Walnut Avenue Cafe
With eggs Benedict done right and the best home fries in town, their huge servings are sure to cure any hangover and satisfy any appetite. A variety of scrambles are on the menu: inspirational combinations made with fresh and local produce. Walnut Avenue Cafe has all your brunch favorites, and their huevos rancheros will give you a bang for your buck. Try their turkey cranberry sandwich served on two slices of French toast, a blend of flavors that will make your taste buds go ‘boom.’ With such a large space and lots of mouths to feed, there is always a bit of a wait, but being right downtown, there is always plenty of window shopping and street entertainment to keep you busy.
Walnut Avenue Cafe, 106 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, USA +1 831 457 2307
Cafe Brasil
A local favorite away from main attractions, Cafe Brasil feels like the perfect little getaway in this small town. While their dishes are quite hearty, make sure to start your meal with an açai bowl, a sweet berry sorbet-smoothie mix, topped with granola and fresh fruit (this is a must!). Food is always authentic, and service always comes with a smile. Cafe Brasil gets busy on the weekends, so the wait could be close to forty-five minutes for a larger group, but the food will get to you fast. With a small parking lot in the back, street parking is recommended.
Cafe Brasil, 1410 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA, USA +1 831 429 1855
Linda’s Seabreeze Café
It feels like you’re at an old friend’s house when you’re at Linda’s. Classic diner favorites are on the menu, with endless options for sides. Servings are enormous, so try not to fill up on the free coffee while you wait to be seated. The café is close to the pier and away from the college students that usually flood the main brunch spots.
Linda’s Seabreeze Café, 542 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, USA +1 831 427 9713
Firefly Coffeehouse
Hidden behind a Walgreens is this little oasis, offering the best homemade bagels in town. While Firefly’s menu is quite small, their bagels are all you need for brunch. Their bagel sandwiches include: homemade cream cheese, egg, and whatever other toppings you want, although the tomato and herb bagel is the best choice. Seating is limited, so consider taking these bagels to go. Coffee drinks are also something quite special, so make sure to try from all parts of the menu. Make sure to try this local and humble favorite in town.
The Buttery
Known for their bakery and delectable sweets, The Buttery has only recently started serving brunch. Voted the best bakery in Santa Cruz, their breads make their sandwiches something truly special. Only the freshest ingredients are used, and hopefully you can catch them on a day when their curry chicken salad is on the menu. Their savory flavors have a refreshing twist, but make sure to grab some pecan sandies from their bakery on your way out. Outside seating is a must, and parking is super easy in their private lot in the back. Keep in mind that ordering at the front and waiting at your table might slow things down, but the patio furniture is beautiful and dog-watching is always fun.
The Buttery, 702 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, USA +1 831 458 3020
Samba Rock
Samba Rock is perfect for all the health nuts out there. This is the only place in town that strictly serves açai. Every açai bowl is named after a Brazilian celebrity. No bowl is a bad bowl. Mixings like coconut, peanut butter, granola, kiwi, and matcha powder; there are endless combinations to energize you. Try the bike ride over the San Lorenzo River and park your bike inside.
Samba Rock Açai Café, 291 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA, USA +1 831 458 2224
The Picnic Basket
After you’re done visiting the boardwalk, cross over to The Picnic Basket where all your midday cravings are to be satisfied. Beans roasted from local favorite Verve Coffee Roasters make for the perfect addition to your classic brunch favorites. Enjoy the sea breeze and people-watching from the outside seating. Keep in mind that weekends have the boardwalk and pier attracting a lot of people, so the lines might be long but the atmosphere is great and sure to keep you in relaxed vacation-mode for a while. Parking is difficult on the boardwalk, but just a few blocks over you will find residential parking.
The Picnic Basket, 125 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA, USA +1 831 427 9946
Lulu Carpenter’s
Lulu Carpenter’s is a part of history right at your fingertips in downtown Santa Cruz. Locals will tell you they used to know that one brick building at the end of the block as the neighborhood bar, but students at the university will tell you that this is where they study and drink bottomless amounts of coffee. Lulu’s currently roasts for all of Santa Cruz, and has been the go-to coffee shop for years. Now, on the weekends, you can enjoy brunch at Lulu’s. A short and sweet menu makes for the freshest dishes, and a beautifully green back patio will leave you breathless. Take a stroll through Pacific Avenue after you are done and enjoy local boutiques and street entertainment.
Lulu Carpenter’s, 1545 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, USA +1 831 439 9200
Taqueria Los Pericos
Los Pericos is one of the best taquerias along the coast. With crispy carnitas and heavenly horchata, it is no surprise their breakfast burrito is the best in the business. They have three types of breakfast burritos, but make sure to try the chorizo one first. Packed with egg and potatoes, the chorizo has the perfect amount of spice to soak up any bad vibes from the night before. Good meat, good salsa, and good people. Los Pericos gives you quality while keeping the quantity in your wallet.
Taqueria Los Pericos, 139 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA, USA +1 831 469 7685
Kelly’s French Bakery
Kelly’s French Bakery is nestled away on the west side of Santa Cruz, within a nice little plaza of lavish shopping, hidden among the more industrial parts of the town. Have your kids play around while you sit outside and enjoy small café bites for brunch. This is the perfect place to lounge on a lazy Sunday. With an endless case of sweets, they also have a full service menu, complete with pancakes and eggs Benedict. With such a warm and welcoming environment, you won’t want to leave. Not to mention they even have a fireplace in the corner of the bakery. The line is almost always long for Kelly’s, but service is fast and you will find the stores nearby are special.
Kelly’s French Bakery, 402 Ingalls St, Santa Cruz, CA, USA +1 831 423 9059