue? Seems like a little bit of all three with cozy seating; a stage; standing pace to enjoy the show. Barista was friendly and courteous. BLOOM! If you need a spot to host an event I'd say check them out read more

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This is your classic OB café, and I mean that in the best possible way. The staff is incredibly warm and welcoming, and the space itself is super cozy, instantly making you feel right at home. There are tables set up for studying or working, along with comfy cushion-style seating that's perfect for relaxing and hanging out. It really feels like a community-focused spot, great for group meetups and they even have a small podium stage, which adds to the charm and makes it feel like a hub for local events. I ordered a croissant and a latte, and both were delicious. Highly recommend this place, and I'll definitely be back. read more

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I completely fell in love with this place. I was in San Diego for work and decided to explore a part of the city I'd never been to -- and thanks to The Template, I found my new part of San Diego. This spot is so my style: eclectic, creative, and full of personality. The space felt instantly welcoming, like you could just exist here and be yourself. The barista was friendly and kind, and the whole vibe felt genuinely inclusive. I had that immediate feeling of "oh... I'm home." I'm already planning to come back next time I'm in SD and build my visit around stopping here (and exploring more of the neighborhood too). If you love unique spaces with soul, this one is special. read more

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I stopped by after having lunch nearby. The shop has a very unique and funky vibe. I ordered the large cacaoffee which came out to a little over $9 after tip. The coffee had good flavor and a hint of spice which I thought was interesting. I would probably try a different drink if I stopped by again. read more

The Template - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Such a vibey and spacious coffee shop! It was a nice day to check out the beach but also had to get work in. Love that they have lots of seating for one to work, read or chill with friends. I had their indie elixir, so good. Love that they have yerba mate on draft. It's also so close to the beach if you want to hit it after. read more

The Template - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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The Template is a cafe serving up a different experience here with music, classic/on tap/steeped caffeination, fancy schmancy lattes, groovy libations, elixirs, kava, and pastries and tasties. AMBIANCE Hipster, eclectic, psychedlic. Jesus Gonzalez and Shanti Vibrations played music reminiscent of folk rock with the improvisations of jazz. SERVICE Friendly, helpful, knowledgeable. Patrons order at the counter, and staff bring orders to table. DRINKS 5/5 Rose Cardamom: Rose syrup, cardamom, 2xEspresso, whole milk 4.5/5 Hibiscus Kiss: hibiscus tea, rose syrup, agave. Initially too sweet for me but over time the melted ice helped dilute the concentration. PARKING Street-side and lot read more

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Needed a quick coffee and stumbled into this quirky shop. So many things to look at while you're waiting. I got the salted caramel ice latte and hit the spot. The person working behind the bar was very friendly and informative about their menu. Will be back to check out more unique drinks read more

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My friend and I were looking for a new cafe to try and stumbled upon this one. The pictures on yelp looked a lot different than the cafe itself. We personally didn't want to sit inside and drink/eat because it felt dirty and crowded with furniture. The staff were nice and made our drinks quickly. When we went the espresso machine was broken so we couldn't order any lattes. I wouldn't personally come back here. There are lots of other cafes out there. Food/drink review: Matcha: (2/5) I had high hopes when she was mixing the matcha, but once she poured it over ice it was literally all milk. I wouldn't order again. I actually threw more than half away. Bagel: (3/5) Plain bagel with cream cheese. The bagel tasted old and dry. I also couldn't finish it. read more

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Delicious coffee that does not taste like burnt charcoal (unlike a certain Store-Buicks place that took over the world right before The Musk did. They beat him to it. Now the good news. There's a roomy child (as long as they''re well-behaved, and dog friendly (They are free to behave as they wish) coffee place right near the beach in beautiful Ocean Beach. There are loads of tables of various sizes for groups, the occasional stoner whose coffee was deactivated by all the THC in his body (This is not a scientific fact, it's just fun hogwash). The woman behind the counter curated my coffee as if it were preparing for The Met Gala. She presented it beautifully and I purchased a fresh sinfful, filthy delicious perfect blueberry muffin. I was in heaven for a good hour. I didn't want to leave but I had to go to an appointment. that I didn't want to go to. (Does this ever happen to you ?). It's the questions that drive me mad, "Sir, how much alcohol do you consume in the average week ?" I acted stupid, "What - can you explain that another way ?" "When do you drink alcohol in a week ?" I replied "Whenever it is offered to me." You should have seen her face. read more

The Template - "Dog With A Pearl Earring" (except it just fell off). - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Drinks are delicious, vibes and decor are great, owner is wonderful! I got a matcha latte and it was fantastic so I got 3 different drinks to bring to other people. read more

Good strong coffee with lots of space to hang out and chill with your drink. The restroom is dark and the lighting changes mood colors to give off an Alice in Wonderland trippy dream vibe. read more

The Template - 12 oz latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I stopped here while waiting to check into my Airbnb. What a comfy spacious spot to caffeinate and get my bearings. Comfy sofas, WiFi and funky art to intro you into OB. ALL 3 mins off the main strip Newport ave and on the bus route. read more

I love this place so much! I popped in here to read my book and enjoy some coffee and it was amazing. As other reviews have said, ECLECTIC is a great way to describe this place. The decor, furniture and vibes are fun, unique, and creative. It's such a fun spot to hang out. Today is my first time but I will definitely be back! Service was great and I like the option to pay for a coffee refill at a cheaper price. You just don't see that everywhere I have been reading a new book on one of the couches here for over an hour and have been really enjoying my Saturday afternoon! Apparently they also live open mic and live music throughout the week so I plan on returning for that as well :) read more

The Template - Cozy interior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Best coffee shop in town. Super fun vibes with a great community. Check out the open mic night.

The Template was the perfect venue for my Bratz themed 30th birthday party last weekend! The vibes were absolutely immaculate and that night was a dream come true! Parking can be a little scarce since it's near OB but that's like anywhere in SD--just keep circling the block and something will eventually pop up or use the lot next door. I can't help but thank Marie enough for helping me plan and prepare for the party. I chose to have a cash bar which made having to bring my own drinks in less complicated. MJ, the bartender that night, was amazing and mixed up some delicious cocktails for us! Micah ensured the lights and music were a constant the entire night by setting the perfect mood for us. If you want to dance the night away in the coolest cafe turned event space in San Diego, I highly recommend you book The Template for your next event! read more

The Template - Dance floor, lights - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Love the vibe at the template. Art, music, and good coffee. Their staff is also really nice, Gracie was the sweetest!

This place is sweet! The coffee is delicious. There were so many options to choose from so I asked for a recommendation. The barista recommended the Huns N' Roses for a hot drink and the Salted Maple Latte for iced. I went with the Huns N' Roses and it did not disappoint! Not too sweet and the rose flavor was subtle enough to taste it but not overpowering. I can't wait to come back to try the other lattes. The vibe of the place is awesome too -- really cool set up with vintage decor and a slapping playlist! Good place to study too. read more

The Template - Huns N' Roses - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

The cashier Gracie was above and beyond incredible; she actually showed genuine interest and care about me as a person as I ordered a simple Matcha An amazing addition to your crew at The Template! Ps. Your matcha here is incredible! - Elan Villanueva read more

This place is the embodiment of eclecticism. Not that there's anything wrong with that. For reals though, the furniture and decorations at this place are all over the place. On a good note, the young lady working the shop knows how to make a very good cortado. It was well, balanced, and smooth. I wanted to get something to munch on with my cortado, but they only had pasteries, and they looked like they had seen better days, so I passed. The place offers a lot of inside seating, some front seating, and plenty of outside seating. Service was no frills but friendly. read more

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I really loved this place and during my visit to OB I walked over to this coffee shop every morning despite walking past a few others. SO FUNKY. I love the open-front concept and eclectic decor and comfy seats and polite service and light music. It was lovely. The salted maple iced latte was my daily favorite - so freaking good. The name of this coffee shop is applicable - it should be the 'template' for many other coffee shops that want awesome coffee and a chill environment. Also - GLUTEN FREE MUFFINS!!!!!! As a celiac I was ECSTATIC... and warmed up they were incredibly fluffy and moist - far better than I expected them to be since they can be difficult to get right even with the correct 'flour'. read more

The Template - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Template is the best third space. I consider it home away from home. It's the best place to get work done, go to really awesome events in the evenings, and the best place to be surrounded by the cutest doggo's, especially Raven, the Template mascot. read more

The Template is the most artistic cafe in San Diego. Love the eclectic vibe and drinks are fantastic and reasonably priced. Definitely check it out if you are in OB! read more

The Template - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Loved my first visit at the Template! Went for coffee on a whim around lunch and picked the closest shop. Walking in, there was an audience watching live entertainment, which I'm a sucker for. Ordered the Honey Pie latte which is honey and cinnamon. It was perfect, I loved the flavor and it woke me up. After receiving our drinks, we took a seat to enjoy the entertainment for a little while. Loved the energy of the whole shop and employees are friendly. Surprisingly very big shop with so many things to look at with their unique decor. My new go-to when in OB read more

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It is a very pretty coffee shop with a nice and artistic ambiance. It is very spacious. They have art in every single corner. I really enjoyed walking around to look at all their  vintage decor and art. I loved the bird cages over the baristas' area. They looked spectacular. The seats were comfortable.The baristas were very friendly.My daughter and I ordered Huns N Roses (iced) and Iced rose latte. The drinks were refreshing, perfect sweetness and excellent taste. I am glad that I found The Template coffee shop. It's really a hidden gem in Ocean Beach. Great place and location, outstanding service and amazing drinks read more

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The word "quirky" gets overused a lot these days. And in my opinion, lot of places and people claiming to be quirky are actually pretty basic. Well, that being said, The Template is *quirky* - truly - and it's glorious. Nothing in the decor matches or makes sense. People bring their dogs inside (once I saw four dogs chilling in the place at once) and the drinks are hippie things like cava and turmeric lattes. It's possibly the most OB place in OB. Shockingly, it's also one of the best coffee shops I've found for getting work done. There are plenty of outlets and large tables. I probably look pretty out of place with my briefcase and basic Target clothes and corporate-looking laptop. But everyone is nice, and I get a lot done! Also, the first time I came here was for live music (a Sofar show), and as a venue it was fabulous. Such a vibe that I had to come back Monday morning for coffee and to see it in the daylight! read more

This place just a vibe yall have too see yall selves it's honestly the best I moved here came here n it just didn't disappoint bands and artist come here it's like whoa the vibe is unmatched read more

My favorite stop for refreshing and creative drinks. The music is always on point--whether its's live or selected by the staff--the art, people, and vibe make the whole place effortlessly cool. So grateful to have access to this space on a regular basis! read more

Such a great spot to grab a cup of coffee or tea and catch some amazing live music from excellent up and coming musicians. Tucked away about a block up from the beach The Template is a quaint coffee house with plenty of space, the windows and doors open so you catch the nice ocean breeze. Décor is whimsical and reminds me of Alice and Wonderland. Plenty of seating indoors and out and the space is very cozy and relaxing. We were there on Sunday night to catch some live music and the space is completely different and amazing. The sound was great and a perfect place for bands to play. In the evening you could grab the usual coffee or tea but they also had an assortment of beer, wine, and seltzers you could purchase. I had the oatmilk latte and it was tasty, coffee was pretty good as well. The Staff was great, super friendly and helpful. Overall great space to catch a show or even just hang out and chill. read more

I absolutely love this little cafe!!! They are just far enough off the main strip in OB that it wasn't too crazy when we came by; they have some outdoor seating and a whole giant inside area with seating & a stage. It looks like they do fun artsy/music/community things, too. I saw they had some pastries and both kava and kombucha, but all I got was a dirty chai. It was great at first, but a bit too sweet on the bottom so they just make it with a powder, but that's okay. It was such a great experience! I'd love to come back here. read more

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This is a super funky space - pretty hipster vibe which was fun. We got the rose cardamom latte which we thought didn't have much flavor and a dirty chai which was decent. We also got a chocolate and almond croissant - no offer to warm it up but it was pretty good but made elsewhere. Overall it was decent but wouldn't come back personally. read more

The template is a really cool place. They almost always have live music happening with local bands or artists. Their drinks are interesting and the interior is even more interesting! There is lots to look and and explore in there. It's like a modern art museum. The vibe is very laid back (including the staff) and it seems like a good place to while away the day, with comfy chair and lots of space. I got the golden milk latte with almond milk which was super unique. It was sort of sweet but a bit savory as well. You can really taste that turmeric. Both of the purple rain tonic and the pink moon elixer I tried also had a bite to them. read more

The Template - golden milk latte with almond milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Delicious coffee, great ambiance, and you can hang around here a while. It's a large space! Very open with high ceilings, art everywhere, mismatched vintage furniture, and great music! We sat a while after eating lunch at Mike's Taco Club. I got a matcha while my sister got a rose latte. So so good! The seating is comfy! And people bring their laptops to sit and work here. Not super busy. We found parallel parking right out front! read more

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Had a wonderful time at The Template for their Wednesday open mic night! Super fun vibes, unique decor, and talented folks. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. Great to have a space like this as an outlet for the community. read more

The Template - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I was visiting the beach and stopped by this shop right before. I asked about the Kava because I have never tried it before. The girl was really rude to me and there wasn't even a line. She told me "do you want it or not!?". I bought the drink because i felt bad but ended up throwing it out because she was weird. read more

I really like this place. I live a block away, which is super awesome. Robbie is really nice & friendly. The place reminds me of Alice in Wonderland- which is my favorite movie of all time. I stopped in the other night & they had amazing music happening. In the evening, you can also get an adult beverage. That was a major bonus. I'm hoping they get some sandwiches soon... Definitely stop by! read more

Wow I love this place. Anytime I'm in the area, walking my dog, going to the beach or just picking up something, I always stop by. It is so cool inside, music, coffee is good quality. I always bring my friends here when they come. In addition, dog friendly. read more