This was my second visit and I decided I really needed to rereview it!…read more My first visit was during Covid. They were open but I think items were limited at the time and we were still masked up. My experience then was less than stellar but honestly, I think we were all still on edge. For this visit, we stopped in before heading home to pick up some pastries for a light breakfast. It was around 10 am and it was bustling. Clearly it is a popular spot but the line moved fast. We ordered ham and cheese croissants, an almond croissant, cinnamon roll with raisins (you can get them without as well) and an apricot pocket. Everything we tried was delicious and I mean DELICIOUS. The pastries were buttery and flaky and I am craving another almond croissant as I write this, lol. We didn't want to order any hot food since we were about to hit the road but they also sell breakfast sandwiches and burritos and it smelled heavenly in there. It is a little cramped with a few small tables but there is also a patio with a kind of wild garden which was very charming. I can 100% see this being a must stop for us whenever we visit Santa Cruz!

Stopped by to try some of the cupcakes, as they're on the preferred vendor list at the wedding…read morevenue we've been scoping out. Got the chiffon marionberry and lemon curd at almost a whopping $5 a cupcake. The whole cakes in the display case looked nice, but the cupcakes sure did not. I was hesitant when I saw their raggedy appearance (I photographed the best side!), but was hopeful the taste would blow it out of the water so much I wouldn't care what it looked like. So, both cupcakes were light, but dry...the marionberry moreso than the lemon curd. The marionberry also had buttercream, which we both don't care for, which of course, is a personal preference. Glad we tried before we committed to a whole wedding cake.

Jadyn tried my ice cream combo and Ive never felt more cool. Promote her immediately. pumpkin and…read morenorthern oregon blackberry for life.

I've heard a lot of hype about Marianne's, and the shame I had today backed the hype up! The menu…read moreis huge, it took me a while to decide what flavor to get, but I ended up deciding on the northern Oregon blackberry. The blackberry tasted excellent in the shake. Worth every penny. I really like the interior. Looks old school and fits the Santa Cruz vibe.

Their ready-to-go sandwiches on baguetttes are outstanding! Absolutely worth the price---beautiful…read moreingredients, fresh bread, and spicy spreads (horseradish mayo, etc.). Buy all 4 varieties for your day and you will not be disappointed.

I came here with my mom on a Fri and Sat morning. Fri it was not too crowded and Sat it was very…read morebusy. The pastries were delicious and I love the vibe here, it's very comfortable and everything is made fresh in house. I got their fritatta which was yummy. I also purchased their lemon meringue pastry which was yummy. I did not try their coffee. My mom got a morning bun which she said was very good and she also tried their bread and butter.

Ordered a strawberry funnel cake with ice cream. (the ice cream is always a must!) This is our…read morefavorite spot every time we come to Santa Cruz. The wait wasn't too long and the service was nice. It's a little pricey, but expected for the Boardwalk. There's plenty of seating around and you can even catch a view of the beach while you eat.

True authentic tasting funnel cakes. Every time we come to the boardwalk we get this delicious…read moredessert to finish off the day. I'd suggest adding the ice cream as it makes it that much better. It's a good size and will definitely hit the sweet tooth spot. They have good workers and their service was fast.

Amazing selection of flavors, all tasting incredibly fresh and homemade. The pricing is unbeatable,…read moreand the texture and creaminess are among the best I've had. I always stop by for a treat and usually leave with a pint to take home. This is easily one of the best ice cream spots in the Bay Area. They also have a sister location with the same outstanding quality, but this branch is larger and makes ordering much easier. I've permanently marked this place on my map for any occasion. Truly a hidden gem. Don't miss it!

There's always room for ice cream. So many flavors and you can try first. Staff are patient in…read moreexplaining flavor profiles & helpful. Landed on green tea and Oreo mint while friends enjoyed the blackberry, kahlua crunch etc. There's fun flavors like macapuno and earl grey (though they ran out this day) too. Look forward to coming back and maybe ordering a pint or two for home next time. Always fun to support the local ice cream shop.

My wife and I take serious pleasure and pride in our "sweet treats", as we like to call them, and…read moreSavannah's Home Bakery has officially set the bar! We first discovered them at the Midtown Block Party here in Santa Cruz, and we've been hooked ever since. This is a truly family-owned and operated Santa Cruz business through and through, and it shows in every single detail. Honestly, the quality of their baked goods is absolutely unsurpassed, not just locally but anywhere I've had cookies, and I don't say that lightly. I'm especially picky when it comes to desserts, and these blew me away. Special shout-out to the birthday cake cookies, they are completely out of this world!! We've had the chance to meet the family a couple of times, and they are genuinely salt-of-the-earth people. From ordering, to pickup, to that first bite, the entire experience has been nothing but excellent. The cookies come individually packaged with the cutest sticker on each one, making them a perfect gift. Seriously, you couldn't ask for something nicer looking that also happens to be insanely delicious. I never understood cookies could taste so delicious. They are straight from outer space. I'm still amazed at how beautifully everything is packaged and the Love they are made with. As far as I'm concerned, they have my vote for the best cookie on the planet. I always hide a few extras for "emergencies." In fact, if I'm ever on thin ice with my wife, I'll pull out a surprise cookie from Savannah's Home Bakery, grab a glass of milk, and suddenly she's ready to renew our vows on the spot! That's the power of these cookies. If you haven't tried them yet, do yourself a favor and fix that immediately!

Came across this dessert stand at the Pleasure Point Street Fair this past weekend, and couldn't…read moreresist those giant uniquely flavored cookies being sold from this vendor tent, prepackaged and individually wrapped. I picked up a few including the monster cookie, a crazy delicious combination of peanut butter, pb chips, chocolate chips, chocolate candy, and oatmeal. It was yummy, and definitely one-of-a-kind. I also got the chocolate chip cookie which was chewy and delicious, and came with the typical ingredients you would expect but loaded with chocolate chunks evenly spread throughout the batter, making it an ideal sweet treat for a chocolate lover like me. The service here was friendly, quick and efficient. And I appreciated that the menu and signage out front was clear and easy to understand.

I first tried cupcakes from Black China Bakery at a wedding I attended and was impressed by how…read moredelicious they were. So when my mom's wedding was coming up, I knew exactly where to get the cupcakes from. We ordered the vegan chocolate with raspberry frosting and vegan carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and they did not disappoint. Katelin was incredibly friendly and easy to work with. She provided options for how the cakes could be frosted to match our theme and colors, and helped to make the planning process so smooth. The cupcakes were delivered for a very reasonable rate and were a huge hit at the wedding. Everyone loved them! I highly recommend Black China Bakery for any special occasion.

We got our wedding cake from Black China Bakery as the groom is vegan. The cake was amazing -- we…read morehad so many guests (all non-vegan) specifically mention how good the cake was! Katelin made us six cupcakes to sample flavors and was very communicative throughout the process. The decorations were also exactly what we were envisioning. We highly recommend Black China Bakery!

The truffles!!! Such a variety and quality Also the pasta…read morerosettes are fantastic I've definitely ripped off the recipes and make versions of them at home . David is a very sincere and kind person so that really carries through Bravo and brava to the staff

This place has the 3 Cs: Cute, Charming, and a whole lot o' CHOCOLATE!!!!!…read more Chocolate pies, cakes, gelato, sundaes, cocoas, cocktails, cafes, pastries... Chocolate in downtown Santa Cruz is the place to go. There is a charming outdoor patio with flower beds and striped awnings, reminiscent of old Paris. Or you can opt to sit indoors for a moody, romantic vibe. Since I was there for a dessert date with my little one, we chose to sit outside. Water was served in a wine bottle (cute detail) and little shapely glasses. The Parisian feel continued with the round tables and small chairs as well as the neon-lit signs. The menu was vast with savory dinner and lunch items, wines, cocktails, an entire page of hot cocoas and mochas.... and of course an entire section dedicated to chocolate desserts! My daughter and I shared 2 desserts: a chocolate soufflé layered with chocolate cake and cherries and dulce de leche cake. The service was swift and friendly, and most importantly, the cakes were decadent! They were perfectly moist and weren't too sweet. We both thought the Dulce de Leche cake was our favorite because we could taste the cake more and the subtle vanilla hints were nice. It paired well with my tea. What a great addition to Downtown Santa Cruz! [Beware: I noticed only one of our two menus denoted food allergens! So if you have food allergies, make sure you ask before you order.]