The Loft is one of my favorite local coffee places because of the spaciousness, the flood of…read morenatural light (so it's perfect for working or reading), they serve local brew and local pastries, and the prices are reasonable! They even have hot foods, like breakfast sandwiches. To top it off, they employ really inclusive and inviting staff that make you feel welcome. The order line may look long when you arrive if it's morning or noon, but it always moves quickly. The only downside is the hours are sometimes shorter than I'd like, so I've sometimes come at times it's closed, so I recommend checking online before driving over to make sure they'll be open when you arrive. TIPS: - The only semi-confusing part is you pick up the food on the LEFT side of the counter and the drinks on the RIGHT side of the counter. - The extras (lids, sugar, napkins, etc) are at a little station on the right side of the counter, close to the side doors. - There are stairs leading upstairs that have limited tables and a small couch, but if you can snag seating upstairs, it's a cool space bec it'll feel more private and you get to look down at the cafe. - Sometimes Loft holds special events, so be on the look out for flyers. The space is so cute with the different types of seating and plant areas that divide up the space. There are also a few outdoor tables and chairs for those who prefer Al Fresca. Loft is located behind Cabrillo College and has lots of parking.

I had to hang out at Cabrillo for a few hours waiting for my kid and walked over to this excellent…read morecafe across from campus. I ordered the Santa Cruz fog which is an earl Grey tea why macadamia milk. It was so delicious I had to return the second day. This cafe is conveniently located for campus students. Clean and lots of seating with electric plugs for charging. There is a restroom available inside.

Great service and some mighty fine coffee. Interested in checking out some of their yummy baked…read moregoods and empanadas

Solid 3.5 stars - neighborhood coffee shop that feels familiar. Service was very friendly. Lots of…read moreoptions outside of coffee including bagels, pastries and smoothies. We ordered coffee, a berry smoothie (yogurt, frozen berries, apple juice), and egg bagel sandwich (egg is microwaved vs cooked on a pan). Plenty of indoor and outdoor tables / seating. Would come back for a quick coffee and savory bagel if in the area.

We're not from the area but visited Cat & Cloud last time we were in town and loved it. This…read morelocation is newer with plenty of parking and space inside to sit and chat. We were greeted promptly at the counter and our order--black coffee no room & a decaf oat milk vanilla latte--came up quickly. Both the coffee and espresso drink were great. We didn't order food this time, but a good selection of pastries was available. We'll be back next time we're in town.

Really nice cafe that allows pets, and their coffee is really good. Nice place to sit and do work,…read moreor just chat with friends and family members.

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!

An OK place to get coffee and a pastry here in the Santa Cruz area. Definitely a bit dingier and…read moredarker than most coffeeshops, with some concerns about cleanliness - tables were sticky and there was food and crumbs on the floor around my chair before I sat down. Coffee and pastries are decent, although the pastries are priced pretty expensive. Lots of activism and messaging by the coffeeshop, which can be a plus or minus depending on your proclivities.

Here's my review even though I got a drink I couldn't drink this isn't my first time here. I love…read morethere mocha and chai. I love whatever beans they roast here and the vibe is nice. The employees are also nice. I like how they have a big patio and is a neighborly vibes. I wish there was a number I could call because I wanted to tell them about a drink today 03/15 it was way too sweet and I couldn't do it. but other than that love this place

This place is unique with good coffee. Service was good and timing was as expected. Plenty of…read moreoutdoor seating if the weather is nice. Good pastries.

Cute coffee shop with a wonderful view!! This coffee shop…read morelocated in the Capitola Village is up stairs from margaritaville. Great selection and flavors!! Something for everyone! Was the perfect way to get a 'pick me up' to keep shopping the local shops. Serve was so fast and friendly! Don't miss out.

Great little coffee shop with great vibes and views! We've been coming to Capitola over the past 4…read moreyears or so and never knew this spot existed. We've even ate next door and had no clue. While looking for a pick me up, I saw it on maps and had to check it out. It's up a tall flight of stairs and is surprisingly larger inside than you might imagine. Lots of comfortable seating inside and tables. The rear patio is very small with a few tables, but the views are awesome if you can grab a table. I got a Brown Sugar latte and it was solid. Could have been a touch sweeter, but it was definitely a good drink. Wife tried some iced tea and kiddo got a cider. Everyone enjoyed their drinks and it was a nice spot to relax. I'll definitely grab another coffee on my next visit. Location is awesome, especially as we stayed in the village. Coffee was good, but I'll have to try a pastry next time. Give it a shot, I think you'll enjoy what they offer.

Gayle's has some of my favorite things made of sugar and butter on the menu: quiches, key lime…read morepies, biscuits, tarts, and cookies. So many things looked good. I was pretty restrained. I got a number from the ticket machine. Holiday weekend, so bit of a wait but I think the system worked well. I am curious why it took so long since we had a dedicated worker bagging our stuff. But good things come to those who wait: Garlic twist. 5/5. Would get this again. Simple but amazing taste and texture. Could eat all day. Quiche. 4/5. Not the best quiche I've had ever had but solid. I appreciated it being on the small side since I had so many other things to try. I got tomato and spinach and wish the tomato taste came through a bit more. Would get again. Key lime pie. 4/5. Tasted fresh and had a smooth texture with the right amount of tartness. Strawberry shortcake cookie. 4/5. Like a soft scone. More intense strawberry flavor than expected. Banana tart. 4/5. Could be stronger banana flavor. Maybe if they brûléed a banana on it. Good crust texture. Impressive how everything I tried tasted good considering their extensive menu. Will try the masala chicken salad sandwich, cheddar biscuit, and chive scone next time. I loved how it was old school, well priced, well portioned, and not too precious. Staff make themselves available. There are first come first served tables to nab. Parking spots were not as easy to get when arriving but if you go straight for neighborhood parking you'll find something.

Was visiting family and wanted to buy a little something as a gift…read more Called Gayle's the morning of and ordered 4 of their pastries. The process was quick and easy. The menu is available online and they take same day orders via phone. Pickup was a little hectic as there were a lot of people in the bakery. I waited in line for a ticket and then waited for my number to be called, but found out that I could have just walked to the end of the bakery to pickup at the counter in the corner. I would probably add a sign to make it a little more obvious for those new to the bakery, nonetheless the pastries were amazing and nothing else matters. Everything was sweet but balanced with acidity or nuttiness. Great mix of textures and the crust does not fall apart even after a whole day in the fridge and being manhandled into cut portions. I'd highly recommend this place for out-of-towners, as those that live there already know it's the best.

Came here for breakfast while staying at the nearby Sea Cliff Inn…read more Food and coffee: Small selection of baked goods including fresh breads, croissants, pastries. We ordered a raspberry "pop tart" (filled pastry with frosting), plain croissant, and avocado toast. All were very good. Their fresh breakfast sandwiches "weren't available yet" (not sure what that meant) and the avocado toast did take a while to make. Service: Service was a little aloof but fine. Ambiance: Only a few indoor seats, two outdoor tables and kids toys though next to the road. Very modern and new interior. Would recommend trying, be prepared for a short line / wait.

Really cute storefront. There's a store to the side, and a great display of pastries. I can see why…read morethey draw a crowd. Got here right after opening and took a stroll around. They were in the middle of making sandwiches, which did look appetizing. Got in line at a perfect time because it quickly grew behind me. I always go with the basics... purchased a true French baguette, and a delicious looking chocolate chip cookie. Solid 4 stars for the French baguette. Great crispy crust, nice airy inside, not dense at all. Awesome for dipping in coffee. My only downside is the price. $6 for a French baguette... why? I'm waiting to see if it gives me any super powers. As for the chocolate chip cookie... perfect example of how looks can be deceiving. I know it's all preference, but it was just a basic cookie. No sea salt added for that something extra and no browned butter to be found. Just an ordinary, overly priced cookie. Sadly, does not win a spot for my top 5. Also, the gentleman at the counter was pretty frigid. Maybe a bad morning? Perhaps that's his personality. Who knows, but I wouldn't expect much at the counter as far as hospitality goes.

Fast & friendly service. Limited parking but places to sit outside. Simple and quaint decor. Best…read morefor to-go and pick up orders. My favorite bagel sandwich is the kitchen sink on an everything bagel. The bagel is perfectly crisp, warm and soft on the inside while being cooked all the way through. Really a treat. Pricey, but worth the splurge.

I ordered from DoorDash, and my sandwich arrived in great condition and exactly as I ordered it. I…read moreusually avoid bagel sandwiches because I expect the bagels to be difficult to bite into. Not the case here - the bagel was fresh and soft. I opted for roasted jalapeño cream cheese and a roasted garlic bagel. Just great!

First time trying this place out we went here based on the yelp reviews…read more Over it was great we had hot Mexican chocolate pie first day and then blueberry muffins the second day . Service is great, but I felt the portion size of the pie was a bit small for a $36. Also, the crust was too sweet, a bit sugary. The blueberry muffins were great. I'll be back to try the pizza next time .

After a positive experience the last time, we were sorely disappointed the second time around…read more We tried the pesto/ricotta, mootz and mushroom pies and they weren't as good as the last time... Since ours was a big order, it took 45mins to get ready. So if you're planning to make a big order, be ready for the wait - they make everything fresh and from scratch - that's why we chose this place again. I'm hoping this was a one off slip-up.