Telve Cafe

Think you dislike Turkish delight? Think again. Amidst a sea of coffee shops in the area Telve stands out for its charm, authenticity, excellent service, and mind-boggling array of sweets. 10/10, highly recommend! Pictured: cortado, the Turkish coffee, and baklava.

Telve Cafe instantly transported me back to Turkey with its authentic flavors, stunning decor, and warm hospitality! 🌿✨ The colorful, intricate tile tables set the perfect Mediterranean vibe. I ordered Turkish coffee, and it came in the most beautifully ornate silver set such a special touch that made the whole experience feel luxurious and traditional. ☕️ The coffee itself was rich, bold, and perfectly brewed, just like how it should be. I also tried their baklava, and wow it was absolutely delicious! Flaky, perfectly sweet, and fresh, served beautifully on a rustic plate alongside shiny silverware. 🍰 Every bite melted in my mouth. The atmosphere here is charming, cozy, and truly feels like a little piece of Istanbul right in San Francisco. Whether you're coming for breakfast, dessert, or just coffee, Telve Cafe is a hidden gem you must visit. Can't wait to come back! 💛

I was impressed of how Turkish coffee is brewing on hot sand is a unique method where a special cezve (coffee pot) filled with finely ground coffee and water is placed in a pan filled with heated sand. This process provides an even and consistent heat, contributing to a rich and flavorful brew. The sand acts as a heat insulator, preventing burning and allowing for control over the brewing temperature. We tried the Almond Baklava, The Almond Cream and The Pistachio Baklava and the one was our favorite of all the them. The service is wonderful, we got a great explanation of the way of brewing and why. Definitely recommend if you are a coffee lover.

A friend recommended to go here for a coffee ☕️, and we enjoyed the experience. Warm, cozy seating area inside, with nice simple decor. Extensive menu of drinks to chose from, and many Turkish delights! The worker was helpful by answering our questions, and thanked us for coming after we finished. That was a nice touch 👌 I had the classic Turkish coffee #1, and my wife had the Mastic coffee. They come in espresso size, cute cup and plate. It also comes with a small Turkish delight that is square-shaped. It was delicious 😋. It tasted homemade, and I enjoyed the honey-taste. We ordered the pistachio delight, and also the baklava. Both were amazing! The cost was fair for the area we were in: coffee was $6 & $7 each, and each Turkish delight was about $3 apiece. Parking can be a challenge on the weekend. Definitely would recommend! 👍

Delicious pistachio latte. Great decor. Chill ambiance. You can come chat with a friend or work a little. The front has a cute pillowed area to sit.

The vibrant colors and textures of all the delicious looking desserts in the window grabbed my attention as I walked by and all of a sudden there was some kind of magnet pulling me inside. It’s really cozy and beautiful in there, it sort of compels you to sit down and stay a while instead of just grabbing your caffeine fix to go. I got a Turkish coffee knowing basically nothing about Turkish coffee and was pretty content to sit there and savor it while I got some work done. If you’ve got some time, it’s worth a visit.

We visited Telve Cafe on June 30th at around 5:30 PM. When we greeted the lady staff member at the Turkish restaurant section with a simple “hello” in Turkish, she gave us a rude and dismissive look. This kind of behavior is the last thing we expected at a Turkish cafe. We’ve been regular customers, but after this experience, we won’t be coming back. The baklava was excellent by the way!

Very disappointing experience. The service was extremely poor — the lady serving customers was more focused on listening to music than actually doing her job. People waited over 30 minutes for simple items like Turkish coffee or even Turkish delight, which only needed to be sliced. The serving order made no sense, and everything felt disorganized. Definitely not a place I’d recommend.

What a cozy and welcoming spot! It is exactly the kind of place you want to stumble upon for an afternoon treat. My spouse and I shared the pistachio and cream and saffron Turkish delights, and they were truly special: not too sweet, delicately chewy, and full of rich, fragrant flavor. The saffron one especially stood out as it had a subtle, floral taste which was beautifully balanced. I ordered the mint & lemon tea, which was refreshing and soothing, with just the right harmony between citrusy brightness and cooling mint. My spouse had the mastic coffee, which I got to taste and it was super strong, earthy, and slightly resinous. It was bold on its own but paired perfectly with the Turkish delights. The atmosphere is just lovely with great decor, vibrant colors, and a vibe that invites you to slow down and enjoy the moment. The staff were friendly and made us feel right at home. All in all, a beautiful little café that feels like a hidden gem.

Telve is an absolute gem! This is truly the perfect place for a peaceful coffee break and bite. Their menu offers a wide variety and their treats are beautiful looking- I wish I had gotten one! They have nice tables and outlets, a perfect place to do some quiet work. It is a cozy space but so lovely. Definitely worth a try if you want a cute cozy cafe with lots of options for food and drink (including healthy choices too!) I am officially obsessed and will definitely be back!

Two Dibek coffees for 14 bucks! The place is bougie like that but so is the neighborhood this coffee shop is located in! Coffee was good though ngl We didn't order any food since this was our post dinner wake me up beverage and it did just that with its high quality coffee! Only reason I am giving them a four is for how expensive a cuppa Joe is at this place. They should run some deals or offers from time to time!

I was impressed of how Turkish coffee is brewing on hot sand is a unique method where a special cezve (coffee pot) filled with finely ground coffee and water is placed in a pan filled with heated sand. This process provides an even and consistent heat, contributing to a rich and flavorful brew. The sand acts as a heat insulator, preventing burning and allowing for control over the brewing temperature. We tried the Almond Baklava, The Almond Cream and The Pistachio Baklava and the one was our favorite of all the them. The service is wonderful, we got a great explanation of the way of brewing and why. Definitely recommend if you are a coffee lover.

The owner is extremely kind, and treats all guests in the cafe like they are at home. This is a great place to go on a date, spend time, get work done, or decompress after a stressful day at work. The menu is exceptional and authentic. I highly suggest visiting, whether you're touring San Francisco, or a local!

3.5/5 Cute Turkish cafe in the Marina! The vibes are very homey; they have amazing natural lighting, woody/green interior. They have decent seating with tables inside and outside. The wifi is solid! They have a large variety of drinks with Turkish tea blends. I got a hot Pistachio Latte (a bit overpriced for $8) and a baklava (yummy)! The latte was alright and it did have pistachio crumbs on the top but overall the drink was alright like not strong enough of a taste.

Such a cute cafe with delicious treats and coffee. I took one bite of their sliced baklava and told my husband to go back and order a box! It may be a good thing that we live about an hour away from this place or else my waistline would be in trouble! Must try!!

I had high hopes but left pretty disappointed. I visited on Saturday (1/11) and was super excited. I've been to Turkey a few times and love the sweets and Turkish delights, and I was craving some Turkish tea. The first disappointment came when they said they didn't have Turkish tea. I assume maybe it was just that day or the time we visited. I ended up ordering a flat white, a matcha latte, and some green tea. For sweets, I ordered some baklava and Turkish delight. I didn't pay too much attention, but I didn't see clear pricing for the sweets, especially when ordering just one or two of each. So, I'm not sure how they determine pricing. The flat white and latte were also among the most expensive in the city (if I'm not mistaken, they were $7 each). The drinks were pretty bad, almost close to boiling temperature milk, and they tasted nothing like what you'd expect from a good coffee shop. I snapped a photo toward the end, and you can see I left my flat white untouched because it was pretty bad (milk-to-coffee ratio, boiling milk temperature, taste, etc.). It was pretty clear they don't have experienced baristas. I probably should have ordered Turkish coffee, which they might know how to make better. Unfortunately, I'd rate the drinks 1/5. The baklava and other sweets were okay, 3/5. Given the pricing, taste, drink selection and quality, as well as the décor, my current rating is 2/5. I might go back to try the Turkish tea (assuming they'll have it next time) and coffee!

This was such a cute cafe that I accidentally stumbled upon while walking around looking for a place to sit for a bit. I was definitely drawn in by the window display of Turkish sweets. It was later in the afternoon and we were looking for non-caffeinated drinks so we shared a winter tea and some baklava, although I definitely want to come back to try the Turkish coffee some day. The area itself is super cozy and the guy working behind the counter was friendly and patient to explain all their different offerings. When we finished with our tea and snacks I couldn't help but buy a box of sweets to take home. We ended up getting probably 8 or 9 different ones and they were all amazing but my favorites were the rose and pistachio cream ones. They were super unique and better than any store bought turkish delights I've ever tried. I think this spot is the perfect place to sit and catch up with some friends and just relax with a nice sweet bite and a warm drink!

Nice spot to get work done -- plenty of seating on a Wednesday late morning. Wifi is free and decent but disconnected once for me (not a huge deal). Got a hot pistachio latte which was great! Nicely sweet, creamy, and the coffee flavor was not strong, which is my preferred kind of drink. I liked the crushed pistachio on top which added texture to the drink. Was a little expensive at over $8 though. Service was good - they seem to give out free samples of tea too.

I wanted to settle down and have some tea and Turkish delights. But I had to head back home quickly, thus going for takeout. I have yet to try Borek if I were to come back to Telve Café once again. I had Turkish delights before, and they might stick my teeth like glue which wasn't bad. So it all came down to buying Telve's special from the herbal menu. Just plain pungent chai tea without milk and sweeteners. Not the best drink I'll have, but it's worth the health benefit. I love how Turkish people setup their café in many different ways. Take a teapot laying on a bed of extremely hot sand for instance. Looked like a scorching hot desert in the middle of Sahara. Very amazing to watch! Customer service went smoothly, so it's good to see what I'm willing to try the next time I visit Telve Café.

Love supporting new small businesses, so checked this place out this weekend!! Such a cute space and a great location - good hours too, open till 10pm and I love a nice late night coffee... I just came back from a trip to Turkey and this reminds me of all the coffee shops there. I got the signature latte which was perfect and not too sweet! Special shoutout to the owners - they are so nice and welcoming, and make you want to stay there all day. Also it's a great space to work if you need to. Will be back this week :) Go support!!

I love Telve! The owners are so nice, the treats are delicious and the decor is very well done. I highly recommend their apple tea, it's one of the best hot sweet (semi sweet) drinks I've had. It's a great addition to the neighborhood and a great place to work from. Can't wait to return!

My new favorite spot in the city for a delicious and legit Turkish Coffee! I love all the options they have and can't wait to try everything on their menu! I personally love their Mastic Coffee and love how rich it is even though I'm normally not a coffee person. They also have several dessert options and I adore their chocolate baklava since it's not too sweet. Their rose Turkish delight is also one of my favorites. I know this will be one of my go to spots in the city now! There is limited seating but the atmosphere in the cafe is so nice that it's worth the wait. The employees are also so kind and helpful that it really adds to the experience.

Great local spot with delicious tea. Stopped in to get a tea. Tea itself was watery, but the service is the big flag. I'm an AfAm woman who ordered from the Hispanic woman at the counter--and tipped before sitting down. I'd watched the woman take a drink to a young white man next to the counter once it was ready. However, when my drink was ready, she called me to come get it. About 15 minutes later, I watched her take a drink to a white woman. Then 30 minutes later, she took the next drink to an Asian woman.

Amazing! My husband and I have been visiting many different coffee shops in the city and our absolute faves are the turkish coffee shops. We walked into Telve this morning and the owner was so welcoming, friendly and provided outstanding service. We ordered turkish coffee and tea and both were delicious. They also had samples of turkish delights and I tried a few and they were delicious. We also ordered their baklava and it is absolutely delicious. Stop by and pay them a visit! You wont regret it.

The experience wasn't horrible, it's just wasn't for me. Came here on my birthday bakery crawl because it was getting heavily featured. Kudos to their marketing skills. Wasn't too excited about their drinks selections. They had a sign outside with featured drinks which looked promising, but unless you memorized it you wouldn't remember to inquiry because it was not advertised inside. I got the cardamon coffee and the bf got the turkish coffee. We also got one pistachio turkish delight and a baklava. First of all beautiful Chinaware and great interior design. The cardamon coffee was okay. I didn't really get the cardamon and it was more of the residuals of the coffee at the bottom of the cup. I never had turkish delights before so maybe it's not for me. It was super dense and hard to eat. It felt like I was just eating bland gelatin. The baklava was a thumb sized piece and it wasn't very flavorful either. Metered street parking. The man that helped us was really nice. They have a ton of options for turkish delights. Pricing was okay, I think on the high side, but I guess that's SF pricing. If turkish delights are your faves, then it's your place. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend, but maybe try at your own risk.

the ambiance in here was incredible -- super cozy and the fragrance of the Turkish coffees being made over sand really make this the perfect spot to escape the rain and cold. I got both the cardamom coffee and the lavender latte. The cardamom coffee came in a really ornate cup and was really strong and rich, and the lavender syrup in the latte was the perfect amount (not to florally)

Food, service, atmosphere, everything is amazing. Love this place. They have traditional Turkish delights that are different than those cube ones. These delights are so much better! You can have different types of Turkish coffees cooked in the sand. And of course tea! I'm addicted to tea and love the Turkish tea here. Also, as Turkish, this is the first place that I had sucuklu tost (Turkish panini) in the US and it was exactly the same as how they make it in Turkey. The staff is very friendly and service is excellent. 10/10! P.S. if you wanna work/study, they have WiFi as well :)

While you are shopping on Union street here in SF .... a visit to Telve is a must. Warm up with their delightful teas or get some Caffeine- with their Turkish Coffee. For me the star of the show other than the friendly people are the Turkish Delight desserts. Turkish delight, also known as lokum, is a chewy candy made from a gel of starch and sugar. It's often flavored with rosewater, mastic gum, bergamot orange, or lemon. Telve does a wonderful presentation and my favorite flavors are the Pomelo and Mulberry. Stop by and enjoy the cozy atmosphere, a Turkish coffee and be sure to tell Arthur I said hello.

Super friendly greeting! Cozy and warm ambience. Delicacies galore to pick from or sample them all. Picked the baklava: pistachio, walnut, hazelnut, and a slice of the pie to go with a latte. The Baklava was yum especially the pistachio and hazelnut!

After dinner near by, I left it up to my wife to decide between this Turkish dessert place or the gelato place. My wife absolutely loves ice cream so it was much to my surprise that she chose this place. But I am very glad she did. Even before we entered, we were greeted by a gorgeous window display of the Turkish delight desserts. Upon entering I was in awe at all the beautiful things, from the inviting woodwork and thoughtful layout of the place, the gorgeous glass mosaic chandeliers with its incredible detail and vibrant bright colors. Everything about this place is very beautiful and unique. My wife and I chose to have a variety of four Turkish delights, and I asked them to choose the most popular favors for us, and we each had a Turkish coffee. Everything was so delicious! Both my wife and I loved the honey flavored dessert, so if there was any that I would say is a must try, it would be that! This place is fantastic and I highly recommend it!!!

The server didn't wash or change his gloves when he took out trash. It ruined my experience. Too bad as this place has potential.

Telve Cafe instantly transported me back to Turkey with its authentic flavors, stunning decor, and warm hospitality! The colorful, intricate tile tables set the perfect Mediterranean vibe. I ordered Turkish coffee, and it came in the most beautifully ornate silver set such a special touch that made the whole experience feel luxurious and traditional. The coffee itself was rich, bold, and perfectly brewed, just like how it should be. I also tried their baklava, and wow it was absolutely delicious! Flaky, perfectly sweet, and fresh, served beautifully on a rustic plate alongside shiny silverware. Every bite melted in my mouth. The atmosphere here is charming, cozy, and truly feels like a little piece of Istanbul right in San Francisco. Whether you're coming for breakfast, dessert, or just coffee, Telve Cafe is a hidden gem you must visit. Can't wait to come back!

The most delicious Turkish Delights I've ever had! People behind the counter were so sweet and let us taste a bunch to help us decide what we wanted to buy! We walked in just to drink some tea and walked away with a whole bunch of Turkish delight because it was too good to walk away from! The tea was wonderful too and they even refilled with hot water once it was over so the two of us got about 5 cups between us! Very aesthetic little cafe with the best service!

I wanted to share a quick note about my recent visit. I stopped by for a coffee before work and asked for a drip coffee, but since it wasn't available, I was offered an Americano. I agreed, but wasn't informed that it would be made using Turkish coffee beans. im a big fan of Turkish coffee I enjoy Turkish coffee in its traditional form, it doesn't really work the same when prepared as an Americano. It wasn't Turkish coffee, and it wasn't really an Americano either ,more like something in between. The result was a very light drink closer to water with a hint of coffee rather than the strong, dark Americano I was expecting. For $7 with tip, I was hoping for a stronger cup. Unfortunately, I couldn't drink it and ended up throwing it away. It left a bit of a negative impression, It would really help to let customers know if the coffee is not made with standard espresso or drip beans, or at least offer to make it a bit darker with an extra shot. Normally, I'd leave a 2- or 3-star review for this kind of experience, but since you're new to the neighborhood, I wanted to leave a feedback to improve your service instead. Wishing you the best and good luck with your business.

So so excited this place opened in Cow Hollow! I haven't been able to find Divan in the States for a while and it's my favorite brand of lokum. Can't wait to continue to stop in for coffee and delicious treats! The service was great too. Welcome to the neighborhood!

My favorite cafe to spend time in! Everyone who works there is so kind and attentive. I especially love the Almond Cream Turkish delight and Matcha latte. I love how they release new sweet treats frequently, too. The owner, Fatih, does an exceptional job. Can't wait to stop by again ... and again :)

I enjoy this place immensely. If you can't make it to Istanbul or Morocco this year try this luxurious cafe on Union Street. Really sweet spot, unlike any other cafe in the city. Treat your friends. I love trying something new each time I go. 2 Turkish friends started this place and when they opened it up the drinks evolved into something ambrosia: now wonderful bright, deep and flavorful.

quiet space cheap travel to Turkey for the morning amazing sweets fresh ones good Turkish coffee and decor

Baklava was such a highlight. The waiter said it was the best he could find outside Istanbul and I'd agree! Turkish coffees made authentically. Was hard acoustically because could hear music from outside which clashed with the music playing inside.

I was in San Francisco on vacation and I popped in this cafe bought the best cup of coffee. I forgot my wallet in this cafe and didn't realize it until I was boarding my plane home. It was a complete nightmare but I was able to get on the plane thankfully. I backtracked my day and realized the last time I used my wallet was at Telve Cafe. I reached out to the cafe and they had my wallet. The owner of the cafe Fatih was so kind he had my wallet. All of my money was in my wallet nothing was missing thankfully. Fatih was so kind he mailed my wallet the same day it was lost in his cafe. He truly saved my day. I just want to thank him so much for his kindness. He was amazing and it truly shows how wonderful people in this world can be. Thank you so much Fatih and may someone pay it forward to you one day like you did for me.

This is such a cozy and intentionally thought out place. From the various delicious flavors of turkish delight and drinks to the beautiful ceramics, storefront displays, and interior to the lovely service, I have fallen in love with this shop. I will definitely be back again soon!

Very cute Turkish spot in the city with traditional desserts and sweets. Had a nice pistachio latte here.

I come here to study and I love how calming it is. My favorite is the matcha latte made by this one specific guy that always works there when I am there!!

Stopped by this new cafe in cow hollow as I was mesmerized by the beautiful Turkish delight display. I understand why that kid in Chronicles of Narnia betrayed his family now. They are just that good! Super soft, chewy, and jam packed with flavor. They sell it by the pound you can order as much or as little as you want. Owner was very sweet and let me sample different flavors before committing. The apricot tea was really yummy also. Can't wait to come back and try the other teas and pastries.

The window display caught our eyes, so we had to pop in to see what it was all about. The man behind the counter was super friendly and gave out a lot of samples of the many flavors of their Turkish delight and even a little tea. It looks like the menu also had savory foods, so we are planning to return and try those. It's a nice, bright and clean atmosphere.

It's an awesome, unique, Turkish delight and coffee place. The Turkish delights are as good as Turkey. Mehmet and Fatih are very friendly and generous, They offered us free samples from most of all their Turkish delights. I am happy to see this in San Francisco. I definitely will come with my family.

First off, it's so warm and beautiful in here! It's a great place to bring someone for sure. Also, service was warm and friendly! Now for the drinks - we ordered the signature lattee and Telve special tea. The signature latte doesn't taste like your typical latee as it tastes very earthy but the taste is unique and delicious. The tea was amazing ! Warm and full of spices that is perfect for the fall. Definitely give this place a try !!

Was very disappointing. The sweets were baked with bad butter or something. Not worth the money.

This place is great!! I was looking for somewhere to study and get some work done and stumbled upon this place. The coffee was delicious, but the big standout was the staff. Fatih noticed I had a stuffy nose and brought over this warm water and crystallized eucalyptus for me to breathe in similar to a Vics vapor rub! The ambiance, quality of food/coffee, and hospitality will definitely make me a regular here!

Fabulous spot on Union St. with scrumptious Turkish treats, fantastic coffee, friendly staff, and perfect ambiance for a coffee shop work sesh or catch up with a friend. I recommend the cardamom coffee and teas, but it seems you can't go wrong.

While walking down Union St, I was captivated to see this wonderful display of sweets in their window. I had to go in, and found out that it was their opening day and was fortunate to meet Mehmet, the owner, and Fatih, both of whom were nice, helpful, and welcoming. The interior was tastefully done with Turkish cushions in the other window and a beautiful chandelier above the counter. The Turkish delights, pastries, and baklava which I purchased to go, were amazing! Additionally they had a couple of samples of tea (herbal Apple, and pomegranate) which I tried, and ended up purchasing the Apple. They have a vast array of other teas as well. Telve Cafe is such a nice surprise and a big welcome to the neighborhood, if not to all of SF and beyond!! I definitely will return!

Beautifully decorated with really neat foods and coffee maker. Definitely an experience! Service is very slow though.

Really good coffee, great atmosphere and service. We got the Sultans brew and the Dibek coffee. The Dibek coffee was stronger than the Sultan's brew so if you're looking for stronger coffee would recommend that!

This place is adorable. I used to live in SF for many years and candidly there aren't many places in the city with a fun middle eastern flare and treats. My favorite place to vacation is Turkey and being middle eastern- I appreciate any diversification and options in terms having access to something different in terms of culture and cuisine. The sweets are delightful, service was lovely- will definitely be back again. Turkish delight is my favorite and it's not easy to find everywhere unless you go to specific markets/places- so thanks for making my day!

Charming, relaxing, colorful. We had a Turkish coffee and some Turkish delights, which were so much fun to try. Very patient barista who explained the menu and made Turkish delight recommendations. We had crunchy pistachio (our favorite), honey pistachio (also yum), mulberry and coconut strawberry. The fruit ones were on the sweeter side. Excellent combined with coffee or tea!

Oh my, this place is so cute, the Turkish sweets are so delicious and the place is a great place to stop by after dinner or to just pick up a treat for later. Highly recommend, the pistachio rolls that come in either chunky, fine and or medium (I think, depends on how chunky you want the pistachio coating), it is really amazing.

Very pricey ! Very intimate with limited seating but great place to meet with a friend