11th Hour Coffee — Restaurant in Santa Cruz

One of my favorite cafes in the Bay Area! This Santa Cruz staple features amazing coffee, stellar food, great vibes, and a super friendly team. I dropped by for brunch during a weekend beach trip, and I was blown away by how good everything was. The coffee is fantastic — nutty, rich, and smooth — and they have a great selection of beans you can take home to try. I love the plain taste of espresso, so I loved their cappuccino (closely followed by the latte), but they also have a bunch of other fun drinks for those who would rather not get hit with a strong taste of coffee. Their raspberry mocha has an exceptional raspberry flavor that goes wonderfully with the chocolate and slight notes of coffee in the background. The matcha was sweet but quite tasty and refreshing, especially when iced.

The food was somehow even more impressive than their drinks. We tried a smattering of dishes, including the tomato galette, brunch bowl, and loaded avocado toast. The galette was outstanding — the combo of buttery, flakey pastry with the salty cheese, herbaceous and nutty pesto, and juicy, perfectly roasted tomatoes was completely unbeatable. The larger, entree-style dishes were just as impressive. I loved the loaded avocado toast, which featured a very generous helping of avocado, two perfectly poached eggs, greens, and chili oil over a springy, flavorful slice of focaccia. The egg yolks were perfectly runny, the micro greens offered a lovely pop of freshness, and the chili oil really helped bring the whole dish together. It wasn’t particularly spicy, but had a great umami and deeply savory flavor — I’d honestly love to have double or triple the amount of chili crisp. The bread wasn’t my favorite focaccia in the world, but it served as a wonderful vessel for everything else. I also loved the brunch bowl, which was a hearty and delicious combo of quinoa, greens, watermelon radish, tomatoes, avocado, walnuts, and a poached egg. Every element clearly added something to the dish — I loved the crunch from the walnuts and radish, pop of freshness from the veggies, nuttiness and heft from the quinoa, and creaminess from the runny egg yolk and avocado. It was also served with a lovely creamy lemon dressing, which helped bind together and brighten up the whole dish.

To top off an already amazing food and beverage experience, the space is also wonderful. It’s quite spacious inside, but this spot is so popular that it often fills up. They have a large garden patio in the back with extra seating, although that tends to get pretty crowded too. If you manage to snag a spot, though, it’s a really cozy place to settle down for a bit. The staff is super friendly, helpful, and efficient. It often takes a little bit to get food orders since the kitchen can get a bit backed up, but it’s more than understandable given how many people frequent this place, and it’s more than...

Almost gave it 4 stars but ultimately settled for 3. Been a regular here the past 2 years. Coffee and expresso drinks are very good. Personally I’d say there is another specific Santa Cruz coffee chain that wins overall in flavor but still really good here, 2nd place. Matcha drinks are also really good. BUT this place does have better food than that other place! This location is larger than a lot of restaurants. Good versatile place for casual coffee, studying, and 2-3 person meetings. Brighter and louder vibe than the common introvert vibe in Santa Cruz. And the atmosphere is subjective, artsy but a little weird. Lots of plants and unique art pieces that are for sale too.

Now the reason for 3 stars. Baristas are commonly passive aggressive. In simple terms, if you look like a “bro” dude, you’ll probably get some stink eyes. And if you look like an artsy liberal girly, you’ll probably get treated like royalty! The food here can slap! But it’s often inconsistent depending on who’s in the kitchen. Sometimes the sauce is on the side, sometimes they sauce it for you. Sometimes a burrito is served on a plate, and a different day on a plank of wood, and a different day in a to-go box when you never said to-go. If an order has eggs, sometimes they’ll be poached, sometimes fried and dry, sometimes hardboiled. Sometimes food looks like they put A LOT effort into it, and other times it’s comes out so half-assed. There is a “protein bowl” which is a salad with literally 1 egg and a dusting of bacon that also comes with potatoes. But that potato sometimes is a stiff frozen hash brown, sometimes is home style fries.

The serving method is odd too. Sometimes your coffee is in a cup and saucer, and other times they don’t even ask and they just default to take out cups. And they go by calling out names with no speaker system. Not ideal for a large place with outside seating. So you get an awkward crowd of people waiting for drinks at the bar. And food is worse. They used to have a pager system. Now they don’t use it at all so you have to wait for your food at the kitchen. Right where all the condiments and trash bins are. So you have a situation where people are looking for a fork and napkin, while someone else is trying to figure out where to put their dirty plate, and while someone else is asking if their food has come out yet.

The kitchen closes early! At 2 or 3 and sometimes 4 in the summer. But it’s not uncommon that they’ll randomly close the whole kitchen. A real bummer when you spend time in downtown congestion, pay for parking, only to find out you can’t get food there that day.

Overall really good place, sadly it can be reliably...

Nestled in the heart of Santa Cruz, this enchanting café is a haven where time seems to slow down, and every moment becomes a melody of comfort and delight. Just as birds seek out the perfect perch to serenade the world with their songs, this café is the sweet spot where free spirits converge to let their creativity soar.

Step into a realm where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Imagine a place where the walls echo with the laughter of old friends reuniting and the gentle clinking of cups as strangers bond over shared stories. This café isn't just a space; it's a symphony of flavors and connections, a haven where friends gather and strangers become kindred spirits.

Picture a canvas bathed in sunlight, a canvas that captures the essence of the outdoors and brings it within these walls. The atmosphere is not just inviting; it's AAA+, a culmination of meticulous attention to detail and an innate understanding of what it takes to make every visitor feel like they've found a sanctuary. With every sip, the ambiance infuses your soul with a sense of belonging.

As you enter, you'll be greeted by a sense of spaciousness that's reminiscent of open skies, and the air dances around you, playfully inviting you to settle in and breathe deeply. It's a refuge where the indoors and outdoors intertwine, where light and air flow seamlessly, creating an environment that nurtures both body and mind.

And oh, the goodies that await! The menu is a culinary adventure, a treasure trove of tastes and textures that cater to every craving. It's not just a menu; it's a journey through gastronomic delights that promise to tantalize your taste buds and satisfy even the most discerning palates.

So here's to the café that captures the essence of birds finding their nests and free spirits finding their groove. Inhale the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, indulge in the symphony of flavors, and relish in the camaraderie that blooms within these walls. This café isn't just a place; it's an experience, a testament to the fact that sometimes, all you need is the perfect spot to let your creativity...