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Welcome to Windmill Cafe

The charming Windmill Cafe in Santa Cruz offers a unique dining experience with a quaint ambiance and a diverse menu. With options for breakfast, sandwiches, and bagels, customers rave about the flavorful dishes like the Grilled Goat Cheese with Smoked Salmon. The friendly staff and reasonable prices make this cafe a standout choice for locals and visitors alike. With a focus on quality ingredients and a variety of vegan options, Windmill Cafe is a must-visit destination for delicious and affordable food in a cozy setting.

Windmill Cafe: Reviews & Ratings

Rod M.
Rod M.

Best little cafe on the Eastside! Super cute, quaint, wonderful ambiance and the food and drinks always are wonderful. I live fairly close and would stop by much more often if I didn't have to work out of town. Love this place.

Leah Y.
Leah Y.

I love the decoration of both the inside and outside of the cafe. It is so unique and interesting! When I walked in I was super impressed with the menu. Extremely reasonable prices for unique and interesting food. They also have a sauce variety of drinks, smoothies and homemade pastries. Plus the people that work here are super nice! What caught my attention was the Grilled Goat Cheese with Smoked Salmon, Tomato and Dill. Super simple ingredients, so each as every flavor was able to shine through very well. The goat cheese paired really well with the salmon, and was warm and melty on the bread. I loved the tang from the goat cheese and the salmon flavor, a little unexpected to see on the menu but it just works! The bread itself was lightly toasted so it had a great crunch when you bit into it. The tomato gave a good bit of freshness to each bite. The salmon was super good, but I would have probably appreciated another slice. Honestly thought, for the price I paid, the food was extremely well put together flavor wise. Extremely fair price, and would definitely order this again. I also order a herbal raspberry tea and had no issues with it. Total for the sandwich and tea was only $15. Worth every cent! A great place to get delicious, great quality food without costing an arm and a leg. I definitely want to come back here again and try some of their other food and pastry options. Probably a new favorite cafe in the area.

Jeremy K.
Jeremy K.

This is an adorable restaurant woven into a cute little house with an improbable windmill sprouting from its rooftop. The staff was friendly and helpful, the food was outstanding and the pastry offerings were great (and gluten free!). I asked for a large coffee and they brought me the largest mug I've ever seen. Will be a place we return to anytime we're in Santa Cruz!

Yeeun C.
Yeeun C.

Cute little place overall. Service was okay. It's quite sunny outside so during lunch time it might be better to dine inside. The food was great. They have good vegan options.

Alexa P.
Alexa P.

Cute, good food, listed as good for kids (I think it depends on the kids :( ) very sunny outside small cute look inside. Likely won't go to again :) Not a fan when people make any amount of comments about little ones and volume it's not like they are phone controlled at the age of 1-3 :).

Elsa C.
Elsa C.

Took a weekend trip to Santa Cruz, and we loved it so much we ended up going here every single day for breakfast!! The first day we loved it (I got the lox bagel with both add ons) and it was SO CUTE and delicious. I ended up getting it all 3 days because I loved it so much. A friend in our party is Celiac and the staff was so knowledgeable about gluten intolerances and was very gluten safe with lots of options. She said their gluten free waffle was one of the best she'd had (I tried it and couldn't tell it was gluten free!). The decor inside is super cute and the staff is really sweet. Also, perhaps more importantly and to sway you to come here: the reason we ended up coming here every day in Santa Cruz was that the lines everywhere else were nuts! I'm talking hour long wait everywhere else, and here we got our food within 15 minutes of ordering. Skip the lines at other places, and eat a great (& affordable) breakfast by coming here. Next time I'm in Santa Cruz I'll be back!

Cory C.
Cory C.

Having celiac disease, along with other diet restrictions, it is hard to find good options to eat at on vacation. I have passed this hidden gem countless times over the years, and it is now my absolute favorite place to eat in Santa Cruz. Literally every item but one in the menu was gluten free. And they sell amazing gluten free baked goods as well. This place is a dream come true. The guy greeting us at the door was extremely kind and very helpful and patient as we asked about the menu. The kind service and cozy vibe at this cafe is enough to bring us back over and over. The food though... The food was honestly so great. Gluten free/vegan food can look strange in some cases such as these waffles, but they were absolutely delicious, and the French toast was incredible! 10/10 overall.

Anusha P.
Anusha P.

Great vibe and ambiance. Such a cute place. Outdoor seating. Gluten Free and organic options. Plenty of them.

Location

  • Windmill Cafe
    21231 E Cliff Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95062 Hotline: (831) 464-4698

Welcome to the charming Windmill Cafe located in Santa Cruz, California - a hidden gem for breakfast and brunch enthusiasts. This cozy cafe offers a variety of options for all dietary preferences, including vegan and vegetarian choices. The menu features delicious breakfast dishes such as the Daily Scramble, Surf's Up Breakfast, and Tofu Scramble, as well as tempting sandwiches like the Grilled Goat Cheese with Smoked Salmon.

Customers rave about the unique decor of the cafe and the friendly service they receive. The Grilled Goat Cheese with Smoked Salmon sandwich has been a favorite among patrons, with its perfect balance of flavors and generous portions. The homemade pastries and diverse drink options also add to the appeal of Windmill Cafe.

Whether you're looking for a quick bite to eat or a relaxing brunch spot, Windmill Cafe has something for everyone. With its welcoming atmosphere and affordable prices, it's no wonder why customers keep coming back for more. Come visit Windmill Cafe and experience the delightful flavors and ambiance for yourself!