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The Abbey
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Arts & Entertainment Art Galleries Shopping Art Galleries Coffee & Tea, Art Galleries [Edit]
350 Mission StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-1058
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 7 am - 8 pm
Fri 7 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 8 am - 10 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
126 reviews for The Abbey
Review Highlights
"There's also a bunch of power outlets and free wi-fi."
(in 7 reviews)
"Seems like an awesome place to study, work, write, what-ev."
(in 8 reviews)
"I got a Bowl of Soul with 'Monk's Blend' black tea."
(in 3 reviews)
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126 reviews in English
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Review from Damien Y.
Santa Cruz, CA
1/4/2012
Hands down the best coffee shop in Santa Cruz. The ambiance is like no other (with great art), and with a ton of seating both indoors on their comfy couches, tables, & love seats and outside on their sunny patio, along with friendly vibes and enough room to have meetings or sit by yourself with a laptop (+ free wifi) this place wins. I believe they serve verve coffee, and their drinks are delicious. Their pastries are some of the best around as well, though a few of their items are over priced (mainly things that aren't coffee or pastry related though). With the amount of coffee shops downtown that are inundated with bums, people cramming for seating and outlets for the laptops, and uptight staff, this place is a real GODSEND (pun intended).
Just a really relaxed, friendly, spacious, uniquely furnished spot with something for everyone. I held my office hours here as a TA and still stop by, always feeling more than welcome to spend hours reading or writing or just sitting and thinking.
The only coffee shop (using that term almost doesn't apply here) that makes me feel at home. -
Review from Heather M.
Santa Cruz, CA
12/8/2011
Pros: great staff, great location, lots of furniture and free wifi.
Cons: screaming kids allowed to run around
I first went here right after it opened, a couple of years ago. Loved the space and location, but there were kids literally running around the place, having a loud raucous time. Which is awesome, except when you go to a coffee shop to get quiet work done and can hear the screaming kids through the headphones.
I came back here today, and the space is way better. More tables, plugs, etc. I was just thinking what a great change it was, and then a little girl came and with her family and starting wailing and crying and disrupting everyone in the place. I wonder if it's because of its association with the church. Family atmosphere? I'm totally ok with that, but if you are here to get quiet work done, bring extreme noise canceling headphones. -
Review from Katrina T.
Cupertino, CA
As my fellow yelper, Stephanie w. says, "The ambience is pretty cool" She truly is on point with that one!
I came here because I had a coupon for $1 off. I've always wanted to come here but I am so hesitant to spend the money because it is pretty pricey. My boyfriend and bestfriend came here and we all got the iced coffees: Iced White Chocolate Mocha, Iced The Habit, and Iced The Brickhouse. My drink was a mix between Chocolate and White Chocolate syrups. HELLA delish! Although I am really disappointed by the size of the cup and the pricing! Way too overpriced for an itty bitty cup.
The atmosphere is super adorabs. It is very rustic and makes me feel like Im in a storybook. There were pretty windows hanging from the ceiling. It looked like mirrors too? Everything about this place is just too cute. They have such cute decor. I want my room to look like the Abbey! -
Review from Katie C.
Castro Valley, CA
2/8/2012
I wouldn't call this THE best coffee shop in Santa Cruz - Verve wins that battle, hands down. But The Abbey uses Verve coffee, so it comes pretty close. I like the environment. There are lots of tables inside and outside (the patio is very pleasant on a sunny day) which makes it a great place to study, alone or in a small group. I prefer going when it's not busy because I'm easily distracted. The location is great for me because I can easily grab a great latte on my way to UCSC or in between classes.
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Review from Lauren K.
11/10/2011 5 Check-ins Here
This place is so cool. Definitely a hidden gem but that's a good thing!
I'm not a huge fan of coffee. Actually, I hate the taste of coffee in general but I do love hot chocolate. So that's what I ordered. I didn't have time to sit down but there are so many couches and on a nice day you can even go to their patio and chill on the seats there.
My hot chocolate was yummy. They first put chocolate syrup in it so I loved how after I was getting down to my last drops, there was a nice burst of chocolate-y goodness.
The noise level is okay. You can still concentrate while you study and it has this warm feeling to the place. I know this is cheesy but it feels like there's a lot of love in the room!
The price is very comparable to Starbucks. Expensive. But, I feel like you are paying to chill there. -
Review from Jory J.
San Francisco, CA
10/26/2011
This is my favorite place in Santa Cruz. Honestly, The Abbey has contributed to keeping me sane since moving to the area from San Francisco ... and I say that with little exaggeration. I'm a huge fan of cafe culture and The Abbey has everything you need or want out of a coffeehouse, which includes:
1. The friendliest staff out of any business in the area, hands down. Everybody smiles when I walk in, they know my name, they ask how I'm doing, they listen ... and they're all interesting folks who are doing interesting things, themselves. Many of them have become good friends since I started regularly coming in to the cafe a few months ago.
2. The best atmosphere! It's super spacious and well-designed and beautifully decorated. There are great comfy chairs and couches and tons of seating, including a swell outdoor courtyard. And I will say this: as a guy who oftentimes sits and writes for hours at a time, they let you hang out as long as you need.
3. Live music: I think I've seen about 15 concerts (good concerts!) at The Abbey in the last few months and the place is a great venue for live bands, some local, some from out of town, many of whom I've looked up after the fact. Also, all the concerts are free.
4. Really great coffee drinks and snacks and baristas who take the "art" on top of the drinks seriously. They want to know that you're enjoying your order.
5. And it's just kind of like a community center, in a way, and I see tons of regular, happy-seeming customers and, if you're looking to make friends in Santa Cruz and don't know where to go, this would be a great place to start. It's a great place to write and study and read and such ... but it's also a nice place to catch up with somebody.
6. Finally, I lived in San Francisco for five+ years and probably stepped foot in close to every cafe up there ... and I can honestly say that The Abbey outdoes them all. I mean that. This is a Santa Cruz treasure. Bammo.
Long live The Abbey. -
Review from Meghan R.
9/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ugh - i really really really wanted to five star the hell out of this place.
1 - Because it is a super cute place, with all kinds of random antique furnishings and artwork. Plus i saw people laying all over the damn place like it was their living room. Good vibe for sunday coffee.
2 - They support local and small time touring musicians and I am always a huge fan of that. Especially when it is in an all ages capacity.
3 - They serve Verve coffee and I have become a super Verve coffee snob. I compare all roasts to verve. I also read somewhere that the barristas train at verve.
My biggest qualm was my latte from The Abbey was ass. It was pretty much gas tank meth in a paper cup.
what on earth could have caused this?? So burnt. So burnt. Tall guy that was making espresso drinks that day, please consider a refresh on your training. I have faith.Listed in: Coffee? Tea? Me?
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Review from Mitch K.
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic cappuccino, HUGE seating space, this is a great cafe! simply put, this church side cafe is a place where I would love to come read my books and pass the days away.
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Review from Cordelia W.
Santa Cruz, CA
10/15/2011 8 Check-ins Here
I absolutely love this place. The decor is gorgeous and the space is huge. Every person who has ever helped me has been incredibly nice and I love the atmosphere. There are enough people studying that it tends to be pleasantly quiet, but enough people just having coffee to not have that computer lab feel. If you are on your computer, though, there are lots of outlets and free wifi (which, in my experience, always works). It has a very wonderful relaxing feel, and shouldn't a coffee shop?
And, of course, the coffee is good, too. They use verve coffee and are more on the side of traditional coffee drinks (lattes, cappuccinos, etc.) than more Starbucks type drink where everything has whipped cream and at least one strangle syrup. Great tea list, too.
My only gripe is that they close rather early most days of the week. -
Review from Sonic D.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2011
5 stars for having gluten free pastries alone! I was stoked (they use that word in Santa Cruz right?) when I saw the GF chocolate cookies. Both the guys behind the counter vouched for how good they are. One of them was wearing a Crossfit shirt so I joked about "too bad it's not paleo friendly"....what? It is? No way! The guy said it's made with almond flour and coconut sugar. Yes there are chocolate chips, but they're dark and fairly minimum considering it is still a chocolate chip cookie.
Love the vibe, love the idea behind it all, love that I live in Menlo Park but still decided to study out here. But really love the Paleo/gluten free cookies! -
Review from Erin H.
7/21/2011
I drive by every day on my way to class but decided to stop in before my final this morning.
What a wonderful decision! I was surprised by how clean it was. Its def a trendy place but they make a pretty good cappuccino. $2.85 is a little steep for a tiny cup of expresso with milk, but the barista was clearly experienced.
I'll be back to try some of their other goodies :) -
Review from Caryn b.
6/23/2011
This is a very cool coffee shop with decent coffee. If you're a true coffee snob, then lower your expectations just a touch if you want to enjoy your time here. For the average coffee drinker though, the brews are delicious. There's a great tea selection as well.
The environment is very, VERY hip. Plenty of 20-something's work on their Mac's here, and it's easy to see why. There's tons of seating, both indoor and out, and the overall mood of the place is relaxed. The courtyard seating area is especially nice on a sunny day.
The food menu isn't extensive, but what they have is yummy. I tried both the chipotle breakfast burrito with Italian sausage and pesto chicken panini, and both were tastier than your average coffee house fare.
After all these raves, you may be wondering why there is a one star deduction. It is for the small menu. While one could argue that quality should be valued over quantity, I just believe that a 5 star cafe should offer a touch more. -
Review from Cresta I.
Las Vegas, NV
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love the coffe, love the atmosphere :-)
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Review from Jeffrey M.
Danville, CA
11/12/2011
Very nice place to chill in SC. Nice group of people there, mostly UCSC students I think. Good live entertainment and wifi. Could use more/better food but nobody cared.
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Review from Minky O.
Santa Cruz, CA
6/10/2011
"Soy latte in a special cup for a special lady"- okay, my memory is fuzzy, so I'm not sure how the last bit went down, but I'll take it. The way I see it, The Abbey takes special care with handling my caffeinated libations.
I stroll over here for small gatherings since they're in my pleasant neighborhood. They are also centrally located to other points of interest: Hwy1, the 10 metro, the pedestrian overpass across Hwy1 towards River St. etc
I love coming here to read in their outdoor patio because there's a bed to lie in and their raised-bed garden is, well, cute.
The Abbey is especially lively the nights after service, which can an include some worship bands- thats cool- you've been warned so don't get all cranky about it.
Odd & Ends:
^When I walk in, I can smell the bathroom, a new mop might help.
^I pointed out that their Sunday closing hours was misadvertised online and they promptly corrected it.
^Drinks are on the PRICEY side- arch.
^Some of the baristas are really nice, they always make my day.
^I like that there is no need for a password for wi-fi, that's a hassling businesses model I don't support (Lulu's),
^Oh and their white tea inspires romance.
LOVE YA! -
Review from Amy C.
5/4/2011
LOVE the atmosphere! It seems like a great place to sit down and study with a cup of joe.
I would come here for coffee or tea. Not the food.
During my recent visit, I ordered a cranberry panini which took an incredibly long time to prepare. When my food finally came, it tasted like it was microwaved. No, thanks.
Stick with the coffee. You can't go wrong with the coffee. -
Review from Shreya G.
Fremont, CA
3/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm giving it a 3 for now. I had higher expectations for this place because it is one of the top-rated coffee places on yelp and because they use Verve coffee.
I came in on a horribly rainy day (I was honestly really miserable) to get a white chocolate mocha for me and my friend. The baristas were very nice and the service was pretty quick. The only thing was that I asked for one white mocha to be soy, but he made both of them soy. He offered very nicely to remake the drink for me, but I turned down the offer because I didn't want to waste the drink and because it's expensive, time-consuming, and annoying (for him and me).
I tasted the soy white chocolate mocha, and I'll just say the taste is not my thing, but it's probably because it was made with soy milk (which isn't even milk...). It made me feel even more miserable, which is why I have a disappointing image of The Abbey in my head.
However, my friend tried hers and she loved it, so it must be a really good place to get a soy white chocolate mocha. It's probably a good place to grab a regular white chocolate mocha too, but I'll have to come back to experience that. I'm definitely coming back to get that white mocha.
The environment here is really nice though and seems like a great place to do homework or just sit and relax while getting a drink. -
Review from Sonya D.
Santa Cruz, CA
7/22/2011
So cute!
Great drinks, awesome staff, and some yummy pastries!
The seating is awesome. Nice, comfy chairs or tables to study at. The seating outside is also awesome(pets are allowed outside!!)
The Courtyard is beautiful. So many flowers and at night they have a sting of lights and lantterns.
It's a great place to meet up with friends or read a book :) -
Review from Prisilla L.
San Jose, CA
2/24/2011
Great coffee and pastries (though the cookies are mostly underwhelming). This place has so much personality, I have spent hours here relaxing and working. There's all kinds of seating indoors and outdoors.
Only downside to the ambiance is low lighting which is hard when you're reading but I wouldn't trade this. There's also a bunch of power outlets and free wi-fi. This is my go to coffee shop in Santa Cruz! -
Review from Genevieve Y.
Scotts Valley, CA
3/7/2011
There are a certain number of things I look for when evaluating coffeeshops, and those include the quality of coffee, quality of service, spaciousness, availability of seating, ambience, location and wifi, among others. The Abbey gets full marks on every one.
The quality of the coffee itself is top notch. Although they are slightly more expensive than your average Starbucks or Peets (and only slightly,) the difference in quality is remarkable. The coffee is well roasted and well prepared, and the other ingredients are always of high quality.
The quality of service and friendliness of staff also far outranks every other area coffeeshop I've been too. The young, 20 something baristas have consistently been friendly and chatty, and they even get the whole "service with a smile" thing. It doesn't feel so much like I'm being served as much as I'm making a friend.
I have to say though that the spaciousness and ambience of the place itself is my very favorite thing about the Abbey. Comparatively speaking, the Abbey is quite large, and they always have a wide range of ecclectic seating available, ranging from tall two person tables to wider group tables to big cozy sofas and everything in between. The art work is always colorful and entertaining, and the whole thing feels like something of a cross between a modern art museum and a hipster hoard.
The best thing about it is that unlike so many of their competitors, this is thing kind of place where you're actually welcome to sit down, linger, surf the web, do homework and hang out with friends without ever getting the evil eye from management. It's not only tolerated, it's encouraged. It is refreshing, this idea of being able to go into a coffeeshop and not be instantly considered an enemy by management, and it is the kind of attitude that makes me want to come back and drop more dough again and again and again. -
Review from Amanda F.
Rancho Cordova, CA
While on a quest to find the amazing, non-touristy coffee in Santa Cruz, my boyfriend and I ran into this wonderful place!
Walking into the place it is absolutely gorgeous. Right next to "Vintage Faith" church (such a Santa Cruz name...), The Abbey is huge! There is classy, funky, well-done artwork all over the walls, with painted window panes hanging at one end of the room near a tiny painted vintage refrigerator.
The baristas, especially the young blonde who took my order, are all very nice ... and peppy without being annoying!! They were joking around with each other, seemed pleased to ask our names, and didn't get annoyed when I asked what sorts of teas they had (without realizing that there was a complete list right next to me).
I got a Bowl of Soul with 'Monk's Blend' black tea. AMAZING. Absolutely out of this world! My stomach is a bit sensitive and, even though it is soy milk, this particular drink usually makes me a bit sick, not to mention being too sweet to finish. Definitely NOT the case here! If I didn't live 3 hours away I would drink this all day, every day!! Velvety, with the perfect balance of sweet & robust, I would recommend this drink, and this place, to EVERYbody! -
Review from Amy O.
3/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love the atmosphere of this place and the service is always smiling.
The coffee is excellent...no surprise, they serve Verve. As for the barista skills, cannot say as they use the automated machines (like Starbucks does).
The place has character with artwork and misc tables/chairs/stools to choose to sit. Reminds of this place that I used to go to 15 years ago in downtown. It was a coffee house that was in a warehouse and there was all this greenery everywhere. Although The Abbey has a lot more light coming into this place, the vibe feels slightly familiar. -
Review from Jodie B.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2011
Perfect lattes, perfect biscotti...
Awesome plush decor and even the details in the women's bathroom were nice :-) I dig thoughtful design :-) -
Review from Kal S.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2011
this time I had The Brickhouse and a Mexican Mocha cookie. I think the Brickhouse is too sweet for me. Going to try The Habbit next time.
Overall, this is a pretty place. =) I would love to come here on a summer day to sit outdoor. It is very pretty too! =) -
Review from Stephanie W.
Santa Cruz, CA
I love the Abbey.
Though I am kind of sad that I only came here during my senior year at UCSC.
The ambiance is pretty cool. Definitely a place where I would come to kick it or a place to come and study.
I think they also have bands come in on certain nights - I hope to catch one sometime soon.
The actual beverages are really good too. I love their white chocolate mochas, but then again I love white chocolate mochas. -
Review from Amy C.
1/31/2011
Great coffee. Great scones. For some reason I just cannot make scones at home. I can cook and bake plenty of other stuff, but my scones just turn out like hockey pucks.
I love how there are plenty of chairs, tables, and couches. I did some last-minute LSAT studying here, since I was in town to take them the next day, and I wish I lived closer. I could not think of a better place to study. Most coffee shops have tiny tables and they're usually full; I loved the space. -
Review from Andrew S.
1/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great place to hang out and catch up with friends, study for a test and/or just relax with a cup of coffee and book in hand. The Abbey offers a relaxing and chill environment surrounded by art work and mis-matchy furniture scattered throughout the interior.
During the summer time it's so nice to sit out on the patio, which is rather spacious. The place can get packed, especially during mid-term or finals however you can usually find a chair during peak times. Note also that the parking lots can get packed when there is a Church service at the local Vintage Church.
There coffee is okay, not the best, but good enough. I normally have their white chocolate mocha or latte. I come to the Abbey more for the experience. I've come here to study and as well as to relax, and it's suited both my purposes well. Check it out. -
Review from Ashleigh B.
Capitola, CA
7/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
The best!! I love love love this place!! So cute and wonderful coffee
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Review from Drew K.
Rancho Cordova, CA
1/30/2011
I went on a tour of coffee shops in Santa Cruz this weekend, and The Abbey wins the title of the best around. Everything was great here. I ordered a French press of their Ethiopian, because I am a long-time drinker and fan of fresh black coffee. I was impressed through the entire cup! Those delicious coffee oils that you only find in fresh coffee sat at the top of my cup the whole time. This is a dynamite cuppa - I can't speak for all the Abbey blends, but you can't go wrong with this one.
The ambiance was nice, too. The shop is adjunct to a church, I believe, and their floor is huge! They have a stage with an upright piano (especially cool because you can see the inner workings), and at least 15-20 tables of all heights and varieties. Their art is also very good - I couldn't keep my eyes off the black and white paintings behind my girlfriend's chair. It's kept at a nice (though a little dim) level of light. It's very relaxing to be there.
The service was as impressive as the rest of the place. My barista was both personable and chipper. I thought Pergolesi was good, but this is the best around. I just wish I didn't live three hours away! -
Review from Tanja F.
San Jose, CA
1/3/2011
The atmosphere was like something out of a Mike Meyers film. A mixture of funky couches, modern tables, art for sale scattered across the walls, a piano in the corner, a mixture of people playing board games, reading, pounding away on a laptop, having friendly chats, students ranting about politics and the occasional smell of wet hippy wafted in with a few customers. Ah, the sights and smells of Santa Cruz, all in one spot.
The coffee was different. My Americano wasn't as acidic as as most cafes but I liked it. Definitely don't come here in a hurry. That's not the vibe here. Take a deep breath and chill out. -
Review from Erin S.
6/27/2010 1 photo
Lets put it this way: one of the reasons I chose to live in the apartment that I currently do, was it's proximity to The Abbey. I love it here. The decor is really classy-hipster-art-major, and the coffee is good and inexpensive for fancy drinks. I especially like coming here with a friend and splitting the French Press for 2.
Their Americanos are strong without being painfully bold, the Mochas are a creamy, beautiful treat, and their selection of teas is out of this world. You pretty much can't go wrong with anything to drink here. They have games, a computer for internet access, lots of books and magazines, and free wifi so it's a great place to hang out and sip your beverage. No need to quickly caffeinated and run! I'm no expert on children, but there were plenty here and they all seemed pretty happy or at least were not crying, so it's probably a great place to bring 'em if you've got 'em.
I can see how people could be turned off by this place, though. It's pretty feminine and touchy-feely. One of my friends described the place as "a christian version of the coffee shop on FRIENDS." The local art, the friendly baristas in flea market fashions, open mic nights and small performances, the drinks with puns for names: this place is pretty much a quintessential liberal town coffee shop. Some people are repelled by something that is culturally familiar, but if you take the Abbey at face value, it's a place with heart and excellent drinks.Listed in: Hangover-Friendly Chow
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Review from Donna Y.
San Jose, CA
6/8/2010
This place is like a library since its so quiet you can hear a pin drop. Reminds me of days when I got in trouble cuz I was to loud. Coming in you can tell every is hard at study and on all their laptops. This place is located next to a church. So its very dark and has pew for benches.
We made our way to the counter and order our drinks. I think we was trying to be quiet but I think still quit loud. I end up ordering an ice tea since it was so hot and I didn't feel like coffee. The rest of the gang order ice coffee. My tea was good, I wish it was bigger.
I was surprised the beans they use are from Verve, which I thought was funny.
Overall it was a good and a good walk to and back from Cafe Brazil where we had lunch. Will probably come by again. -
Review from john-michael c.
Santa Clara, CA
6/7/2010
Damn it, I need to bean juice!
The first thing I notice as I enter this church looking coffee shop is that it is eerily quiet and that it looks like everyone is from that show the Hills or Laguna something or another. Whatever! I want my bean juice. As I weave between studying blonds and surfer dudes I finally find the counter and ironically greeted with a happy hello that contrasts the venue.
I asked her what it is one should drink there and she offered their in house chocolate concoction. I asked if it came iced and she said their iced mocha is killer.
Yes, YES... its a killer alright.
It's the killer of sleep and tiredness!
Thank you perky, peppy, and chipper unknown counter woman of The Abbey!
;D -
Review from El W.
Monterey, CA
1/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
On more than one happy occasion, I have driven from Monterey to Santa Cruz simply to go to the Abbey. Is the Abbey worth this 80-mile round trip endeavor: absolutely. I now exclusively drive Highway 17 to and from Silicon Valley JUST so I can have an excuse to stop at the Abbey.
You have not lived until you've tried the Bowl of Soul with Velvet tea. It literally warms your soul. I really avoid soy milk at all costs, but this velvety indulgence has turned me into an addict (but only for a Bowl of Soul).
The price is steep ($5 for 16 oz), the space is always packed and dimly lit, but the Bowl of Soul makes the Abbey a sort of pilgrimage for me. -
Review from J R.
Pacific Grove, CA
Updated - 6/20/2011
Another very good jazz band Saturday night. Attendance wasn't great. You people are missing out if you don't check this place out!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/15/2011
Heard a variety of excellent folk musicians there tonight, including Amanda West & Round Mountain,… Read more »
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Review from Heather J.
Bay Area
9/27/2010
I'm sorry but I'm not sure what the hub-bub is about this place. Everyone LOVES this place, swears by it (even though the Abbey wouldn't want them to) but I've had mediocre coffee and average service when I've been there.
And there's something weird about the ambience of the place. I didn't feel like sticking around when I was there.
I will say it is a quiet place to study, but I prefer a fun, talkative coffee shop to a dimly lit place like The Abbey. -
Review from Eli R.
Los Angeles, CA
3/23/2010
YES. What can I say about my favorite coffee shop in Santa Cruz? I'm not a religious man, which is why I was apprehensive when I first heard that the Abbey was attached to a church. But then I stepped foot inside. Friendly employees, jazz music in the air, and the aroma of freshly-ground espresso beans.
The interior is decorated with myriad pieces of furniture, from antique to brand-new. There are always college students on laptops (mostly Apple), philosophy majors consuming Sartre, and older people composing emails. Hanging from the ceiling are three acrylic-accented window panes, and as you look through them, somehow this seemingly motley situation finds harmony.
Although the local-art dotted walls inside hit a soft spot in me, the outdoors portion is my favorite. During warm days, the scent of jasmine engulfs the outside, and people are ensconced in the armchairs and on the antique couch.
There are board games to play, (YES, even Scattergories), wifi is free, and unlike the dictators at Lulu Carpenters, there are PLUGS for your laptop so you are WELCOME to stay.
Whether you want a scone or some delicious tea--an americano, a board game, or just a place to knit while listening to your iPod, go to the Abbey. -
Review from Tracy M.
Fullerton, CA
8/9/2011
Quirky coffee house hidden in a church. Coffee is fine and served in a funky art house environment.
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Review from Katie J.
San Gabriel, CA
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cool atmosphere, good drinks
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Review from Desiree L.
Santa Cruz, CA
9/9/2010
I was searching for a quiet place to study and I found the Abbey. It's got a welcoming atmosphere with dark velvety couches for you to rest your tired bones on (to get to it you may have to bike up a rather intimidating hill). The place is larger than most coffee shops you'll find and is ideal for study groups or relaxing in your own corner.
Now here comes my disappointment. The chai tea is dreadful. I ordered a small soy chai as I'm not particularly into coffee and received a good sized but watery "milky" tasting cup of something. I couldn't finish it. Chai is my go to drink and I was severely let down. I may go back and order something else that will earn the Abbey a higher rating, but that Chai left a horrible taste in my mouth.
