Tantra Coffeehouse reminds me of what I like about San Marcos, I think it's More relaxed than Austin. There's less of the pretentious south Austin hipster crowd and the college students aren't sizing each other up based on their trust funds.
The outdoor patio is large and allows for ample room to sit and hang out on a cool night. Friends and I all sat and had beer chatting for awhile. I didn't have any food but I'll be happy to try some coffee and a snack next time I'm around.
Heard a lot of great things about Tantra so recently took it for a test drive.
Coffee's pretty good and the staff is nice and friendly. Didn't quite live up the rave reviews, though.
They're a bit on the spendy side, if you ask me (I spent more on two coffees and a snack than I ever have...ever). The outside has a much funkier vibe than the inside. Lots of unused space. Some sparse tables and lots of hard chairs. There was nothing about the interior that makes me want to come back. I'd like to see more comfortable seats, some art (local?), some books, games, posters, pictures, etc. All of the elements that make the great coffee shops great. I'll be honest, I'm kind of picky about my coffee shops. I like some flair and decoration and a nice funky vibe. I give them props for trying, but it isn't quite there yet. Maybe it's a work in progress. They're on to something good, just needs more development.
I was at a friend's party pretty late, south of San Marcos, and faced a long drive home. Â I asked if she knew of a coffee place, and she said, "Welll, there's a Starbuck's at the next exit..." while making a face.
We said, pretty much together, "Not Starbucks." Â I suggested I'd go get a cup of vile gas station brew, and my friends said, "Wait, you should go to Tantra!" Â They gave me some fairly simple directions and off I went.
Which is how I ended up being That Person, who walks in bare minutes before close. Â I apologised for being That Person (I don't like to do that to servers and staff, you know?) and explained that I just needed a coffee to go, for a long drive, and the barista said, "Oh, I'm out of drip, let me make you an Americano."
He was friendly and helpful, and the coffee was super-tasty! Â They participate in the 'Go Local' program, and we chatted about hippies and shows and coffee while he made my drink.
Was it the OH MY GOD BEST COFFEE I HAVE EVER HAD? Â No, of course not. Â It was a tasty cup of coffee served in a courteous and professional manner by a friendly and cheerful barista, which in my book counts as a solidly positive experience.
Also, their cookies are good.
Ummmm, I love this place. Â Ok, I know I said that about Wake the Dead Coffeehouse, but I mean it about Tantra too. Â It has great coffee and other random drinks- I recommend the iced chai latte, delicious, or the Mexican chocolate drink. Â I can't remember the exact name, but it's delicious as well. Â This is such a great space to hang out and chat with friends or get work done, and the art on the walls is always great to look at. Â PLUS there's a cool outdoor space and stage that features bands. Â Great coffee/caffeinated drink selection during the day and fun beer selection in the evenings. Â Very much a hippie vibe with an excellent front porch to hang out on. Â And I certainly can feel Buddha smiling in this place.
Review Source:This place gives great caffeine :) Â I don't order from their menu necessarily, but I want in and ask for it cold, strong and sweet and I walk out a happy girl. Â This place has a large outdoor covered seating area (read: study and smoke at the same time, YAY!) and when you are all done cramming for your most grueling tests, you can take a beer break (YAY! again). Â I really like all the staff and they're super friendly.
I feel like I should make a declaration after reading the other reviews that I am not a hippie, nor a hipster and it has never affected my opinion of this place. Â I think their clientele is very friendly and its a really nice space for studying and hanging out.
They've gotten better over the years. I like the location and the coffee isn't half bad. They have a good beer selection and decent music every once and a while. I like the enthusiasm of the place (the house has been around a while). It seems to be more popular with San Marcos locals, so if you're looking for an interesting conversation or people watching, veer here!
I'd go with a group to see how you like it, give them some business. They deserve it.
A
I don't really get all the Yelp hate about this place...oh wait....I'm in San Marcos, I forgot! Â That explains it all....
As a native Austinite I vouch for this place as a comfy unique spot to hang out/"study"/drink coffee and people watch. Â Guess what folks, if you don't like the "hippie" vibe then go to the million other places in San Marcos that are white wash and boring!
I stepped in and they were playing Radiohead, an immediate draw in for me. Â The barista was very friendly and helped me find something tasty to order....The Landry. Â Very good. Â I exclaimed, "I love this place....makes me feel like I'm in Austin!" Â And he said, "Yah some other folks have said the same thing!"
I don't identify myself as a "hippie" or "hipster" or anything close to it, but I have to admit that that kind of vibe makes me feel comfortable. Â Good job, San Marcos, you indeed have a few redeeming qualities :)
I just moved back to San Marcos last week, been nearly 2 years since I'd been to my old favorite coffee house, Tantra......NOT ANYMORE
Lost charm, lost that old "hippie" feel....
New owners just don't get it
Well, talk about "streamlining," Thats what the new owner said to me when we had paid $22 for a couple drip coffee's and a couple awful egg sandwich's. They have streamlined their profits out of your pockets and into theirs! They are trying to become a corporate coffee clone. You know who I mean......
They offer only 2 choices on drip coffee. only good one left was "harrar" Tantra's best from before.
I wouldn't be surprised to see community coffee, pikes place and verona there next! Y'll know those names........
Sad change
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!
I'll start by saying that I'm not a big coffee drinker. Â I took an evening class in San Marcos and had some time to kill every week before class and found myself going to Tantra pretty often to read or study. Â
I'd always grab a cup of their Mexican roast, which was pretty strong but had a lot of flavor. Â I noticed that they have a nice little selection of local beers (bottled, not sure if they are on tap), so that's always a nice bonus. Â The baristas were always nice and I never had trouble finding a place to sit and plug up my laptop.
I know some ppl are put off by the hippie vibe, which I can see what they're talking about, but it was always clean and quiet when I stopped by.
Cool spot!
I really like this place, and seeing some of the bad reviews that this place has gotten just makes me sad. But people are entitled to their own opinion right?
Anyway, I reign from Southern California, a mecca for little hip coffee places like Tantra, and I have to say that this place makes me feel so at home.
LOVE: The hummus plate, they gave me tons of warm pita bread slices, and a whole lot of delicious hummus to go with.
LOVE: The landry, the juggler, and the aromatic lavender syrup. Seriously, that syrup smells as refreshing as it tastes, IF you like lavender.
LOVE: The selection of music, the decor, the art for sale, and the abundance in seating.
I haven't tried much of their food YET, but every time I go I try a new drink. So far, no complaints.
I honestly love this place because of the homey feel I get when I'm there. I love that it's open late. The prices are good and it's a great place to study at. Plus $2 mimosas on Sundays. ;)
If I had to pick one thing bad though, I'd say parking is eh.
Parking seems kind of limited and that irks me a bit.
I don't like this place at all. I went here once and will not go back. I wanted a traditional macchiato and they insinuated that I wanted a caramel macchiato from starbux then proceeded to made me a very tall latte that was too hot to drink in a to-go cup... I wasn't even offered a real cup.
You can also hear all the shizzy music from across the street in the HEB parking lot. Congratz on the live reggae, hope you guys enjoy having an outdoor venue that looks like a tent revival.
I've been patronizing Tantra since its inception several years back. I've seen the place change and grow over time and I've always found it to be a cool spot for beer and music. As a unicycle footballer, I have spent tons of time here after games as well and they have always been accommodating to the UFL. They used to sell all vegetarian food that they made in house, but got rid of it about two years ago. Sigh. Now they serve an assortment of snacks and food delivered by local restaurateurs. Tantra recycles, collects rainwater, and has had a vegetable garden in the front yard. All in all, a pretty progressive, cool place located in a 100-year old house just a block away from the square.
The not so good - I feel like $5 for a mini pitcher of Lone Star is pretty steep, and other mini pitchers go for $7 and $9 - not the best value, especially when you have Valentino's down the street with $6.50 pitchers ($4.50 at happy hour) of DELICIOUS beers. But this isn't a Valentino's review, so I digress. I also feel that ever since they closed off the ordering counter, the room has a less welcoming feel. I can see why they did it, but it was cool to be able to look at the fridge and pick a beer out, or hang out at the counter with whoever was working.
All in all, Tantra is a great place with a cool sense of community. That community may be different now than it was three years ago, but places grow and change and Tantra is no exception.
Also, they serve coffee here? I had no idea!
I thought it was kind of odd when I was handed a beer mug to self-serve my coffee, but I soon got over the weirdness when I took a sip of their insanely great tasting coffee. Â I am not a fan of all those specialty coffees, and I am impressed when a coffee shop has really great tasting drip coffee.
I also tried their blueberry bagel which was nothing out of the ordinary, but the service was very friendly. Â They also have a great selection of beers which I need to go back to try a few.
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.
Maybe  just don't like the "I'm too involved in my own conversation to notice you" attitude that seems to accompany Tantra-goers (and staff on a couple visits), or the pay $7 for a concert that I can hear for free until 2am from my apartment, or maybe I just don't like hipsters.
Either way, Tantra's beverages are pretty good, I'm just a nay-sayer to the atmosphere. I'd rather have decent coffee somewhere I can talk to my neighbors.
Tantra has great coffee from a local roaster and a very nice beer selection to boot. Â They even have a few things on tap, including some Texas local brews. Â The hours are great and the diversity of the menu is excellent. Â There events are pretty great as well.
I won't quite side with some reviewers in saying some of the clientele can be a deal breaker, but at times there is an undeserved smugness emanating from some patrons. Â If you can stand hippies or hipsters, fine another cafe.
When I come here, I don't feel like I moved away from Austin.
Its the same weird, unique, relaxed atmosphere you would expect to find in an Austin coffee house, just transplanted into San Marcos.
I'm not a big fan of the typical frat scene in this town, so places like these are like a diamond in a goats ass to me. It sticks out in the best of ways. I go there during the semester to study, relax, and chat with people. Everyone is super nice and super different from the typical here. Live music happens every night, as far as I know, and it ranges to drum circles to very good local bands.
The reason it didn't get 5 stars is because the coffee certainly isn't what keeps me coming back. I've ordered 5 or 6 different things now, and they all taste equally burnt. I think they use a super dark roast, and I'm a light roast type of gal, so its a little icky. I end up putting about a pound of sugar in there to try and cover the taste, but it often has no effect because it is SO strong. It might not bother some people, but if you're like me, it probably will.
Very Unique, Chill, Non-Corporate, Unpretentious, coffee house. Now when I say house I mean house complete with front porch, kitchen, living room, side yard and bano b/c coffee + beer = volatility.
Here you can sip great coffee drinks, do homework, make friends, play games, drink beer, and lounge on a couch all in a home like setting. The walls are covered with local arts that change every so often.
They have live music, open mic poetry nights and long philosophical beards are welcome.
Excellent breve latte, the underlying coffee tastes very fresh. You can instantly tell that their coffee is NOT the stale weeks old junk that most places have.
This is one of the few places that actually made me get this high-happy feeling sometime after drinking the coffee (Four Barrel in SF is another) and to me that's indicative of high quality fresh coffee!
Price was very reasonable, $4 for a large breve latte. I'm surprised that this place exists out in the middle of nowhere (Sorry San Marcos natives), but wow, what a hidden a gem.
I stopped in Tantra on the way to San Antonio from Austin and I was really impressed. Â The iced coffee was delicious and the barista was really friendly. Â My friend had an iced chai which he said was good and not too sweet. There was lots of outdoor seating and I really appreciated the herb garden.
If I lived in San Marcos I'd probably spend a lot of time at Tantra, but for those of you who make the drive between Austin and SA frequently, you should definitely check this place out!
I'm here every Wednesday before class, "working on homework" otherwise known as killing time on the interwebs.
They have the hippie population that most coffeehouses have, but the smell of patchouli is kept to a minimum, and it is genuinely nice, friendly people that work here.
They offer a broad selection of drinks, both boozy and not, and the music is always soothing.
The only reason I took off a star is parking is REALLY tight in the lot behind them, don't park anywhere else unless you like having your car towed...
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.
A lovely contrast to the pretentious clubs on the square a few blocks away.
A rather large selection of bottled microbrews (A few taps would be nice but somehow would detract from the feel) and coffee and live music and assorted artsie stuff going on made it a lovely place to take a break.
They apparently serve hummus which I cannot wait to try,
Perhaps not my favorite coffee shop ever, mostly because I was clearly out of place in my non-hipster attire, but I will say this place is huge, the staff was super friendly, it served its purpose as a place to camp out for an hour or two of work.
Didn't try the coffee, had an Odwalla instead, but I *did* so score the last bean, egg and cheese breakfast taco -- it was seriously badass. In fact the breakfast taco is the reason I'd totally go back if I'm ever in Austin again and looking for breakfast.
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!
A-OK is exactly how I would rate this establishment.
Really nothing to write home about (unless you are one of the uni-cycling football players outside) but a oddly comfy place to chill. While everyone was very kind, it definitely has a hipster feel. They were probably going for that though...
Drinks are what you would expect, food the same. Could find cheaper, but would get what you pay for.
Tantra gets the job done. If you're a hipster- it gets it done in style.
I stopped here for coffee on my little day-trip to San marcos from Austin. Â I have to say, I was impressed! Â The coffee was good (though not-quite-Once-Over-good good), and the beer selection was huge! Â I love the layout - lots of little rooms. It feels much larger on the inside than it really is.
I watched CONTACT unicycle football across the street, which was pretty awesome, and I noticed they have an herb garden, which is also very cool.
Best spot in San Marcos that I've found yet.
Love it or hate it, undoubtedly the center for art and culture in San Marcos.
Pros: The greenest restaurant in San Marcos by far and not just because their menu is vegetarian: they also compost, recycle everything, and have a garden. Â The outdoor music events are the only events I can stand since I don't like standing in a pool of smoke like at Triple Crown or other places. Â I know they treat their employees like gold as getting a job here is next to impossible. Â That attitude shows in their pride in the place and continual improvements.
Cons: Service, music, and visitors vary: sometimes they're outstanding and sometimes they're unpleasant. Â Its a very social place so not somewhere I go to relax.
Update: Food selection has greatly diminished but their consistency has improved. Â Drink selection has increased, although much of it alcohol, and drip coffee has been very consistently good.
Loses a point for the terrible fake bacon... but then again I love a good steak. I'll put my meat eater vs. vegetarian quarrel aside to rate Tantra Coffeehouse.
This place is one of a few oasis in San Marcos. If you want a nice place to chill, study, or hang out this place is it. Surprisingly large selection of beer and they know how to make a great cup of coffee. There is comfortable couches inside and plenty of tables outside.
Most of the time the music is great, but if you go often enough you'll be chased off some of the worst music you can imagen. Â It's well worth it the other 9/10 times.
P.S. The unicycle football games are amazing!
Tantra is great. The staff is always friendly and weird and the house it's located in is charming and fun. They serve exclusively vegetarian food, which is something sorely lacking in San Marcos, and a wide array of beverages, alcoholic and non. Prices are average and they usually have a special of some kind.
The live music can range from decent to awesome. The outdoor setting is one-of-a-kind and it's a great place to sit down with a beer and chill. They've got any number of wacky events happening and plenty of friendly patrons who have no problem with chatting you up on the porch.
Tantra is practically a San Marcos miracle and I'm going to be sad to move and leave this place behind.
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.
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