The Best Cafes in Santa Cruz & Monterey

Blacks Beach Cafe

Have a delicious breakfast and lunch menu. Mellow atmosphere. - G. Freitas  more

Café Carmel is a European style coffee house serving breakfast sandwiches and an assortment of deli products, cheeses , antipasti, soup and salads, fresh baked pastries, ice cream, smoothies, and milk shakes. We cater, too. more

Cafe Fina

Traditional Italian Cuisine and Fresh Seafood in Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf. more

California Coffee

This is a really nice spot. Lots of outdoor seating. There is a dog section as well. They have live music periodically as well. more

Carmel Bakery

Carmel Bakery was established in 1911 and is a Carmel landmark. Famous for scones, shortbread, Danish & giant pretzels, Italian cannoli and their Cappacinos. more

Carmel Belle

Recently established as one of Carmel's 'Most popular' breakfast spots now and quick becoming the lunch crowd's hang out as well.  This eatery has become the spot for new visitors and locals alike to eat their wonderfully fresh farm product eggs... more

Carmel Cafe and Cocoa Bar

Charming European coffeehouse with a truly decadent cocoa menu, fresh baked cakes and cookies, quiche, sandwiches and caual bistro patio seating where well-behaved dogs are welcome. more

Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co.

Where visitors and friends meet to enjoy fresh-roasted coffee from around the world. Also features Scharffen Berger hot chocolate and a variety of delicious cocoas. Wonderful fresh-baked pastries. Internet access available. more

Cha Ya

Owner, Mitsuko Gammon, is trained in Ikebana and traditional tea ceremony; and has worked in retail for many years. Mitsuko was born and raised in Tokyo. She had long wanted to explore the possibilities of bringing her love of tea and Japanese cultur... more

Coffee Mia Brew Bar

Conscious Creations Cafe

Conscious Creations Cafe features Santa Cruz's freshest local ingredients prepared with exotic international flavors presented healthfully in your favorite comfort food recipes. Feel free to browse our menu, we have a little something for everyone. more

dippin' dots

Come check out our store with over 24+ flavors of dippin' dots. We are the only store in Santa Clara County.  We also offer cakes, shakes, parfaits, floats and sundaes!!  We look forward to serving you. more

Fins Coffee

Non-descript in appearance, but they serve good coffee and the treats are delicious. more

Friar Tuck's

Carmel's largest country breakfasts, featuring best-in-the-west omelettes, heavenly eggs benedicts and old-fashioned waffles. The lunch menu features 16 specialty gourmet hamburgers, an all-american hotdog with all the trimmings and a variety of... more

From Scratch Restuarant

For over 30 years, this charming, family owned  restaurant has been serving breakfast and lunch made from the freshest of ingredients lovingly prepared by an expert chef. From Eggs Benedict to made-to-order omelettes to the best Huevos Ranche... more

Happy Girl

Our cafe and cannery is located just two blocks from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  With a full coffee bar featuring Blue Bottle Coffee, house-made baked goods and delicious organic breakfast and lunch, our cafe is a great place to stop in and rela... more

Heavenly Cafe

Heavenly Cafe is a Scotts Valley staple where you can find the best crab eggs benedict in California. Breakfasts include their house-made Crab Cakes Eggs Benedict, Belgian Waffles with fresh berries. For lunch, order one of their awesome burgers o... more

Hidden Peak Teahouse

Hidden Peak Teahouse is a unique Asian style Teahouse that offers a full tea store, and a place where one can sit down in  the outdoor patio, or inside and drink tea.  It is a retreat from the fast paced, modern day world. more

Iveta Espresso Bar & Cafe

European-style sidewalk cafe featuring freshly baked, award-winning scones, muffins, biscuits and cupcakes, as well as specialty coffee from Lavazza, Italy's #1 coffee, a selection of fine teas and various light breakfast and lunch items. more

Java Bob's

Java Bob’s Coffee Roasting is a full-service specialty coffee roaster providing fresh roasted coffee, equipment, and supplies to cafes, restaurants, hotels, banks, offices, factories, schools and grocery stores. Located in Santa Cruz, Cal... more

Juice & Java

Katy's Place

The largest breakfast menu on the West Coast, with twelve different gourmet Eggs Benedict dishes, seven kinds of waffles and their famed corned beef hash. Breakfast is served all day, along with a wide choice of lunch items. more

Kresge Food Co-op

The Kresge Food Co-op has been a Kresge College tradition for over thirty years, supporting small farmers, the UCSC Farm Project, and the Kresge Organic Garden. Food Co-op Interior The Kresge Community Natural Foods Co-op is a non-profit student r... more

Leyla World Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream

Leyla World is a locally supplied yogurt shop located at 1306 Mission St, in Santa Cruz, California.  We are a yogurt and ice cream parlor that specilaizes in lower fat, better taste, yogurts and ice cream.  All our yogurts are made fresh w... more

Limelight Cafe

With photography by Jack Johnson. more

Little Swiss Cafe

A quaint, old-time Carmel atmosphere with excellent food at reasonable prices, where everything is homemade, including the breads. Delicious breakfast and lunch specials! A favorite of locals for 25 years, here you can often find some of the auth... more

MeloMelo Kava Bar - Santa Cruz

Kava is an ancient beverage from the South Pacific made from the roots of the Kava Kava plant Piper methysticum. The traditional beverage has been consumed in that part of the world for thousands of years and we're happy to be the first to bring it h... more

Mr. Toots Coffeehouse

Nestle Toll House Cafe - Monterey

Discover the authentic taste of gourmet desserts, made with the finest Nestle ingredients. Indulge in the soothing aromas of chocolate and the subtle tones of ice cream infused with dessert coffees. more

Pacifica Cafe

Patisserie Boissiere

A combination pastry shop and restaurant, this Carmel classic combines a cheery French feel - antique tables and chairs and ornate wall sconces - with delectable dishes and inspired pastries. Their menu features a quiche maison, pot pies, roasted... more

Samba Rock Cafe

Open Since 2009, We are a Cafe with a menu all based in Acai - 10 acai bowls, 10 acai smoothies, hot acai drinks, and also, yerba mate drinks (cold and hot), pastries and really good coffee and espressos with a bike park inside. more

Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting

Conveniently located in downtown Santa Cruz and Aptos, we proudly offer our fresh-roasted specialty coffee, fresh pastries and sandwiches, free wi-fi, and of course our patented BrewBar™ coffee system. We believe that our hand-poured method pro... more

Saturn Cafe

For almost three decades this late-night, all-day vegetarian diner has been serving up instant comfort of the edible variety. The condiment-friendly menu is long on cheeses, salads, faux burgers, french fries and cheeses. Veggie corndogs, mac and che... more

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