The Coffee Bar

We ordered the emporium (hence the name is from the emporium piercing & tattoo center down the road) and the bee stinger. The drinks were very good, better than other local coffee shops I’ve had. I will say the emporium was a bit too sweet for my tasting but very good! We also ordered the cherry orange? Muffin which my picky toddler age (it was pretty sweet as well, sweeter than a blueberry muffin) The restroom also was pretty clean, had a changing table with some diapers and pads in the baskets as well which is great for anyone who forgot something that day! The last time I was here was about 6-7 years ago as well; I can’t wait for their fall menu to come back!

We spotted this place last night while walking around and knew we’d be back for coffee in the morning. It’s a small, hipster-style café with an effortlessly cool atmosphere - creaky wooden floors, a vintage Hilka TV in the window, and a well-worn charm that makes it feel truly local. The coffee? Well-crafted and flavorful. The staff is friendly, the vibe is laid-back, and the space feels just right for a quiet morning coffee, study session, or remote work. Definitely worth a visit.

Delicious and reasonably priced coffee and drinks. Cozy, light & spacious interior. I love the photos on the wall from the mermaid show they used to do in town. A lovely little place to grab coffee, do some work, people watch, and enjoy a pleasant atmosphere. Staff was lovely as well and facility was nice and clean. Go support this sweet, local coffee shop!

This has to me my favorite coffee shops in San Marcos. Located at the heart of the historic downtown is this gem of a coffee shop with a blend of modern and old coffee table and bit of a dark themed cafe. The decor is very nice and clean with ample seating arrangement. The batista was very sweet and greeted with a warm welcome. She served very quickly and we realised she worked very hard. Definitely deserves a 5 star for hard work and nice coffee making! The mocha was out of the world and would recommend everyone to try it out!

Matcha latte tasted all right. Loved the design on the top. Also ordered a croissant. It was good and the inside was thick. The inside was really cool and so creative. Will definitely come back in the future.

First time here, but I love this cute little shop! It has weathered hard floors that give it a cozy vibe along with a hard wood ceiling. They look recycled. There is a small bar that outlooks the hustling streets of the Square at San Marcos. Lots of natural light and there are old style lightbulbs that give a nice glow to the shop. Comfy couches and outlets to study at while charging your devices. One of my favorite parts is the self-serve coffee additions bar for you to add your own touch to your beverages or sweets. On the left side walking in is a stone wall which helps keep the room from getting too warm along with a humidifier. The employees are fast and attentive and the drinks are unique. Love the different syrups they have. Had the Valentine Special Rosetta w/ almond and rose syrup. Delicious ( ꈍᴗꈍ) The only issue I have is the floors are a bit uneven and shakes when someone passes by. When you visit, make sure to be careful if you are wearing heels! They have tables outside if you wanna soak in the sun and every now and then you can be blessed by a doggie running by for its sensory training.❤️🐶

Doesn’t take cash Reply to owner: If no cash security was truly the reason, why take cash tips then? I mean no cash would be the only safe solution right? The thing is, it's a political answer. If everyone stopped shopping here because they wanted to pay in cash, you would start taking cash again. You would quickly forget about your safety concerns. Nonsense.

The Coffee Bar is a great place to escape in San Marcos. The baristas were friendly and they had good drinks. Pastries looked good but I didn’t snag one. I’d come here to study often if I lived in the area.

Great lil coffee shop conveniently located on The Square, on a corner no less. Visited early morning on Indigenous Peoples Day and there was absolutely noone here, all the slacker, stoner, South Waste Texas State students probably just rolling into their beds from partying. A couple of non-partying student nerds walked in but they got the drinks and split. Better for us as we had this cool spot to ourselves and sat in the bas ass comfy chairs overlooking the square. Loved my almond milk latte and it couldn't be any better. I loved this place so much, I picked up a couple of gift cards for my nieces that study at Sexy State. New spot to add to the rotation when we're in San Marvelous.

I got the mayan mocha and I added paprika ($6)! This is a really nice spot for studying or catching up with people. The have a variety of tables with booth like seating, tables, and couches. I love the natural sunlight from the big windows! The employees were nice and my drink came out promptly. I liked the mayan mocha! It had a nice kick to it from the paprika. This shop is located in a cute downtown area with lots of stores within walking distance.

Since I moved to San Marcos, this has been my go to coffee spot to study! The baristas aren't overly corporate! The baristas be having that shit on! The temps in here always provide a sense of relief after being in the San Marcos heat! 10/10, would recommend! I would rec. the blondie or emporium!

Adorable environment walking in! It has this cozy, dark ambience to it, making it an ideal place to get some work done or catch up with friends. Makes me wanna sit next to a fireplace with my sweater. Coffee is delicious! Well balanced and not overly sweet or overly bitter. Decent portions as well. Extremely friendly workers. I'm always greeted with a smile and you can tell the people love working there. The only downside I'd say is the limited seating. Seats fill up pretty quick, so it can be challenging grabbing a spot. Nonetheless, I still love this place and definitely will be returning!

Pretty damn good coffee! I ordered the the emporium, I'd order it again and again! The coffee shop is cute and great setting for any informal occasion!

Cool spot on the square. It was a very hot day and I needed two iced bevs.The black tea was so good! My second drink was the don't be chai. A cold brew mixed with a chai tea. All drinks were pretty affordable.

Very convenient spot for coffee. Great seating inside and out. Friendly workers . Coffee was yummy! Asked a customer for what she recommended and she suggested " don't be chai" and the iced vanilla latte so that's what we got ! Seems like a great place to get some computer work done Or for a coffee date or for just a quick pick up!

Arrived 25 mins before closing and the girl would not make me a cortado because she had "already cleaned the espresso machine." Very poor service.

Perfect ending to a perfect day trip to San Marcus. The Coffee Bar was our final stop, and it was absolutely worth it. We stopped at The Coffee Bar for a usual coffee and cake moment. This nice coffee spot is conveniently located in the downtown area, so it was ideal for a short walk after exploring. It wasn't crowded during our visit and quiet enough for a nice conversation. We ordered some of their flavored coffee and shared a chocolate chip cookie. The coffee was well flavored, smooth, and delicious. The cookie was very tasty. The place was well lit and nicely decorated. Like many places these days, it had many photo worthy opportunities, but what I really loved was that it was not crowded and had plenty of seating. I would have liked more in the form of cakes and sweets, but otherwise, this place was a good addition to our little day trip.

The barista was super sweet and great at giving recommendations. I will definitely be back!

I found this spot walking back from lunch with my coworkers. I was honestly lost in what to order, but a charcoal latte on the specials caught my eye. Charcoal. Latte. Yes it tasted a bit---grainy in my mouth, but it was a subtly that mixed well with the non sweet cocoa. It was almost like a nutty flavor blending with the coffee. For someone not a fan over overly sweet, this hit just right as I sipped away at work. The location itself was adorable, perfect to study or for a date. The staff was friendly and patient as I wandered around, lost at what to order.

The Coffee Bar is a great place to escape in San Marcos. The baristas were friendly and they had good drinks. Pastries looked good but I didn't snag one. I'd come here to study often if I lived in the area.

Super cute and friendly! Best lavender lemonade & lavender chai I've had! Better than Starbucks.

I was visiting my daughter at TXST and was locked out of her apartment. I had a good book, so I needed somewhere to be for a couple hours. I ordered an iced chai. It was good. The tables were comfortable and it was neat to people watch. The music was a little loud for a middle aged woman and I found myself wishing for some ear plugs. Betcha college students, their target audience, love it though! Staff were friendly. I wouldnt hesitate to spend a couple hours here again.

Best coffee in San Marcos! Best muffin I've ever had!!! Highly recommend, and I stop in every time I am in town to visit since we've tried it.

I only got a coffee here so cant comment on whole menu but I believe I got the Mayan Mocha and it was amaze.

I like the chai - but... it smells like sewage in here. Seriously. I can't imagine hanging out in here for longer than it would take to pick up my drink.

Great coffee & nice hang out spot! Overall really great experience!! Every time I'm in San Marcus it's a must stop!

So the location is right on the square of San Marcos which can be good and bad, but the building and decor is super awesome, it's dark and bright at the same time! It's very cozy and comfortable and the barista was very friendly! The WiFi is slow slow but the drink made up for my trip here for sure :) I came here to work and enjoy a cup between jobs and the atmosphere and the barista both were very friendly, I truly enjoyed the art, the decor, the setting and then got one of my favorite coffees to date here! The price was good as well, but I was not a fan of the cup... (it's the little things in life) but. Taste on point! They do have a sign saying to bring your own mug for a discount so if I lived here I would definitely do that! They do also have a take a book/leave a book library which is one of my favorite ideas in these small local coffee shops! My only real downfall was how slow the WiFi was, which made working here very difficult! Definitely a cool spot to have a cup of coffee with a friend, business partner, or to read a book! Btw the music may be a little loud for the quiet readers .

Great place and location! Cute, older building and some delicious coffee. I ordered an iced blondie- very good! I had to park a little ways down around 830a during the week, but it wasn't a bother. I would definitely be back and I need one of their shirts.

The BEST coffee I've had in a long time! My mom had an iced holly berry latte and I had a hot pecan pie latte. The espresso is smooth and not at all burnt or bitter. We also had the vegan gingerbread cookie and cranberry scone- both perfectly sweet and chewy /soft. If you find yourself on the square make a stop.

This is by far the BEST coffee in San Marcos! They always have different monthly crafted drinks. They are also environmentally friendly by encouraging you to bring your own cup, ( which you get a discount for) this is everything to me. The baristas have always been very friendly, and the ambiance is great for studying :)

My boyfriend and I absolutely LOVE this coffee place. We live in Kyle but make our way here at least two times a week. The coffee taste so good but gives me such a caffeine rush that I normally get a large and take half home for the next day. They fun flavors and variety they have make the drinks so unique without being overwhelming. I am normally a plain iced americano kind of coffee drinker, but here I always get the the blondie (honey, vanilla and cinnamon)! It is so good, you actually taste the honey, vanilla and cinnamon without it being too sweet. The drinks are always consistent which is very nice. They have great GF and Vegan breakfast muffins and scones- I would HIGHLY recommend the blueberry muffin. Although I love the coffee and food, I do not like how cold it is inside. It is so cold that I have to plan to bring a sweater when I plan to stay longer then 30 minutes! They have the fans and AC on at what feels like full blast all the time. I also have had times where my drink has taken 30+ minutes to get as there were maybe 8 people in there. Parking can be tough sometimes but is usually pretty easy to park right out front. Its a nice place to chill, work and enjoy some really good coffee!

Coffee bar is the best place to be on a morning in San Marcos. The vibe and atmosphere is always welcoming and the staff is great. Cannot recommend enough!

Good coffee. Great atmosphere. Nice barista. Great location. Should have warmed up my muffin as she suggested.

We came in for an iced coffee in a Sunday afternoon. It's a pleasant atmosphere with many tables for studying and socializing. They were out of cold brew coffee but the barista offered an iced americano which we decided on. It was a nice afternoon pick me up. They are located right in the square. Easy parking and fast service.

The environment is so cute in there, lots of warm colors, plants, chill music, there's even a little tv with newspapers to enjoy with your coffee! I wanted to add more cream and sugar to my drink and they kindly put in more creamer and told me the sugar was across the way. I wondered if they didn't have simple syrup since it's an iced drink...I now have a gritty latte lol. Regardless, nice customer service and so far decent coffee.

Great little spot on the square. I got an iced coconut mocha latte and 2 hot cocas for my kiddos. The hot cocoas tasted like they had a little cinnamon in them. Everything was great. It was early on a Sunday, so there was only one person working, but we didn't have to wait all that long.

My friend lives in Austin and in an area so saturated with coffee places, she said this one was one of her favorites! So while I was visiting, this was one of our first stops. The location is pretty convenient in downtown San Marcos with some street parking around and easily accessible walking from other businesses or the school or music venues nearby. The shop itself is super simple and sleek looking with plenty of seating for working, studying, or hanging out. Their menu is small but they also always have fun seasonal specials and they can make anything you ask for or even come up with something new and unique for you. I dried the apple pie latte which was a seasonal menu item. I really enjoyed the coffee they used. It had a ton of flavor and and so many dimensions. I do Wish the coffee itself had more of a caramel apple flavor. But it was still really fresh and delicious. They make their coffee super strong too, so it lasted a while and really got me through the day. This was a great little place and some of the best coffee I had in Austin.

Nothing special. If you like syrups, Starbucks, then the coffee bar is for you. Espresso was bitter. Milk was overheated. The five star reviews are probably from people who love pumpkin spice lattes and white chocolate mochas. Barf.

The sign advertising their "campfire latte" caught my eye and I decided to give The Coffee Bar a shot. It was great! Almond+brown sugar+cayenne pepper makes for a very unique experience. I will definitely come back the next time I am in San Marcos.

2 o'clock on a Friday and I have a big night ahead. I need a pick me up. The Coffee bar is one of many coffee spots on the downtown strip of San Marcos and what made this one different today was the fact that it wasn't packed. I walk in to a really cute setup with plenty of tables and some comfy chairs along the wall to sit and relax. If I lived in the area I would certainly come here often given the amount of seats, tables and more importantly to some, the amount of plugs! The cold brew coffee was well brewed and I have no complaints. It doesn't give you the warm and fuzzies coming in to one person working the counter who doesn't offer anything more than 'what can I get you?' Hey, that's okay, I'm here for the coffee and the coffee is what I got. Nothing more, nothing less. Today, well I am okay with it. It is Friday and nothings going to ruin my day, especially after an arguably 2-400 mg dose of brain candy. Here's to peace and quiet! Enjoy, MLA

The ambiance is super hip! Coffee was excellent and service was at par! Highly recommended

I love the Coffee Bar. The coffee and pastries are wonderful, the staff is super friendly, and the interior is attractive. The only reason for the 4/5 stars is the music. As a regular, I'm at the Shop a lot, and they have the same music on repeat constantly. It drives me kinda crazy! Overall, great spot and highly recommended.

Best coffee in San Marcos. Mayan coffee drink recommended. Good WiFi. Nice location as well, very walkable.

The Coffee Bar will always be my go-to spot for my morning coffee! You truly cannot go wrong with anything you get here, it is all delicious! This is the perfect spot to study and enjoy a drink and pastry.

This place is great. Strong wifi. Nice staff. Nice bathrooms. Cute plants and a bit of outdoor seating too. We were going to stop in Austin on the way south but I'm glad we stopped here. Good coffee n pastries too!

My first experience here was a couple weeks ago and I loved it. I can't wait to make another trip! The coffee was amazing and they definitely have a unique assortment of beverages that all sound incredible. The vibe inside is so nice with the open windows looking out on the town and the natural lighting is so comforting. Definitely recommend checking this place out!!!

My boyfriend is one of those people who can drink caffeine all day and all night and still sleep like a baby. I can't drink coffee or soda (or even sweet tea) past noon. Cue Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract," and it's not hard to see why The Coffee Bar is a perfect place for us both to get what we want. Cold brews for him, cold beer for me. The high-top bar seating faces out onto the San Marcos historic square, which is great for people watching when you're supposed to be working on your laptop. Staff is always friendly, and (important for any coffee shop) plenty outlets!

Went in this afternoon and was greeted right away. Ended up deciding on the maple chai to try something different. Was really nice, and not too sweet which I appreciated. Was able to plug into their outlet and get some business done. Nice coffee shop!!

Very friendly service. Great atmosphere. The coffee was delish and good food selection. I highly recommend. Also, nice window view for gazing outdoors and people watching.

Very disappointing though our Governor has opened Texas establishments to 100 percent this coffee bar will not allow any customers inside. We walked up to a table blocking the door. A barista saw us from inside. She walked outside and took our order. Then brought it back outside to us. This is more than ridiculous. Shockingly they do have plastic as opposed to paper straws

Amazing! It's best to go right before 11am so it's still quiet- sometimes. The barista recommended an amazing drink that was perfect and delicious. Beautiful place to study or just have coffee. Quick and incredible!!! The GF blueberry muffin is amazing for being GF!!!

Came to The Coffee Bar today with my boyfriend and I ordered a mocha, while he ordered their seasonal pumpkin spice latte. My mocha was so very good! Love the space also.. there's enough room to find a seat and spread out if you need a place to study, but also perfect for a coffee date. The baristas were all very nice! Will be back.

I stopped in for a cup of coffee and a pastry right before they closed and got excellent service and a great cup of coffee

Great coffee options, nice staff, cozy vibes. Love this spot off the square for a coffee hello and hot drink.

Wow. This place is very charming. They had me when they had oat milk. And the scone warm is must! Has a great view of the historical square. Love it.

We stopped here on a whim and the coffees were delicious: iced almond joy mocha latte and iced hazelnut almond latte.

coffee was great. sadly food was awful. I came with two friends who got a bagel which was cold and the other had a cold scone. as for me, I had a sausage sandwich which was cold in the middle. do not recommend food at all.