Santa Cruz, CA
The 10 best coffee shops in Santa Cruz
By Coffely ·
Santa Cruz is a surf town with a serious coffee habit. From downtown’s Pacific Avenue to the Westside and the beach, it’s a local scene: 97% of the 33 coffee shops in our directory are independent. Here are the ones its regulars rate highest.
We ranked the coffee shops in Santa Cruz by their Google rating, weighted by how many people left one: 14,420 reviews in all. Each business counts once, however many locations it has. These are the 10 that came out on top.
Quick picks
- Best overall: Cat & Cloud Coffee (4.8 stars, 560 reviews)
- Most reviewed: Verve Coffee Roasters (4.5 stars, 1,845 reviews)
- Local coffee shop open earliest: Peoples Coffee, opens at 5:30 AM on weekdays
- Local coffee shop open latest: Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery, until 11 PM on weekdays
The 10 best coffee shops in Santa Cruz, ranked
1. Cat & Cloud Coffee
4.8 out of 5 stars on Google from (560 reviews)3600 Portola Dr · Opal CliffsIndependent
Open daily 6:30 AM–3 PM. Also at 719 Swift St (4.7, 509 reviews) and 118 Cooper St (4.6, 159 reviews).
Google describes it as “Airy, artsy neighborhood cafe for coffee & pastries served in contemporary digs with outdoor seats.”
2. Shrine Coffee
4.8 out of 5 stars on Google from (437 reviews)544 W Cliff DrIndependent
Open daily 7 AM–4 PM.
3. 11th Hour Coffee
4.7 out of 5 stars on Google from (1,310 reviews)1001 Center StIndependent
Open daily 7 AM–6:30 PM. Also at 402 Ingalls St (4.6, 355 reviews).
4. Alta Organic Coffee Warehouse & Roasting Co.
5.0 out of 5 stars on Google from (40 reviews)2712 Mission St ExtIndependent
Open 8 AM–3 PM on weekdays. Closed Sunday.
5. Verve Coffee Roasters
4.6 out of 5 stars on Google from (546 reviews)104 Bronson St · SeabrightIndependent
Open daily 7 AM–5 PM. Also at 1540 Pacific Ave (4.5, 1,845 reviews), 816 41st Ave (4.5, 880 reviews) and 1010 Fair Ave (4.5, 682 reviews).
6. The Abbey Coffee Lounge
4.6 out of 5 stars on Google from (504 reviews)350 Mission StIndependent
Open daily 8 AM–6 PM.
Google describes it as “Coffee & pastries served in a laid-back, shabby-chic hangout with local art on display & live bands.”
7. Mariposa Coffee Bar
4.6 out of 5 stars on Google from (151 reviews)1010 Pacific AveIndependent
Open 9 AM–8 PM Wed–Sun.
8. Firefly Coffee House
4.5 out of 5 stars on Google from (661 reviews)131A Front StIndependent
Open daily 7 AM–2 PM. Also at 1700 Commercial Wy (4.3, 186 reviews).
Google describes it as “Funky little hangout with craft coffee drinks, chai & baked goods including sweets & loaded bagels.”
9. Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery
4.5 out of 5 stars on Google from (338 reviews)1101 Pacific Ave bIndependent
Open daily 12–11 PM. Open the latest of the 10 on weekdays.
Google describes it as “Lively counter serve offering organic, artisanal ice cream, plus housemade baked goods.”
10. Peoples Coffee
4.5 out of 5 stars on Google from (303 reviews)1200 17th AveIndependent
Open daily 5:30 AM–5:30 PM. The earliest start of the 10 on weekdays.
Best coffee in Santa Cruz early in the morning and late at night
Of the 17 coffee shops in Santa Cruz rated 4.5 or higher, these open first and close last on a typical weekday.
Open earliest
- Peoples Coffee1200 17th Ave · Santa CruzOpens 5:30 AM
- Coffeetopia3701 Portola Dr · Opal Cliffs, Santa CruzOpens 6 AM
- Cat & Cloud Coffee3600 Portola Dr · Opal Cliffs, Santa CruzOpens 6:30 AM
Open latest
- Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery1101 Pacific Ave b · Santa CruzUntil 11 PM
- Mariposa Coffee Bar1010 Pacific Ave · Santa CruzUntil 8 PM
- Cat & Cloud Coffee118 Cooper St · Santa CruzUntil 7 PM
5 coffee shops in Santa Cruz open by 6 AM on at least one day, and 2 stay open until 10 PM or later. See them all on the early birds in Santa Cruz list, or coffee shops open early across California.
Local coffee shops vs chains in Santa Cruz
All 10 of the best are independent. Santa Cruz is a local coffee town: our directory has just 1 chain location there (Starbucks).
How Santa Cruz compares with the rest of California
Santa Cruz ranks #6 of the 16 California cities with 15 or more coffee shops in our directory by average rating. Eureka leads with 4.64.
| Coffee shops | Average rating | Rated 4.5+ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | 33 | 4.40 | 52% |
| All of California | 1,180 | 4.38 | 47% |
See the best coffee shops in California, ranked the same way across all 240 cities and towns.
How we ranked them
- Shops are ranked by Google rating, weighted by number of reviews: each counts as if it also had 50 reviews at 4.4 stars. A 4.9 from 700 reviews ranks above a 5.0 from 8.
- Several locations of one business count once, under their best-rated location. A shop needs a 4.5 rating or higher to make the list.
- Ratings, reviews and hours come from public Google Maps listings, last updated in October 2026. Hours change, so check with the shop before you go. How the directory is built.
Santa Cruz coffee shops: FAQ
What is the best coffee shop in Santa Cruz?
By Google rating weighted by number of reviews, Cat & Cloud Coffee (4.8 stars, 560 reviews), followed by Shrine Coffee and 11th Hour Coffee.
Which coffee shop in Santa Cruz has the most reviews?
Verve Coffee Roasters at 1540 Pacific Ave, with 1,845 Google reviews and a 4.5 rating.
Which coffee shops in Santa Cruz open earliest?
Among the best-rated, Peoples Coffee opens at 5:30 AM, Coffeetopia opens at 6 AM, and Cat & Cloud Coffee opens at 6:30 AM on weekdays. 5 coffee shops in Santa Cruz open by 6 AM on at least one day.
Are there coffee shops open late in Santa Cruz?
2 coffee shops in Santa Cruz stay open until 10 PM or later on at least one night, including Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery and Ideal Coffee Bar.
How many coffee shops are there in Santa Cruz?
Our directory lists 33 coffee shops in Santa Cruz: 32 independent and 1 chain locations. All coffee shops in Santa Cruz