Highlights
- Great coffee
- Live performances
- Great tea selection
- Live music
oChef » Template – San Diego
Template - San Diego
Photo from Template
Template at a glance
San Diego Ocean Beach
- ☕ Café
$
Price per Person $1–$10
mentioned by 73 of the guests
#170 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#14 Café out of 65 in San Diego
Excellent
8.2 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
461
Reviews
87.6%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Great atmosphere
- Good drinks
- Friendly staff
Frequently criticized
- Parking cost
- Dry bagel
- Dirty bathroom
The cafe Template in San Diego’s vibrant Ocean Beach neighborhood offers a truly unique experience. You’ll discover a cozy, casual, and trendy spot where you can enjoy great coffee and a fantastic tea selection.
It’s not just about the drinks; you can also catch engaging live performances and live music, making it a perfect destination for a relaxing morning or an inspiring afternoon.
Overview: Introducting Template
Template offers a distinctive experience, blending a vibrant vibe with quality beverages. While many appreciate the welcoming staff and the overall atmosphere , some minor inconsistencies in certain food items and service aspects have been noted.
This establishment successfully hosts events, with its team adeptly accommodating larger groups. However, a few patrons have voiced concerns regarding parking and occasional issues with specific menu items, suggesting a slightly mixed experience for some.
Excellent
8.2
out of 10
461
Reviews
87.6%
Satisfaction
50
negative
7
neutral
404
positive
Template earns a solid overall score of 8.2, indicating a generally positive reception, supported by a strong Customer Satisfaction of 87.6%. This reflects a place that largely meets expectations, with a high number of positive remarks (404 out of 461 total comments) contributing to its favorable standing.
The experience is primarily elevated by its exceptional Ambience (8.5) and well-regarded Food (8.2), particularly its coffee and drinks. Service (7.5) also performs commendably, though Value (5.9) presents a more average showing, suggesting some room for improvement in perceived cost-effectiveness.
What people like
- Inviting atmosphere
- Quality coffee & drinks
- Accommodating staff
What people don't like
- Value concerns
- Inconsistent food items
- Maintenance issues
With a strong Recommendation Score of 8.3, Template is certainly worth considering if you’re seeking a place with a great atmosphere and quality beverages. It’s a reliable choice for those prioritizing a pleasant environment and good drinks over strict budget concerns.
However, if you’re particularly sensitive to value or specific food items like pastries, you might find the experience slightly less consistent. Overall, it’s a welcoming spot that delivers on its core offerings, making it a solid option for many.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Template
Food (8.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 82% of the guests
When it comes to the food and drink offerings, this spot truly shines! With a score of 8.2 and a fantastic 87.2% customer satisfaction, it's clear guests are generally delighted. Out of 141 comments, a whopping 123 were positive, praising everything from the delicious food and pastries to the incredible almond croissants and satisfying breakfast panini .
However, a few areas could use a little polish. Some found pastries to be past their prime or unavailable, while a Bagel was described as old and dry. There were also comments suggesting the menu could offer more basic flavors or show more effort in certain areas.
Food
141
Reviews
87%
Satisfaction
15
negative
3
neutral
123
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Excellent coffee & drinks
- Delicious food options
- Unique specialty beverages
What people don't like
- Inconsistent drink quality
- Stale food items
- Limited basic flavors
Often praised
- coffeeMy experience was really great! I enjoyed the high quality coffee and the cool, eclectic vibe. The friendly staff made it a pleasant visit, and there was plenty of space to sit down and work.
- drinksThey have decaf espresso, which was a boon. Plenty of drinks - hot and cold - for a variety of tastes.
- coffeesall coffees I have got were great
- flavorI was delighted to find they offered rose and cardamom syrup, which I added to my drink. It was perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of flavor and not too sweet. My partner ordered one of their kava drinks, and after stealing a few sips, I can confirm we both thoroughly enjoyed the taste and the way it made us feel.
- foodthey serve coffee food and pastries
- great coffeeThis is probably the coolest spot I've ever been to, though I admit I'm not very well-traveled. Nevertheless, the great coffee and great staff made for a wonderful experience. They also apparently have live piano, which adds to the atmosphere.
- incredible drinksMy experience at this cafe was fantastic! It's a cool cafe filled with friendly faces and incredible drinks. There's a constant flow of creativity here.
- kavaCacao and kava are both available
- lattesInteresting coffees, lattes, nitro and elixirs
- rose latterose latte which was pretty good
Frequently criticized
- pastriespastries looked like they had seen better days
- BagelThe bagel tasted old and dry
- Matchait was literally all milk
- Vanilla ChaiThe Vanilla Chai tasted like just oat milk
- basic flavorsBut they don't have basic flavors
- cacaoOk their cacao just is not it
- dead mosquitoI found a dead mosquito in it
- drinksthrow all of the drinks away
- espresso machineThe 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.
- frapswish was that they had fraps
If you're looking for a place with excellent coffee, unique specialty drinks, and some tasty food options, this spot is definitely worth a visit. Just be aware that some of the simpler food items or certain drink preparations might occasionally miss the mark.
Service (7.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 50% of the guests
The service here generally shines, with a 7.5 score indicating a good experience and 72.5% customer satisfaction. Many guests rave about the friendly staff and great people, often highlighting baristas like Teddy for their excellent service. Out of 69 comments, 50 were positive, praising the kind and helpful team.
However, its not always perfect. Some experiences mention slow service and feeling like the team was understaffed, leading to long lines and waits. There were also a few comments about opening hours being inconsistent or issues with event setup, ' but these were less frequent among the 18 negative remarks.
Service
69
Reviews
72%
Satisfaction
18
negative
1
neutral
50
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Great people
- Excellent service
What people don't like
- Slow service
- Understaffed
- Long lines
Often praised
- staffMy wife and I booked The Template for our wedding Welcome Dinner, and it was AWESOME! The staff was great, and the vibes are amazing. They easily accommodated our 75-person event, adjusting tables, chairs, and spacing so everyone felt welcome.
- serviceThe coffee and service were both excellent.
- peopleThe people who run it are goofy and gregarious.
- TeddyThis is a must go to when you're in OB. Say hey to Teddy 🧸 😍. IG: theurbanmenu_sd theurbanmenu.
- baristabarista was helpful explaining kava to us and was sweet
- 75 person eventeasily accommodated our 75 person event
- Great peopleGreat people!
- ServiceService:5
- StaffStaff was dedicated
- baristasthe baristas are well trained
Frequently criticized
- serviceservice was not quite as friendly
- long linea long line, so it took a long time to order
- Google listingshouldn’t be closed at 2:06 on Saturday according to that
- barista closingtold the barista is closing
- baristasEven if the baristas aren't the friendliest, it's still the best coffee shop in OB. My experience was great, especially with the food and atmosphere.
- bs lotteryDidn't win the bs lottery
- drinks from people that ordered after me were coming out before minedrinks from people that ordered after me were coming out before mine
- event setuphow you set up events for the people who are actually not there for an event
- one employeethere was only one employee managing all the cafe
- open mic platformApparently they changed their platform for open mic
Overall, the service here is quite good, with a friendly and engaging staff making for a pleasant visit. While you might occasionally encounter a long line or slower service, the positive interactions generally outweigh these minor hiccups, making it worth a try.
Ambience (8.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 94% of the guests
Alright, lets talk vibes! This place absolutely shines when it comes to atmosphere, boasting a good to excellent score of 8.5 and an excellent 93.4% customer satisfaction. With 226 positive remarks out of 242, guests consistently rave about the amazing vibe, unique decor, and the lively live music and community hub feel.
Its clearly a spot that leaves a lasting positive impression. However, its not entirely without its quirks. A small number of 13 concerns were noted, touching on issues like feeling dirty or crowded with furniture, and some mentions of flies or loud music.
' These seem to be minor hiccups in an otherwise overwhelmingly positive experience.
Ambience
242
Reviews
93%
Satisfaction
13
negative
3
neutral
226
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Amazing unique vibe
- Creative artistic decor
- Lively events, live music
What people don't like
- Cleanliness concerns
- Crowded seating
- Music too loud
Often praised
- atmosphereMy experience at this restaurant was marked by a unique and beautiful atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed their new kava beverage, which was great, and appreciated the variety of events they offer, such as open mics.
- vibeMy experience was really great! I enjoyed the high quality coffee and the cool, eclectic vibe. The friendly staff made it a pleasant visit, and there was plenty of space to sit down and work.
- spaceI enjoyed the high quality coffee and the cool, eclectic vibe. The friendly staff made it a pleasant visit, and there was plenty of space to sit down and work. The comfy furniture was perfect for kicking back and relaxing.
- coffee shopEven if the baristas aren't the friendliest, it's still the best coffee shop in OB. My experience was great, especially with the food and atmosphere.
- dog friendlyThis coffee shop is by far the nearest and best location to grab a coffee to chill at the OB Pier and beach. It's also dog friendly and you can smoke outside. The bathroom light bulb needs to be changed; I thought I was bleeding.
- vibesMy wife and I booked The Template for our wedding Welcome Dinner, and it was AWESOME! The staff was great, and the vibes are amazing. They easily accommodated our 75-person event, adjusting tables, chairs, and spacing so everyone felt welcome.
- cafeMy experience at this cafe was quite interesting. It's a funky and interesting cafe with live music, and the sofas and chairs were pretty comfy. I found the music a little too loud for my preference.
- eventsgreat events that bring locals and visitors together regularly
- live musicIt's conveniently located close to the beach but far enough to be peaceful and productive. The cafe offers some of the best live music and art in San Diego!
- musicbest music is always playing
Frequently criticized
- bathroom light bulbBathroom light bulb needs to be changed
- crowded with furnitureit felt dirty and crowded with furniture
- dirtyit felt dirty and crowded with furniture
- doorsall doors were wide open
- flieslots of flies around the restaurant
- hygieneThey should care about hygiene little bit more
- inside the cafeIt was freezing inside the cafe
- musicIt's a funky and interesting cafe with live music, and the sofas and chairs were pretty comfy. I found the music a little too loud for my preference. I ordered the rose latte, which was pretty good.
- plastic cupsconfused as to why they use plastic cups
- restroomThe restroom was dark and blue
If you're looking for a place with a truly unique and vibrant atmosphere, this spot is definitely worth checking out. Expect a creative, community-focused hub with plenty of artistic flair, though be mindful of a few minor cleanliness or crowding concerns.
Value (5.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 7% of the guests
When it comes to value, many customers found the pricing and prices to be quite fair and affordable. There's a definite appreciation for the cost-effectiveness, with some even highlighting specific items like an extra shot of Kava as offering great bang for your buck. Based on 5 positive remarks, it seems many feel they get decent value here.
However, the overall value proposition is a bit of a mixed bag, with customer satisfaction at a 55.6%. Some felt certain unexpected costs, like wrist band fees or wasted parking money due to operational hiccups, made the experience feel like a waste of money. The score for value is an average 5.9, reflecting these concerns from 4 negative comments.
Value
9
Reviews
55%
Satisfaction
4
negative
0
neutral
5
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Affordable pricing
- Fair prices
- Good Kava value
What people don't like
- Unexpected wrist band cost
- Wasted parking money
- Perceived waste of money
Often praised
- PricingPricing was fair
- affordableSuper affordable
- extra shot of Kavaextra shot of Kava is only like $1.25
- pricesThe prices were fair
- pricingGreat pricing
Frequently criticized
- free coffeewith wrist bands coffee and tip we paid 20 bucks
- parkingMy experience was frustrating because the restaurant was closed when it was supposed to be open according to Google. I paid for parking to get here, which made the situation even more annoying. This inaccuracy led to a negative review.
- waste of moneyit is honestly just a waste of money in my opinion
- wrist bandpaying for a wrist band I didn’t need or want
If youre looking for generally "affordable" options, youll likely find the pricing fair. Just be mindful of potential extra costs like wrist band fees or unexpected parking if things don't go as planned, as these can quickly add up and impact your overall perception of value.
How are the prices at Template?
You’re looking at roughly 8 per person – reported by 73 diners. That puts it in the $1–$10 category. For a Cafe, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Most folks (59 out of 73, to be exact!) keep their spending in that $1–$10 sweet spot, showing it’s a pretty consistent budget-friendly spot.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 73 reviews.
How this Cafe’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Cafe in San Diego. Its a solid choice if youre looking for good value without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Template
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Noise Level
- Quiet
8
Great Vibes and Coffee Near OB Pier
I had a hot latte here and it was really good. The vibes were good for chilling, and the space is very spacious for eat-in. The furnitures, including couches and tables, allow you to work on your own.
This coffee shop is by far the nearest and best location to grab a coffee to chill at the OB Pier and beach. It's also dog friendly and you can smoke outside. The bathroom light bulb needs to be changed; I thought I was bleeding.
LOL.
- hot latte8
- vibes8
- spacious for eat-in9
- bathroom light bulb3
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
1
Terrible Drinks and Dirty Restroom
My experience at this restaurant was far from good. The restroom was so dark and blue that I couldn't even see the toilet paper. The matcha was TERRIBLE and wasn't even green!
The Vanilla Chai tasted like plain oat milk. Overall, it was not a good experience, and I had to throw all the drinks away.
- restroom1
- matcha1
- Vanilla Chai2
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
2
Closed When Advertised!
My experience was frustrating because the restaurant was closed when it was supposed to be open according to Google. I paid for parking to get here, which made the situation even more annoying. This inaccuracy led to a negative review.
- Google listing1
- parking2
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
9
Loved the chilled vibe and decor!
I really love the chilled vibe and the decors. It's very relaxing to come in and just sit and relax with a coffee ☕.
- chilled vibe9
- decors9
- coffee8
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Visit Type
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
Noise Level
- Quiet
9
Calm Morning Honey Latte Experience
My experience at this restaurant was very positive, especially for a morning visit. I absolutely loved my Honey latte. The atmosphere was wonderfully calm and not loud, which made for a relaxing experience.
Despite being busy, the inside felt spacious, and the staff member was excellent, doing a great job brewing drinks and taking orders.
- Honey latte9
- atmosphere9
- inside8
What Template offers
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- Transgender safespace
- Tourists
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Family-friendly
- Groups
- College students
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Checks
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
Popular for
- Solo dining
- Breakfast
Amenities
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Free Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
- Restroom
Offerings
- Coffee
- Small plates
- Organic dishes
- Vegetarian options
Dining options
- Seating
- Breakfast
- Dessert
Service Options
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Onsite services
Pets
- Dogs allowed inside
- Dogs allowed outside
- Dogs allowed
Parking
- Paid parking lot
- Free street parking
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
- Trendy
FAQs
What kind of atmosphere and entertainment can you find at The Template?
At The Template, you’ll experience a cozy, casual, and trendy cafe atmosphere. Enjoy great coffee, organic dishes, and a fantastic tea selection while being entertained by regular live performances and live music, creating a vibrant spot in Ocean Beach.
Are there convenient services and accessibility options at The Template?
Yes, The Template offers outdoor seating, takeout, and accepts reservations. It’s fully wheelchair accessible, including the entrance, parking, seating, and restrooms. Plus, you can bring your dogs inside and outside, making it a welcoming and convenient spot for everyone.
How does Template generally perform?
Template achieves a strong overall score of **8.2**, driven by its excellent **Ambience** (8.5) and **Food** (8.2), complemented by good **Service** (7.5). Its **Value** (5.9) is considered average.
What makes Template a pleasant place to visit?
Customers frequently praise the inviting vibe and atmosphere , often highlighting the live music and the quality coffee and drinks available. The staff are also noted for being accommodating.
Are there any common issues at Template?
Some visitors have noted concerns regarding Value due to parking or wrist band costs. Occasional issues with pastries or a broken espresso machine have also been mentioned, alongside minor cleanliness concerns like a dark bathroom light bulb .