I was blessed twice in this lifetime to visit Gayle's 30 years ago…read moreAnd again on July 4 I never thought I would return to taste the best biscotti in America Thank you, Gayle and thank you to your amazing staff What an experience you have to visit at least once in a lifetime Thank you

it's ALL about the FOOD! SERVICE! COMPANY CULTURE! I share this from, the , lens of a sugar/ fat…read moreaddict, who ,is a native born , "Cruzian". The ambiance ? Crowded, poor feng shui, and full of tall people craving sugar and caffeine. For a short person like myself it's the one down side. The remedy is to order things for pick up or get your food out of the prepared food section. The ambience , triggers, my fight or flight instinct (personal problem.)Thanks for listening Many ago I,was in with four Girl Scouts ,to pick out meetings goodies. My vigelnce and ,protective neurons, on high alert We, ordered some delicious food and as I went to the cash register to pay , Gayle, came out ,and paid the total of my order. She's watching all she did was smile and I knew that she'd read my face ,seen the panic ,and acted on it. Gayle's, is a place, that I will always take visitors.

Their bread is amazing Their staff is amazing. They do…read moreanything to help you out. Their prices are reasonable And so thankful for what everything they do.

Pretty good. Generous portions. Need to serve Peroni beer. Good setting. Nice breeze. Planniing to…read morereturn soon.

Ok this time I bought marionberry puff, tomato pastor croissant, ham & cheese croissant, dark berry…read morecakes and pecan pinwheel cookie. The marionberry puff was a feast for my stomach after being a feast for my eyes... The pecan pinwheel cookie's chocolate puff is made out of all your hopes and desires.. The gf likes pesto, and it was good. But surprisingly the basic ham & cheese croissant is as good as you would expect without fail.. And it seems like if there are any cake slices, it's this dark berry cake, and it is awesome!!!

Yummm! Truly great croissants, blueberry muffins & raspberry…read moreswirls. Go, you'll be happy you did! Also super easy parking in the rear lot.

Great bread, can not recommend online ordering alas. Moved from Bay Area, so I ordered online since…read moreI was missing my favorites. Order arrived Friday at 12:50 pm, missing one of my wheat sourdough's. ( ordered 4, received 3). Sent email at 1:04, ( complete with photos of products received and packing slip, double checked final charge to see if i was charged for all 4, I was. tried email from order form, tried the contact us link/form on website, tried to call the direct phone line Monday morning and left messages. Update: Tuesday morning, got an email they are sending a loaf out.

I just ate a piece of Beckmanns Cherry Pie! OMG the Crust!!!…read more Its the best crust ive ever had. I love it and want everyone to know that they should give it a try. Yummy

Donnie Darko!! This…read moreis what makes the surrounding towns/ Santa Cruz unique. Living in SF we wanted to find something different and unique. We appreciated this corner coffee shop and the vibes. We even came back the next day just for Donnie Darko - if you enjoy iced coffee this is it! One of the cons of this drink is it comes only in one size; apparently a specific formula or proportion of ingredients. Would come back to this town just for this amazing coffee!

Ugly Mug is a staple for us whenever we visit family in the Soquel/Santa Cruz area. It's a classic…read moreneighborhood coffee shop with lots of personality and a laid-back local feel. The coffee is consistently good, and one thing we really like is that they offer a rotating selection of pastries from different local bakeries, so there's always something new to try. The atmosphere reflects the Santa Cruz community, welcoming, eclectic, and distinctly local. The service was efficient. It wasn't over-the-top, but everything went smoothly. If you're looking for a casual coffee shop with solid coffee, tasty pastries, and an authentic Santa Cruz vibe, Ugly Mug is definitely worth a stop.

Food: 5 stars. Service: 3 stars…read more The food was excellent and made the visit worthwhile. The staff, however, came across as a bit cold and unfriendly. I get that it's beach time and things move at a different pace, but being a little nicer to customers and visitors would make a big difference. Hopefully next time the service will be as good as the food. EDITED - Saturday, June 20, 2026 I'm updating my review after reading the owner's response. First, I want to clarify that the response appears to be a copy-and-paste message aimed at people leaving negative reviews. If you had actually read my original review, you would have noticed that I never complained about the food, the wait time, prices, staffing, or anything related to the quality of the business itself. In fact, I enjoyed the food and had no issue waiting. I visited on a Thursday, and the café wasn't packed. The owner was clearly working hard, and I respect that. However, when I walked in and said hello, I was completely ignored. There was no greeting, no acknowledgment, and no sense that my business was appreciated. That was the only reason I left a 3-star review in the first place. The response talks about staffing shortages, minimum wage, food costs, and the challenges of running a small business. I understand all of that. Running a business is difficult. But those challenges don't really address the point I was making. A simple "Hi," "Welcome," or even a quick smile costs nothing and goes a long way. I also don't think customers should be made to feel responsible for business challenges such as labor costs or rent. Those are realities of ownership that every business owner has to navigate. That said, after thinking about it, I'm changing my review from 3 stars to 5 stars because the food was genuinely good, and I do support small businesses. My hope is simply that future customers are greeted with a little more warmth and appreciation when they walk through the door. One final thought: when someone leaves a critical review, it may be worth responding directly to their experience rather than posting a generic response. Sometimes there's valuable feedback hidden inside reviews that aren't really about the food at all. I wish you and your business success, and I genuinely hope you continue serving great food for years to come.

We found this hidden gem by accident while walking. As we walked in, we were greeted by a very…read morefriendly gentleman. I ordered a latte with almond milk, and it was made to perfection--smooth, rich, and nicely strong. My husband had a mocha with almond milk, which he also really enjoyed. He added a poppy seed muffin that was served warm and was very good--a nice touch. The inside of the café is cozy and welcoming. We decided to take our coffee to go and sit by the beach, which is just one block away. We will definitely be back."

They have variety of pasties, desserts and breads but my favorites are the Bolillo with cream…read morecheese and jalapeño! The best I've ever had. The bread was crunchy in the outside and soft in the inside. The amount of jalapeño and cream cheese was so well balanced. They also have the best tamales in town! Staffs are all nice and accommodating. Store is clean and has plenty of parking space.

On our way home, we had pre ordered 2 dozen tamales to take home. They only make it fresh, no…read morefrozen. We enjoyed the chicken green sauce (the favorite) and pork red sauce over the next few days and froze a 1/2 dozen for another time. You should ask for them in a tray if you order that many, otherwise you have to take 4 plastic bags home. The cost came to $100+ with the tax but they're big and delicious.

Their ready-to-go sandwiches on baguetttes are outstanding! Absolutely worth the price---beautiful…read moreingredients, fresh bread, and spicy spreads (horseradish mayo, etc.). Buy all 4 varieties for your day and you will not be disappointed.

I came here with my mom on a Fri and Sat morning. Fri it was not too crowded and Sat it was very…read morebusy. The pastries were delicious and I love the vibe here, it's very comfortable and everything is made fresh in house. I got their fritatta which was yummy. I also purchased their lemon meringue pastry which was yummy. I did not try their coffee. My mom got a morning bun which she said was very good and she also tried their bread and butter.