Donnie Darko!! This is what makes the surrounding towns/ Santa Cruz unique. Living in SF we wanted to find something different and unique. We appreciated this corner coffee shop and the vibes. We even came back the next day just for Donnie Darko - if you enjoy iced coffee this is it! One of the cons of this drink is it comes only in one size; apparently a specific formula or proportion of ingredients. Would come back to this town just for this amazing coffee! read more

An OK place to get coffee and a pastry here in the Santa Cruz area. Definitely a bit dingier and darker than most coffeeshops, with some concerns about cleanliness - tables were sticky and there was food and crumbs on the floor around my chair before I sat down. Coffee and pastries are decent, although the pastries are priced pretty expensive. Lots of activism and messaging by the coffeeshop, which can be a plus or minus depending on your proclivities. read more

The employees are so kind! I had the Donnie Darko with sugar free almond and it was delightful. I usually don't find SF syrups besides vanilla in most coffee shops so this was a pleasant surprise. Don't remember the last time I had a sweet coffee drink that I liked this much! read more

The ugly mug in the Soquel village is a super chill spot to hangout. The space is set up for people to be inside with their computers but there are also spaces where conversation is encouraged. The also have a bunch of games that are available for people to play. Their coffee is really good!! If you bring your own cup, you can get coffee from the dispenser for $3. They also carry pastries from Kelly's bakery. The pan au chocolate is delicious. I love this spot to hangout or to just stop by and grab a coffee. This is a very inclusive space that is a great location to make a third space in your life! read more

See all

Wonderful atmosphere. Great place to study and a staple of the town as it has comedy shows another live music performances.

First time trying the Ugly Mug! The staff was super sweet and chatty, and the atmosphere was perfect for meeting up with a friend (or studying if you can handle the noise and lack of WiFi). My matcha was lovely and I will definitely be back to try more options! read more

The Ugly Mug - Aquarium - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

The ambiance is small town corner coffee shop. Warm and cozy. Great service . Good coffee.

we had two delicious!! flat whites with oat milk. yummy! and our barista was sweet and fun. great vibe in there. wish we didn't need to take them to go. next time I am in SC I am heading here to kill an hour or two. read more

Yes, I behaved like a tourist, taking videos and pictures of my experience here. I just really liked the whole vibe. On top of that, our drinks were outstanding. So was service. I saw a gigantic double-crust pie in the display, and enjoyed my first slice of whatever olallieberry pie is. The barista warmed it up and added some whipped cream. My drink was the Donnie Darko, which was espresso, almond syrup, and heavy cream, iced. I wasn't expecting to love it so much. They have a lot of local zines and stuff to read, and they have some cute stuff for sale, like the slingshot journal I bought for $12. We need a place like this where I live. read more

See all

Ive never eaten there. They feature music on some nights and I've been to a couple of shows. The sound system works for the size of the room, but the seats are hard and uncomfortable. That, coupled with a $30-$35 cover to see local bands, is discouraging. I prefer The Crepe Place. It has open mics and bluegrass jams with no cover and on other nights its only $10 to see great music. For working stiffs in a tough economy, less is more. read more

I came here to meet a friend and had a great experience. Have been here often and enjoyed it in the past too. Their death by chocolate brownies are a must try. I always love looking at their fish tank too and the coffee shop is clean. I had fun looking at their stickers and bought one. I saw a barista scraping a sugar cube on a fresh orange to put in an espresso drink which gave me great ideas to try at home! Very great drinks my chai masala was good. The baristas were pleasant and very good at their job and I felt like the coffee shop was welcoming to all people of all types which I loved. I enjoyed looking at the octopus artwork on the ceiling. This coffee shop is good for relaxing, reading, studying, meeting friends, or having a snack. They have lots of different types of milks for you and there is a bakery nearby so you smell good fresh bread although I don't think they sell it there but I'm not sure. I give the ugly mug coffee 5 hearts! read more

The Ugly Mug - Octopus art on ceiling - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

Not too sure what the cup says. It's super old, worn and most likely not part of a set, but just some random mug... I'd go back because it's a nice spot and a cool place to write, but lord only if there be a little update on the those ugly mugs lol . read more

The Ugly Mug - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

Cool place with good coffee, food and service. Chill vibe, and dog friendly. Opens at 6 am but no wifi until 10:00

We came by on a Monday afternoon and loved everything about this place. Easy street parking right out front, quirky decor and inviting atmosphere, with lovely artwork on the walls, including awesome animal paintings by Wendy Maness (oil on canvas), even a fish tank and board games near the back, and diverse seating options. There were so many great items on the menu, including ice cream soda and ice cream floats, though I went with my regular, an iced mocha. It was amazing here, fresh, cold and creamy, chocolatey, just really great flavor enough to set it apart from all the other places I get it from. My bf got the earl grey tea and enjoyed his beverage as well. The staff here was outstanding, friendly and helpful. The employee even told us that every Monday customers can roll a dice, and if we get a double, we get $5 off a purchase. We didn't get a double, but that's still kinda cool. Even cooler, they do live music here on certain days, and possibly other events as well. Love this coffeehouse, and would defintely recommend it! read more

See all

Love everything about this place! Laid back vibe, awesome coffee, delicious quiche, friendly service. If I lived nearby, I'd be a regular.

It was a great place to meet with friends!!! I got coffee from a large coffee vessel in the back--nothing to brag about, but it dis give me a caffine rush. Next time, I will have them make a fresh cup. Also, I had a cookie, and the server heated it up to make taste fresher. What I love about The Ugly Mug is that it is a place where people can go to hang out with friends or meet new friends. You can find out what is going on in the community. If you are too shy to go up and talk to someone new, you can look at everything on the walls, and maybe take pictures. Food: 4 stars Service: 5 stars Ambiance: 5 stars read more

See all

AMAZING coffee! Been here multiple times and have never had a bad drink. They have all the standards plus some unique coffee drinks that I haven't seen anywhere else (and are totally worth it). I recommend the Ray o' Frickin' Sunshine: espresso, soy milk, orange zest. They also have good coffee cake and rotating quiche flavors (some better than others). The Ugly Mug is on the corner of Porter and Soquel, hosts open mic nights, and is 100% the Santa Cruz/Soquel vibe. I highly recommend swinging by if you are in the area. Plenty of seating me good music. As for service, super kind baristas, laid back and cool, and the owner sometimes hangs around and he is so funny. If you want a no-fuss coffee place, this is the one for you. read more

The Ugly Mug - Ray o' frickin' sunshine cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

We had an oat milk latte 10/07/2025, which was made to perfection with a frothy heart pattern! So delicious!

Hipster coffee shop. I loved the decor and the aquarium. They have been in business over 25 years. Nice to see the survived the pandemic. And....must give recognition for the most unique bathroom! I thought it was a joke at first since the door looked the size of a small closet. They managed to fit a full size toilet & sink inside. read more

See all

this place is awesome good vibes nice staff verrry yummy coffee(especially mocha) and i love the fishies too! easily my favorite coffee place in santa cruz ! i'll hand the phone over to my friend aiveen now for her review: Hi! I'm sitting with my iced Mexi latte and boy do I feel great. what a lovely drink. the crowd here is also a vibe, everybody seems chill, which says a lot. Ugly mug, more like yuhhh mug. read more

The Ugly Mug - coffeez - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

I went here on New Year's Day and Steve personally was handing out free drink certificates and talking with customers. The vibes in here are awesome and my peppermint mocha was delicious! Will visit anytime I'm back up in Soquel! read more

Great service, tasty coffee and wonderful specials. I would try the rose matcha, it is floral and earthy. read more

The Ugly Mug - Rose matcha and mocha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

I LOVE THE UGLY MUG MORE THAN ANY COFFEE SHOP! Everyone is always so friendly and really genuine!!! The staff is awesome especially Sielo! She's the coolest. I always have a memorable time. Also the food is bomb and not expensive at all. I come here to study a lot and never feel rushed to leave :) read more

This is honestly the best place in the world. Especially if you love coffee. It's so kid friendly and just divine. Everyone is welcome and that's what makes it so special. The owner is a doll. The drinks are divine and just perfect. We are so lucky to have you. Thank you for being here. read more

Came here on a Sunday afternoon for a refreshing beverage to cool off after a long hike! We were able to find street parking quickly. When we entered there was no line. There was a variety of local pastry and drink options. We decided to go with an Iced Matcha Latte sweetened with honey. It came out in 5 minutes. The matcha flavor was quite light hence the -1 star but seems like a great place to meet for coffee! read more

The Ugly Mug is a terrific retro coffee shop in the heart of downtown Soquel. Step inside and you're instantly transported back in time to the type of local coffeehouse that hardly exists anymore. You'll be greeted warmly by friendly baristas who act as if they own the place. The vibe is definitely old school, which is a genuine relief from the sanitized sameness of the big chain coffee shops. The well-worn tables and chairs are perfect for relaxing and lingering over a really good cup of coffee and maybe one of their fresh, locally baked pastries. There's a tiny table and chairs for the kiddos, vintage board games, backgammon sets and vinyl records. This is a place to meet and hang with friends, not to sit alone and work at a laptop. Instead of being criticized for the lack of WiFi access, these guys should be celebrated for taking a risk and encouraging customers to actually talk with their fellow humans. The Ugly Mug offers standard and specialty espresso drinks, smoothies, and ice cream. There are also a few menu items it would be hard to find elsewhere, like a NY Egg Cream, a classic Root Beer Float, and an Italian Affogato. Instead of your usual latte or cappuccino, try an AlPachino (an ice-blended mocha or vanilla latte) or a Ray o' Frickin Sunshine (soy cappuccino w/orange zest). I'm just a basic coffee drinker so these don't appeal me, but I give this place extra points just for their creativity and wicked sense of humor! Ugly Mug Coffeehouse is located on the corner of Soquel Drive and Porter Street just a few blocks East of Highway 1. There was ample street parking and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating when I stopped by early on a weekday morning. Although I don't live nearby, I'll definitely make a detour the next time I'm anywhere in the neighborhood. You should too! read more

See all

The best coffee shop on the west coast. Steve (the owner) has been a pillar in the Santa Cruz community for so many years and this sweet cafe represents so much for those of us who've frequented it over the the last couple of decades. It's a place to not only have consistently delicious coffe and snacks, but meet, convene, connect, and create. It's warm and welcoming, it's a safe place for the weirdos and queers, it's just loud enough to not be boring and be perfectly charming. The staff are cute and hilarious and personally, I LOVE hearing the chatter behind the counter - this is one of so many things that makes this place special. I could go on and on about my love for this special, sweet, delicious spot in soquel but do yourself a favor and go by for a damn fine cup of coffee if you haven't yet...and if you have, keep going to keep beautiful community hubs like this alive and thriving. read more

See all

I love the Ice chai at the Ugly Mug. I love that they always have events going on as well! Something always to do. People are always super nice and love being here read more

Such good vibes in this cafe... well, Soquel in general! First walked in to see a pride flag hanging, high five for inclusivity Service was great from the barista and cashier. It's a homey feel because you're greeted with a warm smile. The service translates in their drinks and breakfast croissant haha. At the time I went, I got to try their June Gloom Fog (bka London fog), and it was made just right! Not sure why but it's hard for me to find a good London fog so it was refreshing to have a decent Fog! The breakfast croissant I got was tastiness as an egg, and cheese croissant can be. Could be The way it was toasted...? I don't know but it was goooood! I love how there's open mic and live music here. We didn't stay in the area long enough to check it out but for those artist and musicians interested, you can share your artistry here! Street parking is available but there's not much. There's a lot in the back but I'm not sure if it's paid, and if it's property of another business. I parked on the street early AM so there was space for me. Check out their tiny narrow bathroom too haha. It's an experience read more

I love the unpretentious vibe of this place and the customer service is very good. Two critical feedbacks: the last two times I came to this place, the staff were very chatty with each other about their personal lives, for about 80% of an hour their voices filled the cafe with idle gossip about their friends even while they were 30 feet apart and had to "yell" their conversation. It made the visit "like, literally" unpleasant. The other feedback is that I wish they would carry a lighter roast of coffee. Their lightest roast is still pretty bitter/sour. read more

Very good customer service! Nice and cozy little spot and a lot of options for drinks and pastries! Tried the lemon raspberry scone. It was just right not too sweet along with matcha. read more

I was in the mood to try a new coffee shop today. I've heard great things about The Ugly Mug, and decided to give it a try. I am very happy with my experience. The barista who helped me (Cielo) was super personable, helpful, & efficient. I would truly come back just for the service. I ordered a lavender white mocha with oat milk & a cranberry orange scone. I really appreciate that their lavender syrup is house made. Both my drink and scone were delicious, but the scone especially. It tasted incredibly fresh, not dry at all, with tart cranberries and the most delicious orange icing. Best cranberry orange scone I've ever had. I'm excited to go back and try something new next time. read more

The Ugly Mug - Cranberry orange scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

This eclectic coffee shop is perfect for an early morning and mid day pick me up. There is a large selection of unique drinks to order. We tried a couple of the seasonal creations and all the drinks were delicious. The staff was kind and welcoming. There is an aquarium and a kid table too if you bring your tiny humans. read more

See all

came here while i was on a trip in santa cruz and i'm glad i did. i was drawn to this place because of the hilarious name and the good reviews. they have an extensive menu and make their drinks very fast. the inside gave me boat vibes. idk how to explain it but it felt like i was on a boat. the baristas were very nice and quick. def recommend the ugly mug read more

The Ugly Mug - early am caffeine - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

Delicious Coffee & Chai for a honest price in Santa Cruz + I love the vibes! Great please to chilllaxxx read more

The Ugly Mug - Check out the coffee and all the shows they have coming up! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

Yes! The pumpkin Spice Latte is in! Tis the Season! To the side of the picture are their home made fresh bagels! (The pesto is to die for!) the staff is BEYOND FRIENDLY even during their morning rush hours! read more

The Ugly Mug - Pumpkin Spice Latte! Ice tea, pesto and everything bagel - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

Been coming here since the day they opened back when I was in middle school. I work in soquel village and this is a almost daily spot to grab a coffee, tea or breakfast. Steve the owner is awesome and their staff is always pleasant. Chill atmosphere, no pretentiousness like other coffee spots with over priced drinks that just aren't that great. Highly recommended read more

Best espresso in town (and probably a few more towns), excellent baristas and always get my drink right. If you were a fan of old school 90s coffee shops, this is the spot. read more

We came here to take a conference call because Yelp says it's a good place for work and has wifi. This place blasts music inside AND has no wifi so neither of those things are true. The cappuccino was very good as was the coffee cake. The staff is very friendly and helpful. read more

Very nice corner coffee shop in the tiny village of Soquel, California. Ultra-clean, everyone complying with covid-19 policies. Convenient parking. Fast very friendly service. Nice bathroom, also very clean. Coffee tastes great. read more