Cat & Cloud Coffee

If you took our advice and stopped for coffee in Ventura, you should be about ready for another jolt right around the time you slide into Santa Cruz. Lucky thing, then, that Cloud Cat is a fantastic local roaster, with four jaunty pink and aqua cafes scattered across town. The vibe is decidedly lighthearted, high energy, and fun, but don’t let that fool you—their coffee program is as serious as they come, from sourcing and roasting right down to their impeccable espresso drinks and lovely single-origin-brewed coffee. The only things on their food menu are Avocado Toast and Overnight Oats, but both are well-executed and bold takes on the classic third-wave coffee dishes, a perfect aesthetic partner for their drinks.
How to order: Walk-ins only.