Highest-rated Cafes in Santa Cruz, According to Yelp

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Highest-rated cafes in Santa Cruz, according to Yelp

From the first coffee houses in the Ottoman Empire to Boston's London Coffee House, cafes have always been an egalitarian place to gather, sip, and share ideas, many of which have changed the world.

During the Enlightenment, cafes would regularly entertain the likes of Voltaire, Rousseau, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Isaac Newton. Later, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre would spend hours in cafes, pondering their works and holding court alongside other intellectuals.

Needless to say, coffee and cafes beget some revolutionary ideas; sipping a cup may even be a political act. When settlers dumped tea into the Boston Harbor to send a message to the British empire, tea became a British loyalist's drink, and coffee became a popular substitute. Unsurprisingly, Boston's London Coffee House opened in 1689, was soon renamed the American Coffee House. Later on in Philadelphia, Merchant Coffee House, also known as the City Tavern, would host the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere, as well as witness an early reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Many other coffee shops steeped in history abound in the United States, including New York City's Caffe Reggio. Founded in 1927, it was the first to serve cappuccino in the country, as well as one of the first to use a La Pavoni espresso machine. New Orleans' Cafe du Monde, founded in 1862, is a fixture in the French Quarter for its coffee and beignets.

Whether it's for a cup of Joe, a heady conversation, or simply a place to start the day, cafes have become part of our personal landmarks, so where have others gone to find their refuge or perhaps their perfect dose of caffeine? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated cafes in Santa Cruz using data from Yelp. Rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list.

#20. Oakes Cafe

- Rating: 3.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 150 Heller Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95064
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

#19. Windmill Cafe

- Rating: 4.0/5 (348 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 21231 E Cliff Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95062
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#18. Roxa Hammock Cafe

- Rating: 4.0/5 (137 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 110 Cooper St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Cafes, Acai Bowls, Lounges
- Read more on Yelp

#17. Iveta Westside

- Rating: 4.0/5 (236 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 2125 Delaware Ave Ste F Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Cafes, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#16. Surf City Billiards Bar & Cafe

- Rating: 4.0/5 (194 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 931 Pacific Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Pool Halls, Sports Bars, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

#15. The White Raven

- Rating: 4.0/5 (222 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 6253 Hwy 9 Felton, CA 95018
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

#14. Castagnola Deli & Cafe

- Rating: 4.0/5 (144 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 201 Monterey Ave Capitola, CA 95010
- Categories: Cafes, Delis
- Read more on Yelp

#13. Walnut Avenue Café

- Rating: 4.0/5 (1294 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 106 Walnut Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional), Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

#12. Food Lounge

- Rating: 4.0/5 (17 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1001 Center St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

#11. Heavenly Roadside Cafe

- Rating: 4.0/5 (556 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1210 Mt Hermon Rd Scotts Valley, CA 95066
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, American (Traditional)
- Read more on Yelp

#10. Tabby Cat Cafe

- Rating: 4.0/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 1101 Cedar St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

#9. The Point Market

- Rating: 4.5/5 (471 reviews)
- Price: $
- Address: 23040 E Cliff Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95062
- Categories: Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

#8. Cafe Delmarette

- Rating: 4.5/5 (356 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 1126 Pacific Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

#7. Avenue Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (433 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 427 Capitola Ave Capitola, CA 95010
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

#6. Holy Cannoli

- Rating: 4.5/5 (143 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 138 E Santa Clara St San Jose, CA 95113
- Categories: Cafes, Caterers, Food Trucks
- Read more on Yelp

#5. Flower Bar

- Rating: 4.5/5 (52 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 912 Cedar St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Flowers & Gifts, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp

#4. The Grove Cafe & Bakery

- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 6249 CA-9 Felton, CA 95018
- Categories: Cafes, Bakeries, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

#3. Cruise Coffee Cafe

- Rating: 4.5/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 246 Kings Village Rd Scotts Valley, CA 95066
- Categories: Cafes, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp

#2. Far West Fungi

- Rating: 5.0/5 (40 reviews)
- Price: $$
- Address: 224 Laurel St Ste A101 Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Specialty Food, Cafes, Organic Stores
- Read more on Yelp